text:
The First Art Newspaper on the Net
Established in 1996
United States
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Critics to Artdaily
Referral Links
Last Week
Special Photos
AXA Equitable donates Thomas Hart Benton's epic mural "America Today" to Met Museum
Thomas Hart Benton, City Activities with Dancehall from America Today, 193031. Mural cycle consisting of ten panels. Egg tempera with oil glazing over Permalba on a gesso ground on linen mounted to wood panels with a honeycomb interior. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of AXA Equitable, 2012.
American artist Thomas Hart Bentons epic mural America Todaya sweeping panorama of American life, celebrating the promise of modern industry and technology and the accomplishments of working people in the boom years of the 1920shas been donated by AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company to
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
. The announcement was made jointly yesterday by Thomas P. Campbell, the Museums Director and CEO, and Mark Pearson, AXA Equitable Chairman and CEO.
Benton (18891975) created the ten-panel mural cycle in 193031 as a commission for the third-floor boardroom of the New School for Social Research in New York City. Referring to sketches he made during his travels around the U.S. in the 1920s, Benton initially executed nine of the panels, which were first seen by the public when the International-style building designed by Joseph Urban at 66 West 12th Street opened on New Years Day, 1931; he completed the tenth panel later. The mural cycle filled the four walls of the 30-by-22-foot boardroom. Figures of farmers, coal miners, steelworkers, architects and builders, doctors and teachers surrounded viewers, representing a cross-section of American life. In 1986, American art scholar Lloyd Goodrich remarked that Benton took the whole face of America and tried to make a work of art out of it .It was a new technique completely in mural painting, of actually taking reality and making mural art directly out of it. Although Benton received no fee for the commission, America Today established him as his eras leading American muralist. Its success provided the impetus for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) mural programs of the Great Depression.
In announcing the acquisition, Mr. Campbell stated: This is a momentous gift to the Met and to New York City. AXA Equitables exceptional gift brings to the Museum both a great work of art and a significant cultural landmark, one that forged a new American idiom in the visual arts. It will certainly play a key role in our ideas about modern art at the Met.
While discussing AXA Equitables decision to give Bentons great painting to the Metropolitan Museum, Mr. Pearson noted: America Today embodies the very spirit of America and its technological genius. Above all, the mural is a monumental tribute to the American worker, and as such, we felt it was the right moment to make a gift of it to the American people, in keeping with AXA Equitables commitment to preserve the masterworks legacy for future generations.
Sheena Wagstaff, Chairman of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Metropolitan Museum , added: This extraordinary gift greatly enriches the Museums narrative of 20th-century American art. It is a work of immense scale and significance, and represents a uniquely American brand of modernism that condenses the spirit of the Jazz Age, anticipates Regionalism, and holds a fascinating and deeply ambivalent relationship to avant-garde European movements as well as to the Mexican mural movement. In addition to presaging subsequent Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art, its full blown presentation of American culture includes remarkable allusions to industrialization, race relations, and social values.
When America Today is installed at the Metropolitan Museum, its original spatial arrangement will be recreated so that the mural cycle can be viewed as Benton conceived it.
The Murals History
After more than 50 years at the New School for Social Research in a room used first as the boardroom and later as a classroom, America Today was not receiving the physical protection or public attention it deserved. In 1982, the school announced the sale of the mural cycle to the Manhattan art dealer Maurice Segoura, with the condition that it would not be re-sold outside the United States or as individual panels. But the work proved difficult to sell as a whole and the likelihood increased that the panels would be dispersed.
America Today was acquired by AXA Equitable (then Equitable Life) in 1984, after efforts on the part of then-Mayor Edward I. Koch and others to keep it intact and in New York City. Two years later, after extensive cleaning and restoration, America Today was unveiled to critical acclaim in AXA Equitables new headquarters at 787 Seventh Avenue. When the company moved its corporate headquarters again in 1996, to 1290 Avenue of the Americas, America Today was put on display in the lobby. There it remained until January 2012, when the company was asked to remove it to make way for a renovation. The removal triggered AXA Equitables decision to place the historic work in a museum collection. Curators Pari Stave, on behalf of AXA Equitable, and H. Barbara Weinberg, on behalf of the Met, were instrumental in moving the project forward.
This is an example of a dynamic civic partnership between AXA Equitable and the Metropolitan Museum, both venerable institutions with connections to New York City that date back to the mid-19th century," said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "Thanks to AXA Equitables civic leadership, well be able to preserve an important part of our collective cultural legacy. This act is an affirmation that private and public institutions can work together effectively to ensure New York Citys position as a world financial and cultural capital.
Former Mayor Kochwhose administrations efforts in the early 1980s to preserve the mural and keep it in New York City have now been made permanent through the gift to the Metropolitan Museum, and who in recent years has worked at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, where the mural has been on view in the lobbyadded: I have had the pleasure of years of exposure to Thomas Hart Bentons muralAmerica Todayseeing and appreciating it every morning when entering my office building. Now millions visiting the Met will have that joy.
America Today
America Today was Thomas Hart Bentons first major mural commission and the most ambitious he ever executed in New York City. It remains his best-known work.
Not wishing to work in true fresco directly on the wallas José Clemente Orozco elected to do for his concurrent commission in the New Schools public dining room and student loungeBenton painted off-site on panels that were to be installed in the boardroom after they were completed. He availed himself of a loft that Alvin Johnson, the schools director who had commissioned the mural cycle, obtained for his use on the twelfth floor of a nearby building; constructed wallboard panels reinforced by 1-x-3 pine cradling; glued onto the surfaces heavy linen and primed it with seven coats of gesso and two layers of Permalba (a commercial composite oil paint) to create a smooth, white, plaster-like surface; and applied an under painting of distemper (pigments mixed with water and a glue or casein binder) and a final coat of egg tempera (dry pigments mixed with egg and water), a venerable medium of the old masters with which he was eager to experiment. He then enriched the color in some of the darker areas with transparent glazes of oil paint. Finally he treated the murals with a coat of natural resin varnish and a thin layer of wax, producing an almost luminous, eggshell-like surface. Here and there, he attached to the murals straight and curved molding segments covered with aluminum leaf. These helped to organize the complex narratives and to separate the scenes. As Benton scholar Emily Braun noted: Like a Gershwin tune, the murals evoke a jazzy rhythm syncopated visually by the jaunty silver bolts of the moldings.
Informed visually by Bentons characteristic stylized realism, America Today celebrates the development of new technology and of workers in all regions, from the farmers whom the artist knew as a native Midwesterner to steelworkers and construction crews engaged in building modern cities. Instruments of Power, the central and largest panel, faced the viewer entering the boardroom. Occupying the south wall, it extended almost from floor to ceiling and was bracketed by two windows that looked out onto the life of the city. Devoid of human presence, Instruments of Power announced Bentons passion for the Machine Age by juxtaposing icons of modern industry and transportation, including a rushing train, an airplane, and a dirigible. These and other forms declare that industry and technology will thrust America into the future.
The other three walls of the room were also lined with large panels, but unlike Instruments of Power, these contained figures that crowded the viewer on all sides. The varying scale at which Benton portrayed these figures is typical of his style: some are life-size and loom over the viewer and each panel contains at least one immense, iconic figure. On the west wall were three panels (beginning closest to the door): Deep South, Midwest, and Changing West. These focused on the principal agricultural regions and the West, included vignettes of labor by prosperous and poor, white and black citizens, and underscored the evolution of farming methods from antiquated to modern. On the east wall were three panels (beginning closest to the door): City Building, Steel, and Coal. These distilled activities from the industrial East Coast and included some of the cycles strongest social commentary in figures such as an exhausted coal miner. On the north wall, flanking the door, were two panels depicting urban life: City Activities with Dance Hall and City Activities with Subway. Here the settings ranged from speakeasies to movie houses and sleazy dance halls to Wall Street and the dramatis personaemore numerous than in any of the other panelsranged from boxers to strippers to Salvation Army singers. The tenth panel, an over-door, which was installed between the two urban scenes, was entitled Outreaching Hands. It wasnt clear there was a Depression until I was almost finished, Benton said later, so I put that breadline over the door.
Executed before the effects of the 1929 stock market crash and the seriousness of the Great Depression were fully understood, America Today is imbued with the spirit of the Roaring Twenties. This is apparent in the scenes kaleidoscopic variety, their surging, cinematic vitality, and the invitation they offer to read them in sequence, crosswise, or around and across the room. Benton scholar Henry Adams described the room as an all-enveloping visual sensation unlike anything achieved in American painting.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Thomas Hart Benton
Thomas P. Campbell
Today's News
December 13, 2012
Yale University Art Gallery reopens $135 million renovated and reinstalled galleries
Scientists at London's Natural History Museum seek to solve mystery of Piltdown Man
Michelangelo's David-Apollo returns to the National Gallery of Art in Washington
AXA Equitable donates Thomas Hart Benton's epic mural "America Today" to Met Museum
Hans Christian Andersen's first fairy tale found in Denmark's national archives
Mick Jagger love letters written to American singer Marsha Hunt sold at London auction
Dallas Museum of Art's Razor by Gerald Murphy featured in U.S. Postal Services stamp collection
Bowers Museum presents award winning costumes in "Cut! Costume and Cinema"
Fine art, exquisite antiques from Southern Calif. estates highlight Don Presley's New Year's Auction
Bonhams walks on Moon as illuminating space auction reaches the stars
Leading Turkish auction house Antik A.S. to offer Osman Hamdi Bey's "A Girl Arranging a Vase of Flowers"
The IVAM reviews the iconography of the American dream in the exhibition 'America, America'
Michael Winner sale makes £1.1 million and new record for EH Shepard at Sotheby's
RM Auctions secures upcoming sale of Texas' distinguished Don Davis Collection
The Wolfsonian-FIU receives $5 million to increase access to collection
Dictionaries define success at Bonhams
Sotheby's announces first ever selling exhibition of contemporary art from central Asia and the Caucasus
Top results for Dali, Signac and Anker at Koller Zurich
Musical clock once owned by Egypt's King Farouk sells for £385,250
Far from the Shire, a Hobbit house in Pennsylvania country
Most Popular Last Seven Days
Apple releases Spring 2019 iPhone cases and watch bands with 'Delft Blue' color in the lead
Star Trek: Year Five #1 original cover art by Greg Hildebrandt Surfaces at Heritage Auctions
Guitars of the greats rock halls of New York's Met museum
Historic jewels and exceptional gemstones highlight Christie's Geneva Magnificent Jewels Auction
French museum renames masterpieces after black subjects
Heathrow Terminal 5 exhibits skeleton of new species of dinosaur
Missing Rubens sketch goes for $1.4 mn at auction
The Museo del Prado opens 'Giacometti in the Museo del Prado'
Inrap archaeologists discover an Etruscan tomb in a hypogeum in Aleria
Picasso in Ivory Coast? A village tells of its brush with the artist
Related Stories
Exhibition of Forbidden City Treasures Goes on View at Metropolitan Museum in February
New Installation Features Cabinets and Caskets from Metropolitan Museum's Collection
New Installation Features Cabinets, Caskets, and Cases from Metropolitan Museum's Collection
Gifts Enhance Metropolitan Museum's Scholarly Activities in Cycladic and Early Greek Art
Metropolitan Museum to Undertake Major Redesign and Reconstruction of its Fifth Avenue Outdoor Plaza and Fountains
Alexander McQueen's Iconic Designs to be Celebrated in Spring 2011 at the Metropolitan
Metropolitan and Egypt Announce Initiative to Recognize Egypt's Title to Objects from Tut's Tomb
Sculptural Installations by Contemporary Icelandic Artist Katrin Sigurdardottir on View at Metropolitan
Innovative Furniture by American Designer Charles Rohlfs Displayed at Metropolitan Museum
First NYC Museum Exhibition on the Tradition of Spanish Draftsmanship Opens at the Frick Collection
Digital Art
Special Photos
Special Reports
Featured Stories
Art Fairs
Art Quiz
3D Images
Last Week
Ignacio Villarreal
Editor & Publisher:
Jose Villarreal
- Consultant:
Ignacio Villarreal Jr.
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Royalville Communications, Inc
Founder's Site.
The most varied versions
of this beautiful prayer.
to a Mexican poet.
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Your name *
Your e-mail address *
Name of recipient *
Recipient's e-mail address *
Your message *
Sending Mail
Sending Successful


