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Find Top-Rated Dundee Moving Companies
There are 2 top-rated moving companies in your area.
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AReviews14058 years on Angie's ListCompany names available to Angie's List MembersThis company offers services like moving and auto transport
AReviews10711 years on Angie's ListCompany names available to Angie's List MembersThis company offers services like moving and piano moving
CReviews79 years on Angie's ListCompany names available to Angie's List MembersThis company offers services like moving
FReviews45 years on Angie's ListCompany names available to Angie's List MembersThis company offers services like moving
FReviews74 years on Angie's ListCompany names available to Angie's List MembersThis company offers services like moving, storage unit and courier
FReviews14 years on Angie's ListCompany names available to Angie's List MembersThis company offers services like moving
Explore Our Solution Center for Helpful Moving Company Articles
Moving reviews in Dundee
Real People ~ Real Reviews ~ Real Results
This was a very big move for us. My wife and I are "empty nesters." Like many of our "baby boomer" Provider name locked. , we were facing the daunting task of downsizing from a capacious suburban home on a large treed lot, to a more compact urban location. Deciding what to keep, what to sell, and what to throw away after 20 years in the same home was quite stressful. Our plan was to keep half our possessions, dispose of as much as possible via an estate sale, and then discard or give away the rest. Closing of the sale of our home was uncertain right up to the final closing day due to the buyer's behavior, and my wife was scheduled for major surgery just one week after the targeted move date.
I used Angie's List to select four highly rated movers with long track records of consistently top reviews. Three came out to our house and gave written estimates, one made their estimate by phone. Even estimating was a challenge because, at the time, we were still deciding what to move and what to sell. Plus, there was just so much "stuff" crammed into every cupboard, drawer, closet, attic and the garage.
We got very good pricing from all four because (1) They understood that since we were sourcing movers from Angies' List, they had real competition from Provider name locked. who are the best in the business, and (2) winter is "off-season" for movers and hourly labor rates are much lower than in months of peak demand.
We narrowed it down to two, and then selected Provider name locked. 's Provider name locked. as having put forth the best plan for a two-day move with pricing of a 4-man team at $120/hour plus a 24 foot truck on day one and the same team plus two trucks on day two. CMS also moved furniture in our storage unit back to the house for the estate auction.
CMS arrived on time both days. The crew was professional, clean cut, physically fit, polite, willing and personable. All spoke very good English. They worked two long days almost without pause, like pistons in an engine. The crew was a man short on the first day, but the other men just worked harder and longer. Provider name locked. adjusted the pricing to $95/hour for the short-handed crew on the first day. The second day we had the full 4-man crew. Day one they worked from 8 am to about 6 or 7 PM. Day two, they worked from 8:30 am to 11:30 PM.
Provider name locked. , the crew leader, was an amazingly productive and efficient packer. CMS was very careful with our things and, although we have not completed unpacking (due to wife's surgery) we have yet to find a single broken item. The crew humped heavy furniture and boxes of books down one flight of stairs and into the trucks on the move out and humped up as many as three flights of stairs on the move in. They disassembled a huge electric massage chair that was too heavy and fragile to move in one piece and correctly re-assembled it in the second floor master bedroom of our town home. They took down three wall mounted large flat screen TV's and a sound system. They packed and moved many precious possessions, glass items and fine art with care.
I thought for sure that we would blow through our budget because there was so much to do. But the men worked at a steady rapid pace long into the night. They never seemed to tire no many how many times they lugged heavy objects up stairs. I think the crew's efficiency and stamina was a big factor in keeping down the cost of our move. I was pleasantly surprised that the final tab came within estimated minimum-maximum. We were so delighted with the exemplary service that I tipped the crew $200 although no tip was requested.
We give Provider name locked. our highest recommendation.
- John L.
Prompt, friendly, honest, responsive to our needs and questions. They moved with urgency while still caring for our belongings with more professionalism than I thought possible from a moving company on such a large task. They wrapped everything with care, moved with care and with incredible efficiency. Honestly, we thought they underestimated our job based on other bids. We called them in advance of the move to ask if they were certain of their numbers and they said regardless, they would stand by their bid. The movers were amazed when they arrived and ended up requiring two vehicles instead of just the semi that was initially projected. But good to their word, the bill was exactly as expected. We made sure we tipped well.
Our experience with these guys was outstanding. In fact, I joined angies list if for no other reason, to give them a great review. My wife and I were extremely concerned about the move and getting quality movers. It was simply not something to be concerned about based on the job they performed for our family. I would recommend them to my family and friends without reservation.
They also stored our possessions for approximately three weeks, everything was fine, no issues whatsoever.
- Judson B.
I've used this company once before without any problems however this time was a complete disaster. To make a long story short the sales rep failed to provide the necessary equipment to move all of my belongings. One truck was was initially all that was needed however the movers could not fit everything into the truck. A second truck was requested and a small van showed up. Ultimately, the van couldn't fit everything and we were forced to leave some belongings in the garage, with permission of the new owners of course.
The day was extremely hectic and Statewide Moving made it 100 times worse. I had my property stored overnight with the expectation the trucks Provider name locked. be at the new place the next morning....they didn't show up until the afternoon. The movers, themselves, were descent and nothing was broke or missing. Oh, and additional fees were required due to their failure and I got hounded until I paid.
Do yourself a favor and avoid this company. Moving day is hard enough...save yourself the aggravation and hire someone else.
- William S.
Join Angie's List to view provider's name.


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WASHINGTON (AP) - October 2, 2012 --The presidential candidates are leaving the heavy lifting of campaigning to their running mates as they spend one more day preparing for their first debate, scheduled for Wednesday night .
President Barack Obama is in Henderson, Nev., for a strategy run-through ahead of the debate in Denver.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is set to spend most of Tuesday in debate prep at a Denver hotel. He told supporters at a rally Monday night that he would get America working again.
In Iowa, Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan, is set to visit three towns during a bus tour. The Wisconsin congressman will be in Clinton, Muscatine and Burlington on Tuesday.
Vice President Joe Biden has two campaign events scheduled in another swing state, North Carolina. He'll be in Charlotte and Asheville.

subset: commoncrawl


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How do you spell relief?
Lisbon's Gabriel Damron reacts after winning his school's junior high
spelling bee Friday afternoon. Damron won on the word "refugee" after
a four-round spell off with the second-place finisher, Jaikep Entrikin.
Both students and Joey Ebert, who finished third, move on the county
spelling bee on March 9. Kara Diludovico earned a position as alternate
for the county competition. Morning Journal/Patti Schaeffer


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Abell 1689
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Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), J. Blakeslee (NRC Herzberg Astrophysics Program, Dominion Astrophysical Observatory), and H. Ford (JHU)Learn more in NewsCenter HubbleSite's NewsCenter is the place to find the story behind this image, along with its original news release and all related images.


