text:
Bay Area Hospital strives to improve the health of our community every day.
Bay Area Hospital is a tobacco-free campus.
We provide some of the most advanced and compassionate care in the region.
Whether you are receiving care or visiting a loved one, our goal is to make your stay with us a positive one.
Bay Area Hospital offers a wide variety of support groups and programs to improve the health of our community.
We are continually looking for opportunities to improve our organization and keep our community informed.
Anaphylaxis — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, risk factors and treatment of this dangerous allergic reaction.
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to something you''re allergic to, such as a peanut or the venom from a bee sting.
The flood of chemicals released by your immune system during anaphylaxis can cause you to go into shock; your blood pressure drops suddenly and your airways narrow, blocking normal breathing. Signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis include a rapid, weak pulse, a skin rash, and nausea and vomiting. Common triggers of anaphylaxis include certain foods, some medications, insect venom and latex.
Anaphylaxis requires an immediate trip to the emergency department and an injection of epinephrine. If anaphylaxis isn''t treated right away, it can lead to unconsciousness or even death.
Anaphylaxis symptoms usually occur within minutes of exposure to an allergen. Sometimes, however, anaphylaxis can occur a half-hour or longer after exposure. Anaphylaxis symptoms include:
Seek emergency medical help if you, your child or someone else you''re with has a severe allergic reaction.
If the person having the attack carries an epinephrine autoinjector (such as an EpiPen or EpiPen Jr), give him or her a shot right away. Even if symptoms improve after an emergency epinephrine injection, a visit to the emergency department is still necessary to make sure symptoms don''t return.
Make an appointment to see your doctor if you or your child has had a severe allergy attack or any signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis in the past.
The diagnosis and long-term management of anaphylaxis are complicated, so you''ll probably need to see a doctor who specializes in allergies and immunology.
Your immune system produces antibodies that defend against foreign substances. This is good when a foreign substance is harmful (such as certain bacteria or viruses). But some people''s immune systems overreact to substances that shouldn''t cause an allergic reaction. When this occurs, the immune system sets off a chemical chain reaction, leading to allergy symptoms. Normally, allergy symptoms aren''t life-threatening. But some people have a severe allergic reaction that can lead to anaphylaxis. Even if you or your child has had only a mild anaphylactic reaction in the past, there''s still a risk of more severe anaphylaxis.
A number of allergens can trigger anaphylaxis, depending on what you''re allergic to.
Common anaphylaxis triggers include:
Less common causes of anaphylaxis include:
Anaphylaxis symptoms are sometimes caused by aspirin and other drugs — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Midol Extended Relief) — and the intravenous (IV) contrast used in some X-ray imaging tests. Although similar to allergy-induced anaphylaxis, this type of reaction isn''t triggered by allergy antibodies.
Anaphylaxis triggered by exercise is not common and varies from person to person. In some people, aerobic activity, such as jogging, triggers anaphylaxis. In others, less intense physical activity, such as walking, can trigger a reaction. Eating certain foods before exercise or exercising when the weather is hot, cold or humid also has been linked to anaphylaxis in some people. Talk with your doctor about any precautions you should take when exercising.
If you don''t know what triggers your allergy attack, your doctor may do tests to try to identify the offending allergen. In some cases, the cause of anaphylaxis is never identified. This is known as idiopathic anaphylaxis.
There aren''t many known risk factors for anaphylaxis, but some things that may increase your risk include:
An anaphylactic reaction can be life-threatening when a severe attack occurs; it can stop breathing or stop your heartbeat. In this case, you''ll need cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other emergency treatment right away.
Your doctor will ask you questions about your allergies or any previous allergic reactions you''ve had. This evaluation will include questions about:
To help confirm the diagnosis:
Your doctor will want to rule out other conditions as a possible cause of your symptoms, including:
During an anaphylactic attack, an emergency medical team may perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if you stop breathing or your heart stops beating. You may be given medications including:
If you''re with someone who is having an allergic reaction and shows signs of shock caused by anaphylaxis, act fast. Signs and symptoms of shock caused by anaphylaxis include pale, cool and clammy skin, weak and rapid pulse, trouble breathing, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Even if you''re not sure symptoms are caused by anaphylaxis, take the following steps immediately:
Many people at risk of anaphylaxis carry an autoinjector. This device is a combined syringe and concealed needle that injects a single dose of medication when pressed against your thigh. Always be sure to replace epinephrine before its expiration date, or it may not work properly.
Be sure you know how to use the autoinjector. Also, make sure the people closest to you know how to administer the drug — if they''re with you during an anaphylactic emergency, one of them could save your life. Medical personnel called in to respond to a severe anaphylactic reaction also may give you an epinephrine injection or another medication to treat your symptoms.
If your anaphylactic reaction is triggered by insect stings, you may be able to get a series of allergy shots (immunotherapy) to reduce your body''s allergic response and prevent a severe reaction in the future.
Unfortunately, in most other cases there''s no way to treat the underlying immune system condition that can lead to anaphylaxis. But you can take steps to prevent a future attack — and be prepared in the event one does occur.
Having a potentially life-threatening reaction is frightening, whether it happens to you, others close to you or your child. Developing an anaphylaxis emergency action plan may help put your mind at ease. Work with your own or your child''s doctor to develop this written step-by-step plan of what to do in the event of a reaction. That way, you''ll know exactly what you need to do if anaphylaxis occurs, and you''ll have a written plan that you can share with teachers, baby sitters and other caregivers so that they''ll know what they need to do, too.
If your child has experienced anaphylaxis, talk to his or her school nurse and teachers to find out what plans they have in place for dealing with an emergency. Make sure school officials have a current autoinjector in case your child needs treatment.
The best way to prevent anaphylaxis is to avoid substances that you know cause this severe reaction. Follow these steps:


text:
Royal commission powers have been given to a retired judge investigating a child-sex abuse case at an Adelaide primary school that was kept secret from parents for almost two years.
Retired Supreme Court judge Bruce Debelle, who began the inquiry in November, last week asked South Australian Attorney-General John Rau for the extra powers so he could compel people to give evidence.
Speaking after cabinet met on Monday, Mr Rau and Education Minister Grace Portolesi told reporters that Mr Debelle requested the powers in order to complete his investigation effectively.
As well as now being able to compel people to give evidence, Mr Debelle will be able to give a witness the same protection and immunity as a witness has in proceedings before the Supreme Court.
Ms Portolesi said she had not been asked to give evidence.
Mr Rau said he did not believe Premier Jay Weatherill had been asked, but "whether he is to be part of the inquiry would be up to Mr Debelle".
Mr Weatherill was education minister when a worker at the primary school was arrested in 2010.
Mr Weatherill has said while his chief of staff at the time was informed of the case by email, he was never told about it.
The case involved out-of-school-hours care director Mark Christopher Harvey, who was jailed earlier this year for having unlawful sexual intercourse with a young girl.
Mr Rau said the terms of reference for the investigation will not change, neither will the timing or the scope.
In his letter to Mr Rau, Mr Debelle said public servants - police officers and officers from the Department for Education and Child Development - had co-operated with the inquiry.
But he now had to interview persons "from at least three groups in the community" who, unlike public servants, cannot be directed to give evidence.
"I have real concerns that some of them will refuse to co-operate," he wrote.
"In fact, there is one person from whom I have requested information who has refused to provide information."
Mr Debelle said he also wanted to interview parents with an interest in the assault, noting some of them had already asked whether he could ensure their evidence remained confidential.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
AS86278 (Toast) is a Toastmasters club that meets every 1st/3rd/5th Wednesday at lunchtime in the Sydney CBD. Our mission is to help people develop strong communication and leadership skills.
We are a dynamic, fun group of professionals from Standards Australia, Arab Bank and other companies in the nearby area. We are conveniently located at the ASX building on Bridge Street, in the heart of the financial district and just a short walk from Wynyard station.
If you're looking to improve your public speaking skills, come along to one of our meetings and see if it's for you. We run through a rapid-fire one hour agenda every meeting including:
- Prepared speeches by our members
- 'Table Topics' - an opportunity to practise impromptu speaking skills by getting up and talking about a mystery topic without any prior preparation.
- 'Evaluations' - positive feedback with recommendations to help you improve your skills.


text:
Job Seekers
Community Developments Investments (August 2013)
The OCC has organized useful resources for banks interested in exploring business opportunities in Indian Country. All of the resources are in the "Native American Banking Resource Directory" listed below, but we chose to highlight a couple of documents that are particularly interesting and two federal offices that work closely with small and rural businesses.
'Native American Banking Resource Directory'
This OCC guide provides descriptions of and links to a sampling of organizations and programs that provide resources to banks interested in lending, investing, or providing retail financial services in Indian Country.
Guide to Tribal Ownership of a National Bank
A companion to the OCC's licensing manuals, this guide is designed to help federally recognized Native American tribes explore entry into the national banking system by establishing or acquiring control of a national bank.
HUD Section 184 Program Fact Sheet
This publication from OCC Community Affairs describes the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program, a home mortgage federal loan guarantee for enrolled members of federally recognized tribes and tribally designated housing entities.
U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Native American Affairs
This office supports Native American entrepreneurs by making them aware of SBA resources, engaging them via numerous outreach activities, participating in tribal consultations, providing online and in-person training, and developing and distributing educational and promotional materials.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program
This program supports economic development in Indian Country through a variety of support channels, such as financial support for public facilities, loans to businesses, and technical assistance for farmers and rural communities.


