text:
In the July/August 2018 issue of Writer's Digest, on page 8, is an article called 'Girl Talk' which touts the 'Bechdel Test' as a way to write more feminist fiction. Yeah, ick.
The Bechdel test is actually familiar to me. It originated in a Lesbian comic strip, 'Dykes to Watch Out For,' that I used to read at a time I was not a Christian. I must confess it's hard for me to take a comic-inspired test seriously.
Now, the common feminist belief is that the writing world is actively hostile to women. But there are actual genres out there that are JUST for women readers and women writers. Romance novels, chick-lit, Lesbian fiction…. there's nothing quite like that just-for-guys. And anti-male sexism is rampant in these women-only forms of literature.
How many works of WOMEN'S fiction would pass a reverse Bechdel test? Here are the rules:
1. The work must have two men in it.
2. They must speak to one another.
3. They must speak about something other than a woman.
OK, think about the last women's romance novel you read (traditional or Lesbian.) Who were the men in it? Did they talk to each other? About something other than a woman? I think a lot of romances wouldn't measure up as masculinist fiction. (And if all women need to be feminists, why shouldn't all males have to be 'masculinist' and let a men's movement shape all their opinions for them?)
Most of the time, the men in a romance novel talk about the fictional heroine. The talk may be complimentary, or it may be harsh. If harsh, the man is probably either a villain, or the love interest who is destined to change his mind. All males in women's fiction are destined to serve the pleasure of the female reader. Quite literally the pleasure, in the case of the misnamed 'sexy romance' novel. (It's actually not romance at all, but sex fiction with a requirement for 3 full-on sex scenes per novel.)
As for Lesbian romances? Many might as well take place on a planet with an all-female population. In fact, one of the Lesbian novels I own DOES take place on a planet with an all-female population. That one would flunk the Reverse Bechdel Test bigtime.
But wait a minute. There are much more important tests your fiction REALLY has to pass that are about more important things than if your work rigidly conforms to this year's ideas about 'diversity.' (No one has suggested a test to create 'diverse' fiction which portrays political conservatives, American Republicans, or prolife persons as human beings entitled to respect and a lack of bullying.)
The real test of your novel's plot is this: Are all the actions, characters and conversations in the plot furthering the plot? If you put in a scene with two unconnected women in your thriller novel discussing how much they want Elizabeth 'Pocahontas' Warren for our next president, it may help your novel pass the Bechdel Test, but if it doesn't help any of your characters find the terrorist nuclear device hidden in the center of Washington, DC, that conversation has no real place in your novel. Cut it, unless you have a readership that demands feminist ideology and doesn't care about plot. (Sadly, there probably are no readerships that don't care about plot.)


text:
Inspiration Picture:
Browny nude lips was an iconic trend of the 1990's and Kylie Jenner seem to have brought back this trend! Everyone's going crazy for it and I have to admit I am one of those people!
The standout factor of this look are the lips so everything else is pretty neutral and basic except for the lashes which just adds that extra 'va va voom' factor!
** ALL THE EYESHADOWS AND FACE PRODUCTS I USED ARE MATTE …this is an all matte look
The eyes are super basic…I tried to use avery neutral color palette unlike my usual warm shades.
~I primed my lid with Mac Painterly Paint Pot
~Then I mixed Mac Soft Brown and Wedge and dusted slightly over the lid and then put a wash on the outer crease as a transition shade
~I used Lorac Espresso to slightly deepen out the crease and outer corner…this is a very pigment dark neutral brown shade so you have to use a very light hand while using it because we want a subtle contour of the crease not too dramatic
~I used Lorac White on the brow bone and inner corner.
~Then I made a very thin line on the lash line and a slight wing
~Added mascara to my lashed and some dramatic falsies…I used the KoKo lashes in Risque
~I rimmed my waterline with a black eye pencil
~Slightly smoked the bottom lashline with soft brown and added mascara to the bottom lashes
CHANEL Matte Lumiere Foundation
MAC Prolongwear Concealer
BEN NYE Banana Powder to set and brighten the underye
CLARINS Splendours Bronzer for warming up the face (replacing the blush)
BENEFIT Hula Bronzer for contouring
now for the best part!
~I used AUSTRALIS Stay Put Lipliner in RAISIN to line my lips, fill them in and slightly over draw them so that they look fuller
~You can just use the lip liner and it still creates the perfect shade but I had to use my favorite lipstick MAC Velvet Teddy on top and I've heard that Kylie Jenner actually uses the same lipstick
Love you all! XO

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This is the first time that the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) collaborated with Urban Air on sustainability report. AAHK intend to a have a fresh layout for this year's sustainability report which is different from the previous years. The key message that the report aims to convey is "growing together". AAHK wishes to grow together with the society. While AAHK is expanding and developing, it also pursues to boost the social and economic development. The construction of the 3rd Runway for example seeks to benefit the society as a whole.
Design Rationale:
The cover design features the runway of the airport with the near-to-far perspective that makes viewers feel that they are standing on the runway, seeing the plane taking off and flying up to the sky. The color tone used expresses that it is at dawn, the first appearance of light in the morning gives a sense of hope and starting afresh. There are also die-cut holes dotting the runway, peeking into the photos of the page underneath. This on one hand further outlines the contour of the runway and on the other hand enhances the texture of the report cover. The design challenge for the inner pages is that a considerable amount of information is needed to be presented in an interesting manner which appeals to readers. A lot of info-graphics are thus created to present the information. Color patches are used throughout the report and each specialized color for every chapter creates a harmonious continuity as a whole.
The launch of the sustainability report receives a lot of positive feedback from the staff of AAHK. It is highly regarded by the staff as very refreshing and the layout design arouses readers' interest to read on. They are particularly impressed by how the stories of the stakeholders were presented and believed that it greatly enhances the readability of the section.
Thank you for your message.


text:
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Hi all,
I've just published my first (& probably last) book today on Amazon.
I've stuck a link on the fans FB page but am yet to evolve to a level where I could post a link successfully on the Gasroom!
For those of you that I haven't bored with this for the past couple of years, the book is my account of THE cup run... which I missed, due to a really badly timed redundancy-sponsored round the world trip.
It's available through Amazon in paperback and on kindle... Type in 'J F CUMMING' and it should bring up both options.
Hope you enjoy it.
1) Go to the page you want to link to the Gasroom.
2) Put the cursor on the address at the top (the one that starts https)
3) Click the right hand side of the mouse to highlight the address. (background of address turns blue)
4) A drop down menu also appears at this point and you should select 'copy' by clicking it with the left hand side of the mouse.
5) Go to the Gasroom post you're composing and left click to select the position you wish to place your link.
6) Immediately right click the mouse and another menu will appear. This time you should select 'paste' by clicking it with the left hand side of the mouse.
7) The address of the page you wish to link should now appear in your post, and once you've posted the comment, the link should work.
Give it a go
Here's the link to the Kindle version... you can view the first few chapters for free... (there goes any chance of sales then).
(This post is sponsored by @vital total idiots guide to copy / paste functions)
I'm about halfway through and really enjoying it. Happy to stick a review up once I've finished.
It definitely does the blues justice and your feelings for the club pour from every page. However I'd say that its beauty is that you could pick it up knowing nothing whatsoever about High Wycombe and its football team and still get loads out of it. At its heart it's a book about love and friendship, and those are as universal themes as you could find.
Very very well done. You should be really proud
Wow, thanks @eric_plant... I feel a Torquay blub coming on.
@Weegie congratulations
Thank you for writing this book . Finished it earlier this week & loved it (review left on Amazon).
As someone who loves Wycombe and travelling (been to a few places that featured) it really connected on a personal level, but leaving aside my personal bias think the story it tells is great.
As a Wycombe fan it's a fantastic reminder of what we were privileged to witness 15 odd years ago, and reading about Wimbledon away and Leicester gave me goosebumps!
Looking forward to reading it.
It sounds as if my reaction might be similar to when I read this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Steeple-Sinderby-Wanderers-Cup/dp/0900847948
If you haven't read it, do, please, it's brilliant.
@Jonny_King ... tell me about it, my first effort at a cover design looked more like a sexual health pamphlet... (well, at least I assume that's what they look like... honest, I've never seen one).


