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Baked Plums in a Sweet Red Wine Reduction topped with slow roasted Pistachios#11179
What's Cooking, Uncle Sam? ~ A fascinating exhibit full of great old propaganda at the National Archive that traces the role of the government in setting the dinner table.#11177
Crook's Corner's Green Peach Salad - A great way to use up unripe peaches from Food52!#11175
A trio of rib recipes from Sunset. 3 great glazes: a sticky brown sugar, a Middle Eastern zaatar, and a basil chile lemonade!#11173
Rhuby ~ A new rhubarb flavored liquor from Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. It is a great use of the seasonal favorite, rhubarb, and as their cute video explains, it goes back to the plant's past as a medicinal tonic!#11172
Blackberry Cobbler ~ Simply Recipe's easy cobbler takes less time to make then pie.#11169
Refreshing Blueberry-Lime Iced Tea ~ a fruity twist on a Southern classic.#11165
7 Ice Pops That Break the Mold. They're inspired by cool treats from the Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, China, Korea, and India, yet require no more effort to make than frozen juice pops.#11163
Tiramisu Cheesecake: A decadent cheesecake with the amazing flavor of tiramisu.#11162
A discussion on where the best peaches are grown and a recipe for Peach Pistachio Streusel Pie#11160
French Onion Pot Roast, a really easy slow cooker that brings comfort and is even perfect for summer!#11158
Simple and amazing food in gorgeous setting of Outerlands in San Francisco.#11157
Melktert: A traditional South African tart consisting of puff or short crust pastry with a creamy filling made from milk, flour, sugar and eggs.#11155
Chickpeas in a Spiced Tomato Sauce. A deliciously simple Indian dish. Includes an exploration of fresh spices used in Indian cuisine.
Christina Marsigliese bakes Peanut Butter Apple Crumble with Wild Blueberries!#11146
Ancient Sidr Honey ~ Collected from hives in the mountains of Yemen this amazing honey is just one in the vast collection of honeys and cheeses that we tried in The Loft at Montage Laguna Beach.#11145
Summery cocktail made with strawberries, basil, vodka, club soda and a drizzle of honey. Cheers!#11144
zucchini brownies: insanely moist, flavorful and rich! this is officially the sneakiest way to eat more vegetables!#11143
From the LA Weekly... Scottish chemists can now tell real scotch from fake by using science!#11142
A review of Yotam Ottolenghi's successful book Plenty and the recipe for his Puy Lentil Galettes.#11140
Hazelnut hummus: A savory, sweet dish that blends hazelnuts, maple, and heavenly creaminess#11138
A different take on Reeses Peanut Butter Cups... made with Almond Butter instead.#11135


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My HTPC Project (Worklog)
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Nashvegas
Posts: 11,577
Re: My HTPC Project (Worklog)
Alright guys, I told you that I would put up some screens so here they are:
Standard Definition Cable TV:
Electronic Programming Guide, provided by Comcast
I recorded the new show "Parking Wars" since I missed it the other night:
When you hit the Media Center button on the remote or the symbol up top, you get this:
This is a 3rd party app called "MyMovies". It keeps your backed up DVD collection via SQL. When you tell MyMovies what movie it is, it automatically downloads cover art (front and back) and downloads information for each actor, actress and director. A little overkill but what the heck:
I'm still working on the music and pictures. I'm having to convert all of my iTunes music from MP4 to MP3 one at a time and then copying them over to the Media Server.
Overall, everything was real simple to get working. A fresh install of Windows Vista Home Premium and updating everything BEFORE installing anything else did wonders for my media. Streaming everything but my backed up DVDs to my XBOX 360 works perfectly. Right now, the X360 Media Remote is the only media remote I own. I plan on getting a MCE remote some time next month.
So what's next? First, let's get something straight with the whole HDM format wars. I'm a supporter of HD-DVD all the way and I believe it is the superior format. HOWEVER, I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants this format war to be done with. In a way I hate to see the HD-DVD camp lose support but then again, I just want this to be over. With that said, I am looking to add either Sony's Blu-Ray DVD-ROM drive to my HTPC or LG's Hybrid Drive. I would like to give the software a little more time to catch up since I hear mixed reviews about PowerDVD, AnyDVD and others.
Next, I will obviously like to add more hard drive space. Backing up my DVDs aren't taking up as much space as I thought it would so I'm happy. However, I do have 20 different TV show DVD sets to back up! Just for FYI, I am only backing up the movie itself, no DVD menus or BTS stuff. That saves 1-2GB!
Finally, I would like to get a different case and power supply. The case I have is OK but it is cheap, probably the cheapest case I've ever own in terms of quality. Maybe I can get something that is a real HTPC case and that will flush with my other equipment. The power supply is doing ok, but you can tell that it's maxing out. There has been a few times where I've tried to wake it up from screen savers but I have to reset the entire machine for response.
If anybody has any questions, please feel free to ask. Thanks for looking guys!
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subset: commoncrawl


