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It doesn't happen often when I invent a bright new recipe … but this time I have to say I was quite proud of myself.
This is a new take on grilled salmon … hope you like it …
Grilled Salmon on a bed of tagliatelle and spinach
Serves 2
You will need:
For the salmon:
2 salmon filets (no skin)
salt & pepper
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp soy sauce
brown rice vinegar
raspberry vinegar
a quick squeeze of fresh lemon
For the tagliatelle:
200 g dry tagliatlle
olive oil
sea salt & freshly ground pepper
For the spinach:
1 bag of spinach
1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 small handful of roasted pine nuts
1 small handful of raisins
sea salt & freshly ground pepper
Mix the soy sauce, olive oil, a bit of lemon juice, a few drops of rice vinegar and a few drops of raspberry vinegar; season it all with salt and pepper. Marinade the fish in this mixture for approx. 1 hour or longer.
Get your grill pan hot and grill the salmon for 3 minutes on each side or longer but you want the fish slightly pink inside.
In the mean time cook your pasta in plenty of salted boiling water and according to the packaging instructions, usually it takes up to 5 minutes. Drain the pasta, add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and season generously with freshly ground pepper.
While the pasta is cooking, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil and gently fry the onion and garlic for 2-3 minutes. Add the spinach gradually and cook it for a few minutes but make sure the leaves are still tender and not overcooked. Towards the end add the raisins and mix into the spinach. Turn off the heat and finally add the pine nuts.
Warm up your plates in the oven or in the microwave. Divide the tagliatelle between the two plates, put a portion of spinach over the pasta and finish with the fish on top. Squeeze a bit of lemon juice all over the dish and garnish with herbs (flat parsley, celery greens, thyme).
Enjoy it!


text: Shift into precision gaming! - Precision laser technology up to 4000dpi- Instant and programmable DPI switch function from 100~ 4000dpi(Default 1250 & 4000dpi) - Customizable DPI, button functions and macros- Five-way tangle free cable management with sleeve protectio Shop Modal header Shift into precision gaming! ASUS presents the ROG GX900, the gaming input with precision laser sensor technology and the coolest user-interface on a mouse! It's tailored to gamers looking for high speed action and total reliability in FPS, RTS, online RPGs and other game genres. GX900 also features a custom-built gamer UI that adjusts and tunes up for the best performance according to user needs. It provides 2 DPI gears - just like on a sports car, simply use your finger to shift up and down from standard speed to the highest instantly. The up to 4000dpi laser sensor technology makes the GX900 into a real tank on the battlefield of gaming – fighting and moving in every environment with no loss of traction or speed. While a lethal weapon in the right hands, GX900 still cares for the environment with low power consumption for a green and better world. 4000 dpiHigh Precision 4000dpi tracking speed. Laser SensorLaser Optical Sensor Programmable buttonsSetup your own flexible button mapping and functions for greater convenience. Weight SystemAdjust the mouse weight by your preference. DPI SwitchYou could switch the DPI instantly. Custom-built Gamer UISpecial game-centric features such as response speed settings make for better play, letting gamers customize different profiles. 5 Way Cable ManagementAdjust the mouse cable direction for your habit. Gold-plated PlugGold-plated plug ensure the data transfer rate in high speed. 1. 2*Side buttons 2. DPI Indicator 3. Slip-Resistant Design 4. DPI Switch 5. Profile Switch 6. Comfortable Rubber Surface

subset: commoncrawl


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I am looking to get started with arduino, however, I live in the UAE and for the life of me cannot find a place to buy arduino boards. Are there any forum members from the UAE/middle east who can help me out finding a store? There used to be radio shack, but they discontinued some time ago :(
Thanks a lot!
Sorry, if I posted this message in the wrong forum.


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- 3 Beds
- 2 Full, 1 3/4 Baths
Property TypeResidential – Mobile Home
SubdivisionSee Remarks
Listing Date12/01/18
Year Built2002
AreaOut of County
Lot Size0.56 Acres (24,394 SqFt)
Parking2 Car Garage
Property Description
Welcome home to your three bedroom two and three-quarter bath property located on half an acre and overlooking the valley.! Featuring a master suite with a large walk in closet, soaker tub, and more! Stay warm during the chilly winter nights with your wood burning stove, making hot chocolate or your favorite dinner in the large kitchen, is still having more room for additional activities in the adjacent family room. The attached two car garage and more!
Presented By
- In Town
- City
- Meadow
- Fireplace - Wood
- City Sewer
- City Water
- Forced Air
- Hook ups only
Financial Information
Sorry, there are currently no properties available that meet this search criteria.
We get asked this question a lot. Below is a tool that gives you the ability to see what the market is like in your community. Find out what homes like your own are selling for right in your back yard. Simply enter in your address, choose the proximity of the search and find out market data for other homes that are selling near you.
While we'll provide you with plenty of information, this is a snapshot of your market data and there are real people behind the high-tech and automated tools. If you would like more detailed information or help in understanding the results we are here to help.
Until then, enjoy the tools!
The data relating to the real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Vail Multi-List Service, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Vail Multi List, Inc. (VMLS). The information displayed herein was derived from sources believed to be accurate, but has not been verified by VMLS. Buyers are cautioned to verify all information to their own satisfaction. This information is exclusively for viewers' personal, non- commercial use. Any republication or reproduction of the information herein without the express permission of the VMLS is strictly prohibited.
Listing courtesy of Ascent Realty Colorado, LLC


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Obese Dachshund At Center Of Facebook Custody Battle
You may have heard about Obie the Obese Dachshund, a dog that weighs 77 pounds and is literally twice the weight of a healthy dog. The good news is that Obie is currently on a diet and engaged in hydrotherapy (he's too fat to walk, literally.) The bad news is that he's currently the center of a bitter custody battle.
Nora Vanatta, Obie's current owner, is in a fight with Oregon Dachshund Rescue, who originally received Obie into their care. The ODR claims that Obie isn't getting proper veterinary care and isn't well-treated, while Vanatta claims this is really about the $10,000 or so in donations to help Obie that she currently has in a Paypal account.
Either way, we just hope Obie, who's already lost ten pounds, gets back to a health weight. You can catch up with him on the Facebook page Vanatta currently runs.


