A couple of angry dissents aside, the Supreme Court has shown a remarkable degree of consensus in the nearly two dozen opinions issued so far this term.
Fifteen of the 23 decisions have been unanimous and four have drawn just one dissenting vote. No case has ended in a 5-4 split in which the liberals and conservatives are on opposite sides. But the term is young, with 50 or so decisions to come.顺便:给你推荐一个超实惠的鞋店http://shop60690329.taobao.com/
Broad agreement is not that unusual in the court's early decisions. Indeed, a major reason they're issued more quickly is that there is general accord about the outcome.
But the decisions to date include four unanimous opinions in cases in which the U.S. Chamber of Commerce supported the losing side. The cases involved claims of workplace discrimination, retaliation concerning alleged discrimination, an automaker's negligence involving seat belts and corporate rights under the federal open records law. The votes are notable if only because some critics have complained that the court — the conservative-leaning justices, in particular — is too business-friendly.
Robin Conrad, head of the chamber's legal team, said too many cases important to the business world have yet to be decided, including a major class-action sex discrimination lawsuit against Wal-Mart Inc., to read too much into the early returns. But Conrad said, "I have always been critical of the claim that this court has knee-jerk, pro-business inclinations."
The strongest words so far have been in dissents from Justices Samuel Alito and Antonin Scalia. Alito, the lone voice opposing the court's ruling in favor of protesters at military funerals, wrote that his colleagues were sanctioning a "malevolent verbal attack" on a dead Marine and his grieving family.
2011年7月27日星期三
Development gets its skates on
A former professional skater, he has about 35 years of experience and knows exactly what is needed in a good skate park.
And so, as director of Lennox Head-based company Oasis Skateparks, he’s the perfect person to design the village’s new skate park.
Work on the long-awaited facility started on Thursday, and could be finished within three or four weeks, depending on the weather.
One of the perks of Mr Clancy’s job is that he’ll probably be the first person to have a go at the 1.5m-deep bowl which is the feature of the Lennox Head skate park.
He can call it ‘quality control’ of his product, but he admits it will be fun, too.
His crew are working hard to finish the skate park as soon as possible.
“We know everyone has been waiting a long time for it,” Mr Clancy said.
“It’s great to be able to build a park in our home town.
“This skate park will be about 350sqm, so it’s on the smaller end of the scale because of the geographical constraints.
“But it’s still going to be excellent.”
With its banks, ledges, grind rails, quarter pipe and clover-shaped bowl, he said it will provide something for all levels of skaters, from beginners to advanced.
“The bowl is really the stand-out feature,” Mr Clancy said.
“We are trying to put in a balance of features.
“We’re trying to cater for all styles.”
While Mr Clancy said it was great that Ballina Shire Council has funded an activity for youth, the 46-year-old is just as eager to get on as the younger skaters.
“I still love to skate,” he said.
Oasis Skateparks has built about 14 skate parks around the country.
Lennox Head’s skate park is being build as part of the new community centre precinct in Park Lane.
The community centre includes a main auditorium meeting rooms, the library and a playgroup facility.
And so, as director of Lennox Head-based company Oasis Skateparks, he’s the perfect person to design the village’s new skate park.
Work on the long-awaited facility started on Thursday, and could be finished within three or four weeks, depending on the weather.
One of the perks of Mr Clancy’s job is that he’ll probably be the first person to have a go at the 1.5m-deep bowl which is the feature of the Lennox Head skate park.
He can call it ‘quality control’ of his product, but he admits it will be fun, too.
His crew are working hard to finish the skate park as soon as possible.
“We know everyone has been waiting a long time for it,” Mr Clancy said.
“It’s great to be able to build a park in our home town.
“This skate park will be about 350sqm, so it’s on the smaller end of the scale because of the geographical constraints.
“But it’s still going to be excellent.”
With its banks, ledges, grind rails, quarter pipe and clover-shaped bowl, he said it will provide something for all levels of skaters, from beginners to advanced.
“The bowl is really the stand-out feature,” Mr Clancy said.
“We are trying to put in a balance of features.
“We’re trying to cater for all styles.”
While Mr Clancy said it was great that Ballina Shire Council has funded an activity for youth, the 46-year-old is just as eager to get on as the younger skaters.
“I still love to skate,” he said.
Oasis Skateparks has built about 14 skate parks around the country.
Lennox Head’s skate park is being build as part of the new community centre precinct in Park Lane.
The community centre includes a main auditorium meeting rooms, the library and a playgroup facility.
2011年7月21日星期四
After a miserable month of June
After a miserable month of June in which Florida went 3-22, the Marlins won nine of their past 10 games and said they weren't getting too intoxicated by the solid stretch.
They'll need to take that lesson to heart to shake off Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the San Diego Padres, the NL West's last-place team.
Despite a strong start from Anibal Sanchez, the Marlins couldn't get to San Diego right-hander Tim Stauffer (6-6), who held them to four hits in six scoreless innings.
"We had a couple of opportunities," manager Jack McKeon said. "Their pitching shut us down. Give them credit."
In the bottom of the ninth, Gaby Sanchez singled and Mike Cameron drew a two-out walk, prompting the Padres to bring in closer Heath Bell. He threw a wild pitch that advanced the runners, but John Buck lined to right field to end the game.
Florida is now 15-10 under McKeon and 4-2 since the All-Star break.
Sanchez (6-3) struck out seven and allowed two earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He's allowed two earned runs or less in five of his past seven starts but hasn't won since June 10.
"I had to keep the score close," Sanchez said. "Just waited for the team to (score). That didn't happen today."
Despite Sanchez going deep into counts - he worked eight full counts and threw 119 pitches - the weak-hitting Padres only scored off him in the first.
