Had my fab white wooden venetians fitted a few weeks ago and they look great! Affordable prices and great/friendly sales men. Would definitely reccommend.
I had blinds fitted end of January, the fitter was so helpful and everything spot on, price and fitting exactly what we wanted excellent value would recommend. Would certainly use Absolute Blinds again.
i had some blinds fitted before christmas very happy to recommend them. no pushy salesmen with silly offers and the fitter was friendly .
happy to recommend these guys . they were professional and good value .
great choice at sensible price.
Visit our designer window blinds showroom on Hanson Road in Aintree, Liverpool. Discover our massive range of fabrics in a huge variety of designs and colours, at a price you can afford. Dont forget our measuring and fitting services are free of charge. With many years of experience serving Merseyside and much of the North West of England. We provide a professional, friendly sales and fitting service "Direct to your home" with our mobile technicians who are happy to give expert advice on choice of colours and fabrics. We also welcome enquiries from commercial customers. This means we are able to supply top quality tailor-made window blinds "Direct to your home" at very attractive prices. If you would like to know more or require a visit from a member of our team of advisors for a no-obligation quotation please do not hesitate to call us.
happy to recommend these guys . professional / friendly / affordable .
they have a good range at sensible money.
We are a family business with over 17 years experience in the fitting of all types of blinds & made to measure curtains. All our blinds are made to the highest standards and are covered by a 5 year guarantee. At Spectrum, to comply with new regulations, all our blinds come with child safe devices free of charge. We also stock hundreds of beautiful fabrics that can be made into roman blinds, rollers and made to measure curtains. They can also be made into pelmets, cushions, tiebacks and swags & tails. To compliment the curtains we have a large selection of curtain tracks & poles. If you have any questions or would like to book a free no obligation quote, just give us a call today.
Established in 1991, Beechwood Interiors is a soft furnishing company specialising in producing and installing both bespoke and made to measure products of the highest standard for interior designers and direct to the general public. We offer our customers over 30 years of experience and knowledge in the curtain, blind and upholstery trade, gained from working for companies such as Arthur Sandersons and Jab International. Beechwood Interiors are based in Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire, located on the West side of London. We are well positioned for the network of the major motorways around London, allow us easy access to most places in London and the Home Counties. Our working areas include Kensington, Knightsbridge, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire, but would also consider projects further afield if viable, having recently completed Care Home projects in Loughton, Essex and Bedford, and a complete Flat in Cardiff. Beechwood Interiors has kept up with the trend of using electrical products in window treatment. We supply and fit Silent Gliss, Lutron and Shy electrical blind and curtain track systems and offer a complete installation and measuring service, working closely with all the other associated trades to ensure the perfect completed installation. Since 1991 we have produced top quality handmade curtains, blinds, headboards etc. for our Interior Designers and domestic clients. We have accounts with some of the leading UK fabric suppliers, curtain pole companies and blind manufactures, and therefore can supply and install products produced to the highest quality. In the last few years wall coving and fabric panelling has become an ever more popular way of finishing a room, especially with the advent of "The Cinema Room". Again Beechwood Interiors has adapted to this new trend and has produced and installed some of the highest quality wall coverings, in the most challenging of places.
If you need a single blind for one window or several blinds for your whole house then look no further. We've been making and fitting blinds (and curtains, too) for over 22 years, supplying homes and offices in Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire and London with a reputation for outstanding quality and service. Custom made window blinds are an integral part of your home, providing shade to keep you cool in the summer and protect your furniture fading all year round. All our components are manufactured using high quality materials to prevent corrosion and damage from harmful UV rays. Child safe options are available too. Are all made to measure and installed by our very own highly trained craftsman. And with an eclectic mix of traditional or contemporary fabrics available, you can coordinate window coverings into your own individual interior design scheme.
We are a family business, who have been supplying blinds for the home and workplace for over 12 years. We always try to find the right product for the situation and your needs and give free no obligation quotations in the comfort of your own home. Choose from our large range of colours and fabrics, in the comfort of your own home. Day, evening and weekend visits available.
Bill fitted some wooden shutters, excellent tl reliable service, and clean and tidy work, highly recommend.
All-Blinds is a reputable local business based in the Hertfordshire town of Bishop's Stortford with an established working relationship with major UK window blind manufacturers. As a company, we supply a complete, professional and personal service from the selection of fabrics and designs to the installation of your chosen made to measure window blinds in either your home or your work place. All-Blinds offer the latest fabric designs and innovation in blind systems for your home with reassuring quality and customer care. All our prices are competitive so contact us today to see how we can help you!
We at Crystal Curtain and Blind Manufacturers Ltd in Kent have been working in both the commercial and domestic sector for over 17 years now, and some of our existing customers include schools, BT, colleges, 5 councils, hospitals and care homes and Kent Police. Because of this, you can also be assured that we are very flexible fitting in around your schedules at times that are convenient. We are a family run business with many years of experience in the industry and our aim is to make the process of choosing, buying, and installing of your purchases as easy as possible. We manufacture the majority of our products in-house and to the highest standards possible, which means that even the most awkward of shapes or requirements are normally possible to accommodate. By offering a free, no obligation measuring and quotation service, we are able to offer advice if you have such a situation. Ring in now with your measurements and requirements for a free quote.
Welcome to St Anne's blinds. We are a local family run business experienced and established in surveying, manufacturing, supplying and fitting bespoke custom made to measure quality premium window blinds to suit every taste and budget. We offer an extensive range of blinds in various styles and designs. Vertical, Roller, Venetians in aluminium, Faux or real wood, Duo - mirage - vision blinds, Pleated, Perfect fit blinds, Blackout and roman, Motorized blinds, Wooden planation shutters. Visit our factory showroom located at unit 12 Lidun Park industrial estate off boundary road FY8 5HU Lytham St Anne's behind Mc Donald's between LK9 Pet Foods and Mountain and Cowell Flooring.
Are you looking for made to measure window dressings for your property? Carolina Blinds & Curtains are based in Totnes and cover all of South East Cornwall. We are a well established, local company providing quality window dressings throughout the local area. A wide range of products are available including, curtains, blinds, shutters, awnings all in a variety of colours, patterns and materials. Our friendly, professional team will come to your home with samples for you to choose from and measure the windows you would like dressed. Once your product has arrived with us, we will come to your home and fit them for you. As we don't have a shop and everything is done in the comfort of your own home, we are able to offer all of our products at highly competitive prices. Call us today to request your FREE quote.
Made 2 Measure are a family business that has been selling window coverings and soft furnishings for over 40 years. We offer window covering solutions for both domestic and commercial applications and have an unrivalled experience of both installing or products in many famous buildings like Tower Bridge, The Roundhouse Theatre, Alexander Palace to name a few. We have two well established shops in North London and are North London Main Dealers for Luxaflex, Velux and Silent Gliss products. With our fully trained and insured Sales, Estimating and Installation Team we can ensure you receive the best service available so whether you are looking for Venetian blinds, Roller blinds, Vertical blinds, Roman blinds, Pleated blinds, Facette blinds, Duette shades, or Shutters or Curtains we have everything you need. Give us a call to book an appointment with one of our estimators.
With over 21 years experience within the Commercial and Domestic Blind and Awning Industry we have gained a wealth of experience and expertise enabling us to take on most projects, confident that we will deliver complete customer satisfaction, whilst retaining the levels of service typically associated with a family run business. We provide quality installation and maintenance to commercial, corporate and private home ownership markets offering a no obligation measuring and quotation service. Our website should provide a comprehensive overview of Goldsack Blinds product and services, however, feel free to contact us by phone or e-mail if you would like help or more information.
I originally found Drapes By Design online and have now used them twice for their fantastic all round service. On this occasion they supplied and fitted a pole and some dinning room curtains for me. The man that has come out on both occasions, Paul, is really friendly, personable and easy to approach and he is also always easily contactable. The service is very efficient, the pricing is good and the quality is excellent, I would have no trouble in recommending them to others.
I would rate Drapes by Design 5 out of 5! They fitted a new curtain rail on a half bay for me, and I was pleased with their work. They remained polite and professional throughout, and I would happily use them again.
Paul and his team have fitted curtain poles, tracks and a roller blind throughout our house and have also made curtains for the majority of rooms (made to measure). We had just moved in and literally had bare windows upstairs and downstairs. Paul has been absolutely wonderful with us, explaining what the different options are and talking us through our choices. The fabrics our curtains have been made from are stunning and we are really delighted with them. The service has also been very efficient with prompt estimates, quick responses to emails etc A very professional but friendly company, faultless, would highly recommend Drapes by Design.
I would highly recommend Drapes By Design, in fact I would not use anyone else now. From the moment of the first visit to fitting of the blinds we do not have one complaint. Paul was very professional, provided a superb service and the total cost was value for money. You will not be disappointed if you use this company.
Blind and Awning makers in Dartford near Bexley in Kent. If you are looking for a Blind Maker to undertake Blind making in Dartford or Blind Accessories in Dartford call Drapes by Design today. We are well established Blind makers offering a range of Styles and services including Roman Blinds,Roller Blinds,Velux Skylight Blinds,Venetian Blinds,Vertical Blinds, Pleated Blinds, Pinoleum Blinds, Kyoto Sliding Blinds,Perfect Fit Blinds, Curtains,Fabrics,Linings,Curtain and Valance Headings,Curtain Pelmets and Valances, Accessories, Tracks and Poles, Blinds, Awnings in Dartford in Kent and the surrounding areas. As the region's foremost providers of top quality Blinds and Awnings in Dartford and the surrounding areas, we are dedicated to maintaining the high standard of Bespoke Blind Design you expect and deserve. We pride ourselves on offering a fantastic range of Home Furnishing services to suit everybody's needs.
These guys were recommended to me absolutely faultless, great service no pushy salesman and all round nice guys.
Was recommended by my work colleague. Couldnt fault these guys. Brilliant choice of blinds. Ordered on Tuesday blinds were all fitted on the friday.
Thanks, Hannah's blinds really pleased with my new wooden blinds, fast reliable and happy to recommend.
Are you looking to frame your windows with beautifully made Blinds, to give your room that extra touch? Perhaps you just wanted some added privacy for your office? Here at Hannah's Blinds we supply a large range of Blinds to suit every need. We are a family owned business, with over 10 years experience in manufacturing and supplying all types of Blinds. Based in Liverpool and covering the surrounding North West areas, we have been helping our clients choose the right fit for their homes and offices. We offer a wide range of Wooden and Fabric Blinds to both domestic and commercial clients ranging from: + Vertical Blinds + Roller Blinds + Wooden Venetians + Shutters + Day and Night Blinds Our Blinds are made in our own factories by our highly skilled workforce, using both traditional and modern manufacturing methods. This ensures we are only ever producing high quality blinds that are then fitted to your home or office. Whether you are looking for a more traditional look with our Shutter Blinds or a Modern feel with our revolutionary Day and Night Blinds, that allow you to choose between partial to no transparency. Giving you the ease to find the right levels of light and privacy for your property, we are on hand to help. We provide small to large businesses with Custom Blinds, and work directly with architects, project managers, interior designers and developers to help them choose the right fit to complement their projects. Hannah's Blinds also offer a region wide service as we also supply schools, colleges, hospitals and company head offices with our quality Blinds. Call us today for a chat and to discuss your requirements, you will also receive a Free Quote when calling. When you call please mention you found us on Thomson Local, thank you.
Do you need new blinds for your home or office space? Blinds Direct are a supplier and installer of blinds, shutters and awnings that are all made to measure to fit individual spaces for homes and commercial buildings. We offer a personal service and will visit you at home with samples so that you can see the products first hand and we can see where you would like them fitted. This gives you the opportunity to also choose the colours and style that match your existing paintwork and furniture. An impressive variety of shutters are available for you to choose from in all shapes, sizes, and styles and our shutters can be made to fit any window or door. Having been established for more than 16 years we have built up an excellent reputation in this time for our fantastic customer service and highly competitive prices. We are pleased to be able to offer a manufacturers guarantee on all of our products for your added peace of mind. Call us today to request a free, no obligation quote.
Simply Blinds is one of the best kept secrets in Bristol when it comes to blinds for your home or office. Our many loyal customers keep referring their friends and colleagues to us because they not only trust our advice but respect our expert installation and we are as the name says, Simply Blinds. We offer a full range of fabrics and a wide range of materials from which to choose including suedes and linens, allowing you the ability to match existing furniture and decor. We will come to your home or office and measure your windows for the perfect fitting window coverings and our price includes free expert fitting. Yes you might find cheaper prices with some of our competitors but we will not sell you a cheaper product because our reputation is all about providing the best for our customers at a reasonable price. Call us today for a free no obligation consultation.
We are contractors for many local authorities including: universities, the police, councils and the NHS. We have a showroom situated in Basford, Nottingham complete with a dedicated, knowledgeable and friendly team ready and waiting to help you. We cover the whole of Nottinghamshire, Mansfield, Derby, Leicester and even further afield when requested in our fleet of 4 full time working vans. Our aim is to provide you, the customer with top quality blinds at very competetive prices. We aim to measure, make and fit your blinds within only 3 days. We cover all aspects of commercial and domestic blind fitting and supplying. Established since 1982, we have built a fantastic reputation for providing excellent quality products at affordable prices. We provide blinds for the home, office, domestic and commercial alike. Our blinds create the perfect finishing touch to any room, from kitchens and bathrooms to conservatories and patios; we do it all. Our blinds are made to measure and fitted to your exact measurements by our skilled team members. Made to last you can trust in our blinds, that is our Elite guarantee. We are passionate about our blinds, our team and our customers ensuring that along with great quality products and fantastic prices, that you also receive unrivaled customer service with the commitment and enthusiasm you wont find anywhere else. None of our team are self employed and do not work to commission, this means a hassle free, non pushy approach that you may not get else where. A genuine trusted service in Nottinghamshire for many years and many years to come.
Hexagon Blinds provides quality made to measure blinds in Richmond, Teddington, Twickenham, Kingston, Hounslow and Hampton. Whatever, colour, size, shape or type of blind you need we can help. We have a huge selection of blinds for you to choose from including: venetian blinds in aluminium and wood; stylish vertical blinds; roller blinds and pleated blinds in hundreds of different fabrics and colours; as well as an extensive range of roman blinds. We are a local company based in Teddington, and offer a personal service which includes: a free consultation and visit to your home or office, and accurate window measurements by an expert. All goods are guaranteed and delivery is normally within three weeks. Contact us for the best selection of made-to-measure blinds in the local area.
Would you like some new window dressings for your property? Elbee Designs are a small, local, independent business that offer quality, bespoke curtains or blinds for your property. We welcome both domestic and commercial customers, and provide a complete consultation and fitting service. With over 25 years industry experience, we always strive to provide a personal and efficient service. Free no obligation quotes are available and we also offer free fitting service. Call us today for more information.
Looking for unique interiors at budget-friendly prices? Arrange your consultation with Prestige Blinds today! We can help transform your home and control the light in your rooms with Prestige Blinds in Birkenhead. Our independent blind fitting specialists provide made to measure blinds and pelmets, plus ongoing aftercare and a comprehensive repair service. We manufacture and fit gorgeous blinds in a wide range of styles, with something to suit any property. From conservatory blinds to Roman drapes, we can help! We're available throughout Merseyside, fitting affordable soft furnishings for homes and businesses throughout the region. Call Prestige Blinds now for more information.
Exceptional service provided for kitchen and lounge blinds, friendly professional service, highly recommend.
Fusion Blinds based in Hertford offers a comprehensive range of blind styles and shading solutions to compliment any domestic or commercial environment. Our dedicated team are on hand to offer advice on every aspect of ensuring our customers needs are met to the highest standard. Our range covers bespoke plantation shutters to motorised patio awnings, custom made curtains and all other blind styles. With over 25 plus years industry experience we can provide expert advice and we pride ourselves on ensuring the highest standard of work is carried out on every project. We provide a full measure and installation service carried out by our dedicated working directors and expert advisors. For commercial customers we offer a full project management service for those interior contractors and facilities managers who want a reliable, dependable company to take care of their entire window furnishing requirements. Contact us to request a no obligation quotation.