text:
AmericanMuscle now carries the brand new 2013 Shelby GT500 wheels in both black and charcoal gray for all 2005-2014 Mustangs!
Now you can style your Stang after the most powerful production Shelby yet – the 2013 GT500. You have the choice of picking up your 2013 GT500 style wheels in either a black or charcoal gray finish. We also carry these new rims in both 18×9 and 18×10 sizing, giving you the option to go with a staggered setup.
Much like the FR500 wheels on the 94-04 Mustangs, the 2013 GT500s look great on virtually every color Mustang. Also keep in mind, you're staying true to the classic muscle car look while bringing hints of more modern styling. After all, who wouldn't want their car to take on the identity of a 200MPH Shelby, capable of mid-10s with the Super Snake Package and powered by the a Ward's Top 10 motor?
Shop 2013 GT500 Style Wheels (2005-2013 Mustangs)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Document Review
The document circulated on private forums but was made public by Search Engine Land.
This document details how Google quality raters score pages, treat spam and classify search queries. It has screen shots of Google's "raters hubs" and forums, some of which we'll feature here.
This is a review of the most crucial and useful points from this document. If you are in the SEO game I highly recommend that you download this file, put it into a safe place and read it at your own pace.
Raters only rate "pages" and not entire domains. The document refers to "landing pages" as opposed to domains. If a page is excluded by a rater, it is only excluded for a specific query, not for all queries. There are people like Matt Cutts who analyze sites on the domain level, but Quality Raters of the lowest ranks do not have this responsibility (at least, that's what I learned from the document).
Here's an interesting leaked video of the inside of the raters hub. http://www.searchbistro.com/secretlab.html
Importance of Country to Relevance
This is a key factor in Google's scoring system. Throughout the entire document, raters are presented with example queries that specify: [query], language (country).
For example "[camera], English (US)" or "[camera], Russian (Russia)."
If the page in question provides relevant information to the query, but isn't relevant to the country the user is in, then the page may be discounted.
You will be given a Task language and a Task location for each query-page Task. You must evaluate each Task in the context of its language and location.
In many cases, when there is a mismatch between the Task Location and the country domain of the page, you will need to lower the rating for the page.
{mospagebreak title=Researching and Understanding the Query}
Raters are advised to understand the query:
You should understand each query before you evaluate it. If the meaning of the query is unclear, you will need to do web research to learn about it. You can do this by entering the query in the search box of one or more search engines and looking at the results returned by them.
This implies that Google invests heavily in understanding a searcher's intention instead of matching words and phrases on websites. There are definitely a number of algorithms tasked with this. Here's more proof:
Sometimes you may feel unsure which of two ratings to give: Relevant or Useful? Not Relevant or Relevant? When you are unsure, select the lower rating.
The types of queries are not as important and are relatively known, so we'll spend just a few seconds covering each.
This is a basic request, such as ebay or amazon.com. Relevant results are official websites.
The goal is to find information and read something on the topic.
The user is looking to buy something, download or interact with the resource.
Rating Scale
This is a revealing section. Google classifies pages as:
Non Relevant
Off topic
Query: The query has a dominant interpretation. The dominant interpretation is navigational.
Page: The page to evaluate is the official web page of the query.
Vital Page
Singapore airport
Official home page
toyota camry
Official product page on the correct site
The dominant interpretation of this is Apple Computer, Inc., and this is the official home page.
Vital queries must have an official site in the search results. Whenever you search for a celebrity name, Google tries to show the official website as a "Vital result." Think of vital queries as brand searches.
As a webmaster, I wouldn't be concerned about vital queries unless I had a strong brand name. In that case it is important to fall in into "Vital" category for "brand" searches (by brand search I also refer to names like "Toronto Pearson Airport" or "Tom Cruise").
Official blogs such as those on MySpace and Face book of individuals (like Britney) are also considered vital.
{mospagebreak title=Useful and Relevant}
I believe Google builds 80 percent of its search results with this measurement:
A rating of Useful is assigned to pages that contain some or all of the following characteristics: highly satisfying, comprehensive, high in quality, and authoritative. Useful pages answer the query just right; they are neither too broad nor too specific.
The document also lists types of useful pages:
a page that is highly informative.
a timely and informative article.
a page that allows the user to complete the intended transaction.
an important subpage on a correct site.
a home page of a correct site for a specific product. If the query "asks" for a list, then a directory (a collection of links) can be Useful, e.g. [ fudge recipes ], [ books about sharks ].
A search engine optimization campaign should aim towards getting pages classified as "useful."
We can come to a conclusion with which you're already familiar: "Content is King." I personally spend a lot of time developing the best content in the industry for personal and internal projects, aiming to be classified as:
"a page that is highly informative"
"a page that allows the user to complete the intended transaction"
The duo listed above forms a powerful alliance and makes both Google and users happy. A good example is Aaron's article on search engine algorithms.
This rating is lower than useful and doesn't get as many kudos from raters as a "useful" page does.
A rating of Relevant is assigned to pages that have fewer valuable attributes than were listed for Useful pages. Relevant pages might be less comprehensive, come from a less authoritative source, or cover only one important aspect of the query.
If you read blogs and SEO articles, you are probably familiar with the words: "Provide useful and relevant content to users." This is what most decent websites do, and I believe this is not enough to set you apart. I come back often to the wonderful examples by SEOmoz, wiep.net, and Aaron Wall, who kill in the area of "useful and relevant content," providing super industry standard articles. This is the content that gathers links.
Relevant content is easy to produce, so aim higher.
Sometimes you'll be classified as "merely" relevant because there are few sources available and you're the closest thing. I wouldn't worry about those.
Non Relevant / Off Topic / Didn't Load / Foreign Language
This is common sense. Pages that don't load or that are off topic are removed from search results. I believe Google also automatically removes 404s and other error messages.
Refer to the document for a full list.
There are three more sections: Unratable, Pornography and Malicious, but they are of little use (unless you're in the porn business or attach viruses to your pages).
{mospagebreak title=Inside the Raters HUB}
There's an interesting post that claims Google pays $20 an hour to university students to review search results: http://www.searchbistro.com/index.php?/archives/19-Google-Secret-Lab,-Prelude.html
There's also an official Quality Rater job posting on the Google board: http://groups.google.com/group/ba.jobs/browse_thread/thread/bc4f1dec633b9120/84689e434c38a1fb?q=%22search+quality%22+google+jobs&rnum=3&hl=en&pli=1
A search for EWOQ gives the official EWOQ link, which cannot be accessed without authorization.
There are around 15 pages in the document devoted to guiding new Raters inside Google's Raters Hub.
Raters Workflow:
Acquiring Tasks
Starting to rate
Submitting your initial rating
Re-rating unresolved Tasks
And here's an interesting image of a Raters control panel:
Here's where Googlers rate content:
In the control panel, raters can select between "Live Page" and "Cached Page." If the live page doesn't work, but the cached page does, raters have to rate the cached version. If both links do not work, the page is assigned to the "Didn't load" category.
Moderators resolve "unresolved tasks" or tasks that raters refuse to rate. Before flagging a task as unresolved, raters must provide comments.
Here's how comments look:
And here's the lingo Google raters use in comments:
-V (Vital) – DL (Didn't Load)
– Usf (Useful) – FL (Foreign Language)
– Rel (Relevant) – MAL (Malicious)
– NR (Not Relevant) – PPC (pay-per-click)
– OT (Off Topic)
Google's Human Secret Weapon
In the next article we'll cover how Google raters identify and treat spam, and what is considered spam.
Danny Sullivan in "Search 4.0" stated that search engines are putting humans back in search via human rater programs such as the one discussed in this article, and behavioral data collected from users.
I believe it makes common sense to use human raters to filter out search results, but the biggest question is: to what extent? Aaron Wall of SEO Book claims that Google has close to 10,000 quality raters. How true is this? I have huge doubts, but when the two best known SEO figures speak of large human influence in search, you'd better listen. Danny hangs out with Eric, Sergei and Larry, while Aaron has engineer friends on the inside, so they ought to know what they're talking about.
As for the guidelines, make you content the best you can and you won't have to worry about raters. In fact, they'll prop you up.