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Her Turn
"My husband and I have totally different concepts of marriage," said Megan, 41, a high school guidance counselor who has dark brown hair and freckles. "I want us to be as close as possible in every way, but Tom seems to prefer having a lot more distance between us."
"Over the past nine years of our marriage, Tom has created all these boundaries based on our different schedules and tastes. For example, I'm a big spender, and he's a saver, so he insists we keep our money in separate accounts, buy our own groceries, and split household bills. We sleep apart because my snoring keeps him awake. (I can't remember the last time we visited each other's bedrooms and made love.) We dine separately five nights a week because Tom likes to eat at 6 p.m., and I often don't get home from work until after 7 p.m. We have different tastes in TV programs, so he says it's logical for us to have our own sets. Since we chose not to have children, we don't even have any real family-related events to bring us together. All these boundaries make me feel like his roommate, not his wife!
"If that isn't upsetting enough, Tom is emotionally distant, too. He doesn't talk, no longer likes taking walks or playing cards — all things we enjoyed early in our marriage. If I complain about our unconventional lifestyle, Tom looks at me as if I'm crazy, mutters under his breath, and stomps around the house. Why can't he give me the closeness I deserve?
"Growing up, I wasn't close to my parents. My father, the stable, calm type, worked long hours as a bricklayer; my mother, a homemaker, had an explosive personality. She constantly hollered at my younger brother and me; she spanked us if our rooms were messy.
"Fourteen years ago, when I was working as an x-ray technician, I met Tom at a two-day education workshop (he's also an x-ray technician). Since we lived two hours apart, we dated only on weekends. I didn't mind the arrangement; it gave me space to do my own thing during the week. As a boyfriend, Tom was attentive and affectionate. His calm and logical demeanor appealed to me. Together, we enjoyed taking nature walks, visiting zoos, and going to the movies.
"Within a year, we were in love, but Tom said he wasn't in a hurry to get married. Then, four years into our relationship, when I suspected that he might be a confirmed bachelor, I asked him whether he envisioned us marrying. 'If not,' I said, 'I want to date other people.' Tom quickly replied, 'Then let's get married.'
"During our six-month engagement, he was enthusiastic about our life together. We were in sync on everything, including our mutual decision not to have kids. I was surprised that, shortly after the wedding, Tom started putting up boundaries between us — everything from separate bank accounts to separate bedrooms. I found the sleeping arrangement curious, because Tom never complained about my snoring when we shared a bed on the weekends, but then he didn't have to get up early for work. Reluctantly, I put up with his requests. For the first year or so that we were married, Tom and I had sex occasionally in one of our beds — and then one of us moved to the other bedroom to sleep.
"But then our sex life cooled off. When I asked Tom why, he said that I'd gained too much weight. I'd put on about 30 pounds; I didn't think it would be enough to affect his sex drive. I kept telling him that I craved more intimacy — to no avail.
"I coped with my loneliness by concentrating on my graduate studies (I had gone back to school to become a guidance counselor) and lavishing attention on our dog. Then, two years ago, after we moved into a new house, Tom distanced himself even more. He focused exclusively on the house, making chores his priority at night and on weekends. To make matters worse, Tom is now extremely defensive if I question him about anything, whether it's why he left his dirty dishes in the sink or why he installed the latch on the fence a certain way. He goes ballistic, cursing and yelling. I retreat, so nothing gets resolved.
"Recently, I decided to explore my own emotional issues in therapy, and asked Tom to join me. 'If you don't, that's fine,' I said. 'But unless our relationship improves, I'm filing for divorce. I can't live like this anymore.'"
His Turn
"Megan is the most important person in the world to me," said Tom, 48, who is tall with sandy hair. "I admire her intelligence; I enjoy her high energy and dry humor. But I liked the weekends-only arrangement we had before we married; in fact, I could have just dated her for the rest of my life. I don't need intense daily emotional or physical intimacy with anyone — not even the woman I love.
"I didn't deliberately set up boundaries when we got married; they evolved naturally. Look, I'm not trying to hurt or change Megan. For example, I don't criticize her spending habits, but if we commingled our incomes, I'd feel compelled to monitor her spending, and I don't want to do that. I don't berate Megan for snoring, but since I'm a light sleeper, the best solution is separate bedrooms. It also doesn't bother me that we have different tastes in TV. Why do we have to do everything together?
"As for sex, Megan's drive always has been stronger than mine, but even so, my desire waned after she gained weight. I don't mean to be unkind, but I'm just not as attracted to Megan as I was when we were dating, and besides, sex isn't that important to me. I'd never ask her to diet for me. I don't want to control Megan; I accept her for who she is. But I don't want her to control me, either.
"I was the youngest of four. My father was a stern Marine sergeant; my mother was a doting housewife. I didn't have a close relationship with Dad, who dictated everything that we did as a family — where we vacationed, when we ate dinner, what we watched on TV. I got along better with Mom, who appreciated my humor.
"When I met Megan, I was instantly attracted to her. She was the smartest woman I'd ever met, and she made me laugh. I looked forward to our weekends together, but I still didn't see myself as the marrying kind. I was initially surprised when she gave me her marry-me ultimatum.
"Now, Megan drives me nuts trying to get me to share my feelings about our relationship. I'd be happy to talk about anything else — work, current events, pop culture. But I'd rather repair the plumbing than be lured into a touchy-feely discussion. Chores have become my priority, in part because they're an easy escape.
"Megan accuses me of being emotionally distant, but the truth is, I'm like that with everybody. I'm on good terms with my sisters and mother, but I don't feel the need to talk to them often. I don't have any close friends. I'm what you'd call a happy loner.
"Megan's complaints about my so-called 'boundaries' make me angry. I also hate that she questions me about everything I do around the house. Yes, I'm guilty of yelling, cursing, and giving her the silent treatment. My communication skills definitely need improvement. But the more she pushes me, the more I push back and the more unhappy we become.
"I know Megan wishes our marriage were more traditional, but I was surprised that she threatened divorce. Although I'm skeptical about couples counseling, I'm willing to try. I love Megan, and I can't imagine my life without her."
The Counselor Says
"This couple's problem is one that I call the 'universal law of marriage,'" the counselor said. "Often, traits that draw people to each other end up driving them crazy. During their courtship, Tom was more attentive to Megan than he is now, but he still exuded a certain distance that she found attractive. After all, Megan was content to stay in a long-distance relationship for four years. In their marriage, Tom has taken that distance to an extreme. Yes, Megan is entitled to have more closeness, but Tom's reasons for establishing some boundaries make sense.
"Despite their problems, I felt they were a good match. Megan and Tom are intellectually compatible; they have similar interests and life values; and they still love each other.
"First, I explored the link between their behaviors and the attitudes they developed from their parents. Megan wanted a rational and stable man — someone unlike her irrational and volatile mother; she craved a relationship that wasn't steeped in emotional turmoil. As for Tom, he was looking for a caring woman, but one who wouldn't try to run his life — someone unlike his controlling father. The problems you had in childhood with one or both parents can have a profound impact on whom you choose to marry. In fact, it's typical to try to find someone who doesn't remind you of the parent whose behavior brought you pain. Megan knew what she didn't like about her mother; Tom knew what he didn't like about his father. So both looked for a mate who wouldn't replicate the hurt they experienced as children.
"After examining their pasts, Megan and Tom became more tolerant of each other's viewpoints and behaviors. More important, they also were willing to compromise. Tom had been afraid that if he acquiesced to Megan on some things, she'd end up controlling everything in his life, as his father once did. I told him, 'Megan doesn't want to control you. She just wants more closeness — and that's reasonable.'
"As for Megan, she had to accept that Tom is a distancer by nature, and that he can't compromise on everything. For example, Tom wouldn't budge on combining their assets because of Megan's freewheeling spending. He also declined to share a bedroom until Megan was willing to do something about her snoring, which was likely exacerbated by her weight gain. 'If your husband makes a few changes, will that be enough to save your marriage?' I asked Megan.
"Ultimately, Megan decided she was willing to accept what Tom was willing to give. 'I'd rather have more emotional intimacy in our marriage than share a bank account,' she said.
"When it came to compromises, Tom agreed to have dinner with Megan on the weeknights she was able to come home by 6 p.m. He also agreed to watch a sitcom or drama of Megan's choice with her every night. And he began to walk the dog with her in the evening. This gives them the chance to discuss subjects of mutual interest, such as politics, movies, and music, which satisfies Megan's need for conversation. What's more, Tom agreed to accompany Megan to events at church, which improves their social life.
"Meanwhile, Megan is dieting so that she'll be more physically attractive to Tom; she's dropped 10 pounds, and Tom says that he is indeed more attracted to her. She is also investigating treatment options for her snoring; until then, they continue to sleep apart. As for sex, in therapy sessions they are addressing their sexual issues in an effort to improve their physical intimacy.
"Finally, I encouraged the couple to modify their communication styles. Megan needed to better articulate her needs. She was so afraid of conflict that she wouldn't ask Tom for what she wanted. Her style was to stew in silence — and then register a hit-and-run complaint, which would cause Tom to explode or shut down. Megan learned how to say, calmly and rationally — the tone Tom understands best — 'Such-and-such is important to me, and we must work through it.' Now that she speaks to Tom in a manner that he respects, he no longer dismisses her concerns, and he reacts more empathetically.
"By working hard in treatment, Megan and Tom's relationship has improved dramatically. 'I now see Tom's positive traits, and he's more fun to be around,' Megan said recently. Tom agreed, adding, 'We've both changed with therapy. Megan is less angry, more upbeat; I'm less rigid and much happier. We're rediscovering each other all over again.'"
This case is based on interviews with clients and information from the files of Stephen J. Betchen, DSW. The story told here is true, although names and other details have been changed to conceal identities.
Originally published in Ladies' Home Journal magazine, April 2004.


