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Are there any real downsides to using a UV filter?
I know that a poor quality UV filter can effect image quality ... but, assuming I use a good quality UV filter, will that actually be an issue? Is there any other reason not to use one?
Are there any real downsides to using a UV filter?
I know that a poor quality UV filter can effect image quality ... but, assuming I use a good quality UV filter, will that actually be an issue? Is there any other reason not to use one?
Whether the IQ reduction is noticeable and/or whether this is a good tradeoff is another question. :)
Cost of the filter is a very real downside. In case of a consumer-grade lens and a good UV filter, you might find yourself spending something around 1/5 of full replacement cost on "insurance" against dust (hardly affects image quality, removable), dropping and scratches (worse, but happen seldom).
If you use the lens in good conditions and/or rarely, you have certainly paid more than the risk is actually worth, while you could have used the money towards some other piece of equipment that would actually broaden your photographic abilities (e.g. a polarizing filter).
A lens hood would give you most of the same "insurance coverage" plus better optical quality for less cash. It makes access for possible scratchers and stainers harder; and in case of a fall, I would expect a hood to absorb the shock even better than a filter. And instead of degrading image quality with extra glass, it will enhance it by keeping stray light away.
In some environments with air pollution (sparks, paint, chemicals, oil, sandstorm, salty water, smoke), lens hood does not provide enough protection and using a protective filter does make sense.
When the lens are designed they usually try to minimize the number of optical elements as each extra element will affect the image. Good filters make no noticeable changes, however it's still an extra element which can, for example, add a reflection in some rare cases.
Also, if you are using a wide angle lens, then choose low profile filter, otherwise you may get a vignetting.
The use of any filter will result in the reduction of image quality. The extra air-glass interface that a filter introduces, no matter its quality, will degrade image quality. However, a high-end filter, such as one made by B+W or Heliopan, will keep this degradation to a level that is not perceptible under normal shooting conditions. Furthermore, if a clear or UV filter is attached to the lens, you'll need to remove it to use a polarizer, ND, or other filter, which can be inconvenient.
Light bouncing around between the filter and front element (or any other two air-glass interfaces) can degrade image quality by causing flare and reducing contrast. High-quality filters minimize this degradation by using anti-reflective coatings that reduce the amount of light reflected by the glass and increase light transmission. Low-quality filters have poor or no AR coatings and therefore can visibly degrade image quality.
I personally do keep clear (not UV) filters on my lenses (mostly B+W), so that I don't need to clean the front element of the lens directly, which can wear down the coatings on the lens--I'd rather replace a filter than replace the whole lens. You'll need to decide whether this protection and cleaning advantage outweighs the aforementioned loss of image quality and inconvenience. To me, it does, but you need to decide for yourself.
Another commonly cited reason for using a filter is that it can reduce the chance of the front element becoming scratched or broken altogether due to impact. However, a lens hood is generally more effective at providing this kind of protection, and this isn't the reason I keep clear filters on my lenses.
Mutli coated UV filters are intended to reduce sun flare - so if thats the effect you are going for, then you may want to consider losing the filter.
Some anecdotal evidence, I (read as: my wife) dropped my 50 mm f/1.4 on a vacation. We had a uv filter on it, and it cracked it in several places, and jammed the lens cap into the filter threading. After some work with a pair of needle nose pliers, we were able to pry it of. Thankfully the lens itself was fine.
Another downside is that filters tend to add artifacts and reflections to an image due to the different sensitivity to light (than film). As a result, if you have a filter on, even a high end one, you can get weird artifacts. I have only found this to happen when taking night shots of bright lights, and then it is unmistakeable.
Here is an example of a forgettable image I took, but one that shows the artifacts being produced by the large porch lights on the house.
The nice thing about a filter is that its removable, nothing is permanent. I leave B+W UV filters on all my lenses, as it protects them and also keeps greasy fingers from the elements. When taking night shots or critical shots that don't need the filter, I take it off. Its easy to do.
Others have already discussed most pros and cons, but I'll just have to add this one thing: Some lenses don't like any filters, no matter how good or expensive.
For example, Canon EF 85/1.8 USM with an UV filter will create tinted reflections all over the picture from bright lights. This especially bad when shot wide open. I've tried and experienced this with two of these lenses and with high-end coated filters from B+W and Hoya. Ultimately I just gave up and never use any filters with this lens.
I guess this probably happens because the front elements of the lens throw some kind of reflection out of the lens in an angle small enough that any additional glass surface will reflect it back in.
I have never looked at a picture and said to myself: "Oh wow this picture was so shot with(out) a UV-Filter..." because no one has ever seen the difference. It is just a tool like any other tool. Use it against scratches and if it makes trouble for you in a certain situation remove it from your lens and shoot without it. You won't use your flash every time just because it is attached to your camera, right?
You are usually on the right track using a good UV-Filter because it
But as aforementioned it is not a flawless tool because
After all I am shooting with UV most of the time because it protects my lens when I am outdoors and some punk runs into me at the traffic lights. Again, when I am shooting pictures I have to think about more crucial things of my composition than the UV filter, because a high quality filter simply does its job - keeping the aforementioned bullet points in mind.
I use one mainly to protect the lens from dust and scratches.
No. It also protects the lens glass from scratches and dust.


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A puzzling pair of games for QB Manning, Giants
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Eliminating the cumbersome and awkward engagement of two-lever systems, SRAM's Force DoubleTap Control Levers offer a competitive advantage in road: you can shift from anywhere on the bars, even when sprinting. The single-lever-shifting design allows for faster, smoother shifts while being completely independent of the brake levers, eradicating the possibility of braking when you shift. Plus, thanks to their carbon and magnesium construction, these levers won't slow you down.
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5 Ways High School Really Does Suck (According to Science)
#2. High School Dating Rules Make STDs Spread Further
One of the most frustrating things about high school is that not only are you newly aware of the desire to rub your genitals on other people, but it's also the most difficult time you'll ever have doing so, thanks to the complicated dating rules of high school. It's socially unacceptable to date your friend's ex, or your ex's friends, or your ex's ex, or anyone you have third period with, because third period is the slutty period.
At times, boning almost seems too complicated to be worth it. (Just kidding. You'd surgically remove your own kneecaps for a blowjob.) Unfortunately, according to a recent study, all these complicated rules make STDs much better at getting around.
"I like you and all, but could we not do it on this huge pile of lice?"
See, the big difference between high school and adult sexual politics is this: Adults generally belong to large social groups and develop sexual relationships within those groups -- punk rockers bone other punk rockers, businesspeople screw other businesspeople (who work in the same office, usually), and so on and so forth. Scientists call it a "hub," and STD breakouts tend to remain isolated to their respective social groups.
But high school is different. All those weird social rules force people to diversify their sex-pool, so while adults have hubs, teens have "chains." And these chains are long -- one link in the high school where the study was conducted connected 288 students (half the sexually active population), so even if you've only had one or two sex partners, you've still effectively bumped hips with most of the school. Adults are actually safer from STDs because they tend to bone more often within their social circle.
"This could take hours. Throw me a fuck?"
#1. Teenagers Are in a Legal Minefield
This one is worse in the U.S. than in almost any other country -- 41 percent of Americans will be arrested for something more severe than a minor traffic violation before they reach the age of 23. Of course, lots of them will get off with probation or community service (or if it involved a car, maybe they'll lose their license). But a shitload of them go to jail -- the United States seems to rely on Grandad's "lock all the bastards up" course of action, and as such, the USA imprisons its youth at six times the rate of all other developed nations.
"I just picked up a summer job. It's called 'taking your shit while you cry.'"
This is done under the guise of scaring the kids straight -- only if you get tough with teens will they see the error of their ways and straighten up. This works so well that of the teens who are incarcerated, a whopping 70 percent will re-offend within one year of being released. Which is to say, it doesn't work at all -- studies show that it might possibly have something to do with the psychological and social trauma of being arrested. It turns out that it's actually easier to just stay a criminal than to try to come back from that. Think about everything you've read up to now about growing brains and the effect on judgment.
After all, the fact that civilization doesn't just collapse in an orgy of violence is evidence that most teenagers who do stupid shit still grow up to be smart, rational people who contribute to society. For most of these kids, their thought processes are destined to round into shape regardless of what kind of intervention adults give them. So it seems like a "one strike and you're out" system might not be the best way to go about it.
"Do I have booze in the car? Man, if you'd caught me like 20 minutes ago ..."
If this sounds like the kind of bleeding heart "They're teenagers and they can't help doing stupid things!" thinking that gave us the Jersey Shore generation, we're not saying that all teenagers are destined to experiment with selling drugs and stealing cars. We're just saying that at some point you have to accept that teens are going to be teens. It's biology. So maybe the goal is to make sure they don't do anything during those malformed brain years that ruins the rest of their lives.
JF Sargent has spent his whole adult life working with teenagers, clearly. On an unrelated note, here's his Twitter and his blog.
To learn more about your former self, check out 5 Superpowers We All Had as Babies (According to Science) and 6 Shockingly Evil Things Babies Are Capable Of.
If you're pressed for time and just looking for a quick fix, then check out The 3 Most Baffling Dick Moves in the History of Live TV
And stop by LinkSTORM to discover which hot babe you're talking to online is actually a 13-year-old troll.
Do you have an idea in mind that would make a great article? Then sign up RIGHT NOW and pitch your first article today! Do you possess expert skills in image creation and manipulation? Mediocre? Even rudimentary? Are you frightened by MS Paint and simply have a funny idea? You can create an infographic and you could be on the front page of Cracked.com tomorrow!


