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A14 - on site innovation
We were a key delivery partner to the A14 Integrated Delivery Team, who together delivered the UK's largest road construction project. The IDT consisted of our customers Balfour Beatty, Costain and Skanska, who were all part of the joint venture appointed by Highways England.
Together they upgraded 21 miles of the East of England's major trunk road between Cambridge and Huntingdon in a £1.5 billion project.
The scheme began in 2016 and over a four-year period saw the road widening to three lanes in each direction. It also included a brand new 17-mile bypass south of Huntingdon. This new bypass will have four lanes in each direction between Bar Hill and Girton.
The A14 is a key route between the East Coast and the Midlands. These improvements will speed up journeys by up to 20 minutes whilst adding capacity to the network, boosting the local and national economy and will provide a safer passage for the 85,000 travellers who use the road every day.
The scheme was completed ahead of schedule and handed over eight months early in 2020.
Costain, Balfour Beatty, Skanska
Project and Location
A project of this size was highly complex due to its sheer scale and tight deadlines. It involved a construction team of over 2,200 people from the IDT joint venture, alongside their sub-contractors.
A total of 10 million cubic metres of earth has been moved, 34 bridges and structures have been built, including a 750-metre long viaduct and a critical junction constructed spanning eight lanes of traffic.
The construction works carried out demanded a rigorous schedule in order to meet the timescales set. It was crucial that equipment was available instantly, with no delay and that work continued during the dark winter months.
However, with all construction it was vital that environmental objectives were met so any solutions had to not impact negatively regarding carbon emissions, power use or light pollution.
We provided two key solutions to meet the challenges.
First, we launched a large, dedicated on-site hire facility manned by one of our Rental Managers. The facility had a vast range of equipment in stock, readily available. This gave every contractor the ability to hire out hundreds of pieces of equipment immediately without ever leaving the site. The equipment available ranged from power tools and plant machinery to temporary accommodation and tower lights. Our team also provided a dedicated driver to transport the equipment across site as needed, and a Regional Account Manager to oversee the whole project.
Secondly, we sourced the latest cutting-edge lighting towers and invested in a new fleet of 110 towers specifically for this scheme. Two primary models of equipment were provided, the Generac V20 lighting towers and the TRIME X-Eco tower lights. Both were chosen for their environmentally sound nature and advanced features.
The V20 model offered 4x 320W high efficiency LED lamp floodlights, providing more than 160 hours of lighting without the need for refuelling. They are also amongst the quietest of lighting systems on the market with only 58 dB(A) at seven metres. A digital controller manages every function of the lighting tower for ease of use and the floodlights are powered with low voltage, ensuring on-site safety.
TRIME X-Eco tower lights are also a green option, with 6x 150W long lasting LED lamps guaranteed for 50,000 hours and light sensors for an automatic stop/start. They are economical to run, with a fuel usage of just 0.55ltrs/hr allowing 200 hours running time on a full tank.
With a strong focus on service delivery and meeting customer needs, our team added significant value to the project.
Through the on-site hire facility, we brought convenience and efficiency to plant and equipment hire making us the number one supplier on-site. Also, with all of our equipment being available at source we helped reduce the site's carbon footprint.
Our team drew on the latest industry advances by investing in the right product for lighting the working area so construction could continue around the clock. Due to the inclusion of LED lamps on the product sourced our customers also benefited from efficiency and cost savings as the bulbs did not require replacement. The fact that the solution was environmentally efficient enabled the joint venture team to continue to meet their sustainability objectives.
This was a landmark, award-winning construction scheme that we are very proud to have been part of. It is the first major infrastructure site that has been classified as a Considerate Contractors Scheme 'Ultra Site', where both contractors and the entire supply chain work to the same high standards.
Sunbelts lighting towers have enabled the construction team to continue work on the A14 improvement scheme during the winter months by providing powerful illumination on-site. As the tower lights are powered by LED lighting and offer significant environmental benefits, they have helped us meet our sustainability objectives. I am also pleased to report there have been very few breakdowns, despite the high number of 110 lighting units at peak use.
Tim Maskell, Senior Buyer for the joint venture


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Dorothy Lucey (born November 19, 1958) is an American entertainment reporter who formerly co-hosted Good Day L.A., the morning news program on Los Angeles Fox affiliate KTTV.

Career
Lucey graduated from George Washington University in 1979 with a degree in political science before going into television reporting. She was an on-air reporter for WNEP-TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania and WABC-TV in New York City (including a stint alongside Regis Philbin), and later joined NBC Sports. She was also a co-host of Attitudes, a talk show on Lifetime Television in the 1990s. In 1992, she hosted the CBS series How'd They Do That.

Lucey joined Good Day LA in 1995 as the show's entertainment reporter. Much of the show's formula consists of wide-ranging banter between the three anchors.  She also has had bit roles in a few movies and TV shows, often playing as a TV reporter.

Lucey's 17-year run with Good Day LA came to an end on May 25, 2012 as a result of non-renewal of her contract.

Personal life
Lucey has been married since 1993 to KCBS investigative reporter David Goldstein, and they have a young son together named Nash. Nash figured a lot in Lucey's on-air discussions, but he has rarely been seen on camera.

Lucey also regularly discusses her religious revival - she converted from Roman Catholicism to a devout form of Presbyterianism several years ago. On the October 26, 2006 broadcast of Good Day L.A., she described herself as a "liberal Christian."

Filmography

External links

Dorothy Lucey's bio page on KTTV's Web site
2003 article about Dorothy Lucey from The Times-Tribune in Scranton, Pennsylvania

1958 births
American film actresses
American Presbyterians
American reporters and correspondents
American television actresses
American television journalists
American women television journalists
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences alumni
American infotainers
Living people
Television anchors from Los Angeles
Place of birth missing (living people)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Not too long ago, I had to fire a client. The relationship had grown untenable over time. Invariably, the scope of their projects would grow, but the budget never did. So when the bill came, there was conflict and frustration on both sides. It was a relief to let them go, to draw a line in the sand on my value as a freelancer. The only thing I regret is how long it took me to get there.
I've learned a lot about business in the last 10 years. In the early days, I had no clue, but along the way, I've developed a set of rules to live by. And my mistakes, such as holding on to bad clients, have shaped the way I run my business as much as my successes. If I were to start over today, there are more than a few things I'd do differently. Here are a few.
Isolation may be what originally attracted you to the freelancer lifestyle, but it won't help sustain your business. Your best work will come from your network—the people who know your strengths and skill sets, who can introduce you to vetted clients.Find these people early. Attend networking events, writers groups, whatever you can. Most importantly, be a referrer more often than a referral. Help your prospects find the talent they need and vice versa. You'll build a reputation that will pay dividends later on.
The freelance lifestyle will impact the people around you in a way most jobs typically don't. Deadlines will interfere with dinner plans and weekend trips. Work will crop up last minute, and your calendar will have to stay relatively open months out to accommodate.Since the people around you may struggle to understand this schedule, you have to set some boundaries so you can actually get things done without disappointing loved ones over and over. It will take an adjustment on both sides. Be patient with their frustration, and ask that they be patient with your schedule.
Once in a while, you'll run into a client that wastes your time, frustrates you, or doesn't treat you well. Sometimes you'll know right away; sometimes it'll take a few projects to figure it out. When that realization hits, you'll need to decide how much their business is worth to you. Can you raise your rate and endure them, or is this situation unsustainable? If it's the latter, fire them (with courtesy and professionalism) and don't look back.
Similarly, just because a project comes your way doesn't mean that you have to take it. This rule applies to new projects from old clients as well. If you receive an offer that you don't feel good about, can't quote properly, or don't have time to do, decline it. Learn to say no politely, and refer work you can't take to members of your network.
If you're trying to make a living as a freelancer, either full-time or part-time, you have to treat it like a business, not a side hustle. Cramming in work between 8 p.m. and 3 a.m. is a no-go. So is working in bed all day. You won't do your best work if you don't dedicate time to it. Set office hours, find a quiet coffee shop, and use your time wisely.
Some projects won't run smoothly. The client won't like your draft. They'll ask for a revision you don't agree with. This is a turning point—will you do what the client wants or what you think is best?The answer is, of course, to do what the client wants, within the bounds of legality and ethics. Even then, the project may not be a rousing success. If the client offers criticism, remember, nine times out of ten, it's not about who you are as a professional—the fit just wasn't right. Don't let it damage your confidence. Move on and do great work elsewhere.As freelancers, we all have war stories and battle scars. What's important is that we learn from our experiences, adjust as necessary, and pass on what we've learned to others in our ranks.


