text:
When you put an adjective like Incredible in a product name, it better deliver the goods, otherwise you end up looking pretty foolish and probably have a bunch of angry customers on your hands. Fortunately for HTC and Verizon, though, it looks like this won't be the case because the Droid Incredible lives up to its name and then some. While the Android 2.1 smartphone doesn't offer any new, ground-breaking features, what it does better than any other Android product on the market right now, including the Motorola Droid and Nexus One, is enhancing those features with better software (courtesy of HTC Sense) and combining it with a sleek design and lots of power.
Though a lot of eyes may be on the Sprint HTC Evo 4G and we have little quibbles here and there, we have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the Droid Incredible. It's hands-down Verizon's best smartphone, and one of the best and fastest Android devices on the market right now, so much so that we deem it worthy of our Editors' Choice award. The Droid Incredible by HTC will be available from Verizon Wireless on April 29 for $199.99 with a two-year contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate.
The Droid Incredible is another example of HTC's and Design & Company's handiwork. Though the overall shape and design is similar to many touch-screen smartphones on the market, it's the finer details and the HTC Sense user experience (more on this later) that make the Droid Incredible different and a step above the rest.
Roughly the same size as the Nexus One, the Droid Incredible officially measures in at 4.63 inches tall by 2.3 inches wide by 0.47 inch thick and 4.59 ounces. It does feel a bit plasticky compared with the Nexus One, but it also finally gives Verizon customers (well, those who can live without a physical keyboard) a viable alternative to the Motorola Droid, as it still offers some of the higher-end features, such as the Snapdragon processor and high-resolution display, that are missing on the carrier's other Android device, the Droid Eris.
Oh, and what a beautiful display that graces the mug of the Droid Incredible. The capacitive touch screen measures 3.7 inches diagonally and has a WVGA resolution (480×800) just like the Nexus One, but in a side-by-side comparison, the Incredible's display appears smoother and more vibrant than that of the Nexus One.
In addition, it felt more responsive, registering every touch right away and providing a smooth scrolling experience. The built-in accelerometer was quick to change screen orientation, and the proximity sensor kicks in as soon as you hold the phone up to your ear to take a phone call. Our only complaint about the screen would be that it's pretty hard to read in bright sunlight and like many others, the touch screen is an absolute magnet for fingerprints and smudges, so we'd recommend keeping a screen wipe close by at all times.
The onscreen keyboard is HTC's own rather than the standard Android keyboard, which is fine by us since the buttons are slightly bigger for easier typing, especially in portrait mode. We made fewer mistakes and could type a bit faster on the Incredible than the Nexus One. That said, we were definitely jonesing for Swype after having experienced how fast and accurate it could be. Currently, Swype for Android is in closed beta.
Below the display, you have four touch-sensitive shortcut keys–home, menu, back, and search–and below them is a new optical joystick. Much like the ones found on the HTC Legend and the HTC Desire, it replaces the trackball navigator found on previous devices and operates much like a trackpad; you simply move your thumb over the control in the direction you want to move and you can even press down to select an item. Overall, it works as advertised, but the smaller size of the button makes it a bit awkward at first. In general, we used it mostly to scroll and select a smaller item on a Web site, such as a link, and used the touch screen for everything else.
There are very few other physical buttons on the Droid Incredible. On the left side, there's a volume rocker and a Mini-USB port and on top of the device, you'll find a power button and 3.5mm headphone jack. As with most all handsets, the camera and in this case, the dual LED flash, are housed in the back but what's unusual about the Droid Incredible is the back's topographic design and the phone's innards. Instead of a smooth surface, the battery door has bumps and ridges, and it's only after you pop it off that you realize it actually follows the lines of the internal parts of the phone. You'll notice that the insides of the phone are red. Does it add any value to the smartphone? No. But can we appreciate that HTC wanted to highlight some of the engineering that went into the device and make it beautiful inside and out? Absolutely.
Verizon packages the Droid Incredible with just the bare minimum: an AC adapter, a USB cable, and reference material. For more add-ons, please check our cell phone accessories, ringtones, and help page.
User interface
Many have asked about the difference between the Droid Incredible and the Nexus One, and one of the key differentiators is HTC Sense. The Droid Incredible uses Sense, whereas the Nexus One uses the standard Android UI.
