How to
Encyclopedia of Mosaic Emma Biggs
Mosaics
Kaffe Fassett & Candace Bahouth
Complete Idiot Guide - Web Paul McFedries
How to ... Genealogy George G. Morgan
Secrets of Successful Rail-Trails Karen-Lee Ryan & Julie A. Winterich, Ed. July 2006
The ... Designer's Guide ... Imaging Carl Sesto
Who let the Blogs Out Biz Stone
Deploying Wireless Networks Jack Unger
The Mosaic Idea Book Rosalind Wates
Getting it Right
Mary H. Slawson
Nov 2007
The Encyclopedia of Mosaic Techniques Emma Biggs
Lengthy discussion of theory, design sources. history, color, hue, tone, intensity, grout (white, colored, no grout), symmetry.
Types of Tesserae:
Unglazed Ceramic - good on floors, earth tones, easy to cut, cheapest.
Vitreous Glass - widest range of colors, they come in glued sheets and
mixed bags. Not good for floors, cost depends on intensity of
color.
Glazed Ceramic - used mainly for swimming pools, price varies
Smelt - enameled glass, wide range of color, very expensive, not suitable for grouting.
Glazed Ceramic Tiles - cutting may reduce strength, usually very cheap.
Marble - heavy, expensive
Stained Glass - cut with glass cutter or tile nippers.
Equipment: See book above, add a bucket for dumping waste and kneepads.
Techniques: Andamenti - coursing of grout lines, their flow influences the work, see Pompeii dog illustration
Backgrounds: They can vary from totally regular to being as elaborate
as the design. How the tiles around the figures alters their
effect.
Common mistakes: The use of tiles that are too similar in color,
the design washes out. Grout that is too close to tile colors,
the use of grout that is too similar to one of the tile colors -
intermediate tones give more contrast. Not enough room between
the tiles.
Cutting: Only nip the edges of the tiles. Don’t cut tiles
over the mosaic, little pieces will fall off. For complex shapes
draw on the face of the tile and nibble away the scrap. Nippers
are likely to fracture one side of the tile. Glass and ceramic
tiles can be scored with a glass cutter and snapped off for very
accurate cuts - press hard to get a good scoring line. For large
glazed ceramic tiles a tile cutting machine can be very useful.
Design: Your figure should be bold and graphic. Backgrounds can
be enhanced by using slightly different colors. Match colored
pencils to your tile colors and draw the entire design, at this stage
you can change colors if necessary.
Cleaning and sealing: Clean the mosaic thoroughly and then seal
with an appropriate sealant. No discussion of what is appropriate.
Cutting: For curves you should make a small cut on each side of
the tile, otherwise the grout lines may go in directions opposed to the
curves. P 101 (see illustration) shows 6 different ways of
cutting tiles to create a leaf.
Examples: Illustration of birds, p 134. Fishes p. 136. Fish p 140. Ducks p. 154. Birds p. 155.
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Mosaics Kaffe Fassett & Candace Bahouth
Mainly from a strictly artistic point of view. How to make a
mosaic object of art. Some of them are beautiful, some are just
really weird. Since my interest is in bathroom walls and floors
everything else will be ignored.
Tools: Tungsten-carbide tipped nippers with spring handles,
perhaps a mosaicist’s hammer and hardie. A masonry hammer
and a blacksmith’s hardie (a wide chisel blade with a shaft for
mounting on an anvil) are good substitutes. A tile cutter for
large ceramic tiles. Containers, old bowls, jugs, and buckets for
mixing cements and grouts. Other containers for storing
tesserae. Trowels including notched trowels for spreading
cement. A plastic kitchen spatula works well. For buttering
individual tesserae any knife works but the best is an artist’s
palette knife. For spreading grout the kitchen spatula will work
but the best is a squeegee. For hard to reach area use rubber
gloved fingers. For moving individual tesserae a long, thin,
pointed tool us great, wooden sticks or scrapers work well, any small
pointed tool can be useful. Cleaning cloths and scrubbers are
useful. Lint free rags and sponges are the best but old
newspapers and non-scratch nylon scourers can be used. Use safety
gogels when cutting, dusk mask or respirator when mixing powdered
grouts and adhesives and latex or rubber gloves when spreading grouts
and adhesives.
Cement-based mortar is the traditional adhesive. It consists of
powdered cement, sand, and water. The coarser the sand the harder
the set mortar. A polymer additive or enhancer is sometimes added
to increase strength and flexibility. It should be thick and
smooth, the consistency of heavy mud. Slower setting and
waterproof varieties should be used. Acrylic-based or epoxy could
also be used if they are waterproof. Grouts are the same as
cement-based mortar but they use fine sand. Grout hazes or specks
can be removed with dilute hydrochloric.