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VMworld 2016 and vSearch 3.0 Preview
The VMworld 2016 is coming in about two weeks. Although I've attended every single VMworld after 2007, it's my first time as an exhibitor myself, to be exact, as a new innovator in the show. If you follow my blog and Twitter, you probably have know the company DoubleCloud that I had founded and the cool products/technologies we've been working on. This is the first year for us to promote our products in show. Please come to see our product demos, or simply stop by and say hi. Our booth is 841#4.


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Fireplace vs. Woodstove
Which is better?By Arnie Katz
Q I have a wood fireplace that we use every now and then, and I'm thinking about getting a woodstove to reduce my heating bills. Does this make sense?
A That depends on a lot of different factors. A traditional wood fireplace heats the people in front of it and, to some extent, the room it's in. In some homes it can heat much of the house, as long as bedroom doors are left open. That's the good news. Mostly, it creates a nice atmosphere — cozy and warm, comfortable crackling sounds — and is a very pleasant way to spend an evening.
The bad news is that burning wood in an open fireplace is very inefficient. In order to get the oxygen it needs to burn and carry byproducts (smoke, carbon monoxide, particulates) up the chimney and out of your house, your fireplace has to pull air from the room it's in. This air has to be replaced, which means you'll end up sucking outside air into your home. Depending on where that air comes in, you may feel a draft, which makes you colder. You'll also have to heat the cold air that's now in your home.
So in most homes, a fireplace is not a very sensible option for staying warm, unless you want to live in one room and are comfortable heating one side of your body at a time. A well-designed and properly installed woodstove, on the other hand, can be a very effective way to heat your home or part of your home. Here are some things to consider:
- Do you have a dependable supply of firewood close by?
- Are you living close to other houses? Wood smoke does bad things to people's lungs. If you are on a large lot or on a farm, it's unlikely the particulates coming out of your chimney will impact your neighbors. If you live in town or in a subdivision with homes close by, frequently burning wood might be annoying and even harmful to others.
- Is your existing chimney in good shape, and can it be used for a stove? I would get a professional opinion on this.
- Can you pipe the combustion air directly into the stove? Some stoves have outside air kits to do this, others don't. This can improve efficiency and reduce the chances of the stove back-drafting into the living space.
Consider not only the cost of the stove and the installation, but also the ongoing costs: firewood, tools, chimney cleaning, catalytic element replacement (if you get a stove that has one).
There are also other health considerations. If you cut and split and stack the wood yourself, it can take the place of a gym membership. Great aerobic exercise, particularly if you split the wood by hand. On the other hand, the emergency rooms are filled with weekend lumberjacks doing serious damage to themselves with chain saws and axes.
Does it make sense to replace your fireplace with a woodstove? It might, particularly if you live in the country, are comfortable around large tools, enjoy outdoor exercise and plan to use the stove as a substantial part of your home heating strategy. But if you plan to just use it a few times a year, the added efficiency won't ever pay for the stove.
If you do decide to keep your fireplace, be sure to read our tips for keeping it clean and using it efficiently.


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Ninety-one people have been charged in seven cities in a series of arrests carried out by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. The suspects are accused of participating in various fraud schemes involving more than $429 million in false billing.
According to officials at the Department of Justice, the suspects allegedly billed Medicare for treatments that were improper or unnecessary. In some cases the government was billed for treatments that were not even provided. Doctors and nurses are among those arrested.
Arrests were made in Houston, Dallas, Brooklyn, Baton Rouge, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami. The largest crackdown occurred in South Florida where 33 people were rounded up and charged in connection with health care fraud cases totaling more than $230 million. In Texas, the president of Riverside General Hospital in Houston and his son were also charged.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius added that new provisions in President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act made it more difficult for fraud to be committed.
This fraud sweep is the latest in a series of raids conducted since 2007 by the strike force. Over the past five years 1,480 suspects have been arrested in Medicare fraud cases totaling $4.8 billion dollars.
Source: CBS INTERACTIVE
{Matzav.com Newscenter}


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about Le Corbusier LC4 Lounger
Le Corbusier Chaiselongue LC4
The Chaiselongue LC4 by designer Le Corbusier originates from the glamourous time of Art Deco. Underneath the soft cushioned reclining surface are two tubes in the shape of skids, made of polished steel. In combination with the base it can be used in various positions. The unique construction of the base and the reclining surface result in an exclusive and comfortable ideal of elegance.
Le Corbusier, born as Charles-Éduard Jeanneret-Gris, designed the Chaiselongue LC4 in the 1930s in colaboration with his cousin Pierre Jeanneret and the designer Charlotte Perriand. They presentated the lounger at the stand of L?équipement d?une habitation at the autumn salon in Paris.
Category: ShowroomSafety: All pieces of furniture meet the european fire protection standards.
Material: Aniline leather, Stainless steel
Pad: 385 EUR/Piece
Neck roll: 130 EUR/Piece
Color: White
Width: 160 cm
Height: 80 cm
Depth: 62 cm
Item number: 20-045-107
Brand: Le Corbusier
30 day return policy
If you do not like the goods, you have the possibility, up to 30 days after receipt of the goods, to complain and return them free of charge to us.More Informations »


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Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Wikipedia.
despoil (something) of (something)
To rob something valuable from a particular place or thing. I can't believe that a thief despoiled the art museum of an original Picasso. It seems that someone despoiled the ancient tomb of its jewels before we got here.
despoil something of something
to make something, such as a town, tomb, or building, lose value by stealing from it; to rob something of something. The vandals despoiled the castle of much of its furnishings. The land was despoiled of its fertility by overplanting.


