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Masih banyak pertanyaan apa bedanya OS4 dengan OS5. Di sini kami posting features baru dari OS5 sebagai informasi buat yang masih belum upgrade OS5
Personal Information Management Features - Email
Flag for Follow up
Using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0, any email messages that are flagged for follow up on the email application on the computer will have that information reconciled with the email message item on the BlackBerry smartphone and shown next to the subject in the Messages application as displayed in the image below. This includes any customization to the flag, such as reminder information, or the type of follow up required.
Mail Folder Management
Using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 and BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5.0, you can add, rename, move, or delete folders as displayed in the image below. The changes are reconciled to the email application on the computer.
Note: This functionality is available while filing an email message or while viewing a folder from the Messages application on the BlackBerry smartphone, but it is not available within Folder Redirection settings.
Sticky Dates
When scrolling through the message list, the current date when email messages were sent or received is always displayed at the top of the Messages application. This behavior is shown in the image below while scrolling down the message list in the Messages application.
Auto Correct / Word Completion
This feature was previously only available on BlackBerry smartphones that use SureType® technology. Auto Correct/Word Completion is now available in BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 for QWERTY based smartphones, and is shown in the image below on a QWERTY SurePress™ keyboard for illustration.
Main Messages Icon Settings/Dedicated Desktop Messages Icon
Within Messages > Options on the BlackBerry smartphone, a new option named Main Message List Settings is available. This new option provides the following features:
* You can select which message services show up with the Messages application on the BlackBerry smartphone (for example, Desktop, or BlackBerry Internet Service email accounts)
* By default, the Desktop email service has a dedicated icon that will only display messages received from the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.
* You can also specify whether or not you want SMS and MMS messages to show in the Messages application on the BlackBerry smartphone.
Note: PIN messaging, Instant Messaging, and any other applications that use the Messages application still function the same as they do currently, and cannot be configured in a similar manner.
Personal Information Management Features - Calendar
Viewing Attachments within a Meeting Invite
With BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0, you can view attachments that are included in a calendar appointment. You can view the attachments from either a meeting invitation or from within the calendar item.
Forwarding Appointments
Using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 and BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5.0 for Microsoft® Exchange, you can forward a calendar appointment or meeting invitation to another user. A forwarded meeting displays Meeting Forward in the meeting request title bar.
Delegating Appointments
Using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 and BlackBerry Enterprise Server version 5.0 for IBM® Lotus® Domino®, you can delegate a calendar appointment or meeting invitation to another user. The meeting organizer can see if a user on the original meeting invitation has delegated the calendar item to another user, but will not have the ability to see who the meeting was delegated to. An example of a delegated meeting request and the appointment details (as viewed by the organizer).
Personal Information Management Features - Contacts
Synchronization of Distribution Lists
Distribution lists or Groups within the email application on your computer can now synchronize to the BlackBerry smartphone. This type of grouping cannot be merged with the Group function within the Contacts application on the BlackBerry smartphone. The different types of groups are shown in the image below. The members of the distribution list or group from the desktop email client cannot be viewed on the BlackBerry smartphone.
Synchronization of Multiple Contact Folders or Address Books
Multiple Contact folders or Address Books can now be configured for synchronization to the BlackBerry smartphone. See KB18080 for more information on using this feature.
Multimedia Features
Media Folder
Using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0, the different functions of the Media application are now contained within a Media folder and each media application has its own application icon.
Note: By default, the applications in the Media folder are Music, Videos, Ring Tones, Pictures, Voice Notes, Video Camera, and Voice Notes Recorder. By default, the camera application is located on the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone.
Volume Overlay
Volume overlay displays a volume indicator on top of any application whenever the volume level is adjusted. Depending on what output is currently selected for the media being played, the icon will change to indicate what level is being adjusted. An example of the volume overlay on the home screen is shown below for reference.
Support for Play Button on Bluetooth/A2DP peripherals
When paired with a Bluetooth® A2DP compatible peripheral, pressing the play button on the peripheral launches the Music application on the BlackBerry smartphone automatically and begins playing all music in shuffled order.
Media Memory Management
From within the new Media folder, described above, a new menu option named Memory Use is available which visually represents all available memory on the BlackBerry smartphone.
By clicking the Details button, you can also see where memory is allocated, based on where items are stored in the file folder structure of the memory on the BlackBerry smartphone.
Consolidated Send / Share Menu Option
Using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0, the individual options to send media items to Email, SMS, or MMS have been consolidated into a single menu item that expands
Photo Resize when Sending or Sharing
When sending a photo or picture, you are presented with a list of options that resize the image before it is sent.
Photo Full Screen Preview
When taking a picture with the Camera application in Full Screen mode, the preview present after taking the picture is now also presented in full screen.
Support for Auto Focus Modes
BlackBerry smartphones that support Auto Focus now also have the following auto focus options available in the Options menu of the Camera application:
* Off
* Normal (Default)
* Close-Up
Improved Picture Library
From the Pictures application, all pictures that are stored in any available memory on the BlackBerry smartphone are displayed by default. To exclude folders in available memory sources from displaying pictures, select the option from the Options menu in the Pictures application.
Support for Bluetooth 2.1 and Secure Simple Pairing
Bluetooth 2.1 support has been added to BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 along with Secure Simple Pairing (SSP). SSP simplifies the pairing process in the following ways when used with compatible peripherals:
* Peripherals without a screen or keyboard do not require a pairing key to be entered on BlackBerry smartphone
* Peripherals with a keyboard generate a key on the BlackBerry smartphone to be entered on the peripheral
* All other peripherals display a key on both the BlackBerry smartphone and in the peripheral and prompt for confirmation that the keys match
Support for Metadata via Bluetooth AVRCP
For Bluetooth peripherals that support AVRCP and can display song data, this information will be sent from the BlackBerry smartphone to the associated peripheral.
Security Features
Improved Security Options Menu
The Security Options menu within Options has been simplified to provide easier access to the settings. The new menu structure and the items contained in Advanced Security Options
Note: The Information option contains IT Policy and Services information along with Message Outline Color settings.
Improved Security Wipe Screen
As shown in the feature above, Security Wipe has a dedicated option within the Security Options menu. The wipe options are now configurable and you can opt to wipe additional items from the microSD card on the BlackBerry smartphone
Content Protection renamed to Encryption
The Encryption menu option in the new Security Options menu replaces the menu item that was previously named Content Protection.
MicroSD Smart Card support
The use of microSD smart cards for two-factor device authentication, S/MIME key management, and other third-party applications is now supported. A microSD smart card is a standard mass storage card with a smart card implementation within it for enhanced security. This smart card secure element removes the need for a secondary device to act as a smart card reader since the microSD card slot acts as the interface between the smart card and the BlackBerry smartphone.
Improved Firewall PIN Message Blocking
Using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0, the Firewall screen within the Security options separates Corporate PIN messages from Public PIN messages.
Improved Lock Screen for Emergency Calls
With this new feature, you can dial an emergency number defined by your wireless service provider without having to unlock the BlackBerry smartphone. When you populate the appropriate number, an overlay confirming that you want to start the emergency call is displayed.
Browser Features
Improved Web Page Rendering with AJAX support
The following browser standards are now implemented in the BlackBerry Browser using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0:
* JavaScript® 1.6
* CSS 2.1 (including Lists, Box Model, Positioning, Floats, Visual Effects, Tables, Colors, Backgrounds, & Text Properties; not including system fonts and generated content)
* CSS 3 (partial support including Namespaces, Selectors, Color, Marquee, and Media Queries)
* DOM L2 (including Core, HTML, Style, Events)
* HTML 4.01 (including Forms, Maps, Tables, Frames, Objects)
* HTML 5.0 parsing and forms
* XMLHttpRequest
* SVG TinyTM 1.1
* XML-stylesheet processing instruction
Gears Support
The following GearsTM API components are supported with the BlackBerry Browser using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0:
* Factory
* Blob
* Database
* Desktop
* Geolocation
* HttpRequest
* Timer
* WorkerPool
Native/Core Application Features
Improved Application Listing within Options
The list of applications in Options > Applications on the BlackBerry smartphone has a new user interface that allows you to display any applications that are considered Core, Add-on, or Third Party, and search by the application name.
Application Install Location
From the Options on the Home Screen, BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 provides the option to specify the folder where downloaded applications are placed. The default location is the Downloads folder unless the developer has specified a different location as noted in the Configure Application Download Folder feature below.
Note: This feature is available in BlackBerry Device Software version 4.7 and 4.7.1.
Applications Memory Management
When the BlackBerry smartphone begins to run low on available memory, a dialog box appears that prompts the user to remove applications that are not used often. This dialog box includes a list of applications that can be removed and provides the option to select the applications for removal.
Precision - Today Theme
A theme that provides a summary of items for the current day and is based on the Precision theme is now available with BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0.
