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THE JOURNEY THROUGH TIME

Explore Black History

Explore the people, places, events, achievements, struggles and stories that shaped our journey.

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Civil Rights

Movements, leaders, victories and the continuing fight for equality.

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Black Inventors

Innovation, patents, science, technology and world-changing contributions.

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Sports

Pioneers, champions, Negro Leagues, records, activism and excellence.

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People

Meet the people whose lives, choices and achievements shaped the journey.

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Places

Black towns, communities, institutions and places where history happened.

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Events

Moments that changed communities, movements, institutions and the nation.

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MY'STORY

The MOVE Fire

This is a personal recollection on the Move fire on May 13, 1985 Philadelphia police fired thousands of rounds at the MOVE house, city officials approved dropping an explosive device on the roof, the resulting fire was allowed to burn, 11 people—including five children—died, and 61 homes were destroyed. Philadelphia City Council later called it a “brutal attack carried out by the City of Philadelphia on its own citizens” and acknowledged that no individual faced criminal consequences for the bombing. One timeline correction worth preserving for the BHP record: the major previous MOVE-police confrontation was August 8, 1978, about seven years before the bombing, not a year or two earlier. Officer James Ramp was killed, other police and firefighters were wounded, nine MOVE members were later convicted, and television cameras recorded police beating Delbert Africa during his arrest. The 1985 MOVE Commission later specifically criticized city planners for failing to adequately use lessons from that 1978 confrontation. And that actually strengthens the point you’re making: 1985 did not happen without precedent or institutional memory. There had already been a deadly confrontation with MOVE, years of conflict, negotiations and police involvement before Osage Avenue.

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BLACK FACTS
The Truths They Never Taught You...

Wilmington 1898 — An American Coup

Wilmington, North Carolina once had a thriving Black middle class and an elected interracial government. In 1898 white supremacists used violence to overthrow that government, kill Black residents and drive many others from the city.

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BHP gathered finds from its connected research sources. Showing the 4 strongest Black History matches.
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Wikipedia

Barcode printer

A barcode printer

A barcode printer is a computer peripheral for printing barcode[1] labels or tags that can be attached to, or printed directly on, physical objects. Barcode printers are commonly used to label cartons before shipment, or to label retail items with UPCs or EANs.[2]

The most common barcode printers employ one of two different printing technologies. Direct thermal printers use a printhead to generate heat that causes a chemical reaction in specially designed paper that turns the paper black. Thermal transfer printers also use heat, but instead of reacting the paper, the heat melts a waxy or resin substance on a ribbon that runs over the label or tag material. The heat transfers ink from the ribbon to the paper. Direct thermal printers are generally less expensive, but they produce labels that can become illegible if exposed to heat, direct sunlight, or chemical vapors.

Barcode printers are designed for different markets. Industrial barcode printers are used in large warehouses and manufacturing facilities. They have large paper capacities, operate faster and have a longer service life. For retail and office environments, desktop barcode printers are most common.

Uses of barcode printers

[edit]

A barcode printer is a specialized device designed to create and print barcodes, which are machine-readable codes consisting of parallel lines or a matrix of squares. These barcodes serve various purposes across different industries. Some common uses of barcode printers include:

  • Retail Industry
    • Product Labeling: Barcode printers are used to generate and print barcode labels for products. These labels contain essential information such as product name, price, and unique identification codes.
    • Inventory Management: Barcodes help smooth inventory processes by allowing quick and accurate tracking of stock levels. Barcode labels on items make it easier to monitor and manage inventory in real-time.
  • Manufacturing:
    • Work-in-Progress Tracking: Barcode printers are used to create labels for work-in-progress items on the manufacturing line. This facilitates tracking and ensures that each stage of production is properly documented.
    • Asset Management: Barcodes can be applied to machinery and equipment, allowing for efficient tracking of assets within a manufacturing facility.
  • Healthcare:
    • Patient Identification: Barcode wristbands are commonly used in healthcare settings to identify patients accurately. These wristbands can be generated by barcode printers and help prevent errors in patient care.
    • Medication Administration: Barcodes on medication packaging assist healthcare professionals in ensuring the right medication is given to the right patient at the right dosage.
  • Logistics and Distribution:
    • Shipping Labels: Barcode printers are essential for creating shipping labels that contain information such as destination, shipping method, and tracking numbers. This ensures accurate and efficient shipment handling.
    • Warehouse Management: Barcodes on products and storage locations within a warehouse facilitate quick and error-free tracking of goods, reducing the likelihood of errors in order fulfillment.
  • Library and Asset Tracking:
    • Library Management: Barcodes are used in libraries to catalog books, making it easy to check items in and out, as well as track their location within the library.
    • Asset Tracking: Barcode labels help organizations track and manage their assets, from computers and office equipment to tools and machinery.
  • Event Ticketing:
    • Ticketing Systems: Barcodes on event tickets simplify the check-in process for attendees. Scanning the barcode at the entrance ensures a quick and secure method of admission.
  • Government and Identification:
    • ID Cards: Barcodes on government-issued identification cards, such as driver's licenses and passports, help streamline identity verification processes.
  • Point of Sale (POS) Systems:
    • Transaction Processing: Barcodes on products enable quick and accurate scanning at the point of sale, expediting the checkout process for retailers and improving overall customer experience.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Weightman, Gavin. "The History of the Bar Code". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
  2. ^ "Barcode Labels: A Comprehensive Guide". Hassan & Brothers. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
[edit]
  • Wikimedia Commons logo Media related to Barcode printer at Wikimedia Commons

Source: Wikipedia. Article content is retrieved live through the MediaWiki API.

