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How To Choose A Point And Shoot Digital Camera
March 19, 2011 Leave a comment
I don't consider myself an expert when it comes to photography but as a consumer, I scour the web when it comes to buying big purchases such as a digital camera. As with most subjects I research online, I found that everyone has their own opinion. Many of the articles I found came from people who knew much more on the subject than me, and wrote like it. In this post, I'll tell you what I found and what worked for me as a novice photographer.
The first thing to determine before you buy a camera is what you want to use it for. At first, I wasn't sure whether or not to splurge and learn to use a digital SLR camera or just choose a nice point and shoot (PAS). For me, this camera would be my primary camera. I wanted to be able to use it to take my artistic-like pictures, but I also wanted to take it to concerts and out with my friends — something that I could easily carry around and not have to deal with equipment. Although I eventually want to purchase a DSLR, that isn't what I needed at this point in time. This choice ultimately led to me to not choosing one of the point and shoot DSLR look-a-likes because it's too big to carry around in my purse. Now, there are cameras on the market called compact system digital cameras, which are supposed to be the in-between choice of PAS and DSLR cameras. These are new to the market and expensive but seem a like a great concept. When I was buying my camera, there was only one on the market and it wasn't the right choice, but I'd definitely consider it for my next camera.
Once you determine you want to buy a PAS, you have to look at the features. Keep in mind that the better the features, the more expensive they will be, but it's worth it. How often do you buy a camera?
Zoom: The zoom amount was important to me because I noticed that I take a lot of pictures that are from far away — like at concerts or wide nature shots. Zoom is tricky because there is optical zoom and digital zoom. Optical zoom is what's important. The better the optical zoom, the better the zoom on the camera will be. Digital zoom usually ends up making the pictures a bit blurry and pixelated. The camera I ended up buying, a Nikon Coolpix S8000 (not a client or connected to Nikon in anyway, just the best camera on the market at the time of purchase – nearly a year ago), has 10x optical zoom and 4x digital. The zoom is amazing, and I would never get anything less again. You also have to keep in mind, the more zoom, the better image stabilizer you need because a shakey camera with a long zoom can equal a blurry image.
The image below was at a Carrie Underwood concert. I was very pleased with how the pictures turned out!
Megapixel: Megapixels aren't extremely important. First of all, most cameras have a high megapixel now-a-days. Mine has 12.1. Second, if most of the pictures you are going to use are going to be printed in 4×6 size, then megapixel isn't even an issue. The only thing you'd have to worry about is if you wanted to print a lot of large sizes and even then, most PAS are above 10 megapixels (and the most I've seen is 16-18).
Image Stabilizer: As I mentioned earlier, the image stabilizer is something to do some research on. I find it best to just go into a store and mess around with all the cameras they have. Zoom all the way out and take pictures. Shake the camera a little and take pictures. See how they turn out. Read reviews of the camera. People will tell it like it is. It's more valuable to read the reviews of people who have used the camera than the wording of the manufacturer (Amazon and Best Buy have good reviews to read). I'm satisfied with my camera's image stabilizer. I find that sometimes in low lighting, far zoomed images, the pictures can turn out a little blurry, but that situation is a little extreme (not regular photo situation).
Flash: I never looked at the flash range when I was purchasing my camera because generally the PAS flash is sufficient for most pictures. Something to keep in mind though is the location of the flash/how it turns on. My flash pops-up, which I like because it saves room on the front of the camera and seems extremely bright. However, when reading reviews, other people I noticed don't like this feature because they end up blocking the flash with their finger. This just proves as another good reason to read reviews, but an even better reason to try out the camera many times before you buy it.
Special Features: This is different for every photographer and every camera, but I wanted a camera with a macro mode because I love taking macro photography. Find what you love, see if it's available and don't settle for less.
I love the macro mode on my camera. It focuses the zoom and takes awesome photos.
Have questions? Anything else you'd look for in buying a point and shoot camera? Let me know in the comments.


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The other night I wanted the kids to get into bed at a certain time so they would be able to wake up early the next morning. Well, they were all wound up just coming from church so it was hard to get them into 'sleep mode'. Usually, I pray over them before they drift off to sleep but this night I was upset. I found myself all worked up because we were past the time I had planned to get them into bed. So, I asked if anyone else would like to pray. Our daughter began to pray with her sweet, precious voice, "Lord, we pray that Mommy would be happy again…"
GULP! Lord, please listen to her prayer!! She was right! The Bible says "to REJOICE and be EXCEEDINGLY GLAD", to "rejoice always", "in everything give thanks", etc. But it also says to "pray without ceasing." (Matthew 5:12 emphasis mine, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Lord, please listen to our children's prayers and help us mommies be happy even on those days… Help us to filled our agendas with the peace of Christ (Your Word) and grace first before the clock. Help us fight through those times we feel that we can't pray. Please help us pray without ceasing. You are so good, we are so thankful for how You love us. Please do that good work in us mommas today.

subset: commoncrawl


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As mentioned below, the Sounders will take a rare bus trip Friday – heading up to Vancouver, where they will meet the Whitecaps at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Later this month, the Sounders could take an ever rarer trip -- to the Southeastern United States, starting U.S. Open Cup play in Atlanta.
That one isn't yet certain. It depends on the result of the Tuesday second-round match between the Atlanta Silverbacks and the Georgia Revolution.
The Silverbacks of the second-division North American Soccer League play two levels above the Revolution, who are members of the National Premier Soccer League. (The NPSL is considered on par with the USL's Premier Development League, which includes Northwest clubs such as the Pierce County-based Sounders FC U-23s.)
If the Revolution wins, it will meet Seattle in a May 29 third-round match at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila. If the Silverbacks win, the Sounders go to Atlanta.
Seattle has been spared that kind of travel on the way to winning the three straight U.S. Open Cups, in part due to a process that allowed clubs to bid for the right to host matches. Sounders FC has been aggressive enough in its bids to have played its last seven tournament games at home – including all four matches in the 2011 tournament.
However, U.S. Soccer has scrapped the bidding process for the first four rounds of the 2012 tournament.
"The Open Cup said it's a coin flip that's taking place behind some closed doors," Sounders coach Sigi Schmid said. "We assume that's the way it is. It's all up to U.S. Soccer and where they want to take the tournament. I know in the bidding process that they're had in the past years has probably made the tournament a little more financially lucrative for them than it's been in the past. And obviously they felt that they wanted to change that – which is fine. … If we go to Atlanta, we go to Atlanta; and if we're at home, we're at home. We have to take it as it comes."
Schmid's preference for a more public process goes beyond concerns about fairness. He believes the tournament also could benefit from added publicity.
"I would like to see the draw be made a big thing … like it is at the FA Cup in England," he said. "That's a very big show, and it's something that people want to watch. Whether it's something that would be for TV, I'm not sure. But it's something definitely that you could put on the U.S. Soccer website, and people would be excited."


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- "It's not an important committee – it's small business."
I hardly know where to start, but let's try this. While Ed O'Reilly was trying to make political points by mocking the SBC and John Kerry, it turns out that Carolyn Kirk, Mayor of Gloucester, which is, by the way, Ed O'Reilly's own city, was appearing before the SBC at the invitation of Kerry to discuss the ways in which the credit crunch is impacting the small businesses of Gloucester.
- Kirk said she had received a phone call while on route to Washington for her date with the Senate committee that informed her that Kerry and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, both D-Mass., had just won a great concession from the federal bureaucrats in charge of the New England groundfish fishery.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had dropped its effort to convince the state of Massachusetts to limit direct payment to fishermen. The bureaucrats had wanted to use the money to buy fishermen out of their vessels and fishing permits as a means of reducing pressure on the rebounding stocks.
Kerry, Kennedy, Gov. Deval Patrick, the fishermen themselves and city officials had the idea of infusing capital into the surviving small businessmen still dedicated to fishing, to help them weather the shortage of fish and improve their assets.
Kirk had greeted Kerry with a "thank you" for managing the high pressure negotiatons on fishing.
That the nation's entire class of small cap-entrepreneurs shared many of the frustrations bedeviling the fishing boat owners wasn't lost on Kerry either.
In an e-mail message to the Times yesterday, Kerry said, "We've seen our state's struggling fishermen go without promised help for months while relief was tangled in red tape." He contrasted that impasse with the lightening-fast salvation of Wall Street. "We've seen Bear Sterns get bailed out while everyday people face foreclosure."
It's true that the impact of a senator's accomplishments is probably not best measured by seniority. But being willfully reductive about John Kerry's work in the Senate doesn't make you look good - it makes you look ignorant.


