Motorola Solutions Transforms Body-Worn Cameras for TETRA Users

Back in December the UK government decided on who and what will drive the new generation of emergency service communications. The ESN (Emergency Services Network) was the result of months of tendering and negotiations. So they decided that EE would manage the network and Motorola would provide the hardware. This article is about the first wave of communication devices that Motorola are planning to use with the ESN.

New innovative solution combines body-worn video camera, radio speaker and microphone with cloud-based data storage and management to create a complete digital evidence management system

At Critical Communications World 2016 (May 31 to June 2 in Amsterdam), Motorola Solutions announces a new combination of body-worn video camera, radio speaker and microphone, along with new, cloud-based, digital evidence management software, which is able to collaborate with TETRA digital two-way radios. The new âSmart Interfaceâ (Si) Si500 Video Speaker Microphone (VSM) is reducing the number of devices that weigh down public safety officers in the field today, while CommandCentral Vault digital evidence management software is providing unparalleled efficiency that saves time and resources.

Public safety agencies today face an increasing demand to capture, store, properly manage and share video evidence. While use of body-worn cameras has widespread and growing acceptance with public safety agencies and the citizens they protect, the massive amounts of data cameras create needs to be managed and stored, oftentimes incurring significant costs. With its new solution, Motorola Solutions tackles all of these challenges and offers an end-to-end solution that can be used with existing TETRA radio equipment. Public safety agencies are provided with a seamless experience from video capture in the field to back office storage and content management that helps them simplify workflows and reduce administrative overheads.

âIn Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA), TETRA digital radio technology has become a standard for mission-critical communications,â said Steven Young, vice president TETRA devices at Motorola Solutions. âThis is why we have developed a body-worn video solution that collaborates with TETRA radios. The Si500 is transforming digital evidence management by integrating our best microphone into a body-worn camera and combining it with a content management system thatÂ´s unmatched in its ease-of-use.â

Sight and Sound Simplified

Both body-worn camera and remote radio speaker microphone, the compact Si500 VSM is a unique interface that extends the mission-critical performance of Motorola Solutions TETRA digital two-way radios. The lightweight compact design includes innovative features to meet the needs of first responders:

  • The Si500 VSM is equipped with a 210-degree range-of-motion camera lens that provides optimal field-of-view and flexible wearing positions. Users can wear the VSM with the display facing in or out.
  • The Si500 VSM features a new adaptive audio engine that automatically adjusts audio settings based on the userâs wearing position and environment. With five integrated microphones and a loud 0.5-watt rated speaker, it provides the high audio quality of TETRA radios.

    Integrated Wi-Fi dramatically improves the speed of uploading multi-media. It also makes over-the-air feature updates via Radio Management quickly and seamlessly over Wi-Fi.

  • The Si500 VSM offers a full-screen tempered-glass display with an intuitive user interface that presents only vital information within three panels. Users have the ability to control radio channels and talkgroups, view recorded video and photos, tag videos and listen to audio recordings.

Digital Evidence Management Revolutionized

The digital evidence management solution includes the cloud-based CommandCentral Vault software application to securely store, manage and share digital evidence. With an expansive base storage capacity and integration with computer aided dispatch and records management systems, CommandCentral Vault is designed to make digital evidence management easy and affordable. The digital evidence management software also:

  • Ensures end-to-end security that reduces any challenge to chain of custody for agencies

    Pairs with the Si500 VSM and can also operate stand alone and accept evidence gathered from any device

  • Offers a highly streamlined ability to search, review, annotate and perform other evidence management, reducing administrative time and expense
  • Provides an industry-leading auto-redaction feature to help public safety agencies remove identities of individuals in videos seamlessly. Instead of having to painstakingly invest the time to review and possibly edit each video frame, technicians will be able to automatically mark objects such as faces, addresses or license plates and let the new technology blur them out automatically throughout the video, saving hours of administrative time.
  • Creates greater engagement and transparency with communities. The system enables agencies to improve evidence sharing and more easily respond to content requests.

This âSmartâ Earplug Can Be Your Language Translator In Real Time

We have all watched star trek orÂ ‘Allo ‘Allo!Â (bare with us) and wondered how we can understand all the different languages. Well it is all down to the tardis! It translatesÂ the persons speech from their mouth to your ear so you can understand in perfectÂ English.Â But nowÂ you don’t need to keep a Tardis about with you, as they have designed a earpiece that can translate different languages, just pop it into your ear and talk to some foreigners. You can find the original article here.

How many times did you give up on befriending a foreign national due to language problem? Even if you have befriended the person who doesn’t speak your language, it becomes difficult to converse with him or her. You always feel Â the need to have a translator, whether it is a face-to-face conversation or a telephonic interaction.

Technology has the solution for any or every kind of problem in this world. It is advancing day-by-day so language barrier can no longer make you behave like an alien. Communicating with a foreign national in real time is no longer a pain as a company has come up with the Pilot earphones that let two people who speak different languages communicate smoothly with each other.

So there won’t be any awkward pause the next time you speak with your friend who doesn’t know your language. Also, there is no need to consult either a dictionary or search online the next time you want to talk to your French or Spanish friend.

In fact, Wavery Labs, a New York-based company that launched the wireless earphones, will add more languages as soon as possible. Currently the earphone translates only three languages – English, French and Spanish. The company will soon add Italian to its list.

You must be wondering about its functions. It works when you connect the earphones to two different people, speaking different languages and translates what they say in the ear.

Waverly Labs calls it the first ‘smart earpiece’. But it hasn’t disclosed much detail about how it works. According to the company, the earphone uses “translation technology” embedded in an app. The Pilot will cost $129 (around Rs. 8,646) and will be available for pre-order on their website.

Public Safety Radio Network encounters Capacity Challenges during Brussels Bombings – See more at:

This article is from the well trusted website This story is about the Belgian tetra system, called ASTRID, running close to full capacity during one of the biggest disaster events that Belgium has seen. The system had a few stuttering moments, but with the unpredictable surge in traffic after the event, this is to be expected. To learn more read below and see what they are planning to doâ¦..

During last week bombings, ASTRID, the Belgian Public Safety TETRA network encountered a huge increase of traffic which resulted in a temporarily capacity problem.

ASTRID, the TETRA radio communications network in Belgium, used by theÂ security forces, has not functioned as desired, after the attacks of last week Tuesday, several media announced. Also the GSM network was down and therefore in some cases WhatsApp had to be used by the security forces.

Commissioner General Catherine De Bolle has requested an investigation. Several media mentioned that for many hours the system would not have worked. Therefore, the rescue operations of the police at the airport were much more difficult and more chaotic than it should be. Spokesman Peter Dewaele of the federal police admits that some things did not run as planned.

Astrid responds

“After analyzing the situation, Astrid requested all user organizations to sit around theÂ table in order to examine the communication after the attacks of 22 March. Meanwhile, concrete action and specific recommendations were specified,”

According to ASTRID, the exceptional nature of the emergency caused that some masts of the radio network could not be reached for a short period of time, because of the enormous increased traffic. Therefore communication was not possible, Astrid announced.

“From across the country emergency and security services were asked to provide assistance, which led to an extraordinary radio traffic. On specific requests of many of these organizations Astrid registered hundreds of extra radios to the network. Also the failure commercial mobile phone networks has led to a significant increase in radio traffic.”

“Not flat, or capacity”

Astrid points out that the control rooms/emergency centers were particularly busy in Brussels and Flemish Brabant, but they continue to function properly. Also the alarm system for calling the volunteer fire brigade received extra traffic, but the system worked without any problem. Astrid also installed a mobile-transmission tower in order to strengthen the radio network in the Brussels area.

On a nationwide level, the radio network was still operational, but especially in the Brussels region there were severe capacity challenges,” Astrid notes. “Shortly after the attacks the nearby Astrid masts reached their maximum output, which resulted in difficult communication during some crucial hours. Some users had no access to their talk groups.”

“On Friday March 25th we discussed the situation with the End User Advisory Committee. Concrete action points and recommendations for the use of the radio network and training were determined,” concludes Astrid.

The Effect of Earplugs in Preventing Hearing Loss From Recreational Noise Exposure (A Systematic Review)

This is an interesting review of a study of how effective ear plugs are in the workplace. We take for granted that people working in loud factories wear protective hearing, but many of the clubs, pubs, concerts and festivals that have as equal levels of sound. As they say below, it isnât mandatory to wear ear plugs in such environments, which defies common sense and possibly causes more damage than we understand. Here you can find the original source of the review.

A review of the literature turned up only two high quality studies that looked at whether wearing earplugs to music venues will prevent hearing loss and tinnitus directly afterward.

Dr. Wilko Grolman and colleagues at University Medical Center Utrecht in The Netherlands searched for published studies containing the keywords âmusicâ and âearplugsâ and screened 228 resulting papers. All but four were not eligible for inclusion in the review and only two were highly relevant and did not have a highÂ riskÂ of bias, in the reviewersâ estimation.

Two studies simply examined people who chose on their own to wear or not wear earplugs, while two randomized controlled trials tested what happened when participants were assigned to wear earplugs or not.

Two studies reported on hearing loss and tinnitus while one only reported hearing loss.

The two best studies were different enough that the researchers couldnât combine their dataÂ and analyze the results, the reviewers wrote. Both included 29 concert attendees and performed audiometry before and after the concerts. In one study, participants were allowed to choose whether or not they wore earplugs, and only three chose to wear them.

âFrankly, with such a small comparator group between three subjects and the others, it would be hard to assess validity of plugs or not,â said Dr. Jennifer Derebery, president of the Los Angeles Society of Otolaryngology and lead author of the first study.

âWe had trained them all in proper insertion, and encouraged but not required wearing them,â Derebery told Reuters Health by email.

In the other study, 15 participants were assigned to the earplug group.