Making Mosaics: Wear safety glasses or gogles when cutting
tesserae, since you might be holding a small tesserae close to your
eyes and nose when cutting, a dust mask is advisable. A mess is
inevitable so work in an easily cleanable area. Make sure
tesserae are clean before cutting as it is much more difficult to clean
small pieces. If they are stuck to paper or mesh, clean with warm soapy
water and let dry overnight. For figures make a life-size pencil
drawing. Th cot small square glass and ceramic tiles overlap the
edges only about 1/8” (3mm), you can “nibble”
the edges to make curved shapes. Mosaics are made in two ways, in
the most common, (direct) the tesserae are stuck face up directly on
the base. The other way (indirect) the tesserae are stuck face
down to a paper drawing with a water-soluble glue. The composed
mosaic is then placed, upside down, on a bed of mortar. When the
mortar is hardened the paper can be soaked off and the piece
grouted. The advantage is that the design can be completed
elsewhere and the finished mosaic has a very flat surface. You
can either place the cement on the base and stick the tesserae on it or
you can “butter” each tesserae with cement and stick them
on individually. In making a detailed design it is best to cut
all the pieces first and layout the design on a table first. This
is not necessary for larger or random areas. You can make a
design on the base by using carbon paper, draw on the reverse side of
the drawing in soft pencil and rub over the design with a hard pencil
or by directly drawing on the base. On level surfaces start at
the middle of the design, on vertical surfaces start at the
bottom. Vertical surfaces would require a somewhat thicker
consistency in the cement to keep the pieces from slipping down.
Grouting: Let an indoor mastic dry for at least 24 hours before
grouting. Color grout by following the mfg... instructions.
Wear a mask. Mix in color a little at a time. It will
lighten as it dries. Remove any cement that rises above the
mosaic surface. Wearing rubber gloves, use a plastic spatula or
squeegee, spread the grout all over the mosaic, making sure to press it
into all holes. Use your fingers to get into difficult places.
Wait for it to cure for about 20 minutes and wipe off the excess, use a
clean lint-free cloth or a barely damp sponge. Then buff with
another clean cloth or a piece of scrunched up newspaper. Scrub
off stubborn flecks with a non-scratch nylon scourer a small wooden
implement. Dried films can be removed with HCl. You can
slightly alter the color after finishing by mixing a thin acrylic wash
and wiping it off immediately with a cloth.
Mosaic Portrait: See scanned graphic.
1. Sketch the design on the base.
2. The tesserae are cut into small squares and rectangles.
The flow of the tesserae shapes the contours. Larger areas use
full tiles.
3. Lay out the critical areas (eyes, mouth) before drawing on the base.
4. Transfer the complete design to the base.
5. Her design is on a level surface so she worked the eyes first, difficult for vertical.
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The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Creating a Web Page Paul McFedries
Not a bad book. A little irreverent but I tend to be that way
also. My major complaint is that some of the code is not tightly
linked to the results. I would like to see more minimal code
examples compared to the brief output of a browser. It has a CD
with lots of examples given in the text but in some cases they are not
exactly the same as the text. Going back and forth between the
examples and the text you can get everything but you have to dig a
bit. That is OK for students reading a book for the first time
but it is a little awkward for using it as a reference. There are
times when a nice little list or table can clear up a lot of confusion,
some examples of this are lists, tables, and frames. The info is
there, but as I said before, it takes a lot of digging.
C1 A Brief intro to HTML and the Web
C2 Basic structure of HTML, the SKELETON of a web page
C3 Formatting: Text styles, paragraphs, preformatted text, lines <hr>, fonts, colors
C4 Lists: bullets, numbers, letters, definition list
C5 Hyperlinks: internal, external, email, ftp
C6 Pictures: <img src=”X “>, size, alignment
C7 Publishing pages: the mechanics of getting a web site published, meta descriptions
C8 Images as links: <a href=”name”><img
src=”image.gif”></a>, web page toolbars, image maps
C9 Tables
C10 Fancy Stuff: marquees, sounds, video, re-route browsers
C11 Forms: submit button, text box, text area, check box, radio button, CGI
C12 Frames
C13 Style Sheets: Intro, <style> tag, external SS, inline styles, style classes
C14 Styles: font style, typeface, weight, decorations, color, indenting
C15 Styles: boxes, borders, lines, margins, positions
C16 Intro to JavaScript: simple examples, anti-spam, date & time
C17 JavaScript: mouseovers, passwords, drop-down lists, mandatory lists,
C18 Java Programming: brief discussion and a couple of examples.
C19-C22 Brief descriptions of several HTML editors, Netscape
Composer, Microsoft Office, FrontPage, and a few others.
C23 Tips: Check spelling & grammar, 1 topic per page,
link to all from home page, consistent layout, use graphics responsibly
C24 HTML resources on the Web
C25 How to make money as a HTML programmer
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How to Do Everything With Your Genealogy George G. Morgan
A very good and up to date (2004) description of genealogical research,
both searching for original archives in government and other offices
and on the internet. I will probably buy this book for my
personal library when I get around to delving more deeply into my own
ancestry.