Former Marlin Cameron Maybin hit an infield single and stole second before Ryan Ludwick worked a nine-pitch at-bat and hit a ground-rule double to center, scoring Maybin. Orlando Hudson then hit a pop fly that eluded Marlins left fielder Logan Morrison and allowed Ludwick to score.
Maybin, traded to San Diego last November for Edward Mujica and Ryan Webb, went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases in his return to South Florida. Batting third in the Padres' lineup, Maybin singled in a run in the ninth inning to raise his team-high average to .263.
They'll need to take that lesson to heart to shake off Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the San Diego Padres, the NL West's last-place team.
Despite a strong start from Anibal Sanchez, the Marlins couldn't get to San Diego right-hander Tim Stauffer (6-6), who held them to four hits in six scoreless innings.
"We had a couple of opportunities," manager Jack McKeon said. "Their pitching shut us down. Give them credit."
In the bottom of the ninth, Gaby Sanchez singled and Mike Cameron drew a two-out walk, prompting the Padres to bring in closer Heath Bell. He threw a wild pitch that advanced the runners, but John Buck lined to right field to end the game.
Florida is now 15-10 under McKeon and 4-2 since the All-Star break.
Sanchez (6-3) struck out seven and allowed two earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He's allowed two earned runs or less in five of his past seven starts but hasn't won since June 10.
"I had to keep the score close," Sanchez said. "Just waited for the team to (score). That didn't happen today."
Despite Sanchez going deep into counts - he worked eight full counts and threw 119 pitches - the weak-hitting Padres only scored off him in the first.
Former Marlin Cameron Maybin hit an infield single and stole second before Ryan Ludwick worked a nine-pitch at-bat and hit a ground-rule double to center, scoring Maybin. Orlando Hudson then hit a pop fly that eluded Marlins left fielder Logan Morrison and allowed Ludwick to score.
Maybin, traded to San Diego last November for Edward Mujica and Ryan Webb, went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and two stolen bases in his return to South Florida. Batting third in the Padres' lineup, Maybin singled in a run in the ninth inning to raise his team-high average to .263.
2011年7月18日星期一
'Psychic calf' McCow becomes world star
Maungaturoto has never had a celebrity like it Richie McCow's fame has extended far beyond his Northland paddock after world media picked up the story of the "psychic" calf.
The Telegraph newspaper in Britain reported Richie was to "follow in the tentacles" of Paul the Octopus during this year's Rugby World Cup.
Richie also made headlines in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, France, Jamaica, and Taiwan. Newspapers ranging from the Borneo Post, the Whitsunday Times, and the Caribbean Herald reported the story.
Last week, the calf was hailed by his owners as an omen after being born all black except for a white mark on its forehead which looks like a silver fern.
The Herald will put that apparently special nature to the test by presenting the calf with two containers of food prior to the All Blacks' matches.
One container will be marked with a New Zealand flag, the other with the flag of the All Blacks' opposition.
A German octopus called Paul gained worldwide fame during the 2010 Fifa World Cup by correctly calling the outcome of eight football matches.
Paul died in October of natural causes, but had received death threats from enraged fans of the teams it correctly predicted to lose.
Richie will be under even more pressure his owner Kyle Underwood, 21, told the Herald he faced the freezing works if the All Blacks exited the Cup early.
While that threat was included in most international reports, the Daily India website chose to omit it perhaps because of the sacred position of cattle in Hinduism.
Richie has been invited to be the star attraction of next month's Auckland Pet & Animal Expo, following in the paw prints of last year's drawcard, the winner of New Zealand's Next Top Cat Model. And Mr Underwood has fielded an offer of luxury bedding for Richie from 'Bonnie the Cow', suppliers of premium animal bedding to the dairy farming sector.
Mr Underwood has started a Support Richie McCow Facebook page to manage his calf's growing fame.
The Telegraph newspaper in Britain reported Richie was to "follow in the tentacles" of Paul the Octopus during this year's Rugby World Cup.
Richie also made headlines in India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Australia, France, Jamaica, and Taiwan. Newspapers ranging from the Borneo Post, the Whitsunday Times, and the Caribbean Herald reported the story.
Last week, the calf was hailed by his owners as an omen after being born all black except for a white mark on its forehead which looks like a silver fern.
The Herald will put that apparently special nature to the test by presenting the calf with two containers of food prior to the All Blacks' matches.
One container will be marked with a New Zealand flag, the other with the flag of the All Blacks' opposition.
A German octopus called Paul gained worldwide fame during the 2010 Fifa World Cup by correctly calling the outcome of eight football matches.
Paul died in October of natural causes, but had received death threats from enraged fans of the teams it correctly predicted to lose.
Richie will be under even more pressure his owner Kyle Underwood, 21, told the Herald he faced the freezing works if the All Blacks exited the Cup early.
While that threat was included in most international reports, the Daily India website chose to omit it perhaps because of the sacred position of cattle in Hinduism.
Richie has been invited to be the star attraction of next month's Auckland Pet & Animal Expo, following in the paw prints of last year's drawcard, the winner of New Zealand's Next Top Cat Model. And Mr Underwood has fielded an offer of luxury bedding for Richie from 'Bonnie the Cow', suppliers of premium animal bedding to the dairy farming sector.
Mr Underwood has started a Support Richie McCow Facebook page to manage his calf's growing fame.
Open letter to W Solar
We here in Wausau are eager to learn where your company will build a manufacturing plant that will employ as many as 600 people making your high-tech solar panels. We were ecstatic to learn back in January that Wausau was one of the few Wisconsin cities along with Eau Claire and perhaps others that have shown interest since then being considered for the facility.