Configure Application Download Folder
With BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0, a developer of a third-party application can chose which folder on the BlackBerry smartphone that they wish to have their application appear in. As noted above, if no folder is specified, the Downloads folder is the default location for any downloaded third-party application.
Native or Device Application Controls
Native or Device Application Controls allow a BlackBerry Enterprise Server administrator to configure application-specific options that are currently not controlled by an IT Policy, and opt to hide the options for these settings. Some examples of these controls are listed below:
* Initial calendar view - Allows you to control the display method the Calendar application uses on the BlackBerry smartphone. The default value is Day.
* Initial calendar view - attributes - Provides control over whether the above item can be changed, hidden, or visible but locked down. The default value is Editable and Visible.
Press and Hold Menu Key for Application Switcher and Double-Click Menu Key for Default Action
With BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0, if you press and hold the Menu key, the Application Switcher appears and allows you to easily switch between applications. If you double-click the Menu key while in an application, the default action will be invoked. (For example, if you are composing an email and you double-click the Menu key, the email will be sent.)
Note: These features are available in BlackBerry Device Software version 4.7 and 4.7.1.
Setup Features
Improved Setup Wizard
The improved Setup Wizard available in previous versions of BlackBerry Device Software is now available on all BlackBerry smartphones that support BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0.
Improved Email Settings
An improved Email Settings wizard is included with BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 that works with the BlackBerry® Internet Service. The application provides an improved user interface for integrating email accounts and configuring settings for email accounts that are integrated with the BlackBerry Internet Service. See the following knowledge base articles for more information on this feature:
* KB16382 - Setting up filters for an email account
KB16384 - Deleting an email account
KB16383 - Resending service books for an email account
KB18258 - How to create a user name and password for your BlackBerry Internet Service account
KB16385 - Editing email account settings
Maps Features
Improved Search Usability
When searching for a location, as you type, all of the information sources on the BlackBerry smartphone (for example, cached results, favourites, or contacts) are displayed beneath your search query. If these results are not what you are looking for, you can still submit a wireless request to search.
Photo Geotagging Layer within BlackBerry® Maps
Using BlackBerry® Maps in BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 adds an additional layer that takes any pictures stored on the BlackBerry smartphone with geotagging information and overlays these pictures on the existing map display.
Other Features
Notification Indicators on Folders
Using BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0, any folders that contain applications that put a notification on the Home screen of the BlackBerry smartphone show an indicator on the folder of the application. For example, in the image below, BlackBerry® Messenger has a new notification present that is shown on the top of the Home screen and on the Instant Messaging folder where the BlackBerry Messenger application resides.
Enhanced SMS Interface
The Short Message Service (SMS) interface within BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 has an improved user interface with a chat-like display similar to the instant messaging style used in BlackBerry Messenger. An example of the improved user interface.
Boot Progress Indicator
When powering on the BlackBerry smartphone, an indication of the progress of starting or booting the BlackBerry smartphone is shown with a progress indicator.
Time zone change detection
When connecting to the wireless service provider's network for the first time, or when travelling and roaming on a different wireless service provider's network for the first time, a prompt appears that allows you to update the time zone on the BlackBerry smartphone to match your wireless service provider's time zone, as shown in the image below. This feature can be configured within Options > Date/Time to be turned on or off manually or to prompt automatically (default).
Note: This feature works independently of the Use Network Time setting in Options > Date/Time.
Remote File Exploring
BlackBerry Device Software version 5.0 adds a new application within the Applications folder named Files. This application makes it possible for a BlackBerry smartphone user to access Server Message Block (SMB) based Windows network shares.
For more information on configuring access to network file shares, please see the section entitled "Setting up access to documents on remote file systems" in the BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0 Administration Guide.
Event Sounds
The event sounds is a new accessibility feature. When this option is turned on from Options > Accessibility, the BlackBerry smartphone plays an audible alert for each of the following actions:
* Device On (boot up)
* Device Off (shutdown)
* USB Cable/Accessory Connected
* USB Cable/Accessory Disconnected
* Full Battery Charge
* Battery Near Depletion
Mhn 1 menit waktu anda POST Testimonial buat team BerryIndo
Demi kerapian forum & kemudahaan user lainnya, mohon perhatikan Cara posting di forum


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NEC Quarterfinal Preview: Robert Morris Seeks Repeat
One of the eight teams in the Northeast Conference is just three wins away from earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with quarterfinal play kicking things off tonight. Quinnipiac and Robert Morris shared the regular season crown with matching 15-3 league records but Tom Moore's Bobcats get the top seed as a result of their head-to-head win in the lone meeting between the two. But it's Mike Rice's Colonials who go into the tournament as the defending champs, and while they don't have a Jeremy Chappell (graduation) or Jimmy Langhurst (injury) RMU is more than capable of the repeat. But the drop down to the second seed could be unfortunate in more than just one way for RMU. That's because if seeding holds they'd have to take on rival Mount St. Mary's in the semifinals, a team that's not only been on fire but also beat Robert Morris in the regular season finale last Saturday.
Jeremy Goode, Jean Cajou, Kelly Beidler and Shawn Atupem were all contributors on Milan Brown's NEC champion team from two seasons ago so they know what's required at this time of the year. And in the middle of the pack are LIU and FDU, two teams that won at least ten NEC games after struggling in the non-conference portion of their respective schedules. Two of the best guards in the conference will face off in Jaytornah Wisseh (LIU) and Sean Baptiste (FDU), but keep an eye on Knights' big man Alvin Mofunanya who has played extremely well over the last month. In the last decade the one or two-seed won the automatic bid eight times with Mount St. Mary's (2008- 4th seed) and Monmouth (2006- 3rd seed) being the only two champs falling outside of that range. Does that trend carry over? Thursday moves us one step closer to finding out the answer.
#8 Monmouth at #1 Quinnipiac (7 PM)
Regular season meetings: Monmouth 72-60 (January 2nd at Monmouth); Quinnipiac 82-63 (February 25th at Quinnipiac)
Neither game between these two was particularly close and the Bobcats have the definitive advantage tonight due in large part to their 12-0 record at home. James Feldeine is the leading scorer while NEC Player of the Year Justin Rutty both scores and rebounds inside for Quinnipiac, but those aren't the only two weapons at Tom Moore's disposal. James Johnson was second on the team in minutes played and leads QU regulars in three-point percentage (38.6%), averaging twelve points per contest. And in Jeremy Baker they've got the ultimate glue guy, a tough player willing to throw his body around the floor and play solid defense.
Will Campbell and Whitney Coleman are the primary scorers on the perimeter for Dave Calloway's squad and James Hett does a solid job at the point. But the three-pointers need to fall for Monmouth as 29.4% of their points come from beyond the arc. By comparison, Quinnipiac scored just 16.3% of their points off of three-pointers. The Hawks will need to keep QU on the perimeter tonight if they're to win. The other problem for Monmouth: Quinnipiac is an outstanding rebounding team, averaging just over forty-one boards per game. Travis Taylor and Ed Waite will have to lead the way on the glass if the Hawks are to have a shot at leaving Hamden with the upset.
#7 Central Connecticut State at #2 Robert Morris (7 PM)
Regular season meeting: Robert Morris 69-60 (February 11th at CCSU)
This could be a tougher matchup for the Colonials than anticipated if Rob Robinson and Dallas Green don't play with total focus, and that's due to the improved play of CCSU freshman forward Joe Efese. He's scored in double figures in three of the Blue Devils' last four games, averaging 12.5 ppg in wins over LIU and St. Francis (NY) last week to help push CCSU into the NEC Tournament field. But despite his improved offensive output and the presence of guards Shemik Thompson and Robbie Ptacek, Howie Dickenman's team will need to win on the defensive end. But that's easier said than done against the Colonials.
Karon Abraham, unanimous selection for NEC Rookie of the Year, leads the team in scoring at just under thirteen points per game and classmate Velton Jones has also played well on the perimeter. Add in veterans such as Mezie Newigwe (NEC Defensive Player of the Year), Russell Johnson and Gary Wallace and you've got a backcourt rotation that will give Central problems tonight. "Throughout the season I thought our freshmen have played older than they needed to," said Coach Rice earlier this week. But it bears repeating that how close the matchup ends up being will depend upon their two seniors up front; when Green and Robinson (especially Robinson) show up ready to go this is a very tough team to beat.
#6 Saint Francis (PA) at #3 Mount St. Mary's (7 PM)
Regular season meetings: SFPA 73-66 (December 5th at SFPA); Mount St. Mary's 67-51 (February 25th at The Mount)
Don Friday's Red Flash proved the naysayers wrong this season as they finished with a 9-9 league mark, not bad when considering that the coaches picked SFPA to finish dead last in the preseason (yes, even behind Bryant). The keys: senior forward Devin Sweetney and freshmen Umar Shannon and Will Felder. They did win the first meeting between the two but that was back in December, when the Mountaineers were nowhere near the team that they are now. One area that SFPA needs to shore up tonight: turnovers. They're averaging more than fifteen per game, and against a team with a stabilizing force at the point in Jeremy Goode those turnovers can turn into points on the other end in a hurry.