While there will be purists who prefer the standard Android skin, in most cases, we'd choose a device running Sense, and we think it's something that actually gives the Droid Incredible a competitive advantage. Out of all our custom skins for Android (Motoblur, TouchWiz, etc.), Sense is our absolute favorite. Not only does it give Android a more user-friendly interface, it actually, in many cases, improves on the core functions by better integrating the features.
Just like the Legend and Desire, the Droid Incredible runs the newer version of HTC Sense, which was announced at Mobile World Congress 2010. This includes a revamped mail widget that can take you to a list view of all your e-mail instead of just one message at a time. Once in the mail app, there's a handy tabbed interface at the bottom that lets you view unread messages, attachments, meeting invites, and more with a simple touch. The Agenda widget also now displays your whole agenda on the screen, and like the HTC HD2, you get an animated weather widget right on the home screen that automatically displays the current conditions based on your location.
You also get a new Group Contacts widget, which lets you, well, organize your contacts by groups. For example, you can set up one for work colleagues, another for friends, and another for just family–whatever you please. The UI looks good, and it's simple to add contacts to a group, though removing them requires a few extra steps.
Another feature called Friend Stream provides a single place for all your social-networking needs, piping in updates from Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr all into a single place. Unlike Motoblur, it's not server-based; the phone connects to the sites and pulls information directly from there.
By far, our favorite new feature, however, is the Leap screen. By pinching the home screen (or pressing the home button if you're on the center panel), it brings up a thumbnail view of all your home screen panels, so if you have your favorite apps and widgets on those screens, you easily "leap" to the screen you want and access them. The Droid Incredible offers seven home screen panels, and there are different "Scenes," which presents a whole new set of seven home screen panels that you can customize by the theme of the Scene (Social, Work, Travel, Play, and so forth). Admittedly, it can be overwhelming, but the best part is that you can use as many or as few of the features as you want; the device is completely customizable to your needs.
Behind HTC Sense, the Droid Incredible is running Android 2.1, which means you'll get the latest features available, including live wallpaper, voice-to-text capabilities, and Google Maps Navigation. The smartphone also comes with the usual Android staples, such as Gmail, Google Talk, a dedicated YouTube app, QuickOffice, and Android Market. HTC throws in a couple of its own extras as well, including its Twitter app, Peep, and Footprints, which allows you to geotag photos and add notes and audio clips to the "digital postcards," among other things. In addition, Verizon has its own channel in the Android Market, so you can easily find and download apps specific to the carrier, such as Visual Voice Mail, VZW Tones, V Cast Media Manager, and NFL Mobile.
Aside from Gmail, the smartphone supports multiple POP3, IMAP, and Exchange accounts and combines them in a unified in-box. There's a setup wizard when you first use to the device to help you bring in all your contacts from your various accounts, including the aforementioned e-mail types, Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr. Often it's as simple as entering your user name and password, but you may need additional information when setting up your Exchange account. The Droid Incredible can sync your Exchange calendar and contacts as well. That said, we had some initial problems syncing our Exchange calendar to the Droid Incredible and had to remove and then add our account again to get it to work.
The contact management system is pretty good. If any of your contacts have Facebook updates, it will display them right next to their picture in the contact database. Again, Sense has done of nice job of making it easy to access as much information as possible with little effort. For example, you can see all your exchanges (text messages, call logs, etc.) with a single person from their contact card, and all your contacts are accessible within the phone app. However, we still had multiple instances of duplicate contacts and had to go back and manually link them together.
As a phone, the Droid Incredible offers a speakerphone, speed dial, smart dialing, voice commands, conference calling, and text and multimedia messaging with threaded chat view. Bluetooth, 3G, GPS, and integrated Wi-Fi are also onboard, and Verizon has said that the Skype Mobile app will be available for the Droid Incredible. The smartphone has the same WebKit browser as the Nexus One and Droid and offers Flash Lite and pinch-to-zoom support. If you want to use voice and data at the same time, you'll have to connect via Wi-Fi, because Verizon does not allow you use their network for voice and data simultaneously. The basic but drab music and video player have never been a selling point for Android, and that's still the case with the Droid Incredible, though HTC Sense adds a slightly more attractive interface to the player. Most important, however, is that it gets the job done and supports a good range of music and video codecs, including MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, OGG, WMV, MP4, and 3GP. In addition, there's an FM radio, but it requires a headset with a built-in tuner, which Verizon does not include in the box.