We won't disparage Eau Claire or any other city in this great state. We don't have to. We think what we have to offer in Wausau speaks for itself.
You already know some of our key assets. Your company spokesman, Evan Zeppos, was on target when he said this about Wausau in January: "It's a very good spot as it relates to a supply chain, geography, transportation. It has a well-known reputation for having a good workforce, and it's certainly very high on the quality-of-life scale."
We couldn't have said it better ourselves. But here are some things you might not know about us.
For more than 160 years, Wausau has reinvented itself again and again. We were born in the mid-1800s when settlers began clearing the Northwoods and turning it into lumber for a growing nation. In the early 1900s, our economy began a transition when Employers Mutual Insurance of Wausau later the Wausau Insurance Cos. was founded.
We continued to rely upon the timber industry, but rather than make lumber for other regions of the country, we started value-added companies of our own, making doors, windows and paper. The good workforce that Mr. Zeppos referenced proved itself able and capable of making most anything. Ask the folks at Greenheck Fan Corp. in Schofield, which makes air-moving equipment that is used all over the world. While you're at it, ask the folks at Greenheck about the origins of that company two brothers working in a garage indicative of our community's entrepreneurial spirit.
Nowadays, we still make windows and doors and paper fully one-third of our workforce still manufactures something or another for a living. We also still dabble in insurance. And we have transitioned again, into the regional health care and shopping hub for the northern half of Wisconsin
We won't disparage Eau Claire or any other city in this great state. We don't have to. We think what we have to offer in Wausau speaks for itself.
You already know some of our key assets. Your company spokesman, Evan Zeppos, was on target when he said this about Wausau in January: "It's a very good spot as it relates to a supply chain, geography, transportation. It has a well-known reputation for having a good workforce, and it's certainly very high on the quality-of-life scale."
We couldn't have said it better ourselves. But here are some things you might not know about us.
For more than 160 years, Wausau has reinvented itself again and again. We were born in the mid-1800s when settlers began clearing the Northwoods and turning it into lumber for a growing nation. In the early 1900s, our economy began a transition when Employers Mutual Insurance of Wausau later the Wausau Insurance Cos. was founded.
We continued to rely upon the timber industry, but rather than make lumber for other regions of the country, we started value-added companies of our own, making doors, windows and paper. The good workforce that Mr. Zeppos referenced proved itself able and capable of making most anything. Ask the folks at Greenheck Fan Corp. in Schofield, which makes air-moving equipment that is used all over the world. While you're at it, ask the folks at Greenheck about the origins of that company two brothers working in a garage indicative of our community's entrepreneurial spirit.
Nowadays, we still make windows and doors and paper fully one-third of our workforce still manufactures something or another for a living. We also still dabble in insurance. And we have transitioned again, into the regional health care and shopping hub for the northern half of Wisconsin
2011年7月15日星期五
The process of going from a mess of bones
The process of going from a mess of bones in field jackets to a completed skeleton that is generally seen in museums is a tedious one. Rarely do paleontologists find a full, completed skeleton during a dig. Much of the time it takes years of funding, research, and good old sweat to produce a completed dinosaur. Furthermore, the bones that arrive at Fossilogic are in various states of completion.
"Sometimes the bone is incomplete so we have to be able to look at a two-dimensional drawing and sculpt a 3D replica of the missing piece," Warner said.
Warner said he has to draw on his artistic training to do the work.
"Being able to see color variations and having the ability to see what an object should look like in a three dimensional way helps tremendously."
His talent as an artist started early. "I'm really not sure when it happened. The earliest memory I have is drawing a chipmunk when I was in kindergarten, and I've been doing it ever since," Warner said.
Over the years he has worked hard to develop his ability and, as is the case with most families, he is not the only one with a natural talent toward art.
"My mother and one of my sisters, Ann, do have the artistic ability, but they have never really developed it," Warner said.
While many artists pride themselves on their gifts Warner brings an air of humility to his work.
"I have always been able to draw but I haven't ever thought of myself as talented," Warner said. "I have a lot of people that want my art and tell me that I have a 'natural talent,' but I don't feel that talented, especially when I see other artists' work."
Any artist can tell you that inspiration comes from many different areas. Places and things we see, dreams, and experiences all play a role in what artists do. For Warner, nature is a huge inspiration though he considers it the most challenging to recreate.
"Sometimes the bone is incomplete so we have to be able to look at a two-dimensional drawing and sculpt a 3D replica of the missing piece," Warner said.
Warner said he has to draw on his artistic training to do the work.
"Being able to see color variations and having the ability to see what an object should look like in a three dimensional way helps tremendously."
His talent as an artist started early. "I'm really not sure when it happened. The earliest memory I have is drawing a chipmunk when I was in kindergarten, and I've been doing it ever since," Warner said.
Over the years he has worked hard to develop his ability and, as is the case with most families, he is not the only one with a natural talent toward art.
"My mother and one of my sisters, Ann, do have the artistic ability, but they have never really developed it," Warner said.
While many artists pride themselves on their gifts Warner brings an air of humility to his work.
"I have always been able to draw but I haven't ever thought of myself as talented," Warner said. "I have a lot of people that want my art and tell me that I have a 'natural talent,' but I don't feel that talented, especially when I see other artists' work."
Any artist can tell you that inspiration comes from many different areas. Places and things we see, dreams, and experiences all play a role in what artists do. For Warner, nature is a huge inspiration though he considers it the most challenging to recreate.
The influence of activewear
The influence of activewear has gone beyond nitty-gritty sports since at least the 19th century when women started wearing split skirts for biking, explains Colleen Hill, co-curator of an exhibit at The Museum at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) called “Sporting Life”: Think of the men’s tweed hunting jacket that became the uniform for college professors, the dancewear that turned into streetwear in the disco era and the sexy scuba dresses that were a favorite of the 1990s supermodels.