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Beautylish offers free shipping to the U.S. on all orders $35 and up. (After any applicable discounts are applied.) For all other orders, we offer $5 flat rate shipping.
We are currently unable to ship to P.O. boxes.
Beautylish offers free shipping to the U.S. on all orders $35 and up. (After any applicable discounts are applied.) For all other orders, we offer $5 flat rate shipping.
We are currently unable to ship to P.O. boxes.
Our customer service team in San Francisco is ready to assist you.
1-877-992-5474 Available Now
Monday - Friday
OPI is committed to providing high-quality products and services to their customers, along with a focus on industry safety and innovation. Known for its exceptional formula, fashionable colors and iconic names, OPI's heavily-pigmented lacquers are super rich, long-lasting and chip-resistant – offering an affordable luxury to consumers. OPI nail lacquer is available in over 200 shades and contains no DBP, Toluene, or Formaldehyde. Each lacquer features OPI's exclusive ProWide™ Brush for the ultimate in application.
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I love all Opi products that I have tried so far, I have ds glamour on now and it is amazing! It is wearable in three coats, i chose 4 for reasons started in my blogpost.
I love OPI's polishes, but buying them retail is absolutely ridiculous. Luckily I have a nail supply shop that allows you to buy them at a discount if you buy enough of them. This is the ONLY reason why I have so many of their polishes.
They are good quality, I cannot lie. They take a while to dry, but that's what makes me know that they're a good consistency and won't chip off in 1 day! They have a great color quality... usually two coats will give you the color you see in the bottle (unlike cheap polishes).
Bottom line...If you got it... spend it, you won't be disappointed!!!
opi is really great I have never experienced a bad take with this nail polish i recommend this nail polish to everyone! opi is really cheap and they're long lasting!
O.P.I nail polishes are the best ones I know. The formulation is nice, especially I like the cream ones. It dries quickly and the brush is amazing. The price is higher than some others, but it isn't that bad! And you do get a lot of product, and you defiantly do pay for quality.
What don't I love about OPI nail polishes? I love the wide vast range of colors. They're so much you do with them according to your imagination and creativity! I love that they come out with new fun themed collections with awesome colors. The polishes don't streak when you apply it and the color is vibrant and amazing. No other polishes compare. I also love the names of the polishes. That would be such a cool and fun job!
OPI "Look marvelous" - glittery gun metal color & OPI "OPI ink" -deep purple with blue, purple, and magenta reflects.
Im loving these too as of right now i thought that CG was the better brand but ive been on a OPI kick as of lately and they never disappoint!
O.P.I.'s "BUBBLE BATH" (NL S86) is soooooo pretty! it's the perfect nude pail pink I have been looking for. It is really dainty when multiple coats are applied. With one or two coats it can be used as a french manicure pink. recommend as perfect nude pink for anyone!
I wore artificial nails from the age of 14 to about 19. I did them almost every two weeks, and my nails came out so damaged. I was so embarrassed to wear nailpolish because all you could see were ridges.
OPI was the reason I let my nails become healthy again. While it is extremely expensive, I love that it was able to cover up all my imperfections. The built in hardener allowed my nails to finally grow on their own.
I love their color selections as well. Their range is great, and there's a color for everyone. The one thing that bothers me is that it's so expensive.
From the South Beach Collection, this opaque pink reminds me of the plastic flamingos on everyone's yard growing up in Florida. This is a If your looking for full coverage fast, this does it in only 2 coats, beautifully. I'm so into it right now, I wore it 2 weeks in a row. Just make sure you use a top coat, gorgeous. It chips easily. xoxo
I scored this one 50% off at PureBeauty.
OPI is number one in my book when it comes to creative nail color names and unique colors. However, many of the formulas that I have are crap. Sorry, there's no other way to put it. Several are VERY thick and "gloppy". For $8.50 a bottle I expect greatness in a bottle and while I love the color the application process is a pain.


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I'm inspried by a variety of things, both small and large: a really good cup of coffee, great art, contribution, reading the Sunday New York Times, sitting in the Linux kernel panel session at LinuxCon. But this year in particular, I'm more inpsired than ever by what is happening because of Linux. The Raspberry Pi is putting computing power in anyone's hands; the Cadillac Cue is illustrating just the tip of the iceberg of what Linux is doing for car infotainment systems; and Google, Facebook and Amazon all continue to push the limits on how we connect as a global culture thanks to Linux. This year, too, Linux is playing a major role in how we define the open cloud and is bringing more attention to why we need to fight for openness in cloud computing.
All of these reasons and more are why we created a theme for this year's Linux Foundation T-shirt contest, "Inspired by Linux." My colleague Libby Clark last week shared a video that gives me goosebumps and that we can already see by the submissions coming in are inspiring people to design this year's T-shirt. To provide even more inspiration and direction on how to become a finalist, I thought I'd share last year's finalists. I hope this helps designers understand the basic elements we're lookging for when choosing the top 5-7 for community vote: artistic quality, originality, creativity, simplicity in design, and adherence to the contest theme. Enjoy the slideshow, and we look forward to reviewing your design. And, to this year's two winners-to-be, we'll see you at LinuxCon and CloudOpen!


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I lost a balloon payload in the area south of Lewisville, Arkansas. Below in the image is where I think the most likely location is. I drove around on the country roads back there and didn't see it, but the woods are quite thick so it could be in a tree or something. There is about $400 worth of equipment in it with the data radio and cell phone that I'm willing to let the finder keep if they can send me the SD cards or the data on them or we can work something else out. It isn't still actively beaconing so I'm guessing as to the area but it was in free fall and actively beaconing until that time. For more information, see this discussion on it:
Here is a link to the aprs site if you want to see the raw beacons and make your own determination where it is based on its beacons. It was beaconing at the rate of about every 25 seconds, but not every beacon is heard and logged.


