text:
"Clean, quiet room at a decent price."
The folks at the front desk were very nice, professional and helpful each time I went there. The room was also very clean.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"Candelwood Greatness"
Room was fantastic - Bed was very comfortable and the layout of the room was perfect.We will stay there next year on the same dates.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"A good place to get a good nights sleep."
Night clerk was very nice. He was very helpful and polite.Genuine Expedia guest review
"Great hotel"
The only faults in this impeccable, modern, no frills hotel was that there was no one at the desk when we tried to check out (and another couple had tried to find someone for 15 minutes), and that the hotel main floor and elevator smell like strawberry candles. Otherwise, great bedding, great baths, windows that open, great kitchenette.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
Response by Candlewood Suites San Antonio N - Stone Oak Area Dear Verified Traveler, Thank you for your feedback about the Candlewood Suites Stone Oak Hotel. We appreciate your comments and have addressed the issue with my staff. We strive to make every guest feel like they are at their home away from home. If you are in the San Antonio are again, we would love for you to stay with us. Thank you, Alexandria Andrea General Manager
"Great Hotel"
I have spend just one night but wish to stay longerGenuine Expedia guest review
Response by Candlewood Suites San Antonio N - Stone Oak Area Miguel, Thank you so much for your 5 star review on our hotel! We love knowing our guest are satisfied with all our hotel has to offer! We hope to see you in your future travels! Hotel Management
"It was just really nice......"
Everything was the best from the front desk to the AC blowing ice cubes when we entered the room! The entire Hotel smelled and looked sooooo fresh! Don't wait book now!Genuine Hotels.com guest review
Response by Candlewood Suites San Antonio N - Stone Oak Area Terrance, Thank you so much for taking the time to submit such a wonderful review on our hotel! Our staff strives to provide the best service and we are glad you were completely satisfied with your stay here! We hope to see you again soon in your future travels! Hotel Management
It's a new Hotel but very generic and not worth the money. My Frig. Had old food in it. I will never stay here again!!!Genuine Hotels.com guest review
Response by Candlewood Suites San Antonio N - Stone Oak Area Chris, Thank you for your feedback. We take our guest comments very seriously and always strive to provide comfortable and friendly accommodations. We're sorry you received service which was unacceptable and we are sincerely sorry that we fell short of your expectations. We have taken note of your valuable comments and will use these to monitor and improve the quality of services we offer to our guests. Hotel Management
Able to accommodate us when A/C out at our house. Had to stay an extra note and needed a room with 2 beds. Able to provide it and moved in a new room right away with no problems. Front staff very helpful. Hotel was very close to our house. Price was reasonable for the nice room we had.Genuine Expedia guest review
"Comedy of Errors"
We were given an occupied room, then another that wouldn't open. After 3 trips back to the front desk we were told to wait in the hall until maintenance arrived.... Very bad experience.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
Response by Candlewood Suites San Antonio N - Stone Oak Area Jim, Thank you for your feedback. We take our guest comments very seriously and always strive to provide comfortable and friendly accommodations. We're sorry you received service which was unacceptable. We are sincerely sorry that we fell short of your expectations. We have taken note of your valuable comments and will use these to monitor and improve the quality of services we offer to our guests. Hotel Management
"Ok hotel"
The room was good and bed was comfortable but the entry and hallways smelled like urineGenuine Expedia guest review
"Great stay!"
I loved the mini kitchen. The location was great.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"Weekend Get Away"
The hotel was very comfortable and easy to find. I recommend this hotel to anyone who likes to feel at home while away from home.Genuine Expedia guest review
Excellent. room quality and service was good. Swimming pool and other accessories are good.Genuine Expedia guest review
The AC never worked, although we were only there to sleep. It was not a very comfortable night. We let the staff know about the issue, they had to call the maintenance personnel who was not there. He gave them instructions which did not work. The front desk personnel assured me they would call back and they never did. We had to leave the hotel and came […] back just to sleep. The next morning they told me they were waiting on me to call them back. Which I think they should have called to make sure that the problem was solved Read moreGenuine Hotels.com guest review
Response by Candlewood Suites San Antonio N - Stone Oak Area Dear Candlewood guest, I would like to first thank you for taking the time to leave a review about our hotel. As per your comments I see that you experienced some issues during your stay. Your comments and concerns are taken very serious and we will use them to improve on those areas. I apologize for the inconvenience.
"Grave Disappointment"
My family always looks for Candlewood hotels when we travel so picking this hotel was second nature. Unfortunately, this facility did not live up to the Candlewood reputation. We seem to have disappointments from check-in to checkout. It was an extended stay hotel, but it wasn't listed as such in Expedia. No breakfast, lounge, or even a decent seating […] area. The place was under mass construction, very noisy and many strange looking workers lurking around. The were replacing floors, matresses and painting, all during our short stay. The pool area as a mess, filthy. The hot tub rarely worked and the fitness equipment was raggedy and possibly a safety hazard. We never received housekeeping services and the front desk personnel seemed confused. The elevator was slow and scary and the room seemed a bit dated. The AC didn't work properly and the windows had no screens. Very bad experience. I will not stay at another candlewood!!!!! Read moreGenuine Expedia guest review
"I love this hotel everything was near buy a walmar"
My experience at this hotel was great. There was a Walmart near buy and heb it sits right on a hill which gives you a great outdoor viewGenuine Expedia guest review
"Just as expected."
We were pleasantly greeted and pleasanly checked out. This one was a little odd to get to, but not difficult. We've stayed at Candlewood before and were aware that they do no housekeep unless you ask. Extra towels and pillows are always available at the front desk, but rarely needed. A+ again guys. Thanks!Genuine Hotels.com guest review
Response by Candlewood Suites San Antonio N - Stone Oak Area Dear Jolo, We would like to thank you for posting a review about our hotel as your comments are very important to us. It is very awarding to hear that you had a pleasant stay and that your needs were well met. We hope to see you back soon.
THE KITCHEN WAS NICE. IT HAD A NICE HOT TUB AND POOL.IT WASN'T TO BAD TO DRIVE DOWNTOWN. ABOUT 15MIN ON US 281Genuine Expedia guest review
"Overall great for the price"
free movie/book/cd checkout, location close to many stores/restaurants, staff was a little awkward but overall the hotel was great for the priceGenuine Expedia guest review
"San Antonio stay"
We liked the hotel and location as it pertained to where our event was to be held. Clean room, comfortable bed. The hotel is located up on a cliff so we were able to see it but we had a little difficulty finding the correct road up to it as it was 11pm. Check-in was easy but when I booked on this website I booked a room with 2 beds and the confirmation […] e-mail indicated so, but at check-in the room only had 1 queen bed and reception said that is what was booked and the hotel was full. She indicated that sometimes that happens when using a 3-party booking site. Luckily my husband and I were okay with that, it's the fact that we snore and would have liked a little distance between the two of us! But our receptionist said she had something for that and gave us 2 pairs of new and sealed foam ear buds. I would stay again, but I would check with the hotel for confirmation of room amenities. Read moreGenuine Hotels.com guest review
The rooms smelled of stale cigarette smoke. The beds were horribly uncomfortable.Genuine Expedia guest review
"A sure come back"
Great staff the room was clean everything we needed was there restroom also very good shape and you get that new smell of hotel nice lobby area a little bit far from downtown but from my driving experience just minutes away definitely a come back destinationGenuine Hotels.com guest review
"Memorial Day Stay"
Overall not a bad stay. Only complaint was that during my 3 day stay, housekeeping never came to my room. Always had to go to the front desk for towels exchange. But had a great time, worth the money. Clean pool, hotel clean and fitness room was nice. Will stay again..Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"Great place but lacks staff..."
The place is really neat, clean and has many perks that most economical hotels don't. They have a big refrigerator (not the box) and there is a separate sink that serves as a kitchenette. The beds are a good size for 2 people, clean and well put. However we arrived at 12 MN and there was no one at the desk. We are tired from a long drive and had to […] wait for thirty minutes to get staff to the front desk. We called and the phone kept ringing hoping that the noise would send staff to check us in. Nothing. I hope they can improve on this by having at least some form of communication that staff will be back in 15 mins. or call this tel # or anything to keep the guests from wondering where the staff are. Read moreGenuine Expedia guest review
"Overall good"
Good location to SA. Clean rooms. Room was good for the weekend.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"Nice stay during our move"
I stayed here 2 nights (1 night with hubby) and then booked another room for my son for a night. We moved to San Antonio from Oklahoma and needed a place to stay before taking ownership of home. Very comfortable room and nice amenities (nice kitchen area with everything you need). Close to a lot of things and quiet area.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"Nice hotel but..."