text:
While the general trend of more IT outsourcing (via smaller, more focused deals) continues, these engagements remain difficult to navigate. Every large IT shop that I have turned around had significant problems caused or made worse by the outsourcing arrangement, particularly large deals. While those shops performed poorly for other reasons (ineffectual leadership, process failures, talent issues), improving performance required a substantial revamp or reversal of the outsourcing arrangements.
Failed outsourcing deals, involving reputable vendors and customers, litter various industries. While formal statistics are hard to come by, in part because companies are loathe to report their failures publicly, my estimate is that at least 25% and possibly more than half of these deals fail or perform very poorly. Why do these failures occur? And what should you do to improve the probability of success?
Much depends on what you choose to outsource and how you manage the vendor and service. A common misconception is that any activity that's not "core" to a company can and should be outsourced. In The Discipline of Market Leaders, authors Michael Treacy and Fred Wiersema argued that market leaders must recognize their competency in one of three areas: product and innovation leadership, customer service and intimacy, or operational excellence. They shouldn't try to excel at all three areas.
However, IT is critical to all three areas. And because of this intrinsic linkage, IT isn't like a security guard force or a legal staff, two areas companies commonly outsource successfully. And by outsourcing intrinsic capabilities, companies put their core competency at risk.
A recent University of Utah business school article found significantly higher rates of failure at companies that had outsourced IT and other operations. The authors concluded that "companies need to retain adequate control over specialized components that differentiate their products or have unique interdependencies, or they are more likely to fail to survive."
My IT best practice: Companies must control their critical intellectual property. If your company uses outsourcing vendors to develop and deliver key features or services that differentiate its products and define its success, then those vendors can typically turn around and sell those advances to your competitors. Or you are putting your success in the hands of someone with very different goals. Be wary of those who say IT isn't a core competency. With every year that passes, there's more IT content in products in nearly every industry.
Choose instead to outsource those activities where you don't have scale or cost advantages, or capacity or competence. But ensure that you either retain or build the key design, integration, and management capabilities in-house.


text:
I am very excited to announce that Panoramio is now available in Hebrew and Arabic with 175 and 284 initially translated strings out of 1959.
Hebrew and Arabic are Right to Left languages like Farsi. We already added Farsi and after a positive reaction from the Iranian community, we have decided to continue with Hebrew and Arabic.
We have also updated the translation files in all the languages available in Panoramio. To see the status of the files and the rank of languages, please visit the Translations Forum. If what you want is to help making your language available in Panoramio or improving the current translation of your language check: Becoming a Panoramio Translator.
Many thanks to everyone that continuously helps to make Panoramio available in their language and happy weekend to the whole Panoramio Community.
Posted by Gerard Sanz, Panoramio Community Manager


text:
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Guys, this is getting creepy. Can we talk about cannibalism instead?
I have more pleasant things to focus my attention, time, and resources on than Gamergate or the Gamergate thread, such as pouring hot sauce in my eyes, lemon juice enemas, and imagining being eaten alive by fire ants.
Yeah, gays cause hurricanes, tits cause earthquakes, and lack of prayer causes tornadoes. Learn to science, people.


text:
Reflecting, Ruminating & Retrieving Back In the Homeland
October 1, 2010
by Tim
Filed under The 300
Comments are closed.
Error: Twitter did not respond. Please wait a few minutes and refresh this page.
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
Join 516 other followers
Sign me up!
Blog at WordPress.com.


text:
Snowboarding? In Hawai'i? ….Really? Yes, really. If you want to go, you can. There is snow. The volcano Mauna Kea-which stands for "white mountain," rests higher than a lot of resorts in North America, topping out at 13,803 feet. Its treeless, moonscape presence is stranger than any resort you'd find in the states, too. But when a coastal storm flocks in, you might be lucky enough to hit it with "pineapple powder" as the locals refer to it. And beachside is close, really close, as this crew discovered. They slumbered by waves then rallied sea to sky, through any number of ecosystems, and slid snow at the top.
Elena High left Tahoe, Bev Vuimellier, too. Gabi Viteri left Summit County. Bryn Valaika left SoCal and the rest of the group trampled in from places unknown. Before they knew it, they were riding through a barren moonscape of the giant volcano. The was place dotted with space observatories, free of light pollution and thirteen-thousand feet closer to space. A perfect spot to gaze. The ladies' wrote their way through the trip. Their journals served as postcards. This is what went down:
"After sitting at the airport pickup for an hour plus, not even noticing that's a long time, is when I discovered I was on Hawaii time. The next day we woke to Elena screaming to get everyone up. Being tired from traveling we decided what better way to wake up than jump in the water and go for a swim. So we did. We climbed down the lava rocks and onto a platform right in front of our place. It didn't get any better than that, enjoying the view, being here in Hawaii, in the middle of winter, with your friends. We dove in, swam, and got back to the house to see that my bags had been delivered, so we decided to go up to the mountain (at 1:00pm, Hawaii time). All we knew was that it was a two-hour drive and that you had to stop halfway to acclimate since you're traveling from sea level to 14,000 feet." -Gabi Viteri
"We went though every type of scenery there is–lush, green rolling hills with cows, desert, lava rocks, cactus fields…everything was there. Finally, we got to the visitors center where every car is required to pull over for at least 30 minutes. We changed into our snow pants and boots in the parking lot, Mount Hood style. The tourists stared at us and pointed, so we did the same and pointed back at them. Then drove another eight miles, climbing upwards of five thousand feet on washboard dirt roads. Finally, we started to see snow, even a few tracks. When we got out it was freezing. We all scrambled to find every last layer we could possibly throw on because it was so cold. Not only that, but the first run we went down was sheer ice–not the kind of ice that you can break through and keep an edge in, but the kind you uncontrollably slide on. At the bottom we all slid like twenty feet. Wow, and I was thinking Mt. Hood like conditions, you know tank tops and slush." -Elena Hight
"We were a little nervous because our car was getting worked by the wind on the way up, but it was a clear, beautiful day so we kept our fingers crossed. We came across some rad rocks we could jump over. Everyone got a sweet grab. Elena-method, Bryn-nosegrab, Gabi-japan, Me-crail." -Bev Vuilleumier
"The elevation was wearing on us and we were hungry, so we feasted picnic style. We laid down and before we knew it, we were all asleep, right next to this giant telescope. By the time Elena woke us, the light was nearly gone. So we scrambled to the top of this nearby peak for some sunset runs. It was so surreal up top, it looked like a postcard with the ocean way below. By the time we rode down it was dark and we piled into the car and headed back to sea level." –Bryn Valaika
"We all just woke up at the top of a volcano in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We quickly realized we all had straight up passed out for an entire hour. So we jumped up, packed our picnic and got moving within seconds. We had to ride this sunset." -Elena Hight
"The last thing we all wanted to do was ride down this beautiful mountain right before sunset…so we hiked up a boot pack, with the gnarly wind howling. We finally made it to the top, snapped a few photos, and when Zacher radioed to us to go…we went. It was the shittiest, but most beautiful run I have ever done. The sunset lit up the entire face. We got to the bottom and had nothing but smiles." -Bev Vuilleumier


text:
Karen Hernandez
Competitive Karen Hernandez used to be a competitive roller skater. Visiting the Junior Olympics 3 times. Karen told us about her love for chocolate and whipped cream in the bedroom. Karen also makes her own swimsuits and has her own line of swimsuits. She loves to travel and meet new and interesting people.