text:
A Case That Has It All: Kim Kardashian, Twitter, Libel, Cookie Diets... And The New FTC Sponsorship Rules
from the i-want-a-cookie dept
So, basically, the story is that this "cookie diet" supposedly has some fans in Hollywood, and a variety of media have covered the story. Some of those media reports claimed that Kardashian (among many others) were fans of the diet. The Cookie Diet people -- like you would expect -- have a page on their website that links to news coverage, including a story (which they had nothing to do with) that said Kardashian used the diet. At some point, they also sent Kardashian's publicist a box of the cookies.
At some point towards the end of last year, Kardashian saw the link on the website and got upset, posting two Twitter messages saying the following:
- "Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet is falsely promoting that I'm on this diet. NOT TRUE! I would never do this unhealthy diet! I do QuickTrim!"
- If this Dr. Siegal is lying about me being on this diet, what else are they lying about? Not cool!"
OK. So far we've already got some confusion about whether a link to a news article is actionable, combined with a Twitter libel claim. But then the story gets even more bizarre. You see, there's been a lot of talk lately about Kardashian being the most high profile client of some company that gets people to post sponsored Twitter messages. In fact, reports claim that some companies are paying her $10,000 per sponsored message. This may or may not be true, but if it is true, then the companies paying that money are likely getting seriously ripped off because they don't understand how Twitter works and how follower counts are grossly inflated.
So, what does this have to do with the cookies? Well, the cookie people are noting in the legal filing that Kardashian is paid to promote QuickTrim, but that she failed to note this. How does that become important? Well... you may recall last year's kerfuffle over the new FTC "guidelines" about paid endorsements online. While the cookie people don't specifically bring this up, it's certainly implied that Kardashian's paid sponsorship had something to do with her messages against the cookie people.
It's hard to see either side as being worth defending here, but sit back, grab a cookie and enjoy watching the legal arguments fly.


text:
I'm pretty much ready to buy my family hazmat suits and have them start wearing them full-time for the next couple of months. First there's the flu that has me shooting visual daggers at every kid who coughs in our vicinity, and now there's a new "vomiting virus" infiltrating the country that can keep you and yours home and miserable for days on end too.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today released a report that details this new strain of norovirus that is taking over in the United States and spreading through the world. More than 140 outbreaks in the U.S. since September have been caused by it, and more may be on the way.
According to USA Today, we have our friends in Australia to thank for this one as that's where's it originated. It's been dubbed the GII4 Sydney virus. With it comes things like "nausea, projectile vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain."
Since it's a new strain of the virus, it can potentially have a wider reach since people haven't been exposed to it before. And bonus -- it's extremely contagious.
There is some good news, however. While it's not a fun one to endure, it's not highly dangerous in most cases. The majority of people will fight it off without any kind of medical intervention after a couple of days. Of course, the elderly and others with compromised immune systems are always at the highest risk.
More from The Stir: 5 Surprising Ways to Prevent This Year's Nasty Flu
So it could be worse, but still, I'm so sick of all of the sick. And it's only January. The season for this stuff runs through March!
Actually my family has been pretty fortunate thus far, and besides a bad sinus infection I had last week, we've managed to escape anything else ... so far. But I live in fear and with lots of hand sanitizer just waiting for something to strike, as I know it has for many across the country. How many days until summer?
What kind of sickness has your family been hit with? Are you living in fear of sickness?
Image via bratha/Flickr


text:
The Grizzlies' Nick Calathes Experiment, if you want to give it a name, continues. Brought in after playing four years in Europe to be Mike Conley's backup at point guard, he has been playing more minutes in the wake of Conley's bruised thigh.
Even before then, the Grizzlies were looking to give him opportunities to play and grow. He's had good moments here and there and scored a career-high 10 points in the loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 17. Eight days earlier, he made a career-best eight assists in a victory over the Orlando Magic.
But there have been many uneven stretches, more periods of bad play than good. Calathes is 6-6, so he has some length. But he's struggled to stay in front of people or to consistently stick with his man through the entirety of possessions.
Offensively, he dribbles too much and sometimes seems to miss the easy play while in search of a more difficult play. But he's had some highlight passes, too, and against the Lakers made a couple of nice cuts to the lane where forward Zach Randolph fed him for easy layups.
"I was more aggressive," Calathes said after making 4 of 6 shots from the floor in 20 minutes against the Lakers with two rebounds, one assist, two steals, and two turnovers. "That's what I need to be."
Wednesday, Dec. 18, in another loss at Dallas, he went scoreless and 0-for-4 from the floor with four assists and two turnovers in almost 18 minutes.
Love the 3-point shot? Hate it? Whichever side you're on, you'll want to check out "Life Beyond the Arc" at www.grantland.com. And yes, the Grizzlies get a mention. A brief one. The subject is 3-point shooting, after all.
"Chicago and Memphis are among the league's most 3-phobic teams for the second straight year, mostly because they lack multiple shooters."
The Lakers had a Memphis flavor when they played at FedExForum with former Tigers player Shawne Williams and ex-Grizzlies Pau Gasol and Xavier Henry.
The Lakers are Williams' fifth team in six NBA seasons, as he has had struggles on the court and off. Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni coached Williams in New York and welcomed the addition of the 6-9, 230-pound forward. This season, Williams has been averaging about five points and four rebounds in 18-19 minutes per game.
"I like Shawne," D'Antoni said. "He battles. He gives you everything he's got. Now he has to get better like the rest of us. He came through the summer out of shape and overweight, but he's gotten himself in great shape. So I'm proud of him. He's a good a guy, a stand-up guy in the locker room. If he plays bad, it's his fault and he takes the responsibility."
The Grizzlies drafted Henry, a 6-6 guard-forward, with the 12th overall pick in the 2010 draft. He played just 38 games for Memphis and was traded to New Orleans in January of 2012 as part of a three-team deal that brought power forward Mareese Speights to the Grizzlies; Speights has since moved on, too.
With the Lakers battling so many injuries, Henry has had to play some point guard and coming into the game at Memphis was averaging 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assist. Asked about Henry's recent elevation in point production, D'Antoni said: "He's got the ball all the time and he puts his head down and goes. We still have got to get him a little more consistent on passing the ball and not trying to hit a home run every time.
"But I think he's playing well. Being point guard will help him develop game even more. Just making the right play and not go up against a brick wall and get laid on his back and the ball going over the top of the backboard."
Slowpokes. At www.nba.com you can find many advanced stats, including pace of play. The league is averaging 96.5 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes. Philadelphia leads at 100.92 possessions per 48 minutes. It hasn't helped the Sixers win much. Minnesota is second, at 100.34 and hovering around .500. Oklahoma City, an NBA title contender, is third at 99.37.
The Grizzlies? Last, at 92.20, just behind the woeful New York Knicks at 92.48. But the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers, who are also title contenders, are in the bottom half of the rankings at 95.72 and 95.05, respectively.


text:
Ash Gray tees and sweats with our latest design of snow service on Donner. Flangers were the first line of defense to keep the Hill open and this SD9 was doing exactly that back in the late 1960s.
This design is on closeout at 50% off. Enjoy the savings! Limited sizes remain.
Available Options:
Size Options:01 Junior T-Shirt S (6-8) (+$6.50)02 Junior T-Shirt M (10-12) (+$6.50)03 Junior T-Shirt L (14-16) (+$6.50)04 Adult T-Shirt Medium (+$7.50)05 Adult T-Shirt Large (+$7.50)06 Adult T-Shirt X-Large (+$7.50)07 Adult T-Shirt XXL (+$8.50)08 Adult T-Shirt 3XL (+$9.50)10 Adult Sweatshirt Large (+$13.00)11 Adult Sweatshirt XL (+$13.00)12 Adult Sweatshirt XXL (+$14.00)15 Junior Sweatshirt M (10-12) (+$8.50)16 Junior Sweatshirt L (14-16) (+$8.50)17 Adult Sweatshirt 3XL (+$15.00)


text:
Polarized Light Digital Image Gallery
Methylene Blue
A chemically basic dye, methylene blue is also known as tetramethyl thionin, and there are various grades used, including methylene blue chloride, which is preferred for biological work. The dye is easily oxidized and often contains azure B and methylene violet, depending on the manufacturer.
View a second image of methylene blue.
With 16 carbons, 18 hydrogens, 3 nitrogens, 1 sulfur, and 1 chlorine atom in each molecule, the molecular weight of methylene blue is 319.86 and its absorption maxima, if pure, reside at 668 and 609 nanometers. Actual staining material labeled as methylene blue is either aged or akalinized, and the pure substance appears to be a rather poor histological stain. As a green powder, the melting point is 190 degrees Celsius. To an organic chemist, methylene blue is better known as 3,7-bis-(dimethylamino)-phenothiazin-5-ium chloride and to some histologists as Swiss blue.
Widely utilized as a nuclear stain (both DNA and RNA) and as a stain in bacteriology, methylene blue is usually prepared as the double zinc chloride formulation, which is less soluble and easier to isolate. However, this form of the dye is toxic, so medicinal preparations and compounds used with live biological specimens should be zinc-free. The salt, methylene blue thiocyanate, is used as a redox indicator in the sanitary monitoring of milk.
Sometimes marketed under the trade names urolene blue and aniline violet, chemists also refer to the dye compound as methylthionine chloride or tetramethylthionine chloride. In health care, pharmaceutical-grade methylene blue is prescribed to treat methemoglobinemia, a condition also referred to as "blue baby syndrome" where the blood cannot deliver oxygen where it is required in the body. Methemoglobinemia is a symptom sometimes exhibited by babies born in areas with very high levels of nitrate pollution in the drinking water supply, particularly in rural areas that are dependent on well water and where chemical fertilizers are widely applied. Similarly, methylene blue is indicated as a remedy for cyanide poisoning. Methylene blue is sometimes used in surgey as a dye for parts of the body the medical team wishes to identify.
As a redox indicator, methylene blue solution is colorless until it is oxidized and turns blue. Glucose, a reducing agent, when added in alkaline solution, reduces methylene blue to its colorless form once again. Veterinarians utilize methylene blue also as an antiseptic. New research reveals that methylene blue can be activated by light to an excited state, which can then activate oxygen, creating oxidizing radicals. These radicals can initiate cross-linking of amino acid residues on proteins, so that methylene blue may be useful for the photochemical welding of tissues.
Contributing Authors
Omar Alvarado, Thomas J. Fellers and Michael W. Davidson - National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, 1800 East Paul Dirac Dr., The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32310.
Questions or comments? Send us an email.
© 1995-2019 by Michael W. Davidson and The Florida State University. All Rights Reserved. No images, graphics, software, scripts, or applets may be reproduced or used in any manner without permission from the copyright holders. Use of this website means you agree to all of the Legal Terms and Conditions set forth by the owners.
This website is maintained by our


text:
Press Releases
Safe Sitter Class to be Held January 2
Rochelle Community Hospital will host a SafeSitter Class on Thursday, January 2, 2014 from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in the Training Room. Young children are not always able to communicate their needs and protect themselves. That's why babysitters must be able to handle whatever situation arises and react appropriately.
These classes teach boys and girls, ages 11-16, how to handle emergencies when caring for younger children. Safe Sitters will learn: what to do if a child stops breathing, how to call for emergency assistance, how to perform basic child care skills (diapering, feeding, etc.), how to entertain children and keep them safe and how to manage the "business of babysitting".
A fee of $35 covers the program and includes materials. Students need to bring a sack lunch.
Students MUST pre-register for this class by calling Emily Anaya, RCH Foundation/Community Events Coordinator at 815-561-3110.
Janet Stewart
Marketing/Public Relations Coordinator


text:
A melancholic, elegant solo piano piece with a sentimental cinematic feel. Perfect for melodic, classy background music or jazzy cocktail lounge music.
There Is Always Hope – 4:05
There Is Always Hope (edit) – 0:22
Please don't forget to rate!
This track is in a MONEY-SAVING Music Pack: http://audiojungle.net/item/elegant-piano-music-pack/7055545
EXPLORE SIMILAR TRACKS – click link: http://audiojungle.net/collections/4499932-love-romance
YouTube users: to clear any copyright claims on your videos (including monetized videos), simply visit: http://adrev.net/contact-us , enter your details and video link and copy/paste the contents from your purchased License Certificate into the message box. Claims are removed within 24 – 96 hours.