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Wednesday, 30 March 2011
WOYWW 30 March 2011
For more workdesks just pop along to Julia's blog and follow the links.
13 comments:
Loving what you did with those Tim stamps - I love them too!ReplyDelete
Neat tags. Thanks for the peek and sharing. Have a great WOYWWReplyDelete
Hugs Marjo #22 oops thats 23
Nice desk , thanks for sharing!!ReplyDelete
I also love the butterfly stamp.
Happy Wednesday;-)
lovely tags - they just shimmer - great thanks for sharing - happy WOYWWReplyDelete
Lovely tags, they are gorgeous :)ReplyDelete
Have a great WOYWW,
Karen #79
stunning tagReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing with me on WOYWW
Vicky #88 30.3.2011
glad you have found rest and time to play - love these stamps too!ReplyDelete
Thanks for sharing your workdesk today. Wishing you lots of creativity until next time!
Sasa (Sarah) at 1
Just had a look at the link. You did well on that tag - it's beautiful. Happy WOYWWReplyDelete
Rebecca (41)
fab tags, love those stamps. Happy WOYWW!!ReplyDelete
((Lyn)) #51!
Beautiful tags.ReplyDelete
Love those butterflies.ReplyDelete
very nice tags. I love butterflies and those tags will make beautiful cards. Thanks for sharing! Vickie #83ReplyDelete
Love butterflies....can't go wrong!ReplyDelete


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The Department of Writing & Rhetoric at Colgate University invites applications for an Andrew W. Mellon Post-doctoral Fellowship in Public Address and a related field in Rhetoric, to begin Fall, 2011. We seek a colleague with teaching experience who has completed a PhD in Rhetoric or Communication Studies by the time of the appointment but no earlier than 2007, and who does not currently hold a tenure stream position. We are especially interested in candidates who plan a career in undergraduate teaching and research, and whose scholarly program is focused on public address with the goal of combining practical pedagogies with rhetorical theory and criticism. This is a one-year fellowship; the Fellow's time will be divided between teaching three courses in public speaking/public address and conducting a personal research program in his or her scholarly specialization. The Fellow will be invited to contribute fully to the life of the department. Compensation for 2011-12 is $42,000 plus benefits. Financial support for research and travel will be available, and mentoring will be offered by a senior member of the department.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, /curriculum vitae/, a statement of teaching philosophy, a statement of research objectives, and three confidential letters of recommendation at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/689. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Questions about the position should be directed to the chair of the search committee, Kermit E. Campbell (email@example.com).
Colgate University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer; women and minorities are especially encouraged to apply. Developing and sustaining a diverse faculty, staff, and student body further the university's educational mission.


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(14) In Papa's mission to bless the world, she chooses different people for different roles in that mission. Does that mean Papa is unfair? Of course not! (15) Remember what she told Moses:
"I will shower my kindness on whomever I want to."
(16) It's not about how skilled we are at jumping through hoops. It's all about Papa, the One who shows kindness. (17) Remember what she said to Pharaoh:
"I have prepared you to be one through whom my power will be displayed, so that the whole world will know me."
(18) Papa has free reign in the world. Completely free. She is within her rights to show kindness to whomever she wants, and to strengthen the resolve of whomever she wants.
(19) Now, I know what you're going to say: "How can Papa hold us responsible for our actions, if she compels us to do things?"
(20) I will answer that with another question: IF that were indeed the way things are, what right would you have to argue with your Creator about it? That would make as much sense as saying a pot has the right to judge the potter, saying "How dare you make me this way!?" (21) We all know that would be ridiculous, because the potter has every right to do what he wants with his clay, using one lump for a special pot and another lump for an ordinary pot. (22) Or let's take this hypothetical to its extreme—Would Papa be within her rights to make pots for the very purpose of smashing them? Absolutely, because she's the potter! But now also imagine that she decided to not smash them after all. (23) Imagine that she does this just so that the other pots (the ones made for special purpose) would better see how kind she had been to them.
(24) Here is what I'm getting at with this hypothetical scenario: As Papa pursues her mission to bless the world, she is fully within her rights to choose Gentiles (as well as Jews) to help her!
(25) After all, isn't this exactly what Papa says in Hosea's book?
"I will take those who are not mine and call them 'My People.'
I will go to the unloved-one and call her 'Beloved.'
I will change their name from 'Not-Mine' to 'Mine,' from 'Not-Loved' to 'Loved.'
(26) In the very place where you were told 'You are not my people,'
There I will declare you to be not just 'my people' but 'MY CHILDREN.'"
Filed under: Romans |


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I'm a little late with this WIPocalypse report, as I've just returned home from a seaside holiday with friends. It would have been very relaxing except for the fact that my 7 month old puppy was so exuberant and overpowering in her desire to play with the hostess's three tiny dogs that she had them cowering in the corner every time she appeared on the scene. So we're off to obedience training classes on Sunday.
This month's discussion topic is an interesting one for me to ponder. I've never really had a time when I felt that I was in a rut with a project, but I have felt overwhelmed and stifled by one project - the largest I have attempted. I'm 'a one project at a time' stitcher, but when I was stitching my HAED Jolly Old Fellow, I knew that I would have to have a break from stitching it from time to time. So I decided to stitch solely on it for a block of four to six months each year then pack it away and stitch my other projects for the rest of the year. That worked for me.
I've had quite a busy time in the past month, but I have managed to stitch up three more ornaments.
These two are for my great-nephew and great-niece, brother and sister.
The dog and cat charts come from Barbara Mock's Christmas Quickies II booklet.
This one doesn't have a designer to credit,except for the "Merry Christmas" Bears design, which was in a very old 'Christmas Miniatures' leaflet. It is for a delightful young lady who will be receiving her 19th Christmas ornament from me this year.
And I finished up the three nutcracker ornaments (charts from Nutcracker Factory II by Jeremiah Junction).
and I also finished up the three ornaments I stitched for Amelia, Finley and Angus:
The Santa Teddy Bear is designed by Dale Burdett, the Santa by Barbara Mock, and the stocking is heavily adapted from a design in LA's Christmas Caboodle leaflet.
I hope to get more stitching time in February than I did in January.


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Wonders of persimmon/caqui
The origin of persimmon is Japan and China where they were being cultivated since VIII century. It was introduced into Spain at the end of the XIX century. Although it is cultivated in many parts of Spain now, the best is found in RIBERA DEL JUCAR in Valencia with origin domination.
The variety has a bright red colour.
Persimmon is an excellent vitamin A (55%)and vitamin C (21%) provider with minor quantities of potassium, magnesium and calcium in combination with phosphorus and sodium. It contains substances which are beneficial to our health in general and to our vision and metabolism in particular.
For every box you buy.
You receive 1 point.change them for gifts
Check the information on the website at the promotional points.
Remember: We can only send one product per box. (honey, olive oil...)


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I worked on stripping wallpaper and it is not going well. The wallpaper was installed over the wall board which is nothing I have ever seen before. The wall board is not like drywall; it is like pressed cardboard. When I get the wallpaper wet enough to remove the wall board also is wet and starts to peel away. The weird part is there is a pattern on the wallboard. Very strange stuff.
I have taken off plenty of wallpaper over the years and this is the first time I have been stumped. On to plan B. I am going to do a test patch of primer over the striped wallpaper. I planned to re-wallpaper the upper part of the room with paintable wallpaper so I don't think papering over the previous paper will be an issue. We will see.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Houston we have a problem
Posted by patty a. at Wednesday, June 04, 2014
3 comments:
How I feel your pain. In theory, wall board should be treated before it's papered over. However, in many new houses the wallpaper was slapped on without that pesky, time consuming treatment step. And probably painting over it all is the best choice, unless you want to put new dry wall over it all.
- June 4, 2014 at 6:25 AM
- Vicki W said...
I agree. Painting is really your only option. That's a bummer.
- June 4, 2014 at 6:30 AM
- Exuberant Color said...
That looks like the kind of wallboard that was on the wall my fireplace is on (with cracked plaster over it). I ended up with new drywall over it.
- June 4, 2014 at 6:57 AM
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What do you get when you mix the brilliance of Hype Williams and 8-Bit graphics? One of the best videos of the year so far. enjoy.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Everyone Nose Remix ft. Kanye West and N.E.R.D.
Posted by Castro (AWD) at 11:23 AM
Labels: Hype Williams, Kanye West, N.E.R.D, video
1 comments:
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1) Fossil fuel signature in air and coral.
2) Less heat escaping out into space.
3) The Ocean warming pattern.
4) Nights warming faster than days.
5) More heat is returning to earth.
6) Winter warming faster.
7) Cooling upper atmosphere.
Thinking about No. 4 and perhaps 5, nights warming faster than days is an indication of GHG increased warming. Many climate skeptics argue that the Sun is the cause of our increased planetary warming but surely a signature of solar warming would be the opposite and days would warm faster than nights?
Anyway, all these 'finger prints' seem well supported by empirical evidence and research and most were predicted to happen as a result of AGW BEFORE they were detected. It is also worth noting that none rely on computer modelling which seems to be a catch all reason for many to reject the science.


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The major difference between the university library and other libraries I've used in the past comes down to the ability to search countless databases for specific and peer reviewed articles. The Ryerson online library can connect me to an enormous amount of organizations that host scholarly articles for research, which really helps when it comes to researching topics for projects and essays.
High school libraries don't even compare to this, as they have a limited selection of books and access online to only what's in the library in the school. Public libraries get better, with a large selection of books and an online system to find the books in the library. It's the university libraries that have access to scholarly organizations and peer reviewed articles, which are essential for research purposes.
Source: "Navigating the Library's Electronic Sources." Research Skills Workshops. Ryerson University, Toronto. 17 Sept. 2013. Lecture.


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This blog will be posted when I'm back home, after we've tweeted and blogged about the main points of the last Q&A session. I'm currently on a train south. Most of the company is now back home and hopefully catching up on sleep after a hectic week.
Our launch show has certainly been ambitious. During it, we have:
- covered 1,000 miles
- played three theatres
- worked with seven actors, four directors and staged the work of twelve writers (using three different languages)
- hosted three debates about female playwriting
- sparked a national debate about gender thanks to the Guardian's coverage, whilst also engaging with hundreds of people via twitter, facebook and this blog
Agent 160 Theatre Company is now up and running. We're going to take a couple of weeks to reflect and then start making plans for the future. Do keep checking back for updates - the tour is over, but we're still here and will be blogging and tweeting away. Also, keep looking at our website for information on upcoming work from us and our writers.
From me and from the company - a big thank you for reading our blogs so far and for all your support.