There are plenty of streaming radio services available in the Android Market, however, and there are several ways to get music onto the phone. Android doesn't have a native app for syncing your music from your PC to your phone, so you can either connect via USB and use the old drag-and-drop method or use a third-party app such as doubleTwist to sync with iTunes playlists, podcasts, and more. Of course, you can also browse and purchase songs right from your phone via the Amazon MP3 Store, but it doesn't come preloaded, so you'll have to download it first. Storing your media files won't be a problem since the Droid Incredible offers 8GB of internal memory and an expansion slot that supports up to 16GB cards.
Another area where the Droid Incredible bests the current crop of top smartphones is the camera. Rocking an 8-megapixel lens and dual LED flash, the smartphone took excellent photos indoors and outdoors. Pictures had a good color and sharp definition, and there was very little shutter lag. Nighttime shots still looked a bit gray and dull, but it was certainly better than most other camera phones, and objects were clearly defined in the image. The camera can also shoot video at WVGA resolution; the video quality was acceptable but a tad grainy.
We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO Rev. A) HTC Droid Incredible in New York using Verizon service, and call quality was good, though not without issue. We enjoyed clear conversations with very little background noise or voice distortion, and there was plenty of volume–almost piercing at the highest level. Friends also reported good results with no major complaints about the audio quality on their side of the conversation. Though we didn't experience any dropped calls, there were a couple of instances where the sound cut out so we couldn't hear our caller. The situation was easily resolved by moving to a new spot, but it was nevertheless a bit annoying.
Speakerphone quality was nothing surprising. We could carry on conversations with relative ease and there was enough volume to continue in noisier environments, but callers did note that there was a slight echo. We paired the smartphone with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset and the Motorola S9 Bluetooth Active Heaphones with no problem.
Verizon's 3G network provided reliable 3G coverage throughout our testing period and with swift speeds to boot. CNET's full site loaded in 16 seconds, and CNN's and ESPN's mobile sites loaded in 4 seconds and 5 seconds, respectively. Meanwhile, the Slacker Radio app (1.02MB) took 11 seconds to download from the Android Market. YouTube videos took a few seconds to buffer, but once going played continuously, though quality was a mixed bag. We had much better luck with our own MP4 files as clips played back beautifully with clear picture and robust sound. Despite having a lackluster music player, songs sounded rich and full through our on Bose On-Ear headphones.
Out of everything, though, the one aspect of the Droid Incredible that absolutely knocked our socks off is general performance. The smartphone is armed with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor and 512MB ROM and 512MB RAM and the Droid Incredible was one of the most responsive and fastest Android devices; heck, one of the fastest smartphones in general, that we've tested to date. The handset handled every task we threw at it without stumbling, and even with six open apps open, the Incredible never slowed down.
The smartphone comes with a 1,300mAh lithium ion battery with a rated talk time of 5.2 hours. In our battery drain tests the Droid Incredible provided 5.5 hours of continuous talk time on a single charge. In real-life usage, the smartphone was able to last just over day on a single charge with moderate use. According to FCC radiation tests, the Droid Incredible has a digital SAR rating of 1.4 watts per kilogram and a Hearing Aid Compatibility rating of M4/T3.


text:
A year ago it was Google with its Gears project. Now Yahoo wants to make your browser better, too.
A year after the Google launched its Gears project, Yahoo announced software called BrowserPlus that has a similar philosophy: expand what's possible to make Web applications a better alternative to programs running natively on a personal computer. Right now, it's available only in a "sneak peek" on some Yahoo-operated Web sites.
"BrowserPlus is a technology designed to 'extend the Web,' so that developers can build more exciting Web applications and so end users can get more done inside their Web browsers," Yahoo said on a BrowserPlus frequently-asked-questions page.
Among its abilities: "Different Web sites can use BrowserPlus to support things like drag and drop from the desktop, easier file uploads, more efficient and secure acquisition of feeds and information, and native desktop notifications," Yahoo said.
This sounds good to me, at least in principle. I've been trying Google's and Facebook's Web-based instant-messaging applications, but without desktop notifications, they're only as immediate and useful as any old Web mail software.
The software, along with Gears, shows an interesting trend in Web design: the biggest players are working to expand what can be done with the Internet. It's reminiscent of the early days of the Web, when Netscape and Internet Explorer would implement new features to permit more elaborate Web sites.
Google appears to be trying to make it easier for competitors to embrace Gears. At its Google I/O conference here Wednesday, Google de-branded Gears today, taking its name off the project and announcing some new Web browser support in the works.