text:
Two books by Minnesota authors grappling with their faith in different ways, meditations for lawyers in recovery and a father's advice offer help for readers searching for spiritual meaning.
"A Pelican of the Wilderness: Depression, Psalms, Ministry and Movies" by Robert W. Griggs (Cascade Books, $20).
The title of this gracefully written and sometimes funny memoir by a Minnesota pastor is a phrase from Psalm 102:6 the author uses as a way to describe his descent into depression.
Griggs was a respected and successful pastor in his 26th year at a United Church of Christ congregation in Minneapolis. He hid from everyone his insecurity and exhaustion.
"Over the years, I had blurred and finally erased the boundary between my church and myself," he writes, explaining how he tried to please everyone and keep all the balls in the air so he would never be humiliated.
And then he crashed. He spent hours in the coffee shop and postponed tasks. As he became more detached from daily living, there was a roaring in his ears and he banged his head against the shower wall to stop the pain.
Griggs got help when he was hospitalized. "I saw how the therapy group and the recreation group, in their different ways, both succeeded in getting me outside of my own mind," he writes. "… The Psalms are a third way. Over time, the regular reading of them has worked to free me from my obsessive, self-accusative thoughts … they put the pain into words and bring it to God. They give me some hope that God cares about how much I am hurting."
What Griggs liked about the Psalms of lament is that the speakers do not hide their emotions; they admit their deep anguish when they cry out to God: I am weary with my groaning … I am feeble and sore broken … My days are like a shadow that declineth.
Griggs, who writes lovingly about his fellow patients (changing names and other identifiers to protect their privacy), admitted to a brief relapse but eventually found balance in life. He quit his full-time position and is now interim pastor for various periods of time.
This book is as much about Griggs' spiritual journey as it is about his mental recovery. "I have found a way to faith, while being honest about my unbelief," he writes, adding "I have become a much better minister and a more faithful Christian because of my time in the loony bin."
For folks struggling with depression, even those who are non-believers, Griggs brings hope. The Psalms that helped him in his recovery remind us that human emotions are no different now from what they were a couple of thousand years ago.
This would be a great book club selection, leading to a respectful discussion regardless of what members believe. (Available at wipfandstock.com.)
"Walking With Tension" by Jennifer Christine Hill (self-published; $9.99 paperback, $4.99 e-book).
Like Pastor Griggs, Hill grappled with her relationship with God, whom she sometimes hated for not healing her cerebral palsy.
In this unflinching memoir, Hill recalls being prayed over as a child in front of a congregation. She was sure God would answer, but nothing happened. During a second prayer session the leader said, "Be loosed from her, you foul, nasty thing." Hill interpreted those words to mean that she was "foul."
As she matured she became ever angrier with a God who would not help her. She made up for her lack of self-esteem by striving for perfection in her studies at St. Cloud State University, where she was commencement speaker. But that honor didn't change her self-image: The robe I would be wearing in a few weeks was symbolic of how academics had covered my shame and helped me to look successful. When the subject of dating comes up, she thinks of herself as "a freak of nature."
Because Hill was so obsessed about her cerebral palsy, she didn't realize, until she met others with the condition, that hers was hardly visible, except for a hitch in her walk.
She had never spoken about having cerebral palsy because, she told her therapist, "vulnerability scares me." When she finally talked to two trusted friends, they recalled a cousin with cerebral palsy who was in a wheelchair and could not speak: My eyes widened in surprise. With a few simple words, Tom and Kate had begun to change the way I viewed myself.
Even after Hill was living in her own apartment and teaching, she was "still asking God why, telling him about his 'mistakes' in my life and his 'misuse' of power." Then she attended an event during which the speaker said: "If God hasn't granted a deep desire of your heart, it isn't that he has forgotten you."
That was Hill's epiphany, and what she did with her life after that is an uplifting story. She has been recognized for her work as an elementary school library media specialist and is pursing a doctorate of education at Bethel University in St. Paul. She is a member of Church of the Open Door. (Available on Amazon.com.)
"The Lawyer's Light: Daily Meditations for Growth and Recovery" by Kevin Chandler (American Bar Association, $39.95)
In the preface to "The Lawyer's Light," attorney Kevin Chandler writes that he completed a 30-day residential alcohol treatment program.
That experience convinced him "my training as an attorney was having a direct impact on my recovery. … Where others seemed to relish attending meetings, I felt too superior to mix with 'mere mortals.' " He found comfort in talking with other lawyers who ventured down the recovery path before him.
(The American Bar Association reveals there are more than 200,000 lawyers in recovery in the U.S. and studies show that lawyers have twice the rate of addiction as the nation as a whole.)
"The Lawyer's Light" is made up of a thought-a-day for 365 days. Each is preceded by a wise quote from folks living and dead and from all walks of life. Daniel Webster and John Foster Dulles face one another, as do George S. Patton and Rose Kennedy.
The Jan. 1 meditation, with a quote from Thomas More, reminds lawyers that they are self-proclaimed workaholics and must "step out of our lawyer uniforms at home." Dec. 31 closes out the year with a meditation on fear. (Available at ShopABA.org.)
And for those who looking for a spiritual book written by a parent, Kent Nerburn's "Letters to My Son: A Father's Wisdom on Manhhood, Life, and Love" is out in a 20th anniversary edition with added material (New World Library, $14.95).
Nerburn is the author of 13 books on spirituality and American Indian themes, including "Neither Wolf nor Dog" and "Simple Truths." In "Letters to My Son," he reflects on love and marriage, travel, money and wealth, tragedy and suffering, spiritually, sex and the true meaning of strength. The anniversary edition includes new chapters on sexual identity, the difficulty of leaving one phase of life for another and an essay on the mystery and majesty of life's journey previously published in "Simple Truths."
Mary Ann Grossmann can be reached at 651-228-5574.


text:
|Block 2
|Block 3
Design Wall:
I have a bunch of secret projects on the wall today that I can't show you quite yet so I don't spoil the surprise, however I also have the tester blocks for Block 2 above that I want to make into a quilt top this week.This one I can't quite wrap my head around how I want the layout to go right now. I was thinking of a simple 9 by 9 with a border or a sashing between the blocks with the white fabric. The center coral fabric is currently on sale at Connecting Threads for like $4/yard, so I am debating with myself if I should pick it up now for the binding and backing fabrics since I don't actually have a lot of pink in my stash this has been a hard quilt. My goal was to make a rather girl baby quilt so I think that part is going in the right direction atleast! I really want to join up with Judy's Quilt-along, but I am afraid I have too much on my list right now.
Thanks for stopping by for a visit!
I am linking up to:
Design Wall Monday with Judy@ Patchwork Times
BOM's Away with Lyn @ What a Hoot Quilts
*\o/* Cheers
Don't forget to check out the beautiful creations on the Kona Hop!
Day Nine
More Stars In Comanche
Buzzing And Bumbling
Quilting Quietly
Grammie Q's
The Quilted Cat
The Quilting Queen Online
Sew Incredibly Crazy


text:
Atomic Tangerine creates campaigns and implements marketing plans to achieve your business objectives. Atomic Tangerine can bring our network of trusted suppliers to any project – or we can work with your preferred teams.
We can work with your team or you can completely outsource the project to us. With our collaborative, flexible approach, engage us whenever you need extra resources to deliver top class results!
If you need help with marketing planning - this is a great option.
We can develop a project rate or work on a rate for time spent on your project.
Tactical services:
Rolling up our sleeves and getting the job done
Well written copy is interesting and engaging, takes into consideration your product, brand personality, brand style, tone and market position. Good copy takes a piece of collateral from 'meh' to 'copy-tastic'! From printed brochures to web copy; fundraising letters to membership drives; electronic mail with high open rates to client case studies: it's critical to invest in good copy. Atomic Tangerine's professional writers clearly articulate your brand message, every time.
A major campaign to run, and not enough time to dedicate to it? Engage Atomic Tangerine and outsource the headache! From coordinating production schedules, running multiple online or print advertisements, to launching digital landing pages: we can manage your campaigns. Don't invest in a channel if it's not producing results? Metrics and data should drive tactics, so we'll also track and analyse your campaign results to unpack the key insights.
A website is a tool – but is yours the right tool for your audience? Who is using your website and why? Is that aligned with your brand? Are you addressing the right customers and delivering the most effective messages? Atomic Tangerine provides recommendations to refocus or completely refresh your site, wireframes to inform structure and a creative brief to drive design. We can recommend designers or work with your suppliers.
A comprehensive communications plan aligns everyone in your organisation with a common understanding of messaging, client and internal communication. Everyone understands their responsibilities, and there's a central reference point for all communications-related queries. Plans typically address a specific communications goal: an organisational restructure, a new product launch or a policy change. Atomic Tangerine assesses and refines current communications and develops new streams or channels to deliver your message most effectively.
'Content is king' is the new online mantra. Well designed, interesting, relevant, shareable content drives web presence, positively influences Google's assessment of your site and increases brand awareness. Video, animation and info-graphics are on trend, but simple, informative blog posts are far from dead. The key is in developing and sticking to a regular content schedule. Atomic Tangerine can recommend best practice posting frequency and develop your content with you.
Even for organisations who understand the benefits of social media, engaging all the different channels can be a time consuming and unfocussed exercise. Atomic Tangerine helps you fine tune your Social Media voice, style and tone. We will assist you in implementing the tools and schedules needed to ensure that you are engaging with the right channels at the right intervals and having the right conversations with the right communities.
Often a backwater in the marketing world, we believe that presentations and pitches are critically important. Professionally prepared and presented, presentations will improve your results, and enhance your businesses vision, aesthetic and brand, for both your external clients and your in-house team. From engaging and accessible presentation material, to the style and confidence of the presenter, Atomic Tangerine can work with you to ensure that every presentation is a knock-out!
Many businesses are stuck on a treadmill of seeking new leads - but there is often a goldmine in your own customer database. The cheapest and highest converting leads are usually repeat or referral clients. How do you leverage your database to generate more business? Atomic Tangerine designs and implements ongoing customer retention and referral programs, to provide you with the data to embed this approach in your business processes.
"Sybil is one of the rare breed of marketeers with the ability to manage a wide range of Marketing Activities including digital, online, collateral, industry white papers and events. She is also fantastic fun to work with."Emma Dart, Global Director of Strategy & Marketing, IPscape
Contact us to discuss your marketing needs!CONTACT US


text:
I recently moved into my apartment. The air conditioning system is not the greatest, so I have to keep my bedroom window opened a majority of the time. I recently discovered that tiny flying bugs get in through the screen and gather typically on the ceiling where my lamps are. Does anyone know of any ways to prevent this? Now that they are here, how can I get rid of them?
By Anne
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
Vaseline works well and is odorless. I buy any cheap Vaseline and squeegee it onto my screens. I do both sides. It doesn't deter them because all bugs are attracted to light, it just stops them in there tracks. As for the ones that do get in. Windex works great.
Good Luck!
I had that problem for quite awhile, the little flying no-seeums were life cycling. Didn't see any for weeks, then be inundated with them. Turns out, I had a water seepage problem in the basement, and we sealed that up, bombed the house with a regular roach bomb, never had them again.
I also pay rent and live in an apartment. You should report the problem to management, that's their problem not yours to get rid of the bug infestation.
The Vaseline idea is great. Vinegar with a few drops of dish washing liquid in a cup inside the window sill will also help.
You didn't say where you lived. It is possible you are being invaded by the tiniest of all flying insect called "No Seeum's" Yep, I might have spelled it wrong, but in AK, you can't see them unless they are swarming around a light outside. They are smaller even then Mosquitos. Nasty little things, and they bite, too.
If you can, capture some and look up on line to see what they are. Then, you can best determine how to keep them out of your home. As a former property manager, I can say that MCW is right to a point. If you attract things like roaches, ants, or vermin, you will be charged. That is not to say you are attracting them, but you have to be careful what you let in, too.
I have been having a problem with very tiny white ( somethings) that look like a grain of salt. They bite me and my three children at night mostly. I've also seen the almost clear with a brown tint somethings everywhere in my home. This has been going on for over a mth now. I'm not sleeping!!! Can someone please help!! If anyone has any advice, I'm willing to just about try anything at this point.
What I believe you encountered is a Thrips. A Thrips (yes, it is spelled plural) of the order Thysanoptera is small enough (less than 1/20 inch long) to crawl through the mesh of a window screen or some camping-tent mesh.
The bite of this insect feels similar to a mosquito, but since this little guy can bring hundreds of friends and reach places mosquitoes can not... you can know Thrips have arrived almost the instant the attack has begun. I first witnessed thrips as part of my insect collection for Biology in High School (captured from our family's garden roses).
But their invasion through the camping tent-mesh, stopped my camp-out on a warm sandy beach in Florida. I had no idea this little thing could be such a menace to living in or enjoying the outdoors. Summer heat after recent wet weather will bring them out en-force... thrips seek out warm, dark places to feed.
Hot sandy beaches and abandoned railroad cars are two places where I was practically eaten alive, though they are commonly found on garden flowers such as roses, fruit trees, ornamentals, vegetables, and citrus.
See Management here www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!