text:
For best results use simple one or two word search terms
For best results use simple one or two word search terms
We are always pleased to be of assistance to our valued customers and we welcome any of your comments and suggestions regarding our web site, products and services.
Please use the enquiry form below to contact us. If you would prefer to write to us our postal address is:
Jewellery of the WorldTel: 01964 440360
8 Eastbourne Road
East Yorkshire
United Kingdom
Buy ethnic jewellery, surfing jewellery and tribal jewellery online from all over the world.
This site and all contents are © 2019 Jewellery of the Planet
Email: Click Here


text:
CMU track & field in disarray? Five athletes leave, assistant coach fired, others say program in 'downward spiral'
Five members of the Central Michigan men's track and field team have left, an assistant coach has been fired, and now some current athletes are unhappy with program director Willie Randolph, according to a week-long investigation by Central Michigan Life.
Following the indoor Mid-American Conference championships last month, senior Greg Knaus and juniors Ross Parsons, Cory Noeker and Ryan Brooks quit the team within two weeks of each other. Redshirt freshman Derek Thornton left two weeks prior.
Knaus, a former captain, said Randolph has shown a lack of respect for his athletes, implemented poor training with a lack of results and believes more athletes will soon follow suit in leaving.
"Things are going so poorly at the top that I believe we won't be the only ones to leave the team," Knaus said. "I think more people will leave at the end of the season."
Parsons, another former captain, said he signed his letter of intent on Sunday to transfer to Michigan State to continue his track and field career. Brooks has been offered a preferred walk-on spot at MSU and says he has committed to run track there.
"While I have enjoyed competing for Central (Michigan) and cherish the great friendships I have developed, for personal reasons, it is time to take my passion for the sport elsewhere," Parsons said Tuesday.
Parsons will be eligible in the fall and will have two years of outdoor eligibility and one year of indoor eligibility remaining.
All five former CMU athletes were members of the sprints and hurdles group — one of the largest on the track and field team, with 32 total members — before their leave.
"In the sprints and hurdles group, things have been going downhill for a while now, but we've stuck together as a group," Knaus said. "This year, it's cultivated into something really bad. We tried sorting out problems with Willie Randolph, but things have spiraled out of control."
A current member of the track and field team, who asked to remain anonymous, said both the team's results and individual results have been embarrassing. The men's team finished last at the indoor MAC championships in February, while the women's team finished ninth.
"I know I ran faster times in high school, and I'm at every practice doing the work," she said. "It's not just me; freshman year we ran our fastest times out of high school, and we're getting worse. I don't trust any of the workouts we're doing anymore."
Knaus said there are concerns about injuries as a result of what he says is poor training.
"Since the beginning of the year, there have been seven or eight hamstring injuries," he said. "I, myself, have been hurt all year and had to redshirt indoors this year because my Achilles (tendon) got hurt."
Knaus said he reached out to different doctors and coaches about his injury, and many told him his training on hard and soft surfaces without transition periods might be a factor.
Brooks has suffered hamstring pulls in both legs and injuries to his knees, which kept him from competing throughout his sophomore year.
"I saw a doctor outside of CMU athletics, and he told me I pulled a hammy and it would take a while, but when I talked to coach, he said it would take two weeks," he said. "Once we transitioned to outdoor, I re-pulled my hamstring in the first meet and took it easy throughout the year."
The departing athletes said at least eight other track and field athletes, men and women, suffered hamstring or leg-related injuries.
Randolph, when contacted Wednesday, said, laughingly: "We're really just focused on moving forward," and joked about the poor weather the teams have recently had to deal with recently.
Two other former members of the team, who asked to remain anonymous, said a sign was posted in the Indoor Athletic Complex with photos of the four former athletes.
"Attention Desk Staff: Effective on Wednesday, March 20, at 1 p.m., the individuals below are no longer CMU athletes and are not allowed in the facility," the sign allegedly read.
Randolph said he had no knowledge of the posting and said he could not comment.
Divvying of power
Randolph's staff consists of three assistant coaches, an associate head coach and a volunteer coach.
Despite having multiple staff members for the men's and women's track and field teams, Knaus said Randolph doesn't allow those coaches to work closely with athletes.
"We have sprints and hurdles coaches on staff, and they're literally there for moral support; they're not allowed to coach us at all," Knaus said. "That's a mess … and that's been a huge issue for four years that we've tried to work through."
Brooks said he would try to talk to assistant coach Glen Smith during his freshman year and Randolph would get defensive and approach him about it.
"We would go to ask advice from coaches he had hired – we're asking these coaches for tips because they were, at one point, terrific athletes," Brooks said. "When I did that, coach Willie told me, 'You don't need to worry about that; you need to worry about what I tell you.'"
Assistant coach Aaron Seminski was fired from the program at the end of February.
Randolph confirmed Seminski's dismissal but wouldn't comment on the reason he was fired, though multiple current and former members of the team said they did not agree with the decision.
"A lot of times, Coach doesn't like us talking to other coaches; he was very controlling, and when coach Aaron was around, I would be talking to him after a race and coach Randolph would come up and make a point to keep Aaron away from the athletes," said a female member of the team who asked to remain anonymous.
Seminski was fired after Brooks made his decision to leave, while Parsons, Knaus and Noeker came after.
"Our group respected him and loved him a lot, and to see him let go for basically no reason was hard on some people and not something we were happy about," Knaus said. "He didn't have anything to do with us quitting or transferring; things have just been a downward spiral since the beginning of the year."
Knaus said he asked Randolph about Seminski's dismissal, but he wouldn't talk about it.
Volunteer coach Johnie Drake has stepped in to assist the coaching staff since Seminski's firing.
The female member of the team said more athletes will leave from the men's side, but no one from the women's team is brave enough to quit.
"I know our passion for track is pretty much gone, and we don't care enough to transfer to another school," she said. "We're fine with getting our scholarships and just pushing through."
First to leave
Derek Thornton was the first player this semester to depart the program in early February.
After missing a morning practice due to illness, Thornton received a text message from Randolph telling him he had to run a certain time to remain on the team.
"He told me I had to run between a 49.5 and a 51-second 400 meter in order to stay on the team," he said. "I was a short sprinter who moved to a 400, and he asked me to run a time his 400-meter runners were barely running. I found that unfair."
A 60-meter and 200-meter runner, Thornton, a redshirt freshman, was moved to different events after he didn't place highly in the first meet he competed in unattached.
Thornton said a few seniors talked him into staying. The next day, he talked to Randolph, who told him he would know if he could stay on the team the following Monday.
"I got no answer on Monday, so I came Tuesday and asked for my release," he said. "I was sent to Benjy Wilbur, and he sent me to Randolph's boss and me and him talked, but nothing got resolved."
Current and former student-athletes said they had meetings with Associate Athletics Director for Business Operations Brad Wachler but haven't seen any changes.
"We haven't gotten a direct meeting with the athletic director (Dave Heeke), but we've talked to Brad," said a second athlete still on the team who asked to remain anonymous. "A few athletes have set up meetings and voiced our concerns that he's not the right man for the job."
Wachler said Thursday night he has had conversations with the departing athletes but declined to comment on the nature of the conversation. He said athletics administration fully backs Randolph.
"First and foremost, we 100-percent support our coaching staff," he said. "We're moving forward as a program, and we support (Randolph's) direction. We all need to improve in some areas, and we will continue to assess the program as we do every program moving forward. But we fully support the program."
When asked Wednesday if he was the right man for the job, Randolph responded, laughingly: "We're just moving forward. We have a young team, graduated a large number, and we're just focused on moving forward. That's where the team and the program are at."
Randolph, a 1998 CMU graduate and letter-winning hurdler, took the job as director of the men's and women's track and field and cross country teams in 2009.


