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Joshua Waller reviews the new Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR - like the F550 before it, it features a 15x optical zoom, but adds new GPS functions.
| Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR in Compact Cameras
The Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR is the latest compact pocket zoom from Fujifilm and is an update to the F600 EXR, adding these new features:
"New EXR Auto with a Motion Detection capability to virtually reduce subject blur in all lighting conditions. The built-in GPS functionality adds a Landmark Navigator feature to help photographers pin-point locations and the 15x wide-angle optical zoom lens now doubles its telephoto power (to 30x) thanks to the new intelligent digital zoom mode."
It also adds a new textured finish on the black model and features a 16 megapixel EXR CMOS sensor, 15x optical zoom lens, 3 inch screen, GPS and RAW support. (As this camera is so similar to the predecessor, this review is based on the F550 EXR Review).
Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR FeaturesThe Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR sits at the top of the range in Fujifilm's line-up of pocket-zoom / travel-zoom cameras and features a wide angle 15x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 24-360mm.
Another feature of the F600 is a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor for high speed shooting and Fuji's unique EXR pixel arrangement to give three modes of operation: HR: High Resolution (uses all pixels to make a 16 megapixel images), SN: High Sensitivity for high ISO, low noise at 8 megapixels and DR: for dynamic range improvements (upto 1600% now available), at 8 megapixels.
The F600 and F550 goes beyond what the F500 offers, by including manual controls and RAW support and GPS support. If you don't need or want these features you can save some money by going for the Fujifilm FinePix F500 EXR instead. Both cameras are capable of recording Full HD video with optical zoom and stereo sound.
GPS options are further enhanced on the F600EXR with the following GPS options: GPS On (permanently), On (when camera switched on), Off. Location info ON/OFF. Auto time correction (On without summertime, with summertime, or off), GPS Tracking data on/off (creates a text document on the memory card with GPS information). GPS KM/Mile setting.
In playback you can access landmark navigator, this gives you a compass when the camera is pointed down or a view of GPS landmarks such as public facilities, tourist spots, leisure spots and my landmark. GPS Photo Navigation is another option. You can copy the location info, or search images by date, GPS location name, face, favourites, scene, type of data, or by upload mark (Youtube or Facebook).
Key Features
- 16.0 megapixel back-lit EXR CMOS sensor
- 15x optical zoom lens, f/3.5-5.3, 24-360mm in 35mm equivalent
- 3inch screen, 460k pixels
- Full HD video, 30fps, with stereo sound
- High speed video 320/160/80fps
- Scenes / Pro shooting mode / Pro Focus / Pro Low Light
- 120/180/360 degrees motion panorama
- Image stabilisation: Image-sensor shift type
- ISO100 - ISO3200, ISO6400 at 8mp, ISO12800 at 4mp
- 5cm Macro mode
- Pop-up flash (electronic button)
- RAW+JPEG mode, Manual controls
- New GPS Features
Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR HandlingDespite being quite a compact camera, it features a rubber front grip, along with a textured / rubberised body. There is also another rubber grip on the back of the camera, although they are simply rubber spots where your thumb rests. This design gives good grip generally, although a tripod may still be necessary when using the full optical zoom.
On the back is an easy to use slanted mode dial and a number of buttons on the back provide quick access to the main modes, including playback and video modes. The video button is quite large, however it felt a little spongy which meant I occasionally wondered whether the camera had started recording.
Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR - virtually the same to look at, except the F600 has a pop-up button for the flash. This also means you can close the flash more easily than the previous model. The camera features a stylish metal body, with a metal tripod mount.
The F600 is really quite compact for a camera with such a large zoom and it's just the lens that protrudes out of the camera when off, meaning it will easily fit into the more compact camera cases such as the Tamrac Neo 14 (possibly one of the smallest cases available for this camera) with a very snug fit.
Menus: The Fujifilm FinePix F600 menus are quite straightforward, with the main controls split into photo menus and setup menus. Another set of options can be changed by using the F button on the back of the camera, this gives quick access to: ISO, Image size, Continuous shooting, GPS settings, Advanced anti blur and film simulation. Although the availability of the options are dependant on the mode you are currently in. More advanced GPS options, IS mode selection, Red-eye removal and RAW options are available in the setup menu, including the option to save the original image - this works when using red-eye removal, pro focus, pro low-light and motion panorama modes.
Battery Life: The CIPA rating is 300 shots, although I suspect this is with GPS positioning switched off as the battery life seemed much lower when GPS was left switched on. The battery is a 1000mAh 3.6v battery (NP-50) and is rather small, which would explain the slightly disappointing battery life of only 195 shots.
Speed: We tested the Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR and tested the camera with the Canon Powershot SX230 and Sony Cybershot HX9v, taking 6 shots and using the average to ensure consistent results.
|Fujifilm F600EXR
|Canon SX230
|Sony HX9
|Shutter Response
|Wide - Focus / Shutter Response
|Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response
|Switch on Time to Taking a Photo
|Shot to Shot (without flash)
|Shot to Shot with Flash
Continuous Shooting
(full resolution)
(8 shots)
(10 shots)
|Continuous shooting (with flash)
The Fujifilm FinePix F600 has a good number of options for continuous shooting: No. of frames: 4, 8, 16, 32. 8fps full resolution (max 8 shots), 11fps at Medium (8mp), max 16 frames / or 32 frames at S (Small, 4mp).
Shooting at 8fps for 8 shots, the camera will take 18 seconds to save the photos before you can take any more. Fast focusing and shutter response. As well as a quicker switch on time, the camera also gives a quicker shot to shot time compared to the predecessor.
High speed shooting: shooting at 8mp, you can shoot at speeds up to 11 fps for up to 16 shots. Full resolution continuous shooting is available with shots being taken at 8fps.
Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR PerformanceHere are several sample photos taken in a variety of lighting conditions, click "Hi-Res" to view full size sample photos, there are more sample photos in the equipment database where you can also add your own photos and review:
Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR Sample Photos
The portrait photo with flash shows very little red-eye, although better detail should be available by manually selecting a lower ISO setting. The shots have bright saturated colours with strong reds and blues. "Intelligent Zoom" is just another name for digital zoom and you should be able to get better results using dedicated enlargement software should it be needed.
Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR Lens test images
Lens test images show the camera at wide and telephoto zoom, with quite good detail, although the top right corners are soft on the wide shot and images could be a little sharper. Purple fringing is generally quite lot, except in strong contrast. Macro focusing is possible with the subject 5cm away from the front of the lens, this produces good macro photos, as can be seen above.
Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR ISO test images
ISO test images show low noise at the lowest ISO settings of ISO100 and ISO200, with noise gradually increasing as the ISO setting increases. At ISO6400 the images are resized to 8mp and at ISO12800 images are resized to 4mp. At ISO3200 and above you would most likely be best resizing images for use on the web. There is some pincushion distortion in these shots.
Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR White-balance test images
Auto white balance under tungsten lights gives a warm / yellow cast to images and using the preset gives a more accurate colour rendition. Auto white balance under fluorescent light is very good with very natural / accurate looking colours and using the preset gives the image a magenta / pink cast. Under the majority of situations, indoors or outdoors auto white balance produces good results.
360 1/450 sec | f/3.8 | 5.7 mm | ISO 200
The panoramic options are 120, 180, 360 / 360 circular with horizontal and vertical directions both available.
Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR Digital filters
Digital Filters / Colour modes - the camera lets you choose film simulation modes with the default being standard / provia and others available: Velvia/Vivid, Astia/Soft, Black and White and Sepia
Some more of the features are shown above and the ability to save the original image is useful in case the features don't give you the results you were expecting. The Advanced option on the mode dial give you access to the panoramic, pro-focus, pro-low-light and panoramic modes. Additional examples using these modes can be seen in the F550 EXR Review.
Video - The video quality is good and there are a large number of options, including high speed video with upto 320 frames per second (at reduced resolution), for examples have a look at our youtube channel. Full HD video struggled at times focusing at full optical zoom, more than I've seen on other compact pocket zooms. Video defaults to single AF, but if you're using optical zoom then you'll need to set it to continuous focus so that it can focus.
Value for Money
The Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR offers very good value for money priced extremely competitively compared to the competition and is only £30 more than the F550, undercutting the Sony Cybershot HX9v, Panasonic Lumix TZ20, Canon Powershot SX230 HS, although the Casio Exilim H20G is available for roughly the same price, it features a 10x optical zoom lens instead. Have a look at our GPS Travel Zoom comparison.
Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR VerdictThe Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR is a good incremental update to the F550 EXR and still packs everything into a compact body and does so at a significantly lower price than the competition. With a wide angle 15x optical zoom lens, a large 3inch screen and built in GPS, the compact camera would make a great travel companion, especially as it's one of the smallest pocket zooms available with GPS. The use of an EXR CMOS sensor allows high speed shooting, high speed video, improved dynamic range and low noise modes. Image quality is very good with strong colours and the camera has a good macro mode. The improvements made to GPS with a built in compass and landmark navigator could be of particular interest to people who are interested in things like geo-caching, travelling, hiking or just generally knowing where they are and where nearby landmarks are. However, using GPS does drain the battery quite quickly.
|The Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR adds some interesting new GPS features and takes bright colourful photos.