text:
"More ... we want More".
Have you ever seen that commercial with the little girl who explains why MORE is better? Since it just seems like a must see ... here it is. Your 30 seconds will be well spent.
AND I'm sorry if you don't like being advertised to. I feel just like this girl when it comes to photographs. I just want MORE.
So I'm here to announce that in your scrapbooks you can have more and you don't even have to get anyone's permission. The answer is FLIP FLAPS!!!!!!! To see the packaged product click right here --> FLIP FLAPS
I'm the Queen of Too Many Photos. Yet, I never want to change. AND I never want to get rid of very many of the pictures either. At the same time I only want to tell the story on one layout in my scrapbook. So Close To My Heart has this ingenious product that gives me everything I ever wanted and MORE. The best thing I can do is show you.
WARNING ... This post isn't about expert photography or even about the layouts themselves. This is all about MORE!! There are a lot of photos ahead ... now you've been warned so you can't complain.
Let's start with sports because that's one of those areas where I just can't get enough photos. I fill up the entire memory card at every game to make sure I get the very best shot. So in the past I found myself doing something like this ...
Flip Flaps are a Close To My Heart product that you add to the outside of your page protectors to expand your pages. The sizes range from 2x2 inches all the way up to 8x12 inches. Every size is good for something. If you don't know where to start I recommend using 4x6 ... your basic photo size. Here's a simple way to expand a layout. The photo in the lower right of this page "matches" my layout but there are other lovely photos from the same place. They're just hidden from the initial peek.
Your next stop on our Everything ABC'S blog Hop is Jen Patrick of Roxybonds Scrappin.
Here is the complete lineup in case you get lost along the way:
1. Amber La Mons ~ Scrapper's Therapy (Scrappers Therapy)
2. Shelly ~ Just One Piece (Just One Piece) YOU ARE HERE!!
3. Jen ~ Roxybonds Scrappin (Roxybonds Scrappin' )
4. Shalana - Scrappin with Shalana (Scrappin With Shalana)
5. Kathy ~ Kathy's Creative Corner (Kathy's Creative Corner)
MORE ... about Flip Flaps
|The photos under the flap aren't the best ones, but a guy only graduates from high school once.
|Nerd Birthday Party ... my daughter & her friends don't normally dress like this.


text:
Colourful Cuba: A Photographic Rainbow
This page may contain compensated links. For more information read our disclaimer.
Scroll Down the Page and Watch Cuba Change Colours!
Alluring, majestic Cuba. One of the most colourful and textured places to capture with a camera. Mess and madness in every corner, yet method to the madness. As you scroll through you will notice a rainbow unfold down your page. Please enjoy!
Photos from Left to Right, Top to Bottom: 1. A wall full of propaganda, 2. A Ché Guevara Mural, 3. Colonial building in Santa Clara, 4. This man wanted me to take his photo, so I did, 5. Textured doors in Trinidad, 6. Decrepit buildings in Havana, 7. The Malecón in the afternoon, 8. Colonial building in Trinidad, 9. An onion cart on the streets of Havana, 10. Cuban Anolis lizard on a sign, 11. Palm tree leaf contrast, 12. Door in Havana, 13. The proud owner of a well-trained rooster, 14. Doors of Baracoa, 15. Cuban Anolis lizard on a stick, 16. Well lived man in front of wall, 17. Buildings in Santa Clara, 18. A cute cottage in the mountains of Baracoa, 19. Blue classic car in front of colonial building, 20. Street art in Santa Clara, 21. The beach at Santa María, 22. A content homeless lady in Cienfuegos, 23. A blue door in Trinidad, 24. Windows in Santa Clara, 25. Dusk in Viñales, 26. The streets of Trinidad, 27. Homeowner in Trinidad, 28. Classic Purple Chevrolet, 29. Brilliant sunset over the lake in Baracoa, 30. An onion seller in Havana, 31. Exhibit in the Carnival Museum, 32. A classic car in a garage, 33. Train Museum in Havana, 34. Chinatown in Havana, 35. A homeless man, also a fan of Ché Guevara, in Cienfuegos
PHOTOS: Alluring Cuba Photographed in Black and White
Location Info
Country: Cuba
Language: Spanish
Currency: 2 Currencies – Peso (CUP) and Convertible Peso (CUC)
$1 USD = 26.5CUP or 1.00CUC
I was here: January 2015
Have you been to Cuba? What did you think of the colours?
Related Posts
27 Comments
- April 20, 2015 at 4:30 pm
Amazing photos! Great shots and details though I'd prefer if the caption are placed right next to the photo to get a more clear picture of the shot. But that's just me. 🙂 Keep it up! You take really interesting shots. 🙂
- April 21, 2015 at 1:29 am
nope, sadly I haven't been to Cuba. But someday I will. The colors are gorgeous!!
- April 23, 2015 at 4:37 pm
Wow, marvelous blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you madce blogging look easy. The overall look of your website
is wonderful, as well as the content!
- April 23, 2015 at 8:19 pm
It'sactually a cool and useful piedce of info. I'm happy that you
just shared this useful info with us. Please stay us up to date like this.
Thank yyou for sharing.
- April 24, 2015 at 9:27 am
Excellent blog right here! Additionally your website quite a bit up very fast! What host are you using? Can I am getting your affiliate hyperlink for your host? I want my site loaded up as fast as yours lol|
- April 26, 2015 at 3:57 am
Magnificent site. Lotss of heloful info here.
I'm sending it to a few pals ans also sharing in delicious.
And certainly, thanks for your sweat!
- April 26, 2015 at 3:59 am
always i used too read smaller articles which as well clear
their motive, and that is also happening with this paragraph which I am
reading at this place.
- April 26, 2015 at 4:38 am
I am really inspired with your writing abilities as neatly as with the structure in your blog.
Is that this a paiod subject or did you modify iit your self?
Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it's uncommon to look a great bblog like thhis one nowadays..
- May 10, 2015 at 10:22 pm
I've read some excellent stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for
revisiting. I wonder how much attempt you put to make this sort of wonderful informative site.
- May 11, 2015 at 6:26 pm
I seriously love your site.. Excellent colors & theme. Did you build this
web site yourself? Please reply back as I'm hoping to create my very own website and would like to know where you got this from or
just what the theme is called. Appreciate it!
- May 11, 2015 at 8:46 pm
Excellent blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers?
I'm hoping to start my own site soon but I'm a little lost on everything.
Would you propose starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There
are so many options out there that I'm totally overwhelmed ..
Any tips? Cheers!
- August 9, 2015 at 2:39 pm
Oh, Crystal! This is a wonderful website! I have enjoyed it immensely.
I am looking forward to your newsletter. Your photos are superb!
Keep up the good work!
- October 13, 2015 at 9:05 am
Seriously beautiful photos! I love the colours and your photo style, what camera do you use?
- November 23, 2015 at 8:40 pm
Really beautiful pics. Beatiful country, beautiful peole. Just go there!
- April 8, 2016 at 3:56 am
Great blog! Love the photos! Any suggestions/recommendations for planning a trip to Cuba?
- May 24, 2016 at 12:56 am
Love Cuba, and enjoyed your photos. The people make the island so I was pleased that you captured this in your post and photos. Engaged to a Cuban and just love the island. Miss him and Cuba so this was comforting to view. Thanks, Crystal.
Pingback: Budget Guide: Cuba, from West to East - Castaway with Crystal
Pingback: Beautiful Black and White Photos of Cuba - Castaway with Crystal


text:
GW Pharmaceuticals (GWPH) Stock Lower After Results of First Sativex Phase 3 Trials
Shares of GW Pharmaceuticals plc (GWPH) were trading down -9.50 or -13.36 percent to $61.56 per share in this morning's premarket, after the company announced early this morning the results of the first of three its investigational product, Sativex in Phase 3 trials. The company also released an update on its development program for Epidiolex, a treatment for severe drug-resistant childhood epilepsy. GW Pharmaceuticals stock closed at $71.05 per share, up +1.44 or +2.08 percent in Wednesday's regular trading session.
This morning, GW Pharmaceuticals, along with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. announced that Sativex did not show a statistically significant difference in reducing pain versus a placebo in the treatment of cancer patients. The results of the first of three Phase 3 trials did not meet its primary endpoint.
Justin Gover, GW's Chief Executive Officer stated that, "Although we missed the primary endpoint in this trial, based upon the positive data seen in the Phase 2 program, we remain confident in the ability for Sativex to relieve cancer pain in this patient population, we have two additional pivotal Phase 3 trials ongoing which, if positive, would still allow us to submit a New Drug Application with the US FDA. We look forward to results from these two further studies later this year.
The patient population tested, consisted of patients with advanced cancer that experienced inadequate analgesia while on optimized chronic opioid therapy. Dr. Marie Fallon, Professor of Palliative Care at the University of Edinburgh said that, "Too many patients with advanced cancer do not attain adequate pain relief from an opioid regimen, or experience unacceptable opioid side effects.
In addition to the news on Sativex, GW also gave an update on the Epidiolex program for treatment resistant childhood epilepsies. The company reported that all trials were on track or ahead of schedule in the treatment of both Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome or LGS.
In 2014, GW received Orphan Drug Designation from the FDA for Epidiolex for the treatment of both forms of epilepsy and now expects top line data from at least one of pivotal trial in Dravet Syndrome and LGS by the end of this year.
CEO Justin Gover said that "I am pleased to confirm that all aspects of this program are advancing on time and we now expect to complete pivotal Phase 3 trials by the end of 2015. GW stock was hit hard immediately after the news release, but has managed to recover considerable ground and as of this writing. The stock is still off significantly from its closing high of $107.35 per share made on July 1st of 2014.
Other News About GW Pharmaceuticals
GW Pharmaceuticals Added to NASDAQ Biotechnology Index
GW was added to the index on December 22nd.
GW Pharmaceuticals plc Reports 2014 Q4 and Full Year Financial Results
Company reports better than expected results.
Other Stocks in the News
Herbalife dismisses latest Ackman comments
Company says comments were "entirely predictable .
Sprint reports rise in lucrative postpaid subscribers
Company says it added 30,000 net postpaid customers in its latest quarter.
Published on Jan 8, 2015By Jay Hawk
Posted in ...Market Commentary Investing Stock of the Day Stocks