text:
Design small magazine layout jobs
I am launching a 78 page magazine and need a graphic designer for that purpose. I also need a website to be created from scratch so that the magazine is both print and digitally available. We need to launch the magazine at the end of this [login to view URL] would have to work diligently with creativity to ensure that the magazine is ready to publish.
We are looking fresh Female models for our upcoming modelling projects for International magazines and websites, No age restrictions, Females can work as part time and can earn good money
For our Summer 2018 property magazine, we require an AI. file showing the "Evolution of the Brisbane City Skyline" showing the tallest building in the city over time. Full brief with details attached.
I need you to write an article about why teachers should get paid more.
Kids magazine cover for a kid's story
Writing an article for a magazine
Searcing for people to write content for an online magazine
Hi, We are trying to put our new annual magazine and need some design help for it. Thanks, Jack
I need a three figures to be used in a short article in a trade magazine to be created and formatted nicely. See attached document.
The planned project in sight is a local sports magazine which will be distributed at no cost to the reader, and revenue is brought in by advertising local sports establishments and promotions. It's tailored to the soccer environment. I pretty much have the whole magazine written & sketched on paper, so what I'm looking for is a way to take all my material
Looking for a graphic artist with creativity to create an ad to run in a monthly magazine.
we are inviting Proposal to prepare a write-up for my school alumni page. Some points to note : - School is 120 Year School - we are celebration this - contents of the page should be inclusive of but not limited to : - My early years in school, - Remembering my early teachers and some of their words - a brief hint at a romantic crush - passed out in 1991 : | should show how ...
We are a Facility Management Company, hoping to advertise in a magazine. We have the design concepts, pictures and content for the ads in place. Looking for an individual proficient in Photoshop with an expertise in designing impact-full magazine covers and print ads. The project will consist of 6 ads: Concept + Image + Content will be provided
Need previous flyer slightly modified with some text, image replacement and logo resizing. Need all final files as pdf and designer file. Links and fonts embedded in files if possible, so there are less attachments and files to save. CMYK 300 dpi of the following 5 variations/sizes: - 8.5x11 (US letter) with and without .125 bleed - A4 size with and without .125 bleed - 8.375"(w) x 10.87...
Hello, I am looking for ready made magazine app source code. Ideally like this one: [login to view URL] Target devices IOS and Android. I see that in this app developer used some free components (see print screen in the attachment) Please let me know your bid and time frame. NOTE: If you
I'm not sure what resolution images I should be uploading so I'm uploading the smaller ones. I need an ad to be designed for inclusion in a St. Pat's Parade publication. We want to sell these highly collectible parade posters. I know I do not need all of these words in the ad. The goal is to SELL POSTERS! Each are 16" x 20" official prints for the Wearin' of the Gr...
Looking for someone to format our brochure/catalogue. We are an online store and would ideally like to find someone we can work with on an ongoing basis. Initial project is for an 8 page booklet that will be distributed online and in print. Both InDesign and print ready files to be provided.
We are looking for someone to edit contributed articles and write profiles and feature articles for a well established trade magazine. Our offices are based in Crowborough East Sussex and although the role can be handled remotely it would be necessary to be in the office on a regular basis. There also some UK and occasional overseas travel to trade
We are a business to business publisher and are looking for a freelancer to develop a business strategy for selling advertising on our maritime and logistics publication. The position is initially a freelance/commission only project, however, depending on the results, we will offer a solid position to the winning candidate, which will include a base pay as well as a very attractive bonus structure...
A digital magazine with city guide and event calendar. Also in some places of city guide will be available a booking an appointment
I need to write a pitch about my business to send to a few magazines.
Essentially create a fake magazine cover with heads posted onto a picture of movie characters. Detailed concept already created
Need to design 10 pdf pages of magazine in a 20 page magazine (rest are repetitions of same page) Content and images are provided, only need design in high resolution pdf format
I'm developing a project for a blog-magazine in which include in the future an ecommerce. The main topic are: lifestyle, fashion, food, health and music. The target is represent by a man 18-40 years old. My focus is to sell trough contents quality products and services related to the categories, products will be made in Italy. The company will be located
I'm a journalist. I'm setting up a new "solutions journalism" website that will also build up an online subscriber/member community affiliated with the website. I need something that allows me to publish written articles, photo galleries, podcasts, occasional videos. There will be an 'events' page. Readers must be able to leave comments. Subscribers must be able to jo...
Sell advertising into our publication I-MAGAZINE, please see the attached Media Pack for information. Commission.
Need a double-sided feather flag designed. Both sides of flag to look like my logo. Other ideas are welcome as well. I will upload the logo and the template. Will need the following. 1. All working files in a .psd format 2. Must incorporate our Logo and exact color scheme
I want to launch an Arabic online magazine and I need someone to help me as an expert in IT and so on
I need proofreading for a company internal sales update email magazine. Word count is 489 words and I need to have it done within 24 hours after the project start. Due to low budget, the price is 10 USD and cannot be changed. Please bid only if you are available to do this on this budget.
Hello, I'm looking for a ghostwriter/ journal, I have 3 articles to start with for our yearly edition magazine for our school. • Editor Message: 300 words * CEO Message: 800 words Program Articles: 1000 words
I need some graphic design.. I have already designed all pages. but I need it as a magazine، I can flip the pages with sample design to be attractive. U will use the same data I have (just copy paste) .
Please read attachments. Persuasive project. 3- 4 pages. Feel free to ask any questions
I'm a editor that is currently working on my new sports magazine collection. Looking to work with a group of writers that can perform excellent articles within the sports industry.
We have a magazine and we want to develop it with different design it's Arabic and English each one of them has 90 pages you will find in the attachment pdf for the contant time : 35 days budget :150 for each one send me your work in the magazine please I will not accept any one without submit his work before you do the project i will ask
Have 4 pages of design needed for a magazine. Will need to be themed appropriately Will need category tabs, contact us, page number etc. Have tables that need to be made, illustrations as per attached, and an icon made for each option. There are 5 options. Should not take more than 1 hour in illustrator. Files attached.
i want my magazine with pictures and graphs with 1600 words and make sure that it should not be plagiarised.
Our growing ...graphic designer to help design print advertisements for magazines. Must possess minimum 5 years of relevant work experience and show portfolio of professionally designed ads you have designed in the past. Quick turn around time, clear communication and professionalism a must. Samples are below of the type ads we run in our magazine.
Hello, I need to hire freelance (with physics background only!), to pick for me "hot" topic in optic in physics, and write for me article for professional physics magazine (with impact factor above 4) that i can publish.
we provide pictures - we provide examples of previous ads - we provide copy and state more or less the layout ... attention to detail for professional representation ofour business is critical - if satisfied, this is a monthly job - what is the charge? Regards, Natalia
I need a pr article that needs to be published on huffpost and entrepreneur and Forbes.
I need you to write some articles based on performing research on topics on the lgbti community. Preferably like 2 writers to do ongoing works. My preference is to have one from the lgbti community. These positions ideally would be of people who reside in Australia, but it's not a 100% requirement
This is a magazine for seniors citizens. This is for good reading and good resource including a directory that is in it. Here is a link to the last edition we did and we were very pleased with the outcome. This edition will be slightly larger and we would like the directory in the back to not over flow on the cover. We have advertisements throughout
Create a personal e-magazine template with ability to add photo, text, page numbers, title, different sizes box for text, and ability to add pages. Should be able to save it in pdf, and other photo viewing files, should be able to zoom in onto the page if posted online on website. Just like online booklets of different stores for shopping.
...writers, Are you tired of getting your work published as ghost writer, do you want to join a startup magazine which offers lucrative future. We are looking to hire 4 Associate founder and Editor for our company magazine Execuitves Diary Inc. We will be paying initially $50 per Editing of 500 to 800 words, there are total 10 Article
Looking for writers in multiple fields of luxury and lifestyle writer for a print magazine
I need to work with a professional designer who can help me create the layout of the magazine in less than three days and get 500 copies professionally printed.
Page format: 210 X 287 millimetri (mm) Software: Adobe InDesign
I need someone that can insert copy, photos and graphics which will be provide...graphics which will be provided into a pre-made indesign template. The project is made in the style of a lifestyle/gaming magazine so it has a modern look but some layout can be graphic intensive. Only 60 pages need the layout done as the rest is for advertising + cover.
Books, Magazines, Catalogs, Cards...


text:
Both are useful in detecting ovulation, but they work differently. When you urinate on a stick from an ovulation predictor kit, it will turn color the day before you ovulate, indicating a surge in luteinizing hormone (LH). This surge is what causes your ovary to release an egg. An ovulation kit increases your chances of conceiving by enabling you to time sex to within a day of the LH surge.
In contrast, a basal body temperature (BBT) chart can tell you when you have already ovulated. Your basal body temperature and cervical mucus reflect your progesterone level, which is close to zero before you ovulate and rises dramatically after ovulation. When your progesterone level rises, so does your temperature, giving you a sign that you have ovulated.
A BBT chart tells you something about when you ovulated in a particular month, but it can't tell you exactly when to have sex (or uterine insemination) that same month. You have to chart your BBT for a few months and spot a pattern in your cycle before you can use it to predict when you're most fertile. An ovulation predictor kit, on the other hand, can give you advanced warning of ovulation the first month you use it. The main drawback to the kits is that they can be expensive, running between $15 and $50 per cycle.
Keep in mind that sometimes neither method will work: Both ovulation predictor kits and basal body temperature/cervical mucus charts can be inaccurate in some people.
Learn more about how to predict ovulation by tracking your BBT.
Weigh the pros and cons of ovulation predictor kits versus BBT charting in more detail.


text:
Updating a previous blog entry:
- To keep the terminal available even after launching an application, append the command with
&. Ex:
nautilus &
- To launch an application from a terminal and keep the application running even upon closing the terminal, add
nohupbefore the command. Can be used with the previous tip. Ex:
nohup nautilus &
whichreturns the pathnames of the files which would be executed in the current environment (from
man which). Meaning if you have installed a package and you do not know how to start it,
whichwill return the full path and name of the executable file
sudo ln -s /home/your_login/.themes /root/.themes sudo ln -s /home/your_login/.icons /root/.icons sudo ln -s /home/your_login/.fonts /root/.fonts
will have root applications use your user theme, icons and fonts (replace your_login with your user login)


text:
Details for Passage or Privacy Sets Model 3045.03
Model shown displays the following design elements:
Pioneer Collection: Our most refined collection is sand-cast, silk-smooth and solid bronze—of the finest artisan grade—comparable to that used by fine artist and craftsman. It creates a look and a statement that is strong, bold and timeless—and perfect for many architectural styles.
Thickness: Classic (¼"Thick) Bevel-Step Plate: Rectangular in shape, with a gracefully beveled detail around the perimeter, this design captures a precise and smooth refinement.
Type: Passage or Privacy Sets with #21 Privacy
Exterior Size: 2 ½" x 11"
This model displays the following finish:
Silicon Medium
This model is available in:
About Pioneer Finishes
Silicon Bronze Finishes: Oxidized with a hand-rubbed protective coat, our Pioneer Living Finishes mellow and age beautifully and naturally over time. Each artful surface will develop differently, depending on environment and exposures, so no two will ever look alike. Select from Silicon Light, Silicon Medium or Silicon Dark, and watch your hardware accent your home throughout the years.
Silicon Bronze White Finishes: Our StableCote™ finish process slows the aging, so the finish transforms gradually and differently over time. Whether you prefer a White Bronze Light, Medium Pewter, Dark Pewter Antique, or Blackened Bronze finish, you're certain to find the hue that punctuates your home perfectly — time and time again.
Arcadia Custom Addresses:
Thermal Steel & Wood Products
9280 E. Old Vail Rd
Tucson, AZ 85747
Thermal Aluminum - West
2323 E. Firestone Blvd., Bldg. 105
South Gate, CA 90280
Thermal Aluminum - East
110 Viaduct Rd
Stamford CT 06907