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News: Issues
The gay marriage slump: Same-sex couples deciding not to get hitched
"It was supposed to be a whole new era, as celebrations accompanied the adoption of civil union and domestic partnership laws in several states. But a funny thing happened on the way to the altar: Gay couples decided they might not want to get married after all... 'For many of us, the idea of getting married sticks in your craw. Why would anyone want to get married? It's almost a visceral reaction.'" READ MORE >
Opinion: Culture
Adam and Eve make a stand in California
You connect the dots: A California couple refuses to submit to the state's new "gender-neutral" marriage license that replaces bride and groom with "Party A" and "Party B." Buried within a Scientific American article on storytelling and the brain (cited by John Murphy below) is a fascinating discovery made by "literary Darwinists"… READ MORE >
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Dear Annie: I'm a single father of a 16-year-old son whom I have raised since he was 2. "Zack" is mature and carries himself with confidence.
Dear Annie: Last summer, my husband became seriously ill while out of town. When I called his family, they started bossing me around and even called the hospital and berated the staff. I had my husband moved to a larger hospital in the city where his sister lives. She was with me when I talked to the doctor about the "do not resuscitate" order. But instead of repeating what was actually said, she told his family members that I was eager to pull the plug. She also told everyone that I didn't love him.
Dear Readers: Happy Valentine's Day to one and all, along with our special good wishes to the veterans in VA hospitals around the country. And our particular thanks to those readers who have taken the time to send valentines, visit the vets and volunteer at VA facilities. Bless each and every one of you.
Dear Annie: My father married my stepmother 20 years ago. Three years ago, he suffered a stroke. Though moderately disabled, he is still mentally sharp, didn't lose his speech and is able to do most things for himself.
Dear Annie: I have been best friends with "Claire" since junior high. She is nothing short of a knockout, with a sweet personality to match. We have always been very close, and I treasure our friendship.
Dear Annie: I have been caring for my disabled husband while working full time and raising two children. I haven't had time alone in 15 years.
Dear Annie: I have been in a relationship with a wonderful man for four years. Six months ago, we were blessed with a little boy who has become our world.
Dear Annie: My son and his beautiful wife, "Marie," just had their second child. The entire pregnancy was turbulent, and Marie needed a C-section. My granddaughter was born healthy and wonderful, but I have been in complete shock since.
Dear Annie: I've been married to "Nate" for 16 years. He is wonderful, but blind to the way his family behaves. These people have never been particularly warm toward me or my children from my first marriage. Nate and I have a child together, and they treat her with the same indifference. They give the other grandchildren expensive toys for Christmas, and ours get junk. The favoritism now extends to the great-grandchildren. I've tried to be nice about their treatment, but a person can only take so much. I told Nate I've had it with his family ...
Dear Annie: I am 55, married for 29 years, and the mother of three children. The problem is our middle child, "Martina," who is living with a 50-year-old divorced father of two. One of his children is married with kids, so our 24-year-old daughter is living with a grandfather.
Dear Annie: At a movie theater, is there a rule for which armrest belongs to you? -- Jim in Omaha
Dear Annie: My wife and I are in our mid-60s. For most of our lives, we have done pretty well, but lately we've had financial difficulties because our incomes have been significantly decreased while our debt has not. My health is failing, and I don't know how much longer I can continue to work.
'Tis the season to begin all columns with "'Tis the season." Even when the column is actually a collection of holiday songs recalling 2010 in all its splendor:
Dear Annie: My mother passed away two years ago. She had been with "Biff" for about 13 years. Biff is a jerk. Most of the family discontinued all contact with my mother because no one could stand him. I tolerated him, but he made me uncomfortable. When I was a teenager, he made sexual comments to me, and I moved out of the house as soon as I could. He was also verbally abusive of my younger brother. Biff only behaved this way when Mom was at work, and when we told her, she did nothing.
Dear Annie: My husband, "Bill," and I have been married for almost two years. Bill was in the U.S. Army and served in Iraq. When he got back, we were married, but, Annie, he has totally changed.
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Nilz' Profession Guide
This guide is focused towards player who are a little confused about what professions to take. In this guide I will explain what each profession is and how it works with the other professions. There are 14 total professions but there are 3 secondary which are professions that can be learned plus your 2 primary. WARNING, this IS NOT a profession leveling guide!!!
Mining (Primary)
Skinning (Primary)
Herbalism (Primary)
Tailoring (Primary)
Alchemy (Primary)
Blacksmithing (Primary)
Leatherworking (Primary)
Engineering (Primary)
Inscription (Primary)
Enchanting (Primary)
Jewelcrafting (Primary)
Cooking (Secondary)
Fishing (Secondary)
First Aid (Secondary)
Table of Contents
- Mining
- Skinning
- Herbalism
- Tailoring
- Alchemy
- Blacksmithing
- Leatherworking
- Engineering
- Inscription
- Enchanting
- Jewelcrafting
- Cooking
- Fishing
- First Aid
- Training Guides
The Guide
Mining is a gathering skill that allows you to take a mining pick to various veins that litter the landscape and attempt to get raw metals and gems for crafting armor, weapons, potions, jewels, and many other items. Mining, in my opinion, is one of the best professions to get gold.
Mining fuels many professions, although it goes well with some more then others. The following is a list of comparisons between the other professions and mining.
Alchemy: Mining and alchemy do not go along together very well. While alchemy can transmute metals and some potions may need metals, herbalism would always be better.
Blacksmithing: Most everything a blacksmith makes is done with metal and gems obtained through mining. You should rarely pick up blacksmithing without mining, as the ores required to skill up are extremely expensive.
Enchanting, Skinning, Tailoring: These three professions do not require mining nor interfere with it. Skinning is an exceptional choice to take with mining though, as with two gathering skills you can bring in the money fast.
Engineering: Like blacksmithing, engineering requires rare gems and metals. If you plan on becoming an engineer then you will want to bring mining along to fund your crafts.
Herbalism: Herbalism and mining do not go together very well. There is good reason, of course. Mining and herbalism use the mini-map to detect "nodes" (locations veins and herbs). You can only detect one type of node at a time, so you can't detect both mineral veins and herbs.
Jewelcrafting: You will need mining to take full advantage of jewelcrafting. Most items created with jewelcrafting will require rare gems which can be found easier with prospecting (a jewelcrafting skill).
Leatherworking: Mining and leatherworking do not go along together as leatherworking requires leather from skinning.
As a miner you spend a lot of time digging things out of the ground. This has the added advantage of toughening you up. This is a passive ability that was added in patch 3.0.2 that you automatically gain as a miner and adds health to your charater based on the level of your mining skill. The Stamina added is shown in the table below.
|Toughness Rank
|Mining Skill
Skinning is a gathering skill that allows you to take a Skinning knife and skin various beasts, dragonkins, and silithids to gather leather, hides, and scales. Some enemies can be skinned, while others can't, but those that can be provide extra income from enemies already slain. The materials gathered from Skinning are useful in numerous trades and can be sold for a good bit at the auction house!
Skinning is the source of materials for many professions, although it is primarly used for Leatherworking. Leather by itself sells really well do to how it's used in so many crafted items and is one of the cheaper routes to go for the Darkmoon Faire.
Alchemy: Skinning and Alchemy do not go together and you would be at a major disadvantage with this combo.
Blacksmithing: Blacksmiths require metal and sometimes leather for their creations. blacksmithing and Skinning do not go together due to the high price of metal, but leather is used in many recipes.
Enchanting: These two do not require skinning but they also don't interfere with it. A fine choice should you not want to take up Leatherworking and want to have a craft that produces something.
Engineering: Skinning is not a very good choice with Engineering. Once again, while many recipes may call upon leather, you'll find many many more requiring mining.
Herbalism or Mining: Dual gathering professions are very important to consider because of the good chance of making a decent profit off just gathering materials and reselling to players. Taking skinning then Mining or Herbalism is a good choice because Skinning doesn't have a radar finding skill (the skin is off the enemies corpse) so you it won't interfere with them!
Jewelcrafting: Jewelcrafting goes best with Mining and will get little to nothing out of Skinning.
Talioring: This profession goes well with skinning because in the higher lecels it will require some hides.
Leatherworking: Leatherworking requires leather, hides, and scales to create things. These items are provided by Skinning. 'Nuff said.
Master of Anatomy
|Master of Anatomy Rank
|Skinning Skill
Herb Gathering is the profession for picking various herbs used mostly in the by Alchemy. Herbs are spread throughout every zone in the game and many are considered very valuable, even if they aren't all that rare! Herbalism is very similar to Skinning and Mining in that it is a gathering profession used to gather resources to be used in other professions.
Herbalism is the source of materials for mostly Alchemy, but can be combined with differnt professions depending on what your aim is!
Alchemy: Herbalism and Alchemy are the perfect match. The herbs can be turned into potions which can even in some cases extend the value of certain combation of herbs. If you have Herbalism and you don't want to go with Skinning then for sure get Alchemy
Blacksmithing: Blacksmits require metal, not herbs. It's a very bad combo with Herbalism.
Enchanting, Talioring: These two do not require Herbalism but they also don't interfere with it. A fine choice should you not want to take up Alchemy or Skinning.
Engineering: Herbalism is not a very good choice with Engineering. Once again, while many recipes may call upon herbs, you'll find many many more requiring mining.
Skinning or Mining: Dual gathering professions are very important to consider because of the good chance of making a decent profit off just gathering materials and reselling to players. However, do not take up Mining and instead op for Skinning. Mining uses the "Find Mineral" command which doesn't work with the "Final Herb" command.
Jewelcrafting: Jewelcrafting goes best with Mining and not Herbalism.
Leatherworking: Leatherworking requires leather, hides, and scales to create things. Skinning provides these, not Herbalism.
Inscription: This profession works very well with Herbalism because you need herb to make ink.
|Lifeblood rank
|Herbalism Skill
|Health Gained
|300/5 Seconds
|480/5 Seconds
|720/5 Seconds
|900/5 Seconds
|1200/5 Seconds
|3600/5 Seconds
Tailoring is a primary profession designed to create various pieces of equipment out of cloth tailored mostly towards Priests, Mages, and Warlocks. Cloth is a resource that is obtained from the world from various enemies (mostly enemies that are the "Humanoid" type). The cloth can then be turned into various forms of cloth based equipment (like robes, pants, shoes, etc.) and other cloth based items like bags.
Tailoring works with all gathering professions. Enchanting, Mining, Skinning, and Herbalism are all perfect companions to Tailoring. Blacksmithing, Engineering, Leatherworking, and Jewelcrafting are often less desired due to their need of resources. However, many players who have a substantial flow of gold can often ignore their gathering professions and just purchase the necessary materials off of the AH. It's all about your level, the time you have available, and how much money you can spend on a profession.
Alchemy is one of the primary professions. Those who take up Alchemy become an Alchemist which is able to brew potions, elixers, oils, and flasks. These various consumables can restore health and mana, grant invisibility, give elemental resistance, and much more. They can also convert various metals and high level essences into different properties through the power of transmutation. Alchemy also comes with a very usefulpassive ability called Mixology.
Alchemy only goes along well with one other primary profession: Herbalism. Herbalism allows you to gather herbs which can then be used to make potions. You are not required to take Herbalism along with Alchemy, however, buying the herbs from the auction house to level up and brew certain potions is way more expensive and time consuming then gathering them yourself.
If you're level 80 and have lots of spare money and don't mind the very expensive cost of leveling Alchemy up yourself then some would suggest taking Enchanting or Tailoring. Both of these professions are not dependant on another profession and give you access to more ways to make money.
Blacksmithing is a primary trade skill. When choosing Blacksmithing as a primary skill, make sure you really want it, as you may only have two skills at one. Also when you choose Blacksmithing you are pretty much locked into taking Mining as your second primary skill. You are able to unlearn trade skills but if you do this, you will lose all your skill points in it. If you were to start Blacksmithing again you would have to start from the bottom, not at your last skill level. This goes for all professions. A good thing about blacksmithing , and Leatherworking is that they let you upgrade you gear with stuff you make(i.e Socket Bracer for blacksmithing and Light Armor Kit for leatherworking).
Mining is usually paired with blacksmithing, as you can find your own materials to use while blacksmithing, instead of having to buying them. While it is possible to go without mining, it would be extremely expensive to do.
Leatherworking is a primary trade skill. When choosing leatherworking as a primary skill, make sure you really want it, as you may only have two primary tradeskills at once. Also when you choose leatherworking you are pretty much locked into taking skinning as your second primary skill.
Skinning is a must if you are a leatherworker, as you can then find your own materials to use instead of having to buying them. While it is possible to be a leatherworker without taking skinning, it would be extremely expensive to do.
Engineering can be a difficult but ultimately a very rewarding one! There are many things that an engineer gains access to that no other class can get, for example class specific epic helms and created epic flying machines. These abilities alone attract many players. There are other things along the way that will help you out as well, but be warned, Engineering is a fairly selfish profession. While there are some things you can create and sell, many are for your use only as they require engineering skill to use.
Mining goes well with engineering as metal bars are a common ingredient in Engineering recipes. It's less expensive in the long run if you choose mining as your second primary trade skill.
The Inscription profession allows its practitioners, called "scribes," to enhance the spells and abilities of players' characters, such as enhancing a rogue's Backstab ability to deal more damage to stunned targets, or allowing a priest's Circle of Healing to heal one more target.
Inscription works best with Herbalism however you can get another profession if you have enough money to buy all of the needed herbs.
Enchanting is the art of using magic to improve items - turning wood into magic wands or increasing the bonuses of a piece of equipment. Enchanting requires raw materials, most of which come from disenchanting quality items (at least uncommon). This art thus requires no special gathering skill.
Enchanting works well with all other professions because you make you own reagents with disenchanting, however, in my opinion, I think the best mix would be with Tailoring because at around level 30 (tailoring) you can make Brown Linen Robe and then disenchant it for reagents. Another profession that it works well with is inscription because you can make vellums and ready made enchants as well to sell on the AH.
Jewelcrafting is a profession which was introduced in the Burning Crusade expansion. Players are able to make rings, trinkets, necklaces and more, as well as gems for socketed items. Special for any Jewelcrafters, are figurines which are Bind on Pickup. Figurines are special animal-shaped trinkets. Figurines must be equipped in one of the trinket slots to get their effects as well as make them usable. When the figurine is used, it summons a magical creature that will aid you in some way. Each figurine is unique.
Like so many others, this craft relies heavily on Mining. You don't have to be a miner to craft Jewelry, but you will need large amounts of ores, bars, and gems. If you have another toon to provide you with materials, that works fine. If not I highly recommend taking mining as your second tradeskill. Otherwise the cost to you will be extremely high, considering the number of gems and ore required just to hit 300 skill.
Cooking is one of the 3 secondary professions. It is fairly cheap to level because the ingredients needed are found by killing beasts. Because it is a secondary profession every other profession goes well with it. Also level wise you should level this with fishing because you can cook the things you fish! *Thanks to Jiyambi*
Fishing is one of the 3 secondary professions. It is fairly cheap to level because all you need is a fishing rod and water. Because it is a secondary profession every other profession goes well with it. If you are having trouble leveling you fishing then go to a lower level area and fish there, you can also use items to increase your level for a short amount of time such as a Shiny Bauble.
First Aid
First Aid is the last of the 3 secondary professions. It is, in my opinion the hardest of the 3 to level especially if you put it off until a higher level. Basically all you need is some cloth. This skill is very useful in that it heals you without have to buy food or waste potions.
Training Guides
If you want training guides you can find them here.
Herbalism 1- 450
[WotLK] Blacksmithing 1-450
Enchanting Guide 1 - 375
Engineering 1-450
Leveling Inscription from 1 - 375
[WotLK] Jewelcrafting 1 to 450
Jiyambi's Leatherworking Guide
http://www.wow-pro.com/tradeskill_guides/tailoring_1_375Tailoring 1 - 375
First Aid Guide - 450
Mining 1-450
Tailoring 1 - 375
Tailoring 375-450
The Cooking / Fishing Combo Guide for Alliance players
Tozzik's 1-400 "No Fishing" Cooking Guide for Horde
That is all I have to say about each of the professions. Please comment on any mistakes if there are any
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Useful tanking professions
Submitted by mmover on Mon, 2009-11-23 16:55.
Mining - +50 Stamina is always good and it is fast and lucrative to level
Jewelcrafting - The JC only gems are very (+51 Stam vs +30)nice and can again increase your survivability and threat
Blacksmithing - The extra socket is nice but unless you have JC +50 Stam is better than the +30 you are likely to get from the extra socket.
Engineering - I agree that this can be useful but on the hard mode content (and IC is coming soon) you need survivability first. Ran a ToTC 25 man pug the other day. Both tanks had 44k Health and could not take the hits from the second jormungar when the first one went down (we had good heals, it was simply the hits were too hard).
Herbalism - Just don't see 2k over 5 seconds being enough to make a difference for a tank. Nice for melee DPS, but not a tank.
Enchanting is a huge money maker if you have already leveled it. The ability to DE items is huge.
So from a $ perspective if I had leveled enchanting I would take either Mining or JC. JC may not get you much money (tips only basically on my server) but mining makes money and helps your survivability. If you want the best survivability I would suggest mining and JC. You can use the ore you mine to prospect gems to help you level JC which is a big advantage to that. It dramatically reduces the costs of leveling JC'ing.
What Proffs for a tank?
Submitted by Buklau on Fri, 2009-10-30 15:59.
Hey guys, I am end game raiding, Full TOC 10 gear, some TOC 25 (On my warrior, not mage) And i currently have Enchanting 440.
But I dont have any second proff. And I think its about time I level one. But I cant decide on what to do
Should I drop enchanting and pick up BS and Mining? Or Herb + Inscription? or should I just keep enchanting and level Inscription or BS or whatever as my 2nd proff.
What would be best for a Tank?
Thank you very much!
It depends on what you want
Submitted by Jiyambi on Fri, 2009-10-30 16:54.
It depends on what you want out of your professions. Do you want to make money? Or do you want the best possible stats for your tanking gear?
For the former, I think enchanting paired with any crafting profession is probably good.
For the latter, I know you can't go wrong with blacksmithing and jewelcrafting, but those are gonna be freaking expensive to level without mining (I know, there are several people in my guild who have done this). Another *awesome* tanking profession is engineering, not for the stats but because you have lots of surprisingly useful items such as smoke flares (for marking positions when explaining a fight) to exploding bunnies (best Auriya pull ever).
So my recommendation would be probably either Jewelcrafting/Blacksmithing or Jewelcrafting/Engineering if you want uber tanky goodness. But you'll get an okay use out of enchanting or inscription as well due to the extra finger or shoulder enchants, respectively.
I definitely recommend going with two crafting professions if you are serious about this character profs. You can actually make more money this way, if you play the AH, and it's *definitely* better for you stat-wise.
Great guide. Only thing is
Submitted by Deathfoe on Thu, 2009-08-13 20:18.
Great guide. Only thing is they have increased all the bonuses after the latest patch 3.2.0.
That siggy is smexy!
Submitted by Jiyambi on Wed, 2009-11-25 02:01.
That siggy is smexy!
Submitted by Archerus on Mon, 2009-04-06 01:16.
You might want to talk about the amazing synergy between Blacksmithing and Jewelcrafting or Alchemy and Inscription at lvl 80. With JC + BS you get 3 custom JC gems and an additional socket on one of your pieces. 3 Runed Dragon's Eye, 2 of which are in new sockets provided by blacksmithing so you only have to give up 1 Runed Scarlet Ruby, provides 77 extra SP . With Alch + Inscrip., assuming you are using Flask of the Frost Wyrm and replace Greater Inscription of the Crag with Master's Inscription of the Crag, you gain 68 more spell power, 1 more Mp5, and 4 hour long flasks vs 2 hour long flasks . Of course these bonuses are not GIGANTIC must have bonuses, but if you are very hardcore about the game and are trying to maximize your potential, these combos are the way to go.
That's very very nice.
Submitted by Jame on Mon, 2009-03-23 00:03.
That's very very nice. Thumbs up!
In the Alchemy section you
Submitted by Romgar on Sun, 2009-03-22 11:19.
In the Alchemy section you didn't mention Mixology, which is quite a nice thing to have. There are equal abilities, e.g. Socket Bracer and Socket Gloves for Blacksmithing and the other professions.
I think those should be in the guide.
You might want to add some
Submitted by CNyfalt on Sun, 2009-03-22 10:32.
You might want to add some words about the Enchanting/Inscription combo, when you discuss Enchanting.
This would allow you to make Vellums and sell ready-made enchants on the AH.
You can also add the special
Submitted by Bulrock on Sun, 2009-03-22 10:19.
You can also add the special thing each profession has to offer.
Like Leatherworking has for example Fur lining which is way better then Enchant Bracers - Greater Assault
Then 114 - 50 = 64
So you gain 64 attack power, and so for each proffession.
Found a minor typo in the
Submitted by Shikamaru on Sun, 2009-03-22 09:38.
Found a minor typo in the Mining section:
Enchanting, Skinning, Talioring: These three professions do not require mining nor interfere with it. Skinning is an exceptional choice to take with mining though, as with two gathering skills you can bring in the money fast.
Talioring should be Tailoring.
Nice guide, you could add
Submitted by Night_Hawk on Sat, 2009-03-21 21:38.
Nice guide, you could add links to the profession guides already written on this site.
Also you might want to mention that fishing will take a metric age to level
Just glanced at it, looks
Submitted by Jiyambi on Sat, 2009-03-21 21:17.
Just glanced at it, looks really nice. Under skinning you say tailoring doesn't need leatherworking, but there are a few recipes that do (at least in the pre-BC level range). I would say it goes better with tailoring than blacksmithing, especially since tailoring does not require any other profession like blacksmithing does.
EDIT: Also you missed inscription when talking about herbalism, like alchemy inscription is a perfect match, so don't neglect it!
EDIT (again): Under fishing/cooking you might wanna mention that it's best to level them together, since you can cook the things you fish up!
Looks like a nice guide for
Submitted by Romgar on Sat, 2009-03-21 20:38.
Looks like a nice guide for people who just started playing WoW. The presentation is really good.
For your problem with tables, fear not, there is a solution! Dark_fanboy wrote a guide about creating tables which you might want to consider. You can find it under Guides -> General Guides -> Guide Writing -> Creating Tables or simply use this link: http://www.wow-pro.com/general_guides/creating_tables.
Just to note in the tables,
Submitted by Skumball on Sun, 2009-03-22 01:20.
Just to note in the tables, you can now get rid of the old table in the Herbalism section.
An oversight maybe but just thought I'd bring it to your attention.
On the whole though, this is a great guide and introduction to professions for anyone! Job well done