text:
The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing public awareness of the benefits of true aromatherapy. Visit us at www.naha.org
Thursday, November 11, 2010
NAHA November Article
Featured Aromatherapy Article
Contributed by; Barb Greenwood
Aromatherapy and Weight Control
Using Essential Oils to Support Weight Loss
The use of essential oils in aromatherapy can be effective in supporting the weight loss process.
Every diet and weight loss book, website and guru tries to offer something new to the debate about how to lose weight. The weight-loss industry is a fast-growing, multi-billion dollar industry and shows no sign of slowing down. For decades there has been an assortment of outlandish and unhealthy fad diets circulating - the Cabbage Soup Diet, the Grapefruit Diet, the Brussels Sprouts Diet, even the Tape Worm Diet - but the fact remains that the most sensible way to lose weight is to watch what you eat and get regular exercise.
Individuality and Weight Loss
Every body is different and the amount of weight gained or lost will depend on such things as an individual's metabolism rate, their genetics, their ability to exercise and their overall health.
Essential Oils and Weight Loss
Essential oils by themselves will not induce weight loss but they can help to support and be a comfort through a change to a healthy lifestyle. Essential oils, such as grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), can be used as a diuretic and a digestive stimulant. Others, like lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), are anti-inflammatory, which can help to reduce inflammation caused by exercise, and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), which can aid with circulation. It is commonly believed that both peppermint (Mentha piperita) and pink grapefruit essential oil can help to reduce food cravings and suppress the appetite. Grapefruit is sometimes referred to as "the dieter's friend."
Essential Oils to Support Lifestyle Changes
Following are ten essential oils that are often used to support lifestyle changes such as increased exercise, reduced calorie intake and stress reduction. Each essential oil is chosen for its valuable properties:
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) essential oil is analgesic, anti-depressant and anti-inflammatory, helping to uplift the spirit and reduce inflammation.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgaris) essential oil is a detoxifier, diuretic and stimulant.
Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) essential oil is a detoxifier, digestive stimulant, emotional stimulant, and diuretic.
Juniper (Juniperus communis) essential oil is a detoxifier, diuretic, and works well to reduce cellulite.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is an analgesic, anti-anxiety, anti-inflammatory, balancing and calming essential oil.
Lemon (Citrus limon) essential oil is anti-bacterial and anti-depressant.
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oil is an antioxidant, digestive tonic and it is used to energize and stimulate circulation.
Orange (Citrus sinensis) essential oil is anti-depressant, lymph stimulating, tonic and uplifting. It is thought to eliminate toxins.
Petitgrain (Citrus aurantium var. amara) essential oil is an antidepressant and a sedative. It is also known to help with insomnia and nervous exhaustion.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oil is an analgesic and diuretic.
Use the essential oils singly or blend them together. Try them (diluted in bath salts or a tsp. of honey) in a bath, in an aromatherapy diffuser or add them to a carrier oil and use in a massage.
Holistic Health News, "Stop Your Sweet Cravings Fast with Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil".
WellSphere, "Essential Tip of the Week- Curbing Cravings". www.wellsphere.com
Worwood, Valerie Ann. 1990. "The Fragrant Pharmacy"
Barb Greenwood hails from England where she worked in Special Needs Health Care. Already a Registered Massage Therapist, she became Certified in Aromatherapy in 1990. In 1992 Barb moved to Canada, where the idea of her own essential oil import/export business was conceived. Today, Barb is the creative head of a dynamic and forward thinking company, Green Valley Aromatherapy, which enjoys the highest reputation for quality of products and integrity in business. Her attention to detail has ensured consistent, best quality products and ethical business dealings. Barb's wealth of aromatherapy knowledge is the backbone of Green Valley Aromatherapy. She continues to update her knowledge of aromatherapy and maintains an active membership in the BC Association of Practicing Aromatherapists (BCAPA) and the BC Association of Aromatherapy (BCAOA). Barb is a Registered Massaged Therapist (RMT), Registered Aromatherapist (RA®), and an Essential Oil Therapist - EOT™.
Click here to Read more at Suite101
November 2010 Reprinted with Author's permission.
More Information of Essences and Weight Loss from NAHA Director, George Cox
If considering using essential oils to stop food cravings, I have a suggestion, based on studies and experience:
Dr. Alan R. Hirsch, MD a neurologist and Researchers at the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, IL conducted a six month clinical trial using a blend of Peppermint (Mentha piperita) and green apple and banana fragrance. In this trial participants were told to not change their dietary or exercise habits. At the end of the trial, people had lost on average just nearly 5lbs. each month.
I used to do aromatherapy for bariatric unit for the Skilled Nursing Facility in Andover, Ohio that was featured on Discovery Health television several times. The clients I worked with there had seen an article in Fitness Magazine (November 2004) and asked me to duplicate it for them. We had a reasonable amount of success with it for those who used it regularly. Of course we also had the people who put it into a drawer and then complained that it didn't work. Most of those were also the people who said they weren't addicted to food, it "just got away from them". In case you aren't familiar with that facility, the average admission weight was just over 575 lbs.
Here is the website link for the weight loss research:
Click here to learn more about George Cox
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
RichesonLinenArt Panels
Cretacolor MonolithWoodless Pencils
BlickMasterstrokeInterlockingBristle Brushes
BlickFrenchEasel byJullian
Blick ChelseaMetal GalleryFrames
BlickWater-SolubleBlock PrintingInks
BlickPencil Case
UtrechtColor WheelGuide
10% Off Orders of $59 or More + Free Shipping
Available Offers
Today's Deal
Free Shipping
On Orders of $35 or More**
10% Off
Orders of $59 or More*
Use Code: CEUK
*Exclusions apply**After discounts taken
On Orders of $45 or More**
**After discounts taken
Browse more:
Unmatched in their softness and consistency, Schmincke soft pastels were created using the finest artist's pigments and a minimum of binders. Pastel softness permits beautiful dense application, and high pigment concentration results in intense colors.
Color Swatches created using heavy to light application and were applied on 100 lb (163 gsm) drawing paper material.
iron oxides
FeO or Fe2O3
Mars Black is an opaque black with a strong and cool masstone, a slightly warm tint, and a warm brown undertone. It is not as black as Ivory Black, but it dries more quickly and has three times the tinting strength. Mars Black is normally the only black available in acrylic form and that is safe to over paint. It can be used in all media without reservation and is widely used as an alternative to Lamp Black and Ivory Black.
Mars Black is very lightfast with excellent permanence.
Mars Black has no significant hazards and is the only major black pigment considered non-toxic.
The word Mars refers to the Roman god of iron and war. Mars Black was developed in the early 20th century from inorganic, synthetic iron oxide.
Black Iron Oxide, Iron Black, Magnetic Oxide, Mapico Black, Mineral Black. Sometimes labeled as Vine Black.
polychlorinated copper(II) phthalocyanine
C32H3Cl13CuN8 to C32HCl15CuN8 or C32H16CuN8Cl15 (PG7) or C32Br6Cl10CuN8 (PG36)
Phthalo Green is a transparent, cool, bright, high intensity color used in oil and acrylics. It comes from a Phthalocyanine Blue pigment where most of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced with chlorine, forming highly stable molecules. It has similar pigment properties and permanence to Phthalo Blue. It is slow drying and an excellent base color for mixing a range of bright greens. Phthalo Green is considered a very good alternative to Viridian because it is intense and mixes well and can be used to emphasize mineral colors in various tints. However, its tinting strength is very high, so it can overpower other colors. This pigment most closely resembles the discontinued and toxic Verdigris.
Phthalo Greens are completely lightfast and resistant to alkali, acids, solvents, heat, and ultraviolet radiation. They are currently used in inks, coatings, and many plastics due to their stability and are considered a standard pigment in printing ink and the packaging industry.
Phthalo Green has no significant hazards, but it contained PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) until 1982.
This bright blue-green was developed in 1935 and has been in use since 1938.
Bocour Green, Cyan Green, Intense Green, Monastral Green, Phthalocyanine Green, Rembrandt Green, Thalo Green, Winsor Green.
titanium dioxide
Titanium White is the most brilliant of the white pigments. It is considered an all purpose oil color useful in all techniques and the best all around white. Its masstone is neither warm nor cool, placing it somewhere between Lead White and Zinc White. It is less prone to cracking and yellowing than Lead White, but it still yellows easily. Titanium White dries slowly in oil form, more slowly than Lead White but more quickly than Zinc White. It is opaque in oil and acrylic forms and semi-opaque in watercolor form. This pigment has good chemical stability, and its tinting strength is superior to both Lead White and Zinc White.
Titanium White has excellent permanence and lightfastness.
Titanium dioxide is highly stable and is regarded as completely non-toxic. Animal studies give no indiciation that it is absorbed biologically, even after long periods of exposure. The primary safety concern is with inhalation of fine pigment dust particles. Titanium White, if inhaled in large amounts over the course of several years, may cause a benign pneumoconiosis that is visible on x-rays. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) considers fine titanium dioxide particles, if inhaled, to be a human carcinogen. The primary concern for artists is to avoid exposure to fine particulate dust from raw pigments.
Titanium is the ninth most abundant element in the Earth's crust, however mineral deposits that are economical to mine are less common. Titanium dioxide was first discovered in 1821, although it could not be mass produced until 1919. Widespread use of the pigment began in the 1940s. Since that time, it has become the most commonly used white pigment. The name comes from the Latin word Titan, the name for the elder brother of Kronos and ancestor of the Titans, and from the Greek word tito, meaning day or sun.
Your cart is currently empty.
Your cart currently contains N item.
Material Safety Data Sheet
® Schmincke is a registered trademark.


text:
SCSU Men's Hockey Preview; Hanowski Out; Honors for 2 [AUDIO]
The 18th ranked St. Cloud State men's hockey team will play at #3 Denver at 8:37 (CT) Friday night and 8:07pm (CT) on Saturday. The Huskies are 4-2-0 on the season and have won 4 games in a row. The Huskies will have to play without forward Ben Hanowski who's out with an undisclosed injury after taking a major hit last weekend against Minnesota State-Mankato.
Head coach Bob Motzko says Hanowski will miss this weekend and will be re-evaluated next week. Motzko talked with Jay Caldwell and Lee Voss on the Granite City Cafe on AM 1390-the Fan.
Two St. Cloud State players received WCHA honors. Senior Drew Leblanc is the WCHA offensive player of the week after posting 2 goals and 3 assists over the weekend. Freshman Kalle Kossila was named the WCHA rookie of the week after posting 2 goals and 2 assists over the weekend against Minnesota State-Mankato. The Huskies won 5-1 and 5-1 over Minnesota State-Mankato last weekend.