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Hot & Sour Cucumber Sticks
26 Jul 2010
|English cucumber
|2 , ends trimmed, cut in half lengthwise
|Sesame seed oil
|1⁄2 Teaspoon
|Roasted black sesame seeds
|2 Teaspoon (Dry Roasted)
|Pomegranate seeds
|2 Tablespoon (If Desired)
|Hot and sour dressing
|Rice vinegar
|1 Cup (16 tbs)
|1⁄2 Cup (8 tbs)
|3⁄4 Teaspoon
|Whole red chili
|2 Small, stemmed, cut in half lengthwise, seeded, ribs removed (Fresh Ones)
With a small spoon, scrape out and discard seeds in each cucumber half.
Cut each half lengthwise down middle in 2 to 3 long strips.
Cut strips in 1 -1 /2-inch-long sticks.
Prepare Hot & Sour Dressing.
Stir in cucumber sticks.
Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 6 hours.
Stir in sesame seed oil up to 30 minutes before serving .
With a slotted spoon, remove cucumbers sticks and chili peppers to a serving dish.
Remove peppers, if desired.
Sprinkle with black Dry Roasted Sesame Seeds and pomegranate seeds, if desired.
Hot & Sour Dressing: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.
Stir well until sugar is dissolved.
Recipe Summary
Difficulty Level:Very Easy
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Hot & Sour Cucumber Sticks Recipe