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Contact: AJ Freeney-Ruiz
INDIANAPOLIS - Today, Indiana Secretary of State Todd Rokita praised the teamwork that led to the arrest and the filing of criminal charges against Robert Horner, a St. Joseph County resident, for securities violations. Acting upon an Indiana warrant made possible by an investigation by Rokita's Prosecution Assistance Unit (PAU), Horner was picked up in West Chester, Pennsylvania by that state's Fugitive Apprehension Unit.
Released on $10,000 bond, Horner currently awaits possible extradition to Indiana where he is accused of selling $32,500 in securities backed by the assets of an unregistered corporation he created from his home, and a $35,000 investment contract to a Hamilton County resident. Horner is also currently awaiting trial in St. Joseph County for an August arrest concerning 12 securities violations involving four St. Joseph County residents.
The investigation initiated by Rokita's office has resulted in three counts of offering or selling unregistered securities, three counts of offering or selling securities as an unregistered agent; and three counts of fraudulent or deceitful acts in connection with the offer or sale of a security. All nine counts are violations of the Indiana Securities Act and are Class C felonies; each of which is punishable by up to a $10,000 fine and up to eight years in prison.
"The cooperation between my office's Prosecution Assistance Unit, the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office, and Pennsylvania authorities has helped protect Hoosiers' hard-earned money," Rokita said. "This arrest shows that we are willing to work with other states in our ongoing pursuit to protect the integrity of commerce in Indiana. By prosecuting white collar criminals, we are helping those here at home avoid bogus financial schemes."
A resident of Hamilton County alerted Rokita's office after she had invested $100,000 from her retirement savings in Horner's company. She was promised a one million dollar return on her investment by Horner - money she hoped could be used to replace the significant amount she had already withdrawn from her 401k account. Horner allegedly promised to pay the tax incurred from withdrawing the funds; however, when she contacted Horner and asked about the money due for the taxes, he informed her that he did not have it.
Horner offered and sold investments through his company, Learning with Ease, and solicited funds through the Internet, newspaper, and face-to-face meetings with other Indiana residents from 2002 through 2004.
The Prosecution Assistance Unit (PAU) was created by Rokita and his Securities division in 2004 to further existing investigations and facilitate local law enforcement's prosecution of alleged Securities Act violations. The focus of the office is to assist state prosecutors in an effort to work together at the courthouse and statehouse to root out the worst of the worst of white-collar crime. By working with law enforcement throughout the state, the office has already helped to file charges in 22 high-profile investment fraud cases in Indiana, and has a 15 to 1 conviction-to-dismissal record, with over 150 years of jail time sentenced to-date.