Figure skating, yachting and skiing seem to be endless sources of inspiration for designers and favorites of consumers who probably have never actually laced up, booted up, or hoisted a sail. Yet who could resist a camel-colored wool skating-style ensemble — cape and all — with black Persian lamb trim?
The aspirational aspect complements the whole fashion-as-fantasy thing that also sometimes has city-dwellers adopting the look of country-club cricket players, and suburbanites dressing like downtown nightclub-goers. In that context, Ralph Lauren’s safari jacket, Jean Paul Gaultier’s rayon-and-polyester football jumpsuit and even Isabel Toledo’s gray gym-teacher dress with a funnel neckline and fluid skirt don’t seem so crazy.
And, real women continue to wear monokinis on the beach, which was one scandalous step away from a dominatrix get-up when Rudi Gernreich created the breast-baring one-piece suit in 1964.
The swimwear section of the exhibit is a reminder of just how far the collective eye has come when it comes to revealing the body. Silk bathing boots from the 1910s are a far cry from today’s standard-issue flip-flops, and there isn’t anything similar about head-to-toe wool bathing costumes from the turn of the 20th century and the suit with a black mesh bodice by Cole of California in the 1960s.
Yet, Hill notes, in those intervening years swimwear designers made it possible for people, and women in particular, to transition from being mere recreational bathers to actual swimmers. “As we moved into more stretch fabrics and a fit closer to the body, it allowed women a more active interest in swimming,” she explains.
Figure skating, yachting and skiing seem to be endless sources of inspiration for designers and favorites of consumers who probably have never actually laced up, booted up, or hoisted a sail. Yet who could resist a camel-colored wool skating-style ensemble — cape and all — with black Persian lamb trim?
The aspirational aspect complements the whole fashion-as-fantasy thing that also sometimes has city-dwellers adopting the look of country-club cricket players, and suburbanites dressing like downtown nightclub-goers. In that context, Ralph Lauren’s safari jacket, Jean Paul Gaultier’s rayon-and-polyester football jumpsuit and even Isabel Toledo’s gray gym-teacher dress with a funnel neckline and fluid skirt don’t seem so crazy.
And, real women continue to wear monokinis on the beach, which was one scandalous step away from a dominatrix get-up when Rudi Gernreich created the breast-baring one-piece suit in 1964.
The swimwear section of the exhibit is a reminder of just how far the collective eye has come when it comes to revealing the body. Silk bathing boots from the 1910s are a far cry from today’s standard-issue flip-flops, and there isn’t anything similar about head-to-toe wool bathing costumes from the turn of the 20th century and the suit with a black mesh bodice by Cole of California in the 1960s.
Yet, Hill notes, in those intervening years swimwear designers made it possible for people, and women in particular, to transition from being mere recreational bathers to actual swimmers. “As we moved into more stretch fabrics and a fit closer to the body, it allowed women a more active interest in swimming,” she explains.
2011年7月12日星期二
Table Lamps as Accent Lighting
In the first part of our look at lighting types, we discussed some ideas for using table lamps as ambient lighting. This is a great start for any lighting scheme, and table lamps are perfect for creating an overall atmosphere, and experimenting with different locations.
However, if your ambient lighting is leaving shadows a little flat, you can add some real visual interest by adding another type of lighting. There are several options available, and table lamps can fulfill many roles, but in this article, we’re going to take a closer look at accent lighting.
What is accent lighting?
Accent lighting is used to highlight a feature or object in a room. The lamp itself doesn’t command any attention, because its purpose is to draw the eye to a specific part of the room.
The object being highlighted can be anything: a picture, a piece of furniture, an interesting architectural feature, or even just a wall. It is important that the lamp focuses on the object strongly, without highlighting too much of its surroundings.
Using a table lamp for accenting
Once again, using a table lamp is a great idea, because you can reposition them easily to highlight a feature from the best possible angle. Choosing an opaque lamp shade works best, because it concentrates the light on a smaller area, making it more dramatic.
Also pay attention to the type of light bulb used. A reflector bulb will force the light upwards, rather than letting it spill out underneath too. Using a smaller light bulb can also work great, because the smaller light source produces sharper shadows, which contrast wonderfully against the softer shadows produced by ambient lighting.
However, if your ambient lighting is leaving shadows a little flat, you can add some real visual interest by adding another type of lighting. There are several options available, and table lamps can fulfill many roles, but in this article, we’re going to take a closer look at accent lighting.
What is accent lighting?
Accent lighting is used to highlight a feature or object in a room. The lamp itself doesn’t command any attention, because its purpose is to draw the eye to a specific part of the room.
The object being highlighted can be anything: a picture, a piece of furniture, an interesting architectural feature, or even just a wall. It is important that the lamp focuses on the object strongly, without highlighting too much of its surroundings.
Using a table lamp for accenting
Once again, using a table lamp is a great idea, because you can reposition them easily to highlight a feature from the best possible angle. Choosing an opaque lamp shade works best, because it concentrates the light on a smaller area, making it more dramatic.
Also pay attention to the type of light bulb used. A reflector bulb will force the light upwards, rather than letting it spill out underneath too. Using a smaller light bulb can also work great, because the smaller light source produces sharper shadows, which contrast wonderfully against the softer shadows produced by ambient lighting.
Table Lamps as Decorative Lighting
When you’re planning a lighting scheme for your home or office, table lamps are extremely versatile, and to get the most of them, it helps if you’re aware of what role you’d like them to play. Previous articles looked at ambient and accent lighting types, and in this third installment, let’s look at a type of lighting that table lamps were made for: decorative lighting.