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I have downloaded the svn repository of Atunes using TortoiseSVN. I would like to transfer the logs of activity of the developers to a SQL database, preferably an Oracle one. Is there any software that can help me do this?
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The command line SVN client can export the log to an XML file with the --xml option.
First you need to get complete repository of subversion. Tortoise svn do not have this option right now. I think you only checked out latest revision. You need to use other programs to get complete repository with all history for example: svk (http://svk.bestpractical.com/view/HomePage).
Subversion uses two backends.
Create your new repository Berkeley Db Based and get all history using a tool. After that since Berkeley DB (http://www.oracle.com/us/products/database/berkeley-db/index.html) Oracle supported one, you can migrate to Oracle.
But in my opinion this is all hard work. If all you need some statistics from subversion other tools exists for this purpose.


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Understanding Plasma Cutters - The Cutting Edge - TechWritten by on April 29, 2010 Contributors: Ryan Manson You Don't Have To Understand Plasma To Love It
If you've built a custom classic truck, chances are you've had to deal with cutting metal-it may have been removing or modifying something old or installing something new. And, if you're like most hobbyists, you've tried a variety of tools to do the job including hacksaws, cutting torches, and abrasive wheels. But if you haven't used a plasma cutter you're missing the best tool yet and one that should be in your home shop.
What is plasma?
A common question is: "What is plasma?" The scientific answer is that it's the fourth state of matter: there's liquid, solid, gas, and plasma. OK, but what is plasma? Basically it is a gas that has been heated to such a high temperature that it is no longer a gas, and it becomes plasma.
Plasma cutting as actually an offshoot of the plasma welding process that was used during WWII to cut down production time in some applications. Similar in some respects to the TIG process, with plasma welding the arc is intensified by the injection of a gas into the electric arc stream. So much heat is generated that the plasma stream cuts, or "keyholes," the metal making a small hole as the torch is moved down the weld seam. During this cutting action the melted metal in front of the arc flows around the arc stream and is drawn together behind the hole (making something that looks like a keyhole, hence the name) as the metal cools it creates a solid bead. This process will weld material 1/2-inch thick or more without filler rod.
Like the welding process, plasma cutters use pressurized gas (such as compressed air) and electricity from an electrode to create a plasma stream that's approximately 30,000-degrees F moving at 20,000 feet per second. That's hot enough to melt the metal being cut while the pressure is great enough to blow the molten material through the cut rather than let it reform. The process can be up to 10 times faster than a conventional oxyacetylene cutting torch, and a cleaner cut is easier to achieve.
Plasma Cutting Tips
Use a straight edge, piece of flat stock, or virtually anything with a nice straight edge clamped to the metal to make a straight cut. If you are trying to build something out of 16-gauge or thinner, and it has to fit in a given space, make it out of cardboard first, and use the cardboard pieces for a cutting template. The plasma cutter can move so quickly the cardboard does not burn.
Remove the cover of the machine and blow the dust and dirt out of the unit every six months or a year based on usage. Make sure the unit has been disconnected from the power supply.
Check the cutting tip and electrode for wear frequently. If they are used beyond their service life, cut quality will be diminished, cut speeds will decrease, and you can damage the torch head.
Plasma Cutter FAQs
Q. If I need to cut a piece of 1/2-inch steel, can I cut one side, then flip it over and cut the other side?
A. No, for the plasma process to work properly without damaging the cutting torch, the air, and the metal removed, must pass completely through the metal being cut. If you were to cut 1/4-inch on the first pass, all the molten metal would be blown back up into the torch head, causing damage.
Q. If I turn the air pressure up, will the machine cut thicker?
A. No, you should only set the air pressure to the manufacturer's recommended setting.
Q. How far off the work should I hold the torch?
A. It all depends on the plasma cutter. Many machines have a "drag tip" design where you can actually rest the cutting tip on the work. Consult your owner's manual for the correct distance.
Q. How dry does the air have to be?
A. Most plasma cutters have a water separator/regulator, which is used to adjust the incoming air pressure. Generally speaking, the water separator supplied with most plasma cutters will filter out most of the moisture. However, if you see a lot of moisture building up in the water trap, then you should consider an additional drier for your system.
How to Select the Correct Plasma Cutter
Jeff Noland of HTP
The most important consideration when selecting a plasma cutter is the thickness of the material you will need to cut. Don't just say 1/2-inch because it is a nice round number that comes to mind-get a ruler, caliper, micrometer, or some measuring device and actually measure the thickness of the material you will be working with.
An analogy I like to make is it's like buying horsepower-the more amperage you have, the thicker you will be able to cut. However, more is not always better! A higher amperage machine will have a larger plasma cutting torch to dissipate the higher heat involved with cutting thicker material. The bigger torch is bulkier and won't get into tight places.
Another consideration is cost-a higher amperage machine will cost more money. A 25- to 30-amp machine gives you the ability to cut thin sheetmetal all the way up to 1/4-inch steel. And how much cutting are you really doing beyond that? This should tackle pretty much any automotive project you would be doing in your garage.
If you move up to a 40-amp machine, it will give you the ability to cut 1/2-inch steel. A benefit of a 40-amp machine over a 30-amp machine is it will cut any given thickness faster. So if you were doing a lot of cutting in the 1/4-inch range you would be able to cut at 25 inch/min vs. 12 inch/min.
A 60-amp machine is probably at the top end of the spectrum for anyone doing automotive work. These machines give you the capability to cut 3/4- to 1-inch steel. You better be building a lot frames in your garage to cost justify one of these cutters.
Two more things to take into consideration are air consumption and power supply. Some plasma cutters will operate on 110 volts, some operate on 110 and 220 volts, and some are 220 volts only. Make sure you have the correct voltage and amperage to run the machine you intend to purchase. Don't buy a cutter and then have to spend hundreds of dollars to upgrade your electrical service.
Generally speaking, for those working in their garage, air consumption usually is not an issue. The reason I say that, is because more than likely, you won't be doing "production" cutting at home. Let's say you have a 25-amp machine and are cutting a bracket out of 1/4-inch steel and need to make a 4-inch cut. At 12-inch/min that is a 15-second cut. A 25-amp machine will need about 31/2 cfm at 60 to 80 psi. Even if you have a small air compressor, you probably have enough air in your tank to get the job done. And with cutting speeds in sheetmetal upwards of 100-inch/min, you can cut a lot of sheetmetal before your air compressor will kick in.
More Photos From This Article View Slideshow
While the technical aspects of plasma may not be fully appreciated by all of us, the results certainly are. The process brings new meaning to the phrase "cuts like a hot knife through butter."Plasma cutters work by sending pressurized gas through a small channel that contains a negatively charged electrode. Current passing from the electrode to the metal heats the gas until it reaches the fourth state of matter, plasma, which conducts electrical current and creates an arc, which does the cutting. Additional channels in the torch release a constant flow of shielding gas to control the radius of the plasma stream.With a little practice a plasma cutter can produce results like this. Those familiar with oxyacetylene cutting will find that plasma is much faster.This is the control panel on an HTP 301 plasma cutter. The dial adjusts the amperage from 5 to 25 amps; the cutting current light illuminates when the trigger on the torch is depressed and the cutting arc has been activated; the thermo switch light illuminates when the duty cycle of the machine has been exceeded-it resets automatically when the machine has cooled sufficiently.Using 16-gauge sheetmetal as a reference, CCT editor Ryan Manson cut 11/2-inch lines using five different amp settings on an HTP 301. As the amperage was increased, so was the speed of cutting, making it easier to run a straight line freehand.The MicroCut 201 is a great entry-level plasma machine for the homebuilder. Operating on standard 110-volt power and weighing only 14 lbs., it'll cut 3/16-inch steel at 10-inches/minute and sever 1/4-inch steel with adjustable cutting amperage from 5 to 15 amps.The MicroCut 301 is the unit our editor uses and it's handled everything he's thrown at it with power to spare. Similar in size to the 201, it operates on 220-volts and will cut 5/16-inch steel at 12-inches/minute and sever 3/8-inch steel with adjustable cutting amperage from 5 to 25 amps.HTP's new Micro Cut 625 packs a whopping 40 amps of high tech cutting power capable of cutting 5/8-inch steel in a small package.Since the key to a properly working plasma cutter is clean, dry air, HTP offers this Super Dry desiccant air drier that incorporates a sintered bronze element that removes dust and dirt particles down to 5 microns. Changing from dark blue when new to clear when the desiccant has absorbed all the moisture it can, it's easy to tell when the Super Dry element needs to be replaced.
The Super Dry filter is attached to the provided pressure regulator at the inlet side of the 301 plasma cutter. The regulator is adjusted to 72 psi with the inlet air attached and the trigger of the torched depressed.Editor Manson already had a pair of 220-volt, 30-amp outlets in his shop so he changed the plug that came installed on the 301 to the existing style. An easy job for the average person, but if there's any doubt in your mind, consult a professional before burning your garage down!The plasma torch is fairly simple: The electrode is at the center, and the nozzle is just below it. The swirl ring is the second from the right; it causes the plasma to turn rapidly as it passes by.A Plasma Parts Kit is a must have, especially if you're using one for the first time as you might go through some of the consumables faster than an experienced user. The kit consists of a spare gas diffuser, two extra cutting tips and electrodes, and an extra swirl ring. We also added an extended electrode and cutting tip, useful for getting into tight corners and great for pattern cutting.Like any kind of work in the shop or garage, safety is an utmost concern. A good, heavy-duty set of welding gloves are a must have and a pair of safety glasses that are shade-rated for using a plasma cutter are necessary. HTP offers a welding helmet that features a weld, cut, and grind function that has an adjustable lens that makes it simple to go from welding to grinding to plasma cutting with a flick of the switch, all the while offering full face protection while letting visible light through at a shade of 2.75 while offering UV and IR protection to a shade of 14.Proving he's as talented as he is good looking, our fearless leader uses the MicroCut 301 and a straight edge to cut a piece of 14-gauge sheet metal to repair the front valance panel on his F-1.The MicroCut 301 allowed a patch piece to be cut accurately with a gap close enough to weld up easily.Unlike a cutting torch a plasma cutting machine will slice through any material that will conduct electricity, which makes cutting stainless steel, copper, brass, or aluminum plate as shown here, a breeze.