Nice hotel but...nearby nightclub made for a loud disturbance at closing time. People yelling (screaming matches), burning rubber, and speeding in parking lot. Secondly, tv remote was no where to be found! Reported to staff so I wouldn't be held responsible. Also found a dirty hair comb on recliner. But other than those inconveniences we enjoyed the […] hotel. I would definitely give it a second chance. Read moreGenuine Expedia guest review
"Is as advertised no frills but nice and clean."
Very friendly staff. need a bench or two out front no place to sitGenuine Expedia guest review
"Customer Service"
Tavin is a star! He guided us in when my GPS wasn't working and found us a better accessible suite than we had reserved. He is kind, caring, and VERY helpful and the kind of person you'd want working for your company.Genuine Expedia guest review
"Decent hotel in range to sights"
They double charged me at the hotel. Hotels dot com charged me and then hotel charged me. This was easily fixed as they refunded when I called, but it seems like it should have been an easy problem to avoid. The hotel is like 15 miles from the Alamo. Straight shot down 281, but kind of pricy for a place 20 minutes from downtown. The hot tub was turned […] off during the visit, which was one of the reasons why I booked. The elevator is SLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWW. Other than that, really nice hotel and nice room. Bed was extremely comfortable. Read moreGenuine Hotels.com guest review
Staff was friendly and right on top of any problem I was having, ready to help and give me a solution. Rooms were very clean, very minor cosmetic things, if you were looking for them. Really liked the young lady they put in place to manage. She was personable, helpful, professional and the staff follows her lead. Good job!Genuine Expedia guest review
"Bed was horrible-very uncomfortable"
We loved the room, but the only problem was that the bed was very uncomfortable.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
The Hotel was fine, very nice staff, however - Hotels.com charged me !140.11 and the Hotel gave me a receipt for $109.00. Is this the way Hotels.com does business?Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"Don't Stay in a New Hotel"
This reminds me why it is not a good idea to stay in a new hotel. They haven't gotten all the little problems fixed. The air conditioner/heater in the room didn't work, the tv remote didn't work, and the bathroom vent didn't work. They had a single person on maintenance staff. The first time we called, he was out getting food for the desk staff. We […] gave up after waiting an hour and went to bed. Read moreGenuine Hotels.com guest review
"Convenient to business meeting"
The facility offered a convenient and relatively inexpensive alternative to the resort hotel where a business meeting was being held. I was only interested in a clean, quiet "room with a roof" for a couple of days. The Candlewood met my needs quite well.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"Great place to stay"
It was close to family and easy to get in and out of. Staff was very friendly. Since it is an extended stay facility, they do not have daily housekeeping but you can always get clean linens, etc. from the desk. We only stayed 2 nights so it wasn't a problem for us.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
Overall I would say good to very good. I would stay at this hotel again if the price was right.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"Closest hotel to Hwy 46."
I expected a continental breakfast like other Candlelight Suites. Did not expect an extended stay suite. Queen bed had a cheap mattress with a piece of foam on top. We would sink to the middle of the mattress. Also, had to place luggage on floor so we could use the two chairs to sit on. Bathroom had no vent and no place to put our personal belongin […] gs. Read moreGenuine Expedia guest review
"Great Stay"
Great hotel overall no problem at all.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"'Twas good"
Love the friendly serviceGenuine Hotels.com guest review
averageGenuine Hotels.com guest review
"Poor Beddnig"
Hotel is nice , but bedding is poor , poor , quality , 2 nights stay and needed a back adjustment, staff was very friendly and helpful.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"Nice people, bring your own supplies."
The staff was very nice and accomodating. I did have to them to take out the trash that was left when we checked in, no extra tp, no coffee and you have to exchange towels at front to get more. But staff was very quick to respond. Some of the lights in our room did not work either.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"Not fancy, but good for a few days"
Surprised they do not offer king size beds in any rooms. I am 6'4" and 220 lbs. I much prefer a king size bed. It was nice to have the refrigerator, cooktop and microwave. The desk was handy and free Wi-fi was appreciated. Good overall value for the dollar.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
"One-night visit"
Just stayed one night, very restful, pleasant. The check-in clerk was very friendly & helpful. The bed was comfortable.Genuine Expedia guest review
"It was well worth the price"
My only complaint would be that the hot tub needs maintenance in my opinion. By the way no continental breakfast.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
Overall, great place to stay for the cost. Staff was friendly and very close to anything you need.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
Very pleasant and located around a large variety of dining and shopping placesGenuine Hotels.com guest review
"Great hotel!"
My family & I stayed for the weekend. It was great. Friendly staff & comfortable room! Would definitely go back.Genuine Expedia guest review
My son and I are were very satisfied with your hotel. The local area was nice and the local attractions (restaurants) were good.Genuine Hotels.com guest review
Reviews and ratings contained within this site are the subjective opinions of customers and suppliers; they do not represent or reflect Hotels.com's position. Neither Hotels.com nor the parties involved in providing review content shall be held liable for any damages of any sort resulting from use of these reviews
We are now watching this hotel on your travel dates
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Brand barometer: Women's magazines, which one is most prominent online?
By Gemma Charles, marketingmagazine.co.uk, Friday, 29 June 2012 08:30AM
Glamour and Elle are the most prominent, followed by Cosmopolitan
Click on image to enlarge
1. Identification of target audience: Use of nodal analysis to identify key words and phrases relevant to the target audience.
This is achieved by discussing the customer segmentation with the client, inductive exploration of target audience interests, third-party research into target audience behaviours, and finally nodal analysis of associated key words / phrases with each other using online tools (e.g. Google Adwords).
For this research, the audience segmentation of interest is defined in conjunction with Marketing (two weeks before the publication date).
2. Identification of key online websites, groups, accounts and conversations: Identified key word search strings filtered through country-specific sources of information (e.g. Google, Twitter, YouTube, etc, in the UK) to find the key online locations of the audience.
The identified locations are validated against a proprietary impact and engagement criteria threshold. The verified locations form the sample set upon which analysis is conducted.
For this research, 25 locations form for the basis of analysis – a typical project will feature between 100-500 locations depending on the client.
3. User generated content and location analysis: Verified locations are analysed for characteristics and content type, and commentary is analysed for topic, sentiment and linguistics.
This proprietary methodology consists of 192 metrics within 17 groupings, such as channel authority, interaction, content dynamic, competitor analysis, etc.
For this research, only 1 of the 192 metrics is displayed – competitor share of voice. This has been calculated purely on volume of mentions for each competitor within the verified key locations online.
The sample size for this research is 2,500 unique UGC inputs (e.g. audience opinions and perceptions) across 25 locations online.
This article was first published on marketingmagazine.co.uk
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If you see a comment you find offensive, you can flag it as inappropriate. In the top right-hand corner of an individual comment, you will see 'flag as inappropriate'. Clicking this prompts us to review the comment. For further information see our rules for commenting on articles.
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As part of our new initiative on TPF you can come and take part in a series of new in-depth articles and discussions every month. Featured this month are the methods that one of our top avian photographers, Kristofer Rowe uses to get his stunning photos (as also featured on Tamron USA website as well!). So drop in and take part, I know that Kristofer will be happy to answer your questions and hear what you do out in the field with your camera!
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Washing hands in a public restroom - applying soap© Aubord Dulac - See portfolio
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Celebrities and Entertainment News
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Justin Timberlake serenades Jessica Biel at NYC gig
Justin Timberlake made sure his wife, Jessica Biel, was the center of attention at his gig in New York on Sunday night by serenading her in front of his fans. The star took to the stage to showcase his new music at the Roseland Ballroom in the Big Appl… [Read More]
Jimmy Fallon interrupted Justin Timberlake's wedding speech
Singer Justin Timberlake's touching wedding speech to Jessica Biel was interrupted by an outburst from his comedian pal Jimmy Fallon. The TV host was recently named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by Time magazine and to congratul… [Read More]
Justin Timberlake dedicates 'Mirrors' video to grandfather
Singer Justin Timberlake has turned his latest music video into a tribute to his beloved grandfather, who died in December. The emotional promo for Mirrors begins with the dedication "For William and Sadie," Timberlake's maternal grandparents who… [Read More]
Justin Timberlake's '90s fashion
Justin Timberlake has come a long way from his curly-haired, purple-sunglass-wearing days with N'Sync in the late '90s and early 2000s. As he releases "The 20/20 Experience," his first new album in seven years on Tuesday, we take a look back at… [Read More]
Justin Timberlake plays down Kanye swipe
Justin Timberlake has played dumb over reports he changed the lyrics to his hit song "Suit & Tie" to take aim at Kanye West during a recent "Saturday Night Live" performance, insisting he can't recall exactly what he said. The pop superst… [Read More]
Justin Timberlake alters 'Suit & Tie' lyrics to take at Kanye
Justin Timberlake appeared to take a sly shot at Kanye West over the rapper's criticism of his new song "Suit & Tie" over the weekend by changing the lyrics to the track during a performance on "Saturday Night Live." The pop superstar tea… [Read More]
Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z to tour together
Music superstars Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z are reportedly set to team up for a 10-city joint tour. The duo joined forces for Timberlake's comeback single "Suit & Tie," which they performed at a Super Bowl gig in New Orleans, La., earlier th… [Read More]
Justin Timberlake denies slamming Britney Spears at comeback show
Justin Timberlake has denied taking aim at his ex-girlfriend Britney Spears during his comeback gig at a pre-Super Bowl event following a backlash online. The star returned to the stage to perform for the first time in five years on the eve of the Supe… [Read More]
Justin Timberlake to stage comeback concert on the eve of Super Bowl
Justin Timberlake will make his live music comeback on the eve of the Super Bowl next month. The "Cry Me a River" hit maker is billed to perform his first solo concert in four years at a New Orleans charity concert on February 2. The gig announceme… [Read More]
Justin Timberlake releases comeback single
Justin Timberlake has released his first new music in seven years. The pop star unveiled "Suit & Tie" on his website on Sunday and posted an open letter revealing the title of his upcoming album: The 20/20 Experience, which is due for release l… [Read More]
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A useful rule of thumb for discerning what liberals actually think about any given policy emanating from the Obama administration -- wait a few minutes after their initial gushing. Usually the gush continues indefinitely, but unexpected candor will occasionally surface.