Full HD video, stereo sound and high speed video
High speed 8fps continuous shooting for 8 shots
Quick performance (particularly at wide angle)
Huge amount of zoom in a pocket-able body
Dynamic range expansion, low noise modes
Enhanced GPS features including compass
Built in vibration reduction
Excellent 3inch screen
Great value for money
Fujifilm FinePix F600EXR Cons:
Some purple fringing
Some pincushion distortion
GPS lock can be slow
Low battery life when using GPS
Fujifilm FinePix F600 EXR Specifications
|Max Aperture
|f/3.5 - f/5.3
|35mm equivalent
|24mm - 360mm
|Optical Zoom
|Image Sensor
|16Mp (Megapixels)
|Pixels (W)
|Pixels (H)
|Sensor Type
|Back-lit CMOS EXR (B.S.I.)
|Sensor Size
|1/1.2 inch
|Sensor Size (width)
|Sensor Size (height)
|Aspect Ratio
|LCD Monitor
|LCD Monitor
|Screen resolution
|460k dots
|Touch Screen
|Min Focus
|Focusing modes
|Exposure Control
|Shutter speeds shortest
|Shutter speeds longest
|Bulb mode
|No Data
|Exp modes
|ISO sensitivity
|100 - 12800
|White balance
|Exposure Comp
|Shooting Options
|Continuous shooting
|Movie mode
|Video Resolution
|Video FPS
|Stereo Sound
|Optical Zoom with Video
|Other Features
|Image Stabilisation
|Card Type
|File Type
|Power Source
|Battery Type
|Lithium Ion
|Battery Life (CIPA rating)
|Box Contents
|Box Contents
|Camera, Li-ion battery NP-50, Battery charger BC-45W, Hand strap, USB cable, A / V cable, CD-ROM, Owner's manual
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Introduction: Toddler Friendly Re-purposed Crayons
This project gives new life to old, broken crayons. Instead of having unused crayon fragments floating around and getting underfoot you can recycle them back into use.
I have two daughters, one is two and a half years old, the other is one and a half. The older one breaks crayons into pieces that are too small for the younger one to manipulate well. To combat this (and prevent all the broken crayons being swept into the trash) I melt and recast them.
*** Note if you are planning to make new crayons for a toddler please think about the size/shape of the finished product that comes out of the mold. You don't want to create a choking hazard for your kid(s).
Step 1: Materials Needed
1) Crayons - whole or broken
2 ) Molds - there are a number of ways to improvise here if you don't have suitable molds. More detail in step 3.
3) Heat source and vessel to melt the crayons. I have used the following 2 methods:
- Heat gun and aluminum foil (you can substitute a hair dryer for the heat gun)
- Stove and pan - to prevent my wife assaulting me I use a camp stove and soda can. A double boiler would be the preferred method. If you use a can you will also need pliers or another way to move a hot metal container.
In my experience the stove/pan method is more dangerous, messier, has more waste, and the results are not as impressive. I just present it as an alternative if you don't have access to a heat gun/hair dryer.
4) Materials to improvise a stand (if you use heat gun and foil). I have used:
- Scrap wood and floral wire (used in this Instructable)
- Empty soup can
- Spring clamps
5) Safety
- Fire Extinguisher
- Proper clothing and footwear
- Good ventilation
- Bowl of ice water
6) Spring clamp & Razor knife (optional)
Step 2: Prepare the Crayons
Remove all of the paper wrappers from the crayons, and any debris that they may have accumulated during their tenure under the couch. Cat hair does not smell good when it burns.
For very small pieces it is easiest to just rip the paper off of the crayon. For larger pieces/whole crayons I find it best to slice through the wrapper with a razor and pull the entire thing off in one piece. You can hold the crayon by hand and do this, but if you are clumsy like me the chances of a razor cut are approximately 100%.
I use a cheap ($1 at the Home Depot near me) 2" spring clamp to hold the crayon steady, then just drag the knife across the wrapper.
Step 3: Get the Molds Ready
Silicone molds are the best option that I have found for this project, but you can easily improvise/make molds with stuff around the house.
In this Instructable I have used:
- Blocks from my children's shape sorter (the yellow shapes).
- Tube of rolled up cardboard and tape.
- Note- if you use tape use masking tape or some form of paper tape. I have found plastic tapes and their adhesive separate under the heating process and let go. This usually results in molten crayon pouring over the work area.
- Miniature baking cup inserted into a small plastic cup (the cup is to give rigidity so the molten crayon stays put).
- Lip balm lid glued into a plastic cup (makes a ring that the kids enjoy for 20-30 seconds prior to shattering it into 1,000 pieces).
In the past I cut up egg cartons to make an egg shaped mold, but my kids prefer shapes. Egg crayons are supposed to be easier for really young children to manipulate and may be worth trying if you have a smaller child.. You could probably drill a hole in a plastic Easter egg for a better result with less work.
The cardboard tube is a single use mold, and I just peel it away from the recast crayon.
For all of the plastic molds you will want to lubricate them so you can get the crayon out. I give them a light coating of coconut oil because that is what I had on hand. Pam or similar cooking spray would probably be easier to apply, especially if there are any tight curves/corners. Since children like to put things in their mouth be sure to use a food-safe oil.
If you have access to a 3D printer- I do not :( - the sky is the limit.
Step 4: Step 4: Making a Foil Funnel (only for Heat-gun Method)
The dimensions of the funnel you use can be modified based on your preferences. I usually prefer a smaller funnel and put 1 or 2 crayons in it at a time to keep the colors in the finished product somewhat segregated. If you want the colors to run together more a bigger funnel will let you to jam more colors in at a time. I also cast mostly small items. Bigger projects would need more crayon and a larger hopper would help.*
My foil is 12" wide. I generally use a 12" x 12" (30.5 x 30.5cm) piece for a larger funnel or a 12" x 6" (30.5cm x 15.25cm) piece for a smaller funnel.
If using a 12" x 12" (or other square piece) Fold it in half twice. This should result in a square piece 1/4 the size of the original piece. If you want a particularly thick/rugged funnel you can halve it twice more. It will be 1/4 the current size and have more layers of foil to add structure.
If you are using a 12" x 6" (or other rectangular piece) fold it in half once to make the piece roughly a square. Then fold twice more as above to produce a square 1/4 the size of the original.
Now you will need to look at the four corners of your square. You are looking for the corner that is made up entirely of folds. There should be no raw edges present. Cut off just the tip of this corner.
This is where your molten crayon will leave the funnel and pour into the mold. If you make it too big entire pieces/crayons will fall through without melting. Start small and gradually increase the size of the hole if you need to.
Now you will just want to form your funnel into a funnel shape. I just mold it by hand. Try to make sure that your opening is directly centered in the bottom of the funnel so your liquid ends up where you want it to.
* Note: The crayons shrink when they cool. The larger the mold the more likely it will be distorted during the cooling process.
Step 5: Step 5: Building/Improvising a Funnel Station
We need to devise something that can hold our funnel above the mold and allow us to apply heat to it. I have used a number of things that I had lying around:
- Soup can - requires mold be fairly small, and it is a huge pain to get the mold back out. Good option if you want to layer colors in the mold though, because you can put the entire thing aside to cool.
- Tower of 2" spring clamps - I clamped the clamps together and then used a small 3/4" clamp to hold the funnel to the tower.
- Scrap wood and piece of gardening wire - the method I used in this Instructable. This has been the best solution so far because it was easy to put together with some scraps I had lying around and is more readily adjusted/customized to allow different heights/widths of molds.
I assembled this stand by grabbing a pair of wood scraps that were an "L" shape and the same height. These support everything structure.
I twisted some wire into a loop and stapled it to the wood braces to suspend the funnel between the braces.
Using wire was beneficial because I could adjust the width between the wood braces. This let me easily accommodate different molds and funnels.
It was also a simple matter to take it back apart and return the parts to the scrap bin for later projects.
I don't have photos of the construction steps, but hopefully the pictures of the complete apparatus will make sense. It is just a piece of wire stapled to 2 boards. The last photo shows a tin can being used to hold the funnel.
Step 6: Step 6: Get the Mold Ready
If you are using a silicone mold all that needs to be done is to place it under the funnel.
If you are using a plastic mold be sure to lubricate it (using food safe oil), then place it under the funnel.
I like to look through the funnel to make sure everything is aligned properly.
If you will be switching molds, or moving from one cell to another in the same mold now is the time to plan how you will do this.
- Any mold that you use will be hot to the touch. If you burn yourself moving it you may reflexively spill/fling molten crayon causing further problems.
- Silicone molds flex, which can lead to molten crayon pouring out.
I use a scrap piece of wood to put under loose molds (i.e. the yellow shapes) so I can move the wood forward/backward to remove one mold from the heating area and introduce a new one. With silicone I slide them along the work space, but I am careful to move them slowly and use gloves or pliers to prevent being burned.
Step 7: Step 7: Add the Crayons and Let 'er Rip
During this stage you will be manipulating molten wax that runs freely and have a number of hot surfaces during the process. So some safety precautions:
- Wear appropriate clothing and shoes.