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Donna said...
I would like to try the ULTRA Hand Dish Wash Liquid Natural Lavender & Rosemary
Donna, send me your mailing info for shipment!
(addy is located at the top left corner)
Tough cleaning power with NO harsh chemicals or toxins.....
Bright Green packs the power without damaging the Earth.
So, even though you may not TOTALLY enjoy cleaning at least you can find comfort in knowing that your cleaning products are actually helping form a cleaner and healthier planet.
It doesn't get any better than that.
Well, actually it could.
I mean....
If I had a maid to use my BRIGHT GREEN products then that would be even better.
hee hee!
A little about Bright Green products:
We developed Bright Green™ in partnership with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), a leading third-party provider of certification, auditing and testing services and standards in environmental protection and social responsibility. SCS reviewed each Bright Green™ product for naturally derived and biodegradable ingredients, post-consumer recycled content and energy efficiency.
A wide range of choices
Bright Green™ is unique in its breadth, convenience and affordability. We offer more than 20 choices to meet all of your household needs. And, they're available at a price that is comparable with leading national brands in these categories.
The Bright Green™ line of products features:
* Cleaning and laundry products made with naturally derived and biodegradable ingredients.
* Paper products whitened without the use of harmful elemental chlorine and made from 100% recycled fibers.
* High-efficiency light bulbs that save electricity while lasting 13x longer than ordinary bulbs.
I recently had the opportunity to try a couple of the Bright Green products.
I tried the All Purpose Cleaner which is great for cleaning just about ANYTHING.
(my kind of product....One bottle for many jobs)
I also received the Ultra Hand Dish Wash liquid.
I love this stuff. It has a awesome scent of natural lavender & Rosemary not to mention it cleans remarkably well.
Move over Dawn....You have a contender!
**little sidenote: It also makes for a great bubble bath. You should see the suds it makes.
~Mother of the Year participant over here~
Yes, I ran out of bubble bath and YES I used Bright Green hand dish wash liquid.
Am I ashamed?
No harmful toxins or nasty chemicals, remember?
Bright Green also offers laundry detergents, paper towels, toilet paper and even lightbulbs.
Next time you are in Safeway think GREEN...
I have one pretty awesome BRIGHT GREEN pack to give away.
The pack contains the following:
1 Bright Green All Purpose Cleaner
1 Bright Green Ultra Hand Dish Wash
1 Safeway Bright Green reusable shopping bag
The bags are made from 65% recycled materials and 35% cotton. As you know, reusable grocery bags help illuminate the need for paper/plastic at the checkstand, plus, at Safeway customers save green when they use them: Safeway credits customers $.05 each time they use any reusable bag at checkout.
All you have to do is leave me some comments.
*We are going to do this giveaway the same as the last.
You can enter as many times as you would like HOWEVER in the first post you must browse through the Bright Green products and tell me which you would be interested in trying.
After that you are free to post whatever comment you would like (Keep it clean!)
And remember to post ONLY after someone else has posted.
Giveaway will end tomorrow (April 22nd @ 4:00pm) and a winner will be announced.


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Kindred Hospice - Springfield
Kindred Hospice - Springfield provides comfort, compassion, dignity, and peace through hospice care provided within the communities we serve in.
Personalized Hospice Care Plan
Kindred Hospice - Springfield works with local healthcare providers to develop a personalized hospice care plan that delivers the superior service that our patients and their families deserve. Our team of experienced hospice professionals will implement a holistic approach to the physical, spiritual, and emotional care our patients have come to expect and appreciate.
Kindred Hospice - Springfield has developed and partnered with a robust network of local community resources specifically arranged to provide comfort, reduce anxiety, and facilitate quality time between our patients and their loved ones. Patients will be accepted for care without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, mental disability, physical disability, communicable disease, or place of national origin.
Our Commitment To You
Kindred Hospice understands the challenges patients and families face when considering next steps in healthcare, particularly hospice care. Our commitment to our patients is to ensure every person's specific needs are identified and addressed from our first conversation. We vow to continue listening as part of our ongoing effort to understand our patients personally during their entire duration of care.
Hospice provides families the opportunity to enjoy meaningful time together by educating caregivers and making the patient as comfortable as possible.
Start a conversation today with one of our representatives by completing the Quick Contact form or by calling us directly at our Springfield, IL agency location
Get Directions: Get Directions
Call TODAY: 217-525-6200
Veteran Program Participation
We Honor Veterans: Level 1
There are over 21 million Veterans living in America today. These men and women often carry experiences from their military service that present unique healthcare challenges. The national We Honor Veterans program empowers hospice providers across America to meet the unique needs of Veterans and their families.
Veterans have protected and cared for our country. Through our compassionate, Veteran-centric care, we are honored to serve those who have served us. We recognize and respond to the unique needs of each Veteran and his/her family with special services designed just for veterans.
Hospice Volunteering
The services you will give as a Hospice volunteer will profoundly improve the quality of our patient's lives. Friendly visits enable families to keep their loved ones at home, around the people they love, and the things they love. Assisting with errands helps a tired family cope with their many challenges and allows them time with their loved one. Simply holding a patient's hand can ease their mind and comfort their spirit.
Volunteering at Kindred Hospice - Springfield takes no advanced medical training or great commitment. It can be as simple as reading to, or spending time with a patient a few hours a week. It is small deeds of kindness that so profoundly enhance the lives of our patients and those who love them.
Learn more about our Volunteer Opportunities at Kindred Hospice - Springfield.
2815 Old Jacksonville Rd
Ste 202
Springfield, IL 62704