text:
UPDATED WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9, 1:38 P.M.: Vernon North-Okanagan RCMP have made an identification of a female suspect in connection to an alleged robbery that occurred at a local bakery in Enderby (see original story below)."
Since the original release was sent out, the RCMP has received numerous tips and phone calls in regards to the suspect's identity," said RCMP Const. Kelly Brett. "Police would like to thank media and public for their assistance on this matter."
The file remains under investigation.
Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP are looking to the public to identify a suspect in a robbery that occurred at an Enderby bakery late in 2018.
Just before 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 29, RCMP received a report of a woman attempting to rob a patron in the parking lot of an Enderby bakery.
Police learned an elderly male victim was approached by an unknown female who allegedly made threats to stab the victim if he didn't produce money. A brief struggle ensued, however the male victim was able to get into his vehicle and drive away without injury.
"Police have conducted their investigation into this matter and are now seeking the public's help in identifying the suspect female involved in this incident," said RCMP Const. Kelly Brett. "Although this incident is isolated, the RCMP would like to identify and hold this person responsible for her actions. No one wants to attend their community bakery and feel unsafe."
The suspect is described as a Caucasian woman, five-foot-four with blond hair, thin build, wearing a camouflage jacket and jeans.
Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact the Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP (Enderby Detachment) at 250-838-6818. Or remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, or leaving a tip online at www.nokscrimestoppers.com.
You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers. If you provide information that leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.


text:
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
- Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
Product Description
Now the best-selling book of its kind has gotten even better.This revised and expanded second edition of Ittelson's master work will give you that firm grasp of "the numbers" necessary for business success.
With more than 100,000 copies in print, Financial Statements is a perfect introduction to financial accounting for non-financial managers, stock-market investors, undergraduate business and MBA students, lawyers, lenders, entrepreneurs, and more. Most introductory finance and accounting books fail either because they are written "by accountants for accountants" or the authors "dumb down" the concepts until they are virtually useless. Financial Statements deftly shows that all this accounting and f… More >>
Financial Statements: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Creating Financial Reports


text:
The MJPL archives department was formed in the late 1960s with a mandate to collect materials relating to the history and development of the City of Moose Jaw and the surrounding area. The archive is located along the back wall of the adult department beside the biographies. The archive is open by appointment only. Those who wish to use the department may call 692-2787 for an appointment. Appointments will be arranged for a time which is convenient to the user and during which the library has sufficient staffing to provide assistance.
Our holdings (1885-present) include:
- Henderson Directories 1909-2000
- Local newspapers 1885 – present (microfilm)
- Photograph collection – over 6000 photographs, including those of Lewis Rice
- Personal papers of local citizens and records of local organizations, searchable via SAIN
- Clippings about the history of Moose Jaw and surrounding area, organized by subject
- Maps of Moose Jaw and Saskatchewan
- Moose Jaw high school yearbooks
- Periodical collection, including Saskatchewan History, Briarpatch, Blue Jay and many others
- Canadiana book collection, searchable via the library catalogue
Finding Aids
Finding aids are the tools that provide access to archival material. Our finding aids are available here:
- To browse the findings aids, see the holdings list on the right side of the page.
- To search MJPLA's holdings only, enter your search terms in the box under the blue 'Holdings' heading on the right hand side of the page.
- To search all Saskatchewan institutions, use the search box at the top of the page.
Please note that although we are constantly updating the database, not all of our finding aids are available online yet. All of our findings aids are available in the archive. Please contact the reference department for assistance.
Photograph Collection
Some of our photograph collection has been digitized. It can be found here:
- To browse the collection, see the photograph list on the right side of the page.
- To search the collection, enter your search terms in the box under the blue 'Holdings' heading on the right hand side of the page.
- To search all Saskatchewan institutions, enter your search terms in the box at the top of the page.
Our Lewis Rice Photograph Collection can be found at Saskatchewan History Online under Moose Jaw Public Library.


text:
Mommy Self-Talk
As a breastfeeding, stay-at-home mom, I'd say my level of attachment to my baby is pretty high. As is hers to me! So far, she does not go to sleep in any other way but nursing, so I am 100% responsible for putting her down at night and for all her naps. In her seven… Continue reading Mommy Self-Talk


text:
Corrugated Cardboard Recycling & Cardboard Recycling Pick Up Services
Do You Have Questions About Corrugated Cardboard Recycling?
Combined Resources will devise the very best marketing solution to suit any size Corrugated Cardboard and DLK generator needs, whether you ship ten truckloads per day or one compactor box per month we have a corrugated cardboard box recycling and collection program to fit your needs. We are forward thinkers and continually find ways to improve on areas of value for your Corrugated Cardboard and DLK recycling needs. Our cardboard box recycling center provides your facility with outstanding business recycling services, prompt payment, and competitive pricing to meet your company's financial goals. Small to large commercial facilities, businesses, and offices utilize our recycling services to keep their environment safe. Let Combined Resources be your go-to company for all your business and office recycling needs.
Corrugated Cardboard Recycling & Pick Up:
- Corrugated (OCC)
- Industrial Corrugated
- Double Line Craft
- Gaylord's
- Chipboard
- Box Board
- Kraft Multi-Wall Bags
- Kraft Paper


text:
At SIMS Nigeria Limited, we specialize in the distribution and sales of electronic products from major brands such as SAMSUNG, ROYAL, PARSUN and POWERMATIC.
Our business started out in 1987 and since then we have succeeded in carving a niche for ourselves in the home appliances market in Nigeria. We operate a number of branches that cut across most of Nigeria's geopolitical zones; in major cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Enugu, Kano and Abuja.
Our longstanding reputation has earned us a status as Nigeria's lead player in the electronics industry and as a result, we decided to go further by partnering with SAMSUNG to establish a local manufacturing line for its air conditioners and refrigerators in 2004. This, coupled with our state-of-the-art service centre that caters to consumers who buy our products, ensures that our customers enjoy the best quality of service from us and the best performance possible from their electronics.
To provide quality electronics and after-sales service at affordable costs to buyers of our products throughout Nigeria.
To provide innovative and durable products which positively contribute to the lifestyle and comfort of our customers in their various homes and offices.Corporate Strategy:
Customer satisfaction is an essential aspect of our business and important for our continued corporate growth. This is why we place a great emphasis on ensuring our customers' needs are met regardless of whether they are individuals or corporate organizations. This approach ensures that we remain a vendor of choice for buyers of electronic products at wholesale and retail channels.Corporate Management:
Our hiring practices focus on recruiting well trained personnel with experience and a passion for excellent service delivery in various aspects of the electronics industry. This means that whether customers are dealing with our store managers or senior management staff, they are assured of the same attention to detail and customer-oriented service rarely available elsewhere.
This approach drives our dominance in the industry and powers our growth across the country, resulting in guaranteed earnings for our shareholders, satisfaction for our customers and the respect of our suppliers who have come to rely on us as valuable partners in their plans for market expansion in Nigeria and the rest of West Africa.
We also determine what customers want and relay this information to manufacturers who promptly respond by developing products that reflect consumer wants as well as their values.
SALES, PROMOTION & MARKETING STRATEGYSales & Promotions:
SIMS Nigeria Limited is a prominent client of Nigerian media houses, devoting a substantial portion of our revenue to engage in promotions and advertisements in both electronic and print media. This sales strategy has resulted in significant brand recognition for our partners in the Nigerian market and continued patronage from customers throughout the country who identify with our marketing efforts in the media.
While advertising is an integral aspect of our sales and marketing strategy, a complete breakdown of the methods we use for promoting our range of products is listed thus:(a) Direct Marketing: Our sales team is made up of professionals who market products directly to end-clients and consumers.(b) Advertising: We advertise products through Nigeria-focused newspapers and magazines, and outdoor advertising platform such as billboards of varying sizes in strategic locations across the country to generate buzz and in turn sales; and broadcast media, television and radio stations in the country to achieve the same end result.
(c) Sales Promotions: We engage in sales promotions; participating in trade fairs, exhibitions and distribution of marketing merchandise during holiday seasons. These promotional items include free t-shirts, face caps and so on.
(d) Public Relations: Our brands benefit immensely from our efforts in public relations which may involve the sponsoring of events, sports tournaments or popular causes which result in the association of our brand and those of our partners with positive values appreciated by the Nigerian society.Distribution Strategy:We employ various distribution strategies, channels and methods to get our products in the hands of our customers and clients across the country:


text:
There's a fine balance of words and actions that can get you to the top!
It's all about being on Page 1
Google's algorthims change all the time, let us take the mystery out of SEO.
It is essential that search engine optimisation (SEO) is built into the design and architecture of your website from day one. Increasing the amount of relevant visitors from search engines will ensure that your project is profitable.
Top 10
All of our established customers are in the top 10 of all the major search engines for their chosen key words and phrases. The key to good rankings is to get your website higher up on the search engine page than your competitors so that users visit your website and not theirs'.
Strong competition
Because competition is fierce good rankings are becoming harder to achieve within the search engines. We offer a range of services to help ensure that your web site will achieve a higher ranking on all the search engines.
Up-to-date content matters
Linking all your web accounts together, blog, web site, social media etc means you will always have fresh content on one of these platforms. New content is always seen as more relevant.
Lets make page one
Don't waste another moment, lets get your website to the top.