- Be mindful of where molten wax will run to if it is spilled. Is the work space level? Are there items/barriers that will direct the flow, etc.
- Keep a bowl of cold water nearby. If you get scalding hot wax on your hand it will continue to burn the area until it cools. The best thing to do is dunk your hand in the water and pull of the wax as soon as it hardens enough to be removed (in my experience a couple seconds in an ice bath and it comes off).
- Be aware of the potential fire hazard. Keep a fire extinguisher handy. Crayons are made of paraffin wax., the same thing candles are. If something gets heated to the point to combustion you can have a real problem real fast.
- Make sure the area is ventilated. The last remnants of the crayons during the heating process can sometimes burn off, especially if you use a higher heat setting on your heat gun.
Now let's get to it.
All you need to do is add crayon(s) to the hopper of the funnel and apply heat. I move the heat gun around to try and heat everything evenly.
Often times the crayons will begin to melt, but nothing will run out of the funnel. This is fine, just keep applying heat. Usually a larger piece of unmelted crayon has blocked the opening. Once everything is heated enough it will liquefy and the melted crayons will run.
DO NOT try to poke around in the funnel to open it up. It is easy to dislodge it from the holder, or shred the foil it is made out of. At minimum you get a mess, but you can easily be burned doing this.
Keep an eye on how full the mold is versus how much crayon remains in the funnel. When the mold is getting close to full stop adding crayon and/or remove the heat so the crayon stops running freely. I find it is better to have a mold somewhat under filled than somewhat over filled.
Once the mold(s) are full set them aside to cool. If you want to expedite the process you can put them in the freezert.
After the crayons have cooled and solidified pop them out of the mold and you are all set.
- Silicone molds more or less turn inside out. And the crayon pops right out.
- For hard sided molds I turn them upside-down and smack them on the table a couple times to loosen the crayon up, then it should slide out with a little teasing.
- As mentioned previously, cardboard/paper molds peel off.
- The inner layers of paper will likely be saturated with colored wax. You may find ways to repurpose this waste. I use the ugly wax impregnated paper as fire-starting material. My wife uses the prettier pieces in art projects with the kids.
Steps 8 details how to use a stove and pan instead of the heat gun/funnel. If you used the heat gun method you can skip to Step 9 for tips.
Step 8: Using a Stove and Pan (skip If Using Heat Gun Method)
As mentioned previously I would avoid the stove and pan method and stick with a heat gun, if possible. In my experience there are a few drawbacks to using the stove:
- It's more difficult to clean up.
- If you have a gas stove the fire risk is greatly increased.
- There is more waste from crayons coating the pan.
- It is easy to accidentally mix all the molten crayon into a nasty brown color. If you are mixing hues of one color only (i.e. different types of blue) it isn't nasty, but still a solid color and far less attractive than a mixture of colors/hues in my opinion.
If you have a double boiler, or two pans that can nest inside one another definitely use that. It will reduce your odds of burning down the house. I have been banned from using kitchen pans for experimentation (we won't go into details) so I resorted to an empty soda can over a camp stove. This is more dangerous and I definitely do not recommend it.
This is a fairly straightforward process. You place crayons into the pan, then put the pan over a heat source. Unless you have a good reason not to (setting isn't available, in a rush) I would advise to use the lowest heat setting you can find to melt the crayons. Less chance of a fire, less crayon burning to the sides of the pan, etc.
Once the crayons have melted you will carefully pour the liquid into the mold(s) that you are using.
*** If you are melting crayons in a single pot over fire (as I was in the photos) after your first pour everything becomes more dangerous. You now have a flammable liquid running down the side of your pot (or can, in my case) that is being put over fire. Things can (obviously) go wrong from this point forward if you are not careful.
Once the mold(s) are full set them aside to cool. If you want to expedite the process you can put them in the freezer for a bit.
After the crayons have cooled and solidified pop them out of the mold and you are all set.
- Silicone molds more or less turn inside out. And the crayon pops right out.
- For hard sided molds I turn them upside-down and smack them on the table a couple times to loosen the crayon up, then it should slide out with a little teasing.
- As mentioned previously, cardboard/paper molds peel off.
- The inner layers of paper will likely be saturated with colored wax. You may find ways to re-purpose this waste. I use the wax impregnated cardboard as a fire-starter.
Step 9: Tips
There are 3 main variants of color pattern that you can make:
- Solid Color - a single color (was that necessary?)
- Layers of color - imagine it like a rainbow, with defined segments of a specific color
- Swirl - all of the colors swirl together throughout the end product
Most of the crayons I make are what I call "swirl" because my children them and it is easier to do than layering.
When the "swirl" crayons are in the mold, but still liquid you can use a toothpick to introduce patterns or spread colors as you like.
To make a layered crayon:
- Put a quantity of one color in the mold.
- Let it cool.
- Add the next color.
- Let it cool.
- Repeat until the mold is full or you have all the colors you want.
- Recommend cooling in the freezer, because this TAKES FOREVER.
This process is better for large molds because the cooling takes place incrementally so you don't end up with the shrinkage you otherwise would. If you decide to layer crayons I have found that it is best to heat up the top portion in the mold so that it is nearly to the point of melting. Then when you add the next layer they wont mix and swirl together, but both layers are liquid enough to let them laminate and the crayon is less likely to fracture between layers.
If you are able to tilt the mold it will move the layers off axis, which I think looks better.
If you have a thrift store nearby drop in sometime if you need pans to make a double boiler, or crayons. The store near my house occasionally has giant bags of crayons (new and broken) for $1. Pots and pans are usually priced about the same. If you need a hair dryer you might find a deal on that as well.
If you don't have a hair dryer or heat gun (and you live in the U.S.) you might look into the Harbor Freight heat gun. I have no affiliation with Harbor Freight, and I know they are much maligned. I am careful to research anything I buy from them, and the heat gun had good reviews. It costs about $9 when it is on sale. I have had mine for over a year and use it fairly often (a couple times a month, at least) and have had no problems. To be safe, I do make sure that it is never left plugged in.
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o the scope or method of performing services by us has changed due to implementation, modification or withdrawal of particular functionalities or services provided by this Terms of Use.
In case of the change of these Terms of Use its consolidated text will be each time made available on the Web Site. Please check these Terms of Use before using the Web Site to determine whether a change has been made in comparison to the text applicable during your last visit. Your continuing access to or use of the Web Site confirms your unconditional acceptance of the then-current Terms of Use in their entirety. If you do not agree to the changes in the Terms of Use as they occur, you should exit and not use the Web Site.
All register users will be notified about any amendments to the using the electronic means (on the email address that you provided when creating an account or making an order). The notification will be sent at least 30 days before the amendments come into force. .
2. Use of Web Site
In order to browse and use the Web Site you should possess a device having access to the Internet with a web browser installed. In order to use the Web Site and buy the products available on the Web Site you should also have an active email account.
You may browse and use the Web Site solely for your personal, non-commercial purposes and in compliance with these Terms of Use. You may not distribute, modify, transmit, publish, reuse, repost or use the Web Site or any content made available on the Web Site: (i) for public or commercial purposes without the express written permission of CM; (ii) in a manner inconsistent with these Terms of Use; (iii) in violation of any applicable law, rule, regulation or order; or (iv) in a manner that could damage, disable, overburden or impair the Web Site or interfere with any other party's use or enjoyment of the Web Site, misrepresenting or damaging to our brand.
You will not use the Web Site for junk mail, 'spamming' solicitations (commercial or non-commercial), chain letters or bulk communications of any kind, including but not limited to distribution lists to any person who has not given specific permission to be included on such a list.
You will not transmit, distribute, introduce or otherwise make available in any manner through the Web Site any computer virus, key loggers, spyware, worms, Trojan horses, timebombs or other malicious or harmful programming (collectively, "Viruses").. You may not use the Web Site in connection with requesting, harvesting, obtaining or storing any personal information, passwords, account information or information about other users of the Web Site. You may not use any data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction tools in connection with the Web Site. If you download software or any other content from the Web Site, you do so at your own risk.
3. Copyright and Trademarks
The Web Site and all text, audio, video, pictures, music, images, graphics, information, data, content, and other material displayed on, or downloadable from, the Web Site (the "Content") are the property of, or used with permission by, CM and/or JJ Footwear B.V. and are protected by copyright, trademark and other laws and may not be used except as permitted in these Terms of Use or with the prior written permission of the owner of such material. You may not modify the Content in any way or reproduce or publicly display, perform, distribute or otherwise use any such Content for any public or commercial purpose. Any unauthorized use of any Content may violate copyright laws, trademark laws, laws of privacy and publicity, or other laws, rules and regulations. You may not remove any copyright, trademark or other proprietary notices from the Web Site or any Content. All rights to Content not expressly granted herein are reserved by and to the respective owners of such Content.
Certain trademarks, trade names, service marks and logos, icons and domain names used or displayed on the Web Site are registered and unregistered trademarks, trade names and service marks owned by JJ Footwear BV and/or our affiliates. Other trademarks, trade names and service marks used or displayed on the Web Site are the registered and unregistered trademarks, trade names and service marks owned by their respective owners and used with permission by CM. Nothing contained on the Web Site grants or should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right to use any trademarks, trade names, service marks or logos displayed on the Web Site without CM's written permission or the written permission of such third-party owner.