Milan Brown's team has been an entirely different animal since the NEC schedule hit it's halfway point, winning ten straight games to finish the regular season. Goode and Jean Cajou do a good job of scoring on the perimeter and Kelly Beidler can also step out and knock down jumpers when left open. Add in Shawn Atupem and Will Holland and you've got a veteran group that understands its' roles and what needs to get done. The two teams are close in regards to offensive efficiency but The Mount has been a much better defensive team in that regard; the Red Flash can ill-afford to settle for perimeter jumpers against the Mountaineers or this could get out of hand in a hurry.
#5 Fairleigh Dickinson at #4 Long Island (7:30 PM)
Regular season meeting: LIU 68-62 (February 18th at LIU)
These two have met just once and with the game being as close as it was on February 18th it wouldn't be a surprise if Greg Vetrone's squad picked up the win on the road. The Knights were actually 4-5 in NEC road games this season, an important fact to remember when looking at their overall road record of 4-11. Alvin Mofunanya has played like a man posessed over the last month of the season, posting seven double-doubles in his last eight games to give FDU a credible interior presence. Mike Scott has also been an important part of the attack at the point, doing whatever's needed for the Knights. He and Sean Baptiste will need to play well against Jaytornah Wisseh if FDU is to pick up the road win.
As for the Blackbirds, in addition to Wisseh Kyle Johnson has the ability to drop twenty points on an opponent. Johnson scored 16 points while also grabbing ten rebounds in the lone regular season meeting between these two. But the young frontcourt of Kenny Onyechi and Jamal Olasewere will be counted on to play well against Mofunanya tonight; Wisseh's 27 points relieved some of the pressure in that meeting but the two youngsters will need to play better in the NEC Tournament. LIU averages nearly fourteen offensive rebounds per game this season and if they can either match or get close to that number they've got a good shot at moving on to the semifinals.
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About Raphielle Johnson
Assistant Editor
College sports has always been a source of excitement for Raphielle Johnson, be it through watching, writing, or taking a shot in the dark and walking onto a college football team just to live the life (Arizona Football, 2001). Raphielle is the assistant editor, providing his own work in addition to helping out with the site operations. When not writing for CHN, you can usually find him in front of a television set watching one of many pay-per-view sports packages that he owns. He can be followed at twitter.com/raphiellej.
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I should have known better to never to order anything through the mail from an out of town place.
I can't get around now to shop like I used to so I've been ordering things online lately. I placed my order with Breck's MONTHS ago. They sent me a card in the mail saying that the bulbs would be shipped 8/23-9/22/06 Sounded good. On 9/20 I called them and made an inquiry about the status of my order. I got a terse reply saying "Well they are shipped from Holland!!!" So what? I don't care where they are shipped from. I wanted to know the status of my order. They told me that I still had three more days and that they would arrive on 9/23 - the last day given on the card I received. I *KNEW* I was never going to see those bulbs on 9/23. I could tell by the way they cut me off and just wanted to get me off the phone. Believe me, I was polite when I called. They just didn't seem very interested in my concerns. They didn't offer to look up my order or ask me to call back if I didn't get them. It was a big order and I stupidly paid by check so I can't just call my CC company and get a charge back. I didn't want to post this right away and gave them more time just in case they did arrive LATE. Well it is now October. If they do arrive eventually it will be to late to plant them probably. |
Follow-Up Postings:
I have had the EXACT thing happen to me from Brecks. I did receive the order much, much later than they said, and I think you will too. I don't order from them any more. As you said, their customer service isn't what it should be. Their stuff isn't great either. |
- Posted by lilium_guy56 4b (My Page) on Sun, Oct 1, 06 at 11:14
I have ordered things from Brecks in the past. And I continue to do so with no problems. My bulbs arrive from them (holland)in early October which is plenty of time to get them in the ground and I'm in upper NY state where its cold. I think you have lots of time left. I currently have a $325 order coming from them which will come sometime in October AS USUAL. It will take me a grand total of 2 hours to get the bulbs in the ground since I have it ready and waiting. But maybe it gets colder sooner in KY than here in northern NY. Have a nice day. |
I think what really bothered me about them was being told they would arrive about such a date. My credit card was charged, but no shipment. I gave them a couple of weeks, called, and was told they were shipped from Holland. They gave me another date they should arrive & still no show. They did arrive in November. Not too late to plant bulbs of course; I often plant into Dec, but I wasn't impressed with the quality. Perhaps if they had been more straightforward to begin with I would be more forgiving. there are several companies I like much better though. |
- Posted by anitadehoff Z8 Seattle/sunset 5 (My Page) on Sun, Oct 1, 06 at 23:15
Hello Bud, Would you consider posting a review on garden watchdog? I've read (not from Brecks specifically) responses from companies trying to "do good" on their mistakes/problems. It's worth a shot. Laisan |
I used their $25 free coupon last spring, and paid about $4 for the amount above the coupon. They arrived just fine about 3 weeks ago...from Holland. Normally I wouldn't use Brecks, but that coupon was really a good deal. In the past I ordered their Pink Daff Collection, only to find out the next spring at bloom time, that their pictures in the colored glossy brochure were not the 'true' bloom colors. I intended to complain, but never got it done and it's been years. Now I always 'doubt' what their flowers will really look like when they actually bloom. Hope they arrive soon. Sue |
I, too ordered long ago using a coupon that effectively doubled the size of my order. The bulbs arrived over the weekend, a few weeks after the "we have shipped" notice. I was really iffy about Breck's, but this time they came through. Everything looks really good. |
Sue: I've ordered pink daffodils, too, from other sources. None were really pink: maybe "fade to peach" would be more accurate. I think maybe pink is a color unnatural to daffodils and breeding hasn't perfected it yet. Soil Ph plays a role too. I still want pink but it's on the "later when it's perfected" list. Pink daylilies are sometimes peach, too. |
Ladies, as far as I know up to date no 'true' pink daffs had been bred. Some peach, some apricot-peach, but not true pink. However, if those 'peaches' will be grown in part-shade aspect they are indeed look fairly pink (similar to color of Bonica rose) from the distance. Keep in mind, it has to be part-shade at the time of their bloom, not a summer part-shade. In my garden that translates to almost full shade position in a summer and as a drawback foliage stays well into June for April bloomers. |
Called them again today. This time they are blaming US Customs. First the guy said that the bulbs are shipped directly to me from Holland and *they* (Breck's?) don't recieve them and ship them out. The guy said "We don't touch them!" Then, he said that the whole shipment of bulbs is sitting in NY waiting to be *sorted* and delivered to everyone. Hmmmm. Then he went on to say they have been in business for 120 years blah, blah, blah........... When I said it will soon be to late to plant them for my zone he told me I can plant them "Right up to the time the ground freezes". Of course that does not make any sense and I told him so. They have to have time in the ground to root a bit so they don't just freeze into little rocks and turn to mush in the spring. I gathered that I was talking to someone in 'shipping' or customer service who reads from a script and not someone who gardens. He sounded young. A real 'know-it-all'. |
For several years now I've been puzzling over the widely divergent experiences people report from specific companies. Postings on gardenwatchdog.com bear out this observation. Without making a systematic assessment, I can still say any given company will have customer watchdog reports ranging from ecstatic to enraged on anything from bulb quality to customer service. Percentages of positive, neutral and negative ratings also seem to vary significantly from year to year. I've got some theories to explain this, but they're pretty speculative. Sorry you've had a frustrating mail order experience, Bud. I've had a couple myself. My single experience with Breck's several years ago turned out to be very positive, though. By the way, I'm in Zone 6 and most years I'm still tucking new bulbs into my beds almost right up until Christmas (sometimes I've got to thaw the ground a while first using a black plastic tarp). So I'm wondering if in Zone 5 you might not be able to successfully plant bulbs later than you might be thinking, like into mid-November, maybe? Dunno, just wondering. That wouldn't compensate for the frustration, I know, but maybe when and if you see those blooms in the spring it will all be a distant memory. Regards, cranebill |
- Posted by summerstar Z7VA (My Page) on Fri, Oct 6, 06 at 21:02
Hi everyone! Count me as another person "ripped off". I had read either here or on another garden forum that Brecks wasn't the best place to buy bulbs from, but when I saw a coupon in their catalog for a free $25 bulb coupon, I thought I'd take a chance. I ordered 80 Mountain Lilies for $24.95 and didn't order anything else, and just paid for shipping charges. I kind of apologized for not ordering more, but their customer service person said not to worry about it. I thought I'd see how well they'd do considering their reputation isn't all that good. Well . . . !!!! I gave them a call this week to find out the status of the order. I thought I'd drop the phone when they told me that my credit card had been turned down and the order was cancelled! Now my credit is perfectly fine. My card can certainly handle a $8.50 shipping charge! The clerk said he'd check further. He told me that they mailed me telling me that the order was cancelled and why. That was a lot of baloney! I never received any notice from them in the mail! I'd been pleasantly dreaming about how nice those 80 blue bulbs blooming in my front yard would look. I LOVE blue flowers! I would have jumped at the chance to fix any problem regarding the order so I could get my blue bulbs! I think Brecks just didn't like the fact that I didn't order anything else along with their coupon. I will never order anything from them. It's not worth the aggravation! Why should I when there are so many fine bulb companies out there who run great businesses like Brent & Beckys, Bluestone Perenials,John Scheepers, and a few others. I was able to restrain myself from yelling into the phone; it wasn't the clerk's fault. He talked to a supervisor and asked if I could still use the $25 coupon offer, but the supervisor told him I couldn't! No more orders to Brecks. |