Wikipedia

Barcode printer

A barcode printer is a computer peripheral for printing barcode labels or tags that can be attached to, or printed directly on, physical objects. Barcode printers are commonly used to label cartons before shipment, or to label retail items with UPCs or EANs. The most common barcode printers employ one of two different printing technologies. Direct thermal printers use a printhead to generate heat that causes a chemical reaction in specially designed paper that turns the paper black. Thermal transfer printers also use heat, but instead of reacting the paper, the heat melts a waxy or resin substance on a ribbon that runs over the label or tag material. The heat transfers ink from the ribbon to the paper. Direct thermal printers are generally less expensive, but they produce labels that can become illegible if exposed to heat, direct sunlight, or chemical vapors. Barcode printers are designed for different markets. Industrial barcode printers are used in large warehouses and manufacturing facilities. They have large paper capacities, operate faster and have a longer service life. For retail and office environments, desktop barcode printers are most common.

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Wikipedia

Code 39

Code 39 (also known as Alpha39, Code 3 of 9, Code 3/9, Type 39, USS Code 39, or USD-3) is a variable length, discrete barcode symbology defined in ISO/IEC 16388:2023. The Code 39 specification defines 43 characters, consisting of uppercase letters (A through Z), numeric digits (0 through 9) and a number of special characters (-, ., $, /, +, %, and space). An additional character (denoted '*') is used for both start and stop delimiters. Each character is composed of nine elements: five bars and four spaces. Three of the nine elements in each character are wide (binary value 1), and six elements are narrow (binary value 0). The barcode scheme does not contain a check digit (in contrast to—for instance—Code 128), but it can be considered self-checking on the grounds that a single erroneously interpreted bar cannot generate another valid character. Possibly the most serious drawback of Code 39 is its low data density: It requires more space to encode data in Code 39 than, for example, in Code 128. This means that very small goods cannot be labeled with a Code 39 based barcode. However, Code 39 is still used by some postal services (although the Universal Postal Union recommends using Code 128 in all cases), and can be decoded with virtually any barcode reader. One advantage of Code 39 is that since there is no need to generate a check digit, it can easily be integrated into an existing printing system by adding a barcode font to the system or printer and then printing the raw data in that font. Code 39 was developed by Dr. David Allais and Ray Stevens of Intermec in 1974. Their original design included two wide bars and one wide space in each character, resulting in 40 possible characters. Setting aside one of these characters as a start and stop pattern left 39 characters, which was the origin of the name Code 39. Four punctuation characters were later added, using no wide bars and three wide spaces, expanding the character set to 43 characters. Code 39 was later standardised as ANSI MH 10.8 M-1983 and MIL-STD-1189. MIL-STD-1189 has been cancelled and replaced by ANSI/AIM BC1/1995, Uniform Symbology Specification — Code 39.

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Wikipedia

Taiwan Semiconductor Company Limited

Taiwan Semiconductor Company Limited (TSC or Taiwan Semi; Chinese: 台灣半導體股份有限公司; pinyin: Táiwān Bàn Dǎo Tǐ Gǔ-fèn Yǒu-xiàn Gōng Sī) is a Taiwanese semiconductor and electronic components manufacturer for various industries including automotive, communications, power electronics, and consumer goods. Taiwan Semiconductor is headquartered in the Xindian District of New Taipei City, Taiwan. Additionally, the company maintains service centers in China, the United States, Germany, and Japan. The company's subsidiary, TSC Auto ID Technology Co., Ltd., specializes in the manufacturing of barcode printers and wireless RFID barcode printers. Taiwan Semiconductor operates two wafer fabrication facilities and two packaging facilities, located in Yilan and Lije (Wujie Township), Taiwan, as well as Tianjin and Shandong, China. The Lije facility primarily focuses on the production of TVS components and 6-inch wafers. Meanwhile, while the Tianjin facility specializes in 4-inch wafers and surface-mount adhesive products. The Shandong plant is dedicated to the production of bridge rectifiers and holds certifications such as IATF 16949 for automotive industry quality, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001 for environmental compliance. Taiwan Semiconductor transitioned from an early focus on the manufacturer of rectifiers and label printers to specializing in electronic components used across diverse industries including automotive, industrial instruments, 5G – 6G communications, power electronics, LED lighting and consumer goods. The company offers a range of products, including trench Schottky rectifiers, MOSFETs, TVS devices, transistors, analog ICs, and ESD protection devices. Taiwan Semiconductor has also collaborated with United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC) on MOSFET technologies, and with Bosch on the development of automotive protection devices, with a specific focus on bolstering capabilities in the automotive sector.

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Wikipedia

High Capacity Color Barcode

High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) is a technology developed by Microsoft for encoding data in a 2D "barcode" using clusters of colored triangles instead of the square pixels conventionally associated with 2D barcodes or QR codes. Data density is increased by using a palette of 4 or 8 colors for the triangles, although HCCB also permits the use of black and white when necessary. It has been licensed by the ISAN International Agency for use in its International Standard Audiovisual Number standard, and serves as the basis for the Microsoft Tag mobile tagging application. The technology was created by Gavin Jancke, an engineering director at Microsoft Research. Quoted by BBC News in 2007, he said that HCCB was not intended to replace conventional barcodes. "'It's more of a 'partner' barcode", he said. "The UPC barcodes will always be there. Ours is more of a niche barcode where you want to put a lot of information in a small space."

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TOPIC OF THE DAY

Greenwood / Black Wall Street

Before the 1921 destruction of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, Black residents had created a remarkable center of business and community life. The district included stores, professional offices, entertainment venues and homes owned by Black citizens. Understanding Greenwood means learning what was built—not only what was burned.

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TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE DAY

Which heavyweight champion was known as the “Brown Bomber”?

Joe Louis.