Worth renting. A good film for a family movie night or a lazy afternoon.
What is it lately with all these talented directors challenging themselves to turn TV movie scripts into potent, or at least cogent feature films?
Steven Soderbergh took the lead with "Erin Brockovich" -- a Lifetime Channel story in anybody else's hands -- and with the help of Julia Roberts created this year's Oscar front-runner. Taylor Hackford took the hostage negotiation thriller "Proof of Life" and gave it real punch and humanity, when Hollywood doctrine dictates it should have been either a women's weepy concerning the wife's angst or a Dolph Lungren-level action flick about a rescue raid against Colombian kidnappers.
Now Gus Van Sant, onetime guardian of the quirky avant guard ("To Die For," "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues"), takes on an After School Special of a script about a ghetto littérateur savant and his reclusive white mentor, and creates "Finding Forrester" -- a solidly enjoyable, fairly cerebral feature raised above its roots by stout performances from its two leads.
Newcomer Rob Brown plays Jamal, a basketball star at his Bronx high school who is a secret intellectual on the side. His bedroom walls (in his mother's brick tenement high-rise apartment) are stacked with books by Kierkegaard, James Joyce, and other highfalutin Lit class favorites. But on the street "all he talks about is basketball," while his gray matter goes undernourished at school.
Enter Sean Connery as William Forrester, the neighborhood's local crackpot recluse. Called "The Window" by Jamal and his pals, he hasn't left his apartment in longer than anyone can remember. He just watches people with binoculars out his window day after day, occasionally receiving deliveries from a Manhattan yuppie driving a gold BMW.
The two meet when Jamal's buddies dare him to climb the fire escape and sneak into Forrester's living room while he's sleeping. The budding writer discovers bookshelves full of common interests before being so startled by Forrester coming out of the shadows that he drops his backpack and runs out the front door.
After finding his backpack tossed in the street and the journals inside marked up in red pen with corrections and questions, an intrigued Jamal braves another trip to the old man's flat, and slowly an antagonistic friendship and mentorship forms.
It turns out that Forrester is a prestigious writer -- a fact Jamal discovers when his off-the-chart aptitude test scores and his skills on the court land him a scholarship to an exclusive private school. Forrester's singular book is assigned reading in a high-brow writing class, taught by a bitter, pompous professor (F. Murray Abraham), who, of course, is skeptical of Jamal's literary gifts.
The film's respectable plot revolves around Jamal and Forrester, who bond during after-school writing sessions in Forrester's dusty apartment. The film's hackneyed conflict arises when Jamal is accused of plagiarism by the snooty prof who recognizes the influence of Forrester -- an old rival -- in his student's entry in The Big Writing Competition. Honoring his oath of secrecy to his tutor, Jamal finds his school career in jeopardy.
Connery is perfectly cast as the quarrelsome egghead Forrester, who plods around his musty, hardback-lined pad in a frumpy sweater, pajama bottoms and slippers, spouting quotable insights like, "No thinking! That comes later. You write your first draft from the heart!"
Sixteen-year-old Brown, a first-time actor, more than holds his own against his luminary co-star, lending both street cred and contemplative, discerning cognition to the movie's appealing young hero. Van Sant clearly recognizes the pedestrian nature of this story because he sidesteps several clichés that rear up throughout. The petulant reigning hoops hero at Jamal's new school does not become a lame rival. The pretty, rich schoolmate (an alluring Anna Paquin) who flirts with Jamal in front of her disapproving daddy doesn't turn into an interracial romance subplot. There's little time spent on how Jamal's Bronx pals feel snubbed by his newfound, brainy interests.
This all comes as quite a relief, but at the same time one has to wonder why Van Sant set up these potential story detours if he wasn't planning to follow them anywhere. I got the definite impression a lot of footage was left on the cutting room floor.
There's nothing extraordinary about "Finding Forrester" other than the fact that it attracted the kind of talent that could lift it above its banal origins. Van Sant gives the film the same confident but sentimental air of underprivileged intellectualism he bestowed upon his 1997 film, "Good Will Hunting" -- but with a lesser degree of success.
The film is certainly satisfying -- if predictable -- but it's not the Academy fodder its producers hoped it would be. However, it is a credit to both Van Sant and his stars that "Forrester" is at its most satisfying when simply spending time on the affinity shared by the well-matched leads as they type and talk together, challenging each other to grow -- Jamal honing his skills as a writer, Forrester being eased out of his social apprehension.


Let's talk about how much I hate the idea of diet wine. Just on the basis of the spirit of wine (get it?), you shouldn't be thinking about your weight when drinking. You should be enjoying yourself! If you are watching your weight, in the immortal words of Nicole Byer, "Nobody wants to hear about your diet. Just shut up, eat your lettuce, and be sad."
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I am also suspicious of a wine that focuses on calorie count and not production methods, growing tradition or winemaking as an art.
But I'm always looking to try something new for the blog, so I picked up Bethenny Frankel's bottle of low-cal ros this week. With minimal side-eye.
And it's certainly a different ros than the ones I've been trying. The nose is pleasant, mostly juicy, reminding me of watermelon and raspberry. The first sip reveals that this is definitely not a dry ros, setting it apart from most of the other Ruby Tuesdays I've reviewed so far. In fact, this wine tastes more like juice, with sweet notes of strawberry, cherry, a little guava and that watermelon thing. I couldn't find any information on which wine varietals are actually in this wine either, so I'm sort of at a loss.
But I suppose if you're really set on a low-calorie alternative to your average glass of wine, you could always pair Skinnygirl with some low-cal lemon chicken breasts.
P.S. How many calories are in your average glass of wine?


At last, the historically correct legwear for women! Our ladies' stockings are made of 100% wool jersey and are sized to fit a woman's leg and foot. Cut based on the London finds described in the Museum of London's "Textiles and Clothing - Medieval Finds from Excavations in London" book. Because they are not elasticized like modern hosiery, these stockings require the use of garters to keep them up.
These stockings are made from the same Merino wool jersey we use for our men's joined hose. The fabric has been processed [fulled], producing a thick, elastic fabric. The fulling process obscures the weave, so the fabric appears the same as fulled woven wool, even on close inspection. Boiled wool has more stretch so the fit is much smoother and tighter on the leg and foot than bias cut. PLEASE NOTE: because of the elasticity of the fabric, you should be able to wear a whole size smaller than your usual stocking size. You will still need to wear garters to keep the stockings from falling down. These are the highest quality wool stockings we offer.