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I've mentioned in the past that as an extension of my game development work, I began to explore photography. I'm a big fan of the Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras, and I recently purchased the newest iteration in the line: the Olympus OM-D E-M5. I thought I'd go ahead and do a review, since a number of people have asked me about the camera. To make a long story short, Olympus has finally gotten serious and this camera is a force to be reckoned with. Much more importantly, the E-M5 is a lot of fun to shoot with. I enjoy photography much more with it than anything I've ever used, and for an enthusiast that's crucial.
This review is not meant to be all encompassing; see DPReview for that. Rather, I want to focus on the things that I feel are often lost in normal reviews, and provide some introduction to these cameras in general.
I'll start with a quick prelude for those of you who aren't in the know, since this isn't really a photography blog (not yet, anyway). Until recently, there were two kinds of cameras that the mainstream public knew and cared about: digital compacts and digital SLRs. A compact is an integrated package with a sensor and lens all together. They're typically priced anywhere from $50 to $500, and they're a one shot purchase: camera, done. They almost always use small low quality image sensors, on the scale of 5-8mm diagonal. This helps keep the size of the optics down and the overall package small. They also tend to have low end processing hardware and limited control over the result. Compacts also eschew viewfinders, running their sensor in video mode to the LCD to display an image preview. Most people take this functionality for granted. Some have electronic viewfinders, lenses onto tiny LCD screens of varying quality and size.
On the other end, we have digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. The SLR design became big in the sixties as a compact film camera that allowed a photographer to see precisely what the film was going to see via a mirror/prism arrangement, and set exposure parameters based on that information. Modern "pro" cameras are identical in most ways to the film cameras of the late nineties, with the film replaced by a digital sensor and guts. DSLRs use large sensors (21mm-55mm diagonal), and feature large interchangeable lenses. They also have high end processors on board, lots of memory, and sophisticated controls. Until a few years ago, DSLRs could not run their sensors in video mode; they were unable to record videos and unable to display a live feed on the LCD. This was a limitation of the sensor hardware, and using the optical mirrored viewfinder was the only way to preview your shot. Although modern DSLRs have overcome this limitation and now support "Live View", they are not well suited to this mode of operation and it's generally not how you'll want to use the camera.
Mirrorless cameras split the difference. By designing a compact-type camera with a video-compatible sensor and interchangeable lenses, these cameras try to compromise between the bulk and limitations of a DSLR, while boasting far more powerful processing and far better images than any compact camera. The idea was really pioneered by a cooperation by Olympus and Panasonic called Micro Four Thirds. This shared format came to fruition in 2008, and sent off a shockwave in the industry. Sony, Samsung, Fuji, Nikon, Pentax, and Canon have all stepped into the arena with their own competitors in this new class.
Micro Four Thirds
When the transition from film to digital happened, the vast majority of consumer equipment was designed for the 135 (35mm film) standard. Companies ran up against a problem: nobody knew how to create a digital sensor quite that large ("full frame"). Canon managed to produce one in 2002, the 1Ds, for $7,999. Nikon would not release one until the D3 in 2007, for $4,999. It was necessary to experiment with smaller sensor standards to produce consumer priced digital cameras, and most settled on the APS-C size with a diagonal of about 28mm on a 3:2 aspect ratio, versus full frame's 43mm. APS-C sensor cameras only see the middle of the image projected by a 35mm lens, cropping the image off into a narrower field of view. APS-C has a "crop factor" of around 1.5, meaning that film lenses are effectively 1.5x narrower than they would be on a full frame camera. Despite the common sensor or film formats, each manufacturer makes their own lens system and are for the most part incompatible.
Olympus, meanwhile, decided to go with a smaller sensor format called Four Thirds, with a 4:3 aspect ratio and an image diagonal of about 21.6mm and a crop factor of 2x. (A 25mm lens is considered "normal".) They did this to try and produce more compact DSLR cameras, similar to their old OM film SLRs. They tried to share this standard with several other manufacturers of cameras and lenses, but it never really caught on as a mainstream lineup. The Four Thirds options lagged their bigger competitors in performance and nobody really wanted a fairly big camera with fairly mediocre performance.
Micro Four Thirds (m4/3) was announced by Olympus and Panasonic in 2008 as a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera (MILC) line. The m4/3 cameras used the same sensor, but a mirrorless design to cut back dramatically on overall size. They leveraged tricks like digital image correction to reduce size, and boasted promise of high quality video support. The first cameras were the Panasonic G1 and the Olympus E-P1. The bad news is that price was not particularly different from full blown DSLRs and the cameras were small but not pocket-small. Combined with a wide range of technical and performance limitations, the cameras basically sucked in terms of bang for the buck. The value was in the flexibility of size and interchangeable lenses, supposedly. I've been very fond of these cameras for a long time, but that was due to personal quirks: I hate viewfinders, and DSLRs are fairly awful at video.
Olympus OM-D E-M5
Nevermind the ridiculous name; the Olympus OM-D is the real deal at long last. This is my fourth Olympus and my sixth m4/3 body. Olympus' previous m4/3 cameras, the PEN series, were designed as compact cameras on steroids. Plastic build, simplified interfaces, mediocre sensor performance, and in many cases mediocre autofocus. This new camera is the genesis of a semi-pro lineup and it has the spec sheet to match. Magnesium build with full dust and splash proofing. An integrated high resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF), physical control dials, an accessory battery grip, and most welcome of all: a brand new 16 MP image sensor by Sony that is now able to compete with the DSLRs on even footing. Olympus has finally given us something that isn't a toy, for $999 body-only.
The body's available in silver or black. Olympus is going for a retro-throwback here, and I find the silver to be a beautiful look that stands out from the crowd in a good way. The viewfinder hump is a bit goofy thanks to the physical size of the stabilization system and accessory port, but the body is extremely compact overall. The handling is good, but not great. Olympus continues an unfortunate affectation of minimal grips on their cameras. Handling with larger lenses is compromised as a result, and large hands won't appreciate the form in general. The battery grip supposedly makes a dramatic difference, but at USD $300 it's a steep price to pay. The strap lugs are also the stupid compact-style with keychain type D-rings to actually get a strap on. Pointless inconvenience. The front of the viewfinder holds stereo mics with better than usual separation, and a normal hotshoe on top. Olympus has included their accessory port here, which makes the viewfinder hump comically oversized for something that shouldn't be necessary. But since there's no mic input and no built-in flash, you'll need the accessory port often to drive those accessories.
The buttons are tiny, because the screen takes up most of the tiny body's space. They're also squishy thanks to the weather sealing. Olympus' buttons have continuously shrunk over the years, and the OM-D is really starting to test the limits. I don't find it to be a problem, but this is getting ridiculous even for my Asian hands. The dials are very nice, and something about Olympus shutter buttons is just so much nicer than other cameras I've tried. So is the actual shutter noise, a nice subtle click that doesn't carry. The camera has a trio of customizable function buttons, and completely arbitrary restrictions on which button can be set to what functions (underwater mode yes, bracketing mode no). Haphazard half-backed customization is a theme that continues throughout the camera; the customization menu contains 87 different settings, some of which branch further off into sub-settings. For the most part it's possible to things up exactly as you want, and equally as easy to screw them up in weird ways. Olympus offers a "Myset" system to save camera settings, but I don't find it to be useful since the only way to get to them quickly is to assign a function button. I'd rather set the button to something useful, thanks.