text:
See this picture to the right? I took it. I somehow got a press pass to see Obama when he came to Raleigh, North Carolina during the last presidential election. It was a highlight of my life and I was really thankful for the Nikon SLR my dad gave me for my birthday that year. I was up close and personal and didn't even need a zoom lens to capture that shot. I have hundreds of photos from that day. I was up close with a press badge on a lanyard around my neck but I never got to ask Obama a question. Had I the chance, it is entirely likely I would have blathered and made a buffoon of myself. I've been a fan of Obama since before he was on the nation's radar. I read Dreams From My Father before he made millions from book sales.
I have written a letter to a president once (Jimmy Carter). I was about 10years old. Yes, he wrote back. My 6-year-old son recently wrote a letter to Barack Obama to thank him for the book Of Thee I Sing. My son found the book under the Christmas tree and assumed the POTUS himself sent it. He wanted to write a thank you note, and who was I to stop him. And just like Jimmy Carter, President Obama wrote back. My son cherishes that letter and finds it too special to take to school for show and tell. I don't have the heart to tell him some aid sent the reply, but nonetheless, what a cool experience for a boy of six.
I dream of shaking the President's hand and asking him a question or two. In my dream I would be articulate and witty and wouldn't stutter or falter. And while I'm at it, I might as well ask Mitt Romney a few questions too. Given the chance, here's what I would ask our presidential hopefuls:
- Would you want your children to run for a high stakes, high profile public office?
- If you were just a tax-paying citizen and not running for President, what would be your three burning issues in this election year?
- What do you propose we do to bridge the ever growing divide between Democrats and Republicans/rich and poor/educated and uneducated/men and women in this country?
While it's fun to ask questions that illustrate the humanity and "regular personess" of these gentlemen (which I would totally do if I had the chance to share a pot of coffee or bottle of wine or dog walk around the the National Mall), what I really want to know is what matters to them and how will they unite our country so that we live up to our name - the United States of America.
While I never got up close to shake Obama's hand or simply fawn and praise and thank him, my mother did get the chance.
See the lovely Indian woman on the right with the dangly earrings? That's my mom.
This post is part of a weekly conversation with our Moms Matter 2012 political bloggers. To see the original question and what the other writers have to say, read What Would Like Most to Ask the Presidential Candidates?
Image via Reuters


text:
The Bungalow Basics Collection is a mixture of American Country, Arts and Crafts, and Shaker styles, all blended to create this attractive and versatile collection. The finish is a darker, burnished cherry with a lot of hand applied high lighting and accent; adding to the high style rustic and country design.
The hardware is an antiqued brass color and adds even more appeal to the Bungalow Basics Collection. Design details such as the tapered posts accentuated with wood plugs add to the hand crafted motif. Bungalow Basics is a versatile group that fits children's and teen rooms, condos, and even smaller master bedrooms.
The Full over Full Bunk Bed is a great solution for siblings, twins, or any child who loves bunk beds.
Would you like us to help you find a similar item? Talk with our Design Consultants toll-free at1-800-927-5164.
*Shipping transit time varies based on destination. Free shipping offers are limited to the 48 contiguous states of the USA.
International Customers (including Alaska and Hawaii) please contact a Customer Service Representative if you have any questions about placing an order with PoshTots.
Some assembly required. Assembly service available upon request.
This item is custom made especially for you upon order.Click here for our policy on custom made items.
Promotion codes cannot be used for sale item purchases.
*Free shipping offers are limited to the 48 contiguous states of the USA.


text:
Internet Banking Terms and Conditions
This Agreement describes your rights and obligations as a user of the On-line Banking Service ("Service" or "Services"). It also describes the rights and obligations of Security State Bank. Please read this Agreement carefully. As an authorized account holder you must abide by the terms and conditions of this agreement, and those provided to you at account opening, in order to use this Service.
By selecting the "I Accept" button below, you are (1) acknowledging your receipt and understanding of the information listed below, (2) agreeing that any contract you enter into with Security State Bank, for the provision of certain On-line Banking Services, may be in electronic form, and (3) agreeing that certain information that may be delivered in connection with the Services may also be in electronic form.
You are also acknowledging receipt of the following information and agree that:
* We may provide you with this Agreement and any revisions and amendments thereto in electronic form, and that, if you choose to accept the Agreement, you are consenting to enter into and are entering into an agreement electronically that will govern all future transactions you conduct using the Service.
* We may provide you revisions and amendments to the Agreement and such other information, including but not limited to information under Regulation E and under other applicable banking or financial services laws or regulations in connection with the Service, electronically as a part of the Agreement or otherwise as a part of the Services. While you may print and retain a copy of the Agreement or any information provided to you in relation to the Service, we only provide these documents electronically.
* You have a right at any time to withdraw, without service charges, your consent to receive information electronically. However, because the Agreement and the Information are provided only in electronic format, your withdrawal of consent will terminate all the Services.
* If you wish to withdraw consent to receive information electronically, to terminate the Services, or to update your information such as a change of address, or email address, you may call Security State Bank, at 218.927.3765, or write a letter and send it to:
Security State Bank
Attn: Online Banking
402 Minnesota Ave N
Aitkin, MN 56431
* You are able to access information that is provided in the same manner as the information and the Services via the Internet.
The following definitions apply in this Agreement.
"On-line Banking" is the Internet-based service providing access to your account(s) under the terms set forth in this Internet Banking Terms and Conditions Agreement
"On-line Account" is any Security State Bank account from which you will be conducting transactions using a Service.
"Business Day" refers to Monday through Friday, excluding holidays as determined by Security State Bank. All On-line transaction requests received after 3:00 p.m. CST, or on a non-Business Day, will be processed immediately, but will not appear in the online history until the following Business Day.
"Username" is a series of numbers and/or letters that you select after the initial login, that establishes your connection to the Service.
"Password" is a series of numbers and/or letters that you select after the initial login, that establishes your connection to the Service.
"Time of day" references are to Central Standard Time.
"We," "us" "our" or "bank" refer to Security State Bank, which offers the Services provided under this Agreement and holds the accounts accessed by the Services.
ACCESS TO SERVICES Security State Bank will provide on-line instructions describing how to use the On-line Banking Service. To gain access to this Service you will need your Username and your Password. First time users must contact us for a First Time User Password.
The Services are generally available 24 hours-a-day, 7 days a week, except during special maintenance and upgrade periods, which routinely are scheduled between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Monday mornings, but can occur any time at our option without notice.
The safety of our customers' accounts and account information is of utmost importance to Security State Bank. We go through great lengths to protect confidentiality and the security of your account, and urge you to do the same. You agree not to allow anyone to gain access to the Services or to let anyone know your Password used with the Services. You agree to assume responsibility for all transactions initiated through the Services with your Security State Bank Username, up to the limits allowed by applicable law. While Security State Bank continues to provide our customers with the level of on-line security we believe necessary and appropriate, customers who share their Usernames and Passwords are giving up the full benefit of our security measures and legal protections to which they may be entitled. No Security State Bank representative will ever call and ask for your Username and/or User Password.
If your Password has been lost or stolen, call Security State Bank immediately at 218.927.3765, between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday - Friday. Telephoning Security State Bank is the best way of minimizing your losses. You may also restore the security of your Service by immediately changing your Password. If you believe your Password has been lost or stolen and you notify us within two Business Days after you learn of the loss or theft, you can lose no more than $50.00 if someone uses your Password to conduct unauthorized electronic funds transfers without your permission. If you do NOT notify us within two Business Days after you learn of the loss or theft of your Password, and we can prove we could have stopped someone from using your Password to conduct unauthorized electronic funds transfers without your permission if you had told us, your loss could be more.
In addition to viewing account information, you may use On-line Banking to conduct the following transactions:
* Transfer funds among your linked checking, savings, money market, and loan accounts.
NOTE: Because regulations require Security State Bank to limit pre-authorized transfers (including On-line Banking transfers), the following limitations apply:
* Statement Savings Account-- You can make no more than six (6) transfers per statement period by pre-authorized or automatic transfer, or by telephone or On-line Banking.
* Money Market Checking Account-- You must deposit $1,000.00 to open this account. You may make six (6) transfers from your account each four (4) week or similar period, if by preauthorized or automatic transfer, or telephone (including data transmission) agreement order or instruction or by check, draft, debit card or similar order (including POS transactions), made by the depositor and payable to third parties, Transfers and withdrawals mad in person, by messenger, by mail or at an ATM are unlimied.
New services may be introduced for On-line Banking from time to time. Security State Bank will notify you of the existence of these new services. By using these services when they become available, you agree to be bound by the rules that will be made available to you concerning these services.
STOP PAYMENT REQUESTS The Service's ability to process a stop payment request will depend on the payment method and whether or not a check has cleared. The Service may also not have a reasonable opportunity to act on any stop payment request after a payment has been processed. If you desire to stop any payment that has already been processed, you must contact Security State Bank at 218.927.3765. Although the Service will make every effort to accommodate your request, the Service will have no liability for failing to do so. Security State Bank will also require you to present your request in writing within fourteen (14) days. The charge for each stop payment request will be the current charge for such service as set out in the applicable fee schedule.
You will continue to receive your regular account statement either monthly or quarterly, depending on the type of account.
If your statement shows transfers that you did not make, notify Security State Bank immediately at 218.927.3765, or write a letter and send it to:
Security State Bank
402 Minnesota Ave N
Aitkin, MN 56431
If you do not notify Security State Bank within sixty (60) days after the statement was mailed to you, you may not recover any money lost after the sixty (60) days which would not have been lost if Security State Bank had been notified in time.
In case of errors or questions regarding an On-line Banking transaction, you may call Security State Bank at 218.927.3765, or write a letter and send it to:
Security State Bank
402 Minnesota Ave N
Aitkin, MN 56431
We must hear from you at the specified telephone number or address no later than sixty (60) calendar days after we sent you the first statement on which the problem or error appeared. We will need:
* Your name and account number * A description of the error or the transfer in question, and an explanation concerning why you believe it is an error or need more information. * The dollar amount of the suspected error * The date on which it occurred.
If the report is made orally, we may require that you send the complaint or question in writing within ten (10) Business Days from your initial contact. We will notify you with the results of the investigation within ten (10) Business Days after you contact us and will correct any error promptly. If more time is needed, however, we may, at our sole discretion, take up to forty-five (45) calendar days to investigate a complaint or question. If this occurs, we will credit your account within ten (10) Business Days for the amount you think is in error. This will allow you to use the money during the time it takes us to complete our investigation. If your complaint or question is not received in writing within ten (10) Business Days from your original contact, we may not credit your account until the investigation is completed. If provisionally credited funds are debited, the consumer must be notified of the date and amount of the debit and the fact that the bank will continue to honor checks, drafts and preauthorized transfers for 5 business days to the extent that they would have been paid if the provisionally credited funds had not been debited.
LIMIT OF Security State Bank's RESPONSIBILITY
Security State Bank agrees to make reasonable efforts to ensure full performance of On-line Banking. Security State Bank will be responsible for acting only on those instructions sent through On-line Banking which are actually received, and cannot assume responsibility for circumstances over which the bank has no direct control. This includes but not limited to, the failure or malfunctions in communication facilities, which may affect the accuracy or timeliness of messages you send. Security State Bank is not responsible for any losses should you give incorrect instructions, or if your payment instructions are not given sufficiently in advance to allow for timely payment or delays in mail service.
Any information you receive from Security State Bank is believed to be reliable. However, it can only be provided on a best-efforts basis for your convenience and is not guaranteed. Security State Bank is not liable for any deficiencies in the accuracy, completeness, availability, or timeliness of such information, or for any investment or other decision made using this information.
Security State Bank is not responsible for any fees incurred for Internet access, or for any computer virus or related problems that may be attributable to services provided by any Internet access service provider.
You are responsible for obtaining, installing, maintaining, and operating all computer hardware and software necessary for performing On-line Banking. Security State Bank will not be responsible for any errors or failures from the malfunction or failure of your hardware or software.
The limit of Security State Bank's liability shall be as expressly set forth herein. Under no circumstances will Security State Bank be liable in contract, tort, or otherwise for any special, incidental, or consequential damages, whether or not foreseeable. By consenting to use the Services, you agree to waive any and all right to any of the aforesaid, and you acknowledge that the limit of your remedy is as otherwise expressly set forth herein.
Security State Bank's RESPONSIBILITY
Security State Bank will be responsible for your actual losses if they were directly caused by our failure to:
* Complete an Electronic Funds Transfer as properly requested * Cancel an Electronic Funds Transfer as properly requested.
However, we will not be responsible for your losses if:
* Through no fault of Security State Bank, you do not have enough money in your account to make the transfer. * Through no fault of Security State Bank, the transaction would have caused you to exceed your available credit. * Circumstances beyond our control (e.g., fire, flood, power outage, mail delivery delays, equipment or technical failure or breakdown) prevent the transfer, despite reasonable precautions that we have taken. * There is a hold on your account, or if access to your account is blocked in accordance with banking policy. * Your funds are subject to legal process or other encumbrance restricting the transfer * Your transfer authorization terminates by operation of law. * You believe someone has accessed your accounts without your permission and you fail to notify Security State Bank immediately. * You have not properly followed the scheduling instructions, included in this Agreement, to make a transfer. * We have received incomplete or inaccurate information from you or a third party involving the account or transfer. * We have a reasonable basis for believing that unauthorized use of your Username, Password or account has occurred or may be occurring, or if you default under this Agreement, the Deposit Account Agreement, a credit agreement, or any other agreement with us, or if we or you terminate this Agreement.
There may be other exceptions stated in this agreement and in other agreements with you. In no event shall we be liable for damages in excess of your actual loss due to our failure to complete a transfer, and we will not be liable for any incidental or consequential damages.
If any of the circumstances listed above shall occur, we shall assist you with reasonable efforts in taking appropriate corrective action to reprocess the transactions that may not have been completed or to correct incorrect transactions that have been processed.
If you send Security State Bank an electronic mail message through the Service, Security State Bank will be deemed to have received it on the following Business Day. Emails will be answered within a reasonable timeframe.
You should not rely on electronic mail if you need to communicate with Security State Bank immediately (e.g., if you need to report an unauthorized transaction from one of your accounts, or if you need to stop a payment that is scheduled to occur).
You agree that Security State Bank may or may not respond to you by electronic mail with regard to any matter related to the Service, including responding to any claim of unauthorized electronic funds transfer that you make.
You agree not to send sensitive information by electronic mail such as account numbers, username, Password or personal information such as social security number(s). The information sent may not be secure using electronic mail.
In addition to this Agreement, you and Security State Bank agree to be bound by and comply with the requirements of the agreements applicable to each of your On-line Accounts. Your use of the On-line Banking Service is your acknowledgment that you have received these agreements and intend to be bound by them. You should review other disclosures received by you when you open your accounts at Security State Bank, including the charges that may be imposed for electronic funds transfers or the right to make transfers listed in the fee schedules accompanying those disclosures. We will automatically deduct any fees related to this Service from your Account each month. All terms and conditions of the disclosures provided to you at account opening, including but not limited to, the Truth in Savings, Regulation E Disclosure, Depositor's Agreement and Terms and Conditions apply to this Service.
Security State Bank may modify the terms and conditions applicable to either Service from time to time upon mailing or delivering a notice of the modifications to you at the address shown on our account records, and the revised terms and conditions shall be effective at the earliest date allowed by applicable law. We may send notice to you via electronic mail and you will have been deemed to have received it three (3) days after it is sent. We reserve the right to terminate this Agreement and your use of the Services in whole or in part at any time without prior notice.
A copy of Security State Bank's Consumer Privacy Statement is available upon request at any of our branches, or can be mailed to you upon request by calling Security State Bank at 218.927.3765, or writing a letter and sending it to:
Security State Bank
402 Minnesota Ave N
Aitkin, MN 56431
You can also access our Policy online by clicking on the Privacy Statement icon on the Security State Bank Website, www.ssbmn.com.
You are responsible for complying with all the terms of this Agreement and with the terms of the agreement governing the deposit accounts which you access using electronic banking services. We can terminate your On-line Banking privileges under this Agreement without notice to you for any reason; or if you do not pay any fee, if applicable by this Agreement when due, if you do not comply with the Agreement governing your deposit or loan accounts, or your accounts are not maintained in good standing. We will promptly notify you if we terminate this Agreement or your use of the services for any other reason.
If the access to your accounts via On-Line Banking remains inactive for 90 consecutive days, your On-Line Banking options will be terminated.
To cancel the On-line Banking you must notify Security State Bank. Your notification should include your name, address and the effective date to stop the service(s). You may notify Security State Bank by one of the following methods:
* By calling 218.927.3765 * By writing a letter and sending it to:
Security State Bank
Attn: Online Banking
402 Minnesota Ave N
Aitkin, MN 56431
This Agreement is governed by the laws of the Minnesota and applicable federal law(s).
Account research, stop payment charges and transfer fees will be assessed at the rates published in Security State Bank's Schedule of Accounts and Fees Brochure and deducted from your account you hold at Security State Bank.
These fees are subject to change. Security State Bank will notify you in writing regarding any fee changes at least thirty (30) days in advance of the effective date of these changes.
I Accept
Printable Terms