text:
Here's your first look at Lebron James in Fortnite
Thanks to images uploaded to the Epic Games Store, Fortnite fans can finally get their first look at the long-awaited Lebron James look.
Fans of Epic Games' popular battle royale shooter Fortnite Finally, get your first look at the skin of Lebron James, long teased.
Based on a batch of images uploaded to the Epic Games Store, FortniteLebron James' outfit will come in three unique styles. Majesty will feature the basketball star wearing a sleek black suit and hoodie adorned with gold accessories, while Tune Squad replicates his design in the upcoming Space Jam: a new legacy movie. Lastly, Casual seems to evoke James's more laid-back outfit, sporting a simple T-shirt and shorts.
Related: DC's Final Batman / Fortnite Comic Includes A Code For A Batarang Ax
Rumors of the skin's existence have spread Fortnitecommunity, but an official announcement is still awaited. The Lebron James skin is likely to be added alongside a limited-time competitive event. Like the previously released Deathstroke and Thanos skins, players will likely need to compete in an online tournament for a chance to unlock the skin before it enters the in-game store.
While details on the skin will be confirmed in the near future, reports indicate that the outfit will be the latest addition to the game's Icon series. The package description allegedly reads: "MVP, Global Icon, Gold Medalist, The King. LeBron is bringing his legacy to the Icon series with outfits, gear, and more!"
Related: Batman: A Crisis-Level Threat Just Crashed Into Fortnite
The Lebron James skin release is likely to coincide with the release of Space Jam: a new legacy. The sequel to the beloved '90s comedy stars Lebron James, who teams up with a group of iconic Looney Tunes to rescue his son from a mysterious dimension known as The Server-Verse.
Developed by Epic Games, Fortnite is available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S, Nintendo Switch, PC and mobile devices. Directed by Malcolm D. Lee, Space Jam: A New Legacy stars LeBron James, Don Cheadle, Zendaya, and Sonequa Martin-Green. The film hits theaters and at HBO Max on July 16.
Read on: Naruto, Dragon Ball Skins Supposedly Coming to Fortnite
Fountain: Twitter
Drake Bell receives two years' probation on charges of endangering a minor
Brad lang
Brad Lang is a video game news editor at CBR and has worked as a video game journalist since 2019. He has a master's degree in creative writing and is licensed by Critical Hit, Stuff Magazine, and Rock, Paper Shotgun. When he's not playing video games, he hurts himself on a skateboard, collects old-school metal discs, or searches for his cat, Nemesis. If you're looking for it, you can find Brad on Twitter at @icebearlycoping.
More by brad lang
Previous: Teases 'Black Adam' costume as The Rock shows the sheer size of his DC adventure
Next: 'Peacemaker' Exclusive: Here Are The Directors Of John Cena's DC Series On HBO Max