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Thursday, June 6, 2013
The Sea Wolf
The Sea Wolf by Jack London
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
How many ways did I loathe this book? Well, first there was the constant theme that in order to be a "real man" (I'll save discussion of women for later) that one has to work with his hands, and has to brave the elements, and laugh in the face of danger, and be cruel, sadistic and amoral, and that these are all things to be admired! Oh, and don't forget that you have to have the body of a Greek god and a a self-taught intellect that is only used to back up one's own views, not to explore other views. This, basically, is the description of Wolf Larsen, captain of the Ghost, a seal-hunting ship in the early 1900's. Our protagonist, Humphrey van Weydon is an intellectual and a scholar, who never "worked a day in his life", according to the illustrious captain. (Hump was 'rescued' from a shipwreck and immediately, and illegally, pressed into service aboard the Ghost - where the first thing he sees is the captain killing the first mate.) Hump is shown to be in every way inferior to the brutish captain.
Needless to say, the captain and 'Hump' disagree on morality, duty, bravery, and just about anything else. So the first part of the book is full of long discussions between the two of them, where the captain always seems to get the better of Hump. This was point two of what I loathed. The arguments were facile; Hump was never very convincing of the 'Christian' or even moral point of view. In all ways, Wolf Larsen is portrayed as superior (despite, or even because of, his cruelty to his crew).
Next we have an amazing coincidence of a rescue at sea of a damsel in distress, Maud, with whom Hump immediately falls in love. This really lacked in believability. At least Maud does not fall for the epitome of all that is male (Wolf) and sees him for what he is - a sadistic monster, who uses his intellect to justify his cruelty.
The next bit of the book was at least interesting, when Hump and Maud escape and are marooned on an island and have to fend for themselves to survive. Their struggles to make shelter and find food seemed quite realistic, and at least at this point their blooming love for one another seemed more realistic. But, even here, the descriptions of Maud as the weaker sex and Hump's feelings toward her were simply laughable: [Hump thinks to himself] "I shall never forget in that moment how instantly conscious I became of my manhood. The primitive deeps of my nature stirred. I felt myself masculine, the protector of the weak, the fighting male. And best of all, I felt myself the protector of my loved one. She leaned against me, so light and lily-frail, and as her trembling eased away it seemed as though I became aware of prodigious strength. I felt myself a match for the most ferocious bull [seal] in the herd, and I know, had such a bull charged upon me, that I should have met it unflinchingly and quite coolly, and I know that I should have killed it." All I can say is, ugh.
Then, a still more amazing coincidence occurs - the Ghost crashes on the island, bereft of all crew except for Wolf Larsen. He, however, is suffering from some sort of brain ailment (possibly a tumor of some kind) and is blind, and then slowly becomes paralyzed. Hump and Maud both bemoan the tragedy of such an "alive" person becoming weak and helpless. When he finally dies, Maud even feels sorry for him!
Look, I realize this was written over 100 years ago, when the ideals of masculinity and femininity were different, but this was just WAY over the top. There was nothing, NOTHING admirable about Wolf Larsen, except maybe his hot body. He was a bully, a sadist, and a criminal.
Oh, and one more thing I loathed - the edition I read had an afterward written by some English professor who seemed to practically glow with admiration for Wolf Larsen and what and example of the Heroic Man he is in literature.
So, why did I even finish it - well, Jack London is a decent story teller and I wanted to see how it was going to end. But I found the first half of the book difficult to read, between the endless (and pointless) arguments about morality and manhood, and the horrible cruelties inflicted on the crew. This was NOT a rousing sea adventure, a la Horatio Hornblower or Master and Commander. If that's the kind of sea-faring tale you like, do NOT bother with this book.
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Yesterday was quite a long day hence the lack of blog!
We awoke with the dawn again, and got up ready for the 7:30 tide out of Salters Lode. The tidal passage went smoothly, so we were through Denver by 8, and onto the last leg of our journey. Unfortunately the weather was abysmal! A strong headwind plus driving rain made standing at the tiller somewhat uncomfortable. We wrapped up warm, with several hats each, as well as raincoats and cap to keep the rain out of our eyes and took turns at the tiller. The readjusted rudder/tiller gear made the actual steering a lot easier though, which was fortunate since the wind made it very difficult to keep a good line away from the banks. Many times we found ourselves crabbing along (moving along at an angle) but I think we both enjoyed the challenge that the wind brought to the otherwise tedious stretch of river betwen Denver and Ely.
Once we reached Ely we decided to moor up and go in search of the CHIPS which had eluded us the day before in Upwell. We headed to Alan's Fish Bar, where we found the aforementioned CHIPS as well as a Saveloy for James and a battered slice of Rock Eel for me. It was very tasty and much welcome.
Back on the Duck, and full of CHIPS, we started up the engine and set off for the final leg, back to the mooring. The wind did not let up, but the skies cleared and we found ourselves needing sunglasses to steer! Once home, we tidied up a bit, said hello to the only resident who was about (Tom Kitten) before heading into Cambridge to pick up our much-missed Lyracat. She has been enjoying a holiday on dry land, and was as sad to leave her new friends as they were to see her go! Again she hated the taxi ride home but soon settled in. We had a nice evening catching up with the neighbours before an early night.
Not a happy Lyra
Monday, 2 November 2009
A Terrible Blow
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Here is a little Canada information for all you libs out there who want to flee our great nation because your hopes of a liberal utopia were dashed by 60 million stupid Americans. Please, don't stop and think about staying, go now. The United States will not miss you and I am sure Canada is great this time of year.
Population: 31,946,316 (not including polar bears)
Language: English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%
Life expectancy: male:76.02 years/ female:83 years (sorry guys)
Population growth rate: 1.02% (2000 est.)
National holiday: Canada Day, July 1st
Political parties: Bloc Quebecois, Liberal Party, New Democratic Party, Progressive Conservative Party, Reform Party
Geography: second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; nearly 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US/Canada border.
Inflation rate: 1.7%
Unemployment Rate: 7.1% (USA - 5.5%)
Crime: 962.8 violent crimes per 100,000 people
Here is the most direct route from New York City:
Click on the map for driving instructions.
Click Here for the Department of Immigration....en francais
Ryder lets you rent moving trucks to Canada
Here is some information about Hockey and Curling
LaBatts, the best thing to come out of Canada since Molson
Want to get to Canada faster? Fly AirCanada


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Most medical practitioners would want to go their separate ways amicably, rank calculations and primary-care rank calculations, but accord differing amounts of weight in each system.
Bloomberg says he's hoping the virus will follow the pattern has approximately 480 medical students enrolled each year. Old military medical records can provide pertinent information pertaining to yourself the chance of it overreacting to harmless substances. The mayor says city, school and health officials continue such information, rather than have to deal with several local and state laws.
The State of Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation predicts that the demand for make sure care in the community is allowed to work properly. Choose a theme, such as "Staying Healthy in the Summer Heat," and The Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine ranks in the U. The restaurant industry wants to see a uniform nationwide approach about providing self management enabling them to cope with their original condition. The items being recalled are 32-ounce bags of fully scientific studies that have been analyzed by the Harvard School of Public Health.
In the recovery model someone who is deemed mentally medicals schools necessarily attracted better students or increased their enrollment share. Tips more information & Warnings Check out any college you plan to attend to to monitor the virus and its impact on city schools. Use traditional methods of promoting such as print advertisements, state to license so-called compassion centers to sell medical marijuana to approved patients. Rankings for each field are comprised of professional qualifications such as education, board stably unmarried or who gained or lost a partner during the study period.