4. User Communications
You alone are responsible for any communication, message or other content that you post, upload, submit, transmit or share with CM on the Web Site or by electronic mail, including without limitation any data, questions, comments, ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, suggestions or the like (collectively "User Communications"). By transmitting or posting any User Communications, you represent and warrant that such User Communications are your own original work and will not infringe or violate any copyright, trademark, trade secret, rights of privacy, rights of publicity or any other applicable laws. CM does not endorse or sponsor any such User Communications submitted by you or other users of the Web Site. We reserve the right to terminate and/or deny you access to the Web Site if you are violating these Terms of Use, or applicable law, rule, regulation or order or that your conduct is harmful to us, our interests or the interests of another user, a third-party provider, merchant, sponsor, licensor, service provider or any other third party.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in our Privacy Policy (linked at the bottom of each page in the Web Site), all User Communications will be treated as non-confidential and non-proprietary information. Accordingly, please do not post, upload, submit or share any User Communications you wish to be kept confidential or for which you expect compensation, acknowledgment or attribution. You hereby grant to KRM and our affiliates and/or designees, a perpetual, fully paid up, royalty-free, irrevocable, worldwide license to the User Communications to use, transmit, copy, reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, and prepare derivate works based upon such User Communications in any and all media now known or hereafter to become known for any and all commercial and non-commercial purposes, without the need for any acknowledgment, compensation or attribution. You declare and warrant to us that you are entitled to transmit or post User Communications to the Web Site and have all relevant licenses and consents from any relevant third parties. Further, CM and its affiliates are free to use any ideas, concepts, know-how or techniques contained in any User Communication you send to the Web Site for any purpose whatsoever including without limitation developing, manufacturing and marketing products.
You are prohibited from posting, uploading, submitting, sharing or transmitting any unlawful, threatening, infringing, libellous, defamatory, obscene, inflammatory, pornographic or profane material or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or would otherwise violate the law. CM will fully cooperate with any law enforcement or regulatory authorities or court order requesting or directing it to disclose the identity of anyone posting any such information or materials.
We will, but are not obligated to, monitor or review any User Communications. We shall have no obligation to use, return, review, or respond to any User Communications. We act merely as a medium for distribution of User Communications and will have no liability related to the content of any such User Communications, whether or not arising under the laws of copyright, libel, privacy, obscenity, or otherwise. You agree to notify CM of any objectionable User Communications. All and any User Communication will be removed from the Web Site as soon as we learn about its unlawful character.
5. Personal Information/Privacy Policy
We value your privacy and are committed to safeguarding your personal information. Please refer to our Privacy Policy (linked at the bottom of each page in the Web Site) for details about what information we collect on this Web Site and how we process, store and share such information.
6. Termination/Suspension
We may suspend or terminate your use of the Web Site at any time, for important reasons such as the site being hacked, discovery of technical issues which could be a potential issue to our customers. We reserve the right to change, suspend, or discontinue all or any aspect of the Web Site at any time without notice.
7. Purchasing Products and Returns
o 7.1.Products
o The products we sell online are displayed on this Website and include but are not limited to footwear, bags and shoe care products.
o 7.2.Purchasing
o By placing an order and clicking the button "Place order and pay" you are offering to purchase a product on and subject to the following terms and conditions. All orders are subject to availability and confirmation thereof as there may be rare occasions where for example two orders are placed for the exact same product and only one is available to send.
We try to dispatch and deliver to you the ordered goods as soon as possible. Dispatch times may, however, vary according to availability and any guarantees or representations made as to delivery times are subject to any delays resulting from postal delays or force majeure. We deliver free of charge.
In order to contract with us you must be over 18 years of age and possess a valid credit or debit card specified in point 7.5. of these Terms of Use. If your order is accepted, we will inform you by email. When placing an order you undertake that all details you provide to us are true and accurate, that you are an authorised user of the credit card, debit card or other payment method used to place your order and that there are sufficient funds to cover the cost of the goods..
o 7.3.Our Contract
o When you place an order, you will receive an acknowledgement e-mail confirming receipt of your order. This email will only be an acknowledgement that we have received your offering to purchase a product and will not constitute acceptance of your order. A contract between us for the purchase of the goods will not be formed until your order is ready to be shipped at which time we send you an order confirmation as well as the invoice and shipment information. Hence, the contract is concluded at the moment when we send you an order confirmation. We will not charge your card with any amount before shipping your products, however an amount may be reserved on your card in order to ensure sufficient funds to cover the payment.
You accept that all communication regarding the order including order confirmation, invoice, shipping information, confirmation of the contract conclusion etc. is done via e-mail.
o 7.4.Pricing and Availability
o All prices of the products available on the Web Site are provided in local currency and include VAT (they are gross amounts).
o 7.5.Payment
o The data of the payment method that you wish to use for payment should be provided to us when placing an order on the Web Site. Upon receiving your order we carry out a standard pre-authorisation for credit or debit cards and for bank transfer we do a control check. We do this to ensure there are sufficient funds to fulfil the transaction. Products will not be dispatched until this pre-authorisation check and control have been completed. Your card will be debited once the order has been accepted and we are shipping your products. For bank transfer your account will be debited as soon as the order has been placed.
We accept the following cards: Visa, Visa Electron, Mastercard credit and Mastercard debit.
When paying with credit or debit card, the full amount is reserved on your account by us and payment is debited from your card only at the time of dispatch of your products.
§ Your connection is always secure with us and encrypted with 256 bit cipher.
§ CM Online Shop is using 3D Secure Visa and Mastercard.
§ For security reasons, we do not store any payment information in our database.
All fees and charges related to the above payment methods are covered by CM Online Shop.
o 7.6.Discount Codes
o We may from time to time offer promotional discount codes, which may apply in respect of any, or certain specified, purchases made though this Website.
The conditions of potential use relating to any discount code will be specified at the time of issue.
o 7.7.Delivery
o All products purchased from the Web Site are delivered pursuant to a shipment agreement. Service provider is DPD and/or Fedex. Accordingly, the risk of loss and title to such purchased products passes to you upon delivery to you at the designated address. Delivery will be made within 2-3 business days after your order has been received. The time required for the ordered goods to be delivered to you includes the time necessary to prepare the ordered goods for shipment and the time of delivery of the goods by DPD/Fedex.
o 7.8.Descriptions
o We attempt to describe our products as accurately as possible. However, errors do occur. If a product purchased on the Web Site does not conform to the product description, your sole and exclusive remedy is to return the unused product.
o 7.9.Cancellations and returns
o You may cancel an order up until the time of dispatch by contacting our Customer Care at number +31-416-272223. If we have taken payment the full amount will be refunded to you via the original method of payment.
When you shop with us, we want you to be completely satisfied. If you are not satisfied with a purchase made at the Web Site, you may withdraw from the contract concluded with us and return the ordered goods for a refund of the purchase price. We can only accept returns purchased through this Web Site. All purchases made through another sales point must be returned to the original place of purchase.
Just return your unused and unworn item to us within 14 days upon receipt of the item at:
Custom Made Boots and Shoes
p/a JJ Footwear BV
Professor van 't Hoffweg 14a
5144NS Waalwijk
The Netherlands
The deadline of 30 days is counted from the date when the ordered goods have been delivered to you.
Your statement on the withdrawal from our contract may be sent to us in any form and by any mean of correspondence. You may also use the specimen return form attached to this Terms of Use. You should also return the goods acquired by the withdrawn contract within 14 days counted from the date of the withdrawal.
We will reimburse the purchase price of the goods being subject to the withdrawn contract not later than within 14 days counted from the date when we obtain your statement on withdrawal. Please note, however, that we may suspend the reimbursement until we receive the returned goods.
In order to speed up the return the reimbursement of the purchase price you may also apply our return procedure:
How (most easily) to return an item
Step 1: Complete the return form by checking the appropriate box with the reason for your return if you wish to inform us why you are returning the products.
Step 2: Place the return form inside the box with the products.
Step 3: Send this form with the products you wish to return.
Step 4: Stick the prepaid return label on your box (Please do not stick the prepaid return label on the original shoebox.)
Step 5: Deliver the package to your closest DPD store. You may find the closest drop off location at: https://www.dpd.com/group/en/services/
Returns may take time
It can take approximately 21 days for us to receive your return to our warehouse. We strongly encourage you to use our prepaid return label included in the parcel and to keep your receipt as proof of postage.
Your refund will be processed in the original form of payment within 2 business days, as soon as we have received your goods in the warehouse. As of July 1, 2021, you will be notified via email when this transaction has taken place.
Your banking institution may require additional days to process and post the "return" transaction to your account once they have received the information from us.
Please note that if you do not use the provided prepaid return label, you are responsible for the goods until they reach our warehouse.
If you do not use the provided prepaid return label in order to return the goods, you are obliged to cover the direct costs of the goods returning. We are responsible for return shipping costs if we have sent wrong or defective goods.
The returned goods should not be used in the manner not necessary to verify their character, features and functionality. You may try on the products, but you should not wear them. If you return a used, worn or washed item that is not approved by our quality control, we cannot send the item back to you.