In general, wearing earplugs did reduce hearing loss directly after the concerts, but did not eliminate it completely, as reported online March 3 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

âEar plugs are effective in preventing hearing loss when they are used both correctly and consistently,â said Colleen G. Le Prell, the Emilie and Phil Schepps Professor of Hearing Science at the University of Texas at Dallas, who was not involved in the review.

âThis systematic review highlights the very limited data on prevention of recreational music-induced hearing loss using earplugs,â Le Prell told Reuters Health by email.

âAt younger ages, loud toys, firecrackers, loud video games, personal stereos or personal music players, lawnmowers or leaf blowers, sporting events or air shows, or other non-music events might be more likely noisy activities than music venue attendance,â Le Prell said. âA significant number of youth are also involved in target shooting activities, which children can get involved with through Boy Scouts or other organizations.â

For teens and young adults, repeat exposures to amplified music at clubs, concerts, festivals, or other related events may damage the inner ear and result in hearing loss, she said.

âMost concerts are both loud enough, and long enough, that they are likely to exceed the total daily exposure allowed by workplace safety regulations,â she said. âSound exposure also commonly occurs via loud music delivered via personal listening devices, at sporting or other recreational events, and at jobs that involve lawn-mowing, use of power tools, or construction services.â

For workplace noise exposure, âwe are not doing a very good job achieving correct and consistent use of hearing protection devices (HPD), including both ear plugs and ear muffs,â she said.

âIn the United States, it is relatively uncommon for music venues to provide ear plugs at no charge,â Le Prell said. Even if they were provided, people may need to be educated in why using them is important and in how to use them correctly, she said.

âAs a neurotologist, it really is upsetting to see these kids coming in younger and younger with a completely preventable hearing loss,â Derebery said.

Why Are Good Communication Skills Important?

Take a second and look at Human beings, really look at us. Weâre not as strong as elephants or rhinos, weâre not as tough as lions or tigers and we can neither swim like fish nor fly like birds. Yet, despite all this, there is still one inescapable fact: Human beings are the dominant species on the planet.

The short answer to your question lies implicitly within the above paragraph. With good communication skills, a group of disparate individuals can overcome a great many obstacles by working together. It is believed that our earliest ancestors were able to ward off predators by sticking together in large groups and thus presenting a formidable target (as opposed to, say, a buffet). We were also able to hunt prey much larger and stronger than ourselves (e.g. the woolly mammoth) by co-ordinating our efforts with good communication skills.

Such good communication skills are, not to put too fine a point on it, vitally important to the Human race as a whole. This excerpt from âMutual Aid: A Factor of Evolutionâ by Russian author Peter Kropotkin (1902), illustrates what weâre trying to say better than we ever could.

âMan is the result of both his inherited instincts and his education. Among the miners and the seamen, their common occupations and their every-day contact with one another create a feeling of solidarity, while the surrounding dangers maintain courage and pluckâ

In other words, their shared lifestyle is a form of communication, the result of learned social primers and a lifetime of experience. It is the secret ingredient to our success as a species.

Good communication skills in the workplace operate along the same basic principles as they do outside the workplace. The goal is clarity, but equally, the speaker wishes to illustrate her point of view and encourage others to sympathize with it. This is why politicians pay their speechwriters as handsomely as they do.

Communication skills are also Vital to Human interaction. Humans are able to learn all sorts of things by listening for verbal cues that we are unconsciously primed to respond to. Information about a speakerâs age, class, race, gender and even occupation can be gleaned from the simple act of listening to a person. To quote Peter Trudgillâs book âSociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Societyâ (1974),

âDifferent social groups use different linguistic varieties, and as experienced members of a speech community we have learnt to classify speakers accordinglyâ, for those interested – this is known as âsocial-class dialectsâ.

You might ask how this affects you. Well, consider this; if you are applying for a typically upper or middle class job (say, office manager as an example) and you speak with a traditionally working-class accent, vocabulary and demeanour during your interview, you are actually less likely to get the job than the applicant who uses received pronunciation and does not use colloquialisms or slang terms. You might be more qualified on paper, but the interviewer will likely say something about you not being âthe right fitâ for the position. This is because he has been primed to expect a certain type for a certain role. Therefore, good communications skills, in this instance at least, would hinge on your ability to appeal to listeners by meeting their expectations.

Of course, we now know that such distinctions are unfair. Combating expectations of class, race, gender and sexual stereotyping led to the rise of âpolitical correctnessâ, a much-maligned (and often justly so) and yet consistently misunderstood phenomenon.

For a more extreme example, imagine giving an obscenity-laced PowerPoint presentation at your next meeting. Once you stop laughing, consider the implications even if everything in the presentation was 100% accurate, (groundbreaking, even) youâd still be fired, wouldnât you? Swearing is, of course, a lower-class way of communicating.

You need to find the correct words for the correct situation, but evidently, there has been a great deal of discussion as to what are the correct words.

If you want to know more, the poem âThe Six OâClock Newsâ (1976) by Scottish poet Tom Leonard is a good place to start. In the UK, we study it as part of GCSE English (or at least we did when this writer was at school), and the poem neatly highlights the social and class-based distinctions that typified (and still do to some extent) ânormalâ speech and any important announcements..

So, in conclusion, communication skills are important because without them, nobody would be able to understand YOU.

Will 2 Way Radios of Different Brands Communicate

One question that is frequently asked by people interested in buying two way radios is that can you mix brands of two way radios. To answer this question properly, it is imperative to understand first how the devices work. It should be known that whether you have a small business or a large warehousing facility, UHF band radios never communicate with the VHF band radios. Therefore, if you are looking to buy a radio, make sure to buy additional units of the device of similar bands. In this way be it a UHF band radio or a VHF band radio, if set to the same frequency can work with all brands. However, some considerations have to be put in its place beforehand.

Two way radios imply that it can both send as well as receive radio messages. They are transceivers that are battery powered. The radios operate on a half-duplex channel system. This system implies that the radio will be able to transmit a signal on a single channel that can be received on many devices at the same time. Normally these radios are designed to transmit short-range signals. Almost all of the two way radios function on the same principle. They all include a microphone, an antenna, a speaker, and the Push to talk Button. These radios are designed to function on different frequencies.

Frequency types

The general public use frequencies are the Family radio service frequency or the FRS and the general Mobile radio Service frequency or GMRS. Both these frequencies work on a 460 MHz rage. The UHF frequency or the ultra-high frequency is ideal for the two way radios as they can easily penetrate the interference in the form of building and trees. The two way radio with a long UHF antenna will push through the concrete and will do your work efficiently. On the other hand, VHF antennas on the radios are much longer than the ones in the UHF radios. These are ideal to use in the outdoors as they usually can transmit signals over very large distances.

Types of radios

There are normally two types of radios, that are used in businesses and that are used in consumer situations. The consumer radios normally work on the FRS or the GMRS frequencies. Regardless of the number of channels in the radio, the two way radios can be mixed with other brand radios. Only the radios have to be set to the same privacy code, the channel number, and the same frequency. Alternatively, there are several different types of frequency in the business two way radios category. The radios use the UHF, VHF and the 800/900 MHz type frequency. Just by choosing, the radio with the same frequency may not be compatible with the radios of other brands bought beforehand. While buying the radio, the dealer may have programmed a special customized frequency into the radio beforehand. In order for the business, two way radios to work efficiently with the radios of different brands it is essential to completely figure the type of band that the radio uses, the pre-set frequency on the radio from the dealer.

Sepura Releases New SC20 Portable Radios

Sepura are masters of the tetra market, they have produced radios for many years for theÂ emergencyÂ services. police and airport security, a forward runner for the digital systems we now see all around the UK. The SC20 is the new generation of Sepura radios ready for the modern day work force.Â We found this article on this website and thought that our readers would find it useful.

First orders of Sepura’s new flagship hand-portable radios, the SC20 series, will be shipped in February.

Shaped by user feedback, SC20 series hand-portable radios are resilient, intelligent and durable, providing intuitive operation and outstanding performance, even in the toughest conditions.

Broadband-ready, the SC2020 (380MHz-430MHz) and the SC2040 (403MHz-470MHz) combine the mission-critical security and advanced performance of TETRA with an optional second high-speed data bearer capability.

A new, powerful Class 3 TETRA engine is paired with a new receiver that surpasses the ETSI specification, a unique combination, extending operational range and stretching coverage into areas where it was not possible before.

The radios’ powerful 2W audio capability, enhanced by unique water-porting technology, allows for uncompromised audio clarity, even in continuous heavy rain. Uniquely, the SC20 series boasts IP66, 67 and 68 environmental protection rating, meaning that it is completely dustproof, submersible to a depth of two metres for one hour and impervious to jets of water. Its design also enables it to be easily cleaned by simply rinsing dust and dirt off under the tap.

Additionally, the radios’ high-resolution screen, the largest on the market today, is specifically designed to provide a richer user experience. The larger screen enables the display of more comprehensive data, suitable for future applications via high-speed data; it is also viewable in all light conditions, including direct sunlight.

“The SC20 has been designed to deliver the highest levels of robustness, endurance, audio clarity and power. It is designed to place and receive calls where it simply was not possible before,” commented Mark Barnby, Sepura’s head of product management – devices.

“This is the first product on our brand new technology platform. It is designed to meet the needs of mission-critical users today, whilst allowing high-speed data to be added in the future.”

Steve Barber, VP group strategy for Sepura, commented: “The SC20 confirms our vision for the future and demonstrates our ability to adapt to the fast-moving markets in which we operate.

“We continue to provide our global customer base with products that address their ever-evolving communication needs and the operational challenges they face every day. The SC20 provides undisputable proof that Sepura is going further in critical communications.”