text:
To consider oneself a "servant" is a hallmark of the Christian life. Jesus said that he did not come to earth to be served, but to serve. He also said that the way to success in life was to serve others. This is a paradox in today's culture. It just does not make sense that to be first, you need to learn to make yourself last. UVC is committed to developing Servant-Leaders, who first look to the interests of others before they look to the interests of themselves. That is leadership, Jesus style!! We encourage our students to serve like Jesus.
Not only is serving others a Christ-like characteristic, it also important for college entrance requirements, scholarships, or awards to which your student may wish to apply. Many colleges or award organizations are looking for young men and women who value community service and who submit record of service in their applications. We believe this form will be helpful in the years to come to help your family and your student record opportunities to serve.
UVC requires 100 hours of Servant-Leadership in order to graduate from High School. Beginning in 9th grade this number breaks down to 25 hours per year/12.5 hours per semester/6.25hours per quarter/half an hour per week. There are many opportunities to serve in our community. For a list of service opportunities and community service partnering organizations, please go to the UVCS website at uvcs.org or call the office at 679-UVCS and one can be emailed to you.
Servant Leadership opportunities
Servant Leadership opportunities are all around us, but here are a few that UVC recommends for our students. For more information about these organizations, click on the links below.
Family Development Center
YMCA Partners Sports Camp
Special Olympics Oregon
Saving Grace Pet Adoption
SMART Readers
Hope Pregnancy Center
Camp Millennium
Salvation Army
Safe Haven Maternity Home


text:
Heywire puts young Aussies at the centre of the conversations that shape their communities. Meet the winners of this storytelling competition as they share candid and courageous stories of growing up outside the big cities.
Selected Episode
Series 2019 Chelsea, Naracoorte, SA
Chelsea is the only female fire service cadet in her town.
This episode was published 1 year ago.


text:
Wow, January has flown by so quickly. I am super excited to share my High Five for Friday this week. I am linking up with Lauren over at the Lauren Elizabeth Blog. You can check her our HERE.
And here are my High Five for Friday:
1) Now that we are living out in the country , I just love being able to wake up and see a beautiful view of Mt. Rainier. This was not the best day to view Mt. Rainier, but still a sight.
2)Okay, if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, or read any of my other of my posts on here, you probably know already that I am really a loyal fan of the Seattle Seahawks. And, I am beyond super- excited about Seahawks going to the Superbowl!! I have loved football since I was a little girl, and it is super exciting to see our home team going on to the big game on February 2nd. My brother is actually going to the game in NewYork/NewJersey, and I am sure he is going to have a blast!
3) And speaking of loving football and anything to do with the Seahawks lately, I have a ritual that I have to have blue and green nails for game day.
4) I am sure you can see a pattern here of Seahawks this week, haha. Yes, we are excited. Our little one is becoming a big "Green and Blue" fan as well. She shouts and cheers them on for game days and non-game days. Her and Daddy tackle each other during games cheering "Go Russell Wilson!" and "Beast Mode!" It really is the cutest. This is her Seahawks picture she drew to support them at their last game!
5) Speaking of our little one, here she is in her little fort that we built between two of our couches with her new tablet. It amazes me that young toddlers these days pick up technology like it is embedded into them before birth! Haha.
How was your week? Would love to hear all about it, or if you want to share your High Five for Friday you can HERE.
Until next time…
Stay Tickled Pink,


text:
Never let your thoughts leave Kandrakar. Never.
—The Oracle to the guardians
The Oracle for the majority of the series (Voiced by Michael Gough) – Originally a denizen of the world of Basiliade by the name of Himerish, he is the ruler of Kandrakar and who gave the girls their powers.
He possesses unimaginable dimension-breeching powers, but acts as a guardian for the maintenance of the multiversial balance and as such is very cautious in the use of his abilities. Both sides of the Oracle's head seems to be marked with the symbol of the Heart of Kandrakar, and he always wears a long, green robe that stretches to his bare feet.
Originally somewhat aloof and not free of committing errors, in the Endarno arc the Oracle was deposed by the devious Phobos, who had assumed the identity of his friend Endarno, but after being stripped of his name and position of the Oracle and being banished to Basilíade, his experience as a mortal made him much more human and more friendly towards the Guardians after his reinstatement. When the threat of the Dark Mother becomes known, he enacts a controversial plan to defeat her, only to have the whole thing backfire due to him underestimating the villain's powers. Because of this, he has stepped down as Oracle and given the title to Yan Lin, who had recognized the threat from the start.
In the Comic final, he was invited back to Kandrakar, following the Girls successfully becoming Magical Sovereign.
Powers and abilities
As the oracle, his omnipotent abilities enable him to delve into the minds of others and feel their emotions. He can also observe others by conjuring an emerald screen that can display anyone or anything he wills it to, and can materialize anything he wants, such as the photograph of W.I.T.C.H. and Elyon together during the Halloween party seconds after it was taken. He is also capable of gazing into the future, though he never uses this ability to predict the actions, and thus counteract the forces of future foes, and even permits Cassidy to be killed by Nerissa. The Oracle can contact others by sending powerful waves of telepathy to them, as he did with Yan Lin to give his approval of her informing Hay Lin that she, too, was a Guardian once. The Oracle proves himself able to erase the memories of others in the Nerissa saga when he does so to the Guardians. In the animated series, The Oracle was able to manipulate energy to create shields and waves of pink energy and also possesses telekinetic abilities.
HistoryThe Oracle originated in Basilíade, the planet where both Orube and Endarno came from, and at that time, warring tribes resided on the strange planet. Endarno, a great warrior, was of the Shantas, a tribe that was by the cruel, merciless and tyrannical Sharr the Terrible, whose sole aim was to destroy all the other tribes of Basilíade. On the sixth new moon of that era, the Shantas triumphed over the Ashas, the Oracle's people, and Sharr sentenced all the Asha prisoners into eternal oblivion, but Endarno protested against this, telling Sharr to stop and requesting that the Shantas' victory be not another step in the war, but the beginning of peace for all. Sharr inquired a young Asha, who was Himerish, of his opinion of this statement, and Himerish merely said, "May wisdom illuminate your decision", enraging Sharr and motivating him to roar in response, "Then you will be the first to fall!" and preparing to slay the Oracle with a sweep of his blade, but Endarno intervened, blocking the blow with his own sword. Sharr was then angered further, and he swore that Endarno would pay for his insolence, injuring Endarno by slashing the right side of his head and his right eye with his blade. Endarno rebelled against Sharr, ordering two soldiers to take him away, overthrowing him and destroying his reign. The Oracle then stood up, thanking Endarno for saving his life and telling him that he is forever indebted to Endarno, who replies by saying: "There is great strength within you, and not the kind that brandishes a sword. I speak of your inner strength. Use it to cultivate Basilíade". Endarno then asks of the Oracle's name, and the young Asha tells him so.
Chronology: Comic BookThe Oracle usually meditates in the Circle of Knowing when something is causing him disquiet or distress, and he claims he has grown very fond of the five Guardians, defending them against Luba's continual complaints that they are too young, inexperienced and unfit to be Guardians.
The Oracle seems rather inferior, however, to the villains of Story-Arc 2-4, as he himself stated he was unable to defeat Nerissa due to the fact she possessed the Heart of Kandrakar, the need of the Guardians to protect him when Ari, the powerful lord of Arkhanta wages war on Kandrakar, and his incapability to discern Endarno's true self and his outrageous decision to put himself on trial, even as he knew doing so would bring great peril to the universe, which it did. In the Arkhanta saga, the Oracle displays the ability to render others unconscious with a simple word of "Stop", as he did with Olymar when he assaulted the Oracle and can transport others to other dimensions with a simple wave of his hand, as he did with the Guardians to send them to Arkhanta. The Oracle says that he is only an observer, a simple keeper of the balance, and thus he cannot decide anyone's future, nor make up for mistakes or injustices, which is why he rather coldly continually refuses to simply cure Maqi's affliction, despite the fact it would be a simpler thing to do rather than having the Guardians to coax Ari into not attacking Kandrakar, defending his decision that it is simply not his task (However, in the Endarno saga it is revealed that observing and not intervening is not merely the Oracle's decision, it is a sacred law of Kandrakar). The Oracle went as far as declaring Ari as a threat and an ambitious madman, not the truly kind and loving man who has suffered many blows to his heart, and according to Ari, the Oracle considers himself as the wisest of the wise and the greatest of the great.After being banished to Basilíade and having his title as Oracle renounced by the Congregation, he lives peacefully under the name Himerish. He loses his position to a being named Endarno who was later revealed to be possessed by Phobos. After being exorcised of the evil prince who subsequently committed suicide, Endarno was expelled from his position and Himerish was allowed to return and assume the position of Oracle once again, but his experience as a mortal made him much more human and friendlier towards the Guardians, telling them that he was eternally in their debt.
In the Dark Mother Saga, the Oracle decides to sell Kandrakar completely for the outer world to protect it for Dark Mother and free the essence of the elements keep in the fortress in order to become the new powers of the Guardians, sending also Matt to guide them in to find the roots of their power to control them. However, he fails to noticed that evil already have entered into Kandrakar, in the form of a evil tree born from a seed of Dark Mother, but Yan Lin notices and make Himerish see the true nature of the tree. Eventually, Dark Mother seizes the control of Kandrakar through the tree, but is defeated by the W.I.T.C.H. with the help of Yan Lin.But the Oracle was devastated to see what happened, knowing is was his fault to take the wrong decisions and failed to see the evil of the tree, which Yan Lin does. Decided that he doesn't deserve any longer to be the Oracle, he makes Yan Lin the new Oracle and leaves Kandrakar forever to an unknown destiny, knowing that with Yan Lin and the W.I.T.C.H., the future of the universe is in good hands.
Himerish returns in the final chapter of the final Arc. He was invited back to Kandrakar, following the Girls successfully becoming Magical Sovereign. He is presumably later seen resuming his role again as the Oracle with Tibor and his friends at his side though this is mere speculation because this is not confirmed through dialogue.
|Guardians of Kandrakar
|Guardian Elements
|Quintessence · Water · Fire · Earth · Air
|Heart of Kandrakar · Aurameres
|Xin Jing · Four Dragons · Nymphs · The Oracle
|Season 2
| W.I.T.C.H. (Guardians)· Yan Lin · The Oracle · Caleb · Blunk · Luba · Elyon Brown · Vathek · Aldarn · Drake · Tynar · Alborn · Miriadel · Ironwood · Bitterroot · Lillian Hale
Regents of Earth : Matt Olsen · Mr. Huggles · Napoleon
| Nerissa · Prince Phobos · Cedric · Jeek
Knights of Vengeance : Raythor · Tracker · Sandpit · Gargoyle · Frost · Miranda
Knights of Destruction : Shagon · Khor · Tridart · Ember
C.H.Y.K.N. : Cassidy · Halinor · Kadma
|Heart of Kandrakar · Aurameres · Heart of Zamballa · Seal of Nerissa · Horn of Hypnos · Tooth of Tonga · Mage Ring · The Great Ring
|Earth · Meridian · Kandrakar · Zamballa · Aridia
|01 · 02 · 03 · 04 · 05 · 06 · 07 · 08 · 09 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26