An example of this curious dynamic was heard on libtalker Bill Press's radio show March 14 during a discussion with one of his guests, Huffington Post reporter Dave Jamieson. (Audio clips after the jump)
Former newspaper reporter and editor from Massachusetts, runner, Red Sox fan
A useful rule of thumb for discerning what liberals actually think about any given policy emanating from the Obama administration -- wait a few minutes after their initial gushing. Usually the gush continues indefinitely, but unexpected candor will occasionally surface.
As he was rushed into the emergency room at George Washington University Hospital, a grievously wounded President Ronald Reagan prayed for John Hinckley, the man who had just tried to kill him.
"He was a mixed-up young man from a fine family," Reagan wrote in his memoirs, "An American Life." "That day, I asked the Lord to heal him, and to this day, I still do." (Audio after the jump)
Radio libtalker and MSNBC action hero Ed Schultz used to be conservative, as he'll occasionally remind his audience. Earlier this week on his radio show, he lapsed back.
The occasion was a discussion with a caller over President Obama's apparent support for the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade pact that would involve the U.S., Canada, Mexico and nine other nations in South America and Asia. (Audio after the jump)
You know how Chris Matthews gets a thrill up his leg when Obama's rhetoric soars to unprecedented heights from the television monitors at MSNBC? Seth Meyers undergoes a full-body thrill whenever Rachel Maddow is in the same zip code.
Maddow appeared on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" Tuesday for an interview that quickly degenerated into Meyers essentially revealing he's a lesbian trapped in a man's body and that he and Maddow would make a wonderful couple, they really really would. (Video after the jump)
No, "I'm not off my rocker," Ed Schultz told his radio listeners after making an off-the-wall prediction. Actually, two predictions -- that Hillary Clinton is a virtual shoo-in who will waltz back into the White House, and that Dick Cheney will cave to pressure from movement conservatives and run for president.
As for the first prediction, I vaguely recall many pundits saying much along the same lines ... back in 2007, followed by Clinton's highly-touted inevitability fading by the month after she was blinded-sided by an obscure senator from Illinois who could work a Teleprompter like none before him. (Audio clips after the jump)
Rust never sleeps, Neil Young warned in an album of the same title back in 1979. And so it is with revisionism from the left, especially when it comes their failed utopia of yore, the Soviet Union.
For nearly 20 years after the unforgettable night in 1989 when a long-divided Berlin was finally reunited, American leftists bit their tongues about the Soviet Union, embarrassed by its abrupt collapse, revelations of its appalling monstrosities, and confirmation via the decoded Venona cables of a vast communist spy network in the US government as alleged by Senator Joseph McCarthy. (Audio after the jump)
That he is, Bill, that he is! On this we agree.
Don't you love it when liberals swoon over Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the only avowed socialist in the U.S. Senate? Operative word here -- "avowed." Sanders, to his credit, has the courage to be transparent in his political beliefs. Many of his ideological cohorts on Capitol Hill aren't as bold and describe themselves instead with the squishy euphemism "progressive," despite the fact that the policies they support are indistinguishable from those advocated by Sanders. (Audio after the jump)
How do you know when Ed Schultz is way off the mark? Aside from the high likelihood of this whenever the man opens his mouth, it becomes nearly certain when what he says drips with bellicose certitude.
A classic example came on "The Ed Show" March 7 when Schultz was discussing efforts to lobby Nebraska state lawmakers to support the Keystone XL pipeline. (Video after the jump)
With Russia poised to seize control of Ukraine, Rachel Maddow might be among the few remaining fans of voluntary nuclear disarmament -- as is Russian president Vladimir Putin, specifically for former Soviet republics that have gotten too uppity for their own good.
How will Maddow handle this one, I wondered, after the Russian military took control of the Crimea. Sure enough, in her first show after the crisis began, Maddow addressed the awkward fact that Ukraine relinquished control of its nuclear weapons to Russia twenty years ago. But typical of Maddow, she couldn't bring herself to ask the blindingly obvious question -- did Ukraine's fateful decision to disarm in the mid-1990s leave it vulnerable to future Russian aggression? (Video after the jump)
Radio libtalker Bill Press did much yesterday to explain why he more than occasionally comes across as addled. Then again, it's probably only his politics responsible for conveying that impression.
In what is unlikely to come as a shock to his former boss, Press said there were "potheads" who worked in the state bureaucracy for California Gov. Jerry Brown, and that Press was one of them. Correction -- while working in the higher echelons of bureaucracy. (Audio after the jump)
How do we know that the tea party has become a force that can't be shrugged away in the five years since it emerged? When liberals in media smear tea partiers with ludicrous, over-the-top comparisons.
Appearing on Ed Schultz's radio show, Mother Jones reporter David Corn rendered himself incapable of being taken seriously when he likened the tea party to one of the most depraved criminals to appear in film, the Joker in the Batman movies. (Audio after the jump)
Is this how Stalin charmed New York Times reporter/Soviet apologist Walter Duranty?
Former "Today" show co-host Meredith Vieira has become the latest example of a prominent figure in American media with a weak spot for an autocrat ruling Russia. Vieira appeared last night on "Late Show with David Letterman" and described covering the Winter Olympics in Sochi for NBC. (Video after the jump)
As a proud member of the Blame America First contingent, left-wing radio host Mike Malloy sure has its vernacular down pat. On his show last night, for example, he condemned "warmongering" American presidents and US arms makers for spreading death and destruction abroad.
Oddly, however, Malloy also described how he believes former vice president Dick Cheney would have been treated in the neighborhood where Malloy grew up -- which came across as little more than Malloy's fantasy of how Cheney should be treated now for criticizing the Obama administration's plan to scale back the military. (Audio clips after the jump)
Editorial cartoons often aren't pretty, to paraphrase Steve Martin's observation about the perils of comedy. But one found in the Opinion section of today's New York Times is downright ugly.
The cartoon, alluding to this year's brutal winter, suggests U.S. Department of Commerce "Strategies for Dealing With the 2014 Icicle Surplus." Among them are using icicles as "locally sourced hydration devices," "temporary doorsteps," and "brainteasers for dogs." Then comes a suggestion that one immediately looks at again, in disgust and disbelief -- icicles can also be used as "self-destructing sabers for dispatching climate-change deniers." (Entire cartoon shown after the jump)
You know that MSNBC has leaned too far forward into abject hackery masquerading as journalism when it gets slammed by Bill Maher, otherwise one of its most fervent defenders.
On his HBO show Friday night, Maher used the occasion of MSNBC's Rachel Maddow appearing as one of his guests to tell Maddow that her network's obsession with the Bridgegate scandal has become too much even for him. Maddow, not surprisingly, defended the coverage and, equally unsurprising, made a dishonest analogy in the process. (Video after the jump)
Uh, which one, Ed?
At some point in the not so distant future, former president Bill Clinton will pick up a phone, dial the main number at MSNBC/Pravda in Rockefeller Center, ask to speak with resident loose cannon/action hero Ed Schultz, and tell Schultz that if he really wants to help the Clintons, he should refrain from talking about them. At least not aloud and within range of a microphone. (Audio after the jump)
On his latest "Real Time with Bill Maher" show on HBO over the weekend, Bill Maher went where no comedian wants to find himself -- the dead zone of awkward silence from an audience.
Maher and his guests were talking about textbook bad hire/turncoat Edward Snowden seeking asylum in Russia and a WikiLeaks tweet praising this allegedly "democratic country" under Putin. (Video after the jump)
Can MSNBC's Rachel Maddow go a single day without descending into laughable hackdom?