text:
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I've dated some since then and fooled around, but not as much as I would
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Seems like a lot of girls here are
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text:
Shares of Apple (AAPL) dropped more than 6.4% on Wednesday and the company lost $35 billion in market value. Apple opened down 3.2% on Thursday and had fallen below $530 in earlier trading.
Shares of Apple (AAPL) dropped more than 6.4% on Wednesday and the company lost $35 billion in market value. Apple opened down 3.2% on Thursday and had fallen below $530 in earlier trading.
For technical traders, this news indicates that Apple has traversed the death cross meaning Apple's long-term moving average has broken above its short-term support level. The death cross typically indicates that a bear market is approaching.
Explanations for the abrupt loss are plentiful and varied.
One explanation is that Google's Android gadgets are continuing to gain ground, especially in China where the iPhone is struggling. International Data Corp estimated that Apple's tablet market share will decrease from 56.3% to 53.8% in 2012 while market share for Android products will increase to 42.7% from 39.8%
Another reason for the selloff: Apple is not paying a special dividend before capital gains taxes are raised in 2013.
"There are some people saying 'hey because they haven't done that they are being punished,'" says Aaron Task. "Investors are waiting and Apple is sitting on this tremendous amount of cash so why not."
On top of a diminishing market share and weak economy, there are unconfirmed rumors that some clearing firms were raising the margin trading requirements for Apple stock.
Any number of these things may have contributed to the stock's plunge on Wednesday.
Technical analysts might be bearish on Apple but there is certainly room for a steep recovery. Apple CEO Tim Cook is currently on a crisis management tour and will be featured in an exclusive interview on NBC's Rock Center tonight with Brian Williams. Apple has also announced that it will resume some production of its Mac computers in the United States and will spend $100 million in domestic manufacturing in 2013.
Whether or not you're convinced the era of Apple is officially over, the tech giant is still up 33% this year. Maybe the recent weakness signals a temporary sale for investors.
More Apple Coverage on The Daily Ticker:
Apple Could Fall Below $500 a Share: Barry Ritholtz
Is Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's Job in Jeopardy?


text:
Whyare House apprasals going up 11%and house valves dropping
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:07 pm
[color=#FF4080]Why are the town of Bradleys new house apprasals going up 11%??? Call up any town realtor and ask what houses are selling for?? most are DOWN 15%-20%... its a sign of the times. Look at all the newspaper adds prices are dropping, houses are not selling, even lake houses are falling. when you see some of the ads with headlines price reductions with some being up to 25%... So how can we keep rasing our taxes?? I hope every body goes out and complains about their new house apprasals. We have to stop this now. Maybe its time we cut back on the size of the Town board committees. Go to the towns web site take a look at what some of the people are making for part time jobs. Its getting to the point where we cant live here any more. look at what the local jobs pay,if your not at a mill or harley your making well under 10 bucks a hour. People you have to start fighting back now, go to your town meeting and see whats happening. they spend our money with no problems. then they slide their raises right in with the town workers. Maybe we need a new town ASSESSOR. which by the way is a non voted person.does that mean shes in for life?? please go to our web site and take a look at things you may be very surprised, just open up all the differant pages. heres the site just click on ithttp://www.townofbradley.org/index.htm
please i hope people feel the same way and let others know.
please i hope people feel the same way and let others know.