text:
All the events listed in day-order. Includes performance, film and interactive discussions and workshops.
Love Arts Festival 2018 is now over. However there are still some exhibitions you can visit. Click here for listings.
No event found!
"Painting, writing, singing, dancing; freeing minds and opening hearts. Moving, feeling building healing: this is why we truly, Love Arts."


text:
About Hereditary Cancer
Has someone in your family had cancer? If you have a family or personal history of breast, ovarian, colon or uterine cancers, you may be at greater risk of developing cancer in the future. The good news is that a simple saliva or blood sample test can help determine whether you might be at greater risk for these hereditary cancers, so that proactive steps can be taken to reduce your cancer risk or even prevent cancer from developing at all.


text:
2-Tier "Hungry Caterpillar" Nappy Cake
Baby Strawberry's 2 Tier "Hungry Caterpillar" Nappy Cake makes an ideal baby gift for both baby boys and girls featuring a neutral Welcome Baby card.
This Nappy Cake Includes;
- 18 Individually Wrapped Baby Love Unisex 3-8kg Nappies
- 2 x World of Eric Carle Very Hungry Caterpillar Bibs
- 1 World of Eric Carle Very Hungry Caterpillar Ring Rattle
- 1 Baby Face Washer
- Decorative Welcome Baby card
- Ribbon and tissue paper and other decorative items
- Free original Baby Strawberry message card
- Free cellophane gift wrapping
Delivery Australia Wide. This Baby Strawberry Neutral Nappy Cake can be delivered anywhere in Australia.
Free delivery available to Cairns Public Hospital and Cairns Private Hospital. Pickup also available from Cairns.


text:
I had an incredible job once. For almost two years I worked at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, one of the best children's hospitals in the country. (Think Baby Faye.) I was fortunate enough to be assigned to the Neo-natal Intensive Care and Labor & Delivery units as a resident chaplain. It's one of the largest NICU's in the country, with some of the sickest babies in North America. It's the premiere pediatric heart transplant hospital, and a Level-I trauma center. It is an amazing place.
Life — and death — is around every corner at any given moment. As one of the NICU's chaplains, I pretty much saw it all; the most severe birth deformities; the most serious diseases and illnesses; the most tragic circumstances; the most gut-wrenching grief. I was a young, single woman with no children of my own, so I could not even imagine what the parents around me were going through. I did my best every day to simply offer them support, prayers, hope, company, and when the darkest hours came, I learned how to witness their sorrow and not run from it.
I learned how to "sit with the pain" as one of the senior chaplains used to say. Death is a part of life, and as life should be treated with reverence, so can death be handled reverently and humbly. It's not at all easy to stand beside people whose child is dying before your eyes, yet it truly felt like an honor every time I was there for a baby's last breath; even as every heart in the room was breaking open, including mine.
On one such occasion, I was the only person there to cry. A baby boy had been born too soon, and he had multiple serious birth defects, and his shell-shocked parents could not bring themselves to hold him as he died. They asked me if I would. They named him Thomas. I sat in a rocking chair, alone in a surgical room, and cradled this baby as he slowly died in my arms. Thomas had almost no ribcage so I could see his heart clearly beneath his transparent, paper-thin skin. I watched it beat slower and slower, and he never opened his eyes.
For 45 minutes I rocked little Thomas, sang to him, and told him he was loved. I was sad for his parents, not just for losing their son, but for giving up the chance to spend those minutes with him, loving him. Theirs was a double-loss; I so wish I had done more to persuade them not to give in to their fear. I will never forget Thomas, and I will always cherish those 45 minutes. They were holy and a gift to me.
One of the things I did regularly was take pictures for the grieving parents. Many times I would dress the baby in a sweater that volunteers had knitted just for this purpose. A little hat, some booties, a soft blanket, and a beautiful picture was captured. I would also take some soft clay and make footprints or handprints. What a powerful and humbling task it was to press delicate, tiny feet into the clay to make a mold for parents who would never again hold their child.
I held in my own hands perfectly-formed babies who'd died at 16 or 18 weeks of pregnancy and marveled at their beauty. I learned how vital it was for their parents to see them, hold them, name them, and grieve their death the way they would any other member of their family. Indeed, that child was no less a member of the family!
For those who find something morbid or creepy about all the things I've just described, believe me, nothing could be further from the truth. Reverence for the human body, both in life and in death, is healing and elevating, and is one of our better instincts unless it is systematically choked off by an inhumane psychology.
We witnessed the latest evidence of this inhumanity in all the fretting and gasping aimed at Rick and Karen Santorum regarding the death of their infant son, Gabriel.
Isn't it ironic that our culture of death, those who champion abortion and euthanasia, those who see nothing at all questionable about cutting to pieces a tiny child in the womb are so squeamish about actually confronting a natural death? These people are so troubled by a mother and father who choose to embrace their deceased child's body with tenderness, awe, and kisses.
Their lack of reverence for life carries over into a lack of reverence for death.
They find it disturbing that parents would allow his siblings to see, hold, and spend time with their baby brother after his death because their narrative says the child is less than a person; less than fully human; less than you and I. They can't allow the idea to creep into the "mainstream" that a prematurely-born baby is actually a human being with a soul and a body that belongs to him! Gads! What might happen if people thought that perhaps those little ones in the womb weren't just parasites or insentient masses of tissue?
The Santorum family's treatment of little Gabriel is "weird" to them because Gabriel had no value in their view. Alan Colmes made that quite clear when he launched into his despicable mockery of the hours after Gabriel's death and the Santorum's grief. Colmes taunted them on television for the sake of political points, referring to Gabriel as "it." Gabriel was not an "it." He was a baby boy, a son, who was beloved and precious in the eyes of God and his parents.
The abortion zealots are annoyed that Rick and Karen did not treat their son like an "it" or as merely a "fetus" and send him quickly to the morgue. Lest more and more people get the idea that there's nothing wrong with holding and mourning their lost babies, they go into overdrive calling Rick "weird" and "outside the mainstream" and a man of questionable judgment.
Well, really, what else can we expect? Life that has no value while inside the womb will not suddenly take on value outside the womb. If they would destroy the body before birth, why show kindness after birth? Why hold lovingly that which you claim is a threat to your freedom and rights? Why risk gazing into the face of one whom you deem less human than yourself, less worthy of life?
Their reaction is only logical, but that is why I hope it alarms people. Those who have cruelly criticized Rick and Karen Santorum for revering the life and death of their son have unwittingly given us a clear view of what's behind their curtain, so to speak. It's a heartless continuum. Humanity denied to one can easily be denied to any or all. All that matters is the will of those who have the power to "choose."
No one who has sneered their objection to what the Santorums did is actually afraid that they are weird or of unsound judgment. They're afraid that respect for the life of a "fetus" might catch on. They're afraid that a tiny baby's body might be seen as sacred and dignified, and then heaven forbid, the baby himself might be seen as human. They're afraid that if too many people realize that mourning the loss of a very small baby is appropriate and good and necessary, then folks may begin to question the narrative that killing a baby is a legitimate "right."
And from there, the entire facade of "choice" comes crashing down.
Gabriel Santorum's life was too brief a moment, but his impact will be felt for eternity. He continues to testify to the immutable truth that human life is sacred and the child in the womb is all of us.


text:
Silky Mohair Pearl Grey
Fibre Content: 60% Super Fine Kid Mohair, 40% Silk
Weight: 25 g
Length: 300 m
Recommended Knitting Needles: 2,5-5 mm
Tension/Gauge: 18-25 sts = 10 cm (depends on needles size)
Silky Mohair Pearl Grey is an excellent quality yarn made in Japan from the highest category Super Fine Kid mohair (24 μm) and Mulberry silk. The higher silk content than the usual mohairs available means that it is wonderful to wear on the most sensitive skin. Mohair is known worldwide as "the noble fibre" or "the diamond fibre". Its exclusive qualities – lustre, resilience and colour reflection – have been its success. Glossy silk and fluffy kid mohair unite in this radient yarn to create luxuriously lightweight garment with amazing stitch definition and drape, keeping you comfortable and chic all year round. Silky Mohair is one of the best yarns that can be created by human hands and grown by nature.
Mohair has many natural qualities which are enhanced by silk. Because of its flexibility, mohair is rated as one of the world's most durable fibres. Mohair responds magnificently to dyes, retaining even the most brilliant colours over time. Thats why the colours are so bright and rich. Mohair breathes, absorbing and realising atmospheric moisture and controlling its own "climate" to ensure optimal comfort. It is very versatile fibre: cool in summer and warm in winter. Products made from mohair have an innate elasticity, which ensures they hold their shape. The natural lustre of both fibres gives garments a silky sheen and makes them ideal to wear day or night.
Silky Mohair can be knitted alone for lace projects or held together with another yarn to add fluffiness and subtle glow. It is also beautiful held double for a thicker weight yarn. You can visit our blog or Facebook profile of Siulo galas to find more knitting ideas.