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Wim van Egmond on Unique Sample Preparation Techniques
Welcome to the first edition of Masters of Microscopy: The People Behind the Lens, where we showcase and celebrate the individuals who are the heart of the Nikon Small World competitions. They are scientists, artists, researchers, educators and everyday curious individuals who uncover the fascinating microscopic world around us.
Van Egmond looks for microbes at the Berkelse Meer location where Antoni van Leeuwenhoek first found them.
Nikon's Small World competition has showcased the world's most compelling microscopy images — and the most talented artists and scientists who captured them — for over four decades. Thousands of remarkable images are submitted by hundreds of entrants year over year, and each year we proudly share new talent with the world.
That said, certain individuals have seen their stunning imagery win a top spot again and again thanks to work that enthralls competition judges and fans alike. One of those individuals, and one of Nikon Small World's most prolific winners is Wim van Egmond.
Beginning in 2002, his images have been recognized by Nikon Small World 32 times, including two first place finishes and a total of 10 top twenty finishes.
Based in the Netherlands, Van Egmond lives at the exact spot where Antoni van Leeuwenhoek in 1674 found microbes for the first time. A fan of Leeuwenhoek's work, Van Egmond set out to learn more about his discoveries and developed a passion for capturing photos through the microscope.
His photos and videos span many subjects, but Van Egmond has an impressive talent for capturing microscopic life forms, such as diatoms, ciliates and rotifers. These living subjects can be quite difficult to capture, as they are sensitive to temperature changes and tend to retract because of the heat of the microscope illumination lamp. Aside from being fragile living beings, it is almost impossible to know when an exciting moment is about to happen under the microscope. Without patience and a careful eye, it would have been very easy to miss the shot that won him the 2015 Small World in Motion prize, a Trachelius ciliate finding its dinner in a Campanella ciliate.
Van Egmond is by training and trade, not a scientist but an artist and photographer. As someone who does not have access to a high-tech lab every day, a unique aspect of Van Egmond's work is his innovative approach to the preparation of his images. While science labs use various advanced sample preparation techniques, he uses a combination of traditional tools and a few DIY techniques. For example, rather than high precision sample manipulation equipment, he's used a cat's whiskers (that fell off his pet cat naturally) to properly position a mud dwelling microbe. He also uses a common household item, Vaseline, to support the cover slip over his subjects and prevent it from moving and damaging his sensitive subjects. He used this method for the image of the diatom that won in 2013.
Van Egmond explains, "What probably no one realizes is that this diatom is as deep as it is high and very fragile. It is a cork screw and the spines extend outwards around it. So the slide itself must be just deep enough so that the subject would be touching the coverslip without being damaged."
Van Egmond uses household tools like Vaseline to position his subjects.
"The way I work is I spend a lot of time making the perfect sample, trying to manipulate the organism to behave well under a cover slip. It requires dexterity and craftsmanship, and is very meditative," said Van Egmond. "You sit behind a microscope and enter another world through the eyepiece. It's captivating and an endless source of inspiration."
Van Egmond's at home microscopy set-up.
A fan favorite from the competitions is a tiny aquatic organism, a Water flea (Ilyocryptus), (pictured below) loved by audiences because of its appearance of having a leisurely swim. As Van Egmond describes it, the water flea is "acting like a ballerina," but to capture this image requires expert dexterity. Although difficult to do, this is one example of a sample that Van Egmond has artistically captured through skill and technique.
He adds: "Wildlife is so close to us, yet most of us never look close enough to see it. A pool in your garden is actually a miniature underwater jungle. I started microscopy 25 years ago, and almost every time I come home with a new sample I see something that I have not seen before."
Van Egmond is a sought-after, independent artist known for his ability to bring together art and science (check out his Ted Talk on the wonders of the microscopic world). With a keen eye for scientific illustrations, he is frequently consulted to create content and microbe imaging. He helped to create an actual museum about microbes called Micropia in Amsterdam. Currently, Van Egmond is working on creating a movie featuring diatoms living in the mud of the North Sea.
He explains what motivates him to continue his artistry: "I hope my work reaches and inspires a large audience, anyone who is interested in life, strange things, and making discoveries. I want to encourage people to become more interested in science, or even in microbes."
Van Egmond's work perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Nikon Small World by blending stunning imagery with important scientific significance. You can view the full gallery of his winning work here or at http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/micropolitan/index.html.


Blepharitis is an inflammatory ocular condition affecting the eyelids which can be related to rosacea. Burning, itching and irritation of the eyelids are all common complaints with Blepharitis. Other common ocular symptoms include a gritty or sandy feeling in the eyes, red, inflamed or swollen eyelids, crustiness in the corners of the eyes, flaky skin on the eyelids, and dandruff. If left untreated, Blepharitis can lead to sties, irritation and inflammation of the cornea or keretitis and conjunctivitis.
Blepharitis is a relatively common eye condition with many possible causes. Blepharitis can also result from an infection in the eyes, which would require treatment with a prescription medication. Blepharitis may occur in conjunction with rosacea, or as a result of prolonged psoriatic arthritis.
The eyes and eyelids are surrounded by approximately 80 oil glands. Blepharitis is the result of a malfunction within these oil glands surrounding the eye. If the immune system becomes disrupted due to stress, infection, dehydration, or allergies these oil glands react by producing too little oil causing dryness, too much oil causing crusting of the eyes, or even the wrong kind of oils. When the oil gland production is disrupted the eyelids can become red, irritated, inflamed, swollen and crusty. Rosacea is often linked to blepharitis as it also a condition involving the function and regulation of the oil glands in the skin. Other causes of an oil gland malfunction include Bacterial exposure from eye makeup, ocular lubricants and contact lens solutions or direct contact with allergens present in the environment.
The element to blepharitis management is – pay close attention – eyelids and eye lashes hygiene. Treatment may include placing a clean washcloth which has been soaked in hot tap water on closed eyelids for three to five minutes, repeat this process a second time. Follow this by gently cleansing the eye area with a mild mixture of equal parts of baby shampoo and water and gently, then carefully rinse the lids thoroughly with warm water. This procedure can be done to two to three times a day as needed. Once your blepharitis is under control this process need only be done once a day. Rosacea-Ltd applied at the first indication of a blepharitis flare can also help to quickly bring this condition under control.


Another local company is making a donation to the New Animal Shelter.
TekSavvy is contributing $10,000 to the project, which is currently under construction.
In a recent statement, Lynn McGeachy from the Friends of the New Animal Shelter says the facility is set to open next month. They have a goal of $15,000 remaining to raise through donations made online or in person at the Civic Centre.


text:
\section{Introduction}
Cosmic neutrinos, as a probe of the universe to the highest energy regime, are indeed wonderful in many aspects.
Due to their extremely small interaction cross section,
they can penetrate through galactic infrared (IR) and cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons,
while photons of energy above 10 TeV would be attenuated.
Furthermore, being uncharged, they propagate along straight lines and are therefore able to point directly back to their sources,
while protons or other charged particles would be deflected by the magnetic fields in the universe.

Ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) have been observed up to $\approx$ $10^{19.6}$ eV.
The source of such amazingly energetic events remains a mystery.
Above this energy scale, UHECRs interact with CMB photons through the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin(GZK) processes~\cite{gzk_process}.
The GZK cut-off of the cosmic ray energy spectrum was first observed
by the High Resolution Fly's Eye Experiment~\cite{cutoffHiRes}
and later confirmed by the Pierre Auger Observatory~\cite{cutoff}.
As such, the corresponding GZK neutrinos,
a necessary by-product of the GZK process,
are almost guaranteed to exist.
Nevertheless, none of these have been observed so far.
Detection of the GZK neutrinos would provide critical information
for unraveling the mystery of the origin and evolution of cosmic accelerators,
and will be one of the most exciting prospects in the coming decade~\cite{pisin_whitepaper}.

A promising way of detecting UHE neutrinos is the radio approach.
When an ultra-high energy cosmic neutrino interacts with ordinary matters on the Earth,
it would lead to a hadronic debris, caused by either charged-current or neutral-current weak interaction.
The former also produces a lepton with corresponding flavor.
Both the high energy leptons and hadronic debris induce particle showers.
As proposed by Askaryan in the 1960's~\cite{Askaryan},
the high energy particle shower developed in a dense medium would have net negative charges.
This charge imbalance appears as a result of the knocked-off electrons being part of the shower,
as well as positrons in the shower annihilating with electrons of the medium.
The net charges of the showers, typically $20 \%$ of total shower particles,
serve as a source which emits the Cherenkov radiations when they travel in the medium.
The sizes of the showers are quite localized (tens of cm in radial and a few meters in longitudinal development)
compared to those developed in the air (km scale),
and therefore result in coherent radiations for wavelengths longer than the shower sizes.
The corresponding coherent wavelength turns out to be in the radio band, from hundreds of MHz to a few GHz.
This Askaryan effect has been confirmed in a series of experiments at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC),
where different dense media such as silica sand, rock salt and ice were used~\cite{aska1, aska2, aska3, aska4}.

Various  experiments have been proposed based on the idea of Askaryan:
the balloon-borne antenna array (e.g. ANITA~\cite{anita1, anita2}),
the ground-based antenna array buried in salt (e.g. SalSA~\cite{salsa}) or ice (e.g. RICE~\cite{rice}),
and the radio telescope searching for lunar signals (e.g. LUNASKA~\cite{lunaska}).
As ground-based experiments have the advantage of low noise and low energy threshold,
they play an important role in the next-generation experiments
aimed at detecting some tens of GZK neutrinos per year.
However, for the extremely high energy neutrino event, especially for the electron neutrino,
it is very likely that the longitudinal size of the shower would become comparable to the distance between the antenna and the shower.
Under this situation, the common assumption of far-field radiation does not apply and near-field effects become nonnegligible.
In this paper, we study the impact of the near-field effect to the radiation pattern via a numerical method.
The organization of this paper is as follows:
Section II will discuss the underlying physics of the shower elongation.
Section III will introduce the numerical method and our setup.
Section IV will present the implementation of parallel computing to gain a satisfying efficiency of our numerical calculation.
In Section V, we analyse the results in both time-domain and frequency-domain.
We discuss the features of the near-field radiation pattern
and compare the far-field pattern between our results and the theoretical ones for validation.