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Auburn basketball opens its first practice of the 2012-13 season on Friday at 5 pm Central in Auburn Arena with Coach Tony Barbee and a deeper, more talented roster than the previous two seasons.
In the early stages of preseason practice, the Tigers will place an emphasis on defense while also introducing the offensive sets and defensive transition.
"It helped to have the summer practices this year to work with some of the incoming guys," said Barbee. "For us, it was really important because we have four freshmen and two transfers that we expect to play and contribute. To be able to introduce the break, terminology, the offense and the defensive concepts was really helpful. Plus, the guys that I have returning have bought into the culture that we need to be successful. We're really looking forward to getting started."
Frankie Sullivan, a fifth-year senior, is the leading returning scorer after averaging 12.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season. He is ranked 25th on Auburn's all-time scoring list with 1,091 career points and graduated on Dec. 12, 2011. Sullivan was the first Tiger to graduate in 3.5 years since Marquis Daniels, now of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, earned his degree in 2003.
"It has been a great preseason for us," Sullivan said. "We have a lot of conditioning going and a lot of team chemistry with the freshmen and newcomers who came in. Everybody has been working hard, and that is a great thing. I haven't felt this good since my freshman year body-wise. My knee is getting back right. My knee is there, and I feel stronger and faster, and I have been doing a lot of stretching. As you get older, you find out the small things are what you need to do more of.
"My experience will help us out this year. I know the plays, and I can help Coach out when somebody is not paying attention. I can see things that he sees as a coach that I actually see now after sitting out on the sideline (with injury). Sitting out (in 2010-11) did a great deal for me. Especially last year, I went through the growing pains of trying to get myself healthy and trying to help the team. It is not only me, but the freshmen that have come in are unbelievable. When you have talent like that, it is much easier to help the coach out and be excited about the season."
Rob Chubb added 8.1 points and 5.1 rebounds and a healthy Noel Johnson, who went 6-of-14 from 3-point range in the final four games of the season, will add scoring punch.
"We are excited for everyone to watch the freshmen to see how far they have come along," said Chubb. "They have a lot of skills, and I am looking forward to seeing what they bring to the team on the court. My last couple of years, we have been setting the foundation for where Auburn is going to go. All of the different recruits that have been coming in each year, they get better. They get bigger, stronger and faster. It is just going to be a matter of time before we are in the NCAA Tournament."
A recruiting class that was ranked third in the SEC will help Barbee's rebuilding project immensely as top 100 recruits and incoming freshmen guards Jordan Price and Shaquille Johnson both are from metro Atlanta. Guard Brian Greene, Jr., 6-foot-9 forward Jordan Granger, 7-foot center Asauhn Dixon-Tatum and 6-foot-8 forward Shareif Adamu round out the highly-rated class. KT Harrell, a standout guard, will redshirt this season after transferring from Virginia but will be a vital scout team member.
"It has to be hands down Brian Greene," said Sullivan on who has impressed him the most in the preseason. "It is just not that he stands out, but you always see the guy. He is always challenging someone. He is always working hard. Josh Wallace has been pushing him in pickup games. He is not a guy who talks back and doesn't take anything negative if you say something to him. He is going to come back the next day, and he is going to work on it. Even in the drills, he is the one who is catching on the quickest."
Chubb, a senior center, also sees a lot of talent for the Tigers heading into the season.
"Asauhn has definitely stood out," said Chubb. "He is a big, long, tall shot blocker. A lot of people are going to like that. He can rebound. Once he gets a little weight on him, he is going to be a big contributor down low. KT Harrell is a great knock-down shooter even though he is going to be redshirted this year. He will be able to play next year and will be somebody to watch. Brian Greene is great and will definitely be good this year."
Auburn plays its first exhibition game in less than three weeks against Victory University on Oct. 30 before its final exhibition on Nov. 5 against Georgia Southwestern State. The Tigers play their season opener against IPFW on Nov. 9 in Auburn Arena before participating in the loaded Charleston (S.C.) Classic against the likes of Murray State, then either St. John's or the College of Charleston followed by either Baylor, Colorado, Dayton or Boston College in the third round.
Auburn's difficult opening month continues at Boston College on Nov. 21 followed by home games against Rhode Island on Nov. 25 and DePaul on Nov. 30 in the SEC-Big East Challenge. The Tigers close non-conference play against Illinois on Dec. 29 in the United Center in Chicago and vs. ACC Champion Florida State on Jan. 2 in Auburn Arena.
With the new 18-game SEC schedule, Auburn plays five teams twice, three of them NCAA Tournament teams in National Champion Kentucky, Vanderbilt and Alabama as well as Ole Miss, which went to the NIT, and Arkansas. The Tigers play the other eight SEC teams once with home games vs. Florida, Texas A&M, Tennessee and LSU with road games at Missouri, Georgia, Mississippi State and South Carolina.
The new five-day, 14-team SEC Tournament is March 13-17 in Nashville, Tenn., at Bridgestone Arena.
Auburn will practice twice on Saturday.
INFORMATION SOURCE: Auburn Athletics Dept.


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We report that the skin of cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis, contains opsin transcripts suggesting a possible role of distributed light sensing for dynamic camouflage and signalling. The mRNA coding for opsin from various body regions was amplified and sequenced, and gene expression was detected in fin and ventral skin samples. The amino acid sequence of the opsin polypeptide that these transcripts would produce was identical in retina and fin tissue samples, but the ventral skin opsin transcripts differed by a single amino acid. The diverse camouflage and signalling body patterns of cephalopods are visually controlled, and these findings suggest a possible additional mechanism of light sensing and subsequent skin patterning. Cuttlefish, along with a number of other cephalopod species, have been shown to be colour-blind. Since the opsin in the fin is identical to that of the retina (λmax = 492 nm), and the ventral transcripts are also unlikely to be spectrally different, colour discrimination by the skin opsins is unlikely. However, spectral discrimination could be provided by involving other skin structures (chromatophores and iridophores), which produce changeable colours and patterns. This 'distributed sensing' could supplement the otherwise visually driven dynamic camouflage system by assisting with colour or brightness matching to adjacent substrates.
1. Introduction
Visual pigments are found in animal retinae, where they enable light to be absorbed for the process of vision. They have also been found in the skin of some reptiles, amphibians and fishes, e.g. Anolis, Xenopus and some cichlid chromatophores, as well as the structurally reflecting iridophores of neon tetras, Paracheirodon innesi (Lythgoe et al. 1984; Oshima 2001; Ban et al. 2006; Kasai & Oshima 2006), and a number of invertebrates (Steven 1963; Yerramilli & Johnsen 2010). Rhodopsin and opsin-like genes are even expressed in human skin, where they may have some physiological function (Tsutsumi et al. 2009). Ban et al. (2006) showed that there are multiple types of visual pigments in the skin of the freshwater fish Tilapia, which introduces the possibility that dermal colour and pattern changes for camouflage and communication are regulated in situ, i.e. at the level of the dermal structures that produce the colours and patterns. In other words, the dermal structures could act as receptors and effectors, independent from, or, in addition to, visual input to the eyes.
Here, we show evidence for opsin expression in certain skin areas of cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis (figure 1). The skin of cuttlefish has structures that provide changeable and almost instantaneous camouflage and signalling patterns. Cuttlefish skin contains thousands of pigmented chromatophores (black, red or yellow pigment), which are organs that consist of an elastic pigment sac attached to which are numerous single muscle fibre cells that are innervated directly from the brain (Florey 1969). In addition, there are two types of structural reflectors (iridophores and leucophores) that provide iridescent, polarized light reflectance as well as broadband (white) diffuse scattering, respectively (Mäthger et al. 2009). Despite the impressive range of camouflage and signalling body patterns that cuttlefish can employ (Hanlon & Messenger 1988), all evidence to date suggests that cuttlefish, along with a number of other cephalopods, are colour-blind (Brown & Brown 1958; Marshall & Messenger 1996; Mäthger et al. 2006); but see e.g. a cephalopod with colour vision (Michinomae et al. 1994).
It was therefore exciting to find opsin gene expression in the skin of cuttlefish because this may augment the otherwise visually driven colour change system, and/or possibly provide an explanation for how cuttlefish can achieve such impressive camouflage and signalling body patterns in the absence of colour perception.
2. Material and methods
(a) Tissue collection
Cuttlefish, S. officinalis, were hatched and reared at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, USA. Adult cuttlefish (1+ years old) were used for PCR analysis. Animals were euthanized by over-anaesthetizing them in a solution of ethanol in sea water (ethanol concentration was gradually raised to approximately 5%; cessation of breathing movements and reflexes indicated death had occurred). The following tissues were dissected for analysis: (i) Retina. The eyes were dissected away from the head and a dorsoventral slit was made to remove the outer, distal, surface of the eye, leaving the proximal part containing the retina exposed so that the retina could be clearly identified and removed. (ii) Ventral skin. Skin samples were dissected from the most central part and the lateral parts of the ventral mantle. (iii) Dorsal skin. Skin samples were dissected from the central and lateral parts of the dorsal mantle. (iv) Fourth arm and fin. The skin protrusions of the fourth arm and samples of the mantle fin were dissected. (v) Gills. Gills were presumed not to express opsin. All samples were stored at −80°C for later RNA isolation.
(b) RNA isolation
Tissue samples (50 mg) were transferred to TriReagent (Molecular Research Center) and total RNA was isolated following manufacturer's instruction. Total RNA was resuspended in 20 μl of DEPC-treated water (0.1% DEPC) and quantified using a NanoDrop1000 (Thermo Scientific). RNA samples were DNase treated using the Turbo DNA-free DNase Kit (Ambion) according to the manufacturer's 'rigorous' protocol. Treated RNA was subjected to PCR as described below to verify removal of residual genomic DNA carryover. Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing Total RNA (0.2 μg) was reverse transcribed using 0.1 μg oligo dT (Promega) and M-MLV reverse transcriptase (Promega). PCR was performed using primers SepRhodF (AAAGAATCAGGTCCACTGG) and SepRhodR (GGCGGCATCTACAAAATAAG). These primers were designed using the previously described S. officinalis rhodopsin mRNA sequence, GenBank accession number (AF000947; Bellingham et al. 1998). This primer pair amplifies a fragment corresponding to bp 101–1640. PCR was carried out using Apex 2× TaqRed Master Mix (Genesee Scientific), primers (0.2 μM), Mg (3.0 mM) and nuclease free water. Cycling parameters included initial denaturation at 95°C for 10 min followed by 40 cycles of 95°C 15 s, 55°C 15 s, 72°C 2 min. A final PCR extension step was performed at 72°C for 10 min. PCR products were visualized using agarose gel electrophoresis. Resulting bands were excised and purified with Ultrafree-DA spin columns (Millipore). Purified DNAs were cloned in TOPO/pCR 2.1 (Invitrogen) and positive colonies were grown for plasmid DNA. Templates were prepared using QIAprep Spin Miniprep Kit (Qiagen) and sequenced using a modified dideoxy chain termination method with Big Dye Terminator (Applied Biosystems). Sequencing reactions were precipitated and pellets resuspended in Hi-Di Formamide with EDTA (Applied Biosystems) and analysed using a 3730 Sequencer (Applied Biosystems). Two positive clones were selected from each template and sequenced in both directions, in duplicate. Sequence analysis was performed using CLC Genomics Workbench 3.7 (CLC Bio).
3. Results
PCR products of appropriate size were present in cDNA samples from retina, dorsal fin and mantle tissue isolated ventrally centre (mvc) from two individuals. PCR amplification was absent in samples from fourth arm, mantle (dorsal, centre), mantle (dorsal, side), mantle (ventral, side), as well as no template PCR controls. PCR products from one individual were sequenced as described. Nucleotide sequences from retina and fin were identical and were consistent with the S. officinalis rhodopsin mRNA sequence (GenBank accession number AF000 947) except for base pair substitutions at bp 1203 (T/A), 1269 (G/A) and 1291 (C/G). These nucleotide differences resulted in amino acid difference at amino acid 335 (S/T), 357 (A/T) and 364 (T/S) ( GenBank accession number GU906262) . The two isolated clones sequenced from mantle (ventral centre) were each different from the retina and fin nucleotide sequence. One isolate (mvc1, GenBank accession number GU906 264) had two nucleotide substitutions and the second (mvc2, GenBank accession number GU906 263) had four nucleotide substitutions. At the amino acid level, each sequence differed at one location, mvc1 at amino acid 455 (R/Q) and mvc2 at amino acid 413 (N/Y) (figure 2).
4. Discussion
It remains to be established whether opsin gene expression in the skin of S. officinalis is correlated with a 'visual distributed sensing' capability because we have not yet demonstrated protein expression that could link the opsin gene with a physiological or behavioural function. Certainly, these dermal opsins may not have any functional significance. Nevertheless, some oceanic squid have well-developed extra-ocular photoreceptors that measure downwelling light and adjust ventral counterillumination (Young et al. 1979; Young & Mencher 1980), so it would not be completely surprising to find a similar system in shallow-water, benthic cephalopods such as cuttlefish that rely heavily on camouflage for protection in diverse habitats.
The skin opsins may provide an explanation for how cuttlefish can achieve their impressive camouflage and signalling body patterns in the absence of colour perception. Currently, we have found one opsin type in the retina and fin (which is transparent and could sense light above and below), suggesting that any skin photoreceptive abilities would be 'monochromatic', just like the cephalopod eye (Brown & Brown 1958; Marshall & Messenger 1996; Mäthger et al. 2006). Even though the opsins found in the ventral skin are slightly different, they are most probably functionally the same as those of the retina and fin, so that spectral discrimination at the level of the skin opsin is unlikely. However, we do not want to rule out the possibility that future studies may reveal additional dermal opsins tuned to different wavelengths.
Nevertheless, even a single skin opsin could help regulate dynamic colour and body patterning and we mention three possibilities to stimulate future research. (i) Opsins may not convey any wavelength information but may detect reflectance properties of the environment, which in turn may influence the relative expansion of chromatophores for brightness matching of the habitat. (ii) Opsins may be closely associated with chromatophores that act as spectral tuning filters and convey wavelength information to the dermal opsins. Chromatophores expand and retract, and occur in different colour classes, and they could function much the same way as oil droplets function in colour vision of many animals such as turtles (Liebman & Granda 1975). In fact, the butterfly Heliconius erato has photoreceptors with one opsin pigment that provides colour discrimination using different perirhabdomal filter pigments (Zaccardi et al. 2006). (iii) Iridophores, structural reflectors some of which are also actively controlled, could perform similar roles as spectral tuning filters. Another more distant, but exciting, possibility is that iridophores, which not only reflect narrow waveband light but also polarize reflected light at certain incident angles (Mäthger et al. 2009), could pass polarization information from the ambient light field to the skin opsins, so that the skin may even function to analyse linear polarization in the animal's environment.
One further intriguing possibility is that the dermal opsins work in conjunction with the statocysts to drive the countershading reflex in cuttlefish. This reflex causes cuttlefish to expand whichever chromatophores face upwards, irrespective of the animal's body orientation (Ferguson et al. 1994). Countershading is a widespread camouflage method in the animal kingdom and may be particularly effective in aquatic habitats (Ruxton et al. 2004).
The exact physiological and/or behavioural functions of cuttlefish dermal opsin genes remain to be established. We are developing an S. officinalis opsin antibody for immunohistochemical studies so that protein expression can be investigated, which will allow us to begin addressing questions of functionality of this remarkable finding.
Thanks to Tom Cronin and Megan Porter for their valuable feedback and Kendra C. Buresch, Christina Holmes (Romano) and Samuel White for specimen preparation/molecular work. We would also like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. Partial funding provided by ONR grant N000140610202 and ARO grant W911NF09D0001 (RTH).
- Received March 3, 2010.
- Accepted March 22, 2010.
- © 2010 The Royal Society