Disclosed herein is an apparatus and system for fingerprint recognition and hand-print recognition comprising a scanner with a contoured surface, or a scanner the surface of which deforms to allow more fingerprint or hand-print data to be captured, an application specific circuit for conversion of analog data from a captured fingerprint image from an embedded sensor array into a digital image and a fingerprint security application for verification of said digital image against stored fingerprint templates. The scanner array wrap with the embedded scanner array may be placed over the fixture to be scanned, or it may be formed as a part of the fixture that is scanned to authenticate the identity of a person.
This invention, in general, relates to a system and apparatus for facilitating authentication of the identity of an individual, and in particular relates to authentication by fingerprint and hand-print recognition using a contoured scanner, or a scanner the scanning surface of which adjusts to the contour of the fingerprint or hand-print when the finger or hand is applied on the scanner array or the scanner array wrap. The sensor array wrap and the sensor array embedded therein is also capable of deforming and adapting to the shape of the fixture on which the finger or hand is placed for scanning and identification purposes.
Fingerprint authentication systems currently in use have a scanner or reader that have a relatively flat surface thereby limiting the surface area of the fingerprint that is scanned, and therefore limiting the amount of biometric data that can be captured by the scanner. If the surface area of the finger or hand that comes in contact with the scanner is increased, more data can be captured and analyzed. There exists a need to increase the surface area of the fingerprint or hand-print that is scanned to allow a more accurate and rapid authentication of the identity of an individual.
There is also a need for the scanner to adapt to the shape, or be a part of the shape of the fixture on which the fingerprint or hand-print is placed to be scanned.
There is also a need for the sensor array wrap, or the sensor array if the sensor array directly contacts the finger or hand, to adapt to the shape of the finger or hand when pressure from a finger or hand is applied on the scanner to allow more fingerprint and hand-print biometric information to be captured.
There is a market need for an apparatus wherein the authentication processes using a contoured scanning surface is integrated within the biometric device or added to a biometric device's fixture, thus eliminating the need for providing a separate authenticating device and process for accessing a particular device.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings exemplary constructions of the invention; however, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein.
FIG. 1 illustrates a biometric device for fingerprint and hand-print recognition.
FIG. 2 illustrates a biometric device for fingerprint and hand-print recognition.
FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-section of the layered structure of a sensor array wrap within which a sensor array is embedded.
FIG. 3B illustrates a sensor array embedded within layers of a sensor array wrap.
FIG. 4A illustrates contours that the scanner can be shaped into.
FIG. 4B illustrates a contour the scanner can be shaped into.
FIG. 5A illustrates a contoured shaped scanner to provide the user with a natural feel when the user's finger is placed over the sensor array wrap.
FIG. 5B illustrates a scanner comprising a scanner array and a scanner array wrap.
FIG. 5C illustrates deformation of the scanner under pressure, for example when a finger is placed on the surface of the scanner array wrap.
FIG. 5D illustrates a contoured scanner embedded in a car steering wheel.
FIG. 5E illustrates a scanner contoured around a joystick.
FIG. 6A illustrates a surface where the biometric scanning area is limited to one section of the surface.
FIG. 6B illustrates a surface where biometric scanning area is not limited to one section of the surface.
FIG. 7A illustrates the application of a scanner in a car steering wheel.
FIG. 7B illustrates the application of a scanner to a car steering wheel.
FIG. 8 illustrates the application of the scanner to a personal computer or a laptop.
FIG. 9 illustrates the application of the scanner in a mouse pad.
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and system for fingerprint recognition and hand-print recognition by a biometric device comprising a contoured scanner, or a scanner the scanning surface of which flexes or deforms to allow the bottom and curved sides of the finger or hand to be captured. The scanner comprises a sensor array embedded between two layers material of the sensor array wrap. In one embodiment of the invention, the sensor array is located on the upper surface of the top layer of the sensor array wrap. The sensor array captures the fingerprint image or hand-print image when the finger or hand is placed on the scanning surface. An authentication security application module authenticates a user using the captured fingerprint or hand-print image against stored fingerprint and hand-print templates.
As used herein, a sensor array is a multiplicity of fingerprint and handprint sensors collocated to form a sensor array. The fingerprint and hand-print sensor array may be any one or a combination of any of the fingerprint sensor array types, for example, capacitive, optical, thermal, ultrasonic or tactile fingerprint sensor. As used herein, a sensor array wrap is the material within which the sensor array is embedded.
In one embodiment of the invention, the scanner can be over-laid on a fixture, or positioned to adapt to the shape of a fixture on which the person would place his finger or hand, to allow his or her fingerprint or hand-print to be scanned and the person's identity authenticated. An example of such a fixture is a door-knob.
In another embodiment of the invention, the scanner array wrap can be molded or configured into the shape of a fixture on which the person would place his finger or hand to authenticate his or her identity, for example, the scanner array can be molded into the shape of a door-knob.
In another embodiment of the invention, the scanner array wrap is contoured or recessed to allow the bottom and the sides of the fingerprint or hand-print to be scanned when the finger or hand is placed on the scanner array wrap.
In another embodiment of the invention, the scanner array is embedded on the surface of the scanner array wrap, and the scanner array is contoured or recessed to allow the bottom and the sides of the fingerprint or handprint to be scanned when the finger or hand is placed on the scanner array.
In another embodiment of the invention, the scanner including the scanner array wrap and the scanner array flex or deform to allow a larger surface area of the finger or hand to be read more accurately and comprehensively by the sensor array when the finger or hand is applied to the surface of the scanner, thereby allowing the capture of more biometric information of the fingerprint or hand-print.
FIG. 1 illustrates a biometric device 106 for fingerprint and hand-print recognition where the scanner 107 comprises the sensor array 103 embedded within a sensor array wrap 101. In this example, the scanner 107 is shown over-laid or enveloping the surface of a door-knob 102. When a person places his hand on the door-knob 102 to open the door, the sensor array 103 captures the fingerprint or hand-print information of that person. The sensor array 103 thereafter transmits the data captured to a fingerprint security application module 104 in-built in the biometric device 106. The fingerprint security application module 104 uses an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 105 to perform the recognition and authentication process by converting the fingerprint and hand-print information captured by the sensor array 103 into its digital equivalent. The fingerprint security application module 104 then compares the captured fingerprint image with the fingerprint templates of the registered users present in the fingerprint template database to authenticate the identity of the person that placed his or her hand on the door-knob 102.
As used herein, the term fingerprint security application module is a module capable of processing the finger-print and hand-print information for authentication purposes.
Embedding contoured or flexible sensor arrays in a sensor array wrap allows the integration of the sensor array into a biometric device or fixture, and allows for its easy replacement. For example, an integrated scanner on a car steering wheel would only require the replacement of the scanner 107 and not the entire steering wheel if the scanner is damaged.
FIG. 2 illustrates a biometric device 106 for fingerprint and hand-print recognition comprising a scanner 107 formed or molded in the shape of a door knob 102, a fingerprint security module 104 and the application specific integrated circuit module 105. In this example, the scanner comprising the sensor array wrap 101 and the embedded sensor array 103 scans the fingerprint or hand-print when the person places his or her finger or hand on the door-knob 102. The fingerprint or hand-print data scanned by the scanner array 103 is transmitted to the fingerprint security application module 104 which processes the fingerprint information for verification and recognition by digital processing of the image scanned. The fingerprint security application module 104 uses an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 105 to perform the recognition and authentication process by converting the fingerprint and handprint information captured by the sensor array 103 into its digital equivalent. The fingerprint security application module 104 then compares the captured fingerprint image with the fingerprint templates of the registered users present in the fingerprint template database to authenticate the identity of the person that placed his or her hand on the door-knob 102. The door lock is in direct communication with the fingerprint security application module 104 and is enabled only when the fingerprint security application module 104 confirms that the captured fingerprint is that of a registered user.
The fingerprint and hand-print data capturing scanner 107 comprising the sensor array wrap 102 and the embedded sensor array 103 is capable of being shaped into various configurations and may form the fixture or a part of the fixture that scans or reads the fingerprint or hand-print. The scanner 107 may also be positioned and sized to be placed in specific and predefined areas of the fixture to read a person's fingerprint or hand-print.
The sensor array may consist of any fingerprint or handprint sensing technology for example, transistors and pressure sensing, capacitance sensing and light sensing arrays. These sensor arrays are very sensitive and are capable of detecting the fingerprint image mapped by light or charge even when the sensor array is placed below a layer of an appropriate sensor wrap 101 on the fixture where the finger or hand is placed for scanning and authentication.
The optical fingerprint sensors enable non-contact fingerprint image detection with a high degree of accuracy. Human fingers consist mainly of three layers, namely-scarfskin, inner skin, and tissues under the skin. The inner skin has concavo-convex shaped formations, called ridge and valleys. The scarfskin which shows the shapes present on the inner skin, define the fingerprint of the person. As light is transmitted through the tissue a unique pattern of transmittance of light depending on the concavo-convex formation on the inner skin is generated. Each fingerprint has a unique pattern of concavity and convexity and thus each of them generates a pattern that can be distinguished from another. These optical finger-print sensors have low maintenance, high resolution and are resistant to shock and electrostatic discharge.
The capacitive fingerprint sensor, as the name implies, works on the principle of capacitance. Capacitance can be defined as the ability to hold electrical charge. The capacitive finger-print sensor eliminates the limitations of optical scanners such as edge distortion, misaligned optics, low-image resolution and scratched platens. Normally, parallel plate sensors are employed for fingerprint scanning applications. A capacitive fingerprint sensor may contain many thousands of capacitive plates, each of which has its own associated electrical circuitry embedded in the form of integrated chips. When a finger is placed on the sensor, an extremely weak electrical charge is generated. This electrical current builds up in a pattern that is determined by the capacitances corresponding to the ridges, valleys and pores that characterize a fingerprint. Every fingerprint has a unique electrical current pattern associated with it. The sensor can be made more accurate and reliable using programmable logic, internal to the capacitive sensor circuitry and the sensor reception can also be adjusted to different skin types and environmental conditions.
Thermal fingerprint sensors use micro heaters as the sensing element. The sensing elements are formed into a sensor array. The sensing elements are micro resistors made of sputtered, very fine platinum film and are placed on a flexible polyamide film substrate. There exists a temperature difference between the skin ridges and the air entrapped in the fingerprint valleys. The sensor measures this temperature differential to map the fingerprint image. The advantage of using this method is that it is capable of generating a high quality image even on poor quality fingerprints, for example, on finger-prints that are dry, worn or with little depth between the peaks and valleys of the fingerprint. These sensors can also be used under adverse conditions like extremes of temperature, high humidity, dirt, and oil or water contamination.
Another type of sensor commonly used for fingerprint sensors is the tactile fingerprint sensor. It works on the principle of change in resistivity of a peizoresistive material. As a user passes his finger over the sensor array, deflections in the microbeam occur. This deflection corresponds to the ridges and the valleys that characterize the fingerprint. Fingerprint detection is based on the measurement of this deflection. The deflection which is a measure of the resistivity can be measured by a piezoresistive gauge. The sensor array includes electronic controls that are necessary to scan the row of microbeams and to amplify the signal from the gauges.
Ultrasonic sensor arrays are also used for fingerprint recognition. They employ the basic theory of reflection, diffraction and scattering. When two solid objects are placed against each other, the contact between the surfaces of the two objects is not perfect, i.e., inhomogeneities exist between the surfaces. As sound waves travel through these surfaces they undergo a phenomenon called contact scattering, along with getting reflected, diffracted and scattered as explained by classical theory of light. This phenomenon effects the sound propagation in the area of contact between the two objects. Using an ultrasonic camera the contact scattered rays are measured to generate the fingerprint image.
In another embodiment of the invention, light-emitting-polymer (LEP) technology may be used. Light emitting polymers, also called electroluminescent polymers are organic light emitting materials that emit light when they are excited by an electric current. The electroluminescent polymer can be coated over a variety of transparent substrates. The electroluminescent polymer forms the sensor array wrap 101. The transparent fixture through which the fingerprint is to be scanned forms the light medium.
It also forms the base over which the electroluminescent polymer layer is wrapped. The light medium may be any transparent medium capable of being molded into various shapes, depending on the application. The transparent fixture transmits the light from the electroluminescent polymer to a detector array placed in the fixture to capture the illumination from the electroluminescent polymer. The detector array generates the electrical equivalent of the fingerprint image via the associated embedded electronics circuitry. The image data is in turn transferred to the fingerprint security application module 104 for enrollment or verification.
As used herein, the term "transparent fixture" comprises a fixture that is transparent to visible light and also to fixtures that transmit radiation from an electroluminescent polymer.
In one embodiment of the invention a single type of sensor is used to build the embedded sensor array 103. In another embodiment of the invention, the fingerprint security application module 104 may use more than one type of sensor. For example, a combination of optical fingerprint sensors and capacitive fingerprint sensors may be used. The fingerprint identification module 104 may be located within a fixture, or be located in a remote server. The fingerprint security application module employs ASIC 105 for the processing of the captured information. Different fingerprint image processing techniques may be used for parallel processing of the captured fingerprint image. Application of selective, plural and sequenced fingerprint recognition rules is another embodiment of the invention. The selective, plural and sequenced fingerprint recognition rules, as explained in the patent application titled "Selective, plural and sequenced (SPS) fingerprint recognition", application Ser. No. 11/511,146, make the verification process faster, reliable and more accurate.
When the finger or hand grips the biometric fixture 106 enveloped in the sensor array wrap 101 as shown in FIG. 1 or in FIG. 2, the captured fingerprint image may have any random orientation. Fingerprint reconstruction algorithms have to be applied to process the fingerprint image to extract the required information from the fingerprint image. Depending on the information furnished by the reconstructed image, the relevant selective, plural and sequenced fingerprint recognition rules that have to be applied to that reconstructed fingerprint image are determined by the fingerprint security application module 104. There is a predetermined sequence of application of the selective, plural and sequenced fingerprint recognition rules. Minutiae matching and correlation matching are examples of techniques used for fingerprint matching.
Minutiae points are local ridge characteristics that occur at either a ridge bifurcation or a ridge ending. For the registered user's finger-print image, all the minutiae points, orientations and structural relationship of the points are detected and stored in the form of templates. During the fingerprint matching process, the scanned fingerprint is compared against the minutiae points of the fingerprint templates in the fingerprint template database. The algorithm for minutiae matching, in the first stage, determines the presence of same minutiae, for example, a bifurcation. If the presence of the same minutiae is confirmed then the algorithm goes on to check if the direction of minutiae flow is also the same as that in the fingerprint image present in the fingerprint store. The final step of the minutiae-matching algorithm takes place only after both these conditions are fulfilled. The locations of the minutiae are determined and it is checked if the minutiae occupy the same position relative to each other.
Image distortion occurring due to displacement and elastic deformation can be nullified by image enhancement techniques and matching algorithm. For example, distortions that occur due to elastic deformation of the image due to excess finger pressure applied are checked and eliminated by image enhancement techniques. Minutiae matching algorithms address the errors occurring during feature extraction.
Correlation matching is a technique that overcomes the disadvantages of the minutiae-based approach. Thus, fingerprint correlation provides improved performance over the minutiae matching technique. In the correlation matching technique, the scanned fingerprint is compared against fingerprints stored in the fingerprint template using more than one method. This technique is very useful in overcoming the shortcomings of an individual technique.
The selective, plural and sequenced fingerprint recognition rules also comprise a plurality of ridge based fingerprint recognition rules. Ridge feature matching is another technique that may be used depending on the method of feature extraction. The algorithm depends on extracting texture, shape, frequency orientation and other ridge characteristics for matching.
FIG. 3A illustrates a layered material structure used to manufacture the sensor array wrap 101 within which the sensor array is embedded. The material of the sensor array wrap 101 may have a single layer structure, or a number of very thin substantially parallel layers 301 of the material may be placed one above the other to create the layered structure of the sensor array wrap 101. The sensor array is embedded in one of the layers 301 of the material, or may be embedded on the upper surface of the top layer. The layer 301 of material above the sensor array also serves as a protective coating for the sensor array, preventing the direct exposure of the sensor array to the external environment. The sensor array wrap 101 may comprise any material through which the sensor array can sense or read the applied fingerprint or hand-print, for example, a plastic, synthetic or natural rubber, fiberglass, glass, etc. The sensor array wrap with the sensor array 103 embedded within it, or embedded on the upper surface of the top layer of the sensor array wrap may be flexible or non-flexible, and is capable of adapting to, or enveloping symmetric or non-symmetric fixtures. The sensor array wrap may be placed over or within a fixture.
FIG. 3B illustrates a scanner 107 comprising a sensor array 103 embedded within the layers of the material 301. The sensor array 103 is placed within the layers of the material 301 of the sensor wrap during the manufacturing process. In one process, the sensor array is infused between two layers of material 301 of the sensor wrap. Mold enclosure injection, casing injection, or thin fiber-glass layering are a few other examples of the manufacturing processes used to embed a sensor array 103 within the layers of the material 301 to fabricate the sensor wrap 101. A typical process for placing a sensor array 103 in a material 301 is to cut out a piece of the material 301 to be integrated into the fixture and then have the predetermined sized sensor array plugged into or snapped into the dedicated part of the material 301. The sensor wrap 101 thus formed is integrated into the fixture.
FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate configurations the sensor wrap 101 can be shaped into. The sensor wrap 101 can be formed or adapted to the shape of the fixture over which it is placed. For example, if the fixture over which the fingerprint is to be scanned is a door-knob, the sensor wrap 101 may be shaped to adapt to the shape of the appropriate part of the door-knob.
FIG. 5A illustrates a curved shape imparted to the sensor wrap 101 and the embedded sensor array 103 to provide a natural feel to a user when the user places his or her finger on the scanner 107 placed over a fixture. This ergonomic design of the scanner also facilitates the capture of more fingerprint information.
FIGS. 5B and 5C illustrates a rectangular shaped biometric sensing surface of a scanner 107 comprising the sensor wrap 101 and the embedded sensor array 103. The sensor wrap 101 is resilient in nature, capable of deforming under the pressure of an applied finger or hand. When a finger is placed on the scanning surface of the scanner 107, the pressure exerted on the surface 501 deforms to adapt to the bottom surface and side of the applied finger 502, thereby allowing the embedded sensor array 103 to capture more fingerprint information.
FIG. 5D illustrates an application of a contoured sensor wrap 101. The scanner 107 comprising a shaped sensor wrap 101 with an embedded sensor array 103 forms the surface of a car steering wheel. The contoured sensor wrap 101 imparts a natural feel when the user grips the steering wheel.
FIG. 5E illustrates an application of a scanner 107 comprising a contoured sensor wrap 101 with an embedded sensor array 103 on a joystick.
FIG. 6A illustrates the surface of a sensor array wrap 101 where the sensing area 601 is limited to a part of the fixture surface. To activate the authentication process, the user applies his finger or hand only on the surface 601 of the sensor array wrap which contains an embedded sensor array below the surface 601 (not shown in FIG. 6A).
FIG. 6B illustrates a cylindrical fixture where a finger or hand can be scanned when applied to any part of the cylindrical surface. The scanner comprising the scanner array wrap 101 with an embedded sensor array is applied over the surface of the cylinder. Such an arrangement ensures that the fingerprint or hand-print placed at random on any part of the cylindrical fixture will activate the authentication process.
FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrates the application of the invention to a car steering wheel. FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrates a circular shaped scanner 107 configured to the contour of a steering wheel. The surface of the scanner 107 deforms under the pressure applied by the finger or hand of a user. The sensor array wrap 101 with embedded sensor array 103 forms the outer surface layer of a car steering wheel 701. The sensing area can be limited to a localized area over the wheel as shown in FIG. 7A, or may be adapted to a larger sensing area as shown in FIG. 7B. The wheel has a fingerprint identification module 104 embedded within it. When the user is authenticated, the car lock 702 receives a command from the fingerprint identification module. In the event a match is not found between the captured fingerprint image and the fingerprint templates stored in the database, the lock 702 is disabled, rendering the car steering wheel 701 immovable.
FIG. 8 illustrates the application of the invention to a personal computer or a laptop. The sensing area of the scanner 107 comprising the scanner array wrap and the embedded sensors 103 is limited to a small section on the screen of the computer or laptop. As the user places his finger on the touch screen 802 or touch pad in the process of turning on or logging into the system, the sensor array 103 captures the fingerprint and uses the fingerprint information to authenticate the identity of the user.
FIG. 9 illustrates the application of the invention to a mouse pad. In this application the scanner 107 is configured as a mouse pad. The surface of the mouse pad is made up of the sensor array wrap 101 with an embedded sensor array 103 for capturing the fingerprint and hand-print information when the user places his or her hand on the senor wrap 101 surface while operating the mouse. In one embodiment of the invention, the scanner may form the touch pad of a laptop.
FIG. 10 illustrates a scanner where the scanner array 103 is embedded on the surface of the sensor array wrap 101 which can flex or deform to adapt to the shape of the applied finger when the finger or hand is applied to the surface of the scanner array 103. The scanner array 103 is contoured to scan the bottom surface and sides of the finger of a user when the user places his finger or hand on the door-knob 102.
The method and system disclosed herein allows the scanner to fit the shape, or be lined, or over-laid on the surface of an object from which the fingerprint is to be scanned.
The method and system disclosed herein also allows authentication over multiple points of contact of a fingerprint or handprint, thereby allowing a robust capture of biometric information of the data captured from the fingers and hand by the sensor array.
The method and system disclosed herein can incorporate existing fingerprint and hand-print sensing technology. Sensing device arrays such as transistors, pressure sensing, capacitance sensing and light sensing arrays may be used in the scanner sensing device. The advantage of using light-emitting-polymer (LEP) technology over the existing semiconductor technology is its low power consumption, higher contrast, higher speed, wider viewing angle and minim size and weight.
The method and system disclosed herein also allows the integration of the biometric system into a fixture, for example a door knob, thereby permitting "natural" and ergonomic biometric authentication, without the user having to search for the area on which their finger needs to be placed for biometric authentication. The user can simply perform the normal handling of the biometric device, such as gripping a doorknob in a natural manner, and the biometric authentication process is performed non-intrusively.
The method and system disclosed herein also allow the cost effective replacement of a biometric sensing system. The overlay of a biometric sensor array shaped or embedded within a fixture allows replacement of biometric sensors that have the sensing surface confined to a limited sensor area.
The method and system disclosed herein also allow the cost effective integration the biometric sensing system during the manufacturing process of the fixture. The biometric sensor is systematically integrated into the fixture during the production of the material, encapsulation or enclosure of the fixture.
The method and system disclosed herein also allow discrete monitoring of users. For example, the non-intrusive system and apparatus of the present invention of authentication and monitoring can be applied on a door-knob, and the look and feel of the door-knob will not indicate an obvious incorporation of a biometric sensor array in the knob.
The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present method and system disclosed herein. While the invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitations. Further, although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in its aspect.
a fingerprint security application for verification of said digital image against stored fingerprint templates.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor wrap is selected from the group consisting of plastic, synthetic or natural rubber, glass and fiberglass.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanner is over-laid on a fixture, or forms a part of the fixture.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the fingerprint identification module is located on a remote server.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor array wrap, fingerprint identification module and application specific integrated circuit form a prefabricated assembly that can be over-laid on the surface of a fixture.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor wrap is selected from the group consisting of plastic, synthetic or natural rubber, glass and fiberglass.
8. The system of claim 6, wherein the scanner is over-laid on a fixture, or forms a part of the fixture.
9. The system of claim 6, wherein the fingerprint identification module is located on a remote server.
10. The system of claim 6, wherein the sensor array wrap, fingerprint identification module and application specific integrated circuit form a prefabricated assembly that can be over-laid on the surface of a fixture.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the fixture is a door-knob.
12. The system of claim 8, wherein the fixture is a steering wheel.
13. The system of claim 8 wherein the fixture is a mouse pad.
14. The system of claim 8, wherein the fixture is a touch pad.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the scanner array wrap is selected from the group consisting of plastic, synthetic or natural rubber, glass and fiber-glass.
a fingerprint security application module for verification of the said fingerprint image against stored fingerprint templates.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein an electroluminescent polymer coating, a detector array, a fingerprint identification module and an application specific integrated circuit form a prefabricated assembly that can be wrapped over the surface of an object.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the fingerprint identification module is located on a remote server.
20. The system of claim 18, wherein the fingerprint identification module is located within the biometric device.