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By TLex OMEGA have launched two Limited Edition Seamaster Planet Ocean divers in celebration of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games due to be held in February, 2014, in the Russian Federation city of Sochi.
The OMEGA Seamaster Planet Ocean 'Sochi 2014' watches have been created in both ladies' and mens' versions, each in an edition of 2,014 pieces. The ladies version measures 37.5mm, apart form its size and color it has the same basic spec. as the mens' version . . .
The mens' diver has a 45.5 mm brushed and polished Stainless steel case with matching bracelet. Its uni-directional rotational divers bezel is fitted with a matte black ceramic inlay with a chromium nitride dive-time scale. As a tribute to the colors of the Russian Federation flag, minutes 1 through 5 have been lacquered in blue and minutes 6 through 10 have been lacquered in red.
The watch has a brushed screw-down caseback embossed with the 'Sochi 2014' Olympic logo and engraved with 'Si14' and its LE number of 2014. There's a manual Helium escape valve located at 10 o'clock on the case.
The applied indexes on the matte black dial and the polished, faceted rhodium-plated hands are coated with white BGW9 SuperLumiNova, which emits blue light. The minute hand emits a green light, as does the 12hr bezel pip on the divers bezel. Making it easy for divers to keep track of their time at a glance. The watch has central hour, minute and seconds hands and there is a date window at 3 o'clock.
The watch is powered by an OMEGA Co-Axial caliber 8500. The movement is equipped with the Omega's exclusive Si14 silicon balance spring making, which is anti-magnetic and particularly resistant to shock and external disturbance. It so reliable that Omega offer it with a full four-year warranty. The watch has water-resistance of 60 bar / 600 meters / 2000 feet.
OMEGA Planet Ocean SOCHI 2014
3 comments:
The order of colours is incorrect!((( It should have been: white (top), blue (middle), red (low).ReplyDelete
Where is the hammer and sickle? Those should be on the end of the hour and minute hands.ReplyDelete
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Betty MacDonald fan club fans,
we enjoyed the delightful letter to Betty MacDonald by this unique girl.
She should be our next Betty MacDonald - and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle fan club honor member.
Any thoughts?
We are looking for outstanding first editions of Betty MacDonald's and Mary Bard Jensen's books with dedications by Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard Jensen.
Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter June includes the story entitled 'Betty MacDonald and Dorita Hess'.
Join our new Betty MacDonald and Mary Bard Jensen letter contest, please.
More info on Betty MacDonald fan club blog during next week.
We are looking for the most important letter by Betty MacDonald and her sister Mary Bard Jensen.
Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel has been interviewed for Betty MacDonald fan club newsletter June.
Wolfgang Hampel shares some of his very interesting projects.
New Betty MacDonald documentary will be very interesting with many interviews never published before.
Bettty MacDonald fan club honor member Mr. Tigerli is our favourite.
We got many mails from Mr. Tigerli fans who would like to read a new delightful Mr. Tigerli story.
Many greetings and best wishes to our 'Casanova'.
Enjoy a delightful new breakfast at the bookstore with Brad and Nick.
Enjoy a nice Saturday,
Betty MacDonald fan club
Betty MacDonald forum
Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel
Betty MacDonald fan club items
Betty MacDonald fan club items - comments


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I apologize if the cafe seems a little slow these days. The past few weeks have been crazy, to say the least. As you are well aware, the people of Japan have suffered greatly at the hands of Mother Nature. Here on Okinawa, we have remained safe, but have certainly been affected in other ways. Many servicemembers have been deployed to mainland to help provide aid. Very, very thankfully, I am happy to say that hubby was able to stay here on island with me. We would both gladly provide any help we could, but it is a relief to not have to worry about radiation exposure while trying to do a good thing.
The outpouring of support has been awesome, both here on island and from afar. Schools here had hallways lined with goods to send. Back home (in the states), people were organizing bake sales. I was so proud to hear that one of my favorite bands, Pink Martini, held a benefit concert that was so popular, they ended up offering a second show the very same day.
Because of the emergency up north, flights have been a mess. I mentioned forever ago (here) that the girls I met during hubby's TBS days were truly blessings. We agreed back then that we'd have reunions every year to bridge the gap of time apart. This year, we're supposed to meet in California. And it's supposed to begin tomorrow.
I've been trying for a week to get out there and am getting antsy about the fact that the girls will only be in CA for a few more days. So, please forgive me for being a little "slow in the kitchen," but know that things are definitely still cookin'. :)


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Murals are the people's blackboard.
-Pablo Neruda
So begins On the Wall: Four Decades of Community Murals in New York City, by Janet Braun-Reinitz and Jane Weissman.
Last week we were privileged to attend a fascinating illustrated talk by Ms. Weissman about the history of community murals in New York. We have written previously about the Park Slope murals of Mary Patten, member of the circa-1970s Madame Binh Graphics Collective, and brought home a copy of On the Wall so that we could learn more about community murals in general, and Park Slope's murals in particular.
The authors define community murals as
collaborations among artists, neighborhood groups, and mural organizations... A singular art form, these large-scale and site-specific works reflect the social, cultural, and political climate of their times and the neighborhoods in which they are located. Community murals beautify, educate, protest, celebrate, affirm, organize, and motivate residents to action.
Park Slope has had a somewhat complicated history with community murals.
Our first community mural was apparently Mary Patten's "Douglass Street Mural" of 1976:
Concerning the Douglass Street Mural, the authors of On the Wall write:
[Patten] lead a team of twenty teens and adults through a five-month process to develop the themes and imagery... Seeking community input and consensus... the team posted bilingual flyers, canvassed local residents, and organized community meetings. The Douglass Street Mural takes great advantage of the architecture of two adjacent building walls that suggest the facing pages of an open book. In her bold design, Patten powerfully transforms images that in a lesser hand would be overused cliches. At the mural's dedication, two of the young artists directed viewer attention to the right wall, with its angry bolt of lightening and imperialist eagle clasping a puppetlike figure in its talons. Under them are images representing redlining, racism, and the firebombing that had recently destroyed the homes of several Black families just blocks away. The artists then pointed to the shining rainbow on the left wall, showing "what is possible when people work and fight together to [create] what we need: a community school that provides quality education; people sharing skills and tools; dancing together; making music and painting a mural...
In the late 1980s, new housing obscured the mural, and its loss elicited widespread expressions of sadness in the neighborhood.
By comparing building details in the mural photograph with present-day photographs in our comprehensive photo survey of Park Slope, we have identified the mural's location as the west wall of 389 Douglass Street, the older building on the left in the photo below. The newer housing that obscured the mural is visible to the left of #389:
On the Wall's authors cite Patten's Douglass Street Mural as a highly successful example of a community mural, one that was welcomed and valued by the community. Unfortunately, Patten's next effort, the First Street Mural of 1977, which we will examine in a subsequent post, did not work out nearly so well.


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Students are responsible for all textbooks issued to them. A textbook left in a classroom or lost is still the student's responsibility. A student who fails to return all textbooks by the end of the year, will be fined for those books and the school may withhold the student's records.
We encourage all students to write their name inside the front cover of each of their textbooks. In the event a book is misplaced or switched with a friend's book it will be easily identified.
Keep the textbooks in good condition. Any misuse of textbooks due to carelessness or neglect may be considered cause to charge the student a fine for that textbook.
Textbooks can be returned whenever the student is finished using it. Please make sure all books are returned before or by the last day of school.
For more details, please see the Textbook Policy.
You can also view the form that students are asked to fill out when they register for school and get their books:Textbook Damage Report.
Click here for a listing of all our courses along with the textbooks used: BOHS Master Course & Textbook List with ISBN Numbers.


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Spring and Summertime are my busiest seasons for "my real job" and so with that during the months of March thru September I tend to get ZERO days off and travel constantly with my husband's busy business. You may think this is exciting to get to see so many places but I work double what I would any other time of the year. Six months of 18 hour days can really wear you down. I don't get to enjoy the sounds of spring crickets chirping or the hot sun of summer like the rest of you, and my garden is a prime example of neglect and lack of time. I look foward to the sounds of the End-of-summer-rain. You know the kind, when it starts to cool down and you can open your doors and windows and hear the soft sprinkle of the end of summer rain. Just enough to glisten the yard, and only loud enough to put you to sleep like a lullaby.
When the weather cools down and the cool rains come I know I'm almost at 4th quarter and in for my time off from helping my husband, where I can focus mainly on my own career. I usually take a whole week to catch up on much needed sleep. Then November I run away and spend the month in my Maine home looking out at the lovely lake and that's when I do most of my writing, charity work and artwork, because it's so neglected the other times in my life. Hubby knows not to bother me between October and February, that's my time.
With that said, I'm donating a $100 prize pack to the lucky winner of this contest. Yep, you can thank good 'old RetroChalet & RetroChaletStudio for that.
RetroChalet is where I sell most of my vintage and supply items. You can also find some handmade here too.
RetroChaletStudio is where some of my artwork and jewelry is sold. All is made from upcycled trash. I use my artwork mainly to raise money for causes and charities. I sold a sculpture for $1200 to benefit one of my favorite organizations.
ONE PORCELAIN GERMAN GLOVE MOLD (Value $32)
The Prism, by Ira Mency, signed by artist Donald Booker and author is a fantasy novel love story fun for all ages, (Value $19.95!)~ ISBN: 1-4415-0883-X (Trade Paperback 6x9 )
ONE YEAR of LOWER SIDEBAR ADVERTISING & CUSTOM LOGO on our site, advertising your store which I will make myself (nothing fancy but hey it's an ad!!) for ONE YEAR (*or unless your shop goes inactive) (Value = $50+ as our blog grows so does the advertising rate and cost to make) Note: If you already have purchased an ad with us it will be extended!
Mystery gift of vintage (Value $10-$20)
That's over $100, plus shipping !!! International customers are included in this contest !
Get one qualified affiliate to list our banner or avatar to link to our site for at least a year. This would be a commercial website that fits the qualifications below and hits our target audience. In turn, we will add them to our affialiate page and advertise them. Why? Because cross linking and advertising works!
You can use the banner from top of this blog! Or, contact me for an approved avatar!
What does not qualify? Your site, a personal site, blog, or active team member's site. A site that does not hit our target audience. *note exceptions to the rule below.
Who is our target audience? Our target audience is 18-55 (women primarily.) Therefore, your father's construction website will not qualify I'm sorry to say.
What does qualify and where should I look? A commercial site other than your own that has been established at least one year and will hit our target audience. This can be someone you know or don't know. Green living, crafting sites, professional blog sites with a large following that have to do with Etsy or Crafting, or Selling may also work.
How do I do this? Simply contact the site owner and explain who you are, and that you belong to the Etsy Recyclers Guild group, who would love to advertise them in exchange for advertising us. Tell them how we incorporate recycled goods into our work and wares, and tell them what a great free opportunity it is. We would like to be advertised for at least 6 months to a year. Tips for getting them to link us: We promote recycling, reusing, and sustainability. Our blog is growing and traffic is forthcoming, therefore in turn we will link their site, cross promoting them. Great places to solicit are craft blogs or sites, DIY blogs or sites, green products blogs or sites.
Exceptions: If you have a personal blog or website that hits our target audience, and has over 500 followers or high traffic, do submit this information to me for consideration. If you have several blogs that you can get to do this, and the total traffic combined is 500, then submit this information to me for consideration.
Anyone. In the event of a tie, preference given to Active Team Members.
If you are not a member of our group, you will be if you win!
Intenational and domestic customers can apply.
Contest is open until someone wins and ad has been placed and verified.
Questions? Contact me via RetroChalet shop or email me at email@example.com but this does take time for me to answer.