The viewfinder is a large and beautiful 800×600 RGB LCD panel. It isn't a color-sequential display like some manufacturers (*ahem* Panasonic), and the contrast and brightness are way punchier and more pleasant than some competitors (*ahem* Panasonic). It's also not quite up to the spec of the Sony NEX-7, sadly, but it is wonderful to use. There's a built in proximity detector to activate the EVF, and it works very smoothly. There's no sensitivity adjustment, which can mean a lot of accidental switching, but as a nice extra touch you can toggle the sensor and active screen simply by holding down a button on the side of the viewfinder. The rear screen a large tilting OLED panel with excellent color and brightness, albeit at a lower resolution than the EVF. Again not at the standard of Sony but Panasonic should be taking notes. A flip out swivel screen would've been nice, though.
Let's start with that new sensor: it's fantastic. The dated Panasonic chip used in previous Olympus bodies has been replaced with a state of the art Sony unit. It is able to keep pace with the NEX-5N and 7, considered the standards-bearers of APS-C quality. ISO 3200 is clean enough to print, and I'm getting perfectly decent screen-resolution shots at ISO 12800 with RAW processing in Lightroom. Stunning. The Olympus JPEG engine has always been stellar, but it visibly disintegrates at 6400 and above — process RAW files yourself in high ISo situations. Dynamic range is traditionally a severe limitation of the m4/3 cameras, and the new Sony supplied sensor seems to do a fantastic job. There's also something about the Olympus color rendition even in RAW that I find extremely pleasant and far nicer than any manufacturer out there except maybe Fuji.
While working with the Olympus ISO 12800 files, I'm finding something unexpected: I don't mind the noise. Don't get me wrong, the shots have plenty of noise to go around and we're still not getting quite as clear results as the best of the new APS-C sensors (though it is better than any APS-C sensor from a year or two ago.) No, it's not the amount of noise at play but the pattern, which has a very natural smooth feel to it after just a kiss of chroma noise reduction — Lightroom's 25 default does just fine. It doesn't interfere badly with the image at normal magnifications, and for many purposes I'm finding that I'm happy without going through the careful NR-sharpening balancing act that high-ISO shots typically require. This is something you won't get from the test charts or DXO numbers. Camera sensors show noise in different patterns and types; many degrade into a color-splotched mess particularly in the shadows. This sensor degrades cleanly and elegantly into a film-like look that is easy to correct in post and easy to live with.
Here's a secret that people don't often mention: Olympus and Panasonic have stellar autofocus systems, better than what you get out of a typical midrange DSLR and kit lens. The other mirrorless systems, like Sony NEX, cannot compete. The basic entry level m4/3 kit lenses are basically able to match expensive supersonic drive DSLR lenses in speed, with dead silent video compatible internal focus mechanisms. Focus is also dead accurate, since it's driven by the sensor and tolerances don't matter. The only downside is that Olympus doesn't offer resizable focus zones. The default is large enough to pick the wrong object to focus on, which can be an unpleasant surprise. The real bad news comes in with continuous or tracking autofocus, which basically don't work even in 120hz high speed mode. In reality, single acquisition is so fast that you can often use it to replace continuous mode in DSLRs. For photos, the OM-D won't be able to match the speed of a Sony SLT or pro DSLR with high end lenses. Kit lens users with DSLRs will discover that they were lied to about what m4/3 focus performance is like, but sports shooters relying on AF-C will be sorely disappointed. Caveat emptor.
For those interested, Roger Cicala wrote about DSLR AF accuracy.
Did I mention it can fire at 9 fps? Because it can, with a fat buffer that will go for 14 JPEG+RAW shots and full stabilization. I've seen it take 20 JPEGs on a fast card before running out of steam. (Compare to the GH2 at 5fps and a buffer of about 7 shots.) Continuous AF only becomes available at 4 fps, although it probably won't actually work at that speed. Want to shoot fast action? Dial in your focus and wait for the target to come to you. At 9fps, your odds are very good, about as good as it gets for a consumer level camera. Only the Sony SLT line will go ever so slightly quicker, if you really need even more.
Olympus offers a sensor-shift stabilization system integrated into the body. The stabilizer can stabilize any lens, including adapted lenses from other systems. Sony Alpha and Pentax DSLRs offer similar systems. These systems traditionally suffer several flaws; they can only correct for translational motion, correct is not always as good as lens-based optical systems, and they have a tendency to overheat which makes them useless for long exposures or video use. Olympus has conquered all of these problems with a new 5-axis system that electromagnetically floats the sensor full time, compensating for rotational and translational motion even during video recording as well as in the viewfinder. The sheer ability of the 5-axis to lock the sensor down defies belief. Hand-held long exposures are possible, and video gains a silky smoothness that can trick a viewer into thinking a rig was used. Here's a video from Engadget showing the stabilizer demo unit:
Of course Olympus giveth and Olympus taketh away; the camera refuses to stabilize non-electronic lenses in video, for no readily apparent reason. Let this be your first hint that Olympus does not understand high end video. UPDATE: Olympus has added stabilization for legacy/adapted lenses in firmware 1.5.
Battery life, however, is not good. Buy a spare battery or two…or more, if you're a heavy shooter. Chinese generics from eBay work just fine although they seem to have slightly shorter lifespans than the OEM version. In general I find it's best to keep at least two batteries for a high end camera, but this thing works through them fairly quickly. It's not so bad if you only use the viewfinder and leave the main LCD off, but your battery times are going to be much closer to a compact than an SLR. Olympus ships a dedicated charger with an awkward cord; no USB charging here, so don't lose the charger or forget it on a trip. You won't find a spare. Might want to pick one up with those extra batteries.
M.Zuiko 12-50mm Kit Lens
The OM-D is available with a new weather sealed kit lens, the 12-50mm. It's also available with the old 14-42mm kit lens, that lens isn't sealed and doesn't have the range. It IS a lot smaller, which brings us to the real problem with the 12-50mm: it should have never been made. It's not a bad lens; sharp, weather sealed, wide range (24-100mm equivalent), mechanical AND power zoom modes for photo and video, plus a macro mode that gets to about .75x. The trouble is that it's unreasonably large, unreasonably slow (f/6.3 at the long end), unreasonably expensive ($300 in kit, $500 standalone) and solves problems no one ever asked to be solved. It was a total waste of Olympus engineering time. A $1,500 kit with a new native conversion of the 12-60mm or 14-54mm would have been an absolutely incredible kit to offer. As it is, the kit is useful but mediocre.
Taking the lens on its own merits, there are some positives. Optically it is excellent for a kit zoom type lens with the ultra-sharp look that is standard for Zuikos, even wide open. The lens is not only internal focus but also internal zoom, which brings a welcome subtlety to candid photography work versus the telescoping monstrosities most people are used to. The zoom ring slides forwards and backwards to toggle lens modes, and can be bumped easily but works well overall. The electronic zoom is legitimately useful for video. The mechanical zoom is a bit odd though, as you can hear and feel the internal zoom motor being dragged along and there's a weak hard stop that allows the ring to continue spinning. A macro button allows the lens to be locked to its maximum magnification and a limited focus range. Macro mode is very sharp and gets in very close.