The Best Styles of Bluetooth Earpieces

Bluetooth technology has been designed for many different purposes and situations. Consequently, when people want to buy a bluetooth ear piece for a specific situation, there are some things that they will need to consider. Specifically, based on their specific situation and circumstances, they will need to review the best style of bluetooth earpiece that is available on the market today. Since there are different styles that have been made for for one or more reasons, it’s important for each individual to do their research to see which style can accommodate their needs. It is also important to note that the kind the person purchases must be comfortable so that they can wear them for an extended period of time and they fit the devices that they will be used for. Listed below are three of the bluetooth styles thatâs currently offered by manufactures all over the United States and abroad.

Bluetooth ear pieces for Mobile Phones

Most people take their mobile phones wherever they go. To work, school, church, parties and all kinds of other events that they may attend. Because these phones have become commonplace in many environments, people have a need to handle them and talk to others when their hands are free. This is also a great reason for individuals who work in certain settings to make sure that they are buying the right style that will best fit their needs.

One specific style that some people may choose is the ear cradle style of headphone. In fact, this kind of bluetooth earpiece is idea for people who want to spend their time working out and performing all kinds of other extracurricular activities. People are also encouraged to buy this kind of style because they may be driving when they receive a telephone call from a family member. Or, they may be working at the job typing a memo or walking around taking care of wide hosts of other kinds of activities that are not conducive to holding a mobile phone by hand to the ear. Whatever the situation, this style of bluetooth earpiece technology is great for many different situations and purposes.

Bluetooth ear pieces and Headsets for Music Lovers

In addition to the cradle style for mobile phones, people should also review other styles as well. One specific style that is also functional in many different settings is the DJ over the head headphones. This style has been designed for the serious music lovers, especially those who can appreciate making distinctions in sounds and beats that come from specific musical instruments like the bass, violin, trumpet and other popular instruments. For those who like and prefer this kind, they will also find that this is one of the best styles for keeping out outside noises that normally interfere with a personâs overall entertainment experience. Also, because they are wireless, they are great for people who like to stay mobile during the day instead of remaining in a sedentary position.

Bluetooth Ear Pieces for IPODs

In some situations, people may want to use bluetooth technology with their IPODs. Therefore, they should consider buying an additional popular style bluetooth earpiece technology. This style is known to be very popular, specifically because it is similar to an actual earbud. An ear bud is also another excellent choice for people who want to remain both active and hassle free. Though this is a great choice for people who like to remain mobile in a wide variety of different situations, one of its main draw backs is that they tend to fall out of the individuals ear. Which means, they can also be lost since it lacks additional support to keep them stabilized inside the ear.

ETRI presents a blueprint of the 5G Future

We will see a huge change in the way we access the the internet in the future when 5G is here, at speeds that only big businesses and high level internet companies see at the moment, we will have this to hand on our smart phones and tablets. When 5G is hundreds of times faster than any of the UK’s broadbands, households will be looking to the mobile phone companies to supply their home broadband.

A 5G future is no longer a distant one, but an upcoming reality. High quality videos of more than 10Mbps can be served simultaneously to 100 users even in a train running at up to 500km/h. People can experience data rates that are 100 times faster than currently available technologies.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) of Korea will hold a “5G technology demonstration” on the 18th December, 2015. It will demonstrate future SNS (social network service) and several 5G core technologies such as “millimeter wave”, “Mobile Hot-spot Network”, “in-band full duplex” and so on.

5G is the next generation wireless technology that would provide even faster data rates, even lower delays, and even more devices connected than 4G. Accordingly, distinct and differentiated applications are expected in 5G.

ETRI’s “future SNS” is a kind of trial service model to apply 5G technologies that provides dynamic user-centric connection to neighboring people, things and spaces. It is characterized by instant content-sharing between users, communication with neighboring things, and Giga-bps(Gbps)-grade video applications in vehicles.

5G core technologies demonstrated by ETRI include the following:

— MHN (Mobile Hot-spot Network) is a mobile backhaul technology that provides high-speed Internet access of Gbps in vehicles at speeds of up to 500 km/h (e.g. KTX in Korea). Almost 100 passengers can watch videos of high quality simultaneously.

— ZING is a near-field communication technology that enables mass data to be transmitted with 3.5 Gbps data rate between neighboring devices within the radius of 10cm.

— Single-RF-Chain compact MIMO technology enables a single antenna to simulate the effect of multiple antenna. It can reduce antenna volume and cancel inter-antenna interference in a multi-antenna system.

— Millimeter wave (mmWave) beam switching technology provides fast switching of radio beams to mobile users, and therefore allows seamless Gbps-grade service in mobile environments.

— Mobile Edge Platform (MEP) is a mobile edge cloud server on vehicles that enables passengers to enjoy customized Gbps-grade content and connects them with neighbors, things and spaces. It provides user-centric services.

— In-band Full Duplex technology can transmit and receive signals simultaneously over the same frequency band. It can increase spectral efficiency by up to two times.

— Small cell SW technology is designed for AP(Access Point)-sized small cell base stations that can reduce communication dead zones and improve data rates per user in a hot-spot area.

“With this demonstration event, we are officially introducing our R&D results on 5G. We will continue to lead the development of 5G technologies. Also, we are trying to develop commercialization technologies needed by businesses, and to construct a 5G ecosystem.” said Dr. Hyun Kyu Chung, vice president of ETRI Communication & Internet Lab.

In January, 2016, ETRI will demonstrate Giga internet service and future SNS in a Seoul subway train installed with MHN and ZING kiosks. ETRI will also introduce hand-over technology on a millimeter wave mobile communication system and 5G radio access technology that satisfies 1 millisecond radio latency.

About ETRI

Established in 1976, ETRI is a non-profit Korean government-funded research organization that has been at the forefront of technological excellence for about 40 years. In the 1980s, ETRI developed TDX (Time Division Exchange) and 4M DRAM. In the 1990s, ETRI commercialized CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) for the first time in the world. In the 2000s, ETRI developed Terrestrial DMB, WiBro, and LTE-A, which became the foundation of mobile communications.

Recently, as a global ICT leader, ETRI has been advancing communication and convergence by developing Ship Area Network technology, Genie Talk (world class portable automatic interpretation; Korean-English/Japanese/Chinese), and automated valet parking technology. As of 2015, ETRI has about 2,000 employees where about 1,800 of them are researchers.

Lenovo to phase out the Motorola brand name

The Motorola brand, which has been a fixture in the technology world for 85 years, is about to be phased out by its parent company Lenovo.

The US-born company wasÂ bought from Google by the Chinese giant in 2014, with the company continuing the lineage of Motorola handsets.

However, the days of the Motorola name appearing on phones and in marketing materials will come to an end this year.

Motorola Chief Operating Officer Rick Osterloh toldÂ CNET:Â âWe’ll slowly phase out Motorola and focus on Moto.”

The company plans to simply use âMotoâ and the familiar batwing logo for high end devices, while all other handsets will feature the Lenovo Vibe branding. Even the top devices like the Moto X will feature the blue Lenovo logo rather than the Motorola name.

The rather complex blending of the two brands will involve Moto devices being introduced to Lenovo stronghold territories and marketed it as premium devices.

The budget Vibe devices will also be introduced to western markets to complement the high-end Motorola devices according to the report.

If this wasnât confusing enough, the Motorola company is being retained from an organisational perspective and that division will now oversee all of Lenovoâs smartphones activity.

Motorola is credited with inventing the first mobile phone with the DynaTAC released in 1984. Likewise, the companyâs importance to the development of consumer technology in other sectors cannot be overstated.

In 1930 it released one of the first commercially successful car radios and in the 50s had a major role in the foundation of cable television systems. In 1969 a Motorola radio transmitted the first words from the Moon to Earth and in 1990 it launched the worldâs first digital HD television.

Adios, Motorola.

Whilst the Motorola Brand name is strong in the mobile phone and two way radio industry it is an important institute in the communications field that should be preserved, as this article says it was there at the start of telecommunications and has been around for longer than most of us can remember, it would be a shame if it was pulled apart by Lonovo.


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After Russell Brand’s attack on the political system, Elizabeth Humphrys and Tad Tietze of the Australian blog Left Flank offer some thoughts on 'anti-politics'

Russell Brand at Anonymous protest. Photo by @sparkers7

'At a certain point in their historical lives, social classes become detached from their traditional parties. In other words, the traditional parties in that particular organisational form, with the particular men who constitute, represent, and lead them, are no longer recognised by their class (or fraction of a class) as its expression.'

—Gramsci (1971), Selections From The Prison Notebooks, p. 210

'If the ruling class has lost its consensus, i.e. is no longer “leading” but only “dominant”, exercising coercive force alone, this means precisely that the great masses have become detached from their traditional ideologies, and no longer believe what they used to believe previously, etc. The crisis consists precisely in the fact that the old is dying and the new cannot be born; in this interregnum a great variety of morbid symptoms appear.'

ibid, pp. 275-6

In this post we will try to clarify what we mean by “anti-politics”, and how this fits in a wider analysis of the crisis of politics that Left Flank has been developing since we started. Our analysis has moved on somewhat from pieces like this one in 2010, and we think it is worth acknowledging shifts in our analysis. Various responses to Russell Brand’s attack on the political system, and discussion here and on social media, have encouraged us to try to put our thoughts about “anti-politics” in one place. We apologise in advance for the abbreviated and schematic nature of what follows.

The starting point for understanding why Brand’s intervention struck such a chord is the crisis of representation that leads most people to see politics as completely detached from their lives. Crucially, this detachment is not caused by the political class being less “representative” of their social base than in some previous era; rather, its lack of a social base makes the political class’ actual role in representing the interests of the state within civil society more apparent.