\section{Coherent Cherenkov Pulses}
In the radio detection experiment,
signals come from Cherenkov radiations of net charges in the shower.
The key concept which makes this technique possible is coherent emission.
In fact, Cherenkov radiation is a broad band emission and the intensity increases as frequency increases.
For a single charged particle,
the Cherenkov signal in the radio band should be the weakest in the spectrum.
The compact size of the shower is what makes the radio signal so special.
Coherent emission greatly enhances the signal strength in the radio band.

The electric field and its associated vector potential of the Cherenkov radiation can be calculated by solving inhomogeneous Maxwell equations,
as demonstrated in the paper of Zas, Halzen and Stanev~\cite{ZHS}.
The vector potential can be obtained by the Green's function method:
\small{
\begin{equation}
	\vec{A}_{\omega}(\vec{x})
	= \frac{1}{4 \pi \epsilon_0 {\rm c}^2}
	\int\!\!d^{3}\!x'\,\frac{\exp{(ik|\vec{x}-\vec{x}\,'|)}}
	{|\vec{x}-\vec{x}\,'|}\int\!\!dt'\,\exp{(i\omega t')}
	\vec{J}(t',\vec{x}\,'),
	\label{eq:GreenMethod}
\end{equation}
}
\normalsize
where $k$ is the wavenumber,
$\vec{x}$ is the position of the detector,
$\vec{x}\,'$ is the position of the shower particles
and $\vec{J}$ is the current source.
Adopting the Fraunhoffer approximation
\small{
\begin{equation}
	\frac{ \exp{(ik|\vec{x}-\vec{x}\,'|)} }{|\vec{x}-\vec{x}\,'|}
	\approx   \frac{ \exp{(ik|\vec{x}|-i k\hat{x}\cdot\vec{x}\,')} }{R} ~,
	\label{eq:fraun_appr}
\end{equation}
}
\normalsize
where $R$ is the absolute value of $\vec{x}$,
the integration in Eq.(~\ref{eq:GreenMethod}) can be greatly simplified and
therefore enhances the computational efficiency in the Monte Carlo simulation~\cite{ZHS, AZ_1d, AZ_unified, AZ_thinned}.
The validity of this approximation relies on several length scales:
the detection distance ($R$), the spatial size of the shower ($l$) and the wavelengths of interest ($\lambda$).
The Fraunhoffer approximation works well under the condition
\small{
\begin{equation}
	\frac{l^2}{\lambda R}~\rm{sin}^2\theta \ll 1,
	\label{eq:farfield_condition}
\end{equation}
}
\normalsize
where $\theta$ is the angle between the shower axis and the observational direction.

However, for ultra-high energy showers, the longitudinal development is longer,
especially for electromagnetic showers that suffer from Landau-Pomeranchuk-Migdal (LPM) suppression~\cite{LPM, lpm_klein}.
Electromagnetic showers can be produced by charge current generated leptons.
For an electromagnetic shower of EeV-scale energy,
the impact of LPM effect on shower development has been investigated by Monte Carlo simulations~\cite{Niess, Bolmont, AZ_thinned}.
Electromagnetic showers of primary energy $10^{20}$ eV can be extended to about 200-m long with great fluctuations.
In such cases, the far-field condition cannot be satisfied for distances up to several kilometers,
Meanwhile, the typical detection distance for ground array detectors is about 1 km, as dictated by the attenuation length of radio signals in ice.
In addition,
the separation between detection stations in the proposed layout is also about 1 km,
which makes the possible detection distance even shorter.
Under these circumstances, the Fraunhoffer approximation is invalid
and one has to deal with the complicated integration in Eq.(~\ref{eq:GreenMethod}).

In the paper of Buniy and Ralston~\cite{BR},
the correction has been made by the saddle-point approximation,
which deals with Fresnel zone radiation where the Fraunhoffer condition fails.
However, it still can not cope with extreme cases for $R \sim l$, i.e. the near-field radiation,
which is an inevitable concern for showers of hundred meters long.
We address this problem by a numerical method based on first principle
so that near-field radiations can be efficiently obtained.
Figure (\ref{fig:near-field sweeping zone}) illustrates the relation among the three different radiation zones.
The Cherenkov radiation can be viewed as an analogy with the diffraction problem in optics.
Although the radiation in near-field is confined within the Cherenkov direction where the diffraction has yet to occur,
it does have a finite width which is at least as wide as the longitudinal development of the shower.
After reaching far-field,
the radiation starts to diffract out of the Cherenkov angle.
While the far-field approximation is able to correctly deal with the diffraction phenomenon in far-field,
it fails to describe the situation in near-field.

\begin{figure}[H]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=9cm, height=6cm ]{near_field_sweeping_zone_grey.pdf}
	\caption{A cartoon picture that illustrates the diffraction phenomenon in three different radiation zones. In near-field there is little diffraction, but the radiation sweeping zone is as wide as the longitudinal development of the shower. In Fresnel zone the diffraction starts to take effect and part of the radiation leaks out of the Cherenkov angle.}
	\label{fig:near-field sweeping zone}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

Hadronic showers, on the other hand, are less affected by the LPM effect~\cite{alvarez98, acorne},
since the sources of electromagnetic components in hadronic showers are the decay of neutral pions,
which tend to interact with the medium instead of decay at energy levels above 6.7 PeV.
The far-field condition is well fulfilled for hadronic showers in most practical cases.

\section{Numerical Method}
Numerical algorithms for calculating electromagnetic fields have been in existence for decades.
However, it was not until the recent rapid growth of computational power that this approach became wildly adopted.
Among all the existing algorithms,
the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD hereafter) method has several advantages:

\begin{itemize}
\item
It is exceptionally simple to be implemented by computer programs.
\item
The time-domain approach is well suitable for an impulse signal;
A broad band impulse can be calculated in one single run.
\item
The algorithm itself is inherently parallel and efficiency can be largely improved via parallel computing.
\end{itemize}

The idea of FDTD was first proposed by Yee in the 1960's~\cite{Yee},
and has been in use for many years for electromagnetic impulse modeling.
Like most numerical finite difference methods,
space is discretized into small grids and fields are calculated on each grid by solving Maxwell equations.
Adopting a special lattice arrangement (known as the Yee lattice),
the E-field and H-field are staggered in both space and time and can be calculated in a leapfrog time-marching way.
In the remainder of this section, we review the algorithm of the FDTD method and our setup.

\subsection{Algorithm}
The Maxwell curl equations in differential forms are
\small{
\begin{equation}
	\nabla \times \mathbf{E} = -\mu      \frac{\partial \mathbf{H}}{\partial t} ~,
\end{equation}
\begin{equation}
	\nabla \times \mathbf{H} =  \epsilon \frac{\partial \mathbf{E}}{\partial t} + \sigma \mathbf{E} ~.
\end{equation}
}
\normalsize

The FDTD method approximates derivatives by finite differences.
The central difference is adopted to achieve 2nd order accuracy in both spatial and temporal derivatives.
We assume cylindrical symmetry along the shower axis (defined as z-axis),
and therefore all the derivatives with respect to $\phi$ vanish.
In addition, due to the polarization property of Cherenkov radiations,
the $H_r, H_z, E_\phi$ components also vanish.
This can save large amounts of computer memories and calculation time.
Figure(~\ref{fig:cylind_grid}) shows the configuration of the lattice under these assumptions.
Maxwell equations in a cylindrical coordinate then reduce to:
\small{
\begin{eqnarray}
	\frac{\partial E_r}{\partial z} - \frac{\partial E_z}{\partial r} = -\mu \frac{\partial H_\phi}{\partial t}, \\
	-\frac{\partial H_\phi}{\partial z} = \epsilon \frac{\partial E_r}{\partial t}, \\
	\frac{1}{r} \frac{\partial (rH_\phi)}{\partial r} = \epsilon \frac{\partial E_z}{\partial t}.
\end{eqnarray}
}
\normalsize
where we have set $\sigma = 0$, assuming lossless medium.

The above equations can be discretized in both space and time
with a spatial interval of $\Delta r$ and $\Delta z$ in the r and z direction respectively,
and with a time interval of $\Delta t$.
For example, the discretized field for $E_r(r = i \Delta r, ~z = j \Delta z, ~t = n\Delta t)$ is denoted as $E_r^n(i, j)$.
Replacing derivatives with finite differences, we have
\small{
\begin{eqnarray}
	&&H_\phi^{n+1/2}(i+1/2, j+1/2) = H_\phi^{n-1/2}(i+1/2, j+1/2) \nonumber \\
	&&+ \frac{\Delta t}{\mu \Delta r}[ E_z^n(i+1, j+1/2) - E_z^n(i, j+1/2) ] \nonumber \\
	&&- \frac{\Delta t}{\mu \Delta z}[ E_r^n(i+1/2, j+1) - E_r^n(i+1/2, j-1/2) ] \label{eq:fdtd_Hphi}, \\
	\nonumber \\
	&&E_r^{n+1}(i+1/2, j) = E_r^{n}(i+1/2, j) \nonumber \\
	&&-  \frac{\Delta t}{\epsilon \Delta z}[ H_\phi^{n+1/2}(i+1/2, j+1/2) \nonumber \\
	&&- H_\phi^{n+1/2}(i+1/2, j-1/2) ] \label{eq:fdtd_Er}, \\
	\nonumber \\
	&&E_z^{n+1}(i, j+1/2) = E_z^{n}(i, j+1/2) \nonumber \\
	&&+ \frac{\Delta t}{\epsilon r_i \Delta r}[ r_{i+1/2}H_\phi^{n+1/2}(i+1/2, j+1/2) \nonumber \\
	&&- r_{i-1/2}H_\phi^{n+1/2}(i-1/2, j+1/2) ] \label{eq:fdtd_Ez}.
\end{eqnarray}
\normalsize
Iteratively, we can use Eq.~\ref{eq:fdtd_Hphi} to update the H-field,
and then use Eq.~\ref{eq:fdtd_Er} and Eq.~\ref{eq:fdtd_Ez} to update the E-field, and so on.
The relation between spatial and temporal grid sizes have been chosen as
$\Delta r = \Delta z = \delta$, ${\rm c_{ice}}\Delta t = \delta/2$ such that numerical stability is satisfied.
Numerical dispersion can be controlled at an acceptable level if we define the grid size fine enough~\cite{Courant, Taflove}.