Actually he was correct stating that you can plant up til the ground freezes. You have to remember that once the top of the ground freezes it usually takes quite a bit longer for it to freeze several inches down. There are a few bulbs out there...Hyacinths are one, that do require some time to develop a root system to make it through the winter, but I know from personal experience that tulips and daffodils do not. I am in zone 4/b, and about 2 years ago I had some bulbs (50 daffodil bulbs, and around 150 tulip bulbs) that got missed when I planted everything else. By the time I found them they didn't look all that good, as well as it was already a week into December and the ground had frozen. I held onto them and we had around a 3 day thaw where the ground got soft enough I could work it, and I planted them (this is mid-December). They did come up a little later than some of the others come spring, but all of them bloomed. If the bulbs do ever show up my guess you probably won't have a problem planting them and getting them to bloom as long as you can get them in the ground before it freezes solid. |
- Posted by fairydancer z5 NY (My Page) on Sun, Oct 8, 06 at 5:40
I used that $25 coupon .... the order was less than $25, so I didn't even have to pay shipping. I got the order a couple of weeks ago. I placed another order on 9/5. They were supposed to arrive on Oct 6th. Not here yet, but I'll definitely give it some more time before I get concerned. I'm not worried about the bulbs, but I ordered the Daylily collection and I'm a bit concerned they may get here too late to overwinter successfully. Anyone have any words of comfort about the daylily chances? Deb |
I agree with Deb. I have read that on bulb sites that you should plant well before frost to give the bulb time to develop roots, but I was told years ago by a fellow gardener that it is better to plant after the first hard frost. His reasoning was that digging "varmints" couldn't dig & eat his bulbs. I've never been troubled "knock on wood" by moles/voles etc, but I've often planted quite late & never had any problem when planting healthy bulbs. |
OK, the bulbs have arrived. The news weather report tonight says we are getting 4-8 inches of SNOW! The bulbs I ordered are all little guys.......... snowdrops The packages say 2-3 inches deep. Looks like I'll have to shovel snow to get them in the ground. I always have bought my bulbs at Steins and planted in late September. This is going to be *new* for me. Or should I just save myself the time, and toss them all, and chalk it up to a lesson learned? |
I would plant them, but I've never planted after a snow :) I have found snowdrops to be more difficult for some reason, but I think crocus, triteleia, aconite should be fine. Not sure about "larkspur". Must be something I am not familiar with, the only larkspur I grow is an annual from seed. I need to go to Brecks & find out about that one. |
- Posted by athenainwi z4b/5 WI (My Page) on Tue, Oct 10, 06 at 11:51
You must be further north of me bud_wi (I assume you are in Wisconsin by your name). In Madison WI they are saying we won't get enough snow to have anything stick on the ground. I still haven't planted my tulips since I decided to get another variety at the last minute and I'm still waiting for them to arrive so I can place everything and start planting. If they get here by the weekend it should be good for planting since it will be about 50 degrees F by then. At least the planting goes really fast with bulbs that only need to go a few inches down like the ones you have. I'd wait for the snow to melt and then plant them as we should have at least one more warm spell. |
Plant 'em, bud. |
I ordered months ago and haven't received them or a card with ETA. I hope they come. Of course, from what you have all said, here in zone 8, I should have some time. I hope they do come, though. This is my first time ordering bulbs and I was really excited. Dannic |
- Posted by greenlydia Pacific Northwest (My Page) on Fri, Oct 13, 06 at 16:13
I used the free $25.00 coupon I got from Breck's and the order arrived within 2 weeks. I have ordered from them before and have been happy with both the quality of the items and the shipping time. Maybe I just lucked out? It is scary when you place a large order, even from some place with an excellent reputation. Mistakes are made, we are all human (even in Holland) but compensation should be a part of the deal and certainly courtesy should be foremost if they want any of us back. Sorry you had such lousy luck with Brecks. But there are many other places that sell bulbs, so I'd sure give them a chance. I'd also write to Brecks and see what comes of that. Probably nothing, but sometimes you get surprised. Whatever....good luck. Greenlydia |
- Posted by dirtdivarocks z6 SW PA (My Page) on Sun, Oct 15, 06 at 17:04
You say you've been ripped off because your bulbs arrived 2 1/2 weeks late. There was a delay due to US customs. Now you are considering pitching the bulbs. Just Plant em. Then if you experience trouble with them coming up, call and they will refund your money or send new bulbs. I've never had a problem with Brecks and they have always sent replacements if something didn't come up. I realize this may be something new to you, but perhaps you could learn something. I also agree with Jenny05. I have planted bulbs late, including iris, and they have come up for me in the spring. I don't think bad-mouthing a company in a public forum for the reasons you stated is justified. |
- Posted by ich_bin_nathan 3b (My Page) on Sun, Oct 15, 06 at 21:59
Hmmm... Well that all stinks... I have ordered from Breck's and all mine plants have been fine. Except those hyacinths that never bloomed... But then I just called in and they promised to send me free ones. [which they did] I also got a pink carpet lily collection...10 bulbs for $30! And they only gave me NINE bulbs..hm..I was quite put out. But I will have to call them again. And do cheer up! Here in zone three even though we have had a few INCHES of snow, I was still able to plant my bulbs. It will be OK. Just plant and water well. Thats my advice |
I, too, used the $25 coupon from Brecks, in combination with a couple of their buy-one-get-one-free offers, so I have a relatively big order coming. I agree, it did take quite awhile from the time they sent me an e-mail saying "your order has been shipped" until the time I received my order. Well...half my order. The other half has just now been shipped, so I expect it's arrival in a couple more weeks. I'm not too worried about it....the money I saved is worth the wait, and I've never been one to 'baby' my plants. You're right, Bud, it's probably too late to plant them. You should send them to me! Broodyjen |
In regards to late planting....last fall, I was in a hurry to plant some hyacinths bulbs. As I was fitting this in after work and family commitments, it was dark when I was finishing up. On a nice day in February, I discovered that I had missed covering in 3 of the hyacinths bulb holes, with no snow cover over winter, and a week of below normal cold -25, I wasn't sure. Well, I covered them when I was able to move the earth and lo and behold they all came up and bloomed just fine. Sadly, alot of gardeners lost roses that they had had for many years. |
- Posted by sleeplessinftwayne z4-5 IND (My Page) on Sun, Oct 22, 06 at 5:52
I am not a regular to this forum by any means. I am just here to see what is being said about which mail order and web based companies. I've been gardening for about 40 years in just about every northern hemisphere zone and have run into some timing problems once in a while. For the most part, late planting is fine for those plants that require cold dormancy. I have been known to be planting as late as November 9th. The bulbs have responded just fine except for the ones the critters got. As for the bulbs that I couldn't get in the ground before a hard freeze, I laid the bulbs on the ground where I wanted them and covered them with bagged garden soil. They came up very nicely. Sandy P.S. The best way to protect tulip bulbs from rodents is to surround them or intersperse them with dafodils. |
Yeah, Brecks. Their customer service and shipping policies are lame, and their catalog pictures and descriptions make exaggerated claims about "blue" dahlias, "pink" daffs, etc. My tulips in fall 06 arrived in late November - although it was bizarrely warm and could have planted them, I sent them back because I already ordered replacements from Scheepers that showed up in less than a week. I tried to cancel the order BEFORE it departed from Holland - but was told it was not possible. That's just a pure stupid-ass policy. When it boils down to it I'd rather do business with a company that keeps you infomed, makes true claims about the product and has good customer service. |
All I can say is 'cheap is cheap. I've been happy with somewhat more expensive sources...but only somewhat more expensive. I've routinely been disappointed with the "bargains" I've bought. Check with gardenwatch and evaluate the suppliers. The alternative is running the risk of getting undersized bulbs, or late delivery or mislabeled plants. |
Breck's is not generally considered to be a reliable bulb company. I recommend Scheepers--always reliable, good quality bulbs and courteous to deal with. |
Dear Bud: I experienced nearly the exact same thing from Breck's. Missed deadlines, significanly overpriced and underquality merchandise, and poor customer service. Oh, and don't be fooled by the $25 coupon. If you use the coupon, and then some of the crappy bulbs they sent you don't come up, and you call for a refund, they deduct the refund from the cost of the bulbs they are replacing. So, unless more than $25 worth didn't come up, you get bent over yet again.... I echo laceyvail's suggestion about ordering from Scheepers. Much better selection, half the cost, 3 times the quality. The daffodil bulbs I got from Scheepers this last fall (within 2 days of the date projected on my e-mail order confirmation, I might add) had 3 and 4 noses. In essence, I have the equivalent of 3-year-old clumps coming up the first year I planted them. Right now, one of the bulbs I planted 4 months ago is pushing 5 stems. Just can't beat their quality. Plus, they ALWAYS err on the side of too many rather than too few. Two of the 20-packs of daffs I ordered actually had 23 bulbs in them. Hope everything comes up. If you do order more, though, I cannot recommend Scheepers more highly for quality, customer service, or timeliness. Happy growing... Igwiz |