Any previous doubts about this were erased by her show last night. Mere seconds after she was introduced by colleague Chris Hayes, and after Maddow offered a chirpy "happy snow day" to viewers (this during one of the most brutal winters in memory), Maddow began her show with this -- "The administration of Republican North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory has just been subpoenaed in conjunction with a federal criminal investigation." (Video after the jump)
Never thought I'd see the day that a prominent member of the liberal media establishment praised the Prince of Darkness himself, aka Richard Milhous Nixon, and one of his liberal media cohorts agreed.
Moreover, Nixon was described favorably while being compared to the erstwhile would-be Messiah occupying the Oval Office, Barack Hussein Obama. Strange days indeed, to borrow from John Lennon, the high priest of hippies. (Audio after the jump)
MSNBC's Rachel Maddow briefly departed from her Ahabesque obsession with Bridgegate last night to mention two relatively picayune matters -- a potentially "catastrophic" storm bearing down on the East Coast and two mayors getting convicted on corruption charges.
Anyone familiar with MSNBC's modus operandi knows what to expect from its, uh, "reporting" on political corruption -- if the politician is a Democrat, a viewer will wait in vain for any mention of party affiliation, while if said corrupt pol is a Republican, the affiliation will be cited repeatedly in the first sentence. (Video after the jump)


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It's pretty common knowledge that Italy is one of the world's top travel destinations from an art appreciation perspective. This entire country is virtually an open air art museum: ancient ruins, natural beauty, stunning architecture and icons of Christendom pop up everywhere you look. If you're looking to soak up history, culture and art all in one place, look no further than this amazing Southern European nation. Italy is never lacking in artistic attractions. In fact, the Vatican museums alone have enough treasures to literally keep you occupied for months if you take the time to look at the pieces for just a minute each. If you add in all the historical sites, churches, galleries and buildings in other Italian cities, you can stay in the country for years and still not see everything its artists have to offer. Of course, the key to getting a fulfilling art appreciation experience […]
Yes! Please send me my FREE Insider Italy Vacation Checklist with all the insider travel secrets I'll need for a perfect Italy vacation.
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"The trip was fabulous!! Everything we planned was perfect."
The cooking class we did set the bar for all cooking classes!!!! It was so special, and the owner himself was there, and opened what seemed like unending bottles of champagne for us while we cooked, along with cheese, and some treats – before we even sat down...
Lynn Nicaretta (Bayonne, NJ)
Venice Carnival Customized Vacation, February 2013


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Wine with meals
Can you order just a glass of wine with meals or do you have to order a whole bottle?
Wine can be ordered by the glass or the bottle. The bottle is the best deal. If you do not finish the bottle it will be stored for you and at your table the next evening.
Take care,
Like Mike says, you can have a glass or two and use it again the next night, even if you choose to go into a different restaurant venue.
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August wedding planned
Krista Evenson and Tyler Moore announce their engagement.
Parents of the couple are Terry and Gail Evenson, Willow Lake; and Gordon and Trish Moore, Artesian.
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(CHATSWORTH, CA) -- Sin City Entertainment, a leader in the Adult Entertainment Industry, announced today that they are currently accepting resumes for a VP of International Sales and Licensing.
Sin City, who has seen a significant growth over the past calendar year, will be adding the full-time position within their Chatsworth location. Sin City's Scott Justice offered, "Our commitment to a steady increase in Production and quality product necessitated the new sales position."
The ideal candidate will have Adult Sales Experience, knowledge of International Licensing and possess a strong work ethic. Salary will commensurate with experience. To schedule an interview, please contact Mr. Justice at 818-407-9990.
Modern Comstockery
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RockNSeXXXy Welcomes Billy Blair
Karaoke XXX Needs New Location
Jane & Ward Hosting XRCO
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Interview with Ela Darling
Derrick Pierce Interview
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Interview of Holly Heart
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Star.XXX Blasts Off
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Kendra Lust in Detroit
Starr Sisters in Houston
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Treacherous ~ Reviewer Rated
Bright Lights, Lonely Nights
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AINews: Skow Among Best
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Farrah Abraham at Hustler Hollywood
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Jennifer Anne (Westbay) Helberg, 40, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012, at Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster, Ala.
She was born May 21, 1972, the daughter of Rev. Nancy L. and Michael V. and Westbay, who survive in Wapakoneta. On Aug. 29, 2000, she married Joseph Helberg, who survives.
Also surviving are a daughter, Rylie Gwen, at home; a grandfather, Vernon Westbay, of Bellefontaine; a brother, Christopher M. Westbay and family (Melissa, Christopher and Chloe), of Hilliard; and a step-daughter, Christine Helberg, of McClure.
Sharon M. Kline, 67, of Wapakoneta, went to be with her Savior at 1:55 a.m. Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, at Wapakoneta Manor, after several years of extended illnesses.
She was born Dec. 7, 1945, in Lima, the daughter of Helen (Myers) and Lawrence Winegardner Klopfenstein. Her mother survives in Wapakoneta, and her father is deceased. On Dec. 10, 1982, she married Robert C. Kline, and he survives.
A local man was recently named to a state committee which will help make recommendations in awarding funds to local and state history projects.
Greg Myers has been named a member to the History Fund Review Committee, as well as part of a panel to help recommend recipients of grant funds for history projects in Ohio.
"I was very honored," Myers said of the position. "It's a pleasure to be asked for the first round."
Reflecting on the rewards a law enforcement officer retiring from the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office took from the job, the deputy says he always wanted to help somebody.
Rusty Krugh started on the Auglaize County Sheriff's Office auxiliary in 1985 and plans to return to serving on the auxiliary upon his retirement.
Kim Lee, co-owner of LouAnn's Tea sPot & Gifts, received her inspiration to open the business from a much younger family member.
Lee promised her young niece, Jana Metz, a tea party for her birthday. Lee took her niece and her mother to Eleanor's Tea Cottage in Troy. The idea for a similar-type business immediately began to form with Lee after the trip.
Lee asked her husband's aunt, LouAnn Egbert, if she wanted to form a partnership. As a result, the pair opened LuAnn's on Dec. 4.
After 35 years heading a local entertainment venue, a Wapakoneta businessman is stepping down and turning over the business to a younger man.
Astro Bowling Lanes owner Denny Borgert is selling his shares of the bowling alley and restaurant to Dave Jeanneret for an undisclosed amount of money. Jeanneret will assume control of the establishment on Jan. 7.
UNIOPOLIS — Uniopolis Mayor Bill Rolston made his resignation official Saturday by signing and giving a letter of resignation to Council President Greg Ritchie.
Rolston confirmed his resignation in a telephone call Sunday, saying he delivered the letter to Ritchie's home on Saturday. Rolston said Ritchie was not home, but he left the letter with Ritchie's brother.
Ritchie confirmed receiving the letter in a telephone call on Sunday.
BUCKLAND — Buckland Village Council members finalized a deal Saturday to purchase land from Don Stahler Jr. for the proposed new sewer system site.
Councilors decided to have the special meeting so they could finalize the purchase agreement for the 14.8 acres of land before the end of the year. Stahler asked council to complete the deal prior to the end of the year after a contract for the land was signed in September. Stahler asked due to the possibility of capital gains taxes going up in 2013.
William H. Garrett, 68, of Wapakoneta, died at 2:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.
He was born Aug. 15, 1944, in Columbus, the son of Dorothy L. (Webb) and Howard R. Garrett, who preceded him in death. On Dec. 31, 1978, he married Lora L. Winget, and she survives in Wapakoneta.
Also surviving are two sons, William II (Rachel) Garrett, and Shaun (Bethany) Garrett; three daughters, Julie Smith, Penny Young, and Angel (Adam) Stahler; 10 grandchildren; and three sisters, Delores Truman, Phyllis Talley, and Faye Bossert.
By KAREN KANTNER
Assistant Managing Editor
Five new troopers have taken to Auglaize County roadways to help keep motorists safe.
The new Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) troopers are Nathan R. Wathey, Paige C. Miranda, Brian Mull, Dewaine Anthony Norman, and Corey Resendez.
Wathey, 22, grew up in West Point and is living in Wapakoneta, since his assignment to the OSHP Wapakoneta Post.
The graduate of Beaver Local High School and Kent State University has past restaurant experience and spent time as a junior high wrestling coach.