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What does the
modify/delete USB storage contents permission really mean? Does it grant access for the application to read, modify and write all the data on my USB storage? Maybe it is this only limited to a subset of that data (e.g. only data written by the application itself)? Or does it mean something else entirely?
What does the
If you are familiar with the concepts of read and write permissions on various PC platforms, that is pretty much the same as what is going on here. You are giving the application write access to your "external storage" Which could be an SD card, or some storage space that comes with your device.
That permission indicates that the application is able to create, modify, or delete any files that reside on the SD card (or the non-removable storage space that the the OS treats most like an SD card).
So it could download a file from online and manually save it to your SD card.
It could generate its own image, text, audio etc.. file and save it to your SD card.
It could delete any file on your SD card.
It could find a file that already exists on your SD (even one with nothing to do with the app) and make changes to it.
It means that an application can read/write to the entire contents of your sdcard. Even if the application does not have this permission it will still be able to read from the contents of the sdcard. Giving it modify/write permissions will allow the application to create, edit, or delete files.
99.9% of the time this is so the application can do things like save data to the sdcard. For example this could be images from wallpaper app, or if the app is used to backup your sms messages for you, or even a podcast app needs to save the mp3 file to the sdcard.
There has been some "fuss" lately about ios having access to your pictures and other data on the device. You have to remember that these devices are not Phones, they are computers that make phone calls. It is no different if I install an application on Windows/Linux/OSX, the application will have access to every file on the system that I have access to.
If you don't trust an application to install it on your PC, you wouldn't install it. You should use the same thoughts with your Phone, but keep in mind that you may have even more personal information on the Phone then you would on your PC.
Each application has a specific storage folder. But, some folders are public, like the Pictures, Music and Ringtones folders. So, basically an application can write/delete files from a public folder and from it's own folder.
Take a look at this link for further details: http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/data/data-storage.html#SavingSharedFiles


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For once the end of a quarter occurs early in the week – next Monday – so I should have time to write my mid-year reviews and publish them next Saturday. As a follow up to today's article on the http://wp.me/p2SYWq-134"> link between home sales, mortgage rates and home prices I will report next week that in the first half of the year sales of single family homes were slightly down, the mortgage rate up – and the median price was also up.
If you �- or somebody you know – are considering buying or selling a home and have questions about the market and/or current home prices, feel free to contact me on 617.834.8205 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Andrew Oliver is a Realtor with Harborside Sotheby�s International Realty
Sotheby�s International Realty� is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby�s International Realty
Affiliates LLC. �Each Office Is Independently Owned and Operated
The post Mid-year housing reviews will be published next week appeared first on Oliver Reports.