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Secrets of Successful Rail-Trails Karen-Lee Ryan & Julie A. Winterich, Ed. July 2006
An Acquisition and Organizing Manual for Converting Rails into Trails ©1993
Introduction In 1916 the US had 270,000 miles of train tracks.
By the early 1990's 150,000 of these miles had been abandoned.
Trains are one of the most energy efficient means of
transportation (and leave a very small human footprint on the earth)
and helped America create the strongest economy on the earth.
Rail-banking preserves these rights-of-way for future generations
(who will almost undoubtedly have much higher energy costs). Rail
trails serve as recreation areas for many types of users. They
usually act as economic assets to local businesses, they can generate
up to $1.26 million dollars annually for towns through which they pass.
Home owners generally notice an increase in the selling price of
their homes when a trail is close by. Some trail proposals
generate controversy and opposition when they are proposed. There
are three "secrets" of building a successful trail.
- building a solid, broad based citizen coalition
- forming a strong partnership with a government agency
- developing a written plan of action.
C1 Wouldn't Those Tracks Make a Nice Trail?
There are many successful Rail-Trail Projects, from Seattle to
Florida, from Boston to the midwest. The first step is to conduct
an initial assessment.
- Are the tracks still used?
- Are the track and ties still in place?
- Is the route scenic and does it have views?
- Does the corridor connect to community resources such as a river or lake front, parks, playgrounds, schools or stores?
- Does the corridor have historical structures?
- If developed into a trail, could the corridor become a tourist attraction?
C2 Building and Strengthening your Coalition.
The first step is to Develop a Broad-Based Constituency. This blunts opposition and forms a base for all further activities, potential supporters include:
- bicycling, running, walking, skating, horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, both locally and statewide.
- environmental organizations
- neighborhood associations
- government agency working with parks, recreation, transportation physical fitness, schools, economic development
- tourism councils, chambers of commerce, and others concerned with economic development
- youth oriented organizations such as scouts, PTA, and church youth groups
- historical and railway historical societies
- bird-watching and other habitat and wildlife preservation groups
- groups working to provide various opportunities for the elderly
such as the AARP, people with disabilities such as Paralyzed Veterans
of America
- land trusts
- sports organizations, hospitals, insurance companies and other
corporations interested in improving the quality of life in their
community
- businesses that may benefit from a trail, such as skiing,
cycling, camping and fishing outfitters and rental shops, as well as
motels, restaurants and nearby stores
Some of these will be easy to find and some not. Some tips to assist in finding these organizations are:
- Ask at a library and ask for directories of community organizations.
- Ask trails-oriented acquaintances about existing organizations or groups.
- Contact relevant city or state agencies such as Parks and Recreation and DNR if they can provide names of citizen groups.
- Read the weekly calendar of community events section in a local newspaper
- Write a letter to the editor to the newspaper to invite persons to a local meeting and invite those interested to attend.
- Contact national organizations that might be interested in rails-to-trails conversions and ask about local chapters.
Hold an Organizational Meeting
Reserve an accessible, neutral location for a convenient meeting
time and then send a concise and attractive invitation to your list of
groups. Make everyone feel comfortable, coffee and donuts are a
worthwhile investment. Distribute copies of a typed agenda so
that everyone feels involved in the process and is clear on what to
expect. Allow time for people to introduce themselves, identify
their organizations, and tell why they are interested in a trail.
Begin the meeting by clearly showing the route on a detailed map
that identifies significant features along the way. A slide show,
video or PowerPoint presentation is often appropriate. Possibly
have speakers discussing items of interest, features on the trail,
history of the abandonment, the projected legal process, and the
current stance of local politicians. Arrange ahead of time for
speakers on these topics. Leave time for questions and
discussion. The purpose of this first meeting is to stimulate
interest. Strive to reach agreement on forming a rails-to-trails
coalition and begin the process of naming your trail. Select a
working name for the project, if this is not acceptable to
most attendants one idea is to have a contest to name the project.
Select a chairperson (or coordinator) and create several key
committees for research, publicity, fund raising, and legal affairs.
This meeting is not a press event. The first meeting is too
early to "go public".
Develop an Organizational Structure for Your Group
Proper organization is very important. Proper structure
requires a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and
Committee Chairs. Consider setting up an Advisory Board of
prominent local citizens who are interested in participating in less
time-consuming ways. Showing that prominent people support your
activities is an excellent way of convincing politicians and the public
that yours is a serious group and may garner additional support.
Committee roles and duties should be clearly defined with
specific duties assigned.
- DO select a President and
Vice-President who is enthusiastic, articulate, and a delegator.
Select a competent secretary and treasurer.
- DO NOT settle for the first person willing to serve, the willingness of the person to delegate is extremely important.