text:
|Photo Credit
Monday, October 3, 2011
Lighting the Narrative
10 comments:
- Jill Kemerer said...
Smart post. I usually skimp on these details in the first draft and bring them out while revising. I like how you emphasized the balance. Too much can overpower; too little can cheat a scene.
- October 3, 2011 at 1:43 PM
- PW.Creighton said...
Jill, I think we all skimp at some point in the process but the details can be the most powerful elements. I can definitely say I like the parallels between photography and writing.
- October 3, 2011 at 2:47 PM
- Jacqvern said...
Very interesting.
Light can be good play with a reader's feelings and emotional state.
By the way, I hate bulbs with "cool" (white) light, I like the ones with "warm" (yellow) light. :)
- October 4, 2011 at 2:14 PM
- PW.Creighton said...
Thanks for stopping by Jacqvern. Yeah, it works well with visual arts why wouldn't it work just as well when you're creating the image in a reader's mind? I don't think anyone likes the sterile cold lights. :-)
- October 4, 2011 at 4:32 PM
- Lisa Gail Green said...
Hey! Have you read Leslie Rose's blog: http://lesliesullirose.blogspot.com/ She did a whole series on lighting and other set design. :D You guys should connect. Great post!
- October 4, 2011 at 5:37 PM
- Julie Musil said...
I love reading a book that does this well. Lighting does add so much mood to a scene. I don't know if I do this well or not, but that doesn't mean I stop trying!
- October 4, 2011 at 11:01 PM
- PW.Creighton said...
Lisa, thanks for sharing! I love her blog!
Julie, I think everyone does but it take a more conscious effort to connect lighting to emotions while writing a narrative. If it takes those in the visual arts years to get the fundamentals I can only imagine what it takes for those taking the concept out of that medium.
- October 6, 2011 at 2:49 PM
- Leslie Rose said...
Love your take on this! I'm so glad Lisa connected us. That picture is incredible.
- October 6, 2011 at 2:59 PM
- Michele Shaw said...
I think this is something I've always used in my writing without even thinking about it. It's just always been there. I'm going to pretend like I'm smart and I knew what I was doing all along;) You have the best pics! Thanks, PW!
- October 6, 2011 at 3:49 PM
- PW.Creighton said...
Leslie, thanks for stopping by. Yeah, I love using HDR shots that symbolize the topics.
Michele, we tend to think visually and are often influenced by what we know, so we kind of innately do. It's recognizing that, that allows you to have better control ;-) Thanks!
- October 6, 2011 at 4:04 PM


text:
Nine Things To Bring to Downtown Summer Nights
Downtown Summer Nights happens Thursdays nights all throughout summer. This free event starts at 5:00 p.m. on 4th street behind the Capitol Theatre. Before you head straight there, here are a few things you should consider bringing.
Even though admission is free, you should bring a few bucks to grab a bite to eat, buy something from one of the various vendors or partake in the beverage garden.
Downtown Summer Nights starts at 5:00 p.m. The sun hasn't set yet so better wear sunscreen, just in case.
Your Smartphone
Broadcast to the world that you're at Downtown Summer Night by checking-in on Facebook or Foursquare. Tweet, Facebook, Instagram - all of that, using the hashtag #dsnyak so you can also see what everyone else is up to.
Your Friends and Family
Hey! It's a free event! Why not bring as many people as you can and turn it into a party!
Your Kids
In what could be your children's first concert experience, bring the kids to dance to the live music or play in the kid's activities area.
Comfortable Shoes
4th Street is on asphalt so wearing comfy shoes is probably the way to go.
Folding Chair
Not that you need to bring a chair, but they're welcome to prop up to sit and enjoy the show.
An Extra Bag
Even if you don't bring it with you, may be a good idea to keep in your car so you can carry all the cool stuff you'll be picking up from the vendors.
Your Tailfeather
So you can shake it to the live music.


text:
French Knickers and a Pajama Top
Added Jun 26, 2013
by sati5000
Astoria, New Yor...
As part of the Show Off Your Skivvies challenge, I made french knickers and a lace pajama top, both based on styles from the 40s and 30s respectively. I got both patterns from Vera Venus, and they're great if you actually read the measurements before you cut. I did not, and therefore it came out a bit small. Luckily I was able to make it work with extra lace. I just love the result! The top is still a bit too tight, but the knickers are perfect.
More info and pictures can be found here.
Material Notes
satin and lace
- Season
- Spring, Summer
- For
- Women
- Garment Type
- Lingerie/Undergarments
- Style
- Classic, Vintage
- Material
- Lace/Sequins, Satin
0 Comments
Add to Favorites 1 person added it


text:
Racist Freestyle? Young Boys From Stuyvesant High School In New York Drop A Freestyle Dissing Young Black Women Who Attend The School!
"These are young boys from Stuyvesant High School Supposedly the number one high school in New York City. These boys are supposedly the best and the brightest. They are spewing hatred and talking about a young Black woman who attends the school. I wrote a letter to the principal of this school, Stanley Teitel, asking that these boys be reprimanded and he refused to disclose any information to me in terms of how this situation would be dealt wit" - Kavi
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
A free forum for organized battles and fun pokemon related chat.
Search Query
Display results as :PostsTopics
Advanced Search
You are not connected. Please login or register
Message [Page 1 of 1]
The Pokemon Experience » Forum » Gym Leaders » Tepigmaster » Official Challenges
Similar topics
Permissions in this forum: You cannot reply to topics in this forum
Jump to:


text:
The posters are printed in Denmark on Swedish eco-friendly paper 170gr. MultiArt Matt. The price is without frame.
When your order is shipped, we will e-mail you the tracking number of the package. We always process your order as quickly as possible.
Estimated delivery time: 2-5 weekdays
Purchase below €110: €3
Purchase above €110: Free delivery
Estimated delivery time: 2-5 weekdays
Delivery in the Rest of the World: €14
For shipping pricing in Denmark click here
For shipping pricing in Norway click here
We accept:
ViSSEVASSE Aps | Strandlodsvej 42 B | 2300 Copenhagen S | email@example.com | Phone +45 7199 2323 | CVR 36720344
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive tips and tricks on decorating with posters – and, of course, news and special offers. As soon as you sign up, we will send a little inspiration catalogue to your inbox.
Every month, we have a draw among our subscribers for a gift card of 150€. The winner will be notified directly.


text:
A senior at Yale University has suggested a conspiracy within campus administration to rid the grounds of squirrels.
"I'd like to remain anonymous, but I also want to let you know about something going on at Yale. It appears that the administration paid to have all the squirrels on campus killed over the summer," the student said.
"There are no squirrels left at Yale.
"As students have begun to realize the genocide that has taken place, they are rising up, enraged and disgusted. Numerous student publications are racing to uncover the scandal, but so far there has been no official statement. Continued fury and uprising is expected."
The Yale Daily News' blog Cross Campus also reported the squirrels missing, noting the "particularly aggressive breed of squirrels are typically a common sighting during the first few weeks of school."
Because the administration and the New Haven Parks Department took days to respond, claims of mass squirrelcide seemed less and less nutty.
Thomas Conroy, Yale University press secretary, eventually made a statement about the squirrels.
"Yale University has no squirrel extermination program and has not tried to reduce the squirrel population on campus."
Even still, their absence on campus is pretty squirrelly.


text:
|2008-02-02, 12:15
|Link #1
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Israel
Need help on manga creation
Hi every one I'm new here so I hope I'm writing to the right topic:
I want to create a new manga but I have a little experience in drawing ( I'm trying to improve now ).
I have the sceanario and I can draw a scetch of how I want it to look ( maybe even more then a scetch ), so I'm looking for some one who want to create the manga together
Waiting for your responses
|2008-02-05, 13:16
|Link #4
Make Your Move
Join Date: Dec 2007
Age: 28
Right, i have been trying to draw for over a year since i started college, before then i was rubbish , i would recommend NOT buying many how to draw books as they are a waste of time, maybe buy one but thats it, if i was you just get an experience with different style like you can get chibi and maybe shojo style and just keep drawing everywhere and anywhere, i get a train and always draw when im on it, its just you improve the amount of times you do that style/pose.
I just drew a sitting down pose and i can do it again but maybe a little better so you get an idea on what pose to draw and the proportions, i would suggest use guidelines for head and body to an extent some how to draw manga books take 30 mins just doing the guidelines just do a lose one which you can adapt to, also search any tutorials on youtube and such just the key point is keep drawing, maybe start with books from anime mags or manga then onto you own drawings.
|2008-02-05, 13:18
|Link #5
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Israel
I'm not feeling bad about it, afcourse ppl have other things to do so maybe u can give me tips on how to improve my skills? I know to draw the basics, but when I try to group it all together it's just becoming a mess :\ I tryied to copy other works but no much improvment. I think I just can't get the "perspective" thing
|2008-02-05, 14:23
|Link #7
Join Date: Feb 2006
First improve your observation skills, only then you'll start to understand proportion and perception.
Next, put whatever you're observing on paper (or whatever medium you decide to use).
Finally, keep practicing... you'll improve little by little.
|2008-02-07, 05:10
|Link #10
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Israel
Oki Here r just the main lines without the shadows meanwhile http://funkyimg.com/u/40509New_Page.bmp
I warked on it about 2-3 hours :| and I just feel something not right here, not taking about that the lower draw doesn't looks the way I wanted to ( some thing more cooler ).
|2008-02-07, 15:39
|Link #11
Join Date: Feb 2006
Ok... from what I'm seeing, you're pretty good. You really don't need that much help, you just need reference (pictures & images) in order to draw the pose correctly. Your proportion is mostly in the right area.
Just some slight minor mistake on the top one and you need to rework the bottom one.
1 - the hands does not look like that when holding a sword in that position. Try holding a broom in that posture and look at your hands.
2 - why only the top half flow and not the bottom half, the hair would flow altogether (fluidly).
3 - from that angle and position, I'm guessing there's really not that much distance between the legs to create a perception of such a small feet.
4 - it looks solid, maybe that's your personal style. So I'll leave it at that.
5 - from the angle of the sword, her left arm would be her rear arm (vice versa with right arm), actually I can't tell how far of a distance the sword is being held out. I'm clueless with this one, it just looks awkward. Try using a reference, to see the shoulders balance and arms movement.
6 - 5 and 6 are in relation, either her upper body is small or her rear leg is enormous. I have nothing against her forward leg, and I know your trying to get the perception of one rear leg. But all I can say is use a reference.
Even professional need actual references like scenery, animal, and people (in multiple positions) in order to draw it. So don't be afraid to rely on it.
BTW, one person's opinion is never enough. Feel free to jump in if anyone spot any other error or an error on my part.
|2008-02-08, 13:51
|Link #14
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Israel
Yo Here's the fixed version http://funkyimg.com/viewer.php?img=53577New_Page.jpg
But tell me plz if the clothes look natural to, 'couse I'm not sure about the wrinkles at all
|2008-02-12, 13:51
|Link #16
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Israel
Learning manga, need help :)
Hello I'm trying to improve my skills in manga but I need some one to check me (I'm not sure if what I'm doing is right). Can some 1 check them and tell me what's wrong?
Here r some of my work -
|2009-01-03, 04:01
|Link #19
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Israel
Making manga
Hello, I'm making a manga and I wanted to ask a few questions about japanese school
Can u give me some names of private schools, they doesn't need to be real
If some 1 knows japanese, then how do I whrite 2nd year 1st class (with kanji, u know the tablet with has the name of the class)
Ou and tell me if I'm not mistaking - High School, 2nd year's peuple are 16-17 years old ye?
|Thread Tools