Despite purporting to represent the “general interest” of society, the state has interests separate from and opposed to those of the civil society on which it is founded, relying on a mixture of coercion and consent to maintain its rule. In Gramsci’s terminology the state and political society “enwrap” civil society, reshaping and incorporating resistance from below (this conception of “an integral state” provides the theoretical basis of Liz’s PhD research).

Under capitalism the ruling class doesn’t directly govern; there is an apparent separation between economics (relations of production / class exploitation) and politics (organised around the state, with its political class, and resting on apparent equality of citizens reflecting equality of exchange in the market). This creates the appearance of representation, one that masks the underlying social relations of domination. It is this appearance that is now breaking down.

It follows from this that parties representing subaltern (exploited/oppressed) social groups are always contradictory phenomena. They both articulate subaltern groups’ interests in relation to the state and incorporate them into reproducing the system. One way to think about it is of politics as a “container” in which social movements are limited from above, but which also provides a structure into which resistance can be channeled from below.

The hollowing out of such political structures provides the social basis for the greater prominence of anti-politics. We won’t repeat Left Flank’s analysis of the period after the end of the post-WWII boom, except to note that the attempts by political elites to resolve the crisis of the 1970s via a “neoliberal” political project failed to provide a sustained resolution of those problems. In Australia this was especially acute because the central national political arrangement around Laborism reached its peak of influence in the Accord, which drove through the neoliberal project and thereby signed its own suicide note. The result has been the exhaustion of the old politics, but without a stable and confident new arrangement able to be implemented. This has happened across a wide range of advanced capitalist countries (hence Brand’s anti-politics can have resonance internationally), although local manifestations vary.

So what is this anti-politics? We think three things, which are interrelated:

  1. A widespread mood among ordinary people related to Gramsci’s description of “detachment”. This can manifest in spontaneous popular outbursts or be reflected in volatile electoral results, but tends to peter out if not given some kind of direction. To put Brand’s intervention into context, all he has really done is state this obvious fact, to point to the elephant in the room, that the political elite would rather have hidden behind claims it is “representative”.
  2. A political strategy by sections (or aspiring sections) of the political class, drawing on this mood for support. There are lots of variants on this, not confined to Left or Right: Bob Brown, Kevin Rudd, and Clive Palmer have all appealed to anti-politics in Australia, while UKIP, Beppe Grillo, and the people who led the early phases of the 15M (Indignados) movement across the Spanish state are overseas examples. In each case the limited nature of their anti-politics (few actually want to destroy politics altogether) means that these represent limited challenges to the existing order and often fall back into being “just like the other politicians” or collapse into moralistic opposition to the status quo.
  3. A consistent strategy of social revolution, which seeks to concretely intervene on the effective terrain in order to build a movement that overcomes politics by overcoming the state. This is “communism” as the end of politics (as Engels put it, when “the government of persons is replaced by the administration of things”), a real movement that is a simultaneously theoretical and practical critique of politics, not simply replicating the inner logic of capitalist politics for different ends.

Critical responses to Brand’s anti-politics have come from across the political spectrum. Some are little more than snide attempts to dismiss the substance of what he has argued, for example claiming that his privilege and fame disqualify him from speaking for the disenfranchised majority (because, presumably, privilege and fame only qualify you to defend the political system). Others claim that Brand’s criticisms of politics is tantamount to an attack on democracy and licenses a descent into mob rule, or even places him on the slippery slope to fascism.

A more serious argument from within the broader Left has been to acknowledge the failings of the political system, but to argue that the problem is that there are not enough people like Russell Brand on the inside, working to transform it. Yet if politics was somehow healthier three decades ago when large swathes of the sixties generation of radicals entered it to change things and we ended up with what is happening now, it seems at best naïve to encourage today’s anti-capitalists inside the tent as if this will produce a better result.

But it is among some on the Marxist Left that the most troubling response has emerged. On the one hand this response welcomes Brand’s attack on “conventional” or “official” politics. But on the other it suggests that what is needed is to build a different, “unconventional”, “radical” or even “revolutionary” politics instead. In August, Tad wrote of such radical Left responses to the hollowing out of politics:

The result is a tendency to see the Left’s prospects as dismal, because the official Left’s decay is seen as proof of the limited possibilities for a more radical politics. And the crisis of official politics is therefore seen — paradoxically — as a negative rather than an opportunity.

Others describe the current context as “depoliticisation”. We don’t think this is helpful. To understand why it is problematic, let’s ask what “repoliticisation” would mean. Clearly something more than simply “people getting involved” is implied. What we have lost is in fact the mystified appearance that actually existing politics was “representative”, predicated on the hollowing out of the institutional structures that supported such an illusion. Is this really what we want to revive?

The demands that issue from such a view involve a kind of nostalgia for political institutions from a previous era — “we need strong unions”, “we need a rank-and-file movement”, “the ALP Left should fight for better policies”, “we need a strong parliamentary Left”, “we need more grassroots control of Labor and the Greens”, etc. The contradictory nature of these political forms — their historic role in constraining the social interests of subaltern groups — is downplayed in favour of wishing for their return. Such arguments are particularly odd in Australia, where the highpoint of the union movement’s institutional influence was during the Accord process that delivered full-blown neoliberalism to the working class. So while neoliberalism did undermine the strength of unions in Australia, as Liz has argued, and this represented a significant political defeat for the working class, it was achieved through a consensual project that the unions helped run. This points to the impasse of the institutional Left, as much as any victory by the Right.

If we assume that rebuilding historic “representative” institutions is a precondition for social revolution we are likely to find instead that we cannot return to a moment in time when the creation of such institutions was still possible. Worse, we will overestimate the strength of the political class and miss the opportunities their crisis creates.

The point is not that the crisis of politics means that capitalism is about to spontaneously enter some kind of “death agony”. A political crisis is not the same as a social crisis. But unless we start with a critique of the nature of politics, a concrete analysis of the effective terrain we find ourselves on, then we will not be intervening in what is actually happening, but what we wish it to be. Where the rising tide of anti-politics ends up will depend on whether and how revolutionaries intervene, and that depends on being clear on what is actually going on, or else we will simply cede the initiative to other forces, of the sort described in point 2, above.

A social revolutionary approach doesn’t eliminate the need for strategy and tactics, alliances and compromises. But these will need to be in the service of ending politics, not reconstructing it. The alternative, it seems to us, is fighting to the death to save relics of the past while the machinery of capitalism goes on unperturbed.

From Left Flank

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Daily Quiz (225)

True or false: SSPC has a performance standard for polymeric materials used to protect the interiors of concrete potable water storage tanks.

Which of the following is an oxygenated solvent?

True or false: The healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente recently mandated that wall and ceiling coatings in its facilities must contain antimicrobial additives.

What do MPCAC and PLURAL have in common?

What organization offers the training, “Exterior Envelope—Doing It Right”?

True or false: ASTM D4417 describes three methods for measuring surface profile of blast-cleaned steel using either a digital profile gage or a surface profile comparator or a portable stylus instrument.

True or false: When a specification requires that a concrete surface be dry before painting, the word “dry” could be interpreted to mean visibly dry, dry to touch, dry when using moisture meters on the surface, or dry by instrumentation or test methods that examine moisture in the substrate below the paint.

What organization produces rubber replica templates to judge the degree of surface profile on concrete?

True or false: According to a recent D+D In Depth article, hygienic paint coatings with controlled release nano-silver ions have the most effective antimicrobial property for long-lasting hygiene protection.

In a study of shop-applied topcoats reported in JPCL, which generic type achieved a hardened film that resisted handling damage at lower temperatures (50°F) and higher humidity (75 percent RH) in the shortest amount of time?

Who said, “There are three keys to preserving wood: (1) keep wood dry, (2) keep wood from getting wet and (3) keep water away from wood”?

What organization has a standard measuring the functional durability of spray-applied, fire-resistive coatings?

True or false: NACE and SSPC are the only organizations that certify coating inspectors.

What performance property of epoxy resins makes them useful as wood repair products?

Which of the following formulating or application strategies can increase the hiding of a coating?

True or false: Photographic standards are sometimes used to assess the degree of cracking of exterior coatings.

True or false: Products for exterior wood are sometimes formulated with high pigment concentrations to provide hiding power and to help seal the exposed wood microstructure.

What is the name of the coatings exposure testing device that intensifies outdoor UV exposure by a factor of 10 to 12 and simulates South Florida nighttime exposure?

True or false: According to a recent JPCL article, the threshold values in ASTM standards for deeming concrete suitable to be coated are neither achievable nor realistic for below-grade structures.

True or false: The American Coatings Association issues the Green Mark Certification for environmentally friendly paints.

What organization has validated a Wall Coating Applicator Training Program?

True or false: No more than 30 percent of SSPC technical committee members may represent a single stakeholder interest category (e.g, contractors, coating manufacturers, consultants, equipment manufacturers).

What is the acronym for gypsum-based or cementitious fire-resistant materials?

Which of the following is not a strength of anodizing aluminum substrates?

PVDF is an essential component of what generic coating type?

True or false: Thermoplastic is another name for thermoset resins.

True or false: Fire-resistive, intumescent coatings sometimes have epoxy and sometimes acrylic resin systems.

True or false: Atlas Test Cells are sometimes used to test the performance of immersion linings.

True or false: Flake-filled epoxy novolacs have been used to protect metal in flue gas desulfurization units.

True or false: Negative-side waterproofing applied to dry interior surfaces has to have some water-vapor permeability.

True or False: ASTM D3359, “Standard Test Method for Measuring Adhesion by Tape Test,” measures the tensile adhesion of a coating.

How is profile measured in ASTM D4417?

True or false: Abrasive used for abrasive blast cleaning to remove rust and mill scale should have a Mohs hardness of 1.

What organization is developing the Guide for Detection of Moisture in Walls and Ceilings?

True or false: Vinyl ester floor coatings are ineffective at resisting harsh chemical exposures.