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My job requires me to drive about 30 minutes to the firm and 30 minutes back to home. How can I use this otherwise wasted time efficiently? Do you have special audio CD's or tracks you do listen to in this time? I could also use my mobile phone, if it matters, but I simply don't know how.
I listen to audiobooks downloaded from Audible.com, which I download to my iPhone 4 using their app and then play through my car radio using its Aux input. Typical member prices are 30% off retail (e.g. a $25.00 audiobook would be $17.50). However you normally buy books using credits; I have the platinum level subscription for $23/month which gives me two credits a month. Most audiobooks cost 1 credit, so I am really paying only $11.50 per book, regardless of the price. (Some expensive audio books retailing for say $75 cost two credits, still a good deal).
Typical unabridged audio books are 10-15 hours long, although some are much longer (Stephen King's The Stand, for example, is almost 48 hours yet still costs only one credit.) So a 10-hour book would last two weeks of commute time, 30 minutes each way.
They have 6100 business titles, 2800 science & technology titles, 14,300 general fiction titles, 5300 sci-fi and fantasy titles, plus other genres. I usually alternate between non-fiction and fiction.
Over the last five years, since I joined Audible, I have listened to some 260 books. Any that I have deleted from my phone are still stored at Audible.com if I want to download them again.
I second 0x6d64's podcast suggestion. Audio podcasts are, in my humble opinion, the single most productive way to use travel time (particularly time spent in a car, since you are not actually free to do much else). I use podcasts to both learn and keep myself up on current events. I've listed several that I've consistently listened to (in order starting with my favorite).
Experiment with others, then share which ones you like!
I would definitely recommend listening to podcasts while travelling.
In my opinion BBC offers great variety of high quality podcasts, have a look here:
You can choose podcasts on many different topics: economy, news, art, sports etc. Completely free, no ads, updated every day. I have been using that site as a source of podcasts for about 5 years and I can say it is just perfect.
Listening to podcasts in general allows you to be up-to-date with current affairs, expand your horizons, learn about other cultures etc.
I think it is also a great way of learning foreign languages and to make it even more effective you can make some notes about new words and phrases while listening.
You could also use self-affirmations when driving.
I second (third?) the idea of listening to books. I've purchased a few audiobooks, and they've worked well for me, but in order to save money, I've started looking into librivox.org and Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/). PG's mission is to put all the books in the world that have passed out of copyright on the web for people to read for free. Librivox's mission is to provide audio recordings of everything PG has. But I've also seen some of PG's books provided as mp3/ogg/other audio formats.
I stream podcasts from my phone (Nexus S) through Bluetooth to my car's speakers. Before that I bought a Jambox to keep in the car as a speaker.
I use the app BeyondPod, but my husband prefers Google Listen. I've tried Stitcher, and a few others. Play around until you find one that's good for you.
The app will have a search feature so you can subscribe to podcasts. The app will automatically update them, and you will use the settings to decide how to delete them.
These aren't assignments, so if you find you don't like one, unsubscribe!
These are the podcasts I get the most value from:
Wizard of Ads
99% invisible
Manager Tools (they also have Career Tools)
Grammar Girl
Get It Done Guy
Nutrition Diva
I'm impressed with your question. You are obviously headed toward great things. I'll be cheering for you. W!
I'd advise you to use this rare time to do nothing. Doing nothing: - brings up ideas and solutions of problems you would never found when you were specifically looking for a solution - makes you relax - feels good
See also: http://www.blogussion.com/favorites/doing-nothing-increase-productivity/
The correct answer is move closer to work and stop wasting so much time and money commuting.
If you live in the UK I'd always recommend listening to radio 4. Fantastic for news and current affairs, including politics and finance (especially at 'drive time'), as well as documentaries on a wide range of subjects and literary adaptations. Best part is because it's a BBC radio station there are no adverts either.
I don't know if it may apply to your situation, but I'm a native french speaker and I listen to an English radio to improve my oral comprehension of the language.
Personally, when in travel or commuting, I'm listening to the audio edition of The Economist. All of articles are read by a lector.
However, I don't do hat when actually driving (but it may be feasible for people with better attention-sharing skills or being stuck in a traffic jam, etc).


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ROBINSON (January 10, 2013)- A local overpass was shut down for a couple of hours Thursday night after a big rig flipped over and spilled gravel on the road.
The big rig flipped around 4 p.m. Thursday on the Highway 77 overpass that runs over Loop 340.
The overpass was shutdown for more than three hours while crews cleaned up the gravel that was spilled.
No other vehicles were involved, and the driver of the big rig was not hurt.
Police did issues the driver a citation for failure to control speed.


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I have a son who is 3 and half years old. After every two three hours he keep on crying for changing his clothes.
He only wears the dress clothes which he likes, and doesn't listen if we tell him to wear different dress.
I don't want to be harsh with him please suggest what to do?


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Here's the situation: As an adminstrator, I am able to stall the application by closing 2 handles held by the process. (Using ProcExplorer) . Is there any way/hack I can use to close file handles while as a regular user. handle.exe and ProcExplorer wont let me do so as a regular user. Is this because of Windows' security or because of ProcExplorer and Handle.exe's limitation ?
Considering the only way you could get to the process is through debugging hooks (I think). The Local Security policy in windows 7 has the following for the debug permission:
If this is the case only users with this permission could cause the issue you're referring to. Your bigger issue is users that are able to escalate permissions, but that's the battle we all fight.
This can be done ! Process explorer doesn't allow you to do it but you can write a simple python script to close the handles using the DUPLICATEHANDLE_CLOSE SOURCE can be used to close handles of the same user level processes.


text:
Could non integral degree derivative somehow be interpreted? What I mean:
- $f^{(1)}(x) = \frac{df(x)}{dx}$
- $f^{(2)}(x) = \frac{d^{2}f(x)}{dx^2}$
How could $f^{(1.5)}(x)$ be interpreted?
Could non integral degree derivative somehow be interpreted? What I mean:
How could $f^{(1.5)}(x)$ be interpreted?
It seems as though you are looking for fractional calculus.
This is a matter of fractional analysis, and you should use the definition of fractional derivative. Not only 1.5, you may find derivative and integration of real and complex valued function of any order.
There are several definition of fractional derivative having different uses. Let me consider Riemann's definitions.
$$D^{\mu} f(x) = D^n [D^{-\nu} f(x)]$$
Where $\nu = n - \mu$ and $0 \le \Re{(\nu)} < 1$. $[D^{-\nu} f(x)]$ is the fractional integration of $f(x)$ of order $\nu$.
$$[D^{-\nu} f(x)] = \frac{1}{\Gamma(\nu)} \int_0^x (x - t)^{\nu-1} f(t) dt$$
So you have all the definitions in your hand. Now you may calculate your required answer.


text:
This must be common knowledge.
Where exactly in the development of homological algebra does one need the axiom that makes
additivepre-abelian and abelian categories different? (I mean this statement: for every morphism $u: X \to Y$, the canonical morphism $\bar{u}: \mathrm{Coim}\ u \to \mathrm{Im}\ u$ is an isomorphism.)
My gut feeling is that it should be necessary for the Snake lemma, but I couldn't find a step in the proof that would use it.


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I can't seem to find a reasonable way to get to get past this part. I've carefully jumped back across the bridge, but the Kleer Skeletons just keep building up. Once there are enough of them, the bridge extends, allowing them to reach me. How can I defeat this large mob without having to take advantage of an exploit?
I played through this on Serious mode, and I got past this section by rocket-jumping up onto one of the the buildings and laying waste to all the enemies from there. They could still throw stuff at me, but for the most part they were nullified. I don't know if that's what you're calling an exploit, though. Serious Sam harkens back to an older age of gaming where this sort of stuff wasn't really considered an exploit. In fact, in the non-HD version, a lot of secrets were accessible only by rocket jumping.
The other thing to do is make sure you get the secret on this level, since it contains ammo which will be useful. If I remember right, there's actually a cannon in that secret ammo depot, which can help a bit in this fight since the Kleers tend to line up nicely. Since I barely remember the details of it, I'll just cut and paste what I wrote in my Secrets FAQ for the game:


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The official blog of the Microsoft U.S. Partner Evangelism Team!
The U.S. Dev Partners Blog is a forum for the Developer and Platform Partner Evangelism team to engage Microsoft's Custom Development and Web Partner community around developer related technologies.
If you are a Microsoft Partner specializing in providing unique customer solutions through software development and application architecture then this blog is for you.
Here you will hear first-hand about key announcements, early adopter programs, national training programs, special offerings and guidance and direction on new or soon-to-be-released platform and developer technologies.
This site is for every member of the partner organization – business owners, sales and services, project managers, marketers, architects and developers. If you want to keep connected and up-to-date with Microsoft's vision and strategy on its emerging developer and platform technology then subscribe to this feed today (RSS, Atom).
If this is the first time you've heard of Partner Evangelism, let us take a minute to bring you up to speed. A Partner Evangelist is a member of the Microsoft Developer and Platform Evangelism (DPE) Partner Team whose overall mission is to grow awareness and promote adoption of new and emerging developer related technologies. The Partner Evangelist Role is a business development and technical role focused on the Partner relationship, specifically those partners with a practice dedicated to building custom developed solutions (typically System Integrators).
As a team we try to go where our partners go to make the necessary connections to improve our overall communication strategy and feedback loop. For your convenience we've listed the 3 online channels that we, as a team, moderate and contribute to. Give them a look, and let us know if we are bringing value to you.
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Your 1-stop-shop for the latest east region evangelism news, media, and events
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The Partner Evangelism team blog is for sharing the latest on developer technologies, programs, offerings and announcements
The Partner Evangelism team blog is for sharing the latest on developer technologies, programs, offerings and announcements
There are 3 members of the U.S. Partner Evangelism team focused on the Custom Development Partner community. In addition to our team blog where we post information of a national scope, each of us maintains a personal blog that speaks to our local community of partners. If you want to get to know the Partner Evangelist in your area, consider subscribing to their blog today.