What is decorative lighting?
Decorative lighting is not designed primarily to provide usable lighting, but rather to serve as a design element in itself. It’s the opposite of ambient lighting: instead of providing a light that spreads throughout your room, the light it creates may not extend very far at all; and instead of the light source hiding in the background, decorative table lamps demand to be noticed!
Think of a decorative table lamp as an ornament that happens to light up, and you’re nearly there.
Types of decorative table lamps
There are many types of table lamps that can be considered decorative, and can be used as a centerpiece in any room. Here are a few sample techniques to look out for:
Stained Glass
Glass has been used in table lamps for many generations, and over time, its properties have been used creatively to great effect. Probably the best known example of this comes with Tiffany Lamps, where organic, flowing shapes are constructed out of many pieces of stained glass. Colored glass does restrict the amount of light that passes through, but it does light up beautifully, forming a focal point in your room that’s bound to impress!
Crystal
Cut glass plays wonderfully with light, with many little prisms splitting light up into a spectrum of colors. It also creates a dappled effect throughout a room, and when the crystal shards sway, you get an effect reminiscent of a bright summer’s day by a stream. Crystal table lamps are almost hypnotic to watch.
Translucence
Many materials are translucent, meaning that it allows light to pass through, but the light becomes diffused. In other words, you can see light coming through, but you can’t see clearly through the material. This phenomenon is widely used by table lamps, for example, with textured paper lamp shades producing a more attractive light source. Other materials include frosted glass and various fabrics, and work well because they obscure the light bulb, and almost become a more interesting light source in themselves.
What is decorative lighting?
Decorative lighting is not designed primarily to provide usable lighting, but rather to serve as a design element in itself. It’s the opposite of ambient lighting: instead of providing a light that spreads throughout your room, the light it creates may not extend very far at all; and instead of the light source hiding in the background, decorative table lamps demand to be noticed!
Think of a decorative table lamp as an ornament that happens to light up, and you’re nearly there.
Types of decorative table lamps
There are many types of table lamps that can be considered decorative, and can be used as a centerpiece in any room. Here are a few sample techniques to look out for:
Stained Glass
Glass has been used in table lamps for many generations, and over time, its properties have been used creatively to great effect. Probably the best known example of this comes with Tiffany Lamps, where organic, flowing shapes are constructed out of many pieces of stained glass. Colored glass does restrict the amount of light that passes through, but it does light up beautifully, forming a focal point in your room that’s bound to impress!
Crystal
Cut glass plays wonderfully with light, with many little prisms splitting light up into a spectrum of colors. It also creates a dappled effect throughout a room, and when the crystal shards sway, you get an effect reminiscent of a bright summer’s day by a stream. Crystal table lamps are almost hypnotic to watch.
Translucence
Many materials are translucent, meaning that it allows light to pass through, but the light becomes diffused. In other words, you can see light coming through, but you can’t see clearly through the material. This phenomenon is widely used by table lamps, for example, with textured paper lamp shades producing a more attractive light source. Other materials include frosted glass and various fabrics, and work well because they obscure the light bulb, and almost become a more interesting light source in themselves.
2011年7月7日星期四
US set for huge 17GW of solar installations by 2015
The US is set for a massive rise in solar panel installations, with projects amounting to 17 gigawatts (GW) in the pipeline.
According to figures released by Solarbuzz, there are currently 601 non-residential photovoltaic (PV) projects in the pipeline, ranging from 50 kilowatts to 500 megawatts.
These projects will all be put in place between the second half of this year and 2015.
This means an overall figure of 20.3GW of non-residential PV installations either already in place or on the way since the start of 2010.
Figures show that California is by far and away the most popular area for PV projects, accounting for 62 percent of the country's overall planned installations.
This is largely attributed to state's commitment to a 33 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard target.
Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey are some of the other states which are looking to expand their solar capabilities substantially, with 40 states in total planning some form of expansion.
And, of course, a phenomenal wave of solar installations means lucrative business for module suppliers, not to mention project developers, engineers and construction firms.
In terms of module suppliers, First Solar, SunPower Corporation and Suntech Power are some of the largest for MW supplied.
Inverter suppliers Advanced Energy and SatCon Technology are also well placed to cash in on the extensive commercial PV installations.
According to solar expert at IMS Research Ash Sharma, the swift expansion in the US shows how seriously solar energy has edged in on the energy agenda.
"It is massively important," he told TechEye, "and we also project similar growth for utility-scale PV in the US. The US accounted for just six percent of global installations last year, but this will grow to more than 20 percent over the next five years and will become the world's largest market by 2013."
All of which makes the UK's reluctance to back large scale solar projects appear rather backward.
With the Department for Energy and Climate Change looking to make it more difficult for larger project installations, there are fears that the UK could get left behind as others, such as the US, bound ahead.
Sharma believes that there is real danger of being left out of a very profitable market.
He tells us that the global PV system integration market generated around $45 billion last year, with an expectation that this will grow to around $70 billion by 2015.
All of which is non-residential system-based so it appears that Chris Huhne could be opting the UK right out.
"The policy now favours residential systems but completely ignore larger-scale PV and make commercial PV such as on offices, warehouse, farm-buildings much more difficult financially.
"After August, they will not get enough backing and will no longer be financially viable to have systems above 250kW.
"Systems between 50-250kW will also struggle unless system prices come down considerably as tariffs are not high enough to generate a respectable return."
According to figures released by Solarbuzz, there are currently 601 non-residential photovoltaic (PV) projects in the pipeline, ranging from 50 kilowatts to 500 megawatts.
These projects will all be put in place between the second half of this year and 2015.