BrowserPlus works on Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5 machines and on Windows XP and Vista machines. Supported browsers are Internet Explorer 7 or later, Apple Safari 3 or later, and Firefox 2 or later, Yahoo said.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hmm. Dull, to be honest. Crossroads of Twlight and Knife of Dreams' UK hardcovers had similar art with just a different colour (red and jade-green), whilst The Gathering Storm had the same layout but a threatening use of clouds in the background. And you'd think they could change the cover quote for the first time in eight or nine books, just for variety's sake. Still, this could also be a mock-up and might not represent the final version (though I suspect it will).
Brandon Sanderson also read out the first paragraph from the book at JordanCon:
"The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the Third Age by some, an Age yet to come, an Age long past, a wind rose around the misty peaks of Imfaral. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning."
The book is currently expected to be published in November 2010, apparently in both the UK and USA.


text:
Man kills New York officer with his service weapon
JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. (AP) — A police officer responding to a disturbance at an upstate New York business was killed with his own service weapon by a gunman who was then fatally shot by another officer Monday morning, authorities said.
Binghamton Police Chief Joseph Zikuski said Officer David Smith, 43, was called to a reported disturbance at the health care facility in Johnson City when he was attacked.
Authorities said 43-year-old James Clark, an MRI technician at Southern Tier Imaging, struggled with Smith before grabbing the officer's gun and firing at him. Smith, an 18-year veteran of the force, was hit three times and died at the scene.
"He was a good officer," Zikuski said. "It's tragic."
Clark, from nearby Greene, then finished discharging the weapon's entire 15-round magazine by shooting at an unnamed other officer, who shot him. Clark died in surgery at a hospital just over three hours later.
"He obviously had some sort of mental breakdown," Zikuski said. "We may never know."
Smith was married and had one child, the chief said.
"I was deeply saddened to learn that Officer David Wayne Smith was killed in the line of duty today," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful for his service and extend our heartfelt condolences."
The shooting comes just three days shy of the fifth anniversary of a mass shooting in the area. Jiverly Wong shot and killed 13 people before killing himself in an immigrant center in nearby Binghamton on April 3, 2009.
Autopsies were being conducted Monday on both men.
Zikuski said Clark was described by co-workers as a "model employee" and had no known mental problems or criminal history. Police do not have a motive, but they were searching Clark's home for clues.
Police said that when Clark entered the Southern Tier Imaging building for work Monday morning, he became embroiled in a dispute with co-workers. At one point, he grabbed a co-worker, shook him and made threats indicating there was a bomb in the building, Zikuski said.
That prompted the call that sent Smith to the scene. Zikuski said Smith never had a chance to radio for assistance before he was attacked.
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.


text:
Act Now: Charitable Giving Incentives Threatened!
December 4, 2012
As Congress debates how to avoid the looming "fiscal cliff," the deductibility of charitable contributions hangs in the balance. Policymakers are considering a wide range of proposals to reduce the tax incentive for charitable giving - including capping the dollar amount allowable for all itemized tax deductions, or reducing the rate of deductibility - in an effort to generate new federal revenue.
Your participation is needed to help Congress understand that limiting the charitable deduction would harm nonprofit services in communities nationwide.
The League is partnering with the broader nonprofit sector to urge Congress and the White House to preserve tax incentives for charitable giving. Today and tomorrow, orchestra advocates are encouraged to participate in "Protect Giving - DC Days" alongside representatives from a broad cross-section of nonprofit organizations.
WE NEED YOUR VOICE. Please contact your Members of Congress today to urge them to preserve charitable giving incentives as the tax reform debates continue. Tell them how charitable contributions support the unique, essential services your orchestra provides in your community.
Thank you in advance for your participation! Complete information - including talking points, background, and a sample letter to Congress - is available in the League's tax policy advocacy center. Please feel welcome to be in touch with the League's advocacy team with any questions.


text:
Suppose I have $a\equiv b \text{ (mod $c$)}$ and I just know $c$. I want to know, say $b$. Is this the same as $a$ mod $c$? If so, why?
I think I confuse the congruence with the equality symbol, because only recently I learned that sometimes $mod$ is used as an operator, and not as a mere part of the congruence symbol.