I left the hotel just after 9:00 in the morning. Got a taxi to Calcutta University. The taxi driver pretended to know where it was, but quickly called up his friend and asked where it was. Obviously, he had never taken anyone there before.
The traffic was not very bad at the time. When we arrived, I got down. It did not look like the entrance to a university, but the name was above he gate. It may be just a part of the campus because I know that years ago, the university had something like 60,000 students. I walked along a few of the book stalls outside on the street. They were selling mostly old out of date books.
I decided not to try to enter the university, since my main objective was to shoot some pictures around the area.
Around the corner there were some slogans written on the walls. I made some pictures. No one minds at all, it seems, what one makes a picture of, except the police and security types, of course. I was using up my remaining film too fast.
I went down and around the corner. A fantastic old and decaying building was on the other side of the wide avenue. I had to photograph that. There were small trees growing out of the top of the fourth floor of the building near the roof.
On the way, a friendly young girl met me and said "hello." Very friendly. Unfortunately, she was not attractive. Short, chubby and rather pie-faced, but a lovely person with a friendly smile. She welcomed me to Calcutta. It was genuine, so very nice.
I thanked her and told her I was very happy to meet her. I asked her if she was a student. She said that she had been a student, but was not doing journalism. It was nice to meet such a lovely person.
I made a couple of pictures of that old building, the last two frames of the roll of film. I had to sit down and put in another roll of black and white film. That was the only roll that I had with me.
I crossed the wide avenue. I think it is the street that becomes Chowringhee farther down. Then I walked on into an area that was totally Islamic. These sections of the city are often divided communally. I didn't realize it at the time, but it was very close to the Nakhoda Masjid.
The area was certainly poor, but highly interesting. There were many old decaying buildings, crumbling, but generally still occupied. No repair or maintenance, it seemed, for like a century. I don't know.
Anyway, I shot film there like crazy and burned up another roll of black and white. There were goats in the street.
Once my film ran out, I started to look for a taxi back to Sudder Street. But on the big avenue, it was a straight shot for rupees 100.
When I got to the hotel, they were still cleaning my room. I had to wait out in the lounge room in the hall.
I rested up for a while and put a roll of Kodak color film in my leica M6. I thought that I could always convert the color film to black and white.
When I went out again, I walked to Hogg Market. There is a big bazaar inside there, divided into small shops. It is not as open as Kapali Carsi (covered bazaar) in Istanbul.
A guy came and wanted to show me some silk saris. I thought that it would be a good time to go and see some silk scarves for my wife and other friends.
The guy took me to a shop run by two Biharis from Patna. I ended up buying my scarves there. I probably paid too much, but not much that one can do. I bought 7 or 8 of them. I just wanted to get it out of the way, because I do not like to eat up my time shopping. My wife can choose the ones she wants and give the others to her friends.
I walked around and made some pictures in the market with ISO 200 color film. Without a flash, I had to shoot on 1/15 second at f 2.5 in some places. Some places were brighter when there were lights around.
There was a meat market, a miserable place. There were goats in there that were about to be slaughtered. It made me feel very sorry for them. How can one not have any feelings for those poor animals? It is mostly bakri (goats). Anyway, it is good meat, but I felt bad about the poor animals.
I went out and made a few more shots. Then I thought to take a few shots with the cell phone. The pictures do not come out too badly, but one has to take care to frame them properly. I decided to supplement my film with some of that.
Since I have been in India, I have spoken to only two or three women. In Calcutta, the one at the reception and the girl at Calcutta University. Well, I am not counting the beggar women who are trying the milk powder scam on foreigners.
While I was taking some shots with the cell phone, I stumbled across the old restaurant called Nizam's. It is very near the Hogg Market. I saw the locals eating in there and decided to give it a whirl.
At first, I ordered dal and rice and two nans. The dal was mainly just water, but then I asked the waiter for curried potato. What he brought was allu gobi (potato and cauliflower) and some other things mixed in. I had never had anything quite like it before, but it turned out to be absolutely delicious. If I go again, I will just order that and two nans.
The whole thing was only 250 rupees, but one can certainly eat there for less than 200 rupees.
I came back to the hotel to rest up. But I had eaten too much. I felt like I was stuffed. For shore!
This entry was posted in Street, travel, Walks and tagged Hogg Market, India, Kolkata by eddiegirdner. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Justice League Heroes — видеоигра для платформ Xbox и PlayStation 2. Она основана на команде супергероев DC Comics, Лиге Справедливости. Она была разработана Snowblind Studios, издана Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment совместно с DC Comics и был распространен в Европе компанией Eidos Interactive. Он основан на длительной серии комиксов (в отличие от других недавних игр по Лиге Справедливости, которые являются адаптацией других средств массовой информации помимо исходного материала) и был написан ветераном комиксов Дуэйном МакДаффи. Она использует Dark Alliance Engine.