This means an overall figure of 20.3GW of non-residential PV installations either already in place or on the way since the start of 2010.
Figures show that California is by far and away the most popular area for PV projects, accounting for 62 percent of the country's overall planned installations.
This is largely attributed to state's commitment to a 33 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard target.
Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey are some of the other states which are looking to expand their solar capabilities substantially, with 40 states in total planning some form of expansion.
And, of course, a phenomenal wave of solar installations means lucrative business for module suppliers, not to mention project developers, engineers and construction firms.
In terms of module suppliers, First Solar, SunPower Corporation and Suntech Power are some of the largest for MW supplied.
Inverter suppliers Advanced Energy and SatCon Technology are also well placed to cash in on the extensive commercial PV installations.
According to solar expert at IMS Research Ash Sharma, the swift expansion in the US shows how seriously solar energy has edged in on the energy agenda.
"It is massively important," he told TechEye, "and we also project similar growth for utility-scale PV in the US. The US accounted for just six percent of global installations last year, but this will grow to more than 20 percent over the next five years and will become the world's largest market by 2013."
All of which makes the UK's reluctance to back large scale solar projects appear rather backward.
With the Department for Energy and Climate Change looking to make it more difficult for larger project installations, there are fears that the UK could get left behind as others, such as the US, bound ahead.
Sharma believes that there is real danger of being left out of a very profitable market.
He tells us that the global PV system integration market generated around $45 billion last year, with an expectation that this will grow to around $70 billion by 2015.
All of which is non-residential system-based so it appears that Chris Huhne could be opting the UK right out.
"The policy now favours residential systems but completely ignore larger-scale PV and make commercial PV such as on offices, warehouse, farm-buildings much more difficult financially.
"After August, they will not get enough backing and will no longer be financially viable to have systems above 250kW.
"Systems between 50-250kW will also struggle unless system prices come down considerably as tariffs are not high enough to generate a respectable return."
2011年7月6日星期三
Bellator signs lightweight Thiago Michel Pereira Silva
Thiago Michel Pereira Silva has signed with Bellator Fighting Championships.
Silva (8-2) won championships in kickboxing and Muay Thai before diving into mixed martial arts. The 27-year-old lightweight has been fighting professionally in MMA since November 2006.
All his wins are knockouts or technical knockouts, increasing his appeal to Bellator, which has tried to position itself as a promotion known for highlight-reel finishes. He joins Patricky Freire as one of a few men with reliable punching power in a Bellator division with several submission artists.
Bellator's next lightweight tournament isn't expected until next year. The winner of that tourney would face the victor of titleholder Eddie Alvarez vs. Season Four tourney winner Michael Chandler. Alvarez-Chandler is scheduled for Bellator Season Five later this year.
Silva (8-2) won championships in kickboxing and Muay Thai before diving into mixed martial arts. The 27-year-old lightweight has been fighting professionally in MMA since November 2006.
All his wins are knockouts or technical knockouts, increasing his appeal to Bellator, which has tried to position itself as a promotion known for highlight-reel finishes. He joins Patricky Freire as one of a few men with reliable punching power in a Bellator division with several submission artists.
Bellator's next lightweight tournament isn't expected until next year. The winner of that tourney would face the victor of titleholder Eddie Alvarez vs. Season Four tourney winner Michael Chandler. Alvarez-Chandler is scheduled for Bellator Season Five later this year.
Bobby Lutz coming home to join N.C. State coaching staff
obby Lutz had never coached outside the Carolinas, but relocating to Ames, Iowa, last summer wasn't a complicated ordeal.
Hired as an assistant at Iowa State, Lutz didn't bother with moving trucks because he rented a furnished house. Clothes were the primary items he and his wife had to pack for the 1,100-mile trip in their Chevrolet Suburban.
That left plenty of room for Sun Drop. Fifteen cases, to be exact.
The Southern soda wasn't yet available in the Midwest.
"I'm a creature of habit," he said.
Lutz remained loyal to his North Carolina roots throughout his 10-month stint with the Cyclones, and he's back in the comfort of his home state. He joined new N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried's staff in April, giving the Wolfpack an experienced assistant with strong recruiting ties and an in-depth understanding of the ACC landscape.
For Lutz, who spent 12 seasons as the head coach at Charlotte before being fired last March, he can again visit family and friends with relative ease when he's not working to rebuild a once-proud program in Raleigh.
"It's perfect as it can be," Lutz said.
Hairy situation
Lutz received an over-the-phone job offer from Gottfried while pacing in the parking lot of the Hair Connection barber shop in Conover, 45 miles northwest of Charlotte.
Don Beal has been cutting his best friend's hair for nearly 40 years, an arrangement that dates back to Lutz's days as a basketball standout at Bandys High School in Catawba, and Lutz was in the shop with his father when he excused himself to field Gottfried's call.
Even when Lutz was coaching at Iowa State, he worked in visits to the Hair Connection during trips home to see his father, who suffered a heart attack in February, and his mother, who has Alzheimer's disease.
"It's just what best friends do," Beal said.
That's not to suggest there haven't been rough patches.
Beal says he's never met anyone who takes losses harder than Lutz, as evidenced by his behavior at Badin Country Club in 1992. Beal and Matt Doherty, then a young Davidson assistant, faced Lutz and fellow coach Don Hogan in a best-ball format.
Lutz hooked his drive out of bounds on the final hole, and Beal finished with a better score thanks to a closing par. He hasn't beaten Lutz since.
"When Bobby left, he was mad as hell, just furious," Beal said. "He didn't say bye. I'm like, 'Man, I just lost my best friend.' Three weeks later, he called and asked for a haircut like nothing happened."