- DO appoint prominent citizens to a board of advisors. Ask them to write letters of endorsement which can be used.
- DO NOT ask advisory board
members to do much. If they are overwhelmed they may drop out and
unintentionally leave others with an impression of lost support.
- DO create a mission Statement and define the goals of your coalition.
- DO NOT assume all of your
members are all "singing the same song." Write up your mission
statement and goals and distribute them.
- DO organize committees to
undertake various activities, fundraising, publicity, research.
For each committee, appoint a director, define objectives, and
assign tasks.
- DO NOT assume that just because you set up a committee it will work. They need guidance and members need specific tasks.
Strengthen Your Coalition
After your first few meetings you should be well organized.
Now you must sell your ideas to the larger community.
Develop a Clear Message
Prepare documentation or talking points to market your trail.
Your message should at least address the following topics:
- Recreation
- Health and fitness
- Purposeful non-motorized transportation
- Environmental conservation
- Economic development
- Compatibility with a state or local master plan
- Historic preservation
If you believe that a governmental agency should manage your trail you should be working with them from the beginning.
Take your Message to Community Organizations
Once you have defined your message include in your presentation a
detailed, easy-to-read map showing the route. Develop a slide
show or video presentation. Develop a speakers bureau, match the
speaker to the audience. Take your presentation to as many
meetings as possible. Some groups have open "Info Meetings" for
the public. Develop a trail logo that can be put on stationery,
hats, t-shirts, posters, etc. It should be kept simple so that it
can be reproduced easily in any size.
Use Volunteers for Corridor Clean-Up and Construction and any other projects that need doing.
Undertake a Fundraising Campaign Even though many people are uncomfortable with fundraising it is almost essential and will allow your group to:
- print brochures and newsletters
- produce better graphics
- make long distance phone calls
- attend conferences and other meetings
- bring in speakers from elsewhere
- develop a slide show
- produce radio public service announcements
- attend key social and political functions
- rent sound systems and other equipment for rallies
- and much more!
Be sure that you have a procedure ready to go. Often people will
offer to help without being asked. The book mentions many
possible fund raising events. It is probably a good idea to be
registered as a tax-deductible (known as a "501 (c)(3)"
organization) by the Internal Revenue Service. As well as
asking for cash donations, ask for donations of in-kind services.
At first make it clear that that any donations are for your
organizational expenses and not for purchase of the trail. That
aspect will come later.
C3 Developing a Feasibility Study Nearly every
successful rail-to-trail effort has achieved its initial level of
public support by preparing a well-researched feasibility study.
A feasibility study should be a brief, clear, and compelling 8-12
page report. It should be your first priority. It should
not cover the technical research about abandonment status, property
ownership, deed history, or past governmental involvement. You
want to follow the line through history, names, places, and events
concerning local culture, explain alternative present uses, and paint a
picture of what it could be in the future.
Introduction route, endpoints, length
Background
Location towns, refer to maps attached to the document
Natural features rivers, creeks, lakes, vistas, etc.
Physical structures bridges, trestles, road crossings
Historical background
railroad data, passenger or freight, excursions, connecting to
historical sites, contribute to the development of the area
Compatibility with any master plans
Relationship to national and local rail-trail recreation
Benefits recreation bicycling, parks, playgrounds, etc., link to other trails
Purposeful non-motorized transportation could it be used for commuting to work or school
Environmental buffer between incompatible uses, wildlife conservation, traverse wetlands that are protected from development
Economic development boost local businesses, restaurants, motels, tourism, land values
Conclusion summary of key
benefits to the community, outline next steps to be taken such as:
researching deeds, appraising land, securing right-of-way, finding a
management agency, planning fundraising.
Distribute your study: local
parks and recreation, transportation departments, mayor, county
commissioners, governor, state DNR, members of legislature and
congress, private non-profit groups with in interest in trails and
recreation, neighborhood and civic associations, educators,
Rails-To-Trails Conservancy. Include a request for a letter of
endorsement and ask for reactions.
C4 Working with Landowners and Opposition
Why would someone oppose a rail-trail? Possible increase in
crime or vandalism, possible liability, want the property themselves,
believe that government should not provide things to people, want
payment for public access. Many have no negative opinion but are
persuaded to oppose it because of other landowners. It is a
mistake to try to bypass landowners. Most opponents become
supporters after a while. Liability - Most public agencies who
own trails have almost no increase in insurance bills. State laws
make it clear that trail users who cross onto private property are
trespassing so there is no liability. To show that a landowner is
liable for injuries sustained on his property the landowner would have
to be engaging in willful and wanton misconduct. They would have
to charge a fee for access onto their property to become liable.
What are some of the ways to work with the opposition?
- Reach out to adjacent residents. Be proactive, contact them first.
- Listen to what they are saying, preferably by meeting with them one on one to address their concerns.
- Find allies among the adjacent residents. Find those who might use the trail for at least one activity.