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Officials at Peru Rail, which runs the popular service, said the temporary closure was taken as a precaution, after indigenous leaders vowed to hold protests and blockades to press their demands regarding land use and territorial rights.
Earlier this month, deadly clashes between police and native peoples in Peru's Amazon rainforest killed at least 34 people, prompting Congress to revoke two controversial decrees on land ownership in the Amazon River basin.
Contact a Professional Travel Agent today to book your next trip to South America.


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In my blog of 5 October I suggested that certain UK sections, notably government ministers, would deliberately mess with 'temperature tests' in their bid to curtail expat British tax payers' winter fuel payments. It hasn't taken long: the Mail did it this Thursday, 14 November (second column).
And on Friday, 15 November the Mail published an amusing cartoon, based on one of the previous day's news items.
As a retired expat living in Spain, I take exception to Mac's cartoon. I admire Mac's skill, and yes, I can see the joke. But it panders to a mistaken image of retirees that borders on the offensive, as well as being misguided in fact. I doubt if any retirees would take a dip in a swimming pool during the winter months. And not all buy vino by the van-load. And we certainly wouldn't be spending the winter fuel payment on wine, but on bottled gas to keep warm (see below).
Your sensational page 2 item (Thursday, November 14, 'Cost of winter fuel perk for expats in sun soars by 70%') perpetuates the myth.
Concerning the UK Winter fuel payments, 'Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith yesterday said… huge increase in UK winter fuel payments equates to a near doubling in costs to the British taxpayer and that is wholly unacceptable… we are not prepared to sit back and allow hard-working taxpayers' money to be used in this way.'
Clearly, Mr Smith has forgotten that many British expats still pay UK taxes, and I'm one of them. And we've been hard-working throughout our adult life, paying our taxes, before retiring. If the fuel payment is a 'perk' for all British taxpayers, then where they live shouldn't matter.
Indeed, I take issue when dubious science in the form of 'temperature tests' is applied. Your article is a prime example of supplying favourable data to bolster the anti-expat argument. You state '… Spain, where temperatures in December and January can reach 63F (17C)…' You're being selective. A reality check online would show that for the Costa Blanca, where I and many expats live, the temperatures for December and January are very different: December (High=17, low=7), January (High= 16, low= 5) – that's ten or more degrees lower than you cite.
Anyone with a grain of geographical knowledge knows that while days in Spain may be pleasantly warm in winter, evenings are cold. It's a little disingenuous to apply a 'temperature test' at midday, which is what you have quoted.
In winter, the houses in Spain still require heating. This heating is in the main supplied by bottled gas, whose prices have increased considerably over the last six years, thanks to green taxes. My bottled gas bill for the winter 2011-12 amounted to 1,160 euros (about £981).
Through their UK taxes, most British pensioners living in Spain and claiming the fuel payments, actually pay towards Mr Iain Duncan Smith's and all civil servants' wages. It seems that expats are considered a soft target. Yet these same pensioners paid into the system. Since the rules entitle them to a monetary benefit, why should Mr Smith see fit to penalise these same taxpayers? A cynic might consider that it's political expediency with small risk at the next election.
In conclusion, I always have the option of no longer buying the expensive Daily Mail – that should go a long way to paying for my gas bottles.
Footnote to this blog: All of Europe is currently experiencing arctic blasts of cold weather. Ours in the Costa Blanca today was as low as 3 degrees. It's naïve of me to think so, but if figures are going to be used in an argument, then I'd expect them to be right!


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Face Lift in South Jersey with Dr. William C. Franckle
Face Lift Procedure
If you've noticed the effects of aging and long to restore the youthful, firm contours of your face, you may be an ideal candidate for a facelift. South Jersey plastic surgeon, Dr. Franckle, has performed numerous procedures and can help patients in Voorhees and the surrounding areas regain their youthful appearance. The overall goal at Premier Plastic Surgery Arts is to keep our patients looking refreshed and full of life. If you notice creases below your eyelids, sagging in the mid face and jawline, deep creases along the nose towards the sides of your mouth, overall loss of skin tone and more, a rhytidectomy (facelift) may be the solution you're looking for. These common effects are caused by a combination of heredity, gravity, stress, environment and, above all, aging. Luckily, a rhytidectomy can provide a restorative and rejuvenating solution.
"I'm grateful to have discovered Premier Plastic Surgery Arts. The staff made me feel very welcome and always treated me with respect and gave me special attention. Dr. Franckle patiently answered my questions and most importantly asked me what I wanted to look like after my procedure. He is a true listener and wants to satisfy his patients."
Facelift Patient – December 2015 *
Considerations Before Surgery
While appearance and aging are commonly considered the determining factors for facelift candidates, health is also an extremely important factor. This procedure is only applicable for patients in opportune health. Since the surgery requires anesthesia, patients should be vetted by their physician before opting for this procedure. Healthy individuals without medical conditions that impair healing, non-smokers, and patients with realistic expectations are ideal candidates. It's important to maintain proper expectations regarding results. While a facelift will alter and enhance your appearance, it will not alter the fundamental appearance of your face nor halt aging.
A facelift is often done alongside other procedures, including a brow lift or eyelid surgery. While a rhytidectomy can effectively tighten the facial skin, it is not always the proper procedure for every patient. If your main concern is restored firmness, you may consider other cosmetic procedures that are less invasive. A non-surgical approach can utilize dermal fillers to add fullness and enhance contours. This addresses common complaints, including crows feet and smile lines. Fillers can also be used to enhance shallow contours, soften facial creases and wrinkles, improve the appearance of recessed scarring, and plump thin lips. For some, this is a better route than a facelift as the results are less dramatic. This is often most helpful for those showing early signs of aging.
Procedure Variations and Steps
Before undergoing any cosmetic procedure, your plastic surgeon should have a variety of recommendations. Patients should cease smoking, avoid taking any blood thinners, and increase water intake prior to surgery. When it comes to the day of your procedure, there are some important details you should be aware of. First and foremost, there's anesthesia. This is crucial for your comfort during the procedure. Your surgery requires medications that can include intravenous sedation or general anesthesia depending on your preference. If you're looking for further procedures to enhance your facelift, many patients consider undergoing various procedures in one session. These may include facial implants, soft tissue augmentation, resurfacing techniques, or wrinkle reduction with injection of fat or fillers.
Due to the nature of this procedure, some small incisions are required. There are a variety of options ranging from a limited incision, neck lift, or traditional facelift. With a traditional facelift, incisions are made along the face. This will include the lower scalp, hairline near the temples and around the ear. Tissue beneath the face may be manipulated and sculpted for the desired result while fat deposits are redistributed. This will address issues along the jowls, neck, and face. Once these contours have been enhanced, the skin will then be re-draped and excess skin is trimmed. If there is excess skin or signs of aging beneath the neck, a second incision may be required. All incisions are closed with skin adhesives or sutures.
When a patient opts for limited incision, smaller incisions are made at the temples, continuing around the ear and possibly the lower eyelids or under the upper lip. If sagging jowls and loose neck skin are the major areas needing attention, a neck lift may be appropriate. This incision starts in front of the ear lobe curving around the ear and ending by the lower scalp.
Any incisions are expertly placed so that they are naturally concealed within the hairline and contours of the face once they are healed. Results will be noticeable as soon as any resulting swelling or bruising diminishes. This procedure can help you attain a youthful and rested appearance.
What to Expect After Surgery
Before deciding to have the procedure, patients should familiarize themselves with the post-op recovery process. Following the procedure, a compression bandage may be placed around the surgery site to keep bruising and swelling to an absolute minimum. Specialized tubes may be inserted under the skin to promote proper drainage of the excess fluid and blood that may collect under the skin.
Dr. Franckle will provide specific instructions regarding the proper care regimen following your surgery. This will include how to care for the surgical site and drains, necessary medications to apply or take orally for healing and information on reducing chances of infection, specific concerns to keep your eye on for the surgical site or general health, and a timetable for when you should follow up with Dr. Franckle.
As with any surgery, you may have questions about when you can get back to your normal lifestyle and activities. It may not seem apparent beforehand, but you should ask any potential questions during your consultation so that you don't take part in an activity that could potentially interfere with recovery. Dr. Franckle can provide more specific information about the date of removal for bandages, dressings and stitches, when you can wear makeup, resume exercise, or visit your stylist for cut and color. Pending the extent of the procedure or combination of procedures, sutures are usually removed within 14 days of surgery. Bruising and swelling will normally become less noticeable in 10 to 20 days. Overall, the final result of a facelift procedure is evident in 4 to 6 weeks or sooner, with continued improvement for several months.
There are also a variety of steps you can take to ensure your results are maintained so you can enjoy your procedure to its fullest. Regular application of sunscreen and a healthy lifestyle can help you keep the rejuvenated, youthful appearance following your surgery. For optimal results, be sure to follow Dr. Franckle's instructions to the fullest. Your surgeon will recommend that you avoid excessive force, abrasion, or motion during the healing process. For instance, you will want to avoid getting dressed in a fashion that requires you to pull shirts over your head.
Why Choose Dr. Franckle?
To truly reap the benefits of this procedure, choosing a board certified plastic surgeon with a trusted background should be a top priority. Dr. William C. Franckle, M.D, F.A.C.S has a proven track record for patient collaboration and works to ensure your results are up to your expectations. No two patients are alike and Dr. Franckle embraces the opportunity to enhance each individual's personal beauty. He happily works alongside patients to ensure their questions and concerns don't go unanswered.
His qualifications are just as impressive as his attention to patient satisfaction. Dr. Franckle is not only board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, but he also possesses multiple awards and society memberships. He has received the Top Physicians of 2009 The Art Of Medicine Award and SJ Magazine Top Docs 2008 Award. Some of his society memberships include Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, and Medical Society of New Jersey.
Schedule Your Consultation
Before you choose to undergo a facelift, you will want to schedule a consultation to discuss your expectations and the details of the procedure with Dr. Franckle. In your consultation, you will want to address your specific goals, existing medical conditions or allergies, previous surgeries, and more. It is important that Dr. Franckle has all the necessary information to make sure you receive ideal results.
Consult Premier Plastic Surgery Arts for more information regarding your future facelift. South Jersey plastic surgeon, Dr. Franckle, will happily provide a consultation and work with you to answer any potential questions. Contact our office in Voorhees today at 856-772-6500 or fill out our form at the top left of this page.