text:
Writer: William Brookfield (Screenplay) Peter R de Vries (Book)
Starring: Jim Sturgess, Sam Worthington, Ryan Kwanten, Anthony Hopkins, Mark van Eeuwen
Plot: The inside story of the planning, execution, rousing aftermath and ultimate downfall of the kidnappers of beer tycoon Alfred "Freddy" Heineken, which resulted in the largest ransom ever paid for an individual.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Good Action Crime
Story: Kidnapping Freddy Heineken starts as we follow our five criminals Cor Van Hout (Sturgess), Willem (Worthington), Cat (Kwanten), Spikes (Eeuwen) and Brakes (Cocquerel) who have always been looking for a way to make money quickly instead of getting real jobs in Holland. Their latest plan is to kidnap beer tycoon Freddy Heineken (Hopkins) and collecting the ransom.
With the plan in place the kidnapping goes well the wait for the ransom is what takes the time and tests the strength of the kidnappers over the victims as we follow what could be the undoing of the men.
Thoughts on Kidnapping Freddy Heineken
Characters – Cor Van Hout is the leader of the gang, he brings his men together to complete the jobs with some failing and others not, he comes up with the latest job while his personal life is about to hit the highs a father could experience. Willem is the hot head of the group who will go past the marks to make the job get done and he could become the biggest problem involved. Freddy Heineken is the beer tycoon that has become the target of this men and he stays extremely calm through his ordeal trying to friend his kidnappers too.
Performance – Jim Sturgess is strong in the leading role of this film throughout feeling like the rest would listen to his every word. Sam Worthington is good in the loose cannon role too. Anthony Hopkins is as always the star of the show here as you want to see all of his scenes.
Story – The story is based on the true story of what happened when a group of criminals kidnap the tycoon and how they were not completely sure things would work and how things could go wrong. This is good because it doesn't go down a slick as the best heist movies but is also calm enough to feel like it is based on real people human errors through the heist.
Action/Crime – There are a couple of good car chases through the film which do make up the action side of things while the whole story is about the crime being committed.
Settings – The streets involved in Amsterdam show us how tight the car chases can be and escape routes by more than just road, we do feel like this is authentic with how everything unfolds during the crime.
Scene of the Movie – Freddy's orders.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – The clear choice for a problem is having some Dutch cast members but the leads are not.
Final Thoughts – This is one of the films that didn't get much talk when it came out but I don't understand why, it is an enjoyable and one film that is worth watching for all the heist fans out there.
Overall: Good heist film.


text:
Sybil Monroe didn't give me the time of day when we was going to school.
She thought she was too good for me.
And she'd laugh at me clothes.
Well, the last laugh's on her, because now she's Dead.
And I'm glad.
Oh yes.
I'm glad she's dead.
Oh yeah.
I'm glad her poor old mother outlived her.
And her stuck-up friends,
Like Gladys Kennedy, or that fat one, Charlene O'Connor,
Crying their tears and smudging up their makeup at the funeral,
Can go to Hell too.
Moe Gorman


text:
I am now playing Luther Vandross – This Close to you, the title track of the second CD he released in 1977 with the group LUTHER. The CD never sold much (although you can get it today at R1500 a copy) , but had already indicators of a great vocalist luther was- the arrangement of … Continue reading
Dear Leader As the first month of the year hurtles to the end, I feel like last year never really ended. And I find myself challenged as a leader, but also as a person that supports leaders do their job, I have been working very much at both ends of the scale of leadership- working … Continue reading


text:
First off I just want to thank to Javier for taking the load while my son was being born. Unfortunately I got sick after coming back from the hospital. But now i'm back and to all our loyal readers, thanks for sticking with us.
Now back to our stories!
A video that was taken last summer of a cigar shaped UFO is now receiving lots of headlines.
Video footage emerged today of "cylinder-shaped object" that stunned holidaymakers as it hovered over the coast above a seaside resort.
The UFO was seen floating above a caravan park at Brean, near Burnham-On-Sea in Somerset last summer.
A two-minute video clip taken by an onlooker shows the cigar-shaped craft moving high above telegraph poles and the stationary vans.
The shaky film, shot at a lunchtime and in clear blue skies last July, is proving a hit on YouTube.
The video was taken at the height of the tourist season and a large crowd stopped to watch the phenomenon move in the air for 10 minutes.
It appears to be made of metal and has no visible attachments that could be kite-strings.
Avon and Somerset police said today they received no reports of UFOs in July. The previous month they did deal with a hoax call claiming that objects were floating in the sky above Cheddar Gorge, which is 15 miles from Brean.
A leading UFO research group warned it could be a kite or even a new aircraft being secretly tested.
UFO expert Malcolm Robinson, who has studied the subject for over 30 years, said the footage was "fantastic and baffling".
But Mr Robinson, who runs the respected Strange Phenomena Investigations group, said 95 per cent of sightings could be explained away after some investigation.
He said today: "The footage is very, very unusual, but we must bear in mind that the majority of reports do have natural identifiable solutions.
"This case does not conform to the normal sighting pattern, in that they are usually spherical or globes of light. This shape has been seen before however.
"It could perhaps be a kite or canopy of some kind. We would want to speak to all witness, the police and check with the airports. That said, it is a fantastic and baffling piece of footage."
Mr Robinson believes about 3% of sightings are so called "black budget technology" – aircraft being covertly tested.
Mark Newman, a spokesman for Burnham-on-Sea's rescue boat service, said: "There are already a range of theories on what the object might have been, with some believing it was a kite or balloon, while users on video sharing website YouTube claim the object looks like a 'high altitude observation balloon payload.'
"Another says it looks like a metallic shape, higher than a plane, making it pretty big'."
The footage and a still picture can also be viewed at http://www.burnham-on-sea.com.
It is not the first time that unexplained objects have caused hysteria in the skies near Burnham.
Coastguards were called out last June to search the coastline after sightings of a parachute and canister, which were never found.
Anyone have any further info on this story?
Full source: The Independent1 comment


text:
So the other day, I stumbled upon Babble.com, which is running a Top 100 Bloggers…it's not a contest, but a reader's choice poll, where you can nominate yourself or your favorite blog that's flying just under the radar.
I'll be honest – I nearly asked friends to consider nominating me. Then I thought "Well, that's kinda dumb, nominate yourself."
So I did.
<insert sheepish blush here>
I'm not good at the self-promoting. I hate asking for votes for myself, but hey, if I don't think I'm good enough to vote for, what's the point of it all, right? And did I mention this month is my birthday? So really, voting for me is a cheap and easy way to get me a birthday present!
Anyway, the way to vote is by sharing via any form of social media, leaving a comment, any of those handy buttons on the page. And you can see a terrific picture of myself, Maura and Zoey (aka big dog, aka freakshow, aka SQUIRREL!) on there as well.
So go to this Babble.com page to find me – and thanks!


text:
Your shopping basket is empty.
Product Description
160 gram tub of Japanese cut paste
- Use to seal cuts made to branches or roots
- Promotes healing, reduces scarring & prevents infections.
- Heat up a small amount in your hands before pressing into cuts / wounds
Use green top for conifers and white top for other trees.
Find similar products here:
Related Products
Bonsai Repotting Root Hook
Add to Wishlist
Stainless Steel Spatula / Tweezers Combined
Add to Wishlist


text:
Some of our favorite restaurants require a leap of faith. Yes, perhaps the facade has seen better days and the interior could use some scrubbing here and there, but it's good and cheap. You don't over-think it. It's your place.
But what happens when the Health Department comes along and slaps a big fat "C" on the window front? Can those lurking suspicions — what's really in this enchilada? — still be ignored? Yesterday, the New York Post published a story exposing restaurants that refused to display an indication of the lowest possible ranking, as is required by law. Of the 15 restaurants with a "C" ranking, only half owned up to the blemish.
The Post stopped by these low-ranking eateries for another story, that ran today, about whether its patrons will stand by the embattled locales they've forever frequented, or flee. Much to the chagrin of supposedly C-grade restaurants, people seemed to care a lot about these silly rankings.
At Boulevard Pizza on Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst, one patron barely noticed the C prominently displayed. "If I'd known it got a C, I would have thought twice," said Jennifer Carrasco, 46.
But if the food is good, and the "C" isn't displayed, does it matter if no one knows? When it comes to cheap grub, maybe ignorance is bliss.