Homeward bound
Before the opportunity at N.C. State arose, Lutz says his wife, Janet, planned to spend more time in the small N.C. town of Denver assisting her father-in-law with his recovery. Lutz visits regularly, making sure to stop in for a meal at Jones Fish Camp, a popular haunt since its opening in 1952.
The move to Raleigh means Lutz eats more homecooked meals with his wife and two daughters. Natalie is in graduate school at North Carolina, and Christine decided to transfer from Kentucky to N.C. State in February, two months before the school hired her father.
"It was absolutely the right move for me family-wise and professionally," he said.
Family has always factored into Lutz's career choices.
Clemson's Cliff Ellis hired him as a graduate assistant in 1984, and the Tigers upset eighth-ranked Georgia Tech on Jan. 8 of Lutz's first season. Two days later, his younger sister, Tammy, was killed in a car accident on the way to watch Clemson play host to N.C. State.
Lutz, deciding he needed to be closer to his parents, left Clemson after two seasons. He became the head coach at Pfeiffer, a small college situated about an hour from Denver, and worked there for nine years. Gardner-Webb hired him in 1995, and he left two weeks later to join Charlotte's program as an assistant.
The 49ers traveled to Clemson in 2008 and upset the 18th-ranked Tigers a day before the 23rd anniversary of Tammy's death.
"I choose to remember the great times and want to remember her every day, if I can," Lutz said. "It inspires me, I think, to be a better person."
Hired as an assistant at Iowa State, Lutz didn't bother with moving trucks because he rented a furnished house. Clothes were the primary items he and his wife had to pack for the 1,100-mile trip in their Chevrolet Suburban.
That left plenty of room for Sun Drop. Fifteen cases, to be exact.
The Southern soda wasn't yet available in the Midwest.
"I'm a creature of habit," he said.
Lutz remained loyal to his North Carolina roots throughout his 10-month stint with the Cyclones, and he's back in the comfort of his home state. He joined new N.C. State coach Mark Gottfried's staff in April, giving the Wolfpack an experienced assistant with strong recruiting ties and an in-depth understanding of the ACC landscape.
For Lutz, who spent 12 seasons as the head coach at Charlotte before being fired last March, he can again visit family and friends with relative ease when he's not working to rebuild a once-proud program in Raleigh.
"It's perfect as it can be," Lutz said.
Hairy situation
Lutz received an over-the-phone job offer from Gottfried while pacing in the parking lot of the Hair Connection barber shop in Conover, 45 miles northwest of Charlotte.
Don Beal has been cutting his best friend's hair for nearly 40 years, an arrangement that dates back to Lutz's days as a basketball standout at Bandys High School in Catawba, and Lutz was in the shop with his father when he excused himself to field Gottfried's call.
Even when Lutz was coaching at Iowa State, he worked in visits to the Hair Connection during trips home to see his father, who suffered a heart attack in February, and his mother, who has Alzheimer's disease.
"It's just what best friends do," Beal said.
That's not to suggest there haven't been rough patches.
Beal says he's never met anyone who takes losses harder than Lutz, as evidenced by his behavior at Badin Country Club in 1992. Beal and Matt Doherty, then a young Davidson assistant, faced Lutz and fellow coach Don Hogan in a best-ball format.
Lutz hooked his drive out of bounds on the final hole, and Beal finished with a better score thanks to a closing par. He hasn't beaten Lutz since.
"When Bobby left, he was mad as hell, just furious," Beal said. "He didn't say bye. I'm like, 'Man, I just lost my best friend.' Three weeks later, he called and asked for a haircut like nothing happened."
Homeward bound
Before the opportunity at N.C. State arose, Lutz says his wife, Janet, planned to spend more time in the small N.C. town of Denver assisting her father-in-law with his recovery. Lutz visits regularly, making sure to stop in for a meal at Jones Fish Camp, a popular haunt since its opening in 1952.
The move to Raleigh means Lutz eats more homecooked meals with his wife and two daughters. Natalie is in graduate school at North Carolina, and Christine decided to transfer from Kentucky to N.C. State in February, two months before the school hired her father.
"It was absolutely the right move for me family-wise and professionally," he said.
Family has always factored into Lutz's career choices.
Clemson's Cliff Ellis hired him as a graduate assistant in 1984, and the Tigers upset eighth-ranked Georgia Tech on Jan. 8 of Lutz's first season. Two days later, his younger sister, Tammy, was killed in a car accident on the way to watch Clemson play host to N.C. State.
Lutz, deciding he needed to be closer to his parents, left Clemson after two seasons. He became the head coach at Pfeiffer, a small college situated about an hour from Denver, and worked there for nine years. Gardner-Webb hired him in 1995, and he left two weeks later to join Charlotte's program as an assistant.
The 49ers traveled to Clemson in 2008 and upset the 18th-ranked Tigers a day before the 23rd anniversary of Tammy's death.
"I choose to remember the great times and want to remember her every day, if I can," Lutz said. "It inspires me, I think, to be a better person."
2011年7月1日星期五
Basalt officials decided Tuesday
Basalt officials decided Tuesday to take the lead in the Roaring Fork Valley to discourage use of disposable grocery bags.
The Basalt Town Council gave an informal nod to the concept of charging a small fee for use of disposable paper and plastic bags in the town's two grocery stores. A 20-cent per bag fee will be discussed when the council reviews an ordinance later this summer.
Town officials stressed they want to coordinate the bag fee with other towns in the Roaring Fork Valley, but they won't wait if other governments stall. So they will participate in meetings with elected officials from Aspen and other towns to see if general parameters of an ordinance can be worked out. If the talks don't materialize or bog down, the Basalt council will consider its own bag fee by the last week of August.