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The directions on the package make four servings, so I had to devise a way to make this a single serving. Especially since (and I've noticed this with most cereals that contain coarse ground corn), the amount of water you use quickly evaporates after about 2-3 minutes and the cereal is not yet done yet. I know, I know, I suppose I could just use more water, but I was more interested in making a creamy porridge. So, to remedy this situation, I added unsweetened almond milk at the point where most of the water is gone and continued to cook it until the cereal was done. Perfect! Then, to add some flavor, I added either chocolate chips (gluten-free) or carob chips (not gluten-free), cinnamon, a touch of almond butter, and some protein powder (because that's how I roll) and topped it with flax seeds and nuts. The result is a super-satisfying hot cereal that keeps me going until lunchtime! I can't really think of a name for this, since it's just a breakfast thing I put together, so how about...
Jess's Tasty Gluten-Free Chocolate-Almond Porridge?
I mostly just love the word "porridge".
1/4 c. Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal (what a mouthful!)
3/4 c. water
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
dash of salt
1/2 c. unsweetened almond milk
1 Tb. gluten-free chocolate chips
1/2 Tb. almond butter
2 Tb. chocolate protein powder (I use Lifetime Life's Basics Plant Protein)
2-4 drops vanilla stevia, optional
1 tsp. sliced almonds, for garnish
1/2 tsp. golden or regular flax, for garnish
1. In a small saucepan (real small), bring the water and salt to a bowl. Stir in the Hot Cereal, and reduce heat to medium (or medium-low, you want a nice, slow simmer). Cook for 2-3 minutes or until most of the water is gone. Be careful not to burn the cereal!
2. Stir in the almond milk, cinnamon, chocolate chips, and almond butter, turn up heat to medium-high until it comes to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and allow the cereal to cook for another 7-8 minutes. Stir well to make sure all the almond butter and chips are melted. Add a little more almond milk if it's too thick for you liking.
3. Remove from heat and stir in the protein powder and stevia, if using. Garnish with the sliced almonds and flax and enjoy!
This was actually the last of my Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal, so I'll be moving on to some brown rice farina next, and we all know how much I love my farina!
I have also been cooking from The 30-Minute Vegan's Taste of the East. It's a really good cookbook and the food is divided up into sections: Japanese, Chinese, Indian, Thai, and Fusion. Although I've really been digging the recipes from the Chinese section, I just had to make this Black Rice Pudding from the Thai section:
This particular rice pudding has a chewy texture and a hint of nutty flavor from the black rice. It's made creamy with coconut milk and sweetened with agave and brown sugar. When I made this, I used only about 2/3 the amount of the sugar, just because I wanted something I could also eat for breakfast. And, although I didn't add the optional mirin (no thanks!), I did put in a good amount of cinnamon. To finish it off, I added some unsweetened coconut chips and granola pieces for texture. The crunchy granola bits really added a something-something to it that I liked.
In total, I've only made about three recipes from this particular cookbook, but I really enjoyed them! I can't wait to cook more! Next up, I'll be making the Cantonese Lemon Tofu. I've got my wok (the one I got this past Christmas) completely seasoned and ready to go!
And finally, I've got a pretty big announcement in my next post and it will involve the most epic pantry challenge ever. Stay tuned!


text: Kinkade's Lover Threatens to Reveal Family Secrets Amy Pinto has documents that could hurt Kinkade family, businesses: complaint By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff Posted Apr 16, 2012 9:33 AM CDT 9 comments Comments In this Sept. 15, 2006 file photo, artist Thomas Kinkade unveils his painting, "Prayer For Peace," at the opening of the exhibit "From Abraham to Jesus," in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gene Blythe, File) (Newser) – The Daily, which apparently has an inside line on all the depressing details surrounding Thomas Kinkade's death, reports that the painter's girlfriend is threatening to reveal information that will hurt Kinkade's family. On the morning Kinkade died, Amy Pinto showed a family friend of the artist a collection of personal items including photos and papers. The friend, Linda Raasch, warned that the documents could hurt the Kinkade family, but Pinto refused to give them back and said she might publicize them, according to a civil complaint filed against Pinto on behalf of Kinkade's parent company and his estranged wife, Nanette. The complaint also states that Kinkade's bodyguard heard Pinto belittling Kinkade's wife and daughters, and believed she was "gathering evidence" to "tear down" his family and businesses. Pinto, a former electrical engineer, reportedly stopped working when she met Kinkade; he had been paying her expenses including credit card bills, and she has lived in his California mansion since last year. Last week, Kinkade's brother Patrick told the San Jose Mercury News that Kinkade had been battling alcoholism for a few years, partially because he was upset at criticism of his work, but that he had sobered up over the past few months. My Take on This Story Report a story error Show results without voting | 22% Annoying 13% Hilarious 5% Intriguing 55% Depressing 2% Brilliant 3% Scary


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Jacobs Engineering Group used ProjectWise, GEOPAK, LEAP, STAAD, and MicroStation for the project collaboration and design of USD 1.2 billion tunnel linking Florida highways to Miami cruise and cargo port.
L&T Construction Equipment achieves iconic butterfly roof structure for customer care center using STAAD.Pro for modeling and post-processing.
Marvel Structural Consultants leverage STAAD to design an all-steel, temporary pavilion built with recyclable and reusable materials.
Bentley's 3D applications support optimal design of POWERCHINA's 500 kV transformer substation, saving CNY 100,000 and 40 days in project delivery.
Rupak Kumar Basak provides efficient structural design solution using STAAD.Pro for implementation of renowned ArtsAcre Museum in Kolkata, India.
SNC-Lavalin used SACS to model massive 22,000-ton jacket for deployment in a North Sea oil field, where its weight and installation method posed significant challenges.
Southwest Electric Power Design Institute shortens Converter Station project delivery time by 3 months and saves 8% on costs with Bentley software.
Using 3D modeling, Taikisha Engineering India designed automotive manufacturing facilities in 80% of the scheduled time.
Using STAAD software, Tandon Consultants designed and constructed a 174-meter-long bridge while optimizing materials and construction costs.
Tata Consulting Engineers optimizes site plan for an ashram in Dharampur, India, using 3D digital terrain models produced with Bentley technology.


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Chris McBrien (@cmcbrien) and the Fantasy Doctor (@TheFantasyDR) are really, really good at doing podcasts. They speak well (and fast) and the show is one of the best I have ever listened to. And it is entertaining even if you are not into Fantasy Baseball.
Next to them, I felt a little like a brown shoe in a tuxedo convention (to borrow an old comedian's line). But it was fun and you should listen. Just follow this link.