text: New Haven Gallery: Preparing For NYC A packed field was in New Haven this year, going for Premier glory and Grand Slam momentum. Published August 26, 2012 12:00 Caroline Wozniacki with Cliff Drysdale and Rennae Stubbs at the ESPN set after her quarterfinal win. Tournament Director Anne Worcester received the 15-year tournament award for the New Haven Open at Yale. Petra Kvitova followed the presentation up with a straight set victory over good friend Lucie Safarova. The quarterfinal win over Lucie Safarova won Petra Kvitova the Emirates Airline US Open Series title. Liezel Huber gave autographs after she and co-World No.1 Lisa Raymond won an early round doubles match. Andrea Petkovic busted a move at a boxholder appreciation visit. Several other WTA stars looked on. Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka at the Ladies Day Luncheon and Vineyard Wines Fashion Show. Caroline Wozniacki met the press after having to retire in her semifinal match with an injured knee. Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy and Tournament Director Anne Worcester before Friday's night semifinal. Petra Kvitova would cruise past Sara Errani in straight sets to reach the final of the Premier event. Saturday afternoon's first champions were Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond, who won the doubles crown. NHL star Alexander Ovechkin was in Maria Kirilenko's support box during the final Saturday afternoon. Petra Kvitova came through in the clutch in the final, saving set points in both sets to win, 76(9) 75. Maria Kirilenko had just beaten Petra Kvitova a few weeks ago in the quarterfinals of the Olympics. Petra Kvitova won her second WTA title in three weeks, having also conquered Montreal two weeks before. Topics: tournaments, 2012, news, photos or videos, andrea petkovic, lisa raymond, liezel huber, lucie safarova, lucie hradecka, andrea hlavackova, caroline wozniacki, sara errani, maria kirilenko, petra kvitova, new haven [+] More Share this page! Print Email Related photos Gallery: Power To Inspire March 30, 2015 They're powerful, they're inspirational, and they're ready to take on the 2015 season - check out the brightest stars of the WTA in beautiful new Power To Inspire imagery! AO Gallery: Svitolina & Puig's Street Art January 18, 2015 Elina Svitolina and Monica Puig, two of the fastest-rising WTA Rising Stars, took part in a very unique promotional event for their new ellesse apparel. See all the best pics here! Gallery: Makarova Visits Italy With Lotto November 27, 2014 Ekaterina Makarova visited the Lotto Sport Italia company headquarters recently, trying out new gear, meeting her young fans and more - check out some of the best pics from the visit here. To The Top 3


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Yes there is all sorts of fancy new product, banging graphics, and exciting innovations at ISPO, but of all the things I've discovered here in Germany is Fresh off the Hill. Basically the coolest thing on Instagram, it's a passion project of three chaps featuring animated 15 second interviews with real, live pro snowboarders. But don't take my word for it, check out a few of the episodes.
So now get your ass over to instagram and follow them! @freshoffthehill
Brooke Geery YoBeat's moral compass. Yep, that's scary.
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Election 2012
Speeches From Victorious Senate Candidates
Originally published on Wed November 7, 2012 10:31 am
It wasn't a great night for the Republican Party, losing bids for the White House and control of the Senate. Republicans did retain the majority in the House, and House Speaker John Boehner found consolation in that. Speaking to supporters last night, he remained steadfast in his pursuit of a conservative agenda.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BOEHNER: The American people want solutions, and tonight, they've responded by renewing our House Republican majority. You know, with this vote, the American people have also made clear that there's no mandate for raising tax rates. And what Americans want that are solutions that will ease the burden on small businesses, bring jobs home and let our economy grow.
MONTAGNE: Boehner did see the election results as a mandate. In his case, he said quote, "to take steps together with Democrats and independents."
BOEHNER: Listen, we stand ready to work with any willing partner - Democrat, Republican or otherwise - who shares a commitment to getting those things done.
MONTAGNE: That's House Speaker John Boehner, speaking last night. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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Mt. Philo is Vermont's first state park, established in 1924. Towering at just shy of a thousand feet (968 ft), it's a few miles from home. 106 more words
Tags » Lake Views
It's amazing where I can find satisfaction
There are many things I know about myself. I'm not talking about my habits, good or bad, or my situation in life. I'm talking about… 598 more words
Cold Day on the Lake, New Preston, CT
Photo copyright 2015 by Susan Reinberg
The winter sun struggled all day to break through the clouds and managed to glow, moonlike, in an overcast sky. 38 more words
A Last Chance to See the Lakes Region's Fall Foilage: Lockes Hill
We are pretty lucky here in the Lakes Region. While many people have to travel North on I-93 to enjoy the changing colors of Autumn, the Lakes Region offers several opportunities right in our own backyard. 244 more words
The perks of living in the beautiful Sunhine State
After living in Florida for so many years, it is easy to forget why so many people all over the world make this their top vacation destination. 117 more words
Clouds Reflected, Bridgewater, CT
Pottering & Potter
We had one full day to explore some of the Lake District. It is certainly not possible to see everything but we pottered around in our hire car and saw quite a bit. 211 more words


text: Post Man (Newspaper) - November 21, 1802, London, Middlesex And the Hiilorical Account, &c. From ^attttHap November 2 t, to %UtiM}> November ^4, 17021 Pimna, November 11. YEfterday an Exprefs arrived here with fome difpatches f.-om the Ele&or of Bavaria, but che fame arc kept very private, and we are likely to know nothing of it before the 13th inftanr, the day appointed for the Minifter of that Prince to depart this City Upon pain of bsing cortfin'J, for if that tirrte is farther put off; we may reafonably conclude thar the difpicches brought yefterday, gave fome hopes of a fpje^y accommodation. Whatever it is, 'tis certain that all pofiibls meafures are tskun for reducing; tha t Prince, and Forces are marching on all fides to the Frontiers of his Ele&orats. 8000 Saxons are a&uajly marching from S%fo,andnvi!i be employed in ;ha: Expedition, with the confent of the King of PiUnd, before they march into Italy. An Exprefs fiujfl Prince Eugene has brought advice that the French Arany is broke up from -L.ttx.ar a, and that hi Wii tefolved Iikswifc to decamp the*rh inftant. Tne Emperor has given orders ro buy a great number of Hotfes far remounting his Cavalry in Italy, and we are affined from very good hands, that that Army will be coniiderably reinfetced next Spring. Tkrn in Prujf:,}, No�. 16. The King of Poland is dally cxpeSed here, laving reviewed the 8soo men^ he his p u in the fervice of the Emperor. The Seutut Cmflium, which was called co meet here the 2ld inftan: is put off to the beginning of the nex: month, by which time the Envoy" of the Emperor, the Czir of Mufctvf and forae other' Princes are expected here, to contribute their Friendly Offices for concluding a Treaty of Peace between the Kings ot&aedex and Ptlani, The French do their utmotto obftruS that Negotiation, and fooie Letters from the Sisur dit Herort. Envoy of the French King to Count Piper Minifter of State to the King of Sneden, being intercepted, wherein they have dif-eovered fome Intrigues relating to the continuation of the War, his Majefty fent orders to let a Guard upon that Envoy, and bring him hither, where he arrived yefterday. 'Tis faid that fome pneivil ex-prefifons to'vards his Majefty, which he uttered in relation to the Treaty with the Emperor, are Very highly relented, and certainly there mail be fbrns-thiag extraordinary in this affair, for other wife they would not have confined a publick Minifte.r. We have no certain account of the S��i�fince their decamping from Simdomir, and 'cis thought they are gone into their Winter quarters.. Thefe is a report that Count Steinboik and Count Piper twq Favourites df his Swedifh Majefty had a difpUte in the Council, which grew to fuch a heigth, that they fought a Duel, wherein the former was wounded, but this wants confirmation. They write from PM�er��j*,that t�*ey *�"� In great confirmation in that Country, upon advice that the &ax r. Frandfirt, Nov. JJ. The arrival of rue ttej/lan Troop? in rhe neighbourhood of CobUntz has removed rhe fears of the Si�ge of Hhinfeld, and the* Larrdgraveef H<jfe Cafifh to Girrilon that Fortrefs, as he did in rhe lair War.- Prince Lewis of Battels is difpofirfg his Troops into Winter quarters, at the French do on the other fiJ-. They write fiota that i Party of JpaHuiTars having made ant �jfc�rtfe� �waj�k fttHfisM^ xftii tfftb & FeK ragers belonging to that Garrifon, with a Guard of 400 men, whom they charged with fbat bravrry that they put them to flight killing iay.upon the fpbr and bringing 116 Prifonsrs with theei.amongft whom are 1 Lieutenant Collbnel, 4.Captains and 4 Lieuteriawisi We hear from Coligit that the Gariifen of Ftm is fp clofely blocked up lince.lhe taking of tinti., jgndef- nach and fome other places;� by the Prince of &|f Ctsjfel. that they dare notjlrir ptft of that place, wi'-that the Allies make fome preparations in order to Befiege that Fortrefs. .�,.''' Paris, November ay. Letter* rVcrri Madrid of the'1 8th intrant fay, that they have not ytt received a' par-5 ticular account of thelofs they ftiftairied at ftgi, the Government giving out, that almoft all'the Cafgo of the Flotra was faved, a�d others. fnieadijjgVthar a very faall part of th"e TreaY^rt was lanlded, and that: the Country PeopTa haytf1^tipdered f*me |'info-much, that very little,of it ii' 'likely to turn to pub-lick account. Thofe Lettefci..fay, that there is d great cbhiternation in fyaiti, "zhd that 'tis geRsrally believed, that fome Councellars wilt be removs'l* Hpon the Kings return to Madrid, Tbejealbii&s 1*^1-tween the CoUitsof Spam and; Ftrtugdlirc0jm&t&" My augmented, and likely;tci* g�9w to an ppeo^lup^ tare, unlefs the ill condi'tiQii5 of oar afeirj, bfadtfges tne King to conceal hifdiiT^tisia&icn. They'continue to talk of the great Proje&s we are to execute next Campaign, but the affair of P7p has difarjpoint-ed our dedgns. Letters from St Mah, Reiisd and other Places concerned in jtfce^Flantarions in tHe Wefi Indies, and the FifliOTy i^:Hivfoundland lay, 'fhaV the chief Traders are entirely rnmed, byrea:rb)ii i&at their Ships have been Co. unlocky, that hardly- one: out of 30 has efcaped being liken or deftroyedby , the Enemies. They write from Cm{ieg�e, ttAt the richeft furnitnre of die Kings Palace is carried to Cam&ray, which feems to confirm'the report We have' had of late, that his Majetty will"go to that place next Spring, and relide there while the Armies are? in the field. They had on the t^ifio noufual floroi of Thunder and Lightning at tonyitgne, attended with a Fog fp very thick and Sinking, that the like was. never, {sen in the memory of Man* One bf the. Towers of the principal Church mas fet on fire ; but' it Was foon extinguiffied by the- vigilance of the lai habitants. Cardinal Ssluzar*, Biftop tfCtrdg* has departed this Life, -beirfg very- much regretted % tire^ Coiart of Madrid, beciufe on all occaiions be hiim'': peared very zealeus for the new Krflg, and had uijted a Regiment pf 1000 men it his own charge, .upon ^ noticevof the defcent �f rp^ttiuife^etates near Gaiii. ': Our ^etJters from fialj, coajStrh,jhe. decamping, of the mmies, and tell/ps', tfiaf the Hufdrr feU Cpoo^ the Troops of the Dnke of Sa-itj, and got a cwifide-rable Booty, Prince �ig<p< rparched towards AfiHtap Vo/<�,.and pofted a ftrohgDetachment at ^ /� to relieve hismen.butTiaving id-Vice, tfiactbeDuke of' VdhdSmi' h0 made feveral'De* fachments to iupport '.the Troops fent from Undid^ that "Prince thought- fit tP letire; Ndtwiftffandih^ i\*t Jmfa*tf**#;in!ip<id,' the CatopelgA is not yec *' ' ..... it