\begin{figure}[htbp]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=8cm]{cylind_grid_grey.pdf}
	\caption{The adopted lattice configuration.}
	\label{fig:cylind_grid}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

\subsection{Simulation Setup}
In order to not lose focus on the RF calculation,
we simply assume a shower model for longitudinal development rather than to invoke the Monte Carlo packages.
For electromagnetic showers,
the well known Nishimura-Kamata-Greisen (NKG) parameterization formula~\cite{NKG} that describes the number of shower particles reads
\small{
\begin{equation}
	N_e(X) = \frac{0.31}{ \sqrt{\ln{E_0/E_c}} } \exp \left[\left(1-\frac{3}{2}\ln{s}\right)\frac{X}{X_R}\right],
	\label{eq:nkg_formula}
\end{equation}
}
\normalsize
where $E_0$ is the energy of the primary particle and $E_c$ is the critical energy,
$X$ is the slant depth, $X_{max}$ the depth where the shower reaches its maximum number,
and $s$ is the (dimensionless) shower age defined as $s = 3X/(X+X_{max})$.
The NKG formula can be fit by a Gaussian distribution as:
\small{
\begin{equation}
	N_e(z) = N_{{\rm max}} \exp(-\frac{z^2}{2l^2}),
	\label{eq:showerModel}
\end{equation}
}
\normalsize
where $N_{{\rm max}}$ is the particle number at shower maximum
and $l$ is the longitudinal shower length.
For charge distribution in a snapshot,
we assume Gaussian distribution in both radial ($r$) and longitudinal ($z$) directions:
\small{
\begin{equation}
	n(z,r) = \frac{N_e}{(2\pi)^{1.5}\sigma_z\sigma_r^2}
	\exp \left(-\frac{(z-X)^2}{2\sigma_z^2}\right)
	\exp \left(-\frac{r^2}{2\sigma_r^2}\right),
\end{equation}
}
\normalsize
where $z$ and $r$ are the cylindrical coordinates in units of g/cm$^{2}$,
and $\sigma_z$ and $\sigma_r$ represent the standard deviation of the distribution in $z$ and $r$ directions, respectively.
The $\sigma_z$ is generally smaller than $\sigma_r$ and thus has no significant effect on the radiation pattern.
We adjust different relations among $R$, $l$, $\sigma_r$ and $\theta$ to produce radiation in different zones.
The value of $E_0$ only affects the overall normalization magnitude and is not our focus,
so we simply set $E_0 = 10^{19}$ eV throughout the study to obtain a reasonable scale of magnitude.
More realistic magnitudes can be obtained from Monte Carlo simulations of the shower.
Following the same spirit, we do not extract the number of net charged particles from the number of total charged particles (the normal ratio is about 0.2) in our model.
Our main focus is on the impact of these parameters on the shape of the Cherenkov radiation in both time-domain (the waveform) and frequency-domain (the spectrum).
The medium we use is ice, and the corresponding parameters are set accordingly.
That is, the critical energy $E_c$ is 73 MeV, the density of ice is 0.92 g/cm$^3$,
and the index of refraction is 1.78.

The lateral distribution $\sigma_r$ is set at 1m throughout the study for numerical purpose.
This is about ten times larger than the actual shower Moliere radius.
To avoid unmanageable computing time, our numerical choice of the Moliere radius is dictated by the resolution in FDTD method that we use. This compromise, however,
does not affect the physics we are discussing.
A more realistic situation should again rely on shower Monte Carlo simulations,
which would give the correct lateral size of showers,
and then use FDTD method with finer resolution to obtain the radiation pattern.
Of course, finer resolution requires more computing time and resources.
In principle, one can apply the scaling of each quantity in FDTD method.
The scaling relationships between the grid size and the physical quantities in FDTD method are: if the grid size reduces by K times, then the time scale should also decrease by K times, while the frequency, the charge current, and the electric field should all increase K times.

Figure~(\ref{fig:setup}) is a cartoon that depicts our setup.
The shower travels in the +z direction emitting Cherenkov radiations.
We define a spherical coordinate whose origin lies in the intersection of the z axis and the shower maximum.
Desired detector positions are chosen by varying both the detection angle ($\theta$) and detection distance ($R$),
and record the electric field values as time evolves.
After one single run, we were able to obtain all the simulation results we needed.
Here one can see the merit of using a time-domain calculation method.

\begin{figure}[htbp]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=6.5cm]{setup_grey.pdf}
	\caption{Schematic diagram for the simulation set up.}
	\label{fig:setup}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

\subsection{Performance Improvement via the GPU Parallelization}
Graphical processing units (GPU) have became increasingly important in the field of high performance computation.
Sparked by the needs of computer game markets, GPUs are currently advancing under booming developments.
They have become programmable via the Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) provided by NVIDIA,
and have been implemented in various scientific areas such as molecular dynamics, gravitational N-body simulations and lattice QCD
~\cite{MD, sapporo, cudanbody, gamer, lattQCD}.
CUDA is an extension of the C language, one of the most popular high-level languages in the world.
Programmers who are familiar with C language can utilize GPU computations by simply calling the functions from CUDA.
General parallelization strategies can be found in the CUDA Programming Guide available on their webpage.
Because of its multicore architecture,
GPUs are ideal for implementing parallel algorithms.
The FDTD method is therefore an ideal candidate to benefit from GPU computing.
With the help of GPU parallelization,
we have obtained a great improvement on computing efficiency which otherwise would be so low that it makes the FDTD method formidable.

We run our code by a NVIDIA GTX285 graphic card provided by
the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering of National Taiwan University (CQSE).
Table (\ref{tab:benchmark}) shows the improvement of GPU acceleration using a NVIDIA GTX285 graphic card,
compared to Intel Quad Core i7 920 at 2.66GHz (sequential code without CPU parallelization).
The computing time can be accelerated up to about 200 times,
depending on the total number of grids.
This is a great efficiency improvement, from more than a day to only ten minutes.

\begin{table}[h]
\begin{center}

\begin{tabular}{ l | c c c c } \hline \hline

$N_{\rm{grid}}$		&$t_{\rm{CPU}}$	&$t_{\rm{GPU}}$	&speed up		&GPU performance\\
			&(sec)  			&(sec)  			&(${t_{\rm{CPU}}}/{t_{\rm{GPU}}}$)  &(GFLOPS)\\
\hline
$256^2$		&5.15				&0.040				&128.75			&57.0 \\
$512^2$		&34.94				&0.186				&187.85			&98.1\\
$1024^2$	&294.41				&1.167				&252.28			&125.1\\
$2048^2$	&2122.80			&8.372				&253.56			&139.5\\
$4096^2$	&15751.17			&67.617				&232.95			&138.2\\
$8192^2$	&120617.48			&681.082			&177.11			&109.8\\
\hline \hline

\end{tabular}
\end{center}
\caption{Performance of CPU and GPU codes.}
\renewcommand{\arraystretch}{1.5}
\label{tab:benchmark}
\end{table}

\section{Results}

\subsection{At the Cherenkov Angle}
We first focus on radiation field right at the Cherenkov angle $\theta_c$.
The magnitude of the E-field, $E_\omega$, of course, decreases as the detection distance $R$ increases.
However, the scaling relation for such a decrease behaves quite differently between the near-field and the far-field regimes.
Figure (\ref{fig:near_match}) and Figure (\ref{fig:far_match}) show the spectrum of E-field at different distances $R$ with different scalings.
The longitudinal length $l$ is assumed to be 20 m,
which is roughly the length of a shower with $10^{18}$eV primary energy.

For $R$ = 50 m to 100 m, Figure (\ref{fig:near_match}) suggests that the magnitude of E-field goes like $1/\sqrt{R}$ in all frequency range.
On the other hand, for $R$ = 100 m to 200 m, the lower frequency part of the spectrum decreases faster than $1/\sqrt{R}$.
In fact, as Figure (\ref{fig:far_match}) implies,
the lower frequency part goes like $1/R$.
This phenomenon can be interpreted in a physical explanation.
It is a known fact that high frequency waves are less likely to diffract than low frequency ones.
As a result, the high frequency components of the Cherenkov radiation are more confined in the $\theta$-direction and their energies can only spread into the Cherenkov cone,
which makes them go like $1/R$ due to geometrical reason.
The fields are thus go like $1/\sqrt{R}$, which is a behavior of cylindrical wave.
For the low frequency components,
diffraction allows another direction (the $\phi$-direction) for their energies to disperse,
which therefore makes them decrease faster.
As $R$ becomes large enough to satisfy the Fraunhofer limit~\cite{AZ_unified, AZ_thinned}, the radiation source can be viewed as a point,
which leads to a spherical wave behavior where energy goes like $1/R^2$.
In consequence, the scaling between $E_\omega$ and $R$ of all frequency range again has a simple relation: $E_\omega$ $\propto$ $1/R$.

\begin{figure}[H]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=9cm, height=6cm]{spec_cylin_R_50_100_200_a_20_ang_0.pdf}
	\caption{$\sqrt{R}|E_\omega|$ spectra at $R$ = 50 m, 100 m and 200 m (from top to bottom), for $l$ = 20 m and $\sigma_r$ = 1 m.
	These three spectra match well in thet high frequency regime,
	implying a cylindrical behavior ($E_\omega$ $\propto$ $1/\sqrt{R}$).}
	\label{fig:near_match}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[H]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=9cm, height=6cm ]{spec_spher_R_50_100_200_a_20_ang_0.pdf}
	\caption{$R|E_\omega|$ spectra at $R$ = 200 m, 100 m and 50 m (from top to bottom), for $l$ = 20 m and $\sigma_r$ = 1 m.
	These two spectra match well in the low frequency regime,
	implying a spherical behavior ($E_\omega$ $\propto$ $1/R$).}
	\label{fig:far_match}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