В то же время были выпущены три портативных версии Justice League Heroes для Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS и PlayStation Portable. Версия для Nintendo DS разделяет подобный визуальный стиль и механику игрового процесса с консольной версией, но служит приквелом к ее истории. Эта версия была разработана Sensory Sweep Studios.  Версия для GBA называется Justice League Heroes: The Flash и сосредоточена в первую очередь на Флэше. Игра показала 2D-графику с прокруткой и подсюжет для консольной версии игры. Эта версия была разработана WayForward Technologies.

Сюжет

История игры начинается с Супермена и Бэтмена, попавших в засаду в S.T.A.R. Labs, устроенную роботами Брейниака. После того, как Бэтмен и Супермен побеждают то, что они считают Брейниаком, они обнаруживают, что они просто были отвлечены дубликатом, в то время как настоящий злодей совершил набег на хранилища лаборатории, взяв Криптонскую ДНК и кусок метеорита. Между тем, Затанна и Джонн Йонзз (Марсианский Охотник) сталкиваются с Маткой и ее дронами, которым помогают постепенное разрушение Метрополиса некоторыми из роботов Брейниака.  После того, как Метрополис был спасен, Лига откликается на ряд попыток захвата ядерных ракет; во-первых, Ключ пытается захватить ракету, но его останавливают Флэш и Зелёный Фонарь (Джон Стюарт), следующей становится попытка Киллер Фрост, которая сорвана Затанной и Чудо-женщиной. Несмотря на усилия Лиги, одна ракета запускается незамеченной во время глобального отключения связи, вызванного Брейниаком.

Однако Лига осознаёт, что она обновлена; способная разрушить орбиту Земли, ракета фактически была выпущена на Марс в попытке освободить белых марсиан, которые вторгнутся на Землю после пробуждения. Супермен и Джонн Йонзз отправляются на Марс, чтобы помешать им сбежать; но это было еще одним отвлечением от Брейниака, который, ожидая их успеха, воспользовался возможностью, чтобы украсть жизненно важное оборудование у белых марсиан. Брейниак также освободил Гориллу Гродд от тюремного заключения, который намеревается отомстить человечеству с помощью своей машины землетрясения. В то время как Чудо-Женщина помогает Супермену остановить несколько кораблей белых марсиан, которые сумели убежать с Марса, в то время как Джонн Йонзз возвращается в Сторожевую Башню, остальная часть Лиги (включая любых разблокированных персонажей, к которым игрок мог получить доступ к этому моменту), работает вместе с Соловаром чтобы остановить Гродда. В одиночестве на Сторожевой Башни Джонн попадает в засаду Думсдэя который берет его в плен и захватывает Сторожевую Башню, в то время как Брайняк крадет коробку Матери. Перегруппировавшись в аварийном бункере, Лиге удается перехватить Сторожевую Башню, освободить Джона и победить Думсдэя, прежде чем столкнуться с настоящим Браниаком в его логове.

Побежденный, Брейниак внезапно возвращается к жизни, когда коробка Матери, которую он украл, активируется — и кричит, она распадается и заменяется Дарксайдом, , выпущенным из межпространственной тюрьмы, созданной сенсорным матричным полевым генератором, который он назвал "The Apokolips Hypercube', который все время манипулировал Брейниак. Борясь с Лигой, Дарксайд с помощью силы, дарованной ему коробкой Матери, изгоняет всю Лигу Справедливости в своё измерение, за исключением Супермена. Затем он переходит к трансформации Земли в новый Апоколипс и удерживает заключенного Супермена в тюрьме из Криптонита. Остальная часть лиги в альтернативном измерении и отделена от входа. Бэтмен и Затанна, Чудо-Женщина и Флеш, а также Джонн Йонзз и Зелёный Фонарь должны сражаться с отдельными группами чужих существ, чтобы выжить и спастись. Вдоль пути Зеленый Фонарь поднимает странное излучение, которое позволит им выжить в мире Дарксайда. Оказалось, согласно Бэтмену, что Дарксайд изгнал Лигу, но коробка Матери может обмануть его и отправить в это же измерение. Перегруппировавшись, Лига возвращается на Апоколипс, спасает Супермена, и они побеждают Даркейда, сбив его в генератор поля сенсорной матрицы, снова посадив его в свою межпространственную тюрьму и восстановив Землю до нормальной. Вернувшись в Сторожевую Башню, когда генератор поля сенсорной матрицы заперт в хранилищах Лиги, Бэтмен сообщает другим, что, если такая опасность повторится, они будут готовы.

Есть еще четыре суперзлодей, уникальные для версий игры Nintendo: в версиях для GBA и DS также присутствуют Циркл и Обратный Флэш, , в то время как версия для DS также включает в себя Генерала Вада Эллинга и Прометея.