If it was really necessary to produce a slow consumer kit lens, I would've preferred that Olympus spend time on producing a more compact weather sealed zoom. But a semi-pro camera deserves a semi-pro lens, and this isn't it. The range is useful, but the lens is slower across the range than the normal Panasonic and Olympus 14-42mm lenses by about a third of a stop. What's the point of having a wonderful new sensor sunk into noise because the lens is wide open at f/6.3? That's a cruel joke. A 12-60 f/2.8-4 kit could've shaken up the entire industry.
System Lenses
The Nikon F mount for their SLR cameras was introduced to the world in 1959, and for the most part you have always to mount your Nikon lenses on newer cameras. The Canon EF mount was introduced in 1987 and again, lenses from then on have always been fully functional. Buying into a popular SLR system has always meant an enormous range of available lenses created over the course of decades. Even now, most of the Nikon and Canon lenses (including the entire L series) are designed for full-frame rather than APS-C formats and are often awkward on crop formats. Micro Four Thirds was created in 2008, and other mirrorless systems were introduced even later. Sony and Samsung's entries appeared in 2010, Nikon in late 2011, and Pentax/Fuji/Canon in 2012. Lens choice and pricing are a soft spot for all of these lines. (Most can adapt SLR lenses, with varying degrees of success.) Micro Four Thirds has a few unique advantages over the other manufacturers, though.
Not only is m4/3 the oldest system, but it also has two manufacturers committed to producing both bodies and lenses that are all mostly cross compatible. By building largely complementary sets of lenses, the system has gained a large set of lenses in a very short time. The system isn't "complete" yet, in that there are still major holes which need to be filled for general purpose use. It is however far, far ahead of the competitors. They've also focused on producing very good quality lenses at consumer prices; if you want something dirt cheap or ultra high end, you're likely to be disappointed. (Panasonic is just rolling out their first constant aperture pro zooms this year, and there are barely any sub-$300 lenses.) On the other hand, it's almost impossible to make a bad choice with the lenses that are available. All of them are optically stellar, even the relatively poor and very dated Olympus 17mm pancake. Lenses like the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7 pancake, Panasonic-Leica 25mm f/1.4, and Olympus 45mm f/1.8 are considered practically classic.
One of the stated goals of mirrorless was to decrease the size not only of the camera bodies, but also of the lenses. m4/3 accomplishes this in three ways. First, the very short flange distance (the distance between the sensor and the lens mount) allows lenses to be designed more simply and mounted much closer. Second, the smaller and closer-to-square Four Thirds format sensor allows for smaller image circles that are used more efficiently than the traditional 3:2 film format. Third, m4/3 relies heavily on digital corrections of lens issues like distortion and chromatic aberration, which would previously have required heavy and expensive glass elements to fix. The 20mm pancake (shown right) is actually one of the sharpest lenses for the system, an inch deep and under $360.
All together, there are around 25 current electronically enabled lenses for the system, with a handful of manual focus native lenses as well. 7-14mm or 9-18mm ultra wide angle. Wide angle, there's the 12/2.0 or 14/2.5. Fisheye? Two of them .Normal lenses, pick from 17/2.8, 19/2.8, 20/1.7, and 25/1.4. If raw aperture is your thing and price is no object, Voigtlander will sell you 17/0.95 and 25/0.95. Macro comes from the 12-50, the 45/2.8, or the upcoming 60mm. The 45/1.8 75/1.8 fulfill portrait needs. The 14-150 and 14-140 OIS are fantastic all-in-one superzooms. And I'm not going to even start naming all the telephoto options, but the 100-300 gives most people as much reach as their heart desires.
With the advent of digital photography, camera companies (Nikon, Olympus, Fuji) collided with consumer electronics companies (Sony, Panasonic, Canon) in producing cameras. The consumer electronics guys make a variety of fantastic video cameras. The camera companies still seem somewhat baffled about what exactly video is for and what video people want. Fuji in particular makes the best film lenses on the planet, but cannot understand what to do with video recording. The previous m4/3 flagship camera was the Panasonic GH2, and it's such an eminently capable camera that in the latest Zacuto shootout, it was frequently mistaken for the RED Epic and has proven to be one of the most popular cameras in that blind test. The OM-D will not be showing up in any such tests.
Let's start with features: it writes h.264 files in a Quicktime MOV container to the same directory as photos. Most cameras emulate a very confusing Blu-Ray disc file structure on the card so that you can directly burn your card to a Blu-Ray once you're done filming. This is exactly the sort of moronic "feature" a consumer electronics company would come up with, and four people in the world have ever actually used. Olympus' version is a welcome change. It will AF during video, and rolling shutter is decently well controlled. Olympus also offers the amazing 5-axis stabilization with electronic lenses, and the results of that stabilization really cannot be overstated. It is absolutely stellar. Of course you can't stabilize lenses you'd actually want to use for filming, like the Voigtlander f/0.95 primes.
Trouble is, that's where the features end. Output is 1080i/60 or 720p/60, both of which are derived from a 30hz sensor readout. Bit-rates suck (20 Mbps max). No 24p, no 25p, no 50/60p. It does 30hz. The camera's h.264 codec isn't particularly good, as it tends to degrade into macroblocking when pushed too hard. Unlike the beautiful highlight roll-off in still photos, videos get a nasty burnt look on anything that gets too bright. You can buy an accessory for a microphone input, but there's really no point since the camera doesn't have volume control. The microphone has been improved significantly over the old PENs at least, which used to clip quickly. The new mic is completely deaf to bass though. Single clips are limited to 29:59 thanks to stupid laws in the EU, so long-form interview/lecture recordings are out. You can set aperture/shutter/ISO/exposure manually for video, but only before you start recording. I suspect that this is strictly a set of software problems, as the underlying hardware is extremely capable. I'm not the only one who thinks a lot more is possible on the OM-D platform. More than that though, Olympus just doesn't understand what people are looking for from video.
On second thought, allow me to rephrase that a bit: Olympus doesn't understand professional video. The OM-D is an extraordinary photography camera for amateur/home video thanks to the excellent stabilizer. It's miles ahead of any DSLR for video work, including the inexplicably popular Canons. Bolt on the Olympus 14-150mm ($350 refurb) for a video friendly 11x zoom and for casual use the OM-D delivers very good results. Film buffs will need to look elsewhere, probably to the very competent (and now much cheaper) Panasonic GH2.
There are a lot of good mirrorless and DSLR cameras out there. Sony NEX will take absolutely fantastic images with the right lenses. The high-end Panasonic G cameras share many of the same advantages at significantly better price points. A high end consumer DSLR (D7000, A65, 60D, K-5) can be had for the same money, with much wider choices in lenses across the range. So why are photographers like Damian McGillicuddy, Steve Huff, and Andy Hendriksen going crazy over this new camera?
Shooting with the OM-D is effortless. It's compact enough to carry comfortably; not pocketable, but much more convenient than a DSLR. Use the viewfinder or LCD as you like, hit the button, and the sensor is able to handle almost anything you throw at it. Twin control dials make it easy to tweak settings quickly. The JPEG processing is good enough that I almost never sit down with the RAW files from everyday shooting situations. The stabilizer solves most shutter speed problems and gives video a professional feel. The tough build and weather sealing inspire confidence, while still being lightweight. It's expensive, but there's so much to like in this package and so little to complain about that it is worth it.
The bottom line? This camera is much more fun than its DSLR or mirrorless competitors.