In Fresnel zone, the scaling behavior is a smooth transition from cylindrical to spherical.
Since components of different frequencies reach the Fraunhofer condition at different $R$,
the shape of the spectrum in Fresnel zone would change.
To be specific, higher frequency part meets Eq.(\ref{eq:farfield_condition}) at larger $R$,
and thus decreases slower in Fresnel zone.
The peak of the spectrum, as a result,
would migrate to higher frequency as $R$ move further away.
This phenomenon can also be observed in time domain.
Figure(\ref{fig:waveform_200_to_700m}) shows the waveform from near-field to far-field.
There are two interesting features for the waveform.
First, the waveform in the near-field ($R$ = 200 m) has a small tail in its rear part,
which gradually vanishes as $R$ increases.
Second, the waveform in the near-field is an asymmetric bipolar pulse in contrast to the symmetric bipolar pulse in the far-field.
These two features can be understood in a qualitative sense.

\begin{figure}[H]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=9cm, height=6cm ]{ang_0_a_50_R_200_to_700.pdf}
	\caption{Time domain waveform at $R$ = 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 m (from left to right), for $l$ = 50 m and $\sigma_r$ = 1 m. The tail part in the near-field is clear. Notice the transition of the asymmetric waveform in the near-field to the symmetric waveform in the far-field. }
	\label{fig:waveform_200_to_700m}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

Figure (\ref{fig:first_light}) depicts a geometrical relation of Cherenkov radiation for a single charged particle emitted from different points.
Suppose an observer is at point $a$ and the shower travels along the z-axis,
wherein $z_0$ locates at the Cherenkov angle,
and $z_+$($z_-$) is any point lies right(left) to $z_0$.
Compare the arrival times of signals emitted from point $z_0$ and $z_+$.
When the charged particle passes $z_0$, it emits a signal.
Later on, as the shower passes $z_+$, it emits another signal.
The previous signal, in the mean time, has reached to point $b$.
Therefore with the simple triangular relation,
it should be clear that any signal emitted from the point right to $z_0$ would arrive the observer later than the signal emitted from $z_0$.
This is commonplace: the signal emitted first would end up arriving first.
However, the situation would be reversed on the other side.
When the shower passes $z_0$ and emits a signal,
the signal that emitted from $z_-$ has only traveled a distance that equals to the distance between $z_-$ and $c$, which means the signal has not even reached point $d$.
Therefore, signal emitted from the point left to $z_0$ would still arrive the observer later than the signal emitted from $z_0$.
It may seem counter-intuitive for a signal emitted later would in the end arrive earlier.
The crux of this unusual behavior is that the charged particle in ice travels faster than  electromagnetic wave does.
The signal emitted from $z_0$ is thus the first signal during the whole process.

With this in mind, we are now able to describe near-field radiation qualitatively.
When the first signal from $z_0$ arrives the observer,
it would generate a sudden rise of the scalar and vector potential.
The rise can be expected to be relatively strong for two reasons.
Firstly, $z_0$ is the shower maximum having a strongest source.
Secondly, since signals coming from the vicinity of $z_0$ would all be squeezed into a very short time interval and arrive at almost the same instant.
This "squeezing effect" can also be found in the case of the ordinary Lienard-Wiechert potential in the vacuum, where the most intensified direction points towards the traveling direction.
After the rise, the potential would experience a smoother decrease,
which results from the both sides of $z_0$ where signals would not be squeezed and the number of charged particle are fewer.
The corresponding E-field is just the derivative of the potential,
so the waveform should be a sharp peak coming first with a smooth tail following up in an opposite polarization.
A longer longitudinal length would generate a smoother tail.

\begin{figure}[H]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=9cm, height=6cm ]{first_light.pdf}
	\caption{The geometrical relation of Cherenkov radiation for a single charged particle emitted from different points. The charged particle travels along z-axis and the observer is located at point $a$.}
	\label{fig:first_light}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

In fact, the sharp peak is actually a delta function since the sudden rise in potential is represented by a step function.
A delta function waveform is unphysical and only appears in the one dimensional approximation which neglects the lateral distribution.
In real cases, the lateral distribution of the shower plays a part in interference and smooths the delta function.
Namely, the lateral distribution, based on its size, filters out high frequency components of the spectrum via destructive interference.
As the detection distance moves further away,
signals from the whole range of longitudinal development arrive at the same time.
In consequence, the potential decreases drastically after the sudden rise.
For $R$ large enough (Fraunhofer limit),
the potential vanishes as fast as its rise,
and thus resembles a delta function.
Therefore, its derivative leads to a bipolar waveform symmetric in time domain.
This is the reason the asymmetric waveform in near-field gradually transform into a symmetric one as $R$ increases.
The peak shift of the spectrum can be understood as the longitudinal development gradually lose its impact on the waveform as $R$ increases.
In this case,
the characteristic frequency of the waveform is determined uniquely by the interference of the lateral distribution.

\subsection{Angular Distribution}

We now start to investigate the radiation for a fixed $R$ at different angles.
Figure (\ref{fig:spec_fresnel}) shows the near-field spectrum for $R$ = 300 m, $l$ = 20 m and $\sigma_r$ = 1 m.
We compared the result of FDTD method with the one of saddle-point approach and found they are in good agreement.
The peak frequency is highest at the Cherenkov angle and decreases as $\theta$ moves away from $\theta_c$, which is the main feature of diffraction.

\begin{figure}[H]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=9cm, height=6cm ]{spec_R_300_a_20_rm_1_ang_0_5_10_20_grey.pdf}
	\caption{Fresnel zone $E_\omega$ spectra at $\theta$ = $\theta_c$, $\theta_c$ + 5$^{\circ}$, $\theta_c$ + 10$^{\circ}$ and $\theta_c$ + 20$^{\circ}$ (from top to bottom), for $R$ = 300m, $l$ = 20 m and $\sigma_r$ = 1 m. The solid curves are our results and the dashed curves are obtained by the saddle-point approach. Results from both methods are in good agreement. The peak frequency is highest at the Cherenkov angle.}
	\label{fig:spec_fresnel}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

Figure (\ref{fig:spec_near}) shows the near-field spectrum  at different angles for $R$ = 300 m, $l$ = 100 m and $\sigma_r$ = 1 m.
The disagreement between the two methods is obvious since the saddle-point approach is not suitable in the near-field regime.
An interesting feature is that at different angles the peak frequency does not change much.
The reason is simple:
in the near-field the detection distance is too short for the diffraction to take effect,
and the radiation only exists within the area sweeping by the longitudinal length along $\theta_c$.
The peak magnitude at different angles reflects the longitudinal development.
As the radiation travels into the Fresnel zone or even Fraunhofer zone,
the diffraction effect gradually appears and part of radiation (especially lower frequency components) leaks out of the Cherenkov angle,
as illustrated in Figure(\ref{fig:near-field sweeping zone}).

One thing worth noticing is the peak frequency at $\theta_c$ in Figure (\ref{fig:spec_near}) is lower than that in Figure (\ref{fig:spec_fresnel}).
It is an example of how the longitudinal length affecting the characteristic frequency at the Cherenkov angle.
We can expect a long tail in the waveform in such case.

\begin{figure}[H]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=9cm, height=6cm ]{spec_R_300_a_100_rm_1_grey.pdf}
	\caption{Near-field $E_\omega$ spectra at $\theta$ = $\theta_c$, $\theta_c$ + 10$^{\circ}$ and $\theta_c$ + 20$^{\circ}$ (from top to bottom), for $R$ = 300m, $l$ = 100 m and $\sigma_r$ = 1 m. The solid curves are our results and the dashed curves are obtained by the saddle-point approach, which is not suitable in the near-field. The peak frequency is almost a constant at different angles. }
	\label{fig:spec_near}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

We now turn to the angular distribution for components of different frequencies.
Figure (\ref{fig:ang_fresnel}) shows the angular distribution in Fresnel zone for $\omega$ = 50, 100 and 200 MHz respectively for  $R$ = 300 m, $l$ = 20 m and $\sigma_r $ = 1 m.
The diffraction pattern is clearly shown:
higher frequency component has a narrower angular distribution.
All three curves are symmetric in both sides of the Cherenkov angle.

In near-field, the situation would be quite different.
Figure (\ref{fig:ang_near}) shows the angular distribution in near-field for $\omega$ = 20, 50 and 100 MHz respectively for  $R$ = 300 m, $l$ = 20 m and $\sigma_r $ = 1 m.
Radiation is stronger at $\theta < \theta_c$ than the other side,
since the far-field approximation replaces $|\vec{x}-\vec{x}\,'|$ with a constant $R$ in the denominator and therefore neglects the fact that the region $\theta < \theta_c$ lies closer to the shower axis and would surely have a larger signal.
For a large enough $R$,
since the whole longitudinal development can be viewed as located at the same point,
this difference becomes negligible,
resulting in a symmetric angular distribution.

\begin{figure}[H]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=9cm, height=6cm ]{angular_R_300_a_20_rm_1_Hz_50_100_200.pdf}
	\caption{Fresnel zone angular distribution for $\omega$ = 200, 100, 50 MHz (from top to bottom) with $R$ = 300 m, $l$ = 20 m and $\sigma_r $ = 1 m. We redefine $\theta$ = 0$^{\circ}$ as the Cherenkov angle for clarity. The angular distribution is symmetric at both sides. The diffraction pattern is presented clearly.}
	\label{fig:ang_fresnel}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[H]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=9cm, height=6cm ]{angular_R_300_a_100_rm_1_Hz_20_50_100.pdf}
	\caption{Near-field angular distribution for $\omega$ = 100, 50, 20 MHz (from top to bottom) with $R$ = 300 m, $l$ = 100 m and $\sigma_r $ = 1 m. We redefine $\theta$ = 0$^{\circ}$ as the Cherenkov angle for clarity. It shows an asymmetric angular distribution at both sides.}
	\label{fig:ang_near}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

Time domain waveform also gives some interesting properties.
Figure (\ref{fig:waveform_near}) shows the waveform in near-field at different angles.
As mentioned above,
the near-field waveform is asymmetric in time.
The characteristic frequency can be implied by the duration of the pulse.
The duration of the pulse at different angles changes quite little,
which we have already seen in Figure(\ref{fig:spec_near}).
One intriguing phenomenon is the arrival time difference of the waveform.
This subtlety is due to the fact that the near-field wavefront is a straight line on the r-z plane instead of an arc in the Fraunhofer limit.
Consequently, radiation arrives last to the observer at $\theta$ as it can be seen in Figure (\ref{fig:waveform_near}).