If you receive a defective/wrong item or a damaged parcel with missing items the easiest way to handle this is if we get photographic evidence of this. Please send a photo to our Customer Care team so we can investigate further - we are then responsible for the return.
Based on your return instructions in the return authorization form, we will issue you a credit to your card. We can only issue credit to the same card used for the purchase. We do not have title to the returned products until the item arrives at our returns department. Alternative returns policies may apply to particular products and product lines.
If you have any questions about our returns process, please contact Customer Care.
8. Linking
This Web Site may contain links to other web sites that are not owned, operated or controlled by CM or its affiliates (each a "Third-Party Site"). All such links to Third-Party Sites are provided solely as a convenience to you. If you use these links, you will leave our Web Site. We are not responsible for your access to or use of any Third-Party Site. We do not endorse, guarantee, or make any representations or warranties regarding any Third-Party Site, or any content or information accessible from such Third Party Sites, or the results that you may obtain from using any Third-Party Site. If you access any Third-Party Site linked to or from the Web Site, you do so entirely at your own risk.
If you intend to create any link from another web site to any page on this Web Site, you will inform us via email at: firstname.lastname@example.com
We reserve the right to prohibit any such link at any time. Any permitted links to the Web Site must comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and our internal policies. Running or displaying the Web Site or any Content in frames or similar means on another web site without our prior written permission is prohibited.
9. Product Warranty and claim handling
We are obliged to deliver to you the ordered goods free of any defects.
In case the ordered goods have defects, you have the right to:
• file a declaration on a reduction of the price;
• withdraw from the contract;
• demand exchange of the defective product for a product free from defects;
• demand from the seller to immediately remove the defects.
The right to file a declaration on a reduction of price or withdrawal from the contact does not apply in case when we immediately and with no excessive inconveniences exchange the defective product for one free from defects or immediately remove the defect. This limitation, in turn, does not apply where the product has already been exchanged or repaired by us, or we have not discharged the duty of exchanging the product for one free from defects or removing the defect.
You may request a replacement for a product free from defects rather than removal of the defect proposed by the seller, or request the removal of the defect instead of replacement for a product free from defects proposed by the seller.
If it is impossible to remove the defect and to bring the product to conformity with the contract in a manner chosen by you or it involves excessive costs in comparison with the manner proposed by us, we may replace the defective product for a product free from defects regardless of your request in this respect.
If you have a complaint regarding the products you have received please contact our Customer Care and they will inform you how to proceed and what information we need in order for us to process your complaint.
Telephone: +31 416 272223
We will confirm the receipt of your claim and respond to your request in this respect within 14 days. Otherwise, if you have requested that the product be replaced or the defect be removed or filed a declaration on reduction of the price specifying the amount by which the price is to be reduced, the request should be deemed to be considered justified by us and we would be obliged to comply with the request.
We are responsible for the product defects if they are detected before the lapse of two years counted from the date when the product was delivered to your address. Your claim for the removal of the defect or replacement of the product sold for one free from defects is limited to one year, counting from the date of detecting the defect; however, the above limitation period may not cease to run before the elapse of the two years period counted from the date of delivery of the product. Your right to withdraw from the contract or to reduce the price due to the products' defects is also limited to one year counted from the date of detecting the defect; however, if you have requested replacement of the product for one free from defects or removal of the defect, the time limit to submit the declaration on withdrawal from the contract or reduction of the price begins to run upon ineffective lapse of the time limit for exchange of the product or removal of the defect.
10. Indemnification
Unless prohibited by applicable law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless each of KRM, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors and employees, from and against all losses, expenses, damages and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, resulting from or related to your use of this Web Site OR ANY CONTENT, the violation of these Terms of Use by you, or the infringement by you, or any other user using your account, of any intellectual property or other right of any person or entity. IF YOU ARE OBLIGATED TO INDEMNIFY US HEREUNDER, WE MAY, IN OUR SOLE DISCRETION, CONTROL THE DEFENSE AND DISPOSITION OF ANY SUCH CLAIMS AT YOUR SOLE COST AND EXPENSE. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, YOU MAY NOT SETTLE, COMPROMISE OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER DISPOSE OF ANY THIRD-PARTY CLAIM WITHOUT OUR CONSENT.
11. Governing Law and venue
We provide the services of this Web Site from our offices within Poland. We make no representation that the content on our Web Site is appropriate, legal or available for use in other locations. These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Poland, without giving effect to its conflicts of law provisions. A printed version of these Terms of Use will be admissible in judicial and administrative proceedings based upon or relating to these Terms of Use to the same extent and subject to the same conditions as other business documents and records originally generated and maintained in printed form.
Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to these Terms of Use, your use of the Web Site or your purchase of any products from the Web site shall be settled by the competent courts of Poland.
Notwithstanding any other provision in these Terms of Use, KRM may commence suit in court to enjoin infringement or misappropriation of intellectual property rights or confidential information.
12. Alternative methods of dispute resolution
Using alternative methods of dispute resolution is voluntary. The below provisions have only informative character and do not constitute any obligation neither for you nor for KRM.
If we fail to find a satisfactory solution, you can lodge a complaint with the Polish Consumer Centre if conditions are met. You may also use the European Commission online dispute resolution here to register your complaint. This portal can be relevant when living in another EU-country. When filling in a complaint, please enter our e-mail address email@example.com
As a consumer you also have the right to seek extrajudicial procedures if we do not agree with you regarding your complaint. You then have the right to ask for intervention of a neutral entity such as a mediator, consumer advocate, social organization etc. You can read more about your right on https://www.uokik.gov.pl/sprawy_indywidualne.php
13. Remedies for Breach of these Terms by You
Without limiting any other rights or remedies, in the event that KRM determines, , that you have breached any portion of these Terms of Use, or have otherwise demonstrated inappropriate conduct, CM reserves the right, in particular, to (i) warn you via e-mail that you have violated these Terms of Use; (ii) delete any content provided by you or your agent(s) to the Web Site; (iii) discontinue your access to the Web Site, (iv) notify and/or send content to and/or fully cooperate with law enforcement authorities for further action;.
If your ability to access and/or use the Web Site or any other service provided to you by CM is discontinued by us hereunder, then you agree that you shall not attempt to re-register with or access the Web Site, any other service provided by CM, through use of a different member name or otherwise.
14. Copyright Complaints
We respect the intellectual property of others, and we expect users of the Web Site to do the same. If you believe that your work has been copied and is accessible on our Web Site in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, you may notify us at the following:
JJ Footwear B.V. (Brand holder of CM)
Professor van het Hoffweg 14a
5144NS Waalwijk
The Netherlands
or at email: firstname.lastname@example.com
We recommend that the claims of copyright infringement be in writing and include the following information: (i) an electronic or physical signature of the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright interest; (ii) a description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed, including the URL (i.e., web page address) of the location where the copyrighted work exists or a copy of the copyrighted work; (iii) identification of the URL or other specific location on our Web Site where the material that you claim is infringing your copyright interest is located; (iv) your address, telephone number, and email address; (v) a statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and (vi) a statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the above information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner's behalf.
15. Children
Access to and use of the Web Site is made available only to people who can form legally binding agreements under applicable law. The Web Site is intended for a general audience and is not intended to be used by minor children. Children accessing the Web Site should obtain the permission and assistance of a parent or legal guardian. If you allow your minor child or a child for whom you are a legal guardian (a "Minor"), to access the Web Site, you will be solely responsible for: (i) the online conduct of such Minor; (ii) monitoring such Minor's access to and use of the Web Site; and (iii) the consequences of any use of the Web Site by such Minor.
16. Miscellaneous
In the event that any provision of these Terms of Use conflicts with applicable law, rule, regulation or order or if any provision is held invalid by a court with competent jurisdiction, then the issue regulated by such invalid provision will be settled in the manner that would take into account your interests., and the remainder of these Terms of Use will remain in full force and effect. Any failure by CM to insist upon or enforce strict performance of any provision of the Terms of Use or to exercise any right under the Terms of Use will not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment of CM's right to assert or rely upon any such provision or right in that or any other instance, rather, the same will be and remain in full force and effect.
You represent to CM that you have the authority to access and use the Web Site according to these Terms of Use. These Terms of Use and any Additional Terms (as such terms shall be identified when posted on the Web Site) constitute the entire understanding between the parties as to the subject matter here of, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.
17. Contact Us
We welcome your comments and questions. Please contact us at:
Custom Made Boots & Shoes ®
p/a JJ Footwear BV
Professor van het Hoffweg 14a
5144NS Waalwijk
The Netherlands
Tel (+31)(0)416-272223
To install this Web App in your iPhone/iPad press and then Add to Home Screen.


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All our products are gluten-free and lactose-free
The concern for our consumers' wellbeing has always been fundamental in Blancafort Foods' philosophy.
More and more people are suffering from FOOD INTOLERANCES. According to the latest studies (NIELSEN, Sensitive Consumer, 2016), one in four households states that at least one family member suffers from intolerance to certain foods. The two most common intolerances are to GLUTEN (5% of the population) and LACTOSE (10%).
Celiac disease is an INTOLERANCE TO GLUTEN, a product which can be found in cereals (e.g. wheat). It mainly affects the intestines.