- Give adjacent residents a role in the project. Perhaps establish a trail advisory committee to address perceived problems.
- Invite former rail-trail opponents to speak to your future trail neighbors.
- Bring in a third party to help build consensus.
- Act in a positive, constructive way. Do not react with anger to claims made by opponents.
- Work with as many landowners and opponents as possible. Do not waste all of your time on a few vocal opponents.
- Reframe the discussion from a "railroad corridor" to a "trail".
A rail-trail is very different from an abandoned railway corridor.
- Work hard for favorable reviews in the media.
C5 Working with Government Agencies
Do not expect a government agency to take your idea and run with
it. You will probably have to do most of the work for many years.
Most agencies are already "maxed out" and will require political
approval before providing any assistance. You will have to search
for an agency that will be able to provide the services you need.
Most states have state trail planners who can help. Even if
an agency can/will not assist, there may be individual staff members
who can provide assistance on their own time. You can use the
political process to help remove any political or financial restraints
placed on an agency. The National Park Service has a program, The
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program can and has offered
technical assistance in trail planning and organization. There
are governmental organizations, Army National Guard, State Conservation
Corps, etc. who can provide support if it can be provided within their
mandate.
C6 What is the Status of Those Tracks? The first
things to know is the legal definition of abandonment with regards to
railroads, the ownership of the rail corridor, and the current status
of the rail corridor. There are many groups that play a part in
this and if you have gotten this far you will probably want an attorney
on board. By this time you should have three important pieces of
information:
- Is there enough citizen interest to create an advocacy coalition?
- What is the corridor's ownership status?
- What are government agencies and private corporations plans for the corridor.
C7 What to Do if the Line is Soon to be Abandoned
"Railbanking:" Section 8(d) of the National Trails System
Act. Railbanking does not abandon a rail line, it holds it in
trust for the time when another railroad would like to build a
rail-line in its place. During this interim period of time, the
property can be put to other uses, for example, trails which would not
destroy its usefulness as a future railroad. The process almost
always requires a lawyer and it is time limited, you can not wait and
discuss the issue, you must act fast. The book contains a lot of
detail on this process.
C8 What to Do if the Line is Already Abandoned
There are 4 options. If you have the money you can buy the
corridor, if you are lucky you can negotiate a donation from the owner
of the rail-line, you can share the line with another user (primarily
governmental or utilities that need rights of way for power lines,
sewers, etc.), or you can pressure for public acquisition of the route.
C9 Negotiating with a Railroad
Railroad corridors are usually perceived as being quite valuable
by the railroad. Railroads will often not even respond to
inquiries from citizens groups unless they are perceived as having a
lot of money. The railroad needs (ask the stockholders) to get as
much money as possible for the property. Negotiations with a
railroad should be performed by trained and experienced persons.
Toxic wastes, cuts, buildings, rails, ties, ballast, tunnels,
trestles, etc. are all items to be considered.
C10 Publicity One of
the main tools of rails-to-trails campaigns is publicity. There
are many forms this may take and there are numerous books on this
topic. Before a serious publicity campaign is started these
sources should be utilized unless a formal publicity organization is
engaged. Some of the basic requirements are the following.
- A General Information Brochure should be developed. It
should be 1 page long, capable of being folded into a mailer, it should
be a brief review of your Feasibility Study, and it should contain a
returnable coupon to be added to a mailing list or to make a donation.
It should be good for at least 6 months and it should be
distributed widely.
- A Press Release of about 400 works should be prepared every time
your project reaches a milestone. Some examples are: When you
publish your initial feasibility study; When you formally create your
coalition; When you intervene in the ICC abandonment process;
When an important new organization or public official joins your
coalition or supports your cause; and When you organize a major
public event such as a rally or town meeting. The book gives
several ideas on the writing of press releases
- Other Ideas include such things as letters to the editor, "op-ed"
opinion articles (usually about 800 words long), rallies (walks along
the route, clean-ups, entertainment), a wintertime "ski-in", and local
meetings (civic associations, Rotary Clubs, PTA's, etc).
C11 Finding Acquisition and Development Funds
Finding funding for trails is not easy. ISTEA
(Intermodal Surface Transportation Act "Ice Tea") is a federal
transportation act which considers air quality, energy conservation,
alternative transportation modes, etc. It specifically mentions
abandoned railway corridors and trails. Every state is allocated
an amount of money, for example Washington was allocated $44 million.
It requires states to develop 20 year plans which include trails.
The first step in applying for funding is to prepare a
feasibility study. The book has several suggestions for applying
for these funds. Other funding sources include Land and Water
Conservation Fund through the Department of Interior,
Wallop-Breaux Fund for sport fishing through the US Fish and Wildlife
Service, Community Development Block Grand Program through HUD, state
DNR funds, city or county parks departments, foundations and trust
funds, salvage for rails, tracks, ballast, leasing corridors for
utility use, private sources, specific quasi-governmental organizations
like the TVA and perhaps Bonneville Power, Natuonal Guard and other
governmental groups for volunteer labor and materials.