True or false: The Performance Standard for Protective Coatings (PSPC) was created by ISO.

True or false: Red iron oxide pigment is stable at temperatures of 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

What name is sometimes given to a faux version of marble?

What makes crushed glass a “green” abrasive, according to the JPCL article, “What is a Green Abrasive?”

True or false: Spraying of in-place pipeline interiors with lining materials can be commercially completed by robotic systems on both straight runs and 45- and 90-degree radius bends.

What elastomeric coating type is listed as acceptable by the International Code Council (ICC) for application over spray polyurethane foam roofing?

What organization claims to offer “the world's leading environmental assessment method to assess new, existing buildings and community scale development”?

True or false: Germany has a painting contractor certification program modeled after the one overseen by SSPC in the U.S.

Which of the following pigment types are sometimes used as extenders?

With specific values required in several energy codes, reflectance is an important performance property of a cool roof coating. What is another?

What organization jointly publishes a QP (Qualification Procedure) standard with SSPC?

What organization is developing the “Guide for Fluid Applied Air Barrier Coatings for Concrete Masonry Units”?

How many days does it take to simulate three years of outdoor aging of reflective roof coatings using the laboratory testing protocol developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory?

True or false: Prior to being used for measurements, all thermometers should be exposed to the environment they will be used in for sufficient time to allow them to stabilize, according to a recent JPCL article.

What organization produces standards for the surface preparation of concrete?

Where does a cohesive coating failure occur?

What name is sometimes given to a coating system comprised of galvanizing together with an organic coating?

True or false: Additives based on hydrated lime are sometimes used to create anti-bacterial coatings.

True or false: It is possible to write performance-based specifications for surface preparation prior to painting.

True or false: All of the SSPC mechanical surface preparation standards require solvent cleaning to SSPC-SP 1 prior to performing any additional cleaning required by the project specification.

What is the coating term used to describe the action of flake metallic pigments, such as aluminum, and certain other pigments aligning with or floating near or at the coating surface when mixed with a suitable vehicle?

True or false: Waterborne acrylic primers for steel cannot be formulated with inhibitive pigments.

What organization has a certification program for installing spray polyurethane foam on roofs?

In a centrifugal wheel blast machine, what is another name for “operating mix?"

True or false: Fire-resistive and fire-retardant paints perform the same function.

True or false: According to a JPCL article, one year is a good starting interval between calibrations of a magnetic dry film thickness gage.

True or false: A recent Naval Research Laboratory study determined that coating performance is not adversely affected by chloride contamination.

True or false: SSPC is developing a quantitative coatings texture guide as an aid in specifying flooring systems that will improve traction on floors expected to be wet or covered with contaminants.

True or false: Methyl methacrylate membranes have been used as water and root barriers beneath roof gardens.

One mil of coating thickness equals approximately how many microns?

A test that requires rubbing a clean black fabric across a painted surface evaluates what attribute of the paint?

What association is focused on thick-film high performance elastomer technologies?

True or false: Air abrasive blast workers are regularly exposed to noise in excess of 120 dBA.

True or false: Acrylic coatings are effective as reflective roof coatings, but not as air barriers.

True or false: SSPC certifies contractors that apply polymeric coatings and surfacings to concrete and other cementitious substrates.

True or false: SSPC-SP 10 is the most rigorous degree of cleaning steel by abrasive blasting.

True or false: In coating work, a jeep test is a quantitative fit test for a respirator.

True or False: The International Standards Organization published the International Green Construction Code in 2012.

True or false: In creating the best appearance on a concrete polished floor, it is more important to achieve a higher specular gloss value than it is to achieve a high distinctness of image value.

True or false: Cathodic protection of steel pipe is sometimes achieved with anodizing.

True or false: The words “hardening” and “curing” of coatings have the same meaning, according to a recent JPCL article.

Sulfate-reducing bacteria that cause corrosion of steel and concrete are likely to be found in what media?

Which of the following terms is another name for wet abrasive blasting?

True or false: The installed cost of thick-film resinous coating systems, such as high-build epoxies and polyureas, on concrete floors ranges from $3.50 to $7.00 per square foot, according to a recent D+D In Depth article.

Opacity observations of air pollution emissions are sometimes reported using what rating system?

What is the name of a rectangular metal tool used to deposit a specified thickness of wet coating on a test panel or other substrate?

If a mural fools the eye, what is the name of the technique used to create it?

True or false: ICRI recommends a profile of 10 mils to 1/4 inch in its surface preparation requirements for polymer overlays on concrete.

True or false: Aggressive application of dehumidification to dry a concrete floor slab should begin within the first 10 days after placement.

Which of the following coating adhesion tests is the least quantitative?

True or false: In air abrasive blasting operations, the same particle size mix of silica sand and coal slag yield the same profile ranges on steel.

True or false: Polyaspartic coatings cure more quickly than polyureas.

True or false: Among the performance properties of polyureas, according to a JPCL article by Mike O’Donoghue and Vijay Datta, tolerance of low-temperature application is the weakest.

True or false: Waterborne coatings require special spray guns when applied by electrostatic spray.

In concrete polishing work, an appearance defined as a Level 4 sheen and a cream aggregate exposure is the most expensive to produce.

True or false: Bugholes can be caused by oil and grease on the surface being coated.

In addition to trisodium phosphate, used for cleaning in painting operations, what other material has the acronym TSP?

What coating material would be least likely to be specified for high heat applications?

True or false: It is better to use a pull stub than a dolly on pull-off adhesion testing.

Cutter bundles are used on what devices?

Which process aims to depict a building at a particular time in its history by preserving materials from the period of significance and removing materials from other periods?

What is the content of the non-mandatory appendix of SSPC-SP 1, Solvent Cleaning, added during the 2015 revision of the standard?

Meters for determining moisture content of concrete slabs are based on what principle of operation?

True or false? Inorganic zinc pre-construction primers for shipbuilding normally have more zinc content than inorganic zinc primers applied after fabrication.

True or false: A Tooke gauge can sometimes be used to measure the thickness of individual coats of paint within a multicoat system.

True or false: Seismic retrofits of bridge piers can be carried out with Bresle patch fabric.

True or false: Written descriptions of end conditions of steel after blast cleaning take precedence over visual photos in judging conformance with SSPC blast cleaning standards.

True or false: Some organic zinc-rich coatings have silicate binders.

What organization will present the 2016 Symposium on Building Envelope Technology?

Micaceous iron oxide provides what type of anti-corrosion protection to coatings?

According to the Coatings Encyclopedic Dictionary (originally published by the FSCT, now part of the American Coatings Association), "Venetian mosaic" is a synonym for what?

Which one of the following coating types is the least commonly used as an air barrier?

A mandrel is used to test what coating characteristic?

True or false: Color and gloss retention is one of the main strengths of anodizing on aluminum.

True or false: Inorganic zinc-rich coatings are very resistant to solvents and oils.

True or false: Aliphatic polyurea coatings provide UV stability for their elastomeric properties but not for color and gloss retention.

True or false: Crystalline waterproofing materials can be used only after concrete cures.

True or false: Methyl methacrylate (MMA) resinous flooring systems should not be applied at temperatures below 40 degrees F.

True or False: Anodizing provides excellent corrosion resistance in coastal settings.

True or false: Silanes are classified as semi-permanent anti-graffiti coatings.

Among the performance properties of polyureas, according to a JPCL article by O’Donoghue and Datta, which of the following is the weakest?

True or false: SSPC-VIS 1, Visual Standards for Blast Cleaned Steel, was initially produced by the Institute of Corrosion in the U.K.

True or false: SSPC and NACE recently worked cooperatively to revise their standards on measuring dry film thickness of coatings.

Which of the following is not a term used for application of metallic wire, metallic powder or thermoplastic powder?

True or false: Parking decks are always sealed with penetrating sealers.

True or false: A hygro thermometer is used to measure the moisture content and temperature of insulation on hot piping.

True or false: Calcium sulfonate alkyds are non-toxic, inhibitive primers.

What organization provides education and certification for concrete slab moisture testing technicians?

Cementitious, fire-resistive coatings for unexposed structural steel in buildings often contain which of these materials?

Which of the following organizations provides information about good practice in the selection and use of sealants in expansion joints?

True or false: The threat of mud cracking in highly pigmented paints applied at high film builds is likely to be diminished in coating films that employ spherical pigments.

Barrier protection can be achieved in a coating with all but which of the following means?

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was just recognized as the 2015 Outstanding Structure Award from what industry association?

What organization recently published a technology update on fluoropolymer coatings?

What is the name of the technique used to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product's life from cradle to grave?

What type of polyurethane yellows and chalks in direct sunlight?

What is the name of a British publication on coating defects?

True or false: An extract from fish scales is used to create a mother-of-pearl effect.

True or false: According to the Coatings Encyclopedic Dictionary, “patina” is defined in part as “a thin layer of corrosion, usually green or brown."

True or false: The “Cold Wall Effect” on tank linings refers to a temperature differential between the ambient air outside the tank and the temperature of the product stored inside.

Pressurized pots are used for what type of spray painting?

Alkyds are a specific type of what broader class of resins?

What type of corrosion is characterized by a definite thread-like structure and directional growth under coatings on steel?

True or false: Thick-film, epoxy novolac coatings are sometimes recommended for railroad tank cars carrying crude oil.

Sulfate-reducing bacteria contribute to corrosion by what mechanism?

White rust appears on which of the following substrates?

True or false: “Solvent pop” occurs because of hackles in a steel substrate.

True or false: Breathable coatings often incorporate platey pigments.

True or false: Dry ice pellets used as abrasive cannot produce a profile on steel.

True or false: Sponge jetting requires ultra-high pressure (UHP) water.