text:
During the holiday season many families gather together to share customs, beliefs and traditions to enjoy holiday cheer. My family is the same. We go to my sister's house to celebrate Christmas. Going to my sister's house for dinner has become a family tradition. Every year myself, my children, my mother, my siblings, niece and nephew gather together on this auspicious day to over-eat, talk over one another and the best part, exchange gifts.
Everyone has an aunt or uncle, sister or brother that you can pretty much predict what kind of gift you will get. My family is big on books, YEA!! The "envelope," which you know is cash, YEA!! and gift cards. Like I said, we celebrate a tradition.
I am the youngest of five children. I have one sister. Her name is Betty. She is the oldest of the siblings. Next come my three brothers and then, me. My sister has always been a shining star in my eyes. She is 10 years my senior. When I was a little girl I would lay in our room on my bed and watch her study at our desk. Betty attended Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, was in the marching band color guard, flag twirler (totally cool), had a boyfriend who drove a snazzy car and got straight A's or I thought so. She also had beautiful LONG brown hair. Betty wore make up, snuck off to the mall and had her ears pierced at the Piercing Pagoda much to my mothers dismay and had a friend who would come over with her guitar and play "Puff The Magic Dragon!" It was the 70's. I wasn't allowed in the room. She was the coolest in my eyes then as she is now. Betty was always "the good girl," that hasn't changed either or I think not. Betty???
CBS News, reported in an article titled "Personality Linked To Birth Order," that over half of U.S presidents were firstborns. Clearly, firstborns are natural leaders. They also tend to be reliable, conscientious and perfectionists who don't like surprises. Although, firstborns are typically aggressive, many are also compliant people pleasers. They are model children who have a strong need for approval from anyone in charge." That is Betty. I on the other hand, being the youngest have the characteristics of "being social and outgoing and they are the most financially irresponsible of all birth orders. They just want to have a good time. Knowing that these kids love the limelight, it's no surprise to discover that Billy Crystal, Goldie Hawn, Drew Carey, Jim Carey and Steve Martin are all lastborns." Here is the link, you can look yourself up. http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500172_162-511694.html.
Betty went into nursing and has risen to heights within the healthcare industry that when we get together, I don't offer a chair because she sit on so many. Her background as a care giver has influenced her professionally and personally. Personally this has rolled over into her gift giving style. One year Betty gave us each an American Red Cross Emergency Radio,so that we would be prepared when a tornado, flood, hurricane, blizzard or the end of the world came. This radio is weather-resistant has a hand-crank power generator that powers the unit's AM/FM/TV/Weather radio, built-in LED flashlight, cell phone charger and emergency siren. Me being the eternal optimist never thinking that "weather" would be an issue, financially broke like most last born children uh-hem, and young at the time, didn't appreciate the value of that radio. Now that I'm older and wiser, I hate to say it and regret it now, damn that weather, re-gifted it. I'm sorry Betty. I didn't know…
Another year Betty gave the family pedometers. A pedometer is a device that counts each step a person takes by detecting the motion of the person's hips. A daily target of 10,000 steps has been recommended by the US Surgeon General. Betty's motive once again at the family Christmas present swap, was to take care of the family (first-born) and make sure we are heart smart, active and fit. Well Betty, I didn't re-gift it but I never used it… now, it's lost. I WAS SKINNY AT THE TIME, I'M SORRY. I think she once worked for the US Surgeon General at some point in her career. She had some important job in Washington DC. I've seen her CV, curriculum vitae or resume for people like me, and it like reading Latin. All her jobs are beyond my comprehension. All I know is that she has a multitude of letters after her name on her business card, MS, PhD, and SW etc. I put in the SW, it stands for Super Woman. I don't know what she does and I don't need to, I have Betty!
This year Betty gave me a year-long membership to AAA car service. In a few years I wouldn't be surprised if I get a subscription to AARP. Careful Betty, remember I'm the last born with a big ego so please be gentle with the timing. I was recently in a car accident, not my fault. I needed a tow which is costly and once again I have no money… last born. I called Mom for her AAA number. Mom's always save the day. Betty is a mom as well, and the oldest sibling.
The day after Christmas my son, whose life revolves around basketball therefore my does as well, had a tournament far away that started at 10 am. The day after Christmas!! I'm always running late, ugh again baby of the family, so we rushed to get ready. It was a cold, gray, wet morning. The last thing I wanted to do was to drive a long distance for an hour-long basketball game. Well wouldn't you know, I wouldn't have to. Why? When I went to start my car, my battery was dead. I couldn't believe it, I left the INTERIOR light on. Then again… damn the birth order! Quickly I went into survival mode and called the coach to see if we could bum a ride. He had been there for an hour by that time. He must be the oldest in his family because clearly he left too early but, unlike myself was at the game. I had to break the news to my son… we wouldn't make the game. Much to my surprise, James my son, took the news very well. He jumped right out of the car and ran inside to play with his new Legos while I sat in my car dumbfounded. In all my years, I had to have my car jumped once, last summer at the end of a long beach day, I left my headlights on. I couldn't believe it, AN INTERIOR LIGHT COULD DRAIN MY BATTERY? How stupid, or I suppose me in this situation. No less than 12 hours after I got that membership, I was using my Christmas gift from my sister, 12 hours!!
Knowing that my sister had given me AAA the night before, I went into the house to see if I could call upon the service to come to my rescue. I hadn't read the information yet and wasn't sure if it was activated. With fingers crossed, I opened the envelope and YES, I had a temporary number until my card arrived. I called the number, expecting to get the usual telephone customer service mistreatment that has become standard these days and was pleasantly surprised when the agent took my information and informed me that a truck would be out within two hours. The lady on the phone was so pleasant working the day after Christmas she must have been a middle child.
Within the hour, my phone rang telling me the truck would be here in five minutes, and it was. Here came my knight in shining tow truck Tom to save the day. Tom jumped my battery, ran a diagnostic test and gave me a tutorial worthy of YouTube. He also told me about some of the perks of membership like discounts at stores and movies when shopping, but you have to ask at the stores, they don't tell you. What a relief, my car was running and I didn't have to tell my mom who if I had, would not have been surprised this happened to me. My sister saved the day once again. If I remember correctly, Betty was a girl scout too. THANK YOU BETTY!