text:
Eat and Enjoy!
Traditional Greek food as cooked by Greek mothers!! Delicious and easy recipes!!
Greek Mince Roll
Eat and Enjoy!
11 comments:
- Up Close said...
Yummy! You made me wish I have an oven!
nice blog! good food!
God bless!
- 9 April 2009 at 04:31
- Hootin' Anni said...
Just here to welcome you to Bloggers Over 50.
I am in the beginning stages of adding your links that you requested. It will take a few minutes to get them all added. You may have to refresh your browser to view your links. Give me an hour or two to have them all in place.
I hope you can come join me sometime soon for a visit. My blog is always anxious to meet new visitors.
- 9 April 2009 at 05:27
- bokjae said...
Hi how about posting a recipe on Moussaka! My wife loves this! Cheers!
- 9 April 2009 at 10:48
- symposio said...
Hi bokjae and thanks for your comment on my blog! Regarding your request for the moussaka recipe, we have the recipe for vegetarian moussaka on the blog already - many people say that it is tastier than the one with meat. Check it out here - http://realgreekrecipes.blogspot.com/2008/04/vegetarian-moussaka.html
We will try and post the recipe for the meat moussaka as soon as we can.
Many thanks again
- 11 April 2009 at 05:38
- Mom's Cafe Home Cooking said...
That looks very, very good and quite easy to make. Thanks for the recipes. I'm assuming that the "micemeat" means ground meat. Is that correct?
- 11 April 2009 at 09:21
- Dorothy said...
emmmm you make it all look so good and easy...
Great site..
Dorothy from grammology
- 11 April 2009 at 16:43
- A said...
This looks really good, but what is ouzo made of? and do you think I can find it here in my country (Philippines)? If I can't get ouzo, what can I replace it with?
- 12 April 2009 at 23:28
- symposio said...
Mom's Cafe - Yes, as far as I'm aware, what you call ground meat is mince. Enjoy!
- 13 April 2009 at 00:07
- symposio said...
Ane - Ouzo is an alcoholic drink, which is based on aniseed. It's a well-known Greek drink and is available everywhere internationally so I don't think you should have problems finding it in any good shop selling spirits.
- 13 April 2009 at 00:09
- A said...
Okay! Thanks so much! I can't wait to try this! :-D
- 13 April 2009 at 00:11
- Mom's Cafe Home Cooking said...
I thought that's what it meant but thought I should check first. I've heard of Ouzo so will look for it. They likely have in at the LCBO stores here in Ontario. Thanks again.
- 13 April 2009 at 09:00