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Does anyone know how to get those darn hidden quests that have no clue in Dawn of Heroes? It seems like there are no FAQs for this yet.
Also, how is it possible to do some of the Optional Objectives. It seems impossible to kill all enemies in 2 turns when it takes 2 turns to kill at least one of them.


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These items by Avon, N.Y., potter Mike Carroll are part of the Lederer Gallery's "Potters of Livingston County" exhibition through Oct. 15.
GENESEO, N.Y. - An exhibition of the most significant clay objects being produced in Livingston County is currently on display at SUNY Geneseo's Lederer Gallery in Brodie Hall.
Curated by Geneseo Ceramics Professor Carl Shanahan, The "Potters of Livington County Past and Present" exhibition runs through Oct. 15. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Potters represented in the exhibition include Shanahan; Kevin Raymond from Nunda; Mike Carroll from Avon; Kala Stein from Springwater; Mark Peace from Geneseo; Trisha Koomen from Avon; Sharon Leary from Geneseo; Carol Nickol from Nunda; Jan Jacque from Conesus; and Robin Whiteman from Springwater.
The first pottery in Livingston County was established in Avon in the early 1800s. The early potters of the county created a wide range of functional items needed by the settlers of the county. As mass production and industrialism spread, the need for handmade pottery was eliminated.
Little interest in pottery arose throughout the country until after the war years. The rekindled interest in pottery for the most part was not in production of functional ware but in the exploration of clay as an art media.
Media Contact:
Media Relations Manager
David Irwin
(585) 245-5516


text:
I'm trying to obtain the effect of the
\phase command as discribed in the The Comprehensive LaTeX Symbol List (page 70)
I've added the
amssymb and
pict2e packages correctly (no errors on adding packages), but it keeps saying "Undefined control sequence." when I try to compile.
I'm sure I'm missing something very basic. Is there another package to add? Wich one? Or it just does not work on MacTeX?


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Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1
Repeated cars after mod
So, after some effort, I managed to install some car mods I downloaded from gta4-mods.com . The mods themselves are working perfectly, only problem is that now, car variety has all but disapeared. By car variety I mean the unmodded ones, because when I'm driving through the city, all I see are cars like the one I'm driving (doesn't matter which car I'm driving, they are always like mine) taxi cabs, and 1 or 2 different car types (I.E: I'm driving a Coquette, next to me there are only cabs, police cars, and sometimes Presidentials or some other brand). When the game does show other cars different than mine, they come in batches, like clones, for example, 5 or 6 cavalcades in a row and so on. It's really annoying the hell outta me, you can guess why. If anyone knows a fix, or the cause of this problem, please, do tell me.
I've done a light research about this and can't find any decent awnser, but, seeing as I'm an amateur regarding mods and etcetera, this may be a common glitch with an easy (or not) fix. Also, I don't know if this is the right location to report this kind of problem, so if it isn't, please forgive me.
Registered User
Addicted Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,607
This is known as the taxi-bug, it happens when installing custom cars. The traffic will be full of taxi's, police cars and sometimes the car you're driving.
There are some taxibug fixes out there that claim to solve the problem but in my experience they only fix the problem partially, the amount of taxis is reduced but there'll still be more taxis then usual. I'd suggest first trying to set traffic density to 20 (or lower) before trying out any taxibug fixes.
If that doesn't do anything just google taxibug fix gta 4 and you'll find several, like trafficcontrolsystem or trafficload. Don't use more then 1 at a time, some of those fixes do some damage to performance so it's best to try 1 at a time.
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Asus 15.6" U-Series Slim HD Laptop for $399.99
Main Daily Deal, 1 Sale A Day
4.99 shipping
Condition: Factory Refurbished
Packaging: Brown Box
Warranty: 90 Day
Manufacturer: ASUS
Model: U57A-BBL4
Features Include:
15.6" Full HD widescreen LED display (1366x768)
2.5GHz Intel Dual-Core i5-2450M processor, 3.1 GHz Max Turbo Speed (3MB cache)
Intel HD Graphics 3000
6GB RAM (8GB Max)
750GB hard drive 5400 RPM
Optical drive: multi-format DVD±RW/CD-RW drive
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Fast Ethernet
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit OS
SD/MMC/MS card reader
Built-in stereo speakers
0.3MP webcam and microphone built-in
Connectivity: 3x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0, VGA, HDMI, headphone and mic mini-jacks
QWERTY keyboard
Touchpad interface
Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth): 14.9 x 1.3 x 9.9"
Weight: 5.4 lbs.
Package Includes:
Asus 15.6" Laptop, Battery, AC Adapter
7 Comments add a comment
1366x768 is NOT "full HD". and 1.3" isn't "slim". Good price, but I hate when companies use labels that aren't realistic.
All I have to say is do a BBB search on this company! I got burned by them and judging by their BBB report, you probably will too! Watch out!
You can get a new one with similar specs at Amazon....I just did! Spent $420 for a NEW ASUS laptop....very very satisfied with it!
i picked up this laptop last year on black friday for marginally more than what it's being sold for now. that said, it's held its value and is an excellent entry-level-to-mid-range laptop. great workhorse unit, the only downside is the volume: speakers produce quality (for a laptop) sound, but it does not get very loud. also, concerns about the monitor are overblown: video and images come through rich and clean, and output to a television is excellent.
@btalarczyk: I have ordered from them many times. Apart from slow shipping (something I have learned to live with), I have had no problems that were not eventually worked out to my satisfaction.
@morriea: Seconded. I've bought several times from them, and after my first experience (very satisfied), I judge any good prices against waiting a couple of weeks.
I did return one item, whose refund was processed in a week. Another order was my error (wrong size), about which I immediately e-mailed to request cancellation, and they replied the next day to confirm.
@eidelbus: Good attitude! I think way too many people pass up deals because they are worried about what might happen. I simply use Paypal on any deal from a site that may cause a problem. If there is an issue, I dispute it. The beauty is, in the long run, I come out WAY AHEAD. A couple bad deals here and there are MORE than made up by all the good ones, and I have NEVER failed to get my money back sooner or later.
With this site, I have not had to set up a dispute on well over 50 deals.


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I believe i have my swap set up but am not sure because on start up it says that it is something along the lines of "could not mount /dev/mapper/cryptswap1 M for manual S for skip". But it appears to be mounted? I have already tried this solution with no success.
When i run
free -m the output is:
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 3887 769 3117 0 54 348
-/+ buffers/cache: 366 3520
Swap: 4026 0 4026
sudo bklid is:
/dev/sda1: UUID="9fb3ccd6-3732-4989-bfa4-e943a09f1153" TYPE="ext4"
/dev/mapper/cryptswap1: UUID="bd9fe154-8621-48b3-95d2-ae5c91f373fd" TYPE="swap"
cat /etc/crypttab is:
cryptswap1 /dev/sda5 /dev/urandom swap,cipher=aes-cbc-essiv:sha256
/etc/fstab is:
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=9fb3ccd6-3732-4989-bfa4-e943a09f1153 / ext4
errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda5 during installation
#UUID=bb0e378e-8742-435a-beda-ae7788a7c1b0 none swap
sw 0 0
/dev/mapper/cryptswap1 none swap sw 0 0
cat /proc/swaps output is:
Filename Type Size Used Priority
/dev/dm-0 partition 4123644 0 -1
Is my swap not setup correctly or how can i fix my boot message?