text:
Warhoon is a science fiction fanzine by Richard Bergeron.
Warhoon was initially published in New York, U.S.A. beginning in 1952. Later the editor moved to Puerto Rico, which is where this fanzine was published in the 1970s and 1980s.
Richard Bergeron was well known in the SF fanzine world as an artist and had done illustrations and covers for many zines.
Warhoon number 28 was published in hard cover in 1978 and is a complete anthology of the writings of Walter A. Willis, editor of Slant and Hyphen. The 614 pages of this issue contain all of Willis' columns; "The Harp That Once Or Twice", "The Harp Stateside", and "Twice Upon A Time", as well as other writing.
Contributors to Warhoon include Phillip Jose Farmer, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, David Langford, Vincent Omniaveritas, Tom Perry, Alva Rogers, Harry Warner, Jr., Ted White, and Walt Willis.
Columnists included John Baxter, James Blish, Terry Carr, Robert Lowndes, and Bob Shaw.
Artists included Lee Hoffman, Bob Shaw, Arthur Thomson, Shelby Vick, and James White (Slant).
Warhoon won the 1962 Hugo Award for 'Best Fanzine'.


text:
Or Login using BecomeGorgeous
Please fill the form below and follow the further instructions.
You are about to receive a email from us please make sure to check your spam or junk folder and add our email [email protected] to your contact list.
Thank you!
Olympia Le-Tan's fall 2013 collection, showcased at Paris Fashion Week, was fun and chic in the same time featuring some really cool goodies. So yes, for the upcoming cold-weather season forget all-things-dull and dreary and play around with your styling putting together fairytale-inspired combos. Well, the latest Olympia Le-Tan line managed to take us into a different sartorial realm where daring and pulling off never-seen-before ensembles is mandatory. And we love it! With 'The Sound of Music' as source, there's no surprise the c... Read More


text:
CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars is a fast-paced first-person multiplayer shooter that puts players in the center of the battle of technology vs. humanity. Complete with next-gen graphics and robust gameplay, CellFactor: Psychokinetic Wars allows players to wage war by using their choice of gunfire and/or telekinetic superpowers. Players can use telekinetic energy to rip objects from the surrounding environment and hurl them at enemies or draw on their powers to create a bullet-proof energy shield that protects against gunfire. Flying, teleporting and accelerated speed abilities give players countless ways to fight the good fight with plenty of intense combat action.
Also known as: CellFactor, Cell Factor: Psychokinetic Wars, CellFactor: Revolution, CellFactor: Ignition
Release Region: United Kingdom
Release Date: March 4, 2009
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Region: United States
Release Date: June 4, 2009
Publisher: Ubisoft
Also available on: Xbox 360
CellFactor: Psychokine... at IGN
CellFactor: Psychokine... at GameSpy
CellFactor: Psychokine... at GameStats


text: Do solution providers charge as much for their managed services as they should? That was a question debated at XChange Solution Provider 2013 in Orlando, Fla., this week. Several speakers felt that MSPs undervalue -- and underprice -- the solutions they provide to customers. CRN asked several attendees their thoughts on the issue. Here are some excerpts from their responses.


text:
The 7th International Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2013) is a major scientific meeting that takes place once every two years. An estimated 5,000 delegates -- including many of the world's most esteemed HIV researchers, clinicians and policy experts -- are expected to attend this year's conference in Kuala Lumpur. While there, they will discuss hundreds of presented abstracts and examine the clinical relevance and policy implications of the latest developments in the field.
TheBodyPRO.com's coverage of IAS 2013 will ultimately feature a wide array of study summaries, expert analyses and video interviews. We are proud to partner with the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care and IFARA to bring you highlights from this critical scientific meeting.
For more information on IAS 2013, please visit the conference's website. You may also view the conference programme-at-a-glance online.
The content on this page is free of advertiser influence and was produced by our editorial team. See our content and advertising policies.


text:
Upington Accommodation - Holiday and Business Travel Accommodation in UpingtonLooking for =Bed & Breakfast?>
accommodation in Upington - Find Hotels, Guest Houses, Bed and Breakfasts,
Self Catering, Farm Stays and Lodges in Upington. Stayinsa.co.za has a variety
of Upington Bed & Breakfast Accommodation to choose from.
Please select from any of the Upington Bed & Breakfast establishments below to view more detail. To book your Upington Bed & Breakfast accommodation, please click on the EMAIL ENQUIRY button.
Click here to search again!
Upington Accommodation - Find holiday and business accommodation in Upington


text:
Today's New York Times Corrections section discourses on an obscure bit of newspaper history. It fails to address, though, a more fundamental question: don't its editors know how many days there are in February?
An article on Thursday about the arraignment of three men in the shooting of two New York police officers, one of whom died, misstated the schedule set by a judge for a trial in the case. The trial is expected to begin by February, not by


text: If you are not interested in optics, press delete now. Peter St. John wrote > Imagine building a process at say 44 nm, then measuring > it's output at 22nm precision. I'm considering the 22nm scale > measurement as a distortion. Then compute the inverse; apply > the inverse to your design; and feed the distored, or as it > were encoded, design to the input of the process; it's > (measured, not built) effect could be to produce a correct > feature at 22nm. Well, manipulation of an image digitally is not quite the same as making modifications on the light source, because the wave nature of light and the wavelength used puts a limit on what can be done. While this is not related to Beowulf, there are many physicists among the esteemed readership, so I'll summarize what I found with Google. Future Fab. has an article (subcribers only) "We discuss how one can find an optimal photomask by rigorously solving the inverse lithography problem." An overview of articles seems to me to indicate that X-Ray lithography has some problems and is behind schedule so 22nm using UV is being stretched to its limit. Warren [of IBM] says the X-ray techniques - which are sometimes called extreme UV lithography, or EUV - are not working properly yet. At least not at prices that chip makers or their customers can bear. In general, the next generation lithography (around 32 nm) will use UV light water immersion to reduce the wavelength high numerical aperature, which increases intensity and also reduces diffraction effects With regard to 22 nm Fabtech speculated: significant increases in mask costs due in part to the need for double patterning In June of this year: Last week Toppan announced what it believes is the industrys first 32-nm photomask manufacturing process, set to begin volume production this month. [I cite this to indicate where we are in fabrication that anyone can purchase (if you have several tens of millions) as a baseline in comparison to 22-nm.] In Feb. 2007, EE Times of India writes: The current limit for 193nm immersion, with a refractive index of 1.44, is around the production of devices at 40nm, according to experts. EDN published in June The joint IBM-Toppan 22-nm photomask process will include argon fluorine (ArF) immersion lithography, which is the current mainstream technology for the manufacture of 32-nm photomask. Canon write [Immersion] When combined with an ArF excimer laser (193-nm wavelength), which provides the shortest wavelength available for lens optics today. Mark LaPedus of EE Times writes "A key to ''computation scaling'' is a partnership between IBM and Mentor, which plans to devise a new resolution enhancement technique (RET) to enable 22-nm designs and perhaps beyond. This RET technology, know as source-mask optimisation, will NOT [emphasis mine] eliminate dreaded and expensive 193-nm immersion -- with double-patterning techniques. Source-mask optimisation is said to optimise both mask layout and illumination simultaneously to maximise image contrast in a scanner. The technology is said to provide a means to minimise the use of double-patterning by employing customised sources within the scanner, along with optimised mask shapes." The above repeats the idea that immersion and double-patterning is used. Other articles also mention that the computed mask is associated with controlling the light source. At Pallab's Place we read Source Mask Optimization (SMO) This SMO will reduce the high amount of complexity of the data on the mask, and shift some of the complexity to the masking equipment and the light source. The impact will now be both mask and source simulation data processing. To summarize, with 193-nm light (in vacuum) and using water with an index of refraction of 1.44, even 40 nm resolution sound like a miracle. I realize that near-field effects might be relevant, but how flat could the wafer be to finely control the distance to the mask over a 30 cm diameter? A proposal in 2006 summarizes the state of the art, saying "By taking advantage of the unique optical properties of water at ultraviolet wavelengths, resolution nearly 1/20th of the wavelength of visible light is possible." What might those be? Just below an absorption band, a tranparent material has a large amount of scattering. What else? On page 18 of http://www.almaden.ibm.com/u/mohan/R&D_in_IBM_India_2nd_Roundtable_on_Indo-US_Perspectives_in_Science_&_Technology_Mohan_Bangalore_2-16-2008_2-2008.ppt there is a picture of a highly pixelated mask, very tiny pixels. The idea of doing "tricks" with diffraction using pixels with size on the order of a few wavelengths is normal, for example a hologram. Being able to do such tricks with pixels much smaller than the wavelength is surprising. Best regards, Alan -- Alan Scheinine 5010 Mancuso Lane, Apt. 621 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 Email: alscheinine at tuffmail.us Office phone: 225 578 0294 Mobile phone USA: 225 288 4176 [+1 225 288 4176]