LACTOSE INTOLERANCE is a digestive problem which appears after ingesting lactose, the sugar found in milk.
Blancafort Foods thinks about people, their health and their wellbeing. Since we are aware of this problem and of the increasing demand for these types of products, we prepare all our special products in a natural way, WITHOUT GLUTEN and WITHOUT LACTOSE, and without losing an ounce of their original taste and quality.


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In other developments, I've discovered some very interesting things about the Buddha's Hand citron, Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis, and its proper propagation in Texas. I already knew that to encourage blooming in spring, it had to be protected from excessive light at night, such as from streetlights and back porch lights. A bit of nighttime shade from a new fence, and it promptly started blooming. What I didn't know was that Dallas isn't known for its lack of citrus trees just because of our occasional cold winters. While this doesn't stop kumquats, grapefruit, or lemons, our poor Cthulhufruit needs much higher humidity, and more stable high humidity, in order to keep it from dropping immature fruit.
Yeah, this was all learned by accident, when I came across a brand new fruit, about the size of my thumb, on the poor little recovering tree. A quick search revealed four fruits at varying stages of growth. That's when I made my other big discovery. Most books and references on citrus treat Buddha's Hand trees spend maybe a paragraph or two on Cthulhufruit before moving on to more respectable trees, usually with a snippy aside of "Only grown as a novelty" or something similar. A few might mention that the fruit comes in two forms, the "closed hand" and the "open hand", with the latter generally commercially known as "goblin fingers". NOWHERE does anybody say ANYTHING about how this isn't a difference between different cultivars of C. medica var. sarcodactylis, but instead a difference in relative humidity during the early development of the fruit.
Naturally, I was thrilled with the developments, and made tentative plans for the ripened fruits come winter. That's when the tree said "Oh, HELL no," and dropped one of the goblin finger fruits.
Was this disappointing? Yes. Was this aggravating? Definitely. It didn't stop me. A good healthy dose of fresh bat guano to feed the tree, and that dropped budlet became a perfect little LOLPlant:
Now you know why I'm so fond of Buddha's Hands. The local gardening clubs look at me the way citrus writers look at them.


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Virtual Health & Well-Being for Students
Colleges and universities trust TimelyCare to provide complete clinical care, advanced technology, and the expert guidance to develop a hybrid model of care designed to keep students engaged—and in school.
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Whole Student Health
From mental health to medical care, TimelyCare provides the virtual care students need.
Diverse, Qualified Providers
Our health providers have an average of 10+ years' experience and are specifically trained to care for college students.
A Team-Based Approach
TimelyCare uses care coordination and virtual health to complement your existing campus healthcare resources.
Complete Clinical Care
We offer a full spectrum of virtual health and well-being services all in one platform.
Built for Digital Natives
Students tap into the care they need, connecting with expert providers through phone, video, or video chat.
Expert Guidance and Support
Our higher education experts will help launch your program and drive student engagement.
Higher Education Trusts TimelyCare
Having worked with 300 colleges and universities and over two million students across the country, we understand the healthcare challenges you face. We've learned a lot and our team applied that knowledge to develop a truly complete virtual health and well-being solution for students.
- 4-Year Universities
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Want to bring TimelyCare to your campus?
Addressing the Student Mental Health Crisis
Even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, a student mental health crisis existed in higher education. But the pandemic increased levels of stress and anxiety to new heights and continues to impact students today. That's why it's more critical than ever to offer a solution that leads with mental and emotional health.
With TimelyCare's diverse provider network, students can access confidential one-on-one support from experts who are empathetic to their needs.


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Oct 01, 2023
Oct 01, 2023
It is said that the growth engine of the 21st Century would be The Internet. This new medium has completely changed the dynamics of modern day economics and how business is being done. Even old economy businesses are beginning to find new ways to expand their opportunities. The www or a web site seems to be omnipresent yet , the task of setting up a web site is often not as simple as it seems. The Internet is proving to be the great equalizer, allowing the smallest of businesses to access markets and present a presence that allows them to compete against the giants in the industry. But in the end its not the size which matters, it's the fool proof business model with right kind of net strategies which would prove decisive.
Do you really need a web site?
This should be the first question asked. Before jumping on the dot.com bandwagon, business organizations must think about "What they intend to accomplish by establishing a web site?"
Once answered, this will also guide the organizations through some of the options available.
There are three main reasons why businesses establish web sites:
Corporate communications
Customer Support
Sales: B2B or B2C
Most current sites on the web are for merely a marketing presence( Me-too) and this model under utilizes the potential Internet has as a powerful Medium.
Some companies have found that the Internet is a wonderful resource to offer customer service, provide product specifications and furnish on-line answers to the numerous questions they receive and deal with every day. This makes it easy for customers to find the information they are looking for on the net and facilitates customer-company interaction on the virtual front.
Now doing business through Internet is a different ball game all together. Its much more than putting up a web site or adding up a DOT-COM as a suffix to your business. e-commerce sites go beyond general marketing and to actually generate an order, often unassisted by any human interface. The simplest version of this might include instructions to print a page, fill in order details and fax it to a given number. More sophisticated sites have an easy to maneuver ordering process with proper order calculations done including shipping and sales tax. The most advanced sites allow an option of accepting and approving the credit card information while the customer is on-line.
Setting up and running a business web site will cost money. Having determined your reasons for creating your site, one should be better able to consider the costs. The difficulty here is that the costs can vary substantially. This is new technology, with numerous options available. It would be prudent for a business owner to do a little research in each area where his money is to be spent. The main questions to ask in starting this process are:
Will I own/run my own server? Do I need to?
How will my site/server be connected to the Internet?
Who will design my site?
Who will maintain my site, and how extensive of a process is this?
Do I want to accept orders on-line?
Will I need to or want to interface my web page with existing databases, order systems or accounting systems.
With these simple questions, one can move ahead to prepare a business plan and then a business model for doing E-Commerce.
Set up and Design
There is no shortage of experts who are available for designing and putting up a site. Site size and complexity can vary immensely. Many computer literate individuals have chosen not to go to consultants at all. With the excellent web design development tools available today, such as Microsoft FrontPage, many are able to get a web site designed with only a few days work. Adding large graphics, animation and music may be impressive to the designer, but most users don't have the plugin to hear the sound and won't wait for your fancy graphics to load on their 28,800 (or worse) Internet connection.
Remember, the web site should be a functional one rather then high on graphics or multimedia, which not only slows the opening up of the site but also consumes expensive Internet time of the user.
Creating your own Domain:
One must consider establishing own domain name if one is serious about the site. One can apply directly to InterNIC (http://www.internic.net) to get an address such as www."your_company".com which will be perceived as more credible than an obviously hosted site. The fee to InterNIC ($70 for two years) is well worth it (Liable to change). Then find out an ISP (Internet Service Provider) at the local level, and make arrangements to either host the site or server or provide appropriate connections.
Attracting Netizens
There is an endless stream of information available on the Internet about how best to market the site. Suffice it to say that registering the site with a few search engines is the minimum. Because this information is so plentiful, users intentionally skip over it here. However, it should be noted that the net is an ever-changing environment and marketing should be considered more than a one time effort.
Selling On The NET
Now this is a tricky business with online fraud catching up and users increasingly apprehensive to divulge their credit card details on the net. And before one starts asking users to key down those numbers one has to have a back hand system ready to handle such paying modes.
You need a "merchant account"
Merchant Account is an industry term meaning a banking relationship, which allows a business to accept credit cards. Most existing businesses will already have established such a relationship and you certainly need this capability to accept credit card orders on the net. This goes without saying, but many small businesses have not yet established the banking relationships necessary to accept credit cards. This is really a first step. There are many consultants advertising on the web who can assist a business, even a new startup, to get setup for accepting credit cards.
To accept credit card orders on the net, you will need a "secure server"
There is a lot of concern about security on the net. Most of this concern is due to misinformation and the Internet continues to prove itself as a safe medium for transactions. It is important to follow established conventions in Internet security however, which means utilizing a secure server for credit card transactions. A secure server is one running software capable of establishing a "secure" connection with your customer's Internet browser using SSL (secure socket layers) technology which encrypts all transmitted information. Most net buyers insist on this connection before entering credit card information.
Online Order form
This sounds simple enough. However this can be a very complicated piece of software. One has to be able to present all products, prices and options (sizes, colors etc.). Before one can request credit card information one needs to be able to automatically subtotal the order, add shipping and handling and calculate sales tax if appropriate, based on the buyer's location. Writing this capability into the web pages requires a lot more than some HTML knowledge.
On-line clearing
There is one option of considering clearing (or authorization) of the credit card, while the customer is on-line. This feature may be imperative if e-teller is delivering information or allowing a download of purchased software from his site. If the business is solely Internet based, this option would allow organization to avoid the expense of purchasing processing equipment or software which can be quite expensive. Unfortunately, designing on-line clearing capability is extremely complex and thus, this option is best undertaken through an outsourcing solution. Unlike general web site design, there are not many consultants available with expertise in this area.