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Is Your Family Ready for a Dog?
9 of 11
Does a dog fit into your future plans?
Buying a dog is sometimes an impulsive decision, and unfortunately many people don't think about the long-term commitment involved in owning one.
Do you have extensive travel plans in the future? Are you looking to start a family? Are you starting a new career? Although a dog can fit into any of these scenarios, it's important to know where your priorities lie. Are you really committed to having a dog, or are there other things that are more important to you at the moment? You don't want to get a dog only to have to give him up a few years later because you got an amazing job offer overseas, or because your dream apartment won't permit him.
That being said, if you really have your heart set on getting a furry companion, you'll find a way to work around any obstacles that may arise in the future.


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The Kentucky Alliance Against Racist And Political Oppression held their 15th annual Unity Dinner, Dec. 1 at Wayside Mission's Hotel Louisville.
The evening began with a "Social Justice Hour" during which local social justice organizations promoted their missions and activities as a way of getting supporters and volunteers. Hip-hop activist and progressive emcee Jasiri X served as the keynote speaker, discussing the mass incarceration of youth and the work he has done in Pittsburgh as a founding member of the anti-violence group "One Hood."
The dinner honored John Johnson, the executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, with the Carl and Anne Braden Lifetime Achievement Award. Cathy Hinko, the director of the Metropolitan Housing Coalition, was also recognized for her work on assuring safe and affordable housing in the Louisville community.
After the dinner, the ballroom was transformed into the "Hip Hop vs. Racism – Unity Party." Guests enjoyed a performance by Jasiri X, as well as by local rap and spoken word talent.
Photos By MICHAEL DEZARN | Contributing Photographer


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Park & Sun Spectrum Classic Volleyball Net System
Product Information:
Get up and play with the Park & Sun® Spectrum Classic Volleyball Net System. This durable system is easy to set up with 2'' telescoping aluminum poles and a pre-attached sleeve net. Lay out the pre-measured boundary for a standard court playing field during parties, reunions or backyard play!
- 2" telescopic (2 pc.) aluminum poles adjust to men, women and coed play
- 3'x32' sleeve net (pre-attached) with 3" top and bottom net tapes
- 5/16" pull-down guyline set with handles
- 5/16" pre-measured boundary for standard court dimensions of 30'x60'
- 12" steel ground stakes (4)
- Also includes boundary cord winder and full size equipment bag
- Model: TS-CL
- Park & Sun Sports
Country of Origin: ChinaWeb ID: 13188879
Customer Reviews:
Rated 4.5 out of 5�by 2 reviewers.
Rated 5 out of 5�by Play for fun Perfect for us Our 12 & 14 year olds can easily put this net up in no time flat by themselves & it remains standing and sturdy during hours of serious play. May 4, 2013
Rated 4 out of 5�by volleyball mom Just What I Ordered Well built volleyball net and worth the price. The stakes aren't the best but you can purchase different ones like we did. October 9, 2012
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I am featuring pumpkin in some of my breads this month at the bakery. Instead of making straight pumpkin bread, I decided to go with breads with pumpkin in them. This is a modified version of the rustic bread I made a while back, and it is delicious. The pumpkin gives the bread a soft texture and a light yellow-orange colour. This is the perfect bread to serve with a hearty vegetable soup, or with the pumpkin soup pictured below.
Final dough:
2. Make the dough: To make the final dough, combine all of the ingredients except the pre-ferment in a mixing bowl. Chop the pre-ferment up into small pieces and mix in. Turn onto a floured surface and knead for 10 mins, until smooth and thoroughly combined. Dough should be tacky but not sticky, so knead in flour accordingly.
3. Place the dough in a bowl, cover with a damp towel, and ferment for 2 1/2 hours, folding the dough at 1 hr, and 1:45. (To fold dough, take the dough out of the bowl, spread it out a little on a clean surface and fold it in thirds like a letter. Rotate it 90 degrees and fold it up again. Return the dough to the bowl and cover again.)
4. At the end of the fermentation, divide the dough into two pieces and preshape each into a ball. Cover with the towel and let each rest for 5 to 10 minutes before shaping into a loaf with tapered ends. Once shaped, place on a floured linen towel and cover the loaves with the damp towel. Let rise for 1 hour, gently rolling the loaves over after 30 mins.
5. Halfway though the final rise, begin preheating the oven and baking stone to 450 degrees. Place a cast iron pot on the bottom rack and fill with boiling water 10 mins before you start baking the bread.
6. Transfer to a floured peel, and slash the tops of the loaves with a razor blade. Bake for 25-30 mins, rotating the loaves 180 degrees after 12 mins so that they'll bake evenly. Crust should be a deep golden brown, and loaves should sound hollow when you knock on the bottom.


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Home › Scene › BEACH Summer Soiree ›
BEACH Summer Soiree
BEACH magazine hosted its July Issue Soiree at The Surf Lodge in Montauk. Guests made their way East to celebrate the Surf and Sport issue to enjoy music by DJ Hannah Bronfman, cool Brugal Rum cocktails and beautiful gift bags, provided by Serena + Lily.
Photography by Pam Deutchman / Society-in-Focus.com.


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I was playing with a friend who has Mogg Sentry on the field I then play Champion of the Parish and Vexing Devil. Does Mogg Sentry become a 5/5 creature until end of turn or is it just a 3/3?
Sign up
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Mogg Sentry becomes a 5/5 until end of turn. Mogg Sentry's ability triggers once for each occurrence of "opponent casts a spell."
To play a non-land card is to cast it.
You cast two spells, so Mogg Sentry's ability triggers twice.
Each resolves to create a continuous effects granting itself +2/+2. As such, Mogg becomes a 5/5 until the end of the turn.


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Mike Phillips: Vocational-Tech Training in High School
States including Indiana, Texas, and North Carolina considering legislation creating vocational high school diplomas for students who are interested in a career that doesn't require a four-year college degree. Why don't many Americans esteem vocational education, and what are its benefits to young people and communities? Mark Phillips, a former teacher and college professor, joins the podcast to discuss. He's trained Norway's vocational teachers and now writes about education and manages the Marin Independent Journal. Check out an article he's written on Edutopia: Why We Should Care about Vocational Education.