Геймплей

В игре представлены самые известные супергерои из Вселенной DC, в том числе Супермен, Бетмен, и Чудо-Женщина. Каждый уровень включает двух членов Лиги Справедливости, сражающихся с разными злодеями и их приспешниками. Когда игра воспроизводится одним игроком, игрок может свободно переключаться между обоими двумя членами Лиги Справедливости и играть в зависимости от того, кого он или она предпочитает. В игре с двумя игроками игроки могут переключать только тех персонажей, которых они контролируют по обоюдному согласию. Была еще одна игра по Лие Справедливости от Midway Games, которая была отменена в 2004 году, но, по словам Warner Bros., эта игра «полностью не связана с данным проектом».

После запуска новой игры есть семь разных героев, к которым игрок имеет доступ изначально, но больше героев (а также альтернативные костюмы) можно разблокировать по мере продвижения игры. Эти разблокируемые герои могут использоваться только на уровнях, в которых игрок(и) могут выбирать, какими героями играть, тогда как костюмы могут использоваться в любое время.

Есть также изначально три уровня сложности (Легко, Средне, Сложно), а затем по завершении уровня сложности Сложно, разблокируется новый уровень сложности — Элитный. В каждом последующем уровне сложности противники наносят больше урона супергероям, а также имеют больше здоровья, компенсируя выигрыш игроков в навыках. На сложности Элитный многие из противников убьют большинство супергероев за один удар, поэтому вы должны овладеть несколькими навыками и стратегиями, прежде чем сражатся с ними.

Персонажи

 «Страйкер» в версии Game Boy Advance
 «Страйкер» в версии Nintendo DS
 Появляется как не-игровой персонаж в версии Game Boy Advance
 Появляется как не-игровой персонаж в версии Nintendo DS
 Эксклюзив версии PSP
 Не появляется в версии Nintendo DS
 Эксклюзив для версий Game Boy Advance и Nintendo DS
 Эксклюзив для версий PSP, PS2 и Xbox
 Не появляется в версии Game Boy Advance

Каждый из семи основных героев имеет не менее двух костюмов, которые можно приобрести так же, как разблокируемых героев. Эти альтернативные костюмы варьируются в зависимости от характеристик игры персонажей и воссоздают классические или альтернативные костюмы из истории персонажа. Например, Супермен и Флэш могут быть похожи на своих старших собратьев из вселенной Earth-Two (включая Джея Гаррика), в то время как один из альтернативных костюмов для Бетмена — это знаменитый сине-серый костюм с бэт-эмблемой посередине, а также костюм из Batman Beyond. Разблокируемые Зеленые Фонари имеют те же полномочия, что и Джон Стюарт, и фактически являются просто изменениями в костюме, голосе и незначительными визуальными различиями в их силах, а также боевыми анимациями и борьбой на холостом ходу: Джон Стюарт имеет прямоугольный щит, Рейнер - треугольный.

Отзывы
Версия PlayStation Portable получила высокую оценку за вариативность и совместную игру. Он также получил более высокие оценки чем консольные версии как от поклонников, так и критиков.
Игра была неблагоприятно сравнена с аналогичной многопользовательской игрой от Marvel — X-Men: Legends, которая позволяет игроку выбирать любого персонажа на любом уровне, в то время как Justice League Heroes содержат несколько уровней, на которых выбор героев был ограничен.
Версия DS не была принята также тепло, а Nintendo Power дала ей 3.5, GameSpot — 5/10 и IGN — 4.4.  Версия GBA получила в целом положительную оценку от критиков.

Примечания

Ссылки

 Developer's site - Snowblind Studios

Компьютерные игры 2006 года
Игры о Бэтмене
Компьютерные игры с режимом кооперативной игры
Компьютерные игры-кроссоверы
Action/RPG
Компьютерные игры о Лиге Справедливости
Игры для Nintendo DS
Игры для PlayStation 2
Игры для PlayStation Portable
Игры о Супермене
Компьютерные игры, разработанные в США
Игры для Xbox


text:
A [Docker](https://docker.com/) container for [MongoDB](http://www.mongodb.org/).

## Run the container

Using the `docker` command:

    CONTAINER="mongodbdata" && sudo docker run \
      --name "${CONTAINER}" \
      -h "${CONTAINER}" \
      -v /mongodb \
      simpledrupalcloud/data:latest

    CONTAINER="mongodb" && sudo docker run \
      --name "${CONTAINER}" \
      -h "${CONTAINER}" \
      -p 27017:27017 \
      --volumes-from mongodbdata \
      -d \
      simpledrupalcloud/mongodb:latest

Using the `fig` command

    TMP="$(mktemp -d)" \
      && git clone http://git.simpledrupalcloud.com/simpledrupalcloud/docker-mongodb.git "${TMP}" \
      && cd "${TMP}" \
      && sudo fig up

## Build the image

    TMP="$(mktemp -d)" \
      && git clone http://git.simpledrupalcloud.com/simpledrupalcloud/docker-mongodb.git "${TMP}" \
      && cd "${TMP}" \
      && sudo docker build -t simpledrupalcloud/mongodb:latest . \
      && cd -

## Back up MongoDB data

    sudo docker run \
      --rm \
      --volumes-from mongodbdata \
      -v $(pwd):/backup \
      simpledrupalcloud/data:latest tar czvf /backup/mongodbdata.tar.gz /mongodb

## Restore MongoDB data from a backup

    sudo docker run \
      --rm \
      --volumes-from mongodbdata \
      -v $(pwd):/backup \
      simpledrupalcloud/data:latest tar xzvf /backup/mongodbdata.tar.gz

## License

**MIT**

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
"Picasso & Einstein walk into a bar…" – In Conversation with Will King & Dylan Evans of "Picasso at the Lapin Agile"
by in the greenroom on February 25, 2016
Interview by Ryan Quinn
RQ: Tell me a little about the show itself and your production of it.
WK: Steve Martin (the established comedian, actor, writer, banjo aficionado) has written a play that features a young Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein at the tipping point of their careers. It takes place at the Lapin Agile, a fictional bar in 1904 Paris, where notable intellectuals and visionaries go to talk about their manifestos. It also features a wide range of characters that gravitate to that space. It expertly deconstructs the intersection between art and science, and somehow manages to remain brilliantly funny.
We're doing it site-specific at an event space in Kensington Market called Round. When we decided to produce it, we knew we wanted to get away from a traditional performance space. We wanted our audience to see the sparks fly between the actors, and really feel immersed in their revelations. We also thought they might like a beer!
RQ: In what ways do you think this show questions how we look at art or innovation?
DE: This play challenges anyone's personal definition of art. Einstein argues that his scientific discoveries are art, whereas Picasso dismisses these as mere equations. Steve Martin tells us that science is more than numbers: it's a vision, it's imagination, and then it's trying to capture that and turn it into something calculable. We can't dive into a black hole, or travel to other solar systems, but we can dream it. And then we can take that dream and see if we can prove it.
RQ: How do you think your choice of site-specific theatre informs or enhances the piece?
WK: I love the intimacy. Performing in the round (pun intended) just feels right.
DE: I had a very clear image in my mind of what I envisioned the space looking like. When we walked into The Round for our photo shoot I was blown away by how much the space looked like what I had imagined. I had no trouble believing that I had just entered a bohemian Paris bar circa 1904. It makes a huge difference as a performer, and hopefully for the audience too. You're right there in the bar with us. You can grab a drink and be a fellow patron in the Lapin Agile with a host of eccentric characters. So it is definitely an engaging performance and the wonderful venue is a big part of that.
RQ: What can you tell me about Seven Siblings theatre?
WK: Madryn, Erika, and I founded Seven Siblings Theatre while gaining our teacher certification at the Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium in Kent, Ohio. We shared the same ideals of theatre, a similar process, and wanted to bring more Fantastic Realism into Toronto's indie theatre community. We aim to help artists develop their psychophysical connection, and dig deeply into the atmospheres of each production. By the end of each process, our artists have a range of tools and exercises from the Michael Chekhov work to play with.
RQ: Why did you choose this piece as your next production?
WK: I am adamant that everything we work on needs to present a new challenge. We've played with malleable classical text, highly dangerous subject matter, explosive absurdist and visual performance styles, and now we're tapping into an immersive experience. This is one of the most playful pieces I've ever worked on, and the incredible duality between farce and intelligence made it a no-brainer.
RQ: If you were going to set this show in 2016, which people would be the closest parallels to the way this show characterizes Picasso and Einstein?
WK: That's a tough one. A lot of the charm in this piece is that they're diamonds in the rough.
DE: [In terms of banter] Stephen Hawking and John Oliver (because that first interview was too good not to have a sequel). Bill Nye and Bob Ross. Spock and Han Solo.
WK: Yeah. Einstein's definitely the Han Solo of this show.
RQ: If you could give this show a soundtrack, what three songs would be must-haves?
The Scientist – Coldplay
The Life of Pablo (the entire album) – Kanye West (Tidal required)
Blue (Da Ba Dee) – Eiffel 65
WK:
Bistro Fada – Stephane Wrembel (watch Midnight in Paris for context)
Space Oddity – David Bowie
Sounds of Science – Beastie Boys
DE & WK:
*Bonus Track* Tubthumping – Chumbawamba
Picasso at the Lapin Agile
Presented by Seven Siblings Theatre
A play by Steve Martin
Directed by Erika Downie
Featuring Dylan Mawson, Jamie Johnson, Madryn McCabe, Will King, Erin Burley, Erik Helle, Dylan Evans, Andrew Gaunce and Maxwell LeBoeuf
Stage Manager Jocelyn Levadoux
Production Manager Kate MacArthur
Lighting Designer Parker Nowlan
Dialect Coach Margaret Hild
February 25 at 7:30pm
February 27 at 2:00pm (Matinee)
February 25-28 $25
Round, 152A Augusta Avenue, Kensington Market, Toronto, Ontario
Tickets: http://www.sevensiblingstheatre.ca/picassoatthelapinagile/
Tags: Erika Downie, Picasso at the Lapin Agile, round venue, ryan quinn, Seven Siblings Theatre, Steve Martin, toronto, Toronto Theatre, Will King
← In Conversation with Miranda Calderon, performer/producer of Taking Care of Baby
Q&A with Darwin Lyons and Michelle Alexander, co-directors of Well Born →

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Gatra (stylized in all caps) is a weekly news magazine published in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is one of the two principal news magazines in the country, the other being Tempo.