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Iridium plugs in your Airhead?
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Beastly Adventurer
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Easton Wa
Oddometer: 1,386
Yeah, I don't know. I've had/have two R1100S with well over 150k combined on them. I've run about every spark plug that will fit in the hole. Only time they get replaced is when the electrode is gone. And trust me, I've run them to the size of pencil lead. What makes a huge difference on those bikes is taking the time to really tune and synch the throttle bodies. I have never had a surging issue on a stock R1100S which was notorious for surging. I've also tuned it out of RTs and 1150GS by the same methods. None of the 1100/1150's should surge stock. Surging in modern computer controlled bikes is caused by the bike going from rich to lean as the computer tries to maintain a certain fuel map while looking at a lot of variables.
As for longevity in spark plugs with the FI bikes, the BMW plugs seem to last the longest. I think I just have NGK's in the airhead, but have used champion and autolite, and really, they all last a really long time, carbon and oil fouling aside. We are talking about bikes that are 30 or so years old. They just weren't weren't made to run on today's gas all the time. If you want to see a real improvement right away, go invest in some pure gas, and by some champions.
It's eight and a half gallons of gas; and an engine. What more do you need?-- BMW R80G/S
Save lives. Legalize lane sharing.
Cow eyes don't glow.
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text:
Smoke Detector news and technical articles from Fire Engineering. Search Smoke Detector latest and archived news and articles
summarize smoke detector performance. DO SMOKE DETECTORS WORK? To ..... above (no smoke detector , smoke detectors present and ..... mandatory smoke detector legislation ..... mandating smoke detectors in every room
Direct Connect 911 Smoke Detector is the only stand ..... photo-electronic smoke detector on the market that ..... Direct Connect 911 Smoke Detector system protects for ..... insurance. " Standard smoke detectors can only emit a siren
Direct Connect 911 Smoke Detector is the only stand ..... photo-electronic smoke detector on the market that ..... Direct Connect 911 Smoke Detector system protects for ..... insurance. " Standard smoke detectors can only emit a siren
the current smoke detector standards. Residential smoke detectors first became ..... past 25 years, smoke detector use in homes ..... disable their smoke detectors . Every year ..... Improving smoke detector performance
citizens often disable smoke detectors and place themselves ..... risk. Photoelectric smoke detectors contain a light source ..... asleep. Ionization smoke detectors have a small amount ..... should be without a smoke detector , and ionization
There were no working smoke detectors in a Chicago (IL) home ..... importance of having working smoke detectors , consider Smoke Detector Credited with Saving Three Lives and LOUISVILLE'S SMOKE DETECTOR PROGRAM . For training info
Standard domestic smoke detectors may not always wake children in ..... found that 80% slept through smoke detector alarms. Each child was tested ..... ignored about the effectiveness of smoke detectors in waking children. "Further
Smoke Detector Credited with Saving Three Lives LEIGH ..... Department`s program of installing smoke detectors in homes paid off in a big way--it ..... detectors in the home, discussed the smoke detector program with Douglas. Following the
A typical smoke detector that is part ..... sounder. Many smoke detectors can be removed ..... installation. A smoke detector is defined ..... defined under " smoke detector " as a device ..... system-powered smoke detectors found in hotels
firefighters participated in a smoke detector "blitz," providing ..... visited did not have any smoke detectors at all. IFD Chief Ernest ..... into the community. SMOKE DETECTORS AND LIFE SAFETY Smoke Alarm or Smoke Detector ? Tennessee House Fire


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What does TBHA mean in Non-Profit Organizations?
This page is about the meanings of the acronym/abbreviation/shorthand TBHA in the Community field in general and in the Non-Profit Organizations terminology in particular.
Thunder Bay Hiking Association
Find a translation for TBHA in other languages:
Select another language:
Discuss this TBHA abbreviation with the community:
Use the citation below to add this abbreviation to your bibliography:
"TBHA." Abbreviations.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2015. Web. 7 Jul 2015. <http://www.abbreviations.com/term/1434563>.


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Get great value with our premium worsted-weight yarn in an economical size. This classic, easy-care yarn comes in traditional baby colors, making it perfect for stitching your love into gifts from blankets (one ball is enough to make a hooded blanket that's as adorable as it is practical) to garments.
100% Premium Acrylic
Knit: 19 stitches x 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) on size 8 (5mm) needles Crochet: 14 sc + 18 rows = 4" (10 cm) with size J-10 (6 mm) hook
** All Lion Brand stores and facilities are closed on Friday, July 3rd in observance of Independence Day the following day. **
Periwinkle blue
Peachy orange
Medium yellow
Soft cream
Crisp white
Soft pink
Bright cerise
Cotton candy pink
Light baby blue
Medium denim blue
Medium tan
Soft lavender
Light pinkish-purple
Bright aqua
Pale soft green


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set of 2 - black cotton sateen wrap hipsters
designer's notes
The beauty and comfort of cute hipsters times two! Grab this set of two low-rise hipsters by On Gossamer and enjoy the pretty yet practical style that's captured the hearts of women everywhere.
color: Black Set of two stretch cotton hipsters Sateen banding with knot detail at front waist Low-rise, straight across hip Partial lining Moderate seat coverage 95% Cotton / 5% Spandex; Hand Wash; Imported; style# 300649701


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Jeffery Padgett (AKA "Padge") is Senior Director, Infrastructure Architecture for Gap Inc. Gap is a leading global specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, and Athleta brands. Jeff helps Gap streamline its large scale enterprise infrastructure footprint using open source centric solutions and modern Infrastructure as code approaches. He is also the chief instigator for enterprise scale engineering culture change. Jeff founded 2 startups including Inacronym and SFSC. He was once a sponsored competitive skateboarder and a congressional staffer for the 102nd US Congress.
Thanks for attending! – | San Francisco, CA
Jeffery Padgett
How the cloud has changed corporate IT
How do IT leaders decide what workloads or data to put in what cloud and when? More…


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Now that the suspense is (almost) over, so, too, is the fun part for Fred Thompson. Will the former senator, R-Tenn., ever look as good as he does right now? Not likely.
It's not just that Thompson can't be the answer to all the hopes and dreams of a troubled Republican Party -- no one can. And it's not just that his political record (or lack thereof) will draw newly intense scrutiny. (Though if the rest of the GOP field is looking for good news today, there you have it.)
Former governor Mitt Romney, R-Mass., told an interviewer yesterday that Thompson will make the race "more interesting," and that's an understatement. But high expectations set a high bar, and now that he's in the race (just about), the storyline is already becoming set: Thanks for coming, Fred, but who exactly are you, and what makes you think you should be president? And what do you mean you want to be home by 5 o'clock?
Even the way he is rolling out his candidacy is drawing criticism. Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio pronounced himself "surprised and a little sad," telling The New York Times' Carl Hulse and Patrick Healy that Thompson needed a grand entrance instead of putting off a formal announcement for a month or more. "You need to send signals that say, 'I'm here and I'm going to win,' " he said.
And while delaying a formal announcement will mean he can avoid (temporarily) reporting second-quarter fund-raising figures, Thompson will be judged early and often. "Questions about his viability would arise if there should be anything less than strong performances in his first debates, in his ability to raise funds quickly, or in rapidly assembling organizations in states with early contests next year," write Michael Shear and Dan Balz of The Washington Post.
Thompson himself tells USA Today's Susan Page that his late start brings with it "certain advantages." "Nobody has maxed out to me" in contributions, he said, and using the Internet already "has allowed me to be in the hunt, so to speak, without spending a dime." (For the record, he leaves little room in the interview for the possibility that he won't actually run, and says he knows that running for president means "working your fanny off.")
Conservative columnist Robert Novak, who panned Thompson's California coming-out speech, sees Thompson getting appropriately fired up for the race, and adds a line that warms many Nashville hearts this morning: "In his Senate voting record and his public utterances, Thompson is more conservative than Giuliani, McCain or Romney."
For a sign that there's room for Thompson, look no further than Florida, where "an overwhelming majority of President Bush's top political fundraisers . . . are sitting on the sidelines so far in the 2008 presidential race. Of the 54 Floridians who raised at least $100,000 for Bush-Cheney in 2004, only 10 have given to any Republican contender to succeed Bush," reports Adams Smith of the St. Petersburg Times. Yes, ANY.
Also in the news today:


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Velcade-Doxorubicin-Dexamethasone Treatment Can Reverse Kidney Damage Associated With Multiple Myeloma
Published: Sep 24, 2010 11:25 am
The results of a recent Phase 2 trial indicate that Velcade-doxorubicin-dexamethasone treatment can reverse multiple myeloma-associated kidney damage in myeloma patients suffering from kidney failure. The regimen also improved patients' disease statuses and was associated with few severe side effects.
Multiple myeloma affects plasma cells, a subset of white blood cells that fight infections by producing antibody. In multiple myeloma patients, cancerous plasma cells produce one kind of abnormal antibody.
In some myeloma patients, this abnormal antibody binds to a protein produced in the kidney. These antibody-protein complexes then accumulate in the structures of the kidney, causing damage and decreased kidney function.
Kidney damage is a common and potentially serious complication in multiple myeloma. Reversal of this damage can only be achieved by preventing the accumulation of protein-antibody complexes in the kidney.
Previous studies have suggested that Velcade (bortezomib) and Velcade-based regimens are particularly effective in reversing kidney damage in multiple myeloma patients.
Additionally, the active compounds in Velcade are broken down in the body through processes that do not involve the kidneys. As a result, Velcade does not interfere with kidney function and usually does not cause kidney-related side effects.
In this clinical trial, researchers investigated the efficacy of Velcade-doxorubicin (Adriamycin)-dexamethasone (Decadron) (referred to as VDD) in myeloma patients with antibody-associated kidney damage and the treatment's potential of restoring kidney function in this patient population.
Sixty-eight multiple myeloma patients with antibody-associated kidney damage were treated with VDD. During the study, patients received a median of eight treatment cycles.
A total of 66 percent of patients achieved a partial response or better, and 38 percent of patients achieved a complete response.
Sixty-two percent of patients showed improved kidney function with VDD treatment. Kidney function was restored in 31 percent of patients.
Nine patients enrolled in the study were receiving dialysis due to severe impairment of kidney function. Three of these nine patients became dialysis-independent following treatment.
Researchers noted that kidney improvement correlated with response to treatment. Patients who achieved a complete or very good partial response showed the greatest improvement in kidney function.
Median progression-free survival time was 12 months, and the median overall survival time had not yet been reached.
Low red blood cell count was the most common and severe side effect of the treatment and was experienced by 50 percent of patients in the study.
Infection was the most severe side effect not related to blood cell levels. Serious infections were experienced by 19 percent of patients and resulted in four patient deaths.
For more information, see the article in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (abstract).
Related Articles:
- Study Shows Acute Kidney Failure Can Be Reversed By Velcade-Dexamethasone-Doxorubicin In Multiple Myeloma
- Velcade-Cyclophosphamide-Dexamethasone Combination May Be Effective In Myeloma Patients With Kidney Damage
- Velcade-Treanda-Prednisone Combination May Be Effective In Newly Diagnosed Myeloma Patients With Kidney Impairment
- Novel Agents Help Reverse Kidney Impairment In Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients
- Dose-Adjusted Revlimid-Dexamethasone Combination Is Safe And Effective In Multiple Myeloma Patients With Reduced Kidney Function


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Live Outside The BoxLive Outside The Box (2010) Theatrical Cartoon by Dave Koch
This page has been viewed 12 times this month, and 252 times total.
- Theatrical ShortShort
- Academy of Art University
- Cartoon Characters: Simon.
- Directed By Shu-Hsuan Lin.
- Originally Released in December of 2010 (Estimate).
- Originally Released Theatrically.
- Running Time: 4:18 minutes.
- Color
Cartoon Summary:
The leading character, Simon, is a workaholic without any social contact. Gradually, his world becomes smaller and smaller, and even at the very end, there is... (more)
Cartoon Production Information:
Shu-Hsuan Lin's Thesis work for his M.F.A. in Animation 3D.
Watch Cartoon Video:
You can watch this cartoon today on your computer. Just click below to start viewing "Live Outside The Box" online now.
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Cartoon Comments:
Do you love Live Outside The Box, or do you think it is the worst cartoon ever? Let us know what you think! Surely you have an opinion... so share what you think. Take a minute and post your own comments about this cartoon here.


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Filmlinc DailyRSS
Discover: Terence Nance Uses Art to Understand
A visual and aural delight, Terence Nance's An Oversimplification of Her Beauty represents a bold new vision from an artist hesitant to call himself a filmmaker.
Discover: Davy Chou Recovers a Lost Golden Age of Cinema
We spoke with French-Cambodian director Davy Chou, who at young age happened upon the rich filmmaking past of his family. His debut feature, Golden Slumbers, illuminates a golden age of Cambodian cinema that thrived before being stamped out by the Khmer Rouge.
Who Is Carlos Diegues?
A key figure in Brazil's Cinema Novo movement, Diegues will be at Film Society this weekend for a retrospective of his films. Learn more about this overlooked master and hear from Richard Peña about his importance to world cinema and which of his films should not be missed!
The Colorful Cinema of Carlos Diegues
Films as vibrant as those by Carlos "Cacá" Diegues, one of the key figures in Brazil's Cinema Novo movement of the 60s and 70s, are better expressed in images than words. Check out these beautiful posters and stills and see the Brazilian master in person this weekend at our retrospective of his work!
Interview: Faouzi Bensaïdi, "Death For Sale"
Faouzi Bensaïdi spoke with FilmLinc Daily about his tale of friendship and bank robbery, which was Morocco's official selection for the 2012 Academy Awards and a highlight of the 20th New York African Film Festival.
Discover: Frances Bodomo Crosses Cultures with "Boneshaker"
Our second weekly column spotlighting emerging film talent focuses on Frances Bodomo, whose short Boneshaker stars Oscar-nominated actress Quvenzhané Wallis, premiered at Sundance, and screens this week in the 20th New York African Film Festival.
Discover: Penny Lane Connects the Dots Into a Tender "Our Nixon"
Penny Lane kicks off FilmLinc Daily's new weekly column spotlighting budding cinematic talent. Her inventive doc, which closes New Directors/New Films this weekend, offers a unique and intimate perspective on one of the most notorious politicians in American history.
Four Decades of New Directors/New Films Discoveries
Steven Spielberg, Chantal Akerman, Richard Linklater, Wong Kar-wai, Kelly Reichert, and Pedro Almodóvar are just a few of the filmmakers that have segued to major success after debuting their early work at New Directors/New Films. We take a look back at the history of the festival as the 42nd edition gets underway.
Interview: François Ozon, "In the House"
At a roundtable interview, Ozon talked about his esteem for longtime collaborator Fabrice Luchini, French cinema's commitment to roles for older actresses, and his new film In the House.
Interview: Shalimar Preuss, "My Blue-Eyed Girl"
Writer-director Shalimar Preuss talks about her first feature, My Blue-Eyed Girl, and its themes of nature, childhood and boredom. Don't miss it in Rendez-Vous with French Cinema!


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HSBC "lift" by Grey London
Agency: Grey London
Rating: 5.0
By John Reynolds, marketingmagazine.co.uk, Friday, 27 April 2012 09:21AM
However, sales outside the US fell 1% in the period, in which Starbucks reported an operating loss of $5.5m (£3.4m) in this second financial quarter to April 1, the company's financial results reveal.
Starbucks said the loss was due to higher distribution costs in the UK.
Today (27 April), Starbucks unveiled selected results for its UK operations, to coincide with the disclosure of its global financial results.
In the UK, sales of cappuccinos and lattes also grew because of a March relaunch of Starbuck's most popular coffee varieties, when the coffee chain added an extra shot of Fairtrade espresso to its drinks.
Ian Cranna, Starbucks UK and Ireland vice-president of marketing, said: "The campaign was our biggest yet and the extra sales of latte and cappuccino is one clear measure of success.
"It also generated tremendous buzz in every type of media and made Starbucks part of the national conversation for weeks."
The print and digital campaign ran earlier this year.
Globally, Starbucks reported a revenue uplift of 15% to $3.2bn (£1.9bn) in its second quarter.
The coffee chain said that it opened 176 stores globally in the period, including its 3,000th store across China/Asia.
Follow John Reynolds on Twitter @johnreynolds10
This article was first published on marketingmagazine.co.uk
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Agency: Grey London
Rating: 5.0


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The Global FlyFisher - The Largest and Best Place to go for Online Fly Fishing and Fly Tying
Fish Better
All pictures
Rubber looses grip
These were my first Chotas' The construction of the sole is quite well thought out: rubber on the edges and felt in the center. This gives good grip on both grass and wet rock. Unfortunately there is no grip between the sole and the boot! Within a few trips this started happening: the rubber lost its hold on the boot.


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These fun and flattering vintage-style suits blend the best of the old with the best of the new.
15 Memorable Christmas Gifts for DIYers
Choose your favorite from this seven-piece collection of red-and-white burlap stockings. Select the style you prefer, and personalize it further with embroidery or a custom name tag.
($42, pinkslipinspiration.etsy.com)
Handmade with wool spun in Maine, this pair of stockings features Nutcrackers and prancing deer.
($116 for the pair, terrapinknits.etsy.com)
12 Heartfelt Holiday Gifts Under $30


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From Our Editors
The Great Sea of Regeneration can only ebb and flow so quickly when it comes to healing and breathing fresh life into your shore of skin. Today's Groupon operates faster than a metaphorical body of water to soften and beautify your skin with a microdermabrasion, IPL chemical peel, or hair-removal treatment from Rajeunir Medical Spa for $29 (an up to $150 value). Don't waste your time attempting to grow new skin using a microwave and fruit leathers when you can lovingly tend your existing outer layer.


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Today's entry describes how I transitioned from my electric light studies, and began to consider the horizontal landscape beyond the Belvedere and install panels of various degrees of transparency and opacity to frame, focus, and filter the views surrounding the structure.
As I began to install these panels and cut away openings, which are not unlike windows I guess, the project really began to take shape for me. It also seemed to become more integrated into the site (both the most immediate environment as well as in relation to far off vistas).
With the essential framework for my project set, the next order of business was to start working more directly with lighting conditions and effects. The first image you see here is a detail of the top of the stud walls where my structure meets the Belvedere Temple. To highlight the passage of time I installed pink colored Plexiglas strips that project light and shadow on to the columns. Circulating all the way around the top of my structure, this band of color, with its companion wood slats, produce various patterns on and around the Belvedere Temple that shift throughout the day as the sun changes in position and intensity.
Upon returning to Montalvo at the end of October 2014 with the intention of finally realizing my art project at the Belvedere Temple, my first step was to lay the foundation. This photograph represents the initial phase of developing the work. Utilizing the footprint of the existing columns and the concrete expansion joints of the floor as guidelines and using the underside of the Belvedere Temple to determine the height restriction, I fabricated a wooden framework using 2 x 4 redwood lumber with studs placed 24" apart, in accordance with recognized construction standards. In this way, my project suggests the vernacular of modern construction methods used in modestly-scaled domestic architectures (tree forts, sheds, etc.).
It seems apropos to start with this first image of Montalvo's historic Belvedere because it is one of the first photographs I took during my initial site visit for this project in January 2014. This photograph represents a similar view to the one I experienced when I first encountered the Belvedere Temple in April/May 2012. At that time, I was enjoying my first residency at Montalvo Arts Center. I was returning from a hike, one that started on the trails near the top of the Lucas Artists Residency complex. Having followed some trails to the top, I was descending back down when suddenly I stopped in my tracks, dumbfounded by what I saw. The view was so unexpected, especially as I was deep in thought elsewhere.
At this moment, I had an immersive sense of being lost in a forest. My sense of familiarity with this experience and terrain had allowed my mind to wander (having grown up near a small, wooded area in southern Wisconsin, I formed an intimate relationship with nature, amidst the large deciduous trees, ones whose essential structures were also best seen during these same winter months, although in the case of the Belvedere without all the snow).
We present the final installment in Associate Curator Donna Conwell's conversation with Marketing & Communications Manager Leah Ammon about her curatorial vision for Montalvo's exhibition L O V E.
We are pleased to present the third installment of Associate Curator Donna Conwell's chat with Marketing & Communications Manager Leah Ammon about her curatorial vision for Montalvo's current exhibition L O V E.
Marketing & Communications Manager Leah Ammon continues her conversation with Associate Curator Donna Conwell about her curatorial vision for Montalvo's current exhibition L O V E.
Tonight: La Love


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Fast-food franchisees in a pickle
California bill would raise bar for contract termination
Posted: September 4, 2014 at 2:37 a.m.
The fast-food industry, underpinned by an often tense relationship between fast-food giants such as McDonald's and Burger King and the franchisees who run their restaurants, is facing a push from union organizers to take responsibility for how workers are treated.
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Federal regulators are set to require big banks to keep enough high-quality assets on hand to survive during a severe downturn, the latest move under congressional mandate ... Read »
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The Little Rock metropolitan area ranked ninth among 14 cities in a 10-state region in an economic and quality of life study completed by the University of Arkansas at Litt... Read »


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Bruce!! Grand Salami!!!!
Bruce!! Grand Salami!!!!
Attended 1976 World Series in my Mother's Womb. Attended 1990