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18 Images You Won't Believe Aren't Photoshopped (Part 9)
As we've demonstrated many times before in our most popular feature on Cracked, the forces of the universe love the sound of people shouting "Fake!" at their computer screens, and photographers love to capture the proof. In case you missed the previous episodes, here's Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, the gritty reboot that doesn't acknowledge the previous editions, Part 6, Part 7 and Part 8.
And now ...
#18. The Ancient One Awakens from His Long Slumber
Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Another normal day at Innsmouth Beach.
It looks like three surfers are about to be devoured by a Lovecraftian sea monster or a horde of giant octopi. It just depends on how ridiculous the low-budget horror movie that it was taken from is.
Actually, that's just what a wave looks like when it's full of sunlight and enough seaweed to choke a sperm whale, and it's not all that uncommon. Of course, that just means that when the tentacled monsters do decide to attack, they'll blend right in with the seaweed until it's too late.
#17. You Can Almost Hear Their Tiny Voices Singing "Whistle While You Work"
What looks like a screen cap from a CGI-heavy Super Bowl commercial is actually a real, not-manipulated photograph. And no, those aren't posed ant corpses with a bottle cap hot glued to their tiny hands, if that's what you think, Professor Coldheart. It's from a series of images that photographer Andrey Pavlov took outside his house, after studying and then making an art project out of a real live ant colony. He's a former set designer, which allowed him to make some pretty incredible sets for the ants to interact with in the most stereotypically industrious ways possible.
Seen here, reeling in a 300-pound marlin.
Seeing ants get things done at this scale is inspiring, but if you're anything like us, that sensation quickly turns to a sense of foreboding for the day when they finally decide to rise up and take humanity down.
#16. The Invisible Man's Brief Stint as a Hockey Goon
Even knowing that it's not Photoshopped, it takes a few minutes to figure out what's going on in this photo from the Sports Illustrated archive. And judging from the amazed look on the face of the kid at the right edge of the photo, it wasn't any easier in person.
Unfortunately for Norway's hockey team, #55 Ole-Kristian Tollefsen does not possess Nightcrawler's ability to magically disappear out of a sticky situation. If you look at his left armpit, you can just see his hair peeking out where his head is being held down. We'd like to think the little ginger-haired kid was a fan of X-Men, and left the game telling his dad, "I know what I saw, OK?"
#15. Van Gogh Didn't Even Need to Get Stoned Before Painting This
We're used to painters portraying the world around them with less and less photo-realistic precision, but it would appear that no one told the real world that it doesn't get to use artistic license, too. Australian photographer Ken Prior snapped the nearly visible brushstrokes in the above sky over Scotland. The photo is the result of a mysterious, as yet unclassified cloud type that's been showing up all over the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and wherever else Prior happens to have his camera pointed at the sky.
Ken Prior via The Cloud Appreciation Society
Behold! The groping fingers of a kinky God.
Meteorologists are calling them asperatus clouds, while people who aren't insecure about being confused with the weatherman are using the more straightforward Jacques Cousteau clouds. The names all focus on the fact that they make the sky look like an upside down ocean during a storm, although, looking at some of Prior's other shots, the only common thread is that they all look like the sky in Ghostbusters.
Ken Prior, via The Cloud Appreciation Society and Ditto
Weather forecast: Cloudy, with a chance of apocalypse.
#14. Don't Forget to Close Your Blinds Before Undressing on 10-Cent-Beer Night
It's hard to tell where the artist was going with this half-finished Photoshopped collage. Our first guess would probably be that he or she was planning to use the different elements of urban development to protest the gentrification of some Brooklyn neighborhood where people who make Photoshopped protest art live. Our 347th guess would be the truth: This is an unaltered photograph of Osaka Stadium.
It was converted into a housing showcase after Japanese baseball's Nankai Hawks moved to a better stadium and another Ali-Frazier rematch called the "'Shocka' in Osaka" failed to materialize. However, as the empty seats indicate, the many people who claimed they'd rather watch paint dry than Japanese baseball proved to be "just saying that."
#13. The Most Ridiculous Use of the "Stretch" Tool Ever
Those legs aren't Photoshopped, nor are they stilts. The maned wolf just has really long, really skinny legs. We're not sure what the evolutionary advantage of being a living Disney cartoon might be. But we can't see that picture without imagining the corresponding male wolf smoking cigarettes in a derby cap and reminiscing about getting burned by the tramp with the legs that just wouldn't quit.
#12. The Pea-tles? The Bea-nuts? We'll Let You Decide.
Wooster Collective
If we had to guess, we'd say Charlie Brown is Ringo.
This Peanuts-themed Abbey Road cover re-creation was placed on a Japanese road to promote a new ride at Universal Studios Japan. While a road outside of a children's theme park probably isn't the safest place to be distracting drivers, Japanese people are probably used to seeing cartoon characters walking down the street by now. Besides, it's only an adorable bout with surrealism from the perfect angle. Anyone viewing it from above will wonder why Charlie Brown and friends are being sucked into one of the Ghostbusters' containment units.
#11. Skiing Back Down Is the Easy Part
Reuters, Michaela Rehle via TotallyCoolPix
OK, neither the scenery nor the guy look real in this one, but that's a real stuntman walking up the wire of a cable car that runs from the bottom to the top of Zugspitze Mountain in southern Bavaria. He completed the 9,000-foot climb for world record consideration by Guinness in the category of "longest and highest wire walk above sea level without a balancing pole." And for good measure, he did it without a freaking safety harness, which begs the question: Are there Guinness World Records groupies, and what mind-blowing version of sex have they invented to make a man do something like this:
AP, via News.com.au
"For my next stunt, I'm going to find God's eye and pee in it."
#10. And Then God Said Unto Them, "Any Chance We Could Get Some Furniture in Here? Or Even Just a Bush?"
It turns out that with carefully controlled conditions, you can create an actual indoor cloud. Artist Berndnaut Smilde creates the clouds with a fog machine and then carefully monitors the temperature and humidity of the room to get his artificial cloud to hang there long enough to snap a picture. We have to assume he couldn't get it to last long enough to bring his stoned friends in and start commanding them to run his errands in a deep booming voice.


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I haven't seen this show in quite a while. I remember it first appeared in the states during the first wave of Brit-coms after Python. It showed up alongside "Dad's Army", "The Goodies", "The Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin" and "No, Honestly" (also starring Alderton and Collins). Wish those would get released on this side of the Atlantic.
I might just get this for my Mom. She likes Wodehouse stories.


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Ensure Tires are Inflated to the Correct Pressure
This is the cheapest and easiest way to control fuel expenses. and the one most often overlooked. If your drivers don't have a tire gauge, it is worth the expense to buy them one so they can ensure that tires are inflated to the manufacturer's recommended level.
Clean Out the Trunk and Eliminate Unnecessary Weight
Cars, like cargo trucks, get much better mileage when they're not loaded with unnecessary additional weight. According to AutoZone, every 200 lbs. of unnecessary weight trims one mile off fuel efficiency.
Avoid Long Idling
The worst mileage a car can get is 0 miles per gallon, which occurs when it idles. Idling for long periods of time, whether at a rail road crossing or pulling off the road to make a cell phone call, consumes gas that could be saved by simply turning off the engine. Restarting an engine uses about the same amount of gas as idling for 30 seconds. When idling for longer periods of time, shut off the engine.
Buy Gasoline in the Morning
To maximize fuel economy, the editors of Kelley Blue Book suggest buying gasoline when the temperature is cold and gasoline is at its densest. Consumers are charged based on volume, not density.
Maintain Preventive Maintenance Schedules
Proper maintenance will increase a vehicle's fuel economy. Keep the air filter clean. A dirty filter clogs an engine's air supply, causing a higher fuel-to-air ratio and thereby increasing gasoline consumption.
Be An Energy-Conscious Driver
Just like turning off the lights in unoccupied rooms at home, drivers should practice energy conservation habits in their vehicles as well. For example, use the air conditioner only when needed. An air conditioner is one of the biggest drains on engine power and fuel economy. It can reduce gas consumption by 5 to 20 percent, depending on the type of vehicle and the way it is driven.
Take Public Transportation
Carpool to work. Your company may have a carpool program already in place!
The Charlotte-Area Transit System (CATS) provides public transportation throughout the Charlotte region, and have many carpool and vanpool operations designed to assist you. Call (704) 336-RIDE for a CATS schedule, visit their
or call 311, and be connected to CATS rider information.
CATS carpool program. You can form a carpool or join an existing one through CATS. Contact them at (704) 336-RIDE or visit their website at www.sharetheride.com for a computerized list of carpools in your area.
CATS Vanpool. CATS can assist you in starting or joining or forming a van pool. Call CATS at (704) 336-RIDE for more information.
Also, check into telecommuting policies at your work place.
Drive at Moderate Speeds
Wind drag is a key source of reduced fuel mileage, causing an engine to work harder, thereby reducing fuel economy. The faster you push a vehicle, the more air it must push out of the way. Even with all the talk about the aerodynamics of today's vehicles, some trucks, vans, and SUVs have the aerodynamics of a brick. Another suggestion to minimize wind drag is to keep the vehicle's windows rolled up. This allows air to flow over the body, rather than drawing it inside the cabin and slowing down the vehicle.
Use Cruise Control during Highway Driving
Unnecessary changes in speed are wasteful, and the use of cruise control helps improve fuel economy.
Develop a More Efficient Routing Plan
Combine errands and make sure your route isn't taking you all over town, when just traveling within a short radius will do.
Monitor Fuel Economy While Driving
If a vehicle has a trip computer, use the "instant fuel economy" display to refine driving habits.
Avoid Jackrabbit Starts
A car consumes extra fuel when accelerating. To maximize fuel economy, drivers need to examine their driving habits. Simply limiting acceleration and fast braking can increase fuel economy.
Stick to the Speed Limit and Anticipate Traffic Flow
Driving fast wastes gas. Traveling at 65 miles per hour uses 15 percent more fuel than driving at 55 mph. By adhering to speed limits, a driver will conserve fuel.
By anticipating a traffic light change, an upcoming stop sign, or the need to slow down for a curve, you can avoid or reduce brake use and save gasoline in the process. Like the "jackrabbit start," the "jackrabbit stop" is a major contributor to inefficient driving.
When you come upon a "merge ahead" sign, automatically check your speed, traffic spacing, and length of the acceleration lane so that you can merge smoothly without interrupting momentum any more than necessary.
By not driving aggressively, drivers can save up to 20 percent in fuel economy, advises the EPA. Driving smoothly and anticipating stops to avoid sudden braking maximize fuel economy.
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President Obama could have done better than Biden
Mary Gentile, Waterbury I had never heard of Joe Biden until 1991, when as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he presided over the confirmation hearings of Judge Clarence Thomas, who had been nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court by President George H. W. Bush. What then-Sen. Biden put this poor man through with his questions was sickening. But Judge Thomas, being the gentleman that he is, answered every question with dignity and respect.