The council was pressed by the town's Green Team, an environmental board, to implement the fee. Green Team member Tripp Adams said single-use grocery bags consume natural resources that could be saved by promoting reusable bags. Information presented to the council contended that in the U.S. alone, annual production of disposable grocery bags emits almost 4 million tons of “CO2-equivalent.”
Plastic bags also break down into small pieces that enter the food chain and have health effects on animals and humans that aren't fully known yet.
“We want to see people be more environmentally responsible and not be wasteful,” Adams told the council in a work session Tuesday night.
Green Team member Gerry Terwilliger said most Green Team members want Basalt to proceed on its own rather than wait for a coordinated, regional approach.
“If we go ahead, we would be followed very quickly,” he said.
Basalt Mayor Leroy Duroux warned that Basalt could pay consequences by implementing a bag fee on its own. He said some midvalley residents have warned him they will shop in other towns if Basalt implements a bag fee at its grocery stores.
The Basalt Town Council gave an informal nod to the concept of charging a small fee for use of disposable paper and plastic bags in the town's two grocery stores. A 20-cent per bag fee will be discussed when the council reviews an ordinance later this summer.
Town officials stressed they want to coordinate the bag fee with other towns in the Roaring Fork Valley, but they won't wait if other governments stall. So they will participate in meetings with elected officials from Aspen and other towns to see if general parameters of an ordinance can be worked out. If the talks don't materialize or bog down, the Basalt council will consider its own bag fee by the last week of August.
The council was pressed by the town's Green Team, an environmental board, to implement the fee. Green Team member Tripp Adams said single-use grocery bags consume natural resources that could be saved by promoting reusable bags. Information presented to the council contended that in the U.S. alone, annual production of disposable grocery bags emits almost 4 million tons of “CO2-equivalent.”
Plastic bags also break down into small pieces that enter the food chain and have health effects on animals and humans that aren't fully known yet.
“We want to see people be more environmentally responsible and not be wasteful,” Adams told the council in a work session Tuesday night.
Green Team member Gerry Terwilliger said most Green Team members want Basalt to proceed on its own rather than wait for a coordinated, regional approach.
“If we go ahead, we would be followed very quickly,” he said.
Basalt Mayor Leroy Duroux warned that Basalt could pay consequences by implementing a bag fee on its own. He said some midvalley residents have warned him they will shop in other towns if Basalt implements a bag fee at its grocery stores.
Ever had a metal horseshoe
Ever had a metal horseshoe dropped on your foot? Ever wanted to play horseshoes with your younger children? Well, if you have had these questions come up or many others around the more dangerous metal horseshoes, you need take a look at Sportcraft’s Bean-Bag Horseshoe set.
I think we can skip the lesson on how to play horseshoes and get into how Sportcraft has taken this iconic game and made it more accessible to families. I figured the best way to get a feel for the product was to bring it out and play with our two sons (5 and 7 years old). They were very interested in playing a game that they had only seen the adults play, so they were both excited to get it set up as quickly as possible. We decided to play it outside and took the mats out and the stakes. For our first game we put the stakes straight into the ground instead of using the plastic holder. This worked out well, and the boys loved the game.
The horseshoes have a great feel (weight) to them, and the outside texture is a leather type that makes them easy to grip. They also seemed like they would hold up for a lot of summers if you took care of them. Plus you are not that worried if you get hit with one, which makes this a safe way to toss the shoes.
Fun was had by all, and it was very easy to see if a point was made since the mat includes a circle on it, which your horseshoe has to land inside to score. Makes for a lot less arguing, especially with two competitive boys! When we tried putting the stake into the plastic holder, the adults at the party ruined it by flipping the mat over by throwing too hard, so my suggestion is, if you have a mixed group of kids and adults, then just put the stakes into the ground. If it is a kids only group or you’re playing indoors, the stake holders would work fine–just no throwing your arm out trying for a ringer at 10 paces!
I was very impressed with the quality of the Horseshoes. The fact that a bag came with the set to take them with you to different parties or on vacation easily was a plus. The price was reasonable, so add this to your collection of outdoor games. With the holiday weekend coming up, Sportcraft’s Bean-Bag Horseshoes set makes a perfect game for a family gathering.
I think we can skip the lesson on how to play horseshoes and get into how Sportcraft has taken this iconic game and made it more accessible to families. I figured the best way to get a feel for the product was to bring it out and play with our two sons (5 and 7 years old). They were very interested in playing a game that they had only seen the adults play, so they were both excited to get it set up as quickly as possible. We decided to play it outside and took the mats out and the stakes. For our first game we put the stakes straight into the ground instead of using the plastic holder. This worked out well, and the boys loved the game.
The horseshoes have a great feel (weight) to them, and the outside texture is a leather type that makes them easy to grip. They also seemed like they would hold up for a lot of summers if you took care of them. Plus you are not that worried if you get hit with one, which makes this a safe way to toss the shoes.
Fun was had by all, and it was very easy to see if a point was made since the mat includes a circle on it, which your horseshoe has to land inside to score. Makes for a lot less arguing, especially with two competitive boys! When we tried putting the stake into the plastic holder, the adults at the party ruined it by flipping the mat over by throwing too hard, so my suggestion is, if you have a mixed group of kids and adults, then just put the stakes into the ground. If it is a kids only group or you’re playing indoors, the stake holders would work fine–just no throwing your arm out trying for a ringer at 10 paces!
I was very impressed with the quality of the Horseshoes. The fact that a bag came with the set to take them with you to different parties or on vacation easily was a plus. The price was reasonable, so add this to your collection of outdoor games. With the holiday weekend coming up, Sportcraft’s Bean-Bag Horseshoes set makes a perfect game for a family gathering.
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