In Fresnel zone,
as shown in Figure (\ref{fig:waveform_fresnel}),
the arrival time difference vanishes if we take the zero-crossing instant as the arrival time.
The waveform becomes symmetric at $\theta_c$ while it remains asymmetric at other angles.
As mentioned earlier,
symmetric waveform results from the "squeezing effect",
which leads to a rapid decay of potential after arrival of the first signal.
For $\theta$ away from $\theta_c$,
the most squeezed region ($z_0$) correspond to an area where either the shower has not yet started to develop ($\theta > \theta_c$) or the shower development is over ($\theta < \theta_c$).
The signals emitted from the whole shower in this case would arrive in order,
either ordinary ($\theta > \theta_c$) or reversed ($\theta < \theta_c$),
which leads to a smooth decay of the potential and thus an asymmetric waveform.

\begin{figure}[H]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=9cm, height=6cm ]{waveform_R_300_a_100_rm_1_ang_0_5_10_grey.pdf}
	\caption{Waveform in near-field at different angles, for $R$ = 300m, $l$ = 100 m and $\sigma_r$ = 1 m. The solid curve is at $\theta$ = $\theta_c$, dashed curve is at $\theta$ = $\theta_c$ + 5$^{\circ}$ and dashed-dotted curve is at $\theta$ = $\theta_c$ + 10$^{\circ}$. The asymmetric waveforms are the striking feature of near-field radiation. Notice the arrival-time difference of the three waveforms. }
	\label{fig:waveform_near}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

\begin{figure}[H]
	\begin{center}
	\includegraphics[width=9cm, height=6cm ]{waveform_R_300_a_20_rm_1_ang_0_5_10_grey.pdf}
	\caption{Waveform in Fresnel zone at different angles, for $R$ = 300m, $l$ = 20 m and $\sigma_r$ = 1 m. The solid curve is at $\theta$ = $\theta_c$, dashed curve is at $\theta$ = $\theta_c$ + 5$^{\circ}$ and dashed-dotted curve is at $\theta$ = $\theta_c$ + 10$^{\circ}$. The waveform becomes symmetric at $\theta_c$ and remains asymmetric at $\theta_c$ + 5$^{\circ}$ and $\theta_c$ + 10$^{\circ}$. }
	\label{fig:waveform_fresnel}
	\end{center}
\end{figure}

\section{Summary and Conclusions}

We have studied the near-field radiation in both time domain and frequency domain.
We shown that even for a shower with symmetric longitudinal development (e.g. Gaussian distribution),
the resulting near-field waveform would be asymmetric in time.
The longitudinal development is as important as the lateral distribution even at the Cherenkov angle.
Future work on the parameterization of near-field radiation should take this into account.

As the radiation propagates,
the waveform would gradually become symmetric.
Moreover,
this transition occurs at different $R$ for different $\theta$.
To be specific, it occurs at shortest distance for the observer located at the Cherenkov angle.

For a ground array neutrino detector,
with the size of LPM-elongated showers becomes comparable with the typical detection distance,
the near-field effect is an indispensable factor.
The correct relation of distance dependence in near-field prevents underestimation of the signal strength in a Monte Carlo simulation.
Furthermore, the correct angular spread in near-field is necessary in order not to underestimate the detection solid angle of a neutrino detector.
The Fraunhofer approximation leads to an angular spread that is quite narrow for LPM-elongated showers.
It is incorrect since a shower of hundred meters long would at least generate radiation which also spans hundred meters long in near-field.
The overall detector sensitivity should be better than adopting traditional radiation formula in Fraunhofer limit in the Monte Carlo simulation.
We plan to find the parameterization formula suitable in all cases in the future work.

On the other hand,
due to the complicated features of near-field radiation,
new reconstruction methods are required.
For example, the normal way to reconstruct the direction of incoming Cherenkov pulses is by the arrival time differences between antennas.
This method treats the wavefront as a spherical one and is based on the far-field assumption which fails in near-field as we have shown.

Charged-current interaction of electron neutrino is the main source of ultra-high energy electromagnetic showers.
In a typical detection distance,
the near-field condition should be easily satisfied.
Identification of such radiation therefore implies electron neutrino events.
This opens an opportunity for neutrino flavor identification,
since muon and tau neutrinos only induce hadronic showers whose sizes are too compact to produce near-field radiation in a typical detection distance.

\section{Acknowledgements}
We thank Ting-Wai Chiu for the help in GPU-calculations.
This research is supported by the Taiwan National Science Council(NSC) under Project No. NSC98-2811-M-002-501, No. NSC98-2119-M-002-001,
the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering of National Taiwan University(NTU-CQSE) under Nos. 98R0066-65, 98R0066-69,
and the US Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC03-76SF00515.
We would also like to thank the Leung Center for Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics and the Taiwan National Center for Theoretical Sciences for their support.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


Food vs. Face: Dayton Restaurant News!
Stay tuned in the upcoming week to find out about a BBQ joint opening in Xenia called Smokin' Aces. The proprietor has agreed to give Food vs. Face an exclusive first look at the new digs, plus dish about the menu to get your mouths watering. It will be opening June 1st, so I promise to have the details to you before then!