C12 Working with Elected Officials
Numerous suggestions, their job is to work with people and to get
elected. Do not see them as adversaries, work with them.
Try to look at things from their point of view, they have many
demands for money, if it is an adversarial contest someone will loose.
Try to build coalitions and work with other competing needs for
money to advance mutual goals. If you work with others you have a
good chance of getting some of what you want. Help politicians in
their need for publicity and they may help you when you need support.
Make them feel the need to support you because your cause has a
great deal of support and they want to get on the "correct" side of
that support. When you have a success make them a part of it in
cutting ribbons, receiving awards and speaking at success meetings.
C13 Working with the Business Community As a part of
your original organization you may want to set up a Business
Subcommittee. Determine which business would likely benefit from
the creation of a new trail. These businesses should be contacted
very early. Next approach businesses that have a track record of
supporting community related activities. Some trail organizations
create a catalog of items that would be appropriate for gift giving.
C14 "Friends of the Trails" Most successful trails need an
advocacy group provide labor, political support, and public visibility.
Some specific items include physical labor for cleanup, minor
repairs, and construction of support facilities, surveillance and
reporting of dangers or inappropriate activities, fundraising for
structures and amenities not included in a regular trail budget, maps,
newsletter and other information about the trail, and promotion of the
trail throughout the region and state. There should be a legal
separation between the trail managing agency and the "Friends" group.
Sometimes this process can be a little tricky when the developers
of the trail see themselves as being phased out.
Conclusion The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy is continually
developing material to assist in constructing trails. A parallel
document is Trails for the 21st Century: A Planning, Design, and
Management Manual for Multi-Use Trails. You can also check the
Web at http://www.railtrail.org. The book has a number of
Appendices of resources that may be valuable in the design, funding,
construction, and maintenance of a trail.
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The Macintosh Designer's Guide to Digital Imaging Carl Sesto
C1 Photoshop Essentials Basic mouse click stuff
C2 Resolution and File Size Bits, bytes, pixels, bit depth, resolution, compression
C3 Ratios & Rulers Photoshop stuff
C4 Pixels, Dots, & Spots Resolution (dpi / lpi) *2 + 1 = pixels
C5 Setting up your Monitor White point, colorimeters
C6 Scanning Types, resolution, bit depth, software
C7 Photo CD Resolution
C8 Rotate & Copy Precisely Cropping tools & precise rotation
C9 Adjust Size & Resolution
C10 Adjust Gray Values Brightness / Contrast, Levels, Correcting dark images - levels and curves
C11 Color Correcting Controls, color balance, curves, hue / saturation
C12 Combining Images Sealing, drag & drop, layers
C13 Unsharp Masking Unsharp masking shapes edges, to much
can create halo's and dark lines around edges, recommended 200-250% and
radius of .5 to 1 pixels
C14 Retouching Defects Rubber stamp tool, dust and scratch filters
C15 Creative enhancements Tools, blur / sharpen, smudge, enhance shadow detail
C16 Saving Your File Formats, Photoshop: fast, lossless
compression, EPS: good for printing, TIFF: many programs can read and
process
C17 Color Models RGB (video additive), CMYK (paper, subtractive)
C18 Managing Color Color Management Systems and separations
C19 Duotones Mainly a concern with high quality print media
C20 Page Placement Using page layout programs
C21 Separations for Printmaking Techniques for making (large) posters/prints
A very old (1996) book aimed at introducing a computer illiterate
photographer to the wonders of computer processing. Most of the
tools and programs are way out of date but some of the basic ideas are
not bad.
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Who let the Blogs Out, A Hyper-connected Peek at the World of Weblogs Biz Stone
What are blogs, how did they start, how do you make one for yourself? I just may do this myself.
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Deploying License-Free Wireless Wide-Area Networks Jack Unger Cisco Press 2003
C1 Introduction He
defines broadband as 128kb and up. In 1985 the FCC published
standards for license-free data broadcasting, 1-low power, 1 watt max.
2-Spread Spectrum Modulation. and 3-Three available frequency
ranges (900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz). In 1997 they added three
bands between 5.1 and 5.8 GHz. Spread spectrum was invented by
the movie star Hedy Lamar in the late 1930's. There are two types of spread
spectrum, Frequency Hopping (jump from 1 to another rapidly) and Direct
Sequence (the signal covers several frequencies). Some safety
concerns: Heights, microwave energy, weather, lightning, personal
safety, and climbing.