text:
I noticed something simple a couple weeks ago. And though it was simple, this thing made me question the way I think about the world I live in and the way I perceive and interact with it. It's not all that important in and of itself, but it sparked an avalanche of ideas in its wake. What else is like this in my life? What else is there that is not what I've taken it to be at face value? How many of my other perceptions are just… wrong? Curious…
I worked from home the last couple years until I quit my job in January. Then I went from working from home to just BEING at home. My wardrobe has gotten quite relaxed in those years. I went from having casual Fridays to "Oh, I'm going somewhere today, so I should probably put on some clothes." On one of those days when I went somewhere, I put on my pair of brown corduroy pants. They're kind of stretchy and fit me comfortably with a belt. I went about my day and my pants went with me. It was a long day, and I was really tired by the end of it. So tired that I fell asleep on the couch still wearing my clothes.
I groggily made the five step journey from my living room to my bedroom to get some proper rest. But in my foggy state of being half-asleep, I did something new. I just yanked my pants off without first unbuttoning them or unzipping the fly. And they came right off. I don't think I cared much about it at the time or really even noticed. But the next morning, I picked up the pants to throw them in the hamper and noticed that the fly was still zipped and buttoned. I left it that way and pulled them on. Huh! There was no struggle. They went on fine and just conformed to my waist as they usually did. Pulled them off again, and again there was no struggle.
I've had those pants for about three years now. My body shape hasn't changed very much in that time. So how long has this been true? I have other pants that are similarly made with a little stretch to them. I tried them all on. SAME THING. I didn't need to touch the fly on any of my pants to be able to get them off and on easily. Most of them just need a belt to keep them where they belong during the day's many standing ups and sitting downs. Revelation!
How much time have I spent dealing with a vestigial structure on my clothing? It adds up, surely. I can remember some pants I've worn in recent years that were form-fitting enough and lacking stretch that this wouldn't have worked with them. But I hadn't even TRIED before. The thought never even crossed my mind. Button, zip, buckle; unbuckle, unbutton, unzip. Over and over for years.
Perhaps what's more interesting is that even after making that discovery… Now that I KNOW there's no need to fiddle with those fasteners… I STILL DO IT. It's over 30 years of autopilot at work. It's hard to rewire those neural pathways to stop myself from doing something that is so habitually ingrained. But still, the new way is more efficient, so I'm going to retrain myself. It's not that it takes a lot of effort. It's more that I have to be more mindful of something I haven't thought about since I was a little kid.
It's hard for us to remember what it was like when we were little. Tiny fingers just starting to figure out how to work things in the big new world. Putting buttons through buttonholes, putting on socks, getting shoes on so the socks aren't all bunched up in the toe, tying shoelaces! Working forks, knives, spoons, bowls, cups, straws, stairs, everything!!! You work and struggle at each new kind of clasp or fastener until you finally get it to work that first time. And every time after that is practice until it's something that's automatic in your muscle memory. Much like I'm typing these words on a little keyboard as a touch-typist… My fingers are in the right place because the letters are coming out in the expected order. There's an upraised bump on both the "F" and "J" keys. I had to rewire my brain a bit to use this particular keyboard, though. The ";" key has been replaced by a "'" key. I have to use the Fn key to get the semi-colon and colon now. I would argue that it's a slight improvement over standard QWERTY, but it has made making emoticons a lot more annoying. And then it's a pain to switch back to a normal keyboard, so I do most of my writing on this one.
But I digress… Anyway, I've been trying to approach many aspects of my life right now with the same level of mindfulness. I do so many things simply because that's how I've always done them. But as I approach things with a higher level of awareness, I hope to find more ways to improve things.
A lot of this thought has helped me to see that though I have a lot of interests, skills and talents, I believe I am a designer at heart. Always trying to make things better, more efficient, work more smoothly… I've always been that way. But I feel like I'm taking it to another level now. Not just coming into a field where I'll be a designer by trade. But also designing my life. Cutting out the things that don't work, improving on the things that do, but could be better… It's an interesting, exciting and sometimes scary time in my life right now. Sometimes the changes I make are huge and obviously life-altering. Other times, it's just learning that all I need to do is buckle and unbuckle my belt. But they're all making my brain work differently. And somehow, that seems pretty significant when you think about it.


text:
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Panoramic Photos: I C E Part Two
Before Webshots I used Photobucket for a time
Cypress Mountain Lookout, West Vancouver, BC December, 2008
click HERE for larger size. This was taken Christmas week December 2008. I can't remember what camera was used but I would have used Autostitch as the pano software. This was produced from 3 photos using the zoom
A novice would consider a panoramic photo to mean a greater angle of view, perhaps up to 180°. A super wide angle lens would probably approach 45° . My rotating film cameras revolve to 140° which is nearly as much as your eyes can see left to right. In photographic terms, a photographer would consider any image with an aspect ratio larger than 3:1 to be panoramic (width/height) So while the photo above is only around 12-15 degrees, it is a panorama by general concensus to most photographeers
Consider the panoramic mode of most modern cameras. Yes, my Sony has Sweep Panoramic mode but I seldom use it. I don't have full control of where the image starts, nor stops. It is trial and error. Here is one I took this morning before lunch
While I am able to set the lens to any focal length, most automated P&S cameras default to their widest angle, which isn't good as it creates distortion on close horizontal elements. The best is to set your focal length to at least 45 mm as this approximates normal human perspective. I have a prime 16mm lens to mimic what an automatic camera would do
Sure you can crop this image and get a panoramic perspective but what if you wanted to make a huge enlargement to hang on the wall ? You wouldnt have enough pixels to do the job
Okay, Now I zoomed my lens to 180mm (approx 280mm equivalent) , took 5 images and stitched them using Microsoft Research I C E and here is what you get. I used manual focus and Manual exposure mode to minimize colour shift
I didn't have time to remove the power lines but you get the idea.
Below is a quick video clip to show you the location. I wanted to take a panorama of Vancouver from this vantage point
I snapped 16 shots all at full 18 MP resolution in two rows left to right, but direction doesn't matter if you use I C E or autostitch, and I dragged these 16 images over to ICE from Windows Explorer
Here is the screen shot from ICE. Notice that the image size is 78 megs in size before cropping. Autostich does not crop so you need another photo editor. I have to keep images sizes low for my free hosting websites so I scale it down and then reduce it more for posting. But if you wanted to print a large photo to frame this would be a good solution to a low megapixel camera
I move the bounding lines for the crop and now the image has reduced in size to 53 megs. Having to crop is a function of taking photos "hand held" and not being horizontal, thus the image has "blank" spots without an image. If I shot another horizontal row below the horizon then the image could have been larger, with less cropping
Here's the greatly reduced output
It was a beautiful day today and we took my Aunt out for lunch and a ride to Crescent Beach, BC
I'm not fond of crows but here they are sitting on the fence in Mud Bay
and here is the fence to nowhere. I was enamoured with the ripples on the water.
Another nice day on the West Coast of British Columbia. A bit chilly by the water but the sun was out and another day with no rain, Oh . . . our fog has gone away
8 comments:
Nice pics Bob skoot,ReplyDelete
Like the one of the ocean coming into shore, you've got a lot into that picture .
Also the iPhone pic is quite good ..... Very handy these iPhones aren't they.
Kind regards
"The best is to set your focal length to at least 45 mm as this approximates normal human perspective"ReplyDelete
With and APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor, would this focal length be 45mm/1.5 or about 30mm?
I like to do panoramas as well though the Nikon makes it difficult to lock focus and exposure while shooting as the button is poorly placed. I Usually avoid manual as I tend to forget to set it back after the shot, then the next couple of pictures get messed up. This is a great summary and I'll try it once I get my Windows 8 computer.Replies
our actual field of vision in photographic terms is actually 43mm (in 35mm equivalents)
Read about half way down
and we can normally see 120-140° so panoramas are sort of how the real world look to us
When cameras were first manufactured, the standard lens was 45mm but they eventually settled on 50mm as the industry standard, over time which is a bit telephoto. When you use a wide angle lens and you are not shooting completely horizontal, then the horizontal lines will not be "level" but will bend either concave or convex. Try a 20 mm lens and point your camera up or down and you will see the distortion. If you try to stitch frames which are distorted, then the transition to each photo will not blend seamlessly. That's why they recommend setting your focal length to around 43mm which is loosely 30mm on APS-c sensors.
For many years I used to snap 3 image panos. I have many shots like this taken many years ago before I knew how to stitch them together but I took them anyway. One day I can try to find them and edit them together. In the days of film I used to take multiple images, get them developed and then just tape them together and them would be panos by the scrap book method.
It is important to take all photos at the same settings: ISO, shutter speed and aperature as this will affect colour balance between frames. If you only shoot 3 image panos, here is a trick I used to do.
Snap the middle one first in full auto mode and DON"T move your camera. The focus again and line up the left side, with a bit of overlap. Then go back to the middle again to compose and lock focus/exposure and then snap the right one. Make sure you have a point of reference using your focus point. Hope this helps.
I used to have Nikons. Hold the AE/FL with your right thumb and set lens to manual focus and snap away. That way you don't have to contort your left hand too
I know what you mean about forgetting to reset your Camera. When Dave was here I shot a couple of Remote shutters but I usually set my lens to manual focus as then I don't have to stand where the focal target is. Then later I was shooting more photos and then I noticed my lens wasn't focusing. My fault . . . For group photos whenever I use remote control I always set the focus manually.
Which Win8 computer --> the Lenovo looks good. Can't remember the model number but I saw them on sale a few days ago. I notice some computers now come with the free WIN7 downgrade option. Can these be dual booted ? Just wondering
I always found the tiny AE lock button too small sitting next to the viewfinder. I've done some panos the way you suggested and but I tend to forget to look at where I started i.e. what is at the edges of the frame.Delete
I was thinking of picking up a Lenovo Helix as it has a very long battery life as the keyboard acts as an external battery and will work as a tablet as well. It looks like a slick system and I figure that I can't bad mouth Win 8 too much unless I've tried it myself.
Just about anything can be dual booted except maybe an iPad. A colleague has a Windows tablet that dual boots to Win 8 and Ubuntu.
The trick when doing the 3 photo method is to notice where your focus point is pointing at so you have a reference. If you use ICE or Autostitch just machine gun two or three horizontal rows and that should do it. I like ICE better as cropping is included with the interface. Just change the scaling box for smaller file sizes
I was going to buy a new Ultrabook before my next trip, in the meantime I picked up a Nexus 7, ver 2. and I really like it. I installed the blogger app but I don't know if you can add more than one photo per post. I also bought the Kingston Mobilelite which creates its own WiFi network so I can transfer photos from an SD card directly to a USB pocket drive without using a computer. This is working great as now I don't need to buy a WiFI camera
Here's the Lenova Yoga, they even have an 11.6" version
I'm not techy so I don't really "get" all of the info, but I love the photos. I just point and shoot. ;)ReplyDelete
You do a far better job at it though. Beautiful!
You don't have to be techy. Just Point & Shoot. Look at a scene you want LONGER than normal. Shoot the middle one first and try to notice where to shoot the LEFT one, then the RIGHT one. Drag the 3 photos into ICE and when it is finished, drag the crop lines to square it off. Easy Peasy.
Did I mention that ICE is a FREE download ?