text:
Paris - What you need to know before coming to Paris
Joan of Arc's Death: 10 Things You Didn't Know
Posted by Molli on January 14, 2020
Joan of Arc captured by the Burgundians at Compiègne. Mural in the Panthéon, Paris - WikiCommons
Paris - Attractions & museums - what to see
How to visit the Paris Catacombs
Paris - Our top 10 lists
10 French food specialties you absolutely have to try in Paris
What to wear in Paris? A guide for all seasons
Joan of Arc has become a household name since she lived in the 15th century. Nearly everyone has heard of this courageous woman who disguised herself as a man and led her people against the English – and won!
Joan of Arc unfortunately met a horrific death after she was captured by the enemy: the Anglo-Burgundians, who were a group of French people that sided with the English of the 15th century.
If you're interested in learning more about her untimely death, you've come to the right article. Keep reading to learn 10 things you didn't know about Joan of Arc's death.
DESIGN YOUR PRIVATE PARIS TOUR NOW »
1. Joan of Arc made a promise to Charles of Valois
Joan of Arc stands to the right of Charles of Valois during his coronation by
Jules Eugène Lenepveu – WikiCommons
Before I get into the specifics of what happened to Joan of Arc after she was captured by the Anglo-Burgundians, I want to give you a bit of background information as to why she was fighting for Charles of Valois in the first place.
When Joan of Arc was just 13 years old, she began to have visions. These weren't just any visions: she claimed that she had been visited by several religious figures, including archangel Michael, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. They instructed her to lead France to victory against England. The two countries had been involved in the Hundred Years' War.
Joan of Arc believed that she was chosen by God to support the French crown prince Charles of Valois against the English. Joan approached Charles of Valois and told him about her visions, and that she wanted to lead his army. She promised him that she would see him crowned as the rightful king of France.
Although Joan was just a young girl with no military experience, Charles agreed and let Joan an army to Orléans. Against all odds, Joan and her army won!
2. Joan of Arc was captured in 1430
Joan of Arc depicted on horseback in an illustration from a 1504 manuscript by Antoine Dufour – WikiCommons
After Joan of Arc successfully won back Orléans from the English and their French allies the Burgundians, word quickly spread of her victory. She went on to lead her troops and Charles of Valois to Reims, where Charles was crowned as King Charles VII.
All was well, until King Charles ordered Joan to lead an army to the French town of Compiégne, which had recently come under attack by the Burgundians. Joan agreed but as she was attempting to defend the town, was thrown from her horse.
She was left outside the town's gates and the Burgundians took her prisoners. They brought her to the town of Rouen, where the English were occupying the Bouvreuil castle.
3. The Anglo-Burgundians tried to get rid of Joan of Arc and King Charles VII
Joan of Arc interrogated in her prison cell by the Cardinal of Winchester by Hippolyte Delaroche – WikiCommons
Joan of Arc was captured by the Anglo-Burgundians because they saw her power and were afraid of her. They also wanted to discredit King Charles VII, who they felt only rose to power thanks to Joan.
King Charles VII did in fact owe his crown to Joan of Arc, as without her he would have never made it safely to Reims in order to be coronated. King Charles seemed to soon forget everything that Joan of Arc did for him, as though he knew she had been captured, he did nothing to try to save her.
Joan didn't go down without a fight, and tried to escape captivity several times. She even jumped from a 21 meter tower and survived, but was quickly recaptured. She was then moved to the town of Arras, before being moved back to Rouen.
4. Joan of Arc was charged with witchcraft and heresy
Jeanne d'Arc by François Chifflart – WikiCommons
There were close to 70 charges against Joan of Arc, and the major charges were witchcraft and heresy. Scholars say that the heresy charges were more politically motivated than religiously.
The Anglo-Burgundians wanted to make an example out of Joan of Arc, mostly due to the humiliation they suffered after being defeated by a teenage girl and her army. Her trial was vastly unjust, as the tribunal was made up completely of English and English supporters.
There were other reasons why Joan's trial was unjust. The court could find no evidence to support their claims against her, and they refused to give her a legal advisor. The fact that the trial moved forward anyways violated ecclesiastical law.
The Anglo-Burgundians were able to move forward with the unjust trial because they threatened to kill anyone who got in their way. This included many of Joan's supporters, and even the Vice-Inquisitor of Northern France.
5. Joan of Arc was also charged with cross-dressing
In addition to the charges of witchcraft and heresy, Joan of Arc was also charged with cross-dressing. While a woman in men's clothing wouldn't turn many heads today, in the 15th century this was a serious offence.
The Anglo-Burgundians were seriously offended that Joan chose to dress as a man. An opening statement from the trial reads as so:
"The report has now become well known in many places that this woman, utterly disregarding what is honourable in the female sex, breaking the bounds of modesty, and forgetting all female decency, has disgracefully put on the clothing of the male sex, a striking and vile monstrosity. And what is more, her presumption went so far that she dared to do, say and disseminate many things beyond and contrary to the Catholic faith and injurious to the articles of its orthodox belief."
Joan was not only heavily questioned on the religious visions she claims to have received, but also on her choice to dress like a man. Joan defended herself, stating that she felt more comfortable in men's clothing when she was surrounded by men. She also stated that she was sexually assaulted by the English when she was dressed in women's clothing.
6. Joan of Arc eventually broke down and signed a confession
Understandably, after hours of questioning and months of imprisonment, Joan of Arc eventually broke down and signed a confession. In the confession, she denied ever receiving religious visions.
Since Joan agreed to sign the confession, her sentence was minimized from the death penalty to life in prison.
7. But, then Joan of Arc wore men's clothing again
Joan of Arc by John Everett Millais – WikiCommons
Joan of Arc's confession was clearly just a moment of weakness for Joan, as a few days later she started wearing men's clothing again and claimed that she had received some other visions.
She was swiftly put back on trial. Like the rest of the proceedings up until this point, many ecclesiastical laws were broken. There even existed a few religious texts that backed up Joan's reasons for wearing men's clothing. She feared rape by her English captors, which clearly justified her actions.
The trial moved forward anyways, and all 27 members of the tribunal found her guilty, and thus sentenced her to death.
8. Joan of Arc was burned at the stake
Right-hand part of The Life of Joan of Arc triptych, Joan of Arc's Death at the Stake by Hermann Stilke – WikiCommons
Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in the Rouen marketplace on May 30, 1431. She was allowed to ask two clergymen to hold a crucifix in front of her body as she was burned.
In order to ensure that Joan had died, the English raked back the coals over her body so that everyone could see that she had perished. Then, to be extra sure, they burned her remains again. The English then dumped what was left of her in the Seine River.
Her executioner, a man named Geoffroy Thérage, was later quoted as saying that he feared being damned for killing a holy woman. Joan was 19 years old when she died.
9. A trial held 20 years after her death cleared Joan of Arc's name
Engraving of Joan of Arc from Figaro Illustre magazine, 1903 by Albert Lynch – WikiCommons
After Joan of Arc's death, the Hundred Years' War continued for 22 more years. Throughout the years of fighting and destruction, King Charles VII was able to retain his crown and remain king of France.
In 1456, King Charles ordered that Joan's case be reinvestigated in the hopes of clearing her name, even after death. He declared her innocent of all charges, and declared her a martyr for France.
Joan's terrible death was very well known across Europe, and she became even more famous. She inspired several works of art and literature and she even became the patron saint of France after she was canonized in 1920 (more on that soon!).
Joan of Arc was beatified by Pope Pius X in the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in 1909. This meant that the Catholic Church recognized that Joan had entered into heaven and could be prayed to for guidance and aide.
10. Joan of Arc was canonized a saint in 1920
The Adoration of St. Joan of Arc by J. William Fosdick – by Andrew Kuchling on Flickr
As I've already mentioned, Joan of Arc was beatified in 1909 in Paris. Soon after, in 1920, she was canonized a saint by Pope Benedict XV.
Joan of Arc is one of the most deeply studied women of the Middle Ages. Because of her trial, there are several documents describing her story, and her unfortunate fate. Her retrial also provided several eye witness accounts of her death at the stake.
Since her death, Joan of Arc has risen to fame an a Catholic and French icon. As mentioned, she is the patron saint of France!
I hope that you all have learned a little bit more about Joan of Arc's death after reading this article. It's a sad story, but it deserves to be told. Joan is one of the most courageous figures in French history!
If you'd like to learn more about famous French personalities, I recommend that you check out our walking tours in Paris! Our local guides are history experts, and they're sure to know even more about Joan of Arc and other figures like her! Click here to learn more and make your booking.
Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !
These are Amazon's best-selling travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.
The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2020 – Learn more here
Lonely Planet Paris 2020 – Learn more here
Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack – Learn more here
Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage – Learn more here
Swig Savvy's Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle – Learn more here
Check Amazon's best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.
Molli is a writer who lives and breathes Paris. When not writing, you can find her in a cafe with a coffee in her hand and her nose in a book. She also enjoys reading and long walks on the beach as she actually grew up on the seaside!
More Info on Free Paris tours
More Info on Private Paris tours
Top 5 Tours & Sightseeing in Paris
Tickets for Louvre Museum
Musée d'Orsay Reserved Access
Free Montmartre Tour
Guided Tour of the Eiffel Tower + Summit access
Arc de Triomphe: Skip The Line + Rooftop Access
with GetYourGuide and Tiqets


Get your free health discount plan and start saving money today on prescription drugs, dental services and vision care, including eye glasses and contact lenses at national chains and local stores and healthcare providers. No personal information required. Just print the health discount card now and put it in your wallet or purse. Get one for each family member.
Many competitors sell these health discount cards as "memberships." Some even charge a hefty one-time enrollment fee. Beware. Our health discount plan offers comparable savings and it is free!
The free healthinsuranceadvisory.org health discount plan is great for the entire family, including students and seniors ("donut hole" prescriptions), even your pet! It is also popular with companies, professional groups and trade organizations. Just print and hand out as many health discount cards as you wish.
It is Free! No enrollment, membership or monthly fees!
No deductible or waiting period!
No registration or personal information required!
No usage limits or eligibility restrictions!
Are you searching for low cost medical insurance or inexpensive dental insurance? We can help you save money. Not sure if you qualify for medical insurance because of a pre existing medical condition? No worries. Our exclusive InsurabilityProfile Tool™ is fast, easy and confidential, and will give you immediate feedback on your insurability. If cannot qualify, then we can help you secure pre existing condition medical insurance.
At healthinsuranceadvisory.org, we bring you a better selection of health insurance plans from top rated carriers, and provide better tools and information so you can make a more informed decision. Visit our Research Center to help you uncover alternatives and select the plan that is best for you.
A Health Savings Account or HSA is an excellent choice for individuals, families and self employed business owners who want a low cost medical insurance plan. The premiums are less than traditional major medical insurance and the tax savings will reduce your overall cost of medical insurance and healthcare.
Our online tools allow you to find and secure low cost individual medical insurance. You can shop and compare with confidence because individual medical insurance rates are regulated. That means you will pay the same as buying direct from the health insurer. Get an online medical insurance plan quote today!
For many years, proper dental care had long been considered an affordable expense. That is why employers never included it in their group health insurance plans. As the cost of dental care increased over the years, dental insurance gained in popularity and more employers during the 1970's began adding dental coverage to their employee benefit programs. Despite the rapid adoption of group dental insurance by employers today, it is estimated that only 62% of employers actually offer a dental insurance plan.
If you are one of the approximately 150 million Americans who does not not have full coverage dental insurance or are paying too much, get an online individual dental insurance quote today. Choose from a variety of inexpensive dental insurance plans. Keep your own dentist! Enroll online. Great for student dental insurance too. It is fast and easy!
Are you currently between jobs and want a more affordable alternative to COBRA coverage? Are you a student or recent graduate and need temporary medical insurance? Short-term medical insurance may be right for you. These affordable temporary health insurance plans help many individuals fill a short-term gap in coverage, usually 6 to 12 months or less.
Short-term medical insurance also helps individuals maintain continuous health insurance coverage in order to uphold HIPAA eligibility status. This is important because HIPAA eligible individuals are guaranteed the right to purchase individual major medical insurance, regardless of their health status.
Get covered immediately by obtaining an online temporary health insurance quote today. You can even apply online. It is simple and convenient!
Are you traveling outside the United States for pleasure, school or business? Medical insurance overseas and international student medical insurance can provide additional protection should you or a family member require healthcare. Since most individual medical insurance provide limited or no coverage beyond the United States, make sure you are adequately protected before leaving home. You also receive additional benefits, such as emergency air evacuation and travel assistance if you lose your passport or experience flight delays or cancellations.
Get an online medical insurance overseas quote now and apply online. Customize your plan based on the duration of your trip and the protection that is important to you. It is inexpensive and provides peace of mind.
Could your family financially withstand the expense of a critical illness, such as cancer or heart attack? Even though medical insurance covers the cost of surgery and hospitalization, there are still many uninsured expenses, such as deductibles, prescription drugs, nursing, and lost income or wages. Critical illness insurance or supplemental health insurance, such as cancer insurance pays a lump sum of cash upon the first diagnosis of a critical illness. Critical illness protection works well with a high-deductible health plan because the medical insurance premium savings can be used to pay for a critical illness insurance and the cash benefit can be used to help cover the high-deductible and other expenses.
Get a critical illness protection quote and start protecting your financial well-being.
Save Money on Health Insurance – Get Quotes Today!
Privacy Protected. No personal information required. We do not sell names.