I have become one of the unlucky customers of Breck's. I placed my order on 8/28/07 using $25 coupon. Order total is $35.91 with the coupon. Allium and Hyacynth should be here today, 10/08/07 although USPS is closed today. (I know Breck's usually uses USPS for domestic.) My concerns are: 2) My CC is already charged for the shipped items + 79 cents. I hope that Tulips and Lilies will be shipped and that I will not be charged more than the total $35.91 at the end. 3) If Tulips and Lilies will not be shipped, how much will my charge be? Will I still receive $25 discount? I wonder if anybody else here have had similar situation. The following is my order status. Items Not Shipped: |
- Posted by jeanne_grower (My Page) on Wed, Oct 10, 07 at 17:20
Next time try vanengelen.com they are a wholesaler. i've NEVER had a problem with them. they do NOT use any coupon deals. |
jeanne, thanks for your comment. Hyacinth and allium bulbs arrived yesterday via UPS. Allium bulbs are too small to be considered as premium. I am still waiting for lily and tulip bulbs, but I will never buy anything from Breck's. |
VAn Engelen is the wholesale branch of Scheepers--fine company. Fine bulbs. |
All I can say is: You get what you pay for! This goes for pretty much everything in this world! I ordered from John Scheepers for the first time this year, and I'm extremely impressed! Top shelf bulbs, excellent packaging, timely delivery... and reasonable pricing... what more could you ask for? I ordered a Tiger Lily Mix, Camassia, Fritillaria, Eremurus and one Hippeastrum bulb. Everything was healthy, good sized, and protected well inside the shipping box. JS is definitely getting more orders from me!! To the person who ordered daylilies and didn't know if they'd come in time for planting... if worse comes to worse, just pot them up, water them in, and keep them in your garage until spring... they should sprout just fine and be ready for planting in no time! I did this with several daylilies and hosta last year here in zone 5... I potted them up as I would anything else, and they kept over winter in a baby pool in my garage... they came up in spring as any other perennial, and I then planted them in the garden. I did lose one or two, but that's nothing to cry over... Again... you truly get exactly what you pay for... it's better to bite the bullet and spend the normal amount of money for a product so you end up with quality. As someone else said, "Cheap is cheap." What do you expect for clearance rack prices? |
Jodik: No offense, but you have NO idea what you are talking about. In this case, "Cheap IS NOT cheap." If Breck's were a 20 bulbs for $2 store, then you get what you pay for. But Breck's is more like a $20 for 10 bulbs store. The problem is, you DON'T get what you pay for. They are usually twice the cost of Scheepers, and the service SUCKS. And those aren't some fancy newly-crossed double. We're talking plain-jane, run-of-the-mill Ice Follies that you can get at Scheepers for $7.50. The problem is that they are VERY easy to find on the Internet. As a kid, I grew up buying garden seeds from Gurney's (one of the many companies now owned by Scarlet Tanager LLC group). Once Scarlet got them, they went downhill fast. "Fake" coupons with money back guaruntees, but taking off the $25 coupon. Crap like that. I agree, of course, that Scheepers is by far better. The major problem is that the buyer has to beware, and there just aren't enough folks that have heard yet that Breck's is to flowers as Yugo is to cars. |
I HAVE dealt with Breck's in the past, so I'm not just whistling Dixie sideways... while some of the items are priced as you say, most people opt, instead, for the "penny" sale pages of the catalog, and/or order just enough to make using their "coupon" seem like a great deal... I guess it all depends on what you consider "CHEAP"... the product is certainly cheap! |
Cranebill: "For several years now I've been puzzling over the widely divergent experiences people report from specific companies". Don't be. Some complaints are legitimate and others are 'moles'. Notice how the subject changes to who you 'should' but from? There's a lot of trolls on these forums marketing for their company. Having worked in the horticultural industry one varable that needs to be emphasized by suppliers is that they deal with a living organism...a plant. They aren't coming off of an assembly line and production and quality is subject to numerous variables...not all that can be controlled. A plant isn't a pair of shoes or a radio. Hort companies shouldn't promise more than they can make happen, or if they make a commitment, back it with a guarantee for reasonable substitution, return, etc. I still recall customers wanting us to bring in a plant with a particulr colour flower. 'Why don't you have it'? Or 'why don't you grow it'. You try to explain as politiely as possible that humans don't come in orange or green and neither does the species or a cultivar of a plant that they want. Plants are living organisms. It's not just a matter of adding some dye to an assembly line. Brecks and others have no excuse for poor customer service or providing a poor product. Gardeners, however, need to understand that material offered in a catalogue printed months previously are living things. The failure of some plant companies is not emphasizing that everything is contingent on sufficient quality product being available. In May you shouldn't promise fresh tomatoes for your neighbor in August. You can promise to give them some 'if' all goes well and you have a quality crop. |
I'm self-employed in the canine health food industry, which does not send out "moles" to get bulb customers... all I can relate is what I know firsthand... I was highly impressed by one company, and deeply disappointed in another. JS sent me beautiful, full-sized bulbs... Breck's sent me acorn sized bulbs. You don't have to be a genius to figure out which company is the better deal! And those are only two companies compared... there are lots more out there, some good and some not so good... Word of mouth is about the only way people are going to find out who is decent and who isn't without taking a chance themselves. After asking for information on whom I should send my money to, and researching those companies, I sent in my orders... I'm a happy customer because others shared their stories and their collected information here, in these forums. Not all experiences with a particular company will be bad... but when the "bads" begin stacking up higher than the "goods", it tells a person something... The bottom line is this: it's a good thing that people are sharing their experiences, whether good or bad, about these bulb and plant companies... it's a big help to those who might be first time purchasers... research, using common sense and a grain of salt... and you won't be disappointed when your packages begin arriving for fall planting. |
- Posted by plantcompost 5 (My Page) on Thu, Oct 18, 07 at 19:55
Jodik your baloney meter is still in high gear. I've received quality bulbs from Brecks and confidently order from them and a half dozen other companies. Most mail order companies use the same sources for bulbs. |
Well, bully for you, plantcompost... I'm beyond thrilled that your personal experiences with Breck's have been super... I'm not sure what part of the above post you perceive as "baloney", but your lack of knowledge is sure showing... 1. you have no personal knowledge of what my experiences have been with companies and purchases... for you to comment on that would be completely nonsensical. 2. while some companies may purchase their stock from the same places, don't kid yourself that they all buy the same quality bulbs from those places. If you think all bulbs sold by the growers are the same, think again. They are graded, similar to eggs, and sold by size and quality. 3. how is telling people to use common sense when mail order buying even close to being "baloney", or have anything to do with it? Perhaps you should put down the "baloney" you hold so tightly long enough to research before writing... Have a nice day. |
plantcompost re your: "Most mail order companies use the same sources for bulbs." It's startling how many gardeners (such as jodik) are unaware of that very fact. Clematis, roses, bulbs and most plant stock are sourced from a few suppliers and the same quality is offered at $10 a plant or $5 a plant or $2 a plant. Walmart isn't going to have inferior bulbs in quality or size from Brecks or home Depot or any one else. Gardeners should save their money and buy where the least expensive for 90% of their needs and use the saved dollars to order specialty items from mail order or the garden centers. |
It has been my experience that most things are very competitive when you compare apples to apples. Occasionally you can find a good sale or really good price, though usually on further investigation, you get what you pay for. But the philosophy i always use is, if you don't know the difference buy the cheapest! |
I have dealt with Breck's several times and it has always been satisfactory. In fact, I ordered a few things after I read this post and mentioned it to them and to my great surprise I received my order in about a week. |
I've ordered bulbs from Brecks, they aren't the largest by any means, but will usually grow, might be a year or so before they are as large as JS, but that is ok for me usually for the dif in price. However, I ordered a bearded iris this spring from them. When I received it, it was the size of a nickel, & a bit soft. No company should send out a rhizome the size this was. They were supposed to send me a replacement this fall, but I just received a message that they were out of stock & would ship in spring. I've ordered from them before-never order plants. They often are dead. Brecks will tell you to plant they are just dormant. Anyone can tell the dif between dormant & dead though. They ended up replacing/refunding but it is not worth the trouble. |