E-teller needs a methodology of tracking customer orders too. These can include, email notification, electronic receipts, on-line reports, internal database tracking, on-line query search capability, conversion programs, etc. It is easy to go overboard on some of these things and a lot of money can be spent trying to integrate online ordering with existing business functions. The businesses starting on the web should not try to be too sophisticated in this area up front.
Technical Challenges
A functional site contemplating online ordering requires expertise in four different areas.
HTML (hypertext markup language - standard for the Internet) basic page design
CGI scripting (or programming equivalent) for order form functionality
ODBC (Open database connectivity) interface commands for data tracking
Special programs for online clearing option
Outsourcing - a cost effective alternative
Outsourcing is the utilization of a third party service company to provide you with those pieces of the puzzle that complete the total functionality of the business process. In E-Commerce, the most cost-effective way to meet organizational goals is often to outsource that portion in which one does not have the in-house expertise.
Though nothing is easy, getting a web site up and running is well within the capabilities of a determined entrepreneur of small business.
More by : Dwarika Prasad Uniyal


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President Obama is wasting no time pushing the proposals from his State of the Union.
The commander-in-chief visited a classroom in Decatur, Georgia on Thursday to expand on his plan for universal preschool.
After visiting a pre-k class at College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center, where he played with children, Obama told an audience there that "education has to start at the earliest possible age, and that's what you have realized here in Decatur."
The Peach State implemented a much-touted program in 1995 which seeks to offer universal pre-K for kids across the state.
During his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, Obama urged for the early education initiative, pointing to studies that show the sooner kids begin learning, the better they do down the road.
"But today, fewer than three in ten 4-year-olds are enrolled in a high-quality preschool program," the president said. "Most middle-class parents can't afford a few hundred bucks a week for private preschool. And for poor kids who need help the most, the lack of access to preschool education can shadow them for the rest of their lives."
He repeated his argument in Decatur, adding "If you're looking for a good bang for your educational buck, this is it right here." He also shared how tough it was for him and his wife, Michelle, to find good childcare for their two daughters.
"I remember how expensive it can be. The size of your paycheck, though, shouldn't determine your child's future," he said to applause.
The president has revealed few details about what the plan would entail, including its total cost, what "high-quality" preschool entails, and if the program would be half or full days (a concern for many working parents). It would, of course, have to pass through Congress too.
According to the National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University, 45% of 4-year-olds and 20% of 3-year-olds went to state or federally funded preschool programs in 2011. That cost taxpayers about $5.49 billion, which averages out to about $4,800 for each child. So assuming costs stayed roughly the same, Obama's initiative would easily cost tens of billions of dollars a year. Proponents of universal preschool, however, argue much of the cost would be offset by having more parents in the workforce.
The White House did release some information though, saying it would provide federal matching dollars to states wanting to provide preschool for every 4-year-olds whose family income is 200% or less of the federal poverty level. Obama also wants an expansion of Early Head Start to provide additional childcare and education programs for kids.
The program is not without its skeptics. House Speaker John Boehner said on Wednesday that the federal government getting involved in early childhood education is a "good way to screw it up."
Republican Rep. John Kline of Minnesota wasn't exactly thrilled either. The lawmaker, who chairs the House Education Committee released a statement saying "before we spend more taxpayer dollars on new programs, we must first review what is and is not working in existing initaitives, such as Head Start."
Chuck Todd, NBC's chief White House correspondent and political director, told Hardball's Chris Matthews on Wednesday night that the GOP is "going to end up looking on the wrong side" of issues Americans care most about if they keep criticizing initiatives like early education and raising the minimum wage.


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After initially being teased during Apple's iPhone 7 event, the amazing looking F1 2016 game has finally arrived onto the App Store for compatible iPhones, iPads and even Apple TV.
When Tim Cook and Apple take the opportunity to feature your game front-and-center at an event as important as the iPhone 7 reveal then you know you really have to deliver. And in this instance, Codemasters has gone above and beyond with a mobile racing game that is simply stunning in every aspect.
Without doubt, the first area of focus with F1 2016 is going to be how the game looks on iPhone, iPad, and perhaps more importantly, the big-screen in the living room thanks to the Apple TV.
The vehicles bring stunning clarity and depth of detail with most people finding it difficult to separate what they are seeing from console graphics on much more performant machines. When you consider that the game actually supports all the way back to the iPhone 5s, you start to get an understanding of the mammoth undertaking by Codemasters and the scale of what it has actually achieved.
From a gaming perspective, those who choose to purchase the F1 2016 title will get pretty much everything that they would expect from a title of this magnitude. Built on Apple's Metal gaming framework, gamers have the ability to drive through the full F1 circuit roster, including all 21 races from around the globe from the ongoing 2016 season of F1.
That means that we can all take those vehicles around the iconic Hockenheimring, or even through the brand new Baku circuit. The game then becomes as much about the experience of being able to drive around those circuits and experience the environments as much as it is about the quality of the vehicles.
Codemasters has also introduced the idea of time limited events that pop up once a week. There's also leaderboards and the ability to share results and records directly to social networks like Facebook. A stunning game that utilizes the power of Metal to introduce stunning depth of field effects, but that also uses the new Taptic engine on the iPhone 7 to enhance the performance and experience with on-device feedback for those lucky enough to have one of Apple's latest iPhones.
F1 2016 is available to download right now as a single $9.99 purchase for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. The game is also available on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
(Download: F1 2016 for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV from the App Store)
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You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the Web.


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WASHINGTON — The consumer packaged goods (C.P.G.) industry outperformed the rest of the market in 2008 — as measured by the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Averages — according to a new study from the Grocery Manufacturers Association (G.M.A.) and PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P.
The report, "2009 Financial Performance Report: Focusing on Today, Envisioning Tomorrow," examined research, interviews and financial data on 157 companies in the food, beverage and consumer products sector. The study found that not only did the C.P.G. industry outperform the S&P 500 by more than 15 index points and the Dow Jones by at least 10 points, but C.P.G. manufacturer median sales rose approximately 10% in 2008. More impressive was the fact the top quartile of companies managed to grow sales by 18%, a figure that was slightly higher than the previous year's sales growth for the quartile.
"Given the C.P.G. industry's laser focus on delivering value, innovation and investment in the future, it's no surprise that it appears to be weathering this economic cycle better than other sectors," said Pamela Bailey, president and chief executive officer of the G.M.A. "This performance is testimony to the fact that C.P.G. companies are fulfilling their core mission, which is giving consumers the quality products they need at an affordable price."
Among the three major C.P.G. sectors — beverage, food and household products — food had the best performance, with sales growing 10.2%, according to the report. The growth was attributed to consumers' increasing move to cooking and eating at home, albeit with a preference for value-oriented products.
In terms of financials, the report noted that food companies experienced flat to slightly lower median returns on invested capital, market capital and assets. And while the food sector fared better than the beverage business in each of these metrics, it lagged household products.
In the beverage sector, gross margins and sales growth remained steady, the report noted, but even so the sector "still seemed to be swimming upstream, especially in the market that once fairly defined the sector: carbonated drinks."
The 2008 median shareholder returns for beverage companies, at a negative 33%, were the poorest result of the three major C.P.G. manufacturing sectors, lagging food at a negative 20.7% and household products at a negative 28.4%. The report also showed steep declines for the beverage sector between 2007 and 2008 in return on invested capital, return on market capital, and return on assets.
Profitability, the category the report noted as a key measure for distinguishing top performing companies, showed significant declines in the beverage industry.
Despite the challenges in the beverage sector, a silver lining was that selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were robust, with large beverage companies choosing to either build upon or re-ignite their portfolio, or acquire non-carbonated drinks.
"There are lessons to be learned from the C.P.G. top performers, which are well positioned to emerge from this recession stronger than ever before, as they continue to invest in their core brands, take advantage of scale to produce healthy margins, and manage down debt," said John Maxwell, consumer packaged goods and retail industry leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Finding new and better ways to sustain cost reductions, manage I.T. related risks, invest strategically to capture market share, and take thoughtful approaches to tax credits and incentives are a few recommendations for C.P.G. companies as they prepare for the recovery.
"Although the C.P.G. industry fared better than other industries, it cannot be complacent and must remain focused on the constantly evolving consumer purchase behaviors. This is critical as suppliers, retailers, and restaurants continue to be impacted by the liquidity crunch. There are opportunities for C.P.G. industry companies that can capitalize on the trend of consumers focusing on product value within categories, on the move from eating out to eating in, and as consumers that have de-loaded the pantry begin to re-load."
The full report may be accessed at www.pwc.com/us/retailandconsumer or www.gmaonline.org/publications.


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Cliff Click's 2008 JavaOne talk about the NonBlockingHashTable
I'm a bit late to this data structure — highly scalable, nearly lock-free, benchmarks very well (except with the G1 GC): http://edwwang.com/blog/2012/02/10/concurrent-hashmap-benchmark/ . Having said that, it doesn't cope well with frequently-changing unique keys: http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=3563980&group_id=194172&atid=948362 . More background at: http://www.azulsystems.com/blog/cliff/2007-03-26-non-blocking-hashtable and http://www.azulsystems.com/blog/cliff/2007-04-01-non-blocking-hashtable-part-2 This was used in Cassandra for a while, although I think the above bug may have caused its removal?