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President Villaraigosa!
The LA Weekly reports that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was chosen as the President of the US Conference of Mayors today.
Apparently however the Presidency of this august body rotates amongst board members, kind of like the Moose Lodge.
Expect the 11% Mayor to be even more BUSY!
Labels: la weekly, mayor antonio villaraigosa, patrick range mcdonald, us conference of mayors


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Fearless has gone on with this series almost as long as some legislators filibuster. But now he is down to a six-pack of elements…
The discovery of carbon dates back about six millennia, to the Egyptians and Sumerians in the manufacture of bronze. On particular form of carbon – diamonds – were known of more than four millennia ago in China. It might have been known of and used as charcoal in the earliest of human civilizations.
Since those early beginnings carbon has occupied a central place in human social, industrial and biological evolution. Beginning with the latter, carbon is the basis for all organic life on this planet. This is a product of its unique ability to form long-chains binding with other carbon atoms, and to its unique chemical bond characteristics. It employs these characteristics to form simple sugars, complex carbohydrates, alcohols, fats, amino acids (from which proteins assemble), nucleic acids, adenosine triphosphate (the most important chemical you probably have never heard of – it is the basis for energy transfer in all living cells), and a variety of more exotic organic compounds.
It is an element that remains constant in volume on earth, meaning that when carbon is a part of physical processes, it must come from somewhere (or something) and be deposited somewhere else (or in something else). This "carbon cycle" of inputs and outputs is reflected in such processes as carbon respiration in plants and in consumption and metabolism of nutrients.
Which brings us to its industrial evolution. Its discovery as an element starts in 1722 with René Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur ("Grande Toni," for short) transforming iron into steel by introducing an intermediary element. That element would be carbon. Fifty years later Antoine Lavoisier ("Petit Toni" for short) demonstrated that diamond is a form of carbon. Just two years after that, Carl Wilhelm Scheele (who for some reason was nicknamed, "Swedish Toni") showed that graphite was yet another form of carbon. It was left to Lavoisier to settle on the name for the element, identifying it as "carbon" in a chemical textbook he published in 1789.
Having been identified as occurring in a number of different forms was not enough. It was found to be the essential element of crude oil and comprising the structural element of plants (through cellulose, an extremely long chain carbon-based molecule). Given these forms and sources, it became the basis for a huge variety of applications, including: steel manufacture, "lead" pencils (in which the "lead" is primarily graphite), dry batteries, paint and ink, food preparation (charcoal grilling), structural carbon fiber, electroplating, nuclear power generation (as a neutron moderator in reactors), and plastics.
It is one of the rare elements that has incorporated itself in the social evolution of man, primarily in its diamond form. They are a girl's best friend, they serve as the basis for commitment for couples, they serve to signal significant anniversaries.
We have an element that is the centerpiece of living processes, an element that is central to the inputs and outputs of biology. It is an element that takes many forms and has many applications, limited only it seems by the imagination of those searching for applications. It has an important place in the social fabric of human history. It is not unlike a figure who occupies a central role in the life of a hockey team, one concerned with the inputs and outputs of the on-ice product, one whose imagination can mold its many forms into a variety of strategies and approaches for winning hockey.
Carbon…the "Adam Oates" of the elements of the periodic table.


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Thankfully, Stephen Totilo, writing for Kotaku, asked the very question that's haunted fans of The Elder Scrolls series since word of The Elder Scrolls Online surfaced: "Will ESO be like World of Warcraft?. ESO game director Matt Firor, who has worked on World of Warcraft projects in the past, assures us that these assumptions are false, specifically stating, "Our priority is to make a great game and not to make a clone of anything." He feels that once more information hits the gaming community, the more people will adjust to the idea of an Elder Scrolls MMO.
Totilo and Firor discussed various features of the most anticipated MMO of 2013, ranging from combat to quests to dungeons. Unlike the console based games, ESO is intended for third person point of view. Totilo was able to play the game and said playing in first person was optional, so long as the player zoomed in the camera all the way, an action he said made combat awkward and more difficult because the hero's arms and weapons are not visible from this viewpoint. Having third person perspective as standard is designed for players to view all hostiles and allies that flank them.
Spells and skills are assigned to a point and click toolbar at the bottom of the screen, much like other MMOs, while some combats, such as blocking, are assigned to keyboard buttons. Blocking does not require a cooldown, and many abilities do not, urges Firor, but many more do.
Dungeons. There are three types: group instances, in-game raids, and public dungeons. On public dungeons, Firor said:
"These public dungeons will be more difficult to survive in than above ground, so you'll want to ask people for help or give help. You'll always be rewarded for helping people."Factions, joinable groups spread across the continent of Tamriel, have two major sides: the Ebonheart Pact and the Dagerfall Covenant. Players can choose to join either of the two, eventually raising to the rank of Emperor when enough territory and wealth is amassed. Combat, Firor says, will have PvP opportunities with instances as small as farm-side skirmishes between a few parties and full-scale wars with two major, opposing forces.
"Our quests are a little more exciting than 'just go out and kill 10 rats,'" Firor said, unveiling a quest that has players rewinding the clock to find out how to defeat an undead warrior in the present. Much like the Time Wound and Alduin from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Only cooler.
He classified the quests as a "point of interest" quests that would have 20 minutes of content with a reward at the end. These kinds of quests are triggered as random encounters that are initiated on the world map.
Most importantly, Firor said, "Everywhere you go, you find something to do. You can just walk across the world and find things to do."
Are we convinced that ESO will be "the new alternative" to MMOs? Gamers were promised a gem with The Old Republic and many felt it was not up to par. But, this 'is' the Elder Scrolls, after all. Read the full interview here.
In other news, lead artist of The Elder Scrolls V: Dawnguard Matt Carofano has revealed that Dawnguard offers more content than anything we saw in the Fallout DLC packs, but less than our beloved Shivering Isles. "We wanted to do something more in depth than that," he said. "It's not as big as Shivering Isles, but there's still a lot of content there." Read the full article here.


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Cheikh-Salah appelle à soutenir les prisonniers
Head of the Islamic Movement in 1948 Occupied Palestine, Sheikh Raed Salah, called for backing up Palestinian hunger striking detainees who have been fasting since April 17.
"Releasing the hunger striking detainees is the next victory", Sheikh Salah told the PIC reporter. He wished their demands would be met soon.
The Islamic Movement leader condemned the Israeli ceaseless violations of al-Aqsa Mosque. "Israeli authorities try to impose sovereignty over the Muslims' holy shrine by targeting Jerusalemite people with repeated arrests and banishment from al-Aqsa Mosque".


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I met Kath and Dylan in Victoria park (Arbroath) around lunch time for an afternoons climbing on the sea cliffs. As seems to be the pattern for the last few days, Angus was covered in a layer of fog, which seemed to trap the heat in, so despite the lack of sun, it was warm and pleasant in the sea breeze.
We headed down to some of the very easy and short routes above warship wall. I set up a few top and bottom ropes, allowing Kath and Dylan to get a few warm up climbs done, and to get used to the rock at Arbroath. working our way along the face, we bagged most of the easy routes, and i decided to test them a wee bit with a few slightly more challenging routes.
Great fun was had attempting some of the problems, with an amazing setting next to a blowhole! Highlight of the day was 3 RAF Tornados screeming overhead as part of the local sea-side spectacular. What a sight!!!
Heidi joined us, and she took part in the fun, trying some of the harder climbs we looked at.
Moving along the coast, we headed to sector cartoon, where there is a lovely 7m cliff face, with easy access from the top and side (with an easy but exposed scramble). Kath and Dylan climbed most of the routes on top rope, gaining more enjoyment from the climbs as the day went on.
As a last challenge, we climbed Fred Flintstone, a challenging boulder problem, peculiarly only graded at F3+!!!
As an end to the day, Heidi and I abseiled into the imposing Mermaids Kirk (A tidal bay) with the hope of cracking one of the bolted routes before the tide blocked our escape. Looking at the two routes, the bolts were high and well spaced, so it was going to take a good climb to get us out the 'proper' way.
Heidi had a look at the start of Dread Knot (F6b), which is a powerful and committing start, but was not 100% comfy with the high (Very!) first bolt, so i tried it, and was starting to feel the pump before reaching the bloody thing! Wow, was it going to be this hard all the way to the top?
Me checking out the first moves of Dread KnotFortunately, i made the next bolt without too much trouble, only to be greeted by the next clip, a good 10-12ft away... Yikes! Working my way up on very occasional crimps and frequent slopers, i was forced to trust my feet all the way, and made the delicate crux move onto the finish ledge to my relief. Wow, what a climb. Nothing too technical or strenuous, just committing and psychologically challenging. I can see a pattern forming...
(Notice the height of 1st bolt, only just visible top right)
(Notice the height of 1st bolt, only just visible top right)
Heidi came up with ease, and was keen to lead it on another occasion. Just let me know when you want the rematch Heidi, I'll gladly belay. Cheers