True or false: Polypropylene powder is sometimes applied by flame spray to create a field joint coating system for transmission pipeline.

A thin, pasty liquid used for adhering gold leaf and filling surface imperfections is called what?

Which of the following is not an inhibitive pigment used in coatings for corrosion control?

True or false: In air abrasive blast systems, the bull hose carries pressurized air and abrasive to the blast nozzle.

True or false: Oil contamination of the atomizing air in an air spray system can cause fish eyes in the coating film.

Which of the following isocyanates is used in polyurethane coatings?

High ratio calcium sulfonate alkyds are recommended by some coating specialists for what kind of service?

What polymer concrete resin is based on an alcohol derived from agricultural wastes such as rice and oat hulls and corn cobs?

True or false: TDI and MDI are aromatic isocyanates.

In coatings work, what is a limpet cell?

The last solvent in a solvent blend to evaporate from an applied coating film is called what?

True or false: An epoxy ester coating is a single-package material.

True or false: In paint failure analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy is normally used to detect and identify volatile or semi-volatile materials.

A chopper gun would most likely be used for what application?

What coating type is used to penetrate and line the pores of concrete to achieve water repellency?

What is an alternative to hot potting?

True or false: The ASTM standard for moisture mitigation systems on concrete slabs for use under resilient flooring requires that the coating system have a permeance of 6 perms or less.

True or false: The SSPC Committee on Commercial Coatings is developing guides for laboratory testing, selecting, and assuring the quality of thick-film coatings on CMU assemblies.

How can paints be made conductive for electrostatic spraying?

What organization published a revised standard in 2012 on measuring dry film coating thickness that focuses on frequency of measurements and acceptablility of acquired results?

True or false: When dissimilar metals are in contact in the presence of an electrolyte, the more noble metal will experience galvanic corrosion.

Which of the following is not the subject of an SSPC Qualification Procedure (QP)?

True or false: SSPC has a qualification procedure (QP) to assure the qualifications of installers of liquid-applied air barriers.

According to Fred Goodwin, one of JPCL’s Top Thinkers, the three Ds negatively affecting the durability of concrete are deterioration, damage and ... what else?

True or false: A dilatant paint is said to be thixotropic.

True or false: Coatings based on silicone resins have little resistance to chalking.

True or false: Surface profile on steel can be measured in the field.

True or false: Osmotic blisters are likely to be filled with liquids that contain solvents or salts.

What level of voltage does a wet sponge holiday detector employ?

True or false: Power tool cleaning is effective in removing soluble salts from a steel substrate.

True or false: Siloxane sealers are normally applied to concrete substrates in film thicknesses of two to three mils.

True or false: Coatings that form a film by coalescence are two-component materials.

True or false: Inorganic zinc-rich coatings, left untopcoated, decrease in barrier protection over time.

True or false: PVDF resins can be emulsified in water to create a single-component, ambient-cured, fluoropolymer coating.

True or false: SSPC’s technology update on overcoating says that failure by delamination is a minor risk.

True or false: ASTM has separate test methods for steel and concrete substrates in determining the pull-off adhesion of coatings.

What kind of concrete sealers penetrate the pores of the concrete and form little, if any, film build?

Micaceous iron oxide is a pigment providing what kind of properties to protective coatings among the choices listed?

True or false: To be effective, a seal coat over a thermal-sprayed zinc coating must be applied after a significant amount of natural oxidation has occurred.

True or false: Some moisture meters for concrete are based on AC impedance.

True or false: An inorganic zinc-rich primer can be topcoated as soon as it is dry.

True or false: According to a recent JPCL article, application of silicone foul-release coatings presents numerous problems that need to be overcome.

What kind of corrosion is caused by the formation and collapse of bubbles?

True or false: A polysiloxane is an aliphatic polyurea.

True or false: Calcium aluminate mortars are sometimes used as linings for rehabilitation of manholes.

True or false: It is easier to remove coal tar epoxy than coal tar enamel from a steel substrate.

True or false: A black light test can detect certain oil films on a bare steel substrate.

True or false: There are both pneumatic and electric remote controls for air abrasive blast systems.

True or false: A polyaspartic coating is an aliphatic polyurea.

Certain machine guns, like the old Thompson sub-machine gun, are called chopper guns. What is a chopper gun in coatings work?

True or false: According to a recent JPCL article, foul-release hull coatings can be divided into hard and soft technologies.

True or false: Inorganic zinc-rich primers should be topcoated as soon as they appear to be dry.

True or false: Non-osmotic blisters can develop in coatings on concrete floors.

True or false: The greater the permeability of a coating on concrete, the more effectively it will perform.

What mechanism of corrosion protection does zinc phosphate provide to coatings?

True or false: Plastic shrinkage cracking of concrete can occur during the first few hours after placement.

What is a common term for osmotic blistering of coatings due to thermal gradients?

If coatings were removed before abrading a concrete floor slab to conduct the ASTM anhydrous calcium chloride test, how much time must elapse between grinding and conducting the test?

True or false: Abrasive particle size, shape, and hardness all have an impact on the creation of surface profile.

Ammonium polyphosphate is most likely to be found in what type of coating?

What do HUNKOR and CEFRACOR have in common?

Which one of the following organizations does not train and certify coating inspectors?

True or false: An ASTM subcommittee is working on a proposed standard to test the slip-coefficient properties of coatings used in slip-critical bolted connections.

True or false: Abrasive blast particles in an air abrasive blast system using a venture nozzle can achieve speeds of 450 mph or higher.

True or false: OSHA’s work practice controls to minimize exposure to hazardous materials, such as toxic dust, can include, in most instances, job rotation.

What organization developed a standard for measuring concrete surface profile with replica putty?

What organization publishes the Standard for the Preparation of Steel Substrates for PSPC?

What is the relationship between a discontinuity and a holiday in a coating?

What kind of test was developed by Frederick Knoop and colleagues?

What SSPC/NACE blast cleaning standard is equivalent to Sa 2, Thorough Blast Cleaning, in ISO 8501-1?

The migration of asphalt from a roof to the surface of a white roof coating applied over it is called what?

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Chemistry of Batteries

Skills to develop

Chemistry of Batteries

Chemistry is the driving force behind the magics of batteries.

A battery is a package of one or more galvanic cells used for the production and storage of electric energy by chemical means. A galvanic cell consists of at least two half cells, a reduction cell and an oxidation cell. Chemical reactions in the two half cells provide the energy for the galvanic cell operations.

Each half cell consists of an electrode and an electrolyte solution. Usually the solution contains ions derived from the electrode by oxidation or reduction reaction.

We will make this introduction using a typical setup as depicted here. The picture shows a copper zinc galvanic cell (battery).

A galvanic cell is also called a voltaic cell. The spontaneous reactions in it provide the electric energy or current.

Two half cells can be put together to form an electrolytic cell, which is used for electrolysis. In this case, electric energy is used to force nonsponaneous chemical reactions.

Oxidation Reduction Reactions

Many difinitions can be given to oxidation and reduction reactions. In terms of electrochemistry, the following definition is most appropriate, because it let us see how the electrons perform their roles in the chemistry of batteries.
Loss of electrons is oxidation, and gain of electrons is reduction.

Oxidation and reduction reactions cannot be carried out separately. They have to appear together in a chemical reaction. Thus oxidation and reduction reactions are often called redox reactions. In terms of redox reactions, a reducing agent and an oxidizing agent form a redox couple as they undergo the reaction:

Oxidant + n e- ® Reductant
Reducant ® Oxidant + n e-
An oxidant is an oxidizing reagent, and a reductant is a reducing agent. The reductant | oxidant or oxidant | reductant Two members of the couple are the same element or compound, but of different oxidation state.

Copper-Zinc Voltaic Cells

As an introduction to electrochemistry let us take a look of a simple Voltaic cell or a galvanic cell.

When a stick of zinc (Zn) is inserted in a salt solution, there is a tendency for Zn to lose electron according to the reaction,

Zn = Zn2+ + 2 e-. The arrangement of a Zn electrode in a solution containing Zn2+ ions is a half cell, which is usually represented by the notation: Zn | Zn2+, Zinc metal and Zn2+ ion form a redox couple, Zn2+ being the oxidant, and Zn the reductant. The same notation was used to designate a redox couple earlier.

Similarly, when a stick of copper (Cu) is inserted in a copper salt solution, there is also a tendency for Cu to lose electron according to the reaction,

Cu = Cu2+ + 2 e-. This is another half cell or redox couple: Cu | Cu2+.

However, the tendency for Zn to lose electron is stronger than that for copper. When the two cells are connected by a salt bridge and an electric conductor as shown to form a closed circuit for electrons and ions to flow, copper ions (Cu2+) actually gains electron to become copper metal. The reaction and the redox couple are respectively represented below,

Cu2+ + 2 e- = Cu,       Cu2+ | Cu. This arrangement is called a galvanic cell or battery as shown here. In a text form, this battery is represented by, Zn | Zn2+ || Cu2+ | Cu, in which the two vertical lines ( || ) represent a salt bridge, and a single vertical line ( | ) represents the boundary between the two phases (metal and solution). Electrons flow through the electric conductors connecting the electrodes and ions flow through the salt bridge. When [Zn2+] = [Cu2+] = 1.0 M, the voltage between the two terminals has been measured to be 1.100 V for this battery.

A battery is a package of one or more galvanic cells used for the production and storage of electric energy. The simplest battery consists of two half cells, a reduction half cell and an oxidation half cell.

Oxidation and Reduction Reactions -- a review

The overall reaction of the galvanic cell is

Zn + Cu2+ = Zn2+ + Cu Note that this redox reaction does not involve oxygen at all. For a review, note the following: Oxidant + n e- = Reductant
Example: Cu2+ + 2 e = Cu
Cu2+ is the oxidizing agent and Cu the reducing agent.