text:
Sugar and SpiceSweets & Treats from Around the WorldGaitri Pagrach-Chandra
published 2012 7 1/2" x 9.75" • 288 pages • full-color photos
Food historian Pagrach-Chandra (Warm Bread and Honey Cake) developed an enthusiasm for sweets that hasnt waned. Here she explores the history of sugary treats like toffee, truffles, marshmallows, marzipan, and fudge. She shares unique multiethnic confections (e.g., Simple Semolina Halva, Gulab Jamun, Turkish Delight) as well as numerous cookies, tartlets, and small cakes that make great edible gifts or teatime snacks. Readers will need a candy thermometer, but few specialty molds or ingredients. VERDICT This book offers great variety for the novice confectioner
Library Journal
A delicious collection of international recipes from the award-winning author of Warm Bread and Honey Cake
This enchanting cookbook offers recipes for the best of the world's sweets, tiny cakes and patisserie, from Indian milk sweets to the nutty filo dainties of the Middle East; from tiny French sponge cakes to Scottish fudge. Alongside over 120 easy-to-follow recipes, the author offers engaging narratives on the history of sweets—tales of trade and sea voyages that have enchanted children for centuries. All the sweets and cakes can be eaten in one or two mouthfuls—ideal for the family, entertaining, or gifts.
Sugar and Spice is filled with stories from around the world and it is as much an armchair read as a practical cookbook. With beautiful photography and delectable design it makes the book itself an ideal gift and will be as much a treat as the recipes themselves.
Gaitri Pagrach-Chandra has a multi-cultural background—in her own words "a convent-attending Guyanese Hindu of Indian ancestry, who was educated in North America and Europe and subsequently married into a European Jewish family." A food historian and freelance translator, she has authored a book on Dutch baking titled Windmills in my Oven (2002). In 2000, she received the Sophie Coe award for food history, presented by the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery. Her most recent book, Warm Bread and Honey Cake (Interlink, 2010), won the Guild of Food Writers Award for Cookbook of the Year 2010. She lives in the Netherlands.
Interlink Books
Submit a Review »
The Viennese Kitchen
Sun Bread and Sticky Toffee
Teatime in Paris!
Warm Bread and Honey Cake


text:
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) It went from being another game filled with breakdowns to what could end up being a breakout game for the Edmonton Oilers.
Magnus Paajarvi scored the go-ahead goal in the closing minutes as the Oilers used a team-record 56 shots to rally from a three-goal deficit and beat the Colorado Avalanche 6-4 on Saturday night.
The Oilers originally planned to have Paajarvi a healthy scratch, but made him active at the last minute when Lennart Petrell took a puck to the helmet during the pre-game warmups.
``He was probably eating hot dogs already when we pulled him in,'' Oilers head coach Ralph Krueger joked of Paajarvi. ``He didn't even get a warmup and he scores the winner.
``It was a big game for us to explode like this and get these points in regulation time.''
Jordan Eberle and Ales Hemsky each had two goals, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored for the Oilers, who trailed 3-0 and 4-1 before storming back. The Oilers completed their comeback with 1:34 remaining in the third period as Ryan Smyth chipped a pass to a hard-charging Paajarvi, who had a wide-open net to put the puck into.
``I got to the rink at 7:30 (for the 8 p.m. game) and was getting ready for a workout,'' Paajarvi laughed. ``I got the call that I would be playing at 7:55 p.m.''
Edmonton had 23 shots in the opening period, 15 in the second and 18 in the third when they scored three times. The Oilers topped the previous team record of 55 shots against the Minnesota North Stars in 1986.
``It just goes to show what shooting the puck does,'' Nugent-Hopkins said. ``It's pretty cool to be a part of a record, especially being able to set one with this organization, which has some pretty tough records to beat.''
Cody McLeod, Matt Duchene, Jamie McGinn and John Mitchell had goals for the Avalanche, who have lost four of their last five.
``We got what we deserved tonight,'' Colorado head coach Joe Sacco said. ``We gave up close to 60 shots tonight, which is something we are obviously not proud of as a group. We need to make sure we respond the right way from this. Losing is losing and you are going to lose some games, but not the way that we lost tonight. It was unacceptable.''
Eberle capped off the game with an empty-net goal, giving the Oilers their second win in three games.
Colorado scored just 1:22 into the game as the Oilers did a poor job clearing traffic in front of Devan Dubnyk, allowing McLeod to scoop up a loose puck inches in front of the Edmonton goalie and hook it into the net.
Edmonton's best opportunity to that point came with five minutes to play in the first period after a flurry of activity in the Colorado zone when Eberle slid a puck through the crease behind Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov.
Edmonton looked very much as if it was taking over the game, and then the Avs turned the momentum around in a big way with two goals in 25 seconds. Colorado made it 2-0 on a poor goal allowed by Dubnyk as Duchene lost control of the puck while trying to do a deke on the way to the net, only to see it slide between the goalie's legs and in with 1:14 left in the first.
With 49 seconds left, the Avalanche made it 3-0 as Duchene got it across to a wide-open McGinn on a 2-on-1.
Edmonton got one of those goals back with just 3.1 seconds left as Hemsky picked up a bouncing puck at the side of the net to score his sixth of the season on a power play.
The Oilers outshot Colorado 23-12 in the first period and Nikolai Khabibulin came in to start the second in the Edmonton net. Colorado made it 4-1 six minutes into the second on a power play as a deflection on shot by Mitchell had Khabibulin going the other way.
Edmonton got back into the game in a hurry with two goals in just under a minute to make it 4-3.
With four minutes left in the period, Taylor Hall was able to feed it to Nugent-Hopkins in the slot and he scored his first goal of the season to break a 24-game drought dating to last season.
Just 59 seconds later, Hemsky scored his second of the game with a highlight-reel move to fake defensemen Shane O'Brien and then another to do the same to Varlamov.
Edmonton tied it 4-4 nine minutes into the third period as Eberle was able to pick up a rebound and jam home the puck from behind the goal-line on a power play. Edmonton came in having scored only 10 goals in its previous six games.
``If anything, it gives our team a little confidence with our goal scoring,'' Eberle said. ``We haven't been able to put the puck in the net and, especially my line, it felt like we cracked the door open in this game. It was a crazy game.''
Notes: It was the third of five meetings between the teams this season. They split the first two, with each team winning on home ice. The teams split their six season meetings last season. ... Smyth and Ryan Whitney both returned to the Oilers lineup after being benched in the previous game against Dallas. ... Defensemen Justin Schultz and Jeff Petry were both able to play for Edmonton despite suffering minor injuries at practice earlier in the week. ... Among the missing players from the Avalanche lineup are defenseman Erik Johnson (head) and forward Gabriel Landeskog (concussion). ... Last year's leading scorer Ryan O'Reilly continues to hold out due to a contract dispute. ... Oilers forward Teemu Hartikainen left the game in the second period with a shoulder injury.


text:
Passenger side Super Plus wiper blades from Bosch which is constructed with dual rubber ensuring that they continue to clean effectively for longer. Each blade comes fitted with Bosch's unique 'Quick-Clip' adaptor so the can be fitted quickly and esily
SP20 Bosch Wiper Blade Super Plus 20″/500mm.
Bosch Super Plus Technology now available for cars with the conventional older 'hooked' wiper arms.
High quality original Bosch wiper blades with built in tension strip to ensure effective wiping performance across the entire windscreen, long service life due to consistent force distribution.
Dual component wiper rubber for quiet wiping.
Latest development in wiper technology provides precise and consistent distribution of the wiper blade's pressure along the entire wiping edge.
These blades can be fitted to a vehicle in a matter of seconds as each blade comes pre-mounted with Bosch's unique 'Quick-Clip' adapter.
Single wiper blade.