C2 Wireless Fundamentals
When you change the direction of electron flow in a wire or
antenna, you create electromagnetic waves. they travel 186,000
miles per second and they switch direction each time you switch the
electron flow. If you change the electron flow 2.45 billion times
a second (2.45 GHz) the wave length is 4.8 in. {wavelength =
11,811/frequency in MHz}, thus the wavelength of a 5.775 Ghz signal is
2 in. Attenuation: signal loss (resistance, friction, etc.) as
the signal passes through a wire or other obstruction. Microwaves
can reflect off of buildings or water. This usually causes
interference. Most wireless calculations are done in decibels or
dB. These are log measurements so they can be added instead of
worrying about inverse square relationships.
Antennas radiate their energy in specific patterns caused by the
physical shape of the antenna and their electrical properties. If
you look at any electromagnetic wave from the side it bulges in the
middle and shrinks to a point at the ends, like a lens. If some
physical object extends into this lens, it attenuates the signal.
The lens shape is called the Fresnel (frA-nel) zone. To
calculate size of the Fresnel zone at a given point you need the
distance (in miles) to the point from one side (d1), the distance (in
miles) to the point from the other point (d2), and the frequency (f) in
GHz. The equation for this is diameter (in feet) = .6 * sqrt (
(d1*d2) / (f * (d1+d2) ) ). The .6 factor reflects that there is
usually no significant attenuation unless more than 60% of the Fresnel
zone is blocked. If we do the calculation for d1=d2=1 mile for
visible (green) light (577,000 GHz) we get a result of .48 in. If
we shine a green light from 2 miles away, you can see it just fine
unless a sharp edge is less than 1/2 in. away from being directly
between you and the light. If you do the same calculation for a
2.4 GHz signal you start to get significant interference if a sharp
edge is within 20 feet of the line between you and the signal source.
Power Budgets: Calculate power budgets by adding up, transmitter
power, transmitter coax loss, transmitter antenna gain, free-space path
loss, receiver antenna gain, receiver coax loss, and receiver
sensitivity. The free-space path loss is measured in dB and is
given by the equation, PL = 96.6 + 10*log(d**2) + 10*log(f**2) where d
is miles and f is frequency in GHz. At 1 mile the loss for 2.4
GHz is 104 dB and at 2 miles it is 110 dB, for 5.7 GHz at 1 mile it is
112 dB and at 2 miles it is 118 dB.
C3 Network Architecture Point-to-point
architecture is the simplest. Point-to-multipoint architecture is more
complex, more possible users, the multipoint can be broken down into
sectors, many more things to consider when installing equipment.
Cellular architecture usually consists of several multipoint
access points linked to a central hub. The links may be either
wireless or wired. Cellular allows larger or more complex areas
to be given access. Cellular is also more difficult to set up and
administer. Mesh architecture is more complex technically but it
can be much simpler to administer. Each user must be able to
connect to an existing user and each user needs a router that is
capable of forwarding packets. However once the basic structure
is established adding new users can be relatively simple even without
line-of-sight access to a primary access point. Unger ends the
chapter with a section on selecting and a rough design of network
architecture.
C4 Performing Site Surveys
There are two parts of a site survey, the physical and the radio
frequency (RF). Physical Survey: Contact the owner, be prepared
(info and equipment), place to put your electronics, minimize distance
between equipment and antenna, access, routing of cables, survey site,
placement of antenna (pointing, mounting, height, grounding).
There is a sample form on page 106. RF Survey: Obtain test
equipment (purchase, lease, contract services), understand a spectrum
analyzer, test in a controlled situation, test possible sites for
antennas. Negotiate for permission to install an access point.
C5 Selecting Antenna Systems
A dipole antenna is 1/2 wavelength long and looks (electrically)
like a fluorescent light tube. It radiates to the sides and the
radiation pattern is like a circle. Several (say 4) driven
elements mounted in a straight line will tend to flatten out the
radiation pattern so that it extends farther but not so deep. A
reflector can be mounted 1/4 wavelength from the driven element.
It will bounce the signal back so that most of the energy goes in
one direction. A reflector should be about 5% greater than the
size of the driven element. A reflector can be parallel to the
driven element or it can be curved. A director is about 5% less
than the driven element. It acts like a lens to focus the
radiation pattern. It is on the side that you wish the signal to
be stronger. A Yagi antenna contains both reflectors and
directors. Antennas are polarized, they are typically vertical or
horizontal but can also be circular or crossed. For good
reception, both the sender and the receiver antenna must have the same
polarization. Circular polarization is most commonly used in
environments with reflective surfaces.
Types of antennas: Omnidirectional - usually mounted vertically,
gains of 6-8 dB. Yagi - multiple elements, quite directional,
gains can be up to 20 dB. Corner reflector, quite simple, gains
as high as 15 dB. Parabolic reflector, a curved dish, depending
on the size the gain can be between 18 and 24 db. Very
directional. Panel antennas, a flat metallic reflector with
active elements in front of it, very unobtrusive, often called sector
antennas as they can be directional to 30, 60, or 120 degrees and can
be used for isolating sectors of customers. Unger finishes the
chapter by discussing methods of isolating antennas so that they do not
interfere with each other, using multiple antennas to cover separate
sectors, and some of the specific details about antenna mounting and
cabling.