Reductant = n e- + Oxidant
Example: Zn = Zn2+ + 2 e-.
Zn is the reducing agent, and Zn2+ the oxidizing agent.
Theoretically, any redox couple may form a half cell, and any two half cells may combine to give a battery, but we have considerable technical difficulty in making some couples into a half cell.

Links to Some Battry Companies

Batteries play an important role in our lives. These links are provided so that you can visit some of the battery companies on the internet. Because these are links, and they are subject to change over time.

Links to Fuel Cell Companies

A fuel cell differs from a battery in that the fuel is continuously supplied. To find out more about fuel cells, here are some links to fuel cell companies.

Confidence Building Questions

Next page: Oxidation states

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In-Fisherman Tackle Trends: Panfish On Ice Dvd - $14.99

Panfishing has always been a vibrant part of the fishing scene. If one lumps the various panfish together as a group, perch, crappies, bluegills and other sunfish, they become the most popular overall target of anglers, surpassing even bass. Panfish are no less popular on ice. In this video we cover a variety of common situations you can expect to face in the field. Seasonal tactics, basin fishing tactics, spring bobber techniques, rigs, spoons, jigs, plastics, and electronics - the latest trends in icing panfish. 78 minutes. DVD. - $14.99


Cosmic Pancake Spotted Around Andromeda Galaxy

Charles Q. Choi
Cosmic Pancake Spotted Around Andromeda Galaxy
View photos
Astronomers are asking the public to help find star clusters in Andromeda, a bright, neighbouring galaxy to our Milky Way.

A giant pancake-like structure made of dwarf galaxies has been spotted orbiting the Andromeda galaxy, the nearest neighbor of our own Milky Way, researchers say.

A similar galactic disk, which current galaxy formation models have trouble explaining, may even exist around the Milky Way, too, scientists added.

The Andromeda galaxy, named after a mythological princess, is a spiral galaxy much like the Milky Way. At about 2.5 million light-years away in the Andromeda constellation, it is the nearest spiral galaxy, and is the most distant object in the sky that one can see with the unaided eye.

Andromeda and Milky Way are each surrounded by a swarm of smaller galaxies. These dwarf galaxies, which seem rich in mysterious, invisible dark matter, appear to each be about 10 million to 100 million times the mass of the sun, while the Andromeda and Milky Way each total nearly 1 trillion (that's 1 million million) times the mass of the sun.

"These dwarf galaxies shine from a few hundred to millions of times fainter than large spiral galaxies like Andromeda or the Milky Way," said study author Nicolas Martin, an astronomer at the Astronomical Observatory of Strasbourg in France. [Andromeda's Collision With Our Milky Way (Gallery)]

Now Martin and his colleagues find that about half of Andromeda's 27 known dwarf galaxies are apparently arranged in a disk around it spinning in the same direction as Andromeda. These 13 ball-shaped dwarf galaxies make up a pancake-like structure less than 42,000 light-years thick that extends at least 1.3 million light-years away from Andromeda.

Satellites of Andromeda

The astronomers detected the disk using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in Hawaii as part of the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey.

So far, it remains uncertain if current models of galaxy formation and evolution can explain the existence of this vast disk.

Dwarf satellite galaxies are thought to be remnants of the material that came together to form the giant galaxies they surround. While it makes sense that a disk of such dwarfs might emerge early after they formed, after a few orbits these dwarfs should veer off and live relatively independently, dispersing the disk in the process.

"Either something about how these galaxies formed or subsequently evolved must have led them to trace out this peculiar, coherent structure," Martin told "Either way, we do not understand the reason for this structure, making it very exciting."

"The presence of this thin, rotating disk of dwarf galaxies around Andromeda suggests a strong connection between the host galaxy Andromeda and its satellites," Martin added. "There is currently no satisfactory scenario that can explain all the properties of the satellites in the disk, but they all require a strong interplay between Andromeda and the satellites themselves."

Astronomical illusion or reality?

Critics might wonder if these dwarf galaxies are coincidentally moving together, and only seem to make up a disk.

"It could be argued that we are seeing a statistical fluke, but this would be an exceedingly rare statistical fluke indeed — about one chance in 10,000," Martin said.

Other mysteries abound regarding this new discovery. For instance, this disk of dwarves appears tilted at about a 50-degree angle in relation to Andromeda's disk. It is unknown why that is.

"It may relate to the dynamics of the process responsible for the creation of this rotating disk," Martin said.

Intriguingly, the Milky Way's pole apparently lines up with Andromeda's disk of dwarf galaxies. It remains unclear why that is as well.

"It may indicate that the Milky Way is somehow involved in the shaping of this plane of dwarf galaxies, but it could also be a chance alignment," Martin said.

In addition, about half the remaining dwarfs orbiting Andromeda, which lie above the spiral galaxy, also seem to make up another disk. This one seems tilted by about 13 degrees in relation to Andromeda's disk, said Brent Tully at the University of Hawaii, who did not participate in this study.

The researchers now hope to investigate the properties of dwarf galaxies in this disk to look for any differences from dwarf galaxies outside the disk that could enlighten them on the disk's origin. They would also like to see if similar disks exist around other galaxies to check if they are common features of galaxy formation.

The scientists detailed their findings in the Jan. 3 issue of the journal Nature.

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Ancient Civilizations

In this ancient civilizations worksheet, students discover the Incas of Peru as they read a brief selection about them, study a map, and respond to 6 short answer and essay questions.

5th - 7th Social Studies & History 78 Views 228 Downloads
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Aleesa F.
I am an ESOL teacher for grades K through 8. Lesson Planet helps supply me with the resources I need to scaffold instruction and build the background knowledge of my students. Lesson Planet makes learning - AND teaching - fun!
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Hey oojacoboo,

If I could only see any shots of the Bluetooth Robot, I would believe that you did make it.

Here are a few ideas for making any kind of robot, and any means of connecting to a computer:

- You could make a robot that runs off of the BASIC programming language, even if it is done from REALBasic or Visual Basic.

- The main operating system could be that from the original Macintosh, and maybe the same hardware, too.

- Make it powered from ADB, PS/2, or RJ-45, (you know, Ethernet).

And a name that runs off of an RJ-45 cable could be called "EtherBot"

Just a few thoughts.

P.S.: Grrrr, I hate it when I'm typing and I accidentally activate Exposé. ;-)
2 GHz MacBook 13", 80 GB total 2 GB RAM
iPod Photo, 30 GB
iPod Video, 80 GB
iPod Nano, 2 GB
AirPort Extreme with DSL broadband


Another Tour of Scala

  1. ScalaBasics - Scala has some surprising syntax for both Javaists and Rubyists. This is a crash course.
  2. UnifiedTypes - everything is an object. Even Int. Finally.
  3. ScalaClasses - Scala is object-oriented.
  4. ScalaProperties - Scala intelligently handles so-called “getters” and “setters”…by not having them
  5. ScalaPackages - Scala allows code to be packaged for visibility and organization.
  6. ScalaObject - Scala has direct support for singleton objects.
  7. ScalaTraits - Scala allows multiple inheritance via mixins.
  8. ScalaGenerics - Scala allows parametrized types.
  9. ScalaAnnotations - Scala can use Java annotations.
  10. ScalaOperators - Scala’s flexible syntax lets you create your own operators.
  11. JavaIntegration - Scala can call anything that Java can.

  1. ScalaFunctions - Scala has strong support for functional programming.
  2. PatternMatching - Scala has an advanced switch/@case@ system.
  3. FunctionCurrying - define a function that has received some of its parameters now, and will get the remainder later.
  4. CaseClasses - taking switch statements to a useful level.
  5. ExceptionHandling - Scala does have exceptions, but they are handled more simply than Java
  6. OptionType - Scala prefers a different way of handling null, by using the null object pattern
  7. SealedClasses - tightening up CaseClasses .
  8. XmlLiterals - Scala allows XML literals that are smarter than strings.
  9. ForComprehensions - don’t let the name confuse you; this is about Scala’s powerful for loop construct.
  10. TypeBounds - Scala’s generic types can be restricted and bound for (alleged) understandability.
  11. InnerClasses - Scala supports nesting classes within objects and other classes.
  12. ImplicitConversions - Scala can implicitly convert objects to other types.
  13. TypeDependentClosures - Scala has proper support for closures. Take that, Java!
  14. DefaultParameterValues - Scala 2.8 now supports default parameter values
  15. NamedParameters - Scala 2.8 introduced named parameters. Take that, Objective-C!

  1. ImplicitParameters - Scala can automatically pass parameters to methods that need them!
  3. AbstractTypes - Scala supports type aliasing and abstract types as an alternative to generics/type parametrization.
  4. AdvancedScalaObjects - Scala’s singleton objects are quite powerful.
  5. DuckTyping - Scala supports duck typing. Take that, Ruby!
  6. ActorsAndConcurrency - Scala uses an actor/message-passing style of concurrency.
  7. TypeSpecialization - Scala 2.8 allows specialization of generics for primitive types.
  8. PackageObjects - Scala 2.8 provides a means for packages to include things other than just classes and objects.
  9. ExplcitlyTypedSelfReferences - This is like the final boss in Super Mario 3. Good luck.


The Anti-Universal Coverage Club Manifesto

The Anti-Universal Coverage Club is a list of scholars and citizens who reject the idea that government should ensure that all individuals have health insurance. It exists to challenge the idea that “universal coverage” is the best way to protect and promote health.

The following principles explain the club’s opposition to “universal coverage”:

  3. In a free society, people should have the right to refuse health insurance.

To join, post something to your blog or email me mcannon [at] (here).  If you blog about the club, pro or con, please send the link to that address as well.


Home Cooking

Chicken Dinner

Chicken Marbella Questions for dinner on Sunday 8/29...