text:
Caius the Shadow Monarch:
When this card is Tribute Summoned, remove from play 1 card on the field. If it was a DARK Monster Card, inflict 1000 damage to your opponent.
SP = Short Print (Common);
SSP = Super Short Print (Common);
DNPR = Duel Terminal Normal Parallel Rare;
DRPR = Duel Terminal Rare Parallel Rare;
DSPR = Duel Terminal Super Parallel Rare;
DUPR = Duel Terminal Ultra Parallel Rare;
|No comments yet for this card.


text:
Dell XPS 15z Review: Kinda Luxurious
Introduction, Design, User Interface
Dell has long tried to enter the high-end luxury laptop market. These attempts have always been met with mixed results. While Dell's thick, power and relatively affordable XPS laptops are a good pick for people needing a desktop replacement, they don't cause the thinness-obsessed media to salivate.
Enter the Dell XPS 15z. It'd be easy to think that it's a MacBook Pro clone considering its similar pricing and silver exterior, but reality is simpler then that. This is just an XPS 15 that has been slimmed down. Like the standard XPS laptops, the 15z follows a form-balanced-by-function approach that is common among all of Dell's laptops.
Slimming the chassis has forced the use of some less powerful components, but our review unit still arrived with some impressive hardware. Let's have a look.
Continue reading our review of the Dell XPS 15z notebook!!
The Core i7 processor should perform well and the Nvidia GT525M should make games reasonably enjoyable without killing battery life. The inclusion of an optional 1080p display hints at the 15z's up-market focus.
Our review unit is a high-end model. The hard drive is upgraded to 750GB from a base of 500GB and the RAM is upgraded to 8GB from a base of 6GB. The Core i7 processor is also an upgrade. Dell's website suggests our review unit would retail around $1300, but the company is known to have sales, so you may be able to pick one up for $100 or $200 cheaper if you're lucky.
That's a steep price that makes the XPS 15z far more expensive than a typical mainstream laptop. Even the base 15z is $200 more than the base XPS 15, and a lot of that price seems to go in to the XPS 15z's thinner design. Let's see if the premium is justified.
I reviewed the Dell Inspiron 14z late last year and loved it, but that laptop usually retails for between $500 and $800 bucks. Given the higher price and XPS branding of this laptop, I expected something radically different. That's what we received, but the changes are not in favor of the XPS 15z.
Unlike the smaller Inspiron 14z, which feels more expensive than it is, the XPS 15z seems a bit cheap and tinny relative to similarly priced competition. The silver metallic finish might have looked cool in 2009, but today it seems bland and out-of-date. Dell has also endowed the laptop with some design traits that are just plain weird. The speakers are covered by an odd bathroom-tile pattern and the display hinge is a long hunk of silver plastic that seems carved out of the dash of an econo-car.
Look past the aesthetics and the XPS 15z improves. Its metallic display lid is firm, the hinge allows for minimal display wobble and the lower chassis doesn't groan in protest or flex noticeably no matter how poorly you treat it - impressive, as this thin laptop is not particularly light.
Connectivity is well thought out, as well. The individual microphone and headphone jacks are located at the front right corner, while the rear left flank houses two USB 3.0 ports, a combo USB 2.0/eSATA port, HDMI and DisplayPort. Ethernet and the power can be found around back.
User Interface
Dell's strange design choices continue to the user interface. The keyboard is small for a laptop of this size and individual keys are adorned with rounded plastic caps that look a bit cheap. As far as I can tell, there's not much reason to include such a small keyboard in a large laptop unless you're doing it for design - which makes me wonder what Dell was thinking. If the hope was to achieve a premium appearance, the company has failed, and reduced functionality while they were at it.
Not everything about the keyboard is bad, however. Though individual keys are small, they are large enough to be comfortable and there is sufficient space between each key to make touch-typing easy. Key travel is decent and keys bottom out with authority. You can find better laptops to type on, but the XPS 15z isn't bad.
Telling you about the touchpad simply requires that I repeat myself. It too is much smaller and less luxurious than you'd expect it to be. Oh, sure, there's some chrome trim around the surface, but the actual touchpad has a simple matte plastic finish that's no different than that found on laptops costing hundreds less. At least the individual left/right mouse buttons are a high point. They are large and offer significant travel.
Video News
I haven't had a hands on with the the HP Envy, but they acutally have both the Dell XPS 15z and the Sony Vaio S 15.5 at Sam's Club. I like the look and the keyboard (plus number pad) on the Sony better than the dell, but the Sony screen is super flimsy. I don't remember another laptop with such screen flex.
The Dell is more solidly constructed, but the I really dislike the keyboard.
This is just an at a glance opinion, but I also like the Dell 1080 screen better than the Sony 1080 screen.
Yea, I don't know what Sony was thinking with the displays on their new laptops. They're all terribly constructed.
I've also heard that some Sony 1080p displays suffer from the same "red is orange" problem as the HP Envy.
My pick of the bunch is the HP Envy 15, as it has performance, a good user interface and solid construction.
someone might want to blur out the windows product key on the high resolution shot of the bottom of the laptop.
Looks are purely subject. Saying looks weren't outdated then but is now just means you expected a radical re-design.
I see new laptops with new techy looks but my brain isn't fooled so easily anymore.
It's the hardware inside and how smooth the egronomics of the laptop are, and the XPS laptops have a good combination of this.
The keyboard needs to be placed differently and the keys are small, but the backlit ones make up for it.
THe XPS has a smooth, refined design and DELL want to keep it that way.
I know the emphasis is on gaming performance, but there are screen comments here and I noticed some diversity of displays in the review. Perhaps you can have a review that addresses various displays- like a more current review of glossy, gamut matte and their various percentages, LED, etc, etc. Does it really make that much difference?
At any rate- thanks for doing these- as I'm in the market at about this ballpark.
Hey, I've had this laptop for a bit over a year, and the display itself is really nice, but the screen kinda annoys me. It's glossy (I didn't have any other options, they may have them now) and I use it on the plane so to conserve battery, I turn down the brightness, and all you can see then is the reflection. I could use it as a mirror! Haha =] It's a bit frustrating, I've just learned to live with it.
Is the XPS i7 a good laptop for video editing? How does it stack up against a Mac Book Pro with an i7?
Do you prefer Mac to PC for video editing or is that not the case anymore since they use the same intel processors?
I have had my Dell xps 15z for about a year and to be honest the video editing is awful compared to a mac. The dell software takes up so much ram that it is impossible to edit video because it constantly comes up with errors due to there not being enough memory. I finally gave up on making my short 2 minute video and used my mac.
This laptop has been the worst experience I've ever had with technology EVER! I mean the laptop is fine when it works fine, I actually like it, but I've had the hard drive replaced 3 times, the optical drive replaced, the mother board replaced, the screen and shell replaced, the microphone replaced and there was more that I can't remember. Not to mention, that this is the second laptop I've had of this model, BECAUSE A DELL TECHNICIAN BROKE THE FIRST ONE! None of this was caused by me, there was a faulty part in the laptop. And after all this, Dell refuses to give us an extended warranty. This laptop may work perfectly fine for you, but it and their service has caused me to HATE Dell and I will slander their name everywhere I can. I am so sick of this, I am just getting a Mac.
I own Dell xps15z,I am not able to install designing software like assays,pore ,catia and even I was not able to install sum game also can any one help me
How much does it cost around...? nd how long can it hold the battery time..nd how about gaming ? :) pls reply..thank YOu :)


text:
It's a colour I haven't seen before, so I'm assuming it's new, either that or I have been living under a shell. It's number 136 Tangerine and it's exactly the colour of a juicy tangerine with a slight golden metallic finish.
It's basically the nail polish form of the Nars multiple tint in Turks and Caicos, I had to have it.
Like most Barry M nail paints, this one was easy to apply with no streaks. 2 coats are enough but I applied 3 as I wanted really bright and vivid 'in your face' nails.
outrageous colours. However, Tips are welcomed!
Perfect for short nails and for summer although the UK seems to confuse it's seasons almost everyday... *Sigh*


text:
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
I'm intressed...
I'm intressed in the old glow nukes you always tell me about.
how much founders will it take to help you remember?
It says beer snob under his avatar. I speak semi-fluent beer snob. I think it means he's interested.