text:
Articles from May 2013
Cast changes: Hansel and Gretel
Cast change: Yuhui Choe to dance as Gamzatti in La Bayadère on 6 May
The pursuit of happiness: how the arts are essential to childrens' experience of school
Conductor change: John Eliot Gardiner to conduct May 2014 performances of Le nozze di Figaro
Opera Essentials: Don Carlo
The Metamorphosis to be staged in New York and broadcast on Sky Arts in the UK
Political operas #1: Don Carlo, Simon Boccanegra and Gloriana
Your reaction: Don Carlo
Cast change: Lianna Haroutounian to sing role of Elizabeth of Valois in Don Carlo on 8 May
The tragic true story behind Mayerling
How the arts benefit both the economy and the public
Antony and The Johnsons: Swanlights to be staged at Royal Opera House
Your reaction: Hansel and Gretel
Southbank Sinfonia's young musicians get taster of life at the ROH
Cast change: Lianna Haroutounian to sing role of Elizabeth of Valois in Don Carlo on 11 May
Watch: Jon Bausor on the ballet Hansel and Gretel
Audrey Niffenegger on Raven Girl and swapping the page for the stage
Watch: What does it mean to be a Friend of Covent Garden?
Watch: Insights into Wayne McGregor and Audrey Niffenegger's Raven Girl
Cast changes: Symphony in C
New apprenticeships offered at ROH
Importance of Being Earnest composer wins RPS music award
ROH partner recognised for its contribution to the arts
Audrey Niffenegger and Wayne McGregor to sign copies of Raven Girl
War and cucumber sandwiches: Iconic stage and screen tea parties
Watch: Liam Scarlett on Hansel and Gretel
Cast change: Michael Spyres to sing in La donna del lago on 17 May
Opera on BBC TV and radio: Broadcasts in spring and summer 2013
Q&A: Joyce DiDonato
Your reaction: La donna del lago
Opera Essentials: La donna del lago
Cast change: Michael Spyres to sing in La donna del lago on 20 May
Q&A: Joyce DiDonato
'Blood': a visceral multimedia dance experience
Musical Highlight: 'Oh mattutini albori!' from La donna del lago
Watch: Jon Bausor on designing for opera and ballet
Happy birthday Richard Wagner
Deloitte Ignite 2013 to be curated by Stephen Fry
Watch: Ramin Gray on The Importance of Being Earnest - 'In the best way, like a crazy child who has been let loose with crayons'
ROH Thurrock Summer events 2013: song, dance, jazz, rap and opera
Debate: What do you think of opera and ballet in cinemas?
Raven Girl Composer Gabriel Yared on scoring for the stage rather than the screen
Recommended recordings May 2013: New releases in the ROH Shop
Your reaction: Raven Girl and Symphony in C
Cast change: Igone de Jongh of Dutch National Ballet to dance in Symphony in C on 28/29 May
The Metamorphosis broadcast by Sky Arts on 27 May
Cast change: Marianela Nuñez and Thiago Soares to dance in Symphony in C on 28/29 May
Your reaction: La donna del lago in cinemas
The Rite of Spring celebrates 100 years
Eugene Onegin to be broadcast by BBC Radio 3 on 1 June
Cast changes: Symphony in C on 3 and 8 June
Supporter's Tale: Raven Girl supporter David Hancock on swapping opera for ballet


text:
Children's City Dubai is an awesome way to spend an inspiring few hours with your children. Geared specifically to cater for ages 2-15, Children's City is an excellent museum.
Children's City Dubai boasts everything from a dedicated under fives section to activities and interactive displays on space exploration, the human body, applied sciences, computers and communication, local and international culture and much more for the older children. Everything at Children's City Dubai is remarkably stimulating; there are things to climb on, displays to explore, and activities galore.
There are daily educational workshops, story events, competitions, and the galleries and theatre host a range of shows. From toddlers to teens, children of all nationalities love this place; Children's City Dubai is a great indoor venue when you can't make it outside to the park.
Address: Creekside Park, Gate 1, Umm Hurair.
Open: Saturday to Thursday 09:00 to 21:30; Friday 15:00 to 21:30.
Tel: +971 (0)4 334 0808
Web: www.childrencity.ae
Back to Dubai Family Holidays


text:
How well do you know the Code? Think you can spot violations the original installer either ignored or couldn't identify? Here's your chance to moonlight as an electrical inspector and second-guess someone else's work from the safety of your living room or office. Joe Tedesco, who has a knack for finding shoddy electrical work, did the dirty work and found this mess. Now it's your turn to identify the violation.