Home Cooking 12

dinneronsundays | Aug 28, 2010 07:34 AM

Hi guys: Thanks for suggesting the chicken marabella; I will be making it this sunday for about 18 people( yup, I've got loads of friends). I've made quite a reputation with the roast chicken and pastitsio meals and I hope that the trend continues. So I need your help in continuing to make me feel like a culinary genius, even though, honestly, I have a passion for food but has never taken the next step of actually cooking. Now, I've totally jumped the shark!

Anyway, here's the recipe and my questions:

1) The whitewine. I am not able to use this. Can you please recommend an acceptable subsitute? One liquid or a combo? appke juice/water/stock/lemon juice/ prune juice/other? I am not able to use white wine or other alcohol.

2) Many of the epicurious reviewers suggestd that I increase the marinade by 50 - 100 percent. How would you do that?

3) Please recommend prep times. What can I do the day before?

4) I will be serving rice as the starch because that is what was provided. I would have preferred couscous because I've never ever cooked rice in my entire life(redundant much?). How would I cook it? Technique? How much for 18 people? Ratio of water to rice? Spices? Visible queues to look for as I cook the rice, etc?

5) I will be serving ftozen green beans(yuck!) or green salad? How would I jazz these up? Vinaigrette? If you think about it, the watermelon/feta salad from 8/22 will be a hard act to follow?

6) Dessert ideas, please.

7) Is there anything else that comes to mind that will be very helpful? Like, is that amount of chicken ok?

Thanks again, guys!

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Recommended From Chowhound


Vinicius Moreti

São Paulo

Consulting Experience

Vinícius Moreti works as a Hotel Investment Analyst with HVS São Paulo. He has seven years of experience in the Brazilian hospitality sector and has worked in the development function with Brazil’s second largest hotel chain, Atlantica Hotels. Additionally, Moreti has worked on strategic projects for the Brazilian Hotel Operators Forum (FOHB).

Presently, Moreti develops sectoral publications, and conducts market research and economic feasibility studies for new hotels in South America.


Public Release:

New research suggests mindfulness could improve glucose levels, heart health

"Whether eating snacks while watching the game or grazing by the dessert tray at the office event, we often find ourselves overeating not because we're hungry, but because the food looks delicious, we're distracted, or we wish to soothe away unpleasant feelings," explains Dr. Daubenmier. "Our study suggests that mindful eating can go further than making healthy food choices and recognizing when we're full; it could improve glucose levels and heart health to a greater extent than behavioral weight-loss programs that do not teach mindful eating."

"Most behavioral weight-loss interventions do not place as much emphasis on managing mindless eating, and previous studies on the topic have not included attention controls or long term follow-up to better study the contribution of mindfulness components over time," said Deborah Tate, PhD, spokesperson for The Obesity Society. "This research points to some of the potential benefits of enhancing the mindfulness components of behavioral weight loss."


Northeastern Russian coast south to North Korea and Japan

Tree-lined open river plains, river valleys, and lakes; and rocky coastlines

Eagle of the sea

Often called the world’s most magnificent bird of prey, the Steller’s sea-eagle is dark, impressive, the largest of all sea-eagles, and the heaviest known eagle. Despite its large size and attractive appearance, its habits are not well known.

Big birds

The Steller’s sea-eagle is often easy to spot, with its dark body; white forehead, shoulders, tail, and thighs; and bright-yellow bill. It is believed that they are glacial relics that evolved in the narrow, northeast Asian coast and simply stayed there through multiple Ice Age cycles, never occurring anywhere else. Other northern sea-eagles share the yellow legs, eyes, and beak of the Steller’s, and they are large birds as well, which seems to support this theory.

The Steller’s sea-eagle was named for a noted 18th-century zoologist and explorer, Georg Wilhelm Steller.
The Steller’s sea-eagle is considered the most powerful and aggressive of its closest relatives, the bald eagle and the white-tailed sea-eagle.
The scientific name of the Steller's sea-eagle translates roughly to "eagle of the open seas.”
Steller’s sea-eagles are honored birds in Japan.

The San Diego Zoo received its first Steller’s sea-eagle in 1953 as a gift from a Japanese ornithologist. This bird awed Zoo guests for many years. Our next Steller’s arrived in 1996.

Today, the Zoo is the only place in North America where you can view these impressive eagles. A pair of Steller’s sea-eagles lives in an aviary along the Zoo’s Eagle Trail.

Eagles and humans
Steller’s sea-eagles are a vulnerable species and have been given complete legal protection in Russia, the only place it breeds, and in Japan, where it overwinters. Despite these protections, human behavior continues to harm the remaining sea-eagle population. In Russia, Steller’s are losing their habitat because of the development of hydroelectric power projects and logging in the forested areas where they nest. The rivers where the sea-eagles fish are being contaminated by chemicals from local industries.

In Japan, sea-eagles eat both fish and carrion. Overfishing by humans in Japanese waters has led the birds to scavenge on sika deer remains left by hunters. Eating carrion filled with lead shot from hunters has had devastating effects on the sea-eagle population, leading to the outlawing of lead ammunition on Japan’s Hokkaido Island. As of 2009, the world’s population was estimated at 5,000 birds, but it is slowly decreasing.

Still much to learn
Very little is known about these eagles, especially their early years. Research efforts began in 1992, at Russia’s Magadan State Nature Reserve. In 2006, San Diego Zoo Global and Natural Research, Ltd. teamed up with scientists there to study the movements of young Steller’s sea-eagles in their native habitat to determine the hazards young birds face, in hopes of protecting the species in the wild. Researchers survey nests, and a team member climbs the tree to collect a bird, gently placing it in a bag to be lowered to the ground. The ground crew measures, weighs, and takes tissue samples from the bird. Young eagles get a satellite leg tag so researchers can track its movement.

The team was surprised to discover the extent of persecution these birds are exposed to, despite the species’ protected status throughout its range. Preliminary results show high juvenile mortality, with deaths associated with oil rigs. Nest productivity/chick survival is correlated to snow depth and resulting floods. Fishing and caviar harvesting are major industries in Russia’s Siberia, and they provide offal for sea-eagles to scavenge. However, overfishing can impact the birds’ habits, forcing wintering birds to look inland for food. There, they often prey on deer carcasses, which can contain lead fragments from bullets. Japan responded to this hazard by banning lead bullet use throughout the sea-eagles’ range within their country.

Although legally protected in Russia, Japan, China, and South Korea, other threats to Steller’s sea-eagles include fossil fuel energy developments, wind farms, pollution, habitat loss, hunting, and possibly global warming. By learning more about the threats young sea-eagles face each autumn as they head off on their frosty migrations, it is hoped that this vulnerable bird population may stabilize.

The San Diego Zoo has a pair of Steller’s sea-eagles and has loaned pairs of birds to four other zoos in the US. We hope that seeing these amazing raptors up close will encourage visitors to participate in the conservation of this rare species.

You can help, too!
You can help us bring Steller’s sea-eagles back from the brink by supporting the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy. Together we can save and protect wildlife around the globe.


A republican enterprise of collecting tourist tax will be formed in Crimea, Prime Minister of the autonomy Anatoly Mohylyov told the press.

The Crimean PM explained that currently the tax is being collected by local authorities, who have no clue how to do it properly, and as a result, local budgets lose money.

"We need these means to maintain the communal infrastructure of the sea cities. We've decided to form a special agency, charged with determining tourist places and setting and collecting taxes from these places. The money will go to the local budgets and used for development of cities' infrastructure," Mohylyov said.

According to the official, the republican agency will have branches in Crimean cities and districts. It is supposed to create a centralized system of tax collection. According to preliminary estimations, the agency will collect 50-60 million hryvnias of tax into local budget.

The Crimean PM also informed that the agency would start working next year.

Классические туфли мужские


Chris Allick

End-to-End: Connecting Artists with Enthusiasts

End-to-End is a suite of projects that connects artists and their work directly to people through experiential design.

8-Tracks, records, tapes, CDs and now even digital downloads are becoming obsolete mediums as streaming becomes ubiquitous. Netflix, YouTube and Twitter are examples of Internet services that have shaped consumer’s desire for immediate and constant access to media. Stream accessing wireless devices are the solution, but how will recording artists continue to reach listeners and inspire them if all that exists is Internet accessible media? Will future generations even have the same concept of ownership that we see changing now? If the medium is the message, what happens when there is no more medium? How can music distribution transition into what I am dubbing non-static listening experiences?

End-to-End is the result of a collaborative effort between True Panther Records artist Glasser, graphic designer Trevor Gilley and myself. The label and I set out to explore new ways to distribute music and engage listeners in response to observed trends in streaming media on the Internet.

My thesis tries to answer the above questions and uses real world examples of experiential interactive design to create non-static listening experiences. These projects demonstrate one possibility for the re-invigoration of the music industry.


Lebanon Library To Support Tor, Causes Debate

Your TOR use is being watched

A outrageous discuss between law coercion and polite libertarians ensued after Kilton Public Library from Lebanon, New Hampshire, announced a goal to dedicate their computers to turn partial of a Tor network.

This preference was met with clever condemnation from a law coercion authorities; but, a polite libertarians also found their voice in a matter.

Apparently, a library’s goal in this whole thing was desirous by a long-preserved tradition of libraries opposite a universe and ages being famous as institutions that yield believe to a people; they were always deliberate a synonym for a place where leisure of debate and egghead leisure were practiced. So, it was deliberate an evolutionary step – a preference of a library to actively attend in a Tor network.

Homeland confidence is an American powerful tenure for a accordant inhabitant bid to safeguard a homeland that is safe, secure, and volatile opposite terrorism and other hazards where American interestsHowever, it didn’t go neglected – a Department of Homeland Security reached out to hit a library and demonstrate their concerns about a new decision.

In their argument

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