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An image processing system processes image data in response to a sequence of image processing steps defined by a process tree data structure. The process tree comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes, including input nodes and at least one output node. Output rendering is performed a frame at a time, and each frame is rendered in a time determined by the amount of processing defined by the process tree. The process tree may comprise many branches of interconnected nodes, and the user can selectively cache intermediately rendered frames at nodes where the contributing process tree branches are relatively stable in their configuration. The user may then make modifications to processes in other parts of the process tree, without having to wait for image data to be rendered from unchanged parts of the process tree.
1. A method of processing image data in an image processing system comprising:
(a) storing instructions and a data structure representing processing to be performed on source image data in image storage means,
(b) defining a sequence of operations to be performed in order to process said source image data in accordance with said data structure, wherein;
(i) said data structure includes a plurality of image processing nodes;
(ii) processing nodes are connected to each other to define a processing pipeline for image data;
(c) displaying a graphical user interface to facilitate user interaction with said data structure, wherein said graphical user interface comprises:
(i) a graphical representation of an intermediate process node of said data structure;
(ii) a graphical representation of a node cache preference for the intermediate process node;
(d) updating said data structure in response to a user manipulation of said graphical representation of the node cache preference;
(e) processing image data in response to said data structure;
(f) storing, in a cache, image data associated with the immediate process node in response to the node cache preference; and
(g) subsequently processing image data in response to parts of said data structure not cached by said intermediate node.
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9. Apparatus for processing image data, comprising:
(a) image data storage means;
(b) memory means for storing instructions and a data structure representing processing to be performed on source image data in said image storage means, wherein:
(i) said data structure includes a plurality of image processing nodes;
(ii) said plurality of image processing nodes are connected to each other to define a processing pipeline for image data;
(c) processing means for performing said image processing; and
(d) said instructions define a sequence of operations to be performed in order to process said source image data in accordance with said data structure, wherein said instructions comprise;
(i) processing image data in response to said data structure;
(ii) storing in cache image data associated with an intermediate node of said data structure in response to an identification of a node cache preference for said intermediate node; and
(iii) processing image data in response to parts of said data structure not affecting image data that has been cached by said intermediate node;
(e) display means configured to display a graphical interface to facilitate user interaction with said data structure, wherein;
(i) said graphical user interface comprises a graphical representation of said intermediate no&of node data structure;
(ii) said graphical user interface comprises a graphical representation of the node cache preference for the intermediate node; and
(iii) said data structure is updated in response to a user manipulation of said graphical representation of the node cache preference.
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17. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable instructions executable by a computer configured as part of an image processing system that includes display means and image storage means, said computer comprising memory means for storing said instructions and a data structure representing processing to be performed on source image data in said image storage means, processing means for performing said image processing, where said instructions define a sequence of operations to be performed to process said source image data in accordance with said data structure, wherein:
said data structure includes a plurality of image processing nodes,
processing nodes are connected to each other to define a processing pipeline for image data,
and said instructions are executable by said processing means to perform the steps of:
processing image data in response to said data structure,
displaying a graphical user interface to facilitate user interaction with said data structure, wherein said graphical user interface comprises a graphical representation of an intermediate node of said data structure and a graphical representation of a node cache preference for the intermediate node;
updating said data structure in response to a user manipulation of said graphical representation of the node cache preference;
storing image data associated with the intermediate node in said data structure in response to an identification of the node cache preference, and
subsequently processing image data in response to parts of said data structure nor cached by said intermediate node.
18. A computer-readable medium according to
19. A computer-readable medium according to
20. A computer-readable medium according to
21. A computer-readable medium according to
22. A computer-readable medium according to
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24. A computer-readable medium according to
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to processing image data in response to a data structure defining image processing, and in particular relates to processing large quantities of image data in response to a data structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Systems for the processing of image data are known in which large quantities of digitised film or video data are processed in order to provide special effects. The image data consists of multiple image frames, and an output clip is generated by sequentially processing input frames from an input clip. Also, it is known to combine images from several image clips simultaneously, whereby one or several foreground clips are placed against a common background. This is a process known as compositing.
Historically, compositing, effects and other forms of image processing were often performed in several stages. A complex scene derived from multiple input clips would require intermediate clips to be generated. This results in the need for costly storage of the intermediate clips, and also creates considerable complexity in the administration of the various stages of processing. A major problem with this approach is that complex effects requiring intermediate clips are too expensive to permit creative experimentation.
This difficulty, in the context of digital image processing, has been solved by defining complex sequences of compositing, effects, and other types of image processing in a data structure called a process tree. A process tree typically has one or several inputs, and one or more outputs. intermediate processing nodes, and their interconnections, define process combinations of arbitrary complexity. The output clip is generated a frame at a time, with each frame being calculated according to the operation of process nodes and their interconnections in the process tree.
Whereas previously it would have been necessary to generate output clips in their entirety, a process taking possibly several hours or days, the process tree generates a single frame at a time, taking from less than a second to several minutes, depending on the complexity of effects defined by the process tree. The operator of such a system, often referred to as a digital artist, can tune or retouch the data structure used to create a scene or effect without having to render each intermediate clip of the tree. Once satisfied with the results, the entire output clip can be rendered to disk for eventual transfer to film or another medium.
The popularity of this approach, and the capabilities offered by such a system, have resulted in process trees of considerable complexity being used routinely. This results in an overall increase in the rendering time for each frame. This increase in processing time is tolerated, because the results from this arrangement are usually worth the wait. Alternatively, a faster computer can be used to reduce the time to render each frame. However, the amount of processing required for a complex processing tree is considerable, and limitations in computer architecture, as well as cost, provide a limit to the effectiveness of a brute force solution.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for processing image data, comprising image data storage means, memory means for storing instructions and a data structure representing processing to be performed on source image data in said image storage means, processing means for performing said image processing, and wherein said instructions define a sequence of operations to be performed in order to process said source image data in accordance with said data structure, in which said data structure includes a plurality of image processing nodes, said processing nodes are connected to each other to define a processing pipeline for image data, and said instructions are executed by said processing means to perform the steps of processing image data in response to said data structure, storing image data associated with an intermediate node in said data structure in response to an identification of node cache preference, and thereafter processing image data in response to parts of said data structure not affecting image data that has been cached by said intermediate node.