Gatra was founded in 1994. The magazine has its headquarters in Jakarta. It provides articles on news and is published on a weekly basis.

References

External links
Official site

1994 establishments in Indonesia
News magazines published in Asia
Political magazines published in Indonesia
Indonesian-language magazines
Magazines established in 1994
Magazines published in Jakarta
Weekly news magazines


text:
Q: USB manipulation using mobile phone I wanted to design a clock based system that would do a task at a certain time, but I do not possess a microcontroller like Arduino due to lockdown(Corona pandemic). My task involves making a motor run at 6 am in the morning. I know that USB can give 5V supply to the motor(I have a motor that can handle 5V and actually needs 5V). Now what I am asking is, is it possible to manipulate or write a program and load it in phone that would turn on the motor connected to the phone via USB(the USB portion of the micro USB cable has been cut off to expose the 5V line). The motor would turn on when clock in phone strikes 6 am. So how can I achieve this control mechanism?

A: Don't use USB.  Anything you do with USB will require a processor of some kind, and complicated software on the phone - if it can be done at all
Do it the easy way.
Your phone certainly has an alarm clock.
Plug an earphone plug into the phone, and use an analog circuit on the earphone output to turn on the motor.
Something like this circuit:

Leave off U2, the microphone, and the associated parts.
Connect the earphone output of your phone to C6 and ground.
When the alarm clock on the phone rings, the alarm tone will activate the circuit and turn on the motor.  A second alarm tone will turn the motor off.
You'll probably have to try out various alarm tones to find one that triggers reliably.  You may also have to try it with different volume settings.

There are simpler circuits.  That's one I found by searching for "sound activated switch."
You'll probably want to use a relay to switch the motor.
You can leave out

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


with horse, equine and equestrian designs. Great gifts for riders and horse lovers.
Horse jumping an oxer at a horse show.
Dressage horse collected in the show ring.
Fighting horses silhouetted and rearing.
American quarter horse photo design on gifts.
Dressage horse show rider on a keychain.


text:
Some Interesting Facts About Horse Racing 1
7 Quotes from Indian Yogi Mystic, Sadhguru 1
By Edgar Wise | 07.07.19
Charlotte's Strategic Energy Action Plan: What's Next for Implementation 1
By Alan Watts | 07.05.19
April 18, 2013 Blogs & Columns » Give Me Libertad
Perms, police and white privilege
Admitting we have a problem is the first step
By Ailen Arreaza
When I was in high school, I wrote an essay for my 11th grade English class arguing that my ethnicity should be irrelevant in the university admissions process. I didn't think it fair that my Cuban heritage allowed me to apply for scholarships my white classmates couldn't qualify for.
While studying expository writing in that same English class, we read the works of Martin Luther King Jr. He influenced my opinions. I wanted to be judged not by the color of my skin but by the content of my character. I wanted to get into college because I was a great student, not a great Latina student.
I got an A on the essay.
We also read an excerpt from the biography of Malcolm X in class that year. It was the part where he described conking his hair for the first time, the lye making him feel as if his head was on fire. I've always had natural hair, and when we discussed the piece in class, one of my black classmates explained why she relaxed her hair by saying, "If we didn't straighten our hair, it would look like Ailen's," as if having hair that looked like mine was the worst possible thing that could befall a teenage girl. I was embarrassed by her comment, but I didn't appreciate its irony in light of my essay until many years later.
I continued to believe that discrimination was a thing of the past and that any overt programs or measures designed to promote minority participation were furthering the same system civil rights leaders so courageously stood against. I was blind to the overwhelming evidence of white privilege that surrounded me.
Things have changed since high school. I have changed. I have read more, attended workshops and seminars, learned about the lingering effects of centuries of institutionalized preferential treatment of whites. Now I know that my classmate wasn't just being mean or vain when she talked about my hair; she was simply expressing what she'd been socialized to believe her entire life: That straight hair, like that of most white women, is more desirable.
And today, I believe that we all need to make conscious, overt efforts to advance the success of minorities because as a society, we are constantly making unconscious, covert efforts to hinder persons of color and preserve white privilege.
I recently had an experience that exemplifies this.
A few weeks ago, my husband jumped out of bed in the middle of the night. He'd heard a noise on our deck and went to our back door to investigate. He found a man there, trying to come into our house. I remained in our bedroom and called the police. "What does the man look like?" I asked my husband in order to describe him to the 911 operator. "He's a white man, wearing jeans and a black jacket," my husband answered.
The police came out to my house and talked to the man. They asked him for his ID and convinced him to get off our deck. One of the officers explained to us that he was very, very drunk. My husband and I looked through our window as the man and the police stood on the sidewalk and talked. We saw the man make a call on his cell phone and hand it to one of the officers. A few minutes later, three of the man's friends came to pick him up and the cops drove away. The man was so drunk that he didn't want to go home with his friends and ran down the street, his buddies chasing after him.
My husband and I were in shock. We are convinced that, had that man been a person of color, he would have been handcuffed and arrested, possibly even tased. We are convinced of this because it's what our personal experience with the police dictates. Because my husband was thoroughly questioned about his immigration status once after being pulled over for speeding and handing the officer a valid driver's license. Because my brother spent a night in jail when a cop deemed him suspicious for sitting in his parked car one afternoon, searched his pockets and found a fake ID.
I've been telling the story to everyone I know, touting it as an example of institutionalized racism. But there's a part of the story I've been hesitant to share with even my closest friends.
When my husband told me that the man standing at our back door was white, my initial reaction was surprise, closely followed by relief. It was an automatic and subconscious reaction, but a reaction nonetheless.
I had assumed he was a person of color and when I heard he wasn't, I assumed he was harmless. I too have been socialized to think that dangerous criminals can only be black or Latino. I judged him — just like the police.
I am convinced that we all do this on some level. Anyone who chooses to deny it is just as naïve as my high-school self.
Tags: Give Me Libertad, give me liberty, Ailen Arreaza, white privilege, crime in Charlotte, Trayvon Martin, civil rights, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, natural hair, institutionalized racism
Hopeless, I turn to Charlotte's rally for Trayvon for help (VIDEO included) 38
Soon after the verdict was announced I realized the world is more dangerous for my son than I ever imagined
Picking sides in the World Baseball Classic
How rooting for a foreign team benefits America
by Ailen Arreaza | 05.16.13
As Marijuana Hits the Mainstream, Black People Aren't Being Invited to the Party
April Jones Scales 'The Mountaintop'
Soul Junction Brings Music Fans Together at the Crossroads
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Is what's right for your child right for all children?
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10th International Conference and Expo on Oil and Gas @ James Wilson
Mon., Sept. 23, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 499$
33rd European Ophthalmology Congress @ Madrid, Spain
Thu., Nov. 14, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Fri., Nov. 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $699
Bath & Body Works is under fire for using triclosan in its soaps 3
The L.A. Times is wondering whether Bath & Body Works' new soaps are harmful.
by Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman | 07.21.11
Older men, younger boys 43
These relationships are not acceptable
by Dan Savage | 04.03.12
Kinky Charlotte 16
To say we live in a button up banker town, Charlotte is full of freaks.
by Mustang Sally, Mayor of Bang Town | 04.20.09
Meet Joe Republican 6
Why conservatives owe liberals so, so much.
by Web Editor | 11.06.12
Herpes social club offers support 119
Sandy said what's great about the people in the group is that they are dealing with their disease and being socially responsible about it.
Question the Queen City: What happened to WGIV? 5
"The Soul of the City" is no more
by David Aaron Moore | 02.08.13
Question the Queen City: An unsolved double murder 3
Did they ever catch the killer from the Mulberry Church Road murders?


text:
All Clean Super Laundromat:
Spirit Financial Credit Union:
Credit Counseling Center
Habitat for Humanity of
IBEW Local 269 JATC
PathStone Training Services
Ladies' Association of Conwell-Egan
Lower Bucks County Chamber
Pennsbury Scholarship Foundation
Congregate meals at Falls
Toni Schwartz Studio of
Pennsbury School District celebrates
Falls seeks grant for adaptive traffic signals
With an eye on helping to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality – all while being fiscally responsible – the Falls Township Supervisors set the wheels in motion for a grant request. If received, the grant would largely fund an adaptive traffic project.
The board has voted unanimously to accept a grant and proposal that Remington & Vernick Engineers will submit to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission on behalf of the township.
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program provides 80% funding, with a 20% local funding match, for transportation projects that it determines to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.
Falls intends to apply for a grant to install adaptive traffic signals at heavily traveled roads throughout the township, including Lincoln Highway, West Trenton Avenue and Oxford Valley Road.
Officials said adaptive traffic signals adjust almost instantly to the changes in traffic.
Instead of motorists having to wait for a pre-determined traffic cycle, adaptive traffic signals would change based on the volume of vehicles in any given lane, meaning the lane with no cars in it, for example, would not be given the green light while drivers in other lanes waited their turn.
The Supervisors approved Remington & Vernick Engineers to undertake the application, which is more than 20 pages long, at a cost not to exceed $4,500.
Applications are due to the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission by June 28th.
The Commission anticipates awarding grants during its October 24th meeting.
A Remington & Vernick official told the board that Middletown Township recently finished an adaptive traffic project which has been shown to dramatically reduce traffic congestion.