A smart shopper can walk into Wally world and buy a can of beans for 69 cents and the identical item in the grocery store is 99 cents. the shopper walk into Wally world and buy the exact same box of fertilizer for $3.00 less than at the nursery. I'm not going to suddenly assume that I'm also not getting a better deal on my plants and bulbs at a bigger retail store. My plants and bulbs have grown okay. We order a few things from Brecks over the years as much to use the free coupons as anything else and can't recall any negatives. What's not to like getting an extra $25 of bulbs for a couple of dollar order. Now and then here's had a dud with catalogue companies but always received credit |
I think most everyone who read my posts either didn't read the whole thing, or interpreted it the way THEY wanted it to read... The bottom line is: RESEARCH FIRST, AND USE COMMON SENSE WHEN ORDERING OR PURCHASING ANYTHING!! I realize that common sense is only present in approx. 75% of the population, but c'mon... Sheeesh!! |
I've ordered from Breck's and many other bulb suppliers. I also buy bulbs at my local garden centers and big box stores. Bulb quality at ALL varies from year to year, but the *relative* quality from different suppliers doesn't change much. In other words, I know that if I buy Pink Impression tulips from John Scheepers, they will be larger and in better condition than the same variety purchased at Lowe's, or from Breck's. Overall, I think Breck's prices are a bit high for what you get. It pays to do some research and compare prices and customer reviews at gardenwatchdog.com. It's not so much that I've had unsatisfactory service or poor-quality bulbs from Breck's; it's just that there are other, more reliable companies selling better quality bulbs for the same or nearly the same price. |
OKŃĆüfinally I received all of my bulbs. Lilies came last week and tulips came yesterday. I am in zone 5 and it's late to plant although weather seems to be warmer than average. I still don't understand why lilies and tulips came this late. I also do not understand why those packages were sent from Indiana. The bulbs are supposed come directly from Holland, right? On top of that, Breck's overcharged me. They billed me each time they shipped package and the total exceeds the order total. I called my CC and they gave me credit but this should not have happened. Oh, well. |
I'm glad people are finally getting their bulbs... I agree it's kind of late and for bulbs like snowdrops and aconites, it's not the late planting that does them in, it's the long storage in the warehouse. I've ordered from Brecks with the $25 free coupon. Perennials were weak, bulbs were fine. But without the coupon I feel the prices are about twice what they should be. If you are serious about comparing bulb prices, go with companies that are absolutely clear on what they are selling. There should be a specific species and cultivar name (not some made up name like 'blue mountain lilies' or 'pink desert tulips') and also there should be sizes listed for the bulbs, either a measurement of how big around the bulb is or some other classification like # of noses on daffodils. Once you know what they are offering you can decide if the price is right for you. There's nothing wrong with buying cheap bulbs, I just don't like to see people paying too much for them. |
- Posted by zahavamama (My Page) on Thu, May 9, 13 at 13:21
Having once been a raving fan of Brecks and having been through a surprising ordeal lately, I think I have to update my information to let customers know that Brecks will issue a hostile letter insinuating you are a criminal and refusing all orders from you if you make use of the the lifetime guarantees. And that when you call with questions about why your lilies have no fragrance or none of your crocus came up, and staff tell you to use the guarantee and you do, you will be flagged as a bad customer. That if a mistake is made and you are sent an order after you had cancelled it, and you contact them about it you will be flagged. I have a yard full of Brecks success, the neighbors ask and I had been raving to them about Brecks. This year, I put in no tulips, etc because I have been blacklisted. I had no ill will, I did nothing dishonest, I spent a ton of money over the years, and this is not ok.. I really thought you Brecks was better than that. Sincerely, a former midwest farmgirl and former customer |
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Well, this weekend I return to London Anime Con 2012 (Saturday and Sunday). I had such a great time last time that I decided to go back and do it again.
Whereas last time I had only Trapped on Draconica, This time I have a few more books to sell! In fact, I'm selling my entire series thus far.
Not only that, but I'll be selling a special convention-only sketchbook to go along with the other stuff as well! Should be a fun day! I got quite a few new readers last time (including my biggest fans Vicky and Jessica - thanks guys!) so hopefully I can get more. I did try and get my artist down for it as well, but she's busy at the moment so I'll be holding the fort!
Those in the London area that fancy popping down, do feel free to come and say hi. You can't prebook now unfortunately, but I have been told that they have some tickets available on the day. So do feel free to pop down and enjoy the fun. You can find out full details of what's in store by clicking on the picture below.
Well, I'm off to pack and get ready for the weekend. Let's hope the weather holds up! See you guys later!
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Weekly Roundup Articles: WordPress and Drupal
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Coats' disease
About Coats' disease
Coats' disease, also known as Exudative Retinitis, is an uncommon eye condition which affects the smaller blood vessels (capillaries) found in the retina – the light sensitive layer which lines the inside of your eye. Coats' disease can make these blood vessels weak and grow incorrectly causing them to leak fluid and blood under the retina.
Coats' disease usually occurs in children or teenagers under the age of 18 but most often before the age of 10. Coats' disease affects boys more than girls. Most children with Coats' disease only have the retinal changes in one eye.
How the eye works
When you look at something, light passes through the front of your eye and is focused by the lens onto your retina. The retina is a delicate tissue that coats the inside of your eye. The retina converts the light into electrical signals that travel along the optic nerve to your brain. The brain interprets these signals to "see" the world around you. The retina is supplied with blood by a delicate network of blood vessels on its surface and by a layer of blood vessels underneath the retina.
Light is focused onto a tiny area of the retina called the macula, which is about the size of a pinhead. This highly specialised part of the retina is vital, because it enables you to see fine detail when you are looking directly at something such as words, photos or the television. Your macula also gives you much of your ability to see colours. The eye is filled with a clear substance called the vitreous gel and light passes through the gel to focus on the macula. The rest of the retina gives you side vision (peripheral vision).
Coats' disease and the eye
Coats' disease affects the retinal blood supply, in particular the retinal capillaries. Retinal capillaries are important in supplying your retina with blood. Blood carries nutrients to the cells of your retina so that they work correctly. Your vision depends on the cells of the retina remaining healthy.
Coats' disease causes retinal capillaries to develop incorrectly. They become wider (dilated) and twisted, which make them more noticeable when the inside of your eye is examined. The medical term for these changes is telangiectasia.
As well as the retinal capillaries becoming dilated, they also become weak and leaky. This causes some of the fluid from the blood to leak out of the vessels and into the retina. This fluid, known as exudate, builds up in the retina and causes it to become waterlogged (oedematous)
Where there are areas of exudates and telangiectasia, the retina will not be able to function correctly. This in turn will affect this area of vision.
Most children with Coats' disease don't have any symptoms – the eye does not look unusual, is not painful or red, and the child isn't usually aware there is a problem. Often children are diagnosed following an unusual finding at an optician's appointment, after failing a school vision screening test, or when the eye has an odd appearance on photographs (usually a white/pale pupil rather than a red pupil when a flash photograph is taken).
Causes of Coats' disease
The cause of Coats' disease isn't yet known (this is medically known as idiopathic) but it doesn't appear to be hereditary (passed through families) or caused by any other health conditions.
Effects of Coats' disease
How Coats' disease affects vision will depend on where in the retina the leaking blood vessels grow. In the early stages of Coats' disease peripheral vision is likely to be affected. Peripheral vision is also known as your side vision and describes what is seen at the side when you are looking straight ahead.
Coats' disease may progress, and as more of a child's retina is affected, more of their vision will be affected. There is a small central area of your retina, known as the macula. The macula gives you your central and detailed vision. This is what you use when you look directly at something, for example when you read. If Coats' disease affects the macula then your child's central vision will be affected.
In the advanced stages of Coats' disease more vision will have been lost because more of the retina has been affected. When a large area of retina has become swollen by exudates it can cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye which will cause loss of sight.
The stages of Coats' disease
Coats' disease can be classified into different stages depending on how it is affecting the retinal capillaries and retina.
Stage 1: Telangiectasia only causing little change to the retina and vision.
Stage 2: Telangiectasia and exudation noted with increased effect on the retina and changes in vision.
Stage 3: Retinal detachment caused by large areas of exudation. The vision is likely to be very poor.
Stage 4: Complete detachment of the retina and the development of other complications, such as secondary glaucoma (raised eye pressure) which will be treated, although sight will be poor.
Stage 5: Usually at this stage the eye has no sight and no treatment is available to improve sight. In most cases the eye isn't painful, but if it were treatment may be needed to prevent the pain or further damage to the eye.
An eye examination is the only way to tell if your child has an eye condition. Children can adapt very quickly to a change in their vision and there can be very few signs that they have any problems especially if only one eye is affected. All children should have their eyes screened when they start full time at school.
If you are concerned about your child's vision or their eyes it is important to have them checked by an optometrist (optician). They will be able to check any changes in the level of your child's vision and the health of their eyes. If the optometrist is concerned by anything they find during the eye examination, they will refer you to the eye clinic at the hospital.
At the eye clinic, your child's eyes will be checked by an eye specialist, known as an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist will put drops into your child's eyes which will make their pupils bigger. They will then shine a bright light into your child's eye to look at the retina. Putting in the eye drops means that the ophthalmologist has a better view when they are assessing their retina. Although the light used at the hospital is bright it will not cause any damage to the eye.
Sometimes the ophthalmologist may want to perform another test known as a fluorescein angiogram. This is where a dye is injected into a blood vessel in your child's arm. This dye travels through the blood stream to their eye. When the dye reaches their eye a series of photographs will be taken, these photographs will show the blood vessels of their retina filling with the dye. If any of these capillaries are leaking because of Coats' disease the leaking will show up on the photographs.
These tests should let the ophthalmologist know if your child has Coats' disease.
Coats' disease can be treated to try and prevent further changes to your child's sight.
In the early stages of Coats' disease there may be little or no effect to your child's vision. If this is the case the ophthalmologist may decide to monitor your child's eyes at regular appointments rather than do any treatment. In some cases Coats' disease doesn't develop any further than stage 1.
In later stages, when the Coats' disease has progressed and has had more of an affect on your child's vision, the ophthalmologist may decide to do some treatment.
The treatment which your child's ophthalmologist recommends depends on where and how much of their retina has been affected. The treatments used for Coats' disease are laser photocoagulation and cryotherapy (using cold temperatures). The aim of both these treatments is to stop the retinal capillaries from leaking. Most children would have these treatments under a general anaesthetic.
In advanced stages of Coats' disease, the retinal capillaries have leaked a lot and there will be large areas of exudates affecting your child's retina. These can cause the retina to detach from the back of the eye. Treatment is aimed at reattaching the retina and will vary depending upon how large the detachment is and how long the retina has been detached for.
Recent research for the treatment of Coats' disease has looked at anti-VEGF drugs. These types of drugs can be used to prevent the development of new leaking blood vessels. These treatments are used regularly in adults for other eye conditions but their use in Coats' disease is relatively new. Coats' disease usually has to be treated on a very individualised basis and your ophthalmologist will be able to advise whether or not they would like to use anti-VEGF treatment for your child. At the moment this treatment is relatively new and is not available on the NHS, though your ophthalmologist may be able to arrange funding. A lot more research is needed before they are used routinely for everyone with Coats' disease.
The effect of Coats' disease on sight will vary from person to person. Generally the condition will gradually progress and affect more of the retina. For younger children, especially those under 3 years old, the changes to their retina tend to progress quickly, are difficult to control and are more likely to have a long term effect on visual development. In older children and young adults, Coats' disease can have a much milder and slower effect on the retina. In many cases this progression may stop on its own accord and may not need any treatment.
When your child is diagnosed with Coats' disease will have an effect on the prognosis for their vision. Being diagnosed early when the capillaries are only showing slight changes would mean that there are more treatments available to your child. Laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy are used in stopping Coats' disease from getting worse. In some cases treatment can improve vision.
If your child has been diagnosed in the later stages of Coats' disease, where large areas of the retina have already been affected, then laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy treatment may not be appropriate. If your child has had a retinal detachment, then there are different treatments available to help repair this. It is important that a retinal detachment is repaired as soon as possible, as this would help with how successful the treatment is.
Sometimes despite all treatment, the eye does not respond and may become blind. Typically the eye remains comfortable, but late complications such as cataract (cloudy lens) or glaucoma (raised pressure) may need treatment. Very rarely, if the eye remains painful if could be removed but this would be a last resort.
Most children with Coats' disease do not have their eye removed.
Coping with sight problems
The amount of vision lost will vary between individuals. Coats' disease usually affects one eye only (monocular vision) and children tend to adapt very well to using their better eye. This does not mean that they will be over using their better eye. It is unusual for children with good vision in one eye to need additional support in their education and they are not considered partially sighted.
Having monocular vision can affect your child's depth perception and hand-eye coordination. For some tasks your child may appear clumsy and uncoordinated at first, for example when they throw and catch a ball. This generally improves when your child gets older and adapts to being monocular.
Even with good vision in their better eye, your child doesn't have as much peripheral vision as someone with two eyes. With time they will adapt to this without realising by turning their head to see things in their peripheral vision. You could help your child by sitting or approaching your child on the same side as their good eye. This would make it easier for your child to see you.
These are difficulties your child may experience and you might find it useful to inform their nursery, school teachers or carers of these.
In the future your child would still be able to drive a private vehicle. As long as the vision in their remaining eye is unaffected by other eye conditions and they are able to achieve the visual requirements for driving. However monocular vision would mean you child couldn't hold a Heavy Good Vehicle or Public Service Vehicle licence. This may affect your child's career choice in the future. Some professions, such as being a pilot, policeman or some areas of the forces require a certain level of vision to be reached in each eye.
Having an eye condition diagnosed can be very upsetting. You may find that you are worried about the future and how you and your child will manage with a change in their vision. All these feelings are natural.
Some people may want to talk over some of these feelings with someone outside their circle of friends or family. RNIB can help, with our telephone Helpline and our emotional support service. Your GP or social worker may also be able to help you find a counsellor if you think this would help you.
Help to see things better
Support Organisations
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- send you free information and leaflets
- give you details of support groups and services in your area.
Call us Monday to Friday 8:45am – 5:30pm on 0303 123 9999
Other sources of help
Look UK is an organisation which helps support families with children aged between 0-16 with vision problems. They have family support officers and help support families at home and in school. They can be reached at:
Look National Office
C/o Queen Alexandra College
49 Oak Court Road
Tel: 0121 428 5038
Web: www.look-uk.org
National Blind Children's Society (NBCS) can offer information, support and advice to parents and carers of children with sight loss or an eye condition.
Reading Road
Burghfield Common
Tel: 0845 372 7332
Family Support: 0800 781 1444
Web: www.nbcs.org.uk
Email: email@example.com
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I have a Craftsmen 42" ride-on tractor/mower that was a gift from my children because they thought the old man shouldn't push a mower around 3/4 acre. Now I have to use it! I'd rather not. The real irony is that I think I do more work now that I use it. I have the blade set at the highest setting, which is about 3-1/2"+, I have two mulching blades, I run the mower at high engine speed, but low travel speed --- much slower than walking. I mow the lawn about every 4-5 days to minimize the amount cut and generally in the hot sun of the afternoon when the grass is driest, but still the mower leaves clumps behind. Once I do the entire yard, I'll switch the mower to high travel speed and go over the entire yard just to remove the clumps. I'll even follow up with my push mower (Lawn-Boy --- which I love). The only thing I haven't tried is replacing the two year old blades --- although I did take them off and sharpen them by hand.
I also thought of perhaps putting two blades at 90 degrees to each other on EACH of the two rotors --- a total of 4 blades; I'm not sure the shank will hold them or if it's safe. I noticed my neighbor with the same tractor discharging the grass rather than mulching --- I wonder if that's good for the lawn. My community doesn't collect grass clipping and I don't believe in them for mulch or compost, so collecting the cuttings is not a practical option. |
Follow-Up Postings:
Sounds like you have covered all the bases and know what you are doing. Here's a couple points that may or may not help. Spring grass tends to clump more. You will have less clumping later in the summer. Even so you may still have some clumping because riders tend to do that as opposed to your Lawn-Boy push with it's narrower width. You can try side discharging and experiment with different patterns. I have even side discharged and then mulched second to eliminate clippings. Your idea of 2 blades has been done before. My Ransomes AR250 fairway mower has 2 blades per deck for a total of ten and it mulches quite well. It has a special blade holder. Hang in there and keep experimenting. I think you may have less clumping as the temps go up. |
I've got a similar mower. (42" Craftsman LT 1000) And have the same issues. I bought new mulching blades (IIRC they were called Gator blades) and that helped out a lot, but it will still clump with the heavy spring grass. I think the main problem is the mower deck isn't designed for mulching, it is set up for side discharge and the "mulching plate" is simply a block off for the discharge. The bottom of a deck with a "proper" mulching kit will have baffles to keep the clippings recycling rather than being passed to the other blades for discharge. I find that the time savings of the lawn tractor outweighs the mediocre cut quality. I also have a Lawn Boy (last of the two strokes) walk behind that does an excellent job but it takes well over an hour and a half for me to cut the lawn. I'd give the Gator blades a try, they were about 40 bucks a pair. |
- Posted by onthebrinck 6 Central New Jersey (My Page) on Tue, May 31, 11 at 3:31
Thanks guys! What may be the problem or danger with getting two new gator or similar blades and adding them to the existing blades on the shanks? In effect, a total of 4 blades in an X-pattern on each of the two spindles. |
The main problem I can see is that the second blade will not positively engage the shaft, the nut may work loose as a result and the blades may go flying. My lawn boy has an additional fan on shaft that is meant to blow clipping up I believe, and not to cut them. I would just try the gator blades as-is and see how they work for you. They do work much better than the stock blades. |
- Posted by doug(firstname.lastname@example.com) onTue, May 31, 11 at 17:41
2 yrs ago I bought a Husqvarna 23hp 48" rider...for mulching my lawn. Clumped up constantly, even enough to stop the engine occasionally. Heard then about "Gator Mulching Blades" (made just for mulching pupose). Bought a pair, installed them in lieu of the factory mulch blades, what a difference !!! No plugging up or clumping. The dealer that sold me the mower said "THEY" stock em & recommend em'....wish they had done that when I first bought the mower, cause I told em' all we do is mulch. Trust me...just get em. Now with a tad of advice...don't expect miracles if you mow real tall or wet grass...sharpen blades annually. I mow 1-acre of rough lawn every week at 3" height setting. |
- Posted by onthebrinck 6 Central New Jersey (My Page) on Tue, May 31, 11 at 20:13
I just bought a pair of Gators! I'll let you all know Thanks for the advice |
Adding blades will put an additional load on the engine. A big part of the load created by blades is the bent up rear edge that creates the wind for discharging and lifting the grass. As an example....Once I put Snapper high lift blade "wings" on my Snapper walk behind and the engine could not even spin them up to normal speed because of the increased drag created by these additional wings. For your experiment, if adding additional blades, it might be wise to choose flat blades with little lift. |
- Posted by onthebrinck 6 Central New Jersey (My Page) on Sat, Jun 11, 11 at 4:57
The Gator blades make a world of difference. I have increased the speed of the mowing and increased the width of the swath, all with no clumping. Thanks guys! |
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June 7, 2010, 11:40 AM
By Cal Fussman
Nigel Parry
One of the things I always did with my kids before we'd go someplace new was let them hear the language and show them something in the culture that might interest them. I didn't want them to grow up afraid of differences. But, you know, there are always barriers. You can work hard, you can get resources, you can remove barriers, but there will always be new ones. There will always be new problems to solve.
One time, we were in Spain and there were so many paparazzi outside the house. The kids wanted to go out. It was one of those days when I knew I couldn't do it. The house had a really cool floor, and we just moved all the furniture out of the way and got our Rollerblades on. I created a Rollerblade trail, an obstacle course around the house, and before we knew it we were all racing around, sweating and laughing.
If you can step outside of your difficulties with a sense of humor, you can get to a place where you can fix things.
Perception and reality are two different things. I don't know if you saw the whole Oprah show. What happened, happened. Yeah, the point can be made that I wanted the audience to be happy just like I wanted to make my sisters and my mother happy when I did those skits as a kid. But I'll take responsibility for my actions.
The thing is, it got spun out. Afterward, wild things were being said about me, and once they're in the ether, there's nothing you can do about it. It felt like being the new kid in the schoolyard again and the other kids are whispering and whispering about you and suddenly you hear what they're saying, and you think, What? That didn't happen. Look at the reality of the situation.
There was a confluence of events. My deal with Paramount was up and it wasn't extended. At first it was, Huh? I don't get it. But people have misconceptions about that whole thing, too. Sumner Redstone and I are friends. It's a business.
Those are times you learn a lot about life. You're back to, How do I figure this out? I'd lived through so many different periods in life that I had a good idea. You just get back to work. You move forward. That's what I did. Here we are today. Mission: Impossible IV.
I remember talking to Cameron Crowe about the last monologue in Jerry Maguire. I love his writing. But he said, "I don't know if this line 'how we live in a cynical world' is gonna work."
I said, "Let me say it. If you don't like it, you can obviously cut it. But I can't wait to play that scene."
Because we do live in a cynical world. It's easy to be cynical. Making the choice not to be cynical is important. You can keep dwelling on what didn't work, or you can figure out how to fix it. Which is what being a parent is all about. You know, I'm married to such a special woman. Every night before we go to sleep, Kate and I look at each other and it's like, How'd we do today?
You hope you were right more than you were wrong. But you just want to feel like you gave it your all. That's all you can walk away with — that satisfaction. It goes back to the thought that you can never give too much in life, and you can always not give enough.
It's come full circle. Now I'll put Suri on a swing and tell her stories when I'm working on a script. I'll start with the beginning of the movie and take her through the story beat by beat. Of course, I make it age-appropriate. She's four years old. But she asks all the right questions: Why does that happen? Those are the bad guys? You're the good guy, right?
It comes down to the same thing as when I was a kid. Can I create a character that will make her happy, that will make her laugh? And you know what? She makes me get better and better, because she's always asking me to do it again.
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Just trying to improve my skills. Looking for a great jib board and anything that can take my ride to the next level
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I went to jail for skateboarding, and all I got was this sweet mug shot
Skateboarding shouldn't be a crime -- but it is in certain parts of Denver. And during my recent run-in with the Denver Police Department after I was caught skateboarding on the 16th Street Mall, I learned that not only do some cops hate skateboarding, they also hate being questioned about their excessive flex of authority.
Here's my firsthand account of being arrested for my choice of transportation -- after taking it for a ride in a place I knew it wasn't allowed.
At 9:35 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12 (12/12/12 was not as lucky for me as it apparently was for others), I decided to skateboard on the sidewalk between Lawrence and Larimer streets along the 16th Street Mall. Fully aware of the rule forbidding skateboarding and bicycling along the center of the mall, I pushed up the hill on the sidewalk where there were very few pedestrians -- but there was a horse-drawn carriage blocking the path.
Was I too loud? Maybe the clacking of my wheels rolling on concrete was disturbing. Those pesky wheels are so much harder to tolerate than a giant, overpriced horse-drawn carriage in the middle of the walkway.
In any case, I hadn't gone far when Officer Lisa C. Aitken-Nelson pulled her motorcycle in front of me in the 1100 block of 16th Street and demanded my identification. Backing her was Officer R. Bloodworth. They said they'd been ordering me to stop; I said I hadn't heard them.
I handed my wallet to the officers and told them I was a freelance journalist. They were not impressed, and demanded that I sit down at the telephone pole on the corner. Instead, I leaned against it, commenting that "I'm perfectly fine standing."
When Bloodworth got a little heated that I would not sit, I finally did. They then asked me to cross my feet; I crossed my legs. They didn't like this, either. So I reached into my pocket to pull out my phone to record the incident, and before I could even open the application, I was on my back in handcuffs, being arrested for interference (violation 38-31(a)(b).
I didn't think I should have to stand for that. But then, I couldn't stand at all, because I was on the ground in handcuffs between what was now four police officers.
Fortunately, a friend who'd been riding his bicycle down the bus lane had spotted the activity, and he came over. I asked him to record the incident, and he quickly learned that the police are not fans of civilian videographers -- and they shouldn't be, not when they are pulling ridiculous stunts like this.
I respectfully asked for every officer's business card, badge number, district and/or precinct. Officer Bloodworth told me that they weren't part of a precinct, and that I, a journalist, should know this. This is when they all started laughing.
We argued for about twenty minutes, with them repeatedly telling me how much I don't know about what they do, how I am just another skateboarder, and how they have nothing to hide. I brought up cases in which Denver police officers have been bullies (the Denver Diner incident, the Michael DeHerrera beating), and mentioned how they can generally bend the law in their favor when they see fit. They countered that with the assertion that skateboarding is "the number-one violation and complaint on 16th Street Mall."
Finally, a sergeant came up and signed off on my ticket without even reading it. At no point was I read my rights, and I was never even told what was written on the ticket. Bloodworth said that he didn't have to show it to me, and that if I wanted to know that bad, the judge would read it to me in court.
After that, I was hauled off to the new Denver jail. The city put a lot of money into this place, and it was furnished like a fancy new bus stop -- except that the bathroom had a peephole looking into it. The chairs are ergonomically designed so that sleeping in them guarantees a crooked neck; if you put your feet on these coveted seats, you got yelled at. You couldn't sleep on the floor, either. One very unhappy sheriff's deputy wouldn't even let me use the antibacterial hand sanitizer.
I called my friend on the phone provided, but because it's the 21st century and no one uses land lines anymore, I couldn't connect with a collect call. So instead I just left a 1.5-second message in the "please clearly state your name now" window. I did this roughly ten times, explaining my situation in bits and pieces.
After posing for what might be the best photo of me since middle school -- and one with which the deputy was not pleased (I held that expression for at least thirty seconds while he waited for me to relax -- which I didn't), I sat and watched Zorro on the flat-screen televisions in the intake area. The television facing the intake deputies was showing reruns of Cops, which seemed beautifully ironic.
Continue reading for the rest of the story and the full mug shot image.
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