A system for the processing of image data is illustrated in
A computer 103 facilitates the transfer of image data between the tape player 101 and the frame store 102. The computer 103 also facilitates the modification, processing and adjustment of image data to form an output clip that will eventually be stored onto digital tape. The computer is a Silicon Graphics Octane (TM). Images are previewed on a monitor 104 on which is also displayed a graphical user interface (GUI) to provide the user with several controls and interfaces for controlling the manipulation of image data. When processing image data, the user interacts with images and the graphical user interface displayed on the monitor 104 via a graphics tablet 105. For alphanumeric input, there is provided a keyboard 106, although facilities may be provided via the graphical user interface to facilitate occasional text input using the graphics tablet 105.
In addition to receiving image data from the tape player 101 and the frame store 102, the computer 103 may receive image and or other data over a network. The image processing system shown in
In a typical application, film clips are digitised and stored on digital tape for transfer to the system in FIG. 1. The film clips include several camera shots that are to be combined into the same scene. It is the task of the user or digital artist to combine and process this source image data into a single output clip that will be stored back onto tape for later transfer to film. Typical examples of this type of scene are where real images shot by a film camera are to be combined with artificially generated images and backgrounds, including scenes where actors are to be placed in computer-generated environments.
The computer 103 shown in
The switch 206 enables up to seven different non-blocking connections to be made between connected circuits. A graphics card 208 receives instructions from a CPU 201 or 202 in order to render image data and graphical user interface components on the monitor 104. A high bandwidth SCSI bridge 209 facilitates high bandwidth communications to be made with the digital tape player 101 and the frame store 102. An I/O bridge 210 provides input output interface circuitry for peripherals, including the graphics tablet 105, the keyboard 106 and a network. A second SCSI bridge 211 provides interface connections with an internal hard disk drive 212. This has a capacity of thirteen gigabytes. The second SCSI bridge 211 also provides connections to a CDROM drive 213, from which instructions for the central processing units 201 and 202 may be installed onto the hard disk 212.
Instructions for central processing units 201 and 202 determine how image data is processed. Several applications have been developed for image processing using processing hardware of the type shown in FIG. 2. The present applicant has image processing applications that include Batch (TM) and Flame (TM). The name Batch will henceforward refer to an improved version of Batch, operating in accordance with the present invention.
Steps performed by the user when operating the image processing system shown in
When compositing a complex scene, the steps shown in
During Batch processing at step 304, the contents of the computer's main memory 207 shown in
A particular Flame 402 module that is used frequently in image processing is a color keyer module. In color keying, a first scene is shot by a film or other camera against a blue background. In the keying process, the background is identified by its color, and pixels of that color are replaced by pixels from a different image source. Color keying is used extensively in television and in digitally-processed film, in order to facilitate the creation of artificial environments. An example of this type of scene is the superposition of large numbers of actors from several different clips in a single artificially generated environment. In order to generate a scene of this kind, many color keyer modules are used for different parts of the image. Color keying is used in combination with other effects, in order to improve the quality and realism of the resulting clip. For example, it may be necessary to apply scaling and color correction to clips of real actors in order to ensure that they have an appropriate size and appearance in the finished scene.
Historically, compositing a complex scene from multiple input clips has been performed in several stages. These are shown in FIG. 5. An input clip 501, originating from a film camera, is processed by an effect 502, such as scaling, to generate an intermediate clip 503. Input clips 504 and 505 may be combined by a process 506 such as a color keyer, to generate a second intermediate clip 507. The first intermediate clip 503 may then be processed by a different effect 508 to form a third intermediate clip 509. The second intermediate clip 507 is processed again 510 to form yet another intermediate clip 511. In this way many intermediate clips are generated. In a final stage, an intermediate clip 512, or possibly several intermediate clips, are processed 513 to form the finished clip 514.
Whether processed digitally or using some other method, the generation of intermediate clips after every stage results in considerable cost and time. It is also extremely limiting in a creative sense, because the artist responsible for the creation of the finished clip cannot see the results of early processing 502, 506, until long after this has been performed. This severely restricts the degree of experimentation that is possible.
When carried out digitally, the amount of storage required for intermediate clips 503, 507, 509, 511 can be prohibitive. A single digitised frame of film may require as much as forty megabytes of data storage in the frame store 102. At twenty-four frames per second, and with many intermediate clips being generated, storage quickly becomes a limiting factor, with it soon becoming necessary to transfer intermediate clips to tape and back again in order to facilitate the compositing of film clips of more than a few seconds in duration.
Batch 403 provides a solution to this problem by processing intermediate image data 503, 507, 509, 511 on a frame-by-frame basis. The flow of image data from input clips to output clip is defined in a data structure called a process tree. A process tree exists as a data structure 404 in main memory 207, and can be represented graphically as shown by the example in FIG. 6. Each process or effect, input or output is shown in the tree as a node. Connections between the nodes define the flow of image data. Each node generates a single frame of image data which is stored in an output buffer for the node which is stored in a region 405 of main memory 207 set aside for this purpose. The output clip is generated a frame at a time at an output node 601.
When generating each new frame of the output clip, a requirement for a new frame is passed from the output node 601 to process node 602. This requires two new frames from different paths in order to update its output buffer. Each path is considered in turn, resulting in a request for new image data being transferred all the way to the input clip nodes 603, 604, 605 and 606. Thereafter, each process 607 to 613 is able to update its output buffer with valid image data, and so, eventually, the output buffer of the output node 601 becomes ready for display.
As processing is performed a frame at a time, intermediate storage 503, 507, 509, 511 is reduced from being the length of an entire clip to the size of a single frame. Intermediate frames may therefore be stored in the image buffers 405 in the main memory 207 of the computer 103. When main memory 207 is insufficient, virtual memory techniques may be used by Batch to logically increase the size of the main memory 207 using temporary storage on one of the connected hard disk drives.
The use of a process tree data structure 404 for processing image data facilitates complex combinations and modifications of input clips to be made while previewing the final results a frame at a time after only a relatively short time delay. The versatility of this system encourages creativity, and enables a digital artist to experiment and compose clips that are many hundreds of times more complex than could be reliably achieved with the method shown in FIG. 5. Scenes from the film Titanic (TM) used process trees having hundreds of interconnected process nodes.
The interface presented on the monitor 104 when interacting with a process tree in Batch is shown in FIG. 7. The process tree 700 in this example is still many times simpler than those commonly used. A simplified example is shown for the purpose of clarity.
Input nodes 701 and 702 are processed in accordance with the process tree structure 404 to supply image data on a frame by frame basis to the output node 704. Many intermediate nodes 705 and 706 provide the effects and processes in the process tree. In the present embodiment, these effects and processes are supplied as modules of Flame instructions 402, but these may instead be supplied as modules of instructions from any source, provided they conform to the requirements of the Batch application interface (API) for effects and processing modules. Output image frames are displayed in an image window 707, which may be resized and moved as required. The image window may be enlarged to fill as much of the screen as required, in order to check the quality of results in more detail.
Other components of the user interface are transport controls 711, enabling the user to select frames for rendering, and to jump quickly to any part of the final clip. A timeline 712 provides a graphical indication of the percentage of elapsed time through the output clip that is being generated. An add button 713 facilitates the addition of new process nodes 705, 706. A modify button 714 facilitates the modification of node functionality. Node modification typically results in new menus being provided to interact with the node's internal process or algorithm in great detail. A process node such as a color keyer node 705 may itself contain comprehensive user interface components that enable the user to make complex adjustments to achieve high quality results. User modification of a node may itself take a substantial amount of time. A connect button 715 facilitates connection between process nodes in the process tree. The functionality of buttons 713, 714 and 715 may be duplicated or replaced by keypress combinations on the keyboard 106 and or other methods of interacting directly with the process tree using the graphics tablet 105. Interaction with the user interface components is mainly achieved by using the graphics tablet 105 to position a cursor over the required soft button on the display and pressing a real button on the stylus used with the graphics tablet.
A load button 716 and a save button 717 are provided to save and load the process tree data structure 404 to and from the hard disk 212. Other user interface buttons are provided that enable the user to zoom into and out of the process tree 700, move nodes to generate a more easily viewed visual layout, and to access other sections of the Batch or Flame instructions, such as those required to import or export clips via the digital tape player 101.
The interface and facilities illustrated in
With a complex process tree 700, the user will tend to work on one section of the tree at a time. For example, the user may choose to work on a background effect over the period of one day, and then spend the next several days configuring clips that appear in the foreground. Thus, many portions of the process tree are static in their configuration, and generate the same intermediate image data every time the same frame of the output clip is rendered. Other portions of the process tree change in response to user modifications, and so nodes affected by changes do not generate the same intermediate image data for a frame when that frame is rendered on subsequent previews of the output clip.