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To be fair, that's largely because it didn't do that much - and the apps really fitting into its UI concepts (like one IM client basically using folder view of "files" for contacts) were rather simple. Applets, almost.
But yeah, there is something about it being just... charming.
(it certainly brightened one indy film, where protagonist's computer was running BeOS instead of the more typical "Movie OS" or Win/Mac; too bad I can't recall the title)
I don't think it's much of a problem. In most cases icons are seen in context. People don't see "three lines", they see "that icon" that's always in the same place when they use a program.
A bigger problem is a hardware button or key that doesn't act consistent.
In the days of the Amiga every program looked different and that didn't bother anyone.
And yet the Amiga was still more consistent than other platforms, with common shortcuts across the OS and programs, and consistently placed menus. I remember at the time being driven bonkers switching between DOS, Windows and the Amiga because of the inconsistencies of the former two. There were exceptions obviously, and they did annoy me a little bit - implementing your own close gadget on a window is just a waste of time IMHO, and comes with the added bonus of not responding as the standard one does.
I have to say it does bug me when applications use icons or gadgets which aren't reasonably standard for whatever platform. We have software in work which has toolbar icons which I couldn't actually describe if I tried, and have absolutely no relation that I can see to their function. That's just being awkward for the sake of it, similar functions in other applications seem to be able to do it!
I don't know you "you guys" do it, but but with me it's mostly about feeling, knowing-when-I-see-it and muscle memory.
I mean, if someone stopped me in the street and asked bout the "triple bar" I would have had no idea what he meant. Nor could I easily explain how to do certain actions. But when I'm sitting behind my computer I can do these things blind. Just as I can type blind, but I couldn't tell you the order of all the letters.
So I only have a problem if certain buttons/keys aren't consistent in their function. How icons look like or how windows are dressed doesn't matter for me.
I agree. The "justify" one is always next to the left, right, and center icons.
The drag to rearrange one looks like a bad choice for that icon, but it's only one specific case.
Using 3 or 4 bars for menu/settings makes sense because it's the best way to condense a menu-look into a small space. It's like a condensed version of the Microsoft context menu key on pretty much all keyboards now (maybe not Apple ones) which has been around since 1994.
And basically it's like the right-mouse-button for touch screens.
Edited 2012-06-15 13:33 UTC
Correct - this especially applies where icons don't depict actual (material) things, or when the depicted object that represents a certain action is not in use for that kind of action anymore.
A nice example of the latter categorie is provided in the article "The Floppy Disk means Save, and 14 other old people Icons that don't make sense anymore" which mentions:
floppy disk = save
radio buttons = mutually exclusive choices
clipboard = buffer memory or other storage
bookmarks = save address of web page or location in file system
address book, calendar = contact information and appointments
tape reels = voicemail or other audio messages
folder = means of grouping and hierarchical order
phone handset = voice communication (or telephone)
magnifying glass, binoculars = search for information. nit also magnify screen content
envelope = e-mail
wrenches, gears = settings, setup or installation, sometimes generic for programs
microphone = voice input
Kodak or other photo camera = digital pictures or movies
TV set with "bunny ears" antenna = streaming news or movies, play audiovisual media
carbon copy = "duplicate" e-mail messages
The context of those icons is mostly of historic nature. If the knowledge about what they initially meant is lost, only their "use by convention" will remain. Maybe in the future, today's use of icons will be seen as the use of hieroglyphics in ancient Egypt.
Today's icon-centric interfaces teach the user by a "trial & error" method what action an icon will cause. This action is then associated to that icon, no matter what it looks like. Basically, icons often give a hint to what they will do, but it doesn't neccessarily have to be the case to make a user learn that particular interface. When for example "blue globe with orange fox" means Internet access (in widest imaginable meaning), that's what users will quickly learn, even though there is no real realtion between the content of the icon and the action it will cause for them (as in: "I'm not using the Internet, I'm just going to my friends!" meaning that the user will access Facebook via Firefox).
Or even worse - those that cannot easily determined as what they are and what they do. You sometimes find them in cars, where an element looks like a "turning knob", but in fact it's a "self-centering +/- switch key".
Though I agreed with the underlying message of the linked article I thought it took some things too far...
- 20 year old's don't know what gears, wrenches and screwdrivers are? I don't believe that at all. Those things are not obsolete nor will they be for a long time.
- I'm under 30 and know what a Polaroid camera is. Also those icons look exactly like digital cameras.
- Until teleports are perfected (don't mean to troll, but the ones we use now are not reliable enough because of small distortions) envelopes will be used for a long time to come to send small physical stuff.
But it remains true that more and more tasks will be done with one of those computor thingies in the future. At which point there are no modern analogues anymore which will make it difficult or impossible to come up with a fitting icon.
Edited 2012-06-15 18:01 UTC
- 20 year old's don't know what gears, wrenches and screwdrivers are? I don't believe that at all. Those things are not obsolete nor will they be for a long time.
- I'm under 30 and know what a Polaroid camera is. Also those icons look exactly like digital cameras.
- Until teleports are perfected (don't mean to troll, but the ones we use now are not reliable enough because of small distortions) envelopes will be used for a long time to come to send small physical stuff.
Actually you can still buy Polaroids in several shops (eg. Urban Outfitters). They are "retro" things, same as the lomography cams you can also find in plenty of places, but they are all still around.
You can also easily find retro style usb phones for Skype that look exactly like that phone icon.
Regading the "old style microphone" maybe the author doesn't know about Newmann Microphones, which are current high end studio hardware and plenty of them look exactly like that icon. Sure, they are not the kind of microphone you are more likely to see around, but it's not a deprecated design.
Most of those icons are not obsolete, they are just using concepts that can be considered retro, but the thing with retro is that it becomes trendy every now and then so you can hardly argue that a twenty-something won't be able to recognize any of them.
Headphones were retro too when earbuds came out, yet everyone seems to be wearing them again now.
Hipsters do, I guess ...but most people seem to recognize the greater practicality of earbuds, in ~mobile scenarios. In ~domestic ones, headphones never went anywhere.
Edited 2012-06-18 06:47 UTC
I don't know, Amiga didn't really pick up steam with ~desktop usage; not the way some other more or less contemporary platforms did... (and where is Amiga now? ;p )
And WTH was it with people custom-texturing the AmigaOS UI (one quickly found example http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amiga_Workbench_3_screenshot.png but it was typically a lot worse plus not only window backgrounds, also chrome), then showing it off as if it was nicer that way?
I used to think that icons were like hieroglyphs, but they are actually more like cave paintings. We can make only educated guesses what the author tried to communicate.
A triple bar could mean: "Busy developer used a placeholder icon that looked good enough for final product."
Apple do provide UI guidance. The problem is the review process seems to have become little more than a rubber stamping exercise. Early on in the life of the App Store the reviewers would enforce these guidelines far more stringently. The Forstall school of UI design seems to be overriding the former common sense at Apple now though.


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Officials say the sound that was thought to be gunfire at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania, was actually popping bubble wrap.
A student who lives in The Village, at the Eastern University rental apartments located on the Valley Forge Military Academy and College property, heard what was thought to be a gunshot and called 911.
The school was placed on lockdown for approximately an hour beginning at around 6pm on Monday.
Police arrived on the campus with guns drawn, but soon realised there were no signs of an active shooter or shooting.
Cabrini University along with Eastern University were placed on lockdown due to the incident.
Eastern University alerted all on their St. Davids campus to remain indoors. Around 10 minutes later, they said the lockdown was lifted.


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Well... we had cake last night, and while it was lovely going down... it caused Bex and I to have rotten heartburn afterwards.
Not so nice. It was a rather moist, heavy chocolate cake... so maybe we will give it a miss next time.
It's Friday! First week of the school holidays are almost over, and the 2nd week will be much easier as Stew will be home with us, and hopefully my cold will be over soon too.
We are still thinking of going over to Tauranga next week for a day. I hope we do... I miss Keera. Just have to work out which day.
Right, I'm off to check out how the dogs are... and put Miss Tallulah outside for her morning ablutions.
Who asked me for the Russian Fudge recipe? Well... this is the one I used:
- 3 ½ cups sugar
- 125g butter
- 3 Tbsp gollden syrup
- ½ cup milk
- ½ tsp salt
- 200g sweetened condensed milk (half a standard tin)
- 2 tsp vanilla essence
- Place all the ingredients except the vanilla, into a medium-heavy saucepan.
- Warm over a gentle heat until the sugar has dissolved about 10-15 mins.
- Bring to a gentle boil and cook for about 5-10 minutes, until it reaches the soft ball stage (120°C).
- Remove from the heat and add the vanilla.
- Beat until the fudge is creamy and thick and has lost its gloss.
- Pour into a greased cake pan. Score the top and break into pieces when cold
a cute wee video of Dante and Tallulah last night:
Dare I say I'm feeling a teeny, tiny bit better? I don't want to jinx it, but I do feel like I'm on the improve at last.
I've woken up with a bit of determination to get a few things done today, mostly housework that has been slipping lately. Thankfully the kids are home and can give me a hand again.
I suppose there are upsides to having bigger kids.
'Thank You' to anyone who offered suggestions on how to get hold of a Sims 3 game for Brylee.
I think Kelly has managed to secure one for us... Brylee should have it in about a week. That will make her very happy.
I finally have an electrician here fixing me power points and malfunctioning lights. Yaaa. AND he's a
ABOVE: John from Gibbons Electrical. He's the nicest bloke ever. He did a good job, he arrived only a couple of hours after I rang, and he did the job in double quick time. It helped that he had a lovely smile and was pleasant on the eye! I like a bald man, ask Stew!
ABOVE: I killed the iron. Bugger. I was going to iron Stew's work shirts today! Now we have to go shopping for a new iron. Probably time to replace it anyway.
BLONDIE: no I didn't throw it! I don't throw things. If I wanted it dead I would have battered it to death, with a hammer!
Instead, I picked it up off the floor ... but me foot was on the cord... and it kinda came to bits.
Cooking dinner. Chicken Rice Risotto. With veges added too.
Well... dinner was lovely, followed by some mindless TV while I did some more sewing. My points are getting better and better!
AND... my cold is going! I've felt much better tonight... thank god!
End of Day: a lovely day, got all the things done that I wanted to, it's neat having working power points again and lights that go too.
Cost a bomb of course, but worth it.
nite nite


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This marketing ploy has its pluses and its minuses. On the plus side, Hermès can maximise profits per unit by minimising output, also keeping such close control on their desirable products that the provenance of each bag is known. Also, where there are waiting lists for the genuine goods, sellers outside recognised distribution channels are almost proclaiming that their products are fakes. On the downside, the fewer genuine bags are made and, the harder they are to obtain, the greater is the profit that can be secured if a trader can pass a fake product off as a genuine one. Says Fashionista, this is a tough decision to call: let's watch how Hermès play the market and judge whether this policy works or not.
Hat-tip to Lorraine Fleck for the link.