Find the Answer
We only had one winner this month. C'mon guys, send in those replies. There are free tools to be had!
Charles F. Morris, chief electrician, Prodeuce Farm, Hanover, Pa., sent in these comments. "The duplex Type AC armored cable 'BX' connector was misused here, and the screw is piercing the outer jacket and possibly the conductor insulation. This presents a risk of contact with an energized conductor. Fittings and connectors shall be used only with the specific wiring methods for which they are designed and listed. See 300.15."
Kathleen McGloin, a Code enthusiast from Boston, added this to the mix. "The installer did not use an electrical box or other listed enclosure to transition from one wiring method to the other. The run is transitioning from flexible metal conduit to non-flexible conduit (at best), or, from armored cable to pipe (at worst). I believe the installation violates the requirements of 300.16(A) and 300.10."


text:
Thomas Kinkade
The Painter of Light
1958 - 2012
Known throughout the world for capturing the wonders and images of the everyday world, Thomas Kinkade is considered one of the most popular and renowned modern artists of his age. Painting bucolic, picturesque settings bathed in glowing highlights and saturated pastels, "The Painter of Light" portrays the simple pleasures of life to communicate inspirational, life-af
The Painter of Light
1958 - 2012
Known throughout the world for capturing the wonders and images of the everyday world, Thomas Kinkade is considered one of the most popular and renowned modern artists of his age. Painting bucolic, picturesque settings bathed in glowing highlights and saturated pastels, "The Painter of Light" portrays the simple pleasures of life to communicate inspirational, life-affirming messages and convey a warm sense of nostalgia in the face of a complex, stressful world. Inspired by the simple act of painting straight from his heart, transcribing on canvas a vision of the world that moved him the most, Kinkade dedicated himself to the ultimate goal of Sharing the Light and, in doing so, became the most-collected American artist of all time. Even after his death in 2012, Kinkade's art has remained enormously popular, communicating the artist's enduring message to slow down, appreciate the little details in life, and to look for beauty in the world around us.
Early Years
Born in Sacramento, California in 1958, Kinkade had a difficult upbringing, filled with adversity and spent much of his childhood in the nearby town of Placerville about 50 miles east of the state capital. Drawn to art even as a young child, Kinkade sought salvation in his creativity after his parents' divorce, developing his artistic merit as a way to develop self-esteem and connect with his peers. In this way, art was the armor he used to protect himself from his difficult home life of poverty and uncertainty. After graduating from El Dorado High School in 1976, Kinkade continued to develop his formidable talents and unique style, first at the University of California, Berkeley before transferring to the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena after two years of general education. While in high school, Kinkade was mentored by several people who saw the tremendous promise, including Charles Bell and Glenn Wessels. It was Wessels who encouraged Kinkade to go to Cal. Kinkade's relationship with Wessels is the subject of a semi-autobiographical film released in 2008, The Christmas Cottage - An exploration of the inspiration behind the famed Kinkade painting, and how the artist was motivated to begin his career after discovering his mother was in danger of losing their family home.
Kinkade Makes His Mark
After graduating from art school in June 1980, Kinkade spent a summer traveling across the country with college friend and artist James Gurney, sketching the scenery that passed them as they traveled. After reaching New York, the two aspiring artists approached Guptill Publications, the publishing home of Kinkade's idol, Normal Rockwell, to pitch an idea about producing a sketching handbook, which Waton Guptill agreed to publish in 1982. The Artist's Guide to Sketching, filled with sketches and instructions on sketching strategies that showed an artistic maturity well beyond their years, was published two years later and went onto become one of Guptill Publications' top sellers that year. Their newfound success landed the two young artists at Ralph Bakshi Studios creating background art for the 1983 animated film Fire and Ice. It was while working on the film that Kinkade began to experiment more expansively with depictions of light and of imagined worlds. Although animation and film were challenging and lucrative, Kinkade knew he wanted to invest his creative talents elsewhere long-term. In 1984, Kinkade and his wife, Nanette, launched his private art career, creating both the distinct style that made Kinkade famous and the business model that turned his formidable artistic prowess into an enterprising multi-million-dollar commercial success. Unlike most artists, Kinkade embraced the opportunity to expose the masses to his work, becoming both wealthy and famous in the process. In fact, his original works and reproductions can be found at venues ranging from dealers such as World-Wide-Art.com to the chain of Thomas Kinkade art gallery franchises to the greeting card rack at local Walmarts across the nation, from clothing and collectibles to books and posters. Fans identify with Kinkade's simple, inspirational messages through his art and the branded products inspired by that art. Despite his enormous commercial success and the incumbent controversies it attracted, Kinkade maintains a large and devout fan base to this day. As millions of collectors around the world sit back and enjoy his artwork in their homes, there is no doubt that Kinkade had indeed achieved his goal of "Sharing the Light."