Nodes between the input 701 and output 704 nodes are considered intermediate nodes, and their output buffers contain intermediate image data. In the invention, intermediate image data in the output buffer of an intermediate node 705 is cached in response to user identification of a node cache requirement. Caching comprises first storing image data, and then, on subsequent demands for image data from a particular node, checking the node cache before performing node processing, and, if the cache contains valid data for a requested frame, reading that data from the cache instead of calculating it according to the functionality of the node. Given the complexity of some node algorithms, the saving in processing time for the process tree as a whole can be highly significant.
The user identifies a node cache requirement for a node whose output is likely to remain the same. Processing performed by CPUs 201 and 202 may thereafter be directed towards other nodes, whose configuration or interconnection is being adjusted by the user.
The invention is summarised in FIG. 8. Input node 801 supplies image data to process node 802, and process node 802 generates image data supplied to a first input of another process node 803. Clip node 804 similarly provides image data which is supplied to a third process node 805, and which supplies the second input of process node 803. The user has, for the time being, completed adjustments to all of nodes 801, 802, 803, 804 and 805, and so, as other parts of the process tree are adjusted, any processing performed by the central processing units 201 and 202 in respect of nodes 801 to 803 is superfluous. It is therefore preferable for the data generated in the output buffer of node 803 to be cached.
In a typical example, the user will arrange to repeatedly render frames one to twenty in a loop, and make adjustments to the processing tree while these frames are being calculated and previewed in the output window. The first time these frames are generated at the output node 807, all process nodes in the process tree will have to be computed. This will usually take a significant amount of time. However, because a preference for node 803 to be cached has been identified, during an initial cache write phase, intermediate image data generated in the output buffer of node 803 will be copied to the frame store 102, as well as being supplied to the next node 806 in the tree. Subsequent playbacks of any of frames one to twenty will result in intermediate image data for node 803 being retrieved from the frame store, and the calculations for nodes 801, 802, 803, 804 and 805 need not be performed.
The user decides which nodes are to be cached, and by selectively caching nodes in the process tree, output frames are calculated more quickly. As more and more processes become finally configured, nodes identified for caching remove more and more of the processing required to implement the entire process tree. In practice, because the tree is built up over time, significant new processes need only be added once a previous part of the process tree has been substantially finalised, and its output node identified for caching. Subsequent fine tuning of cached nodes or nodes leading to cached nodes, will result in one or several caches being flushed. However, most of the time, the user sees a considerable increase in the rate at which output images are rendered. Thus, interactivity with the parts of the processing tree where changes are being made is significantly improved. The results of experimentation are seen more quickly. From the point of view of the user, results are achieved in less time; there is an improvement in workflow.
When a user zooms in on a part of the process tree 700 shown in
At 901 the node cache has been set for both reading and writing. For each frame in the clip, the node has a tag indicating whether data for that frame is available in the cache. If data is not available for a particular frame when that frame is required, then it will have to be recalculated. After recalculation, the contents of the output buffer are supplied both to the frame store 102 and to the next node in the process tree 700. Subsequent viewing of this frame will result in the frame being fetched from the frame store 102 and the calculations for that frame are not performed. Whenever changes are made to nodes that affect the frame stored in the cache, the frame's data is recalculated and stored in the cache when that frame is next requested. This may eventually result in a lot of the frame store's capacity being used up. The user may monitor the number of frames cached by a node, and the remaining capacity of the frame store. As a result, the user may decide to invoke read only cache status, as illustrated at 902. This prevents new frames being added to the cache, and if cached frames are invalidated by changes to the processing tree, then these are not updated in the cache when they are recalculated. As a third option, a node may be set to have no cache, and this is illustrated at 903.
Batch processing 304 shown in
Step 1003 shown in
In order to see the results of the process tree 700 in the view window 707, it is necessary to render the parts of the process tree that are not already stored as image data in a node cache. The need to render may be triggered by several different conditions. At 1111 a user requests a single frame to be rendered, by appropriate manipulation of the transport controls 711 via the graphics tablet 105. At 1112 an automatic request for a frame is generated. This will be due to a sequence of frames being rendered, each one immediately after the other. Even when only a single frame is being viewed, a change somewhere in the process tree must usually be reflected in a change to the preview image 707. This condition is indicated at 1113. After any of conditions 1111, 1112 or 1113 have been satisfied, control is directed to step 1114, where rendering is performed.
The rendering process 1114 shown in
At step 1201 a question is asked as to whether the cache is activated for the present node. Initially, the present node is the output node 807, and this has no cache. Therefore, control is directed, on this initial occasion, automatically to step 1204. At step 1204 the first connected node is selected, which in the example is node 808. At step 1205 a question is asked as to whether the output buffer contents of the connected node are valid for the requested frame. If not, control is directed to step 1206. Step 1206 is itself defined by the flowchart of
At step 1207 a question is asked as to whether there is another connected node. In the example shown in
Execution of the algorithm for the process node at step 1209 results in the output buffer for the node becoming valid. At step 1209 a question is asked as to whether the node has been activated for cache writing. This will be the case for a node as indicated at 901 in FIG. 9. If so, control is directed to step 1210. At step 1210, an attempt is made to write the contents of the output buffer to the frame store 102 as part of the cache for the node. However, given that there is limited space in the frame store 102, a cache strategy is implemented in order to ensure that an appropriate decision is made when cache resources are low.
When applied to a cached node, step 1201 may be answered in the affirmative. This will be the case for the node cache setting indicated at 901 and 902. Control is then directed to step 1202, where a question is asked as to whether the requested frame exists in the node's cache. If not, control is directed to step 1204 and proceeds as described above. Alternatively, if the frame has already been cached, it is loaded into the output buffer for the present node at step 1203. This completes the description for execution of the flowchart of
The behaviour of the flowchart shown in
The step 1210 of implementing a cache strategy and storing the output buffer in the frame store, shown in
If the present node does not have the lowest priority of the priorities compared at step 1304, then control is directed to step 1306. Alternatively, the present frame is simply not cached. At step 1306 image data from another node's cache is deleted to make room for the present node's new frame. It may be preferable to delete several frames, as it is likely that this will result in a slight increase in efficiency when processing subsequent requests of a similar nature. The image data deleted will be from the node that had the lowest priority calculated at step 1303. Furthermore, as a result of this deletion, the cache indicator on the node whose cache is being at least partially deleted may have its indicator changed from read and write to read only, indicated at 901 and 902 respectively in FIG. 9. At step 1307, the new frame is written to the frame store.
The process 1303 of prioritising node caches is detailed in FIG. 14. At step 1401 the first cached node is selected. Steps 1402 to 1405 facilitate a measure of priority with respect to the cache of the node selected at step 1401. At step 1402 PRIORITY_T is given as the estimated time to render a single frame multiplied by a weighting constant WEIGHT_T. At step 1403 PRIORITY_N is a measure of the frequency of cache hits for the node, given by the number of cache hits occurring over a fixed number of previous frames. This is multiplied by a weighting constant WEIGHT_N. At step 1404 PRIORITY_P is given by a measure of the proximity to the output node multiplied by a weighting constant WEIGHT_P. The proximity value can be the maximum number of nodes in any chain from input to output in the process tree, minus the number of nodes between the present node and the output node. At step 1405 PRIORITY_T, PRIORITY_N and PRIORITY_P are added together to form the overall priority for the node. At step 1406 a question is asked as to whether there are any other nodes with caches that remain to be prioritised. If so, control is directed back to step 1401. Alternatively, this completes the step of node prioritisation 1303.
A node cache comprises two forms of data. Firstly there is the image data itself, that is stored in the frame store 102. However, the frame store contains only image data, and so the hard disk 212 contains data describing where images for a particular node cache are stored in the frame store 102. Data structures for cache storage are illustrated in FIG. 15.
A part of the directory structure of the hard disk 212 is shown at 1501. A library of data points to clip data structure files that are used by clip nodes 801, 804, 810 and 811 to retrieve clip image data from the frame store 102. Each clip has an associated file, and examples are illustrated of files called clipa 1502, clipb 1503 and clipc 1504. Each file contains the information required by a clip node to obtain image data 1505, 1506 or 1507 from the frame store 102.
A similar library of data points to node cache files. A single example is shown for a node called action1. The node cache file 1511 for action1 is given the same name as its node, and this file is formatted in the same way as a clip file. It points to image data 1512 in the frame store. By looking at the contents of the action1 file 1511, it is possible to determine the location of each frame of image data for that node cache. Furthermore, as node data is not necessarily cached in sequence, the cached image data 1512 may include data for frames one, seven to thirteen, twenty and twenty-seven. A clip will, by contrast, usually contain a full sequence of image frames. It is possible for the user to preview cached frames in the same way as a clip. Under these circumstances, an attempt to display a missing intermediate frame will simply result in the display of a blank field.
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