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Flu season runs from October to May, with most cases happening from late December to early March. But the flu vaccine is usually offered from September until mid-November. Getting vaccinated before the flu season is in full force gives the body a chance to build up immunity to (protection from) the virus.
Even though it's best to get vaccinated as soon as the flu vaccine is available, getting the vaccine later can still be helpful. Even as late as January, there are still a few months left in the flu season, so it's still a good idea to get protected.
The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older. It's especially important for people who are at greater risk of developing health problems from the flu to get vaccinated. They include:
Kids under 9 years old will receive two doses this flu season if they have received fewer than two doses of flu vaccine before July 2017. This includes kids who are getting the flu vaccine for the first time. Those under 9 who have received at least two doses of flu vaccine previously (in the same or different seasons) will only need one dose. Kids older than 9 only need one dose of the vaccine.
It can take 1 to 2 weeks for the flu vaccine to become effective, so it's best to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Different types of vaccines are available. One type (called trivalent) protects against three strains of the flu virus (usually, two types of influenza A viruses and one influenza B virus). Another (called quadrivalent) protects against four strains.
The vaccine is given to kids by injection with a needle (the flu shot). This vaccine is safe and effective.
Some vaccines are approved only for adults at this time, such as egg-free vaccines and intradermal shots, which are injected into the skin (instead of muscle) with a smaller needle.
Although the flu vaccine also came in a nasal spray (or mist) form in the past, the nasal spray is not currently recommended. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that it didn't prevent cases of the flu between 2013 and 2016.
Certain things might prevent a person from getting the vaccine. Talk to your doctor to see if the vaccine is still recommended if your child:
In the past, it was recommended that anyone with an egg allergy talk to a doctor about whether receiving the flu vaccine was safe because it is grown inside eggs. But health experts now say that the amount of egg allergen in the vaccine is so tiny that it is safe even for kids with a severe egg allergy. This is especially important during a severe flu season.
Still, a child with an egg allergy should get the flu shot in a doctor's office, not at a supermarket, drugstore, or other venue.
If your child is sick and has a fever, talk to your doctor about rescheduling the flu vaccine.
Most people do not have any side effects from the flu shot. Some have soreness or swelling at the site of the shot or mild side effects, such as headache or low-grade fever.
The flu vaccine is available at:
If you have an HMO insurance plan, be sure to check with your primary care doctor before having your kids vaccinated outside the office, since most HMOs will pay for shots only if they're given through their plan.
The flu vaccine is covered by Medicare for senior citizens and is generally covered by insurance for people in other high-risk groups. Otherwise, the vaccine may cost anywhere from $10 to $50.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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Event: Riteish Deshmukh, Neha Sharma and Sarah Jane Dias pose for the shutterbugs at the first look launch of their sex comedy film KYAA SUPER KOOL HAIN HUM. Director Sachin Yardi was also present at the event.
Guest List: Neha Sharma, Riteish Deshmukh, Sarah Jane Dias
Date: 10-Apr-2012
Bollywood celeb Aamir Khan along with wife Kiran Rao were spotted at PVR.
Bollywood producers-directors Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Krishan Kumar, Ravi Bahl, Divya Khosla Kumar, Sajid Nadiadwala, Wardha Nadiadwala celebrate diwali with Bhushan Kumar
Bollywood celebs Kareena Kapoor Khan, Malaika Arora, Sonali Bendre, Nimrat Kaur among others were snapped by paparazzi.Bebo looked super cool in a casual look. She wore a white t-shirt with yoga pants...
Bollywood actress Shama Sikander celebrated Diwali festival at her residence.
Bollywood celebs Aamir Khan, Zaira Wasim, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Sanya Malhotra, Anil Kapoor, Nitesh Tiwari, Aparshakti Khurrana, Bhushan Kumar, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Sachin Tendulkar, Rajkumar Hir...