text:
They say that Diana chose Nevis as a hideout following her divorce from Prince Charles and as I wandered along the beach near my resort I could see why — there wasn't a soul in site. I like to think the people's princess had her own "eat, pray, love" moment somewhere on that sleepy little Caribbean island.
At less than 100 square kilometres in size and with a population of just 12,000, Nevis is intimately tiny and remarkably unspoiled. The smaller of the two Leeward Islands that comprise the federation of St. Kitts & Nevis, Nevis has the kind of relaxed vibe and rustic charm that you always picture when you think of the Caribbean.
A single ring road circles the entire island, so the odds of getting lost are slim. As one local put it, "If you don't know where you are, just get on the main road and drive and eventually you will be back where you started."
Taking that advice to heart, we rented a 4X4 from Funky Monkey Tours and decided to see what we could see.
Not surprisingly, our first stop was a pair of abandoned sugar mills. There was a time when Nevis was covered with sugar plantations and in the early 18th-century an estimated 20 per cent of the British Empire's sugar supply came from Nevisian plantations.
In those days, the sugar fields stretched high up the volcanic slopes of Mount Nevis and sugar mills dotted the landscape. When the bottom dropped out of the sugar market, most of the rich plantation owners left and the mills fell into ruin. Today, some have been transformed into unique hotels and some still sit as crumbling reminders of the island's rich industrial past.
Two of the most accessible ruins are New River and Coconut Walk Estates. Located on the east coast of the island about 25 minutes from the capital city of Charlestown, New River was the last sugar mill in operation on the island when it closed its doors in 1958. As we exited the vehicle, I noticed a small herd of goats treading gingerly through the ruins. Wandering around the site, we were able to check out an old steam engine, a tall brick tower, a cistern and the ruins of the Great House.
From New River, we drove along a goat trail to Coconut Walk — so named for the tall coconut trees which once lined the borders of the walk. The key ruins of this mill include the tallest windmill on the island and a stone lime kiln that was once used to fire coral to produce lime for plaster and cement for the construction industry. Being all alone at an abandoned historical site was a bit eerie and as I stood on the windswept rocky shore between the ocean and the ruin, I couldn't help wondering what this place would have been like in the days of slavery.
Back on the ring road, we went in search of sustenance and ended up at a local lunch shack called Rodney's. The proprietor, a stout middle-aged Nevisian woman named Rodney, has created a menu of Caribbean classics.
"I don't sell burgers and fries," she assured us. "If you come to the Caribbean, you want Caribbean food. You try my coconut Johnny cakes, salt fish, and breadfruit cheesy. That's what real Nevisians eat."
I have to admit; I almost felt like a real Nevisian as I left Rodney's. She doesn't know it, but I still think of her as my Nevisian aunt. "My mother always wanted a boy," Rodney confided as we were leaving. "And after six girls, she just decided to name the next baby Rodney — no matter what."
Back on the ring road, we weren't sure where to go next. But on Nevis, it doesn't really matter which direction you choose — "eat, pray, love" moments are around every corner.
- Most travellers fly into St. Kitts, drive across that island and take a 45-minute ferry ride to Nevis, but it is also possible to fly into Nevis from St. Kitts, St. Maarten, Antigua and Barbados.
- Top accommodations: Four Seasons Resort, Montpelier Plantation, Golden Rock Inn, Hermitage Plantation Inn, Oualie Beach Resort and the Nisbet Plantation.
- Top dinner spots: the Hermitage Wednesday evening pig roast, Coconut Grove Restaurant, and Banana Bistro.
- Top activities: hiking, exploring, snorkelling, diving, golf, horseback riding, visiting the botanical gardens or the beach bars — Sunshine's, Chevy's, Double Duece, or Chrishi Beach.
- For more information, visit the official tourism site of Nevis: www.nevisisland.com
Debbie Olsen is an Alberta-based freelance writer.


text:
Join me every week for Win-It Wednesday. I'll be posting 24-hour giveaways at 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET to give you plenty of chances to win!
We love toys that foster creativity and independent play, and the Melissa & Doug Play Kitchen certainly fits the bill! Gummy Lump sent us this gorgeous kitchen for my girls to try out, and I've been regularly "dining" on homecooked gourmet lunches and snacks courtesy of my two daughters ever since.
The Melissa & Doug Play Kitchen is very sturdy and spacious, and I love the bright colors and design, especially the retro cherries. It was shipped in two separate (very heavy) boxes, but it only took my husband about an hour to put it together. I suspect it probably would have only taken half the time if he'd had a little less "help." You know the saying about too many cooks…
The Melissa & Doug Play Kitchen is currently on sale for $199.99, plus you get FREE shipping! Also, when you buy 3 Melissa & Doug Play Food Sets, you'll get the 4th set FREE! No coupon necessary.
One lucky Deal Seeking Mom reader will win a Melissa & Doug Play Kitchen from Gummy Lump!
To enter, tell me if you have wooden toys in your home? Do you have a favorite?
Every reader has four methods available to enter this contest. Choose one each of any combination of method one, two, three, or four for up to a total of 4 entries!!!
If you are reading this in your email or feed reader, please CLICK HERE to visit the original blog post to enter. Email entries will not be counted.
Methods of entry:
1. Leave a comment. What are your favorite wooden toys that you own?
2. Add Deal Seeking Mom to your blogroll or add my badge to your sidebar. Make sure to come back and leave the link to your site in a separate comment!
3. Follow @DealSeekingMom and @gummylump on Twitter and tweet the following. Be sure to come back and leave a separate comment with the link to your tweet!
Enter to win a Melissa & Doug Play Kitchen from @gummylump and @DealSeekingMom: https://bit.ly/9bG1K2
4. Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email. You must confirm your email subscription for it to be a valid entry! Leave a separate comment letting me know you have done so. If you're already a subscriber, simply leave a separate comment letting me know you're already subscribed. Lovin' my subscribers! You guys make this all possible.
(1) Melissa & Doug Play Kitchen from Gummy Lump
This giveaway ends at 7:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 22nd and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older. I'll use Comment Contest to select the winning comment. Winner will be notified by email and listed on my Giveaway Winners page. Winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize. Good luck!
While you're in a contest entering mood, don't forget to check out the Giveaway Gathering for a variety of contests being hosted on Deal Seeking Mom readers' blogs!


text:
The Oswego Speedway begins the 2011 racing season with an open practice session on May 14. All classes that will be racing during the 2011 season are welcome to participate, so you can expect to see Supermodifieds, Winged Supermodified, Small Block Supermodifieds, RoC Modifieds, Super Stocks, Late Models, and SST Modifieds.
Oswego Speedway Race Director Chuck Handley has announced that pits still open at 10:00AM, and tech inspection for Oswego Speedway's regular divisions will get under way at that time. The main grandstands will open at noon, with free admission. Practice will start at 1:00 and continue until 5:00. "We expect a lot of cars," said Handley, "so the race fan will get a really good sampling of what they can expect to see this year at the Oswego Speedway."
One thing the Supermodified fan is looking forward to is the large number of rookies that will be in competition this year. Brian Sobus, who got started last year running a car out of the Ray Graham stable Classic Weekend and at the MSA non-winged show at Sandusky Ohio, is one of more than a handful of new drivers looking forward to the season. Sobus said, "we got off to a great start with two very good runs at the end of last season, but we know we've got our work cut out for us. The car is ready to go, and I'm looking forward to practice, and the season opening Port City Weekend."
Also looking forward to the new year is Guard Nearbin who, like Sobus, is moving up from the SBS division. Nearbin has purchased the former Mike Casey Super and plans to be ready for practice day. Nearbin said, "I've always wanted to get behind the wheel of a Super, and this was the perfect opportunity. Mike was putting his car up for sale at a good price, and I could sell my Small Block Super."
There could be as many as a half dozen Supermodified rookies in 2011. Dave Danzer will move up from the SBS division, Rod Sauder has bought the Tim Timms super, Gnomey Racing has purchased the former Johnny Payne 67 super and Canadian T J Woolsey is ready to go with the former Scott Martel Super. Along with the new faces in the Supermodified field, you will also see the return of three drivers who sat out all or most of the 2010 season. Keith Gilliam, after taking a year off to help with the 2-seat Supermodified will be back behind the wheel of a new design #87, Shawn Muldoon in the #1 and Stephen Gioia in the #9 will be back after they both took a year off to recuperate from injuries. You can also look for several new faces in the Small Block Supermodified field.
In addition to the cars, the fans will also be treated to a number of new and improved things at the track this year. With the recent sale of the famed lakeside oval to brothers John and Eric Torrese, a number of improvements have already been made. The fans will notice some improvements, and others they probably won't notice. For instance, said John Torrese, "there is already a new roof on the tech barn, and we are putting a new roof on the infield concession stand. Restroom concerns have been addressed and we think the fans will be pleased." The Lighthouse Lanes VIP Tower is also seeing renovations, and the area outside the turns 3 and 4 area, which over the years has collected all sorts of foam that has been thrown over the wall, is being cleaned up.


text:
April 18, 2007
The Lipscomb Bisons 2007 golf season came to a close Wednesday in the Atlantic Sun Championship at The Gold Club at Sanctuary Cove in Waverly, Georgia.
The Bisons improved in each round of the 54-hole tournament. Lipscomb shot 333 strokes in the first round, 314 in the second, and 306 in the final set of 18, for a total of 953 strokes. They were 101 strokes over par on the par-71 course.
Freshman Clint Suggs lead the Bisons finishing with a 22-over 235. After shooting an 83 in the first round, he improved to 75 in the second and finished with a 77. He had five birdies on the tournament. Suggs finished tied for 30th in the field of 50.
Taylor Lewis finished tied for 37th shooting a 27-over 240. After 84 strokes on the first 18 holes, Lewis settled down and fired a 78 on each of the last two rounds. He had six birdies over the three days.
Cory Parkinson and Dustin Lynch ended the tournament shooting 29-over and 30-over, respectively. Parkinson had three birdies to finish with a 242 (82-83-77) tied for 41st place. Lynch chipped in six birdies on his way to finish at 243 (87-82-74) tied for 44th place.
Andrew Green rounded out the Lipscomb squad with a 34-over 247 (84-79-84). He finished tied for 48th. Green had two birdies.