C6 Evaluating and Selecting Wireless Equipment His
first statement in this chapter is to not believe anything you read
about equipment. The field is changing so fast, and new equipment
is coming out on a weekly basis, that anything that is written is
almost instantly out of date. He can only describe a particular
moment and suggest general principles. The first step is to
review your equipment needs with regard to your network design.
Then you can research your proposed equipment, visit working
sites, test possible equipment in the lab, and then test it in the
field before purchasing. If it then works, take the big step and
buy.
He next discusses the OSI and TCP/IP specifications, essential to
understand but too complex for this discussion. Next are the
wired port features, Low-speed ports, Ethernet ports, and high-speed
ports (DSL, cable, T1-1.544 Mb, E1-2.048 Mb, T3-45 Mb, OC3-155 Mb, and
OC12-622 Mb), voice, and security. Wireless features - Bands (900
MHz: bandwidth 26 MHz, greatest resistance to obstacles; 2.4 GHz:
bandwidth 83 MHz, low resistance to obstacles; 3.5 GHz: not available
in the US; 5 GHz: 4 subbands, total of 425 MHz bandwidth, little
resistance to obstacles; 60 GHZ: bandwidth is 5 GHz for a total
throughput of up to 622 MHz, no resistance to obstructions-need line of
sight, it is attenuated by oxygen in the air so the maximum path in air
is about 1/2 mile.)
An expansion of the earlier discussion of modulation types.
Bandwidth is typically twice as great as throughput (actual data
transfered) for most wireless applications. Brief discussions of
many topics related to ethernet protocol concerns. Too many and
too specific to repeat, essential for the system designer, installer,
and managers.
C7 Installing Wireless Systems
Three stages, planning, installation, testing. Planning:
Of the many possible technical options, choose only a few to use
in your system. Be safety conscious, use proper tools, verify all
steps before you start. Installation: SAFETY! Details
for tower and rooftop. Cabling, guy wires, raising the antenna,
lightning protection. Testing: Measure the throughput, fade
margins, and internet access. Document and preserve all test
results.
C8 Solving Noise and Interference Problems
Understand (measure) SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio). Know
where your noise is coming from and measure (record) the amount and
timing of external noise sources. Equipment to use is a spectrum
analyzer, directional antenna, compass, map, attenuators. Monitor
(record) network performance for SNR, retransmission percentage, and
ping latency.
C9 Providing Broadband Access
A basic business "How To" chapter. Isolated topics on how
to run a successful business, avoid known problems, keeping customers
happy, dealing with the FCC, network security, coexisting with other
providers, etc. He does recommend using a commercial, licensed
radio for high speed backhauls. Radios in this range (6, 11, 18,
and 23 GHz) typically cost about the same as a good quality license
free (802.11) radio and the license typically costs about $2,000 for 10
years from the FCC and can be availiable in 45 days after you first
apply for the license.
Unger includes 3 appendices and an index. These are a summary of
the 802.11 and 802.16 standards, a list of hardware, software, and
service provider organizations, and answers to chapter review questions.
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The Mosaic Idea Book Rosalind Wates
The book starts off with many of the basics discussed above. The
book is mainly composed of a number of examples with a couple of
variations each.
Leaping Hare p 32, Goat p 34, Snail p 39, Curly Lizard p 43, Wriggling
Snake p 44, Dove p 47, Dragonfly p 54, Bee p 55, Salmon p 65, Swimming
Turtle p 61, Fan Shell p 63, Flower Symbol p 68, Oak Leaf p 74,
Skeleton Leaf p 75, Swaying Tree p 78, Cut Apple p 94, Bunch of Grapes
p 96, Ducks p 120, Dog p 121, Two Doves p 125.
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Getting it Right
Mary H. Slawson
Nov 2007
Subtitled:
The Definitive Guide to Recording Family History Accurately
This is NOT a how-to-do-it book on how to do genealogy or family
history. It is a book on how to spell it right and put in the
right columns and headings. It will not help a bit in your own
personal genealogy with 500 or less people being recorded. If you
are planning on submitting thousands of records to the Mormon Church
and a lot of them are from countries other than the USA you will
probably want to have this reference work on your desk.
It is really a book of lists with explanations of many of the entries
which might not be obvious to many readers. It is not really a
how-to book with respect to the use of genealogy programs - especially
those with close ties to the Mormon Church - it is a book telling you
about the proper terms and how to use them when entering data into the
many fields of these programs. Much of it is devoted to foreign
names, titles, and obscure church relationships. This is very
reasonable because it is the unfamiliar terms that cause the most
problem. Most of us are just not up on English, French, Dutch,
and East Indian heraldry.
The book is well documented with Appendices A-F on 16 pages and a 27 page index.
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