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Not a Member? Join OSA
December 27, 2010
Hiroshi Takuma, an OSA Fellow Emeritus who was an Emeritus Professor at Denki Tsushin Daigaku (The University of Electro-Communications) in Tokyo, Japan, died on 27 December 2010. He was 80.
Professor Takuma received his Doctor of Science degree from the University of Tokyo. During his long and distinguished career, he was a professor of Physics at the University of Tokyo and the University of Electro-Communications (UEC), director of the Institute for Laser Science (ILS) at UEC, director of R&D and a technical advisor at JEOL Ltd., a Member of Scientific Advisory Board of Novalux, Inc., and a Senior Advisor for the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute.
An OSA member for over forty years, Takuma served on the OSA Board of Directors from 1994-1996. He also participated on the OSA Awards Committee, as chair of the International Council on Quantum Electronics, on the Lasers, Photonics & Environmental Optics Editorial Advisory Board and on various OSA award and program committees. He was a Founding Member of the OSA Foundation Optics Trust, a distinguished group of individuals who have included the OSA Foundation in their wills and estate plans.
Takuma was a member of the Science Council of Japan, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Matsuo Foundation, Emeritus Member of the Japan Society of Applied Physics, director of the Japan Society for Laser Surgery and Medicine, and an Honorary Member of the Medical Laser Society of Japan. In 1995, IEEE named him a Life Fellow for leadership in the development of excimer lasers for laser fusion applications, and 2008, the Photo-Medical Research Center (PMRC) created the Professor Hiroshi Takuma Scholarship in honor of Professor Takuma and his pioneering contributions to laser development and spectroscopy.
In 1999, Prof. Takuma provided a donation to create the Japan Society of Applied Physics Takuma Award, given to the researcher(s) who achieved significant contribution in Optics and Quantum Electronics research works. The first Takuma award was given to Dr. Shuji Nakamura for his contribution to blue laser diode development.
Prof. Takuma was the author and co-author of more than 200 papers on lasers, optics and spectroscopy. His awards and honors include the National Medal of Japan with Purple Ribbon and the Order of Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (Emperor's Award).
If you would like to make a memorial donation to the OSA Foundation in honor of Prof. Takuma, please visit www.osa-foundation.org/give.


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Travel from Acireale to Gela and discover Sicily city of 73.9 Thousand inhabitants. The distance from Acireale to Gela is 102 kilometers; with Wanderio you can compare the available treno so that you can organize your trip choosing the fastest route, the most comfortable or the cheapest one. For example, by choosing a treno from Acireale to Gela, you'll get to your destination in about 4 hours on average; the average treno ticket prices are 9 €.
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Gatwick brings in Fishburn Hedges and LCA to support second runway bid
Gatwick Airport has brought in Fishburn Hedges and the London Communications Agency (LCA) on an integrated PR and public affairs brief, as it looks to gain support for building a controversial second runway.
Allowing a second runway at Gatwick is just one of several options for airport expansion in South East England, which has been a difficult issue for the Government.
After coming under pressure last year to reverse the Coalition's commitment not to allow another runway at Heathrow, the Prime Minister set up an Independent Airports Commission, chaired by Sir Howard Davies, to look into options for expansion and report its findings after the 2015 General Election.
Gatwick is currently developing detailed expansion plans that could double the airport's annual capacity to around 70 million passengers and is to submit its case to the commission over the coming months.
The airport was sold by Heathrow owner BAA in 2009 to a group of international investment funds, of which Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is the majority shareholder.
Rival options the commission is expected to decide on include expanding Heathrow or Stanstead and building a new airport in Thames Estuary.
Gatwick's plans include evaluations of the environmental and economic impacts on the local area, which is likely to be fraught as campaigners have protested that the expansion will harm the environment and raise noise levels. It is legally committed not to build a second runway before 2019.
James Colman, corporate affairs and sustainability director at Gatwick Airport, said: 'We believe a second runway at Gatwick could present the best long-term solution to the future capacity constraints in the South East.
'We have the room to grow and our continued investment is proof that we're putting passengers first. Fishburn Hedges and LCA are proving to be crucial partners for our team as we ensure we make our voice heard in this important debate.


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Six must-haves for your next laptop purchase
So, what do I want out of my next laptop and what must it include?
Google's newest wireless gadget, the Chromecast dongle, promises to bridge the gap between the small screen of your mobile device and the big screen of your TV. It's cheap, simple, and doesn't include another layer of unnecessary services for you to sign up to.
Google's new Chromecast device wants to make it dead-simple to play Internet video on your TV, using a huge range of phones, tablets, and laptops as your controller.
The experience is like using AirPlay to beam content from an iOS device to an Apple TV. Tap the Chromecast button on your phone or tablet, and poof--the video starts playing on your TV. But unlike AirPlay, Chromecast isn't streaming the content from your device itself, but rather straight from the Internet, at the highest resolution available. That means you can still use your device to multitask without interrupting the video. In fact, it works like the Plair, only more reliably and for less money.
These are early days for the Chromecast, and not all of its features worked quite as effortlessly in our office as they did for Google in the company's Wednesday demo. But considering the impulse-buy price of $35, Chromecast is still a worthy purchase--especially since it includes three months of Netflix streaming, a $24 value.
Simple setup
The Chromecast is a small HDMI dongle that plugs into any available HDMI port on your HDTV. But because HDMI doesn't provide any power, the Chromecast needs constant power from a USB port as well. That can be a USB port on your TV if it has one. If no port is available, you'll need to connect the included USB cable to the bundled power adapter and find a place to plug it in.
After you've inserted and powered the dongle, Chromecast directs you to visit a URL on an approved device to finish setup. But when I fired up the Chrome browser on an iPhone 5 to do just that, I was greeted by an error message directing me to use an Android phone, or the Chrome browser on a Mac or Windows laptop. So, while you can use iOS devices to control your Chromecast, your initial setup requires other hardware.
I tried again from a Nexus 4 running Android 4.2, and the URL directed me to grab the Chromecast app on the Play Store. That app automatically detected the Chromecast device and let me name it and add it to my Wi-Fi network. So far, so good. Now the Chromecast was viewable by my iPhone and Mac as well as my Android phone and tablet.
Uh-oh, it's (not) magic
Google's demo started with the TV off, and when product manager Rishi Chandra sent a video to Chromecast by tapping the friendly Chromecast button in the YouTube app for Android, the TV obediently flicked to life. "Chromecast is turning on my TV, switching it to the right input, and now playing YouTube in HD on the TV," he boasted, but that trick didn't work at the TechHive office.
I thought maybe this was because I had plugged Chromecast into the TV's USB port, and it wasn't getting power with the TV off. Not so, apparently. When I plugged Chromecast's power adapter into the wall instead, the TV-on trick still didn't work. The YouTube app for Android saw the Chromecast and let me cast to it, but I had to turn the TV on myself (like a caveman!) and select the proper input to see the already playing video.
While a video is playing, you control it with your device the same way you would if it was playing on that device--meaning, I could mash the volume buttons on my Android phone and see a volume indicator on my TV. If you max out that volume slider, you see a message telling you that if you still need it louder, you'll have to turn up your TV itself. So while you can control playback from your phone or tablet, plan on keeping your TV remote handy too.
What works
But aside from those niggles--and some intermittent crashing back to the "ready to cast" screen, which might be the result of an overcrowded Wi-Fi network here at the office, the other features in Google's demo worked as advertised.
Playing videos from the YouTube apps on Android and iOS was a cinch--just tap the Chromecast button, and select the Chromecast device. YouTube even lets you add additional videos to the TV queue--an obvious "Add to TV queue" pops up on the Android app when you browse to another video, and the same option appears on iOS, but it's slightly hidden under the Share menu.
The Chromecast button appears in Netflix for iOS and Android too, and works like a charm. Once a video is playing, you can put your phone or tablet to sleep to save battery life, and still pause the playback from the lock screen, or pick up the controls from another device on the same Wi-Fi network.
The Play Music and Play Movies & TV apps on Android are also supported and let you cast content you've bought or rented from the Play Store. I was unable to play the Yeezus album that I'd sideloaded in to Play Music, and volume control lagged a little and worked only when I was in those apps. I could put the phone in sleep mode and get forward/back and play/pause controls on the lock screen, but the volume controls didn't work there either.
Brain freeze
Chromecast can also display content from a tab in Google Chrome on a Mac, Windows machine, or Chromebook Pixel, although that particular feature is still in beta. Once I downloaded the Google Cast app for Chrome, the Chromecast button appeared in my browser's upper-right corner, next to the URL bar. Casting a tab worked, although the playback lagged behind what was shown in the browser, and I was unable to adjust the volume with my Mac's volume buttons.
Still, I successfully played videos from Vimeo, Hulu Plus, and BravoTV.com. Chromecast strips out the view of your desktop and the browser's menu bar to focus on the content itself, which is a nice touch. I still had to go full-screen on my Mac to get a full-screen view on the TV, which meant I couldn't do other things on my Mac, unless I pressed Command-H to hide the Chrome app, or parked some other Mac apps in another Desktop space. Closing the tab on the Mac halts the playback on the TV.
As expected with anything marked beta, the tab-casting feature crashed a few times. Playback would freeze, attempt to buffer, and eventually return to the Chromecast's "ready to cast" start screen--once with a sheepish error message that said just "Brain freeze."
Still, with an SDK to let more developers add in-app support, a low price, and cross-platform compatibility, the Chromecast has a lot going for it.
So, what do I want out of my next laptop and what must it include?
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