text:
Monday, January 21, 2019 11:26 PM
Due to the extreme cold (and the resulting difficulty in starting buses), all school buses are cancelled today, however schools remain open. All scheduled TDESAA and TDSSAA events are cancelled today due to the extreme cold.
Continue to the TDSB website
For more information:


text:
Samuel L. Jackson defends Quentin Tarantino over Django Unchained
The movie, which is nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Screenplay, is set in slavery-era Mississippi in 1858 and has drawn heavy criticism as well as praise.
Many critics have accused Tarantino of over-using controversial language and racial slurs, and even fellow director Spike Lee branded the movie "disrespectful" and vowed to boycott it.
However, Jackson, who plays a head slave on a plantation in the film, is adamant Tarantino was staying true to history by using the 'n'-word.
He says, "Did they have another name to call the (black) people they were talking about at the time? If you're going to deal with the language of the time, you deal with the language of the time. And that was the language of the time. I grew up in the South. I heard 'n**ger' all my life. I'm not disturbed by it."
Jackson has worked with Lee on several projects, recently completing filming with him on a remake of 2003 South Korean film Oldboy, and he insists he hasn't talked to the director about the Django Unchained controversy.
He adds, "I can't talk to him about something he hasn't seen... I probably won't have a conversation with him about it, unless he brings it up. I won't bring it up - 'Hey, why didn't you see my movie?' I don't care if he sees it or not...
"I haven't had a conversation with Quentin about whether he likes Spike or doesn't like Spike. And I never had a conversation with Spike about whether he likes Quentin or doesn't like Quentin... I really don't know. I don't know if it's jealousy. Who would be jealous of whom?"


text:
Digital photography has been both a blessing and a curse to the scrapbooking community. It's provided several advantages such as the ability to take a nearly unlimited number of photographs (you're only constrained by your storage space) that are then easily stored, accessed, edited, and printed. The downside of digital photography is that all those precious images stored on your computer are only a single power surge, natural disaster, or hard drive crash away from being destroyed forever – unless you have them backed up.
Backup solutions exist in many forms ranging from a simple external hard drive to online backup services to elaborate structures of hard drives (known as RAID arrays) backed by software that ensures that no piece of data is contained on just one drive at any given time as a shield against drive failure. While a RAID array may not be practical for most hobby photographers, simpler backup solutions such as the Picture Keeper – a USB drive containing automated photo backup software – exist to help anyone back up their data. Today we'll be taking a in-depth look at the Picture Keeper and how it works.
Before I get started on the review, I want to give our readers a little insight into my professional background. I have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and have worked as a software engineer for the last nine years.I have extensive experience in designing user interfaces and programs that handle file transfers and manipulations, and it's my job on a daily basis to both write software and to test it in an attempt to find its breaking points. To that end, I have attempted to review the PictureKeeper from the end user's perspective while keeping in mind all of the software engineering principles that go into what's "under the hood" of the program.
The Picture Keeper is available in a variety of sizes and configurations and is compatible with both Mac and Windows computers. USB flash drive versions of the device are available in 4GB (MSRP $29.99), 8 GB (MSRP $59.99), and 16 GB (MSRP $99.99) sizes, and an external USB hard drive based solution with a 250 GB capacity (MSRP $149.99) is also available for those who require more space for their photos. Users also have the option of supplying their own drives (either USB or external hard drives are supported) and purchasing a standalone version of the Picture Keeper software (MSRP $29.99) for use on their device. According to the company's web site, iPhone and iPad versions of the software will also be available soon.
The Picture Keeper unit I received for review was a 16GB USB flash drive, which I tested in depth on my iMac. Upon inserting the Picture Keeper into one of my computer's USB slots, a drive icon with the name "untitled" appeared on my computer's desktop. The device actually contains configuration files that direct a Windows computer to start the Picture Keeper software automatically when the drive is inserted, but Mac users will need to double-click on the drive icon (or in some way navigate to the contents of the drive) in order to launch the backup software (all of this is explained on the instruction card included with the Picture Keeper drive).
The contents of the drive are displayed in the screen capture below, and the software is started by double-clicking on the "PictureKeeper" entry. After the software has been started, the user experience is the same on both Windows and Mac computers.
The Picture Keeper software has a very simple and easy-to-use interface. The opening screen presents the user with three options: scheduling a backup reminder, viewing pictures that have already been backed up to the drive, and (of course) the option to start a backup.
I jumped right in and chose the option to start the backup, and the Picture Keeper software immediately began to scan my computer in search of image files. The screen capture below shows the partial completed scan process.
The scan completed very quickly (in just a few minutes), and then the backup process kicked in.
I happen to have a rather massive photo library on my computer (I've been shooting completely digitally with a DSLR since 2004), so I knew that the Picture Keeper drive would fill up long before all of my photos had been backed up. Sure enough, about 45 minutes into the process I received an alert that the USB drive was full and that I should purchase a larger Picture Keeper drive.
After clicking the "OK" button on the alert, I clicked the "View Pictures" button on the user interface to browse through the files that the Picture Keeper had backed up. What I found was that it had not, in fact, backed up any of my photos at all! Instead, it had backed up a directory full of images that I've downloaded from various blogs and web sites over the years and saved to my "Ideas" files. While these directories did contain image files, they were not in fact photographs, and I also found that the Picture Keeper software had not even detected my photo storage directory (which is located in an external hard drive that's attached to my iMac at all times).
Picture Keeper has an excellent FAQ section on their web site, so I was quickly able to find out that the device's software is pre-programmed to look for image files in the most common places that they are stored on Windows and Mac computers (you can find a list of those locations here), but that it can also be reconfigured to scan alternate locations for photographs. The configuration menu can be accessed by navigating to "Options -> Advanced" in the Picture Keeper menu structure.
The following screen capture shows the directories that the Picture Keeper came pre-configured to search on my iMac. Unfortunately, I don't keep photos in any of these directories, so I selected each one and clicked the "Delete Selected" button to remove it from the list, then clicked the "Add New" button.
Clicking "Add New" brought up a window in which I could browse to a folder I wanted to add to the list, so I navigated to the photo storage folder on my external hard drive and selected it.
I noted one other problem with the factory Picture Keeper configuration while I was in this menu – note the highlighted section of the screen showing the file types (extensions) that Picture Keeper is searching for. Almost all of the standard formats are listed including JPEG, but there are no entries for RAW settings for any model of digital camera!
I happen to shoot in RAW format on my Nikon, and all of my photo files have a .NEF extension which was not one of the original selections in the Picture Keeper software. I would have expected that the software would have shipped with RAW formats for at least the major camera manufacturers already loaded into the default settings.
Adding a file format (such as my Nikon's .NEF files) to the list is easy – simply type in the name of the file extension(s) you want to add, separating each entry with a comma. Users can also add extensions to allow video and audio (or really any) file to be backed up, as well.
After reconfiguring the software to scan the appropriate directories for the correct file extensions, I decided to delete the previously backed up contents of the device (while leaving the base software intact) and attempt the backup again. The FAQ states that there should be a menu selection under "Options->Reset Picture Keeper" to remove any backup files on the drive, but this option was not present in my software.
According to the FAQ, the lack of this menu option meant that my Picture Keeper device was loaded with a slightly older version of the backup software. Luckily the FAQ included instructions on how to perform this step manually, specifying which files and folders could be safely deleted without harming the Picture Keeper software. I selected and deleted the specified folders, then emptied the Trash on my iMac to free up the space on the Picture Keeper drive.
At this point I launched the backup process again. The scan completed, this time on the correct directory, and the backup process began.
The backup stopped before all my photos had been backed up (again, I expected this due to the size of my ), and I found that fewer than 1,800 of my photos had been stored on the Picture Keeper.
While 1,800 photographs may seem like a lot, I want to give you a peek into my Adobe Lightroom catalog to show you why this is an issue. As you can see in the screen capture below, I have more than 52,000 photographs in my library.
Yes, 52,000! And the Picture Keeper only backed up a little over 1,700 of those. I would literally need a whole army of Picture Keeper flash drives to back up all of my photos, and my library (which is over 400 GB in size and lives on a 2 TB external hard drive) would easily overrun the capacity of one of the 250 GB hard drive based Picture Keepers, as well. I realize that most people don't have the sheer volume of photos on their computers that I do, but think about how fast your 2, 4, or 16 GB memory card fills up on your camera and compare that to the available space on a Picture Keeper flash drive. The storage capacity is simply insufficient to handle the volume of photos that most scrapbookers take.
The packaging of my 16 GB Picture Keeper also claims to "Keep 16,000* pictures safe." That little '*' though, points out that this claim is based on an average image file size of just 1MB per photo, which is a very unrealistic expectation from almost any image format in any modern digital camera. The screen capture below shows a sampling of the image sizes that my Nikon D3 outputs when shooting in RAW format – my photos are anywhere from 10 MB to over 14 MB in size – more than 10 times what Picture Keeper seems to think is average! Even when shooting in JPEG mode, my files are around 8 MB in size. I honestly cannot recall any recent or even semi-recent digital camera with an image file size of under 1 MB. Even my iPhone, an older 3GS model, creates images that are larger than that!
I also want to point out one more nasty little "surprise" that the Picture Keeper software had in store for me. After I completed my second backup and shut the software down, I needed to go back in to take an additional screen capture for this review. When I did so, I was shocked to find that all those settings I had changed for directories to be scanned and file sizes had reverted back to the Picture Keeper's factory settings! I would have expected the software to save these settings between runs instead of forcing the user to change them each time the software is run. For a device that claims the user can simply "Plug and Save," it seems to be a very un-user-friendly way for the software to behave.
I also would like to take a moment to talk about the expense of the Picture Keeper. At its core, the device is nothing more than a standard USB flash drive. A 16 GB USB flash drive (the same storage size at the review unit I received) currently retails for around $20 to $25 on Amazon, leaving a $75 price differential between it and the 16 GB Picture Keeper device. In my opinion, $75 is a steep premium to pay for software that can't even remember my custom storage location settings between runs!
As much as I applaud Picture Keeper for trying to make photo backups easy for non-technical users, I really cannot recommend the device as a viable storage option based on capacity, expense, and the issues I encountered when using custom settings in the device's software. Users would be better served to either buy a large external hard drive with pre-loaded backup software to protect all their files (not just photographs) or invest in an online backup service such as Mozy.com that offers both a larger storage capacity plus the double dose of insurance that comes with having your backed up files stored in a different physical location than the originals.
Want to stay up-to-date on all the latest scrapbook news?