– therapeutic schools and teen challenge for teens.
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For easy care and durability a cotton polyester blend is a good combination. We have an extensive range of blended polo shirts to choose from. Browse our favourites below and talk to our experts about the best branding options for your business. We have in house embroidery and printing for fast turnaround.


Pre-Pak is a growing trend in the vending industry. Vendors know exactly what each machine needs prior to visiting the machine location and taking inventory. Therefore, everything needed for each machine can be pre-packed. Working with companies that use the pre-pak method, Equipment Innovators has designed an omnivan® that is perfect for the pre-pak route. The omnivan® body can be configured to fit your bin size or we can provide the bins. The soda section is low and easy to reach. Bins are located so the driver pulls from one side of the body and replaces on the other side with bins flowing through the body. Truck bodies can be configured with top-hinged or roll-up doors. The driver works from the ground with no bending, stooping, or climbing thereby providing better footing, safety, and less risk of injury.
The omnivan® can be designed and configured specifically for the pre-loaded Multi-Max cartridges. It uses coldplates to cool the interior to protect chocolate and other products.


As a building information modeling (BIM) manager for our digital practice group, Ryan works with his team leveraging building and design data to develop and improve workflow, productivity, and accuracy on projects. Collaboration on multi-discipline and multi-office projects has given him an appreciation of the efforts required by all parties to achieve success; balancing the clients' desires with the realities of design and construction.
Ryan's interests are in evaluating and implementing emerging technologies, while creating a productive and efficient work environment. He tailors his BIM execution planning with consideration for each project's requirements and the technological capabilities of the team. Parametric modeling and visual programming methods have proved invaluable for automation, scalability, and quality control.
When the weather cooperates, you can find Ryan enjoying a strenuous hike; otherwise he might be taking in some stand-up comedy or debating points of philosophy.


The Wheel of Mediocrity is one of Tyrannia's least-visited cultural monument and least-appreciated games: the ever-popular Concert Hall, the famous Cave Paintings, and even the dreaded Lair of the Beast attract more tourists than this Tyrannian landmark. According to a yellow Acara at the Survey Shack, speaking under conditions of anonymity, only 5.3% of polled Neopians consider the Wheel of Mediocrity to be their favorite wheel. Even the editors of the Neopedia cannot restrain their ire, writing acidly that "the Wheel of Mediocrity has Neopets all over the land yawning and looking for something else to do."
But is this criticism of the Wheel just? I think not. The Wheel of Mediocrity has much to offer in the way of prizes, and relatively little in the way of punishments. The next time you find yourself with a Hundred-Neopoint coin in your pocket, consider the following top four reasons to spend it at the Wheel of Mediocrity, instead of at the Space Station's Neocola vending machine.
1) Reliable Payback: Four of the five cash prizes offered by the Wheel of Mediocrity are worth more than the cost of a single spin. Valued at 200, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Neopoints, respectively, they can result in a payback of up to 40-fold. Although the maximum cash profit of 3900 NP is not an extraordinary sum, neither is it a rare outcome. Although the Neopian Conservation Society representative declined to discuss exact probabilities with the Neopian Times staff, it is well-known that the Wheel frequently gives out prizes at all of these values. The values of the items given out as prizes vary, ranging from petpets of a mere 20 NP to rare Tyrannian delicacies and articles of furniture valued at over 1000 NP. Again, these gains are not enormous, but nevertheless, the Wheel can dependably distribute items that can be sold at a profit. The final prize, an Earth Faerie's blessing, is the wheel's rarest, and is worth far more than the Hundred-Neopoint fee!
2) Low Price: The Wheel of Mediocrity is the cheapest wheel in Neopia. Did you realize that for every time you visit Qasala to spin the wheel of Extravagance, hoping to win that rare avatar, and come home with empty paws (or wings, or flippers), you've spent the cost of one thousand spins of the Wheel of Mediocrity! In sharp contrast to the gilded excess of the Wheel of Extravagance, or to the colorful ostentation of the Wheel of Excitement, the Wheel of Mediocrity is made of the simplest materials, and costs very little to maintain. Because there are so few clients, Plesio is the only employee on the Wheel's payroll, and he already receives free meals at the council hall due to his service as captain of the Tyrannian Sea Division in the incident with the Monoceraptor. This keeps expenses low, and permits Neopians of all classes to spin the wheel for a simple 100 NP. With so low a cost, why not give the wheel a spin?
3) Low Penalties: Who doesn't spin the Wheel of Excitement without the worry of provoking the Pant Devil, the Lava Ghoul, or a vengeful Dark Faerie? And who doesn't spin the Wheel of Misfortune without anticipating some his or her share of misfortune? In fact, it is the punishments -- rather than the prizes -- of the Wheel of Mediocrity that deserve to be called Mediocre. Pterodactyl bites are fairly common, and somewhat painful, but are easily healed. The same is true for blasts of fire from the sky (presumably emitted by the volcano). In both cases, though, a quick visit to the Healing Springs should bring your pet back to good health. Having an item fall into the tar pit is rather more costly a punishment, but as long as you remember to visit the Advent Calendar after the Wheel of Mediocrity in your course of dailies, and you aren't trying to earn the "I Taunt the Pant Devil" Avatar at the moment, you should have little or nothing to worry about. The final misfortune, the Aisha skull, is far rarer than it is dangerous: it will result in the loss in the level of one Faerie Ability, which is painful for those who have painstakingly cultivated their Neopets' magical talents. However, though I am a frequent client of the Wheel of Mediocrity, I have only once encountered this penalty, in which it targeted an ability whose level was already as low as possible.
4) High Frequency: The Wheel of Mediocrity can be spun once an hour, more frequently than any other magical wheel in Neopia, and the official time limit, according to Plesio, is "like, an hour." Why is this short delay between spins significant? Because of a statistical rule known as the Law of Large Numbers, the more frequently you spin the Wheel of Mediocrity, the more likely your actual results are to resemble a statistically-predicted outcome. In other words, because the average user can spin the wheel so many times, he or she can expect to receive a 4000-NP payout every month or so, quite reliably.
Moss Tullerby is a fairly reclusive figure, but in a recent visit to his Classic Neohome by the Neopian Times staff, Moss was willing to discuss his thoughts on the relative neglect of the Wheel of Mediocrity. "It's really a shame that the Wheel of Mediocrity has acquired such a poor reputation," he remarked sadly. "It's entirely undeserved. Perhaps if the founders had chosen a better name for it, such as the Wheel of the Jungle, or the Wheel of Tyrannian Culture, people would have more appreciation for it, and it would attract more tourists. As an integral part of the history and cultural heritage of Tyrannia, I think that the Wheel of Mediocrity should elicit rather more love and respect than it currently does. Don't you?"
"If you guys are such great villains, why haven't you caught us yet?" asked Kroost.


text:
AG Profile
Helping Hands In The Islands
Published on June 26, 2018 July 20, 2018 by John And Deborah SimsLeave a comment
Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are two groups of islands located in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the Bahamas, northwest of Puerto Rico and north of Haiti. They're are eight main islands and 299 smaller islands. TCI is a part of the Commonwealth of England so, when you arrive you will find everyone driving on the wrong side of the road.😊 The extreme beauty of the islands has brought a rapid growth in tourism.
On the island of Providenciales, many migrant workers have come from the surrounding countries in the Caribbean in search of work. Many Haitian's came at the time of the 2010 earthquake. Pastor Bradley of Community Fellowship Center had a vision and a plan to see the people coming to the shores of Turks and Caicos Islands reached for Christ.
The family roots of Pastor Bradley go back for generations in the TCI. If you travel with him, it's not long before you realize everybody on the island knows him. His influence has helped establish the civil laws for the TCI and brought education opportunities. When you hear the testimony of how God moved in his father's life, it's evident God began something years ago to establish him in a key place of bringing hope to many nations in the islands.
The Sunday we shared with Community Fellow Center, thirteen countries were recognized and celebrated as a part of the church. We had the privilege of tasting authentic food from every nation so proudly represented! We were honored to pray with the first appointed female governess (Premier) over Turks and Caicos.
Monday morning the work began as the team laid block for the new bathrooms that will serve the 200 children in the elementary school and the Caribbean School of Theology.
Hurricane Harvey did its damage throughout the islands in August of 2017. We finished painting the main sanctuary ceiling of the new roof. Additional plans where then made to complete the new Creole church currently reaching out to 200 members. Many of these families arrived in Providenciales in search of relief and hope, leaving loved ones behind. I am grateful to have been a small part of this trip in helping further the work of Community Fellowship Center.
MY TESTIMONY – It'd been some time sense I'd had the opportunity to travel on a work team with John. I wasn't sure what I would be useful for. To my amazement the opportunities to serve were endless. Meal prep, painting, serving water, shoveling mortar, moving chairs, playing with children, praying with and encouraging ladies, and much more. But even in the midst of the sweet fellowship and team work, God lets you know He see the troubles you carry deep in your heart. One day I'd finished preparing the lunch with Pastor Rachael. I said good-bye and left, only to realize I'd left my backpack in the school lunch room. When I returned, Pastor Rachael responded with enthusiasm. She asked about my health and said God had told her to pray for me. We shared a great time of prayer and dreams. God always knows!
NORTH TEXAS TEAM – Three churches joined together to make up a team of four pastors and wives, a plumber, general contractor, two teachers and a military veteran.
THANKFUL – We are so thankful for everyone of them. They made a difference!
AND. . . one photographer/videographer!
Categories Our Family, Our Ministry, Our Work In LAC, Projects, Words From Deborah
2020…To Latin America/Caribbean and Beyond!
HOPE FOR URUGUAY
WHY BUILD A CHURCH?
Time Spent With Builders International
HOPE Along The Amazon!
Building Needs In LAC
Our Work In LAC
Words From Deborah
Words From John
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