Family Influence In Art
Kinkade married Nanette Wiley in 1982 and together had four daughters, Merritt, Chandler, Winsor, and Everett, all named for famous artists. Kinkade was a loving family man, marking his devotion to his family by adding symbols of his love to his artwork - Hidden "N's" paying homage to Nanette and the numbers 5282 as tribute to their wedding date, May 2, 1982. After the birth of each of his daughters, Kinkade created adoring images for each namesake - Evening at Merritt's Cottage, Chandler's Cottage, Winsor Manor and Everett's Cottage.
Early Works
Kinkade often used his finely detailed sketches as a basis for his paintings. Influenced by the Hudson River and Rocky Mountain Schools of painting, his early works often feature vast landscapes and expansive vistas where he experimented with shadows and contrast while not yet demonstrating his hallmark use of light. Defined by tighter brush strokes and detail, these paintings instead showed a propensity for a romantic palette and grandeur. During these earlier years, Kinkade also experimented under the pseudonym Robert Girrard. Free to create with total artistic freedom, he explored the styles and techniques of the French Impressionist movement, resulting in numerous breakthroughs in his artistic techniques and maturing talents. While much of Kinkade's acclaim was rooted in his liberal use of strong contrasts between light and dark (Chiaroscuro), infusing his works with a luminescent quality that reaches out and grabs viewers, he was a skilled, nuanced artist who explored and created in many genres and artistic styles. Rather than get preoccupied with the intellectual aspect of art, Kinkade veered away from many of the popular postmodern styles of art that cast the human experience in a negative light. Instead, he created what people wanted, much like his childhood idol Rockwell. He used symbols and positive imagery to communicate his point of view. He included personal touches and details, such as the initials of his wife and children, that collectors appreciated. Kinkade's Christian faith was also an often employed theme, as he based many paintings on favorite scriptures or spiritual ideals. Mostly, however, he created arch, nostalgic country scenes featuring landscapes, cottages and bridges, infusing each with a glowing luminosity that seems to shine from within the work. More than anything, his paintings intended to create a feeling inside his audience.
Techniques And Media
Kinkade's use of chiaroscuro became more defined as his style evolved and became uniquely representative of his artistic vision. It was his largely successful efforts to incorporate multiple sources of light that made him known as the Painter of Light (a moniker he later trademarked). Often he employing sources of light to hint at the presence of people without depicting actual figures in the painting, diffusing the focus from a defined human figure to allow viewers to place themselves in the scene.
Kinkade explored plein air, or open-air painting, to further his understanding of the glowing effects of natural light. In such an environment, natural light is constantly changing, and thus difficult to master. Kinkade's paintings, which are widely and critically acclaimed, demonstrate his capacity to capture and play with light, while also testifying to his masterful skill as a painter of many styles. Considered his favorite style of painting, he painted en plein air wherever he traveled and used what he learned while experimenting in those settings to illuminate many studio works.
Kinkade also experimented with all types of art media, frequently introducing these media into his creative process, including figure drawing and watercolor, having mastered the latter, capturing outdoor light in landmarks and countryside scenes and simple bouquets of flowers. "What makes one portrait or figure drawing stand out from another is a feeling of character.," he said. "That's something you find in abundance when you're on-the-spot - people of all shapes and sizes, no two alike." Early on, serigraphy was also of particular interest. He continued to use this process to recreate his Remarque sketches and replicate original art. After his death, the Thomas Kinkade Company achieved his goal of creating award-winning images using serigraphy. In 2013, fan favorite "Snow White Discovers the Cottage" was issued in a Serigraph Edition, resulting in two Golden Image awards from the Speciality Graphic Imaging Association.