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New to the forum and having a bit of a brain block trying to work out which Q/R clamp I'd need for my 5D?
Both clamps look similar in the pics but 360 Tactical in the UK only list the non Arca one on their site.
Also there's no centre mark on the L bracket but am I right in saying that that shouldn't be an issue as we're only concerned with fore and aft movement?


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Oh Yeah!!!!
anonymous asked:
Not only do I love your blog ( heh found it ) but I also am secretly infatuated with you. K. here we go I got this idea from a spam msg I received on Facebook lol.. I know you like me but were always way too shy to say so :3 go hit up crushmasher(dót)com (uhh it wont let me do a regular link) then make an acct there. Search for the profile 'justmeandu33' ( obv me ) I posted body pix.. if u can figure out who I am msg me and we'll kick it. CC required for age but it is free. (annoying i know)


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Porto slideshow
Premier League: 5 big players facing make-or-break seasons at their current clubs
Alex Hess looks at a clutch of stars who'll need to prove their worth in 2016/17 More »FourFourTwo - 7 hours ago
Picture this: 13 of the most famous medical failures in football
These days it seems that contract negotiations or the transfer fee itself are the main obstacles when trying to agree a potential transfer. However, sometimes the player cannot even pass a simple medical, causing much embarrassment to everyone involved. More »11 hours ago
Football: Harry Redknapp writes emotional letter to West Ham in honour of the late Bobby Moore
Former West Ham United player and manager Harry Redknapp took part in a ceremony honouring England's World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore, whom Redknapp played with for the Hammers. More »90Min - 4 hours ago
Blast from the Past 42: Cobi Jones
Cobi Jones is the ultimate US Soccer Guy. The record caps holder for his country, an LA Galaxy legend, one of the most decorated players in Major League Soccer history and the proud owner of an indisputably excellent haircut. More »Kevin Darling - 5 hours ago
FA Cup: Fourth substitute to be allowed this season
Clubs will be allowed to use a fourth substitute during extra time in the latter stages of this season's FA Cup, the Football Association has confirmed. More »Yahoo Sport UK - 9 hours ago


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Latest News
January 24, 2011
In between his performances at the Royal Oak Music Theater in Detroit, Wiz caught up with MuziksMyLife.com to discuss his energy on stage, his new
January 24, 2011
While performing at The Rave in Milwaukee last Friday, Wiz performed his smash "Black and Yellow"...with a little help from Amber Rose.
January 24, 2011
Above check out a recap of Wizs' performance at the House of Blues in Cleveland. Below check out some footage from actual performances from the
January 21, 2011
In anticipation of Wiz' upcoming weekend performance, his official webstore will be offering a couple different playoff bundle options for $30! Choose
January 21, 2011
XXL.com just came up with ten reasons why they think Wiz is a star, which you can check out below. Drop your own thoughts in the comment section.
January 21, 2011
Wiz Khalifa has announced that he will light up Pittsburgh's Heinz Field with an electrifying performance of his hit single, "Black and Yellow,
January 20, 2011
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will be held April 15-17th at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, CA. Kings Of Leon, Arcade Fire, Kanye West
January 20, 2011
Check out more footage from Wiz' peformance in the D below. Watch performances of "Mezmorized" and "Black and Yellow" at the Kalamazoo State Theatre.
January 18, 2011
Snoop & Wiz show you "That Good" in their official music video. "That Good" is the first release from the soundtrack of their upcoming movie
January 18, 2011
Wiz discusses what the success of his mixtape "Kush & Orange Juice" brought him, his inspiration behind "Black and Yellow", the rap scene in


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How do you distinguish between losses that are within the normal range for day-to-day shifts and situations with a real potential for loss? The specific application I have in mind is pattern recognition-based algorithmic trading.
Measuring expected shortfall (also known as conditional value-at-risk) answers the simpler question of "what is my average expected loss at the i-th quantile?" given the empirical distribution of returns. A variation is value-at-risk which measures the loss at the i-th quantile.
Arguably you could leave at this this and you have your answer.
You probably want a more robust estimate of your risk.
In this case you can use the bootstrap methodology. When you compute confidence intervals from a random sample, the statistics are themselves random variables. Indeed, your sample of returns itself is one of many possible samples. Each possible sample gives a possible value of Value-at-Risk, mean returns, etc. Although we observe one set of statistics using all your data it was selected at random from many values so it is therefore a random variable.
Enough with the theory - the procedure is not very difficult.
The bootstrap let's you answer your qualification "within a normal range". The bootstrap recognizes that the empirical distribution is itself a sample from an unknown population.
You can read more about the bootstrap here.
The most basic strategy is beta-based quantiles. That is to say, you first control for losses on your individual stock versus overall market performance. (Your trading strategy may or may not wish to hedge away the market factor using, say, SPX futures). Then you choose a quantile, call it the 5th percentile, beyond which you consider a move to be significant.
Symbolically, you are looking at an individual stock return $r_S$, a market return $r_M$, and a simple linear model that you have typically fitted historically
$ r_S = \beta r_M + \epsilon $
On any given day, you can now compute the idiosyncratic return $ r_i = r_S - \beta r_M $ which will have come from the same distribution as $ \epsilon $. You may or may not have turned your historically observed residuals $ \epsilon_i $ into a normal (or other continuous) distribution, but either empirically or normally it is now trivial to see if $ r_i $ is below the 5th percentile for $ \epsilon $.


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good morning,
lightdm freezes often after I entered my passwort. It hangs exactly saying "logging in...". It's no total system breakdown though.
I found out that there is already an existing bug report for that problem which affects a lot of people: https://bugs.launchpad.net/lightdm/+bug/986967
some people in Launchpad report that the problem may be caused by deactivating the login sound with Ubuntu Tweak. I've done that so it might be true.
There are 3 dupiclate question for this problem on askubuntu too: