Conventions

Just some random shots from a few shows this week. Full galleries and coverage will be forthcoming but this is just a little preview:

Technically the last 2 pictures don’t really belong to any show. The 1st one on the bottom left is Remy, who has been trained to find bed bugs. We met him at the Pest Control show in New Orleans. I just like this picture his owner sent us because it shows that even if we have differences, we can still all get along.
The picture on the bottom right is the Space Shuttle Discovery in its last flight on its way to the Smithsonian in Washington DC. By doing this low, 1500 ft, flyover it brought together people from all areas in a city that is constantly ripped apart by partisan politics but on this one day, no matter the party, everyone came out to salute the shuttle. There is another one scheduled to do a fly over in NYC on Monday, April 23rd. It will be the Enterprise not the Discovery but it will dip its wings in the direction of the WTC as a salute to overcoming obstacles and letting our imaginations soar. The Enterprise will be on permanent display at the Intrepid, the Air Space Museum on the Hudson.

Apr. 17-20, 2012. Coverings is billed as “the ultimate tile and stone experience”.  It is the premier international trade fair and expo dedicated to showcasing the newest in ceramic tile and natural stone. It has grown to be the largest show of its kind in the U.S., featuring exhibitors from more than fifty countries and attracting thousands of distributors, retailers, fabricators, contractors and specifiers, architectural and design professionals, builders and real estate developers, plus the press and journalists who cover the industry.  Coverings is the stage for introducing some of the most innovative tile and stone products in the world. The exposition also serves as a valuable resource for continuing education for all categories of attendees, with accredited seminars and live demonstration sessions conducted throughout the four days.  After the show?  Stoners opted for a night on the tiles…

Apr. 4-5, 2012. NPE is all about plastics and plastic products.  NPE is recognized as one of the largest trade events for emerging technologies in the plastic industry, attracting an audience of more than 2000 suppliers and 75,000 professionals. The show featured a vast array of plastic-made products and services used in various industries like automotive, medical, electronics, construction etc.  Attendees were typically Plastics manufacturers, CEO, Engineers, Plastics processors and original equipment manufacturers, Materials suppliers, Sales & marketing types, R&D specialists, Quality control specialists, Equipment and machinery makers and Designers.  If you can’t make it in plastic, chances are you can’t make it at all…

Apr. 1-4, 2012. The National Postal Forum focused on the latest developments in mailing technology, innovation and services. It purports to be one of the largest information-gathering events for mailing industry professionals. It provides a live forum where attendees find an assortment of organizations active in the mailing community and which can help them to develop careers and increase their knowledge of the sector. Participants were able to exchange views with postal representatives offering marketing, mailing, shipping and online solutions.  They could also get education on the Business of Mail by attending this National Postal Forum event.  Exhibitors included courier services groups as well as postal services groups, exhibiting the latest in mail automation technology and mailing industry products and services.  Everybody going postal….

Mar. 17-20, 2012. ABRF stands for the Association of Biomolecular Resources Facilities, and it claims to be the premier forum for biomolecular technologies and implementing biomolecular techniques in core facilities.  Keynote speakers included a founder participant in the Human Genome Project, a director of the Yeast Resource Center, and the man behind the development of Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry.  The ABRF announced the creation of an award to recognize Dr. Marjorie A. Tingle’s special contributions to the mission of the Association of Biomolecular Resource Facilities, through her dedicated service at NIH over more than 36 years;  the Special Lifetime Contribution Award was presented to Dr. Tingle at the 2012 annual meeting.