Charities and Affiliations
Kinkade, a devout Christian who used his work and extensive business interests to promote his belief in charity, was also known for his various philanthropic endeavors. He leveraged his talents and notoriety to support causes he believed in and was active in supporting non-profit organizations focusing on children, humanitarian relief, and the arts, including the Make-a-Wish Foundation, World Vision, Art for Children Charities, and the Salvation Army. In 2002, he partnered with the Salvation Army to create two charity prints to benefit victims of 9/11. Profits from the sale of the two prints, "The Season of Giving" and "The Light of Freedom", were donated to Salvation Army to help relief efforts at Ground Zero and to aid the people and the families of those who suffered from the September 11 attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. From this partnership alone, more than $2 million was raised and donated. In 2003, the famed artist was chosen as a National Spokesman for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and it was during his 20 Years of Light Tour in 2004 that he raised over $750,000 while granting 12 wishes for critically ill children with life-threatening medical conditions. In 2005, the Points of Light Foundation, a nonprofit organization endeavoring to enlist more people in volunteer service in order to help solve serious social issues, named Kinkade Ambassador of Light. Only the second person in the Foundation's fifteen-year history to be chosen Ambassador (the first being the organization's founder, former U.S. President George H. W. Bush), Kinkade visited cities across the nation to raise awareness and money for the Points of Light Foundation and the Volunteer Center National Network, which serves more than 360 Points of Light member Volunteer Centers in communities across the country. Throughout his life and even in death Kinkade shared his immense talents and even bigger heart in support of social institutions such as hospitals, schools, and charitable humanitarian relief organizations. Many of his individual works of art have also generated awards, both by charitable and commercial organizations. Though the recipient of numerous awards and honors, it was Kinkade's profound sense of purpose that his art was not just an accessory to be hung on a wall, but also a ministry that engaged people and invited them to see the gorgeousness of the world. It is this notion that continues on as his legacy.
World Wide Art
World Wide Art is known for its wide selection of limited editions and originals by renowned artists, including the luminescent works of Thomas Kinakde. Their expert staff also specializes in custom conservation framing. In business since 1996, World Wide Art is located in the San Francisco Bay Area and is a well-known art shop for both serious collectors and casual decorators. The staff at World-Wide-Art.com not only deals art, but are collectors and artists themselves who consider their work a labor of love and lifestyle of art appreciation.
There are no products matching the selection.


text:
Just curious, but does anyone here have experience with Windows 10 CW not responding A LOT and locking up windows in the process.. I mean excessively to the point it takes 30 or more minutes of reboots, shutdowns, and force quits with restarts before getting it anywhere operational?
And also with the server exiting spontaneously.
This entire system is so frustrating with all this. I've lost hours of production time on these issues and wondered if I am alone in this.
Again, just looking to see if there are any other operators out there having these issues.


text:
Quality, an afterthought at many companies, is the focal point of Pacific Component Xchange, Inc. From our many certifications to our industry famous 67 step Star Quality Program, we deliver the right product at the right time. At PCX, we continuously improve our processes in order to meet and exceed our customers' expectations. All employees understand what our customers expect and they provide our customers with the best service.
Check out our new Face Book picture above.


text:
Darkness of tint is measured by Visible Light Transmission percentage (VLT%). In Arkansas, this percentage refers to percentage of visible light allowed in through the combination of film and the window.
Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 5 inches of the windshield.
Front Side Windows
Must allow more than 25% of light in.
Back Side Windows
Rear Window
Must allow more than 10% of light in.
Similar to sunglass lenses, some tinting film contain metallic elements that help in reflecting incoming light and reducing the glare and heat generated by visible light.
No metallic or mirrored appearance.
Restricted Colors
No colors of tint are explicitly banned.
Side Mirrors
No restrictions.
Certificate Requirements
Manufacturers of film do NOT need to certify the film they sell in the state.
Sticker Requirements
The sticker to identify legal tinting is required between the film & glass on the driver's side window.
Medical Exemption
State allows medical exemptions for special tint. For more details about the specific terms of the exemption, consult your state law.
Although the state has set forth these general laws regarding automotive window tint, individual districts within the state may implement their own regulations other than the state law.
If you are unsure about what the local law is within your state it is always best to contact the local police department and ask before applying window tint to your vehicle.
This page is provided as a reference only and is not legal advice. Laws can change with or without notice. Contact your local law enforcement agency to confirm the current laws within your state and/or local area.


text:
A new TV show is seeking to reconnect long-lost families.
Boundless, the award-winning production company behind Grand Design and The Apprentice, is looking for contestants for a new reality programme which will follow people in their quest to find family members they've never met or become estranged from.
For more information or to apply, email firstname.lastname@example.com or phone 020 7691 5663.