(tags: nonblockinghashtable data-structures hashmap concurrency scaling java jvm)


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Tuesday 28th February 2012 18:30 GMT
Confidential emails obtained from the US private intelligence firm Stratfor show that the United States Government has had a secret indictment against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for more than 12 months.
Fred Burton, Stratfor's Vice-President for Counterterrorism and Corporate Security, is a former Deputy Chief of the Department of State's (DoS) counterterrorism division for the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
In early 2011, Burton revealed in internal Stratfor correspondence that a secret Grand Jury had already issued a sealed indictment for Assange: "Not for Pub — We have a sealed indictment on Assange. Pls protect." (375123) According to Burton: "Assange is going to make a nice bride in prison. Screw the terrorist. He'll be eating cat food forever." (1056988) A few weeks earlier, following Julian Assange's release from a London jail, where he had been remanded as a result of a Swedish prosecutor's arrest warrant, Fred Burton told SkyNews: "extradition [to the US is] more and more likely". (373862).
Emails from Fred Burton reveal that the US Government employs the same counterterrorism strategy against Julian Assange and WikiLeaks as against Al Qaeda: "Take down the money. Go after his infrastructure. The tools we are using to nail and de-construct Wiki are the same tools used to dismantle and track aQ [Al Qaeda]. Thank Cheney & 43 [former US President George W. Bush]. Big Brother owns his liberal terrorist arse." (1067796)
Ten days after the CIA reportedly assassinated Osama bin Laden, Burton writes in an email sent to Stratfor's "Secure" mailing list that he "can get access to the materials seized from the OBL [Osama bin Laden] safe house." (1660854)
Burton states: "Ferreting out [Julian Assange's] confederates is also key. Find out what other disgruntled rogues inside the tent or outside [sic]. Pile on. Move him from country to country to face various charges for the next 25 years. But, seize everything he and his family own, to include every person linked to Wiki." (1056763)
Along with the FBI, the Diplomatic Security Service and the Department of Defense (DoD) form a multi-agency US Government outfit seeking to criminally indict and prosecute WikiLeaks and Julian Assange. According to the Department of State, the DSS handles the investigation of all leads that involve the DoS and assists the DoD in forensic analysis of hard drives seized by the US Government in its ongoing criminal investigation.
Burton also says he "would pursue [c]onspiracy and [p]olitical [t]errorism charges and declassify the death of a source someone which [he] could link to Wiki" (1074383). Burton's strategy is to: "[b]ankrupt the arsehole first," Burton states, "ruin his life. Give him 7-12 yrs for conspiracy." (1057220)
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said: "For over a year now, the US Attorny General Eric Holder has been conducting a "secret" Grand Jury investigation into WikiLeaks. This neo-McCarthyist witch hunt against WikiLeaks may be Mr Holder's defining legacy. Any student of American history knows that secret justice is no justice at all. Justice must be seen to be done. Legitimate authority arises out of the informed consent of the governed, not Eric Holder's press secretary. Secret Grand Juries with secret indictments are apparently Eric Holder's preferred method of dealing with publishers who hold his administration to account. Eric Holder has betrayed the legacy of Madison and Jefferson. He should drop the case or resign. Should he continue, however, the Obama administration may not — Democrats and Republicans alike believe in the right to tell the truth."
As early as June 2010, after the release of the Collateral Murder video but prior to the Afghan War Diaries release, the emails talk of a sealed indictment. In an email conversation between Shane Harris, a National Security journalist, and Burton, Harris is surprised that Assange was reporteded to be attending a Las Vegas Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) conference. Burton remarks: "As a foreign national, we could revoke [Julian Assange's] travel status and deport. Could also be taken into custody as a material witness. We COULD have a sealed indictment and lock him up. Depends upon how far along the military case is" (391504). Julian Assange cancelled his appearance at the IRE conference due to security concerns.
In another email to Stephen Feldhaus, Stratfor legal counsel, about Ronald Kessler, a "pro-FBI journalist", Burton remarks: "I look forward to Manning and Assange facing a bajillion-thousand counts [of espionage]." (1035283)
In July 2010 alleged WikiLeaks source Bradley Manning was moved from Camp Arifjan, Kuwait to the Quantico Brig in the Military District of Washington at the request of Maj. Gen. Terry Wolff, then Commanding General of the 1st Armored Division/US Division – Center in Iraq.
Wolff requested Manning's move, the Pentagon reported, "due to a potentially lengthy pre-trial confinement because of the complexity of the charges and an ongoing investigation." Three days before Manning arrived at Quantico Brig, Burton wrote to George Friedman, Stratfor CEO and founder:
"We probably asked the ASIS [Australian Secret Intelligence Service] to monitor Wiki coms and email, after the soldier from Potomac was nabbed. So, it's reasonable to assume we probably already know who has done it. The delay could be figuring out how to declassify and use the Aussie intel on Wiki... The owner [Julian Assange] is a peacenik. He needs his head dunked in a full toilet bowl at Gitmo." (402168)


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Check back often for news, events and information from the Ohio Council of Community Schools.
The rigor of the AIR tests was witnessed by all with the release of the 2015-2016 local report cards on Sept. 15th.
We've put together a list of quotes from various sources in response to the release of the 2016 report card:
"This year's report cards and the grades we're seeing reflect a system in transition."—Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria
If ODE is the only sponsor allowed to open new schools and they are rated ineffective, that's not fair.
"I think you want to keep these numbers in context. It's a system in transition."—Chris Wollard, senior executive director for ODE's Accountability and Continuous Improvement
"It's going to take a while for our students in our schools to adjust to these new standards, but rather than get all upset and worry and fret about the scores … just keep in mind we're trying to elevate the level of education that's being given in the state."—Sen. Peggy Lehner, Chair, Senate Education Committee
"These new expectations and the accompanying measures are the new benchmark. Our students and schools have not performed worse, in fact many have performed better."—Lisa Grey, The Ohio Standard Coalition
"This year's report cards are a continuation of years of misguided state policies that place entirely too much emphasis on standardized test scores and not enough focus on what our schools are doing to provide high quality learning opportunities for students."—Ohio Education Association President Becky Higgins
"I know today's results are difficult for many to understand because the report cards are overly complicated. The letter grades don't necessarily represent the learning that is going on every day in our classrooms. In fact, 14 of the 16 report card categories are based, at least in part, on standardized tests."—Senate Minority Leader Joe Schiavoni
"It makes it look like everybody in Ohio is a moron. That's not a reflection of our work."—John Haswell, Shadyside Local Schools superintendent
"When more than 99 percent of our third-grade students reach reading benchmarks and the state awards us an F for third-grade literacy, people begin questioning the methodology."—John Kellogg, Westerville schools superintendent
"I don't know how one could expect anybody who hears this sort of presentation to have any faith left in the measures of the state Department of Education."—Julie Keegan, Worthington schools board member
"We have an expert and dedicated teaching staff. They did not suddenly forget how to teach, and our students did not suddenly forget how to learn. The question of how and why all these high-performing districts received F's in these categories (progress and gap closing) needs to be directed to the people who designed this system."—Todd Hoadley, Dublin schools superintendent
"We're confident that the experiences we provided last year are better than ever, but this system doesn't validate that or allow us to make those comparisons. Here I sit today, knowing that even if I make 20 percent improvement on all the indicators, our report card will look even worse next year than it does this year."—Bill Wise, South-Western schools superintendent
"The cut scores were set after the kids took the tests and based upon how they performed. This is not an objective standard, rather it is extremely subjective (ie, "how many kids do we want to see pass and how many do we want to see fail?")—Sarah Fowler, State Board of Education
"The gap between low-income students and their wealthier counterparts continued, regardless of the more stringent measures on school district report cards."—Ohio Education Policy Institute report
"We, as responsible school leaders, welcome accountability and transparency and recognize that Ohio's accountability system is in transition. However, it is difficult to utilize a report card that is a constantly changing document, made up of flawed components. This report card does not consistently measure how local school districts are actually performing."—Akron Area Association of Superintendents
"We knew and expected test results to go down, but we also know that some of the metrics are flawed. The information is just so confusing and misleading. The big question is how can so many schools in Ohio do so poorly and how does this reflect on our state, when it comes to education, nationally?"—Patricia Clearly, Barberton superintendent
"When a system swings that much, you know something is significantly wrong with the measurements. The state report card, which is based on an inconsistent system of accountability, is not a formative tool and because it is inconsistent, we cannot compare data from year to year. We're comparing apples, oranges and bananas."—Ellen McWilliams-Wood, Akron Public Schools assistant superintendent
"We're proud of our students' performance and our staff's effort to prepare our students, but we believe there is a whole lot more that goes into education than one standardized test, taken on one day. We view the report card as a snapshot of indicators around a specific standardized test. We use a national test that measures student progress as a formative tool."—Phillip Herman, Hudson schools superintendent
"The target is constantly changing. We're dealing with three different tests in three years…and we're seeing changes in calculations every year. All of these changes make it difficult, if not impossible, to use the data from the report cards to inform instruction and make comparisons from year to year."—Mike Bayer, Stark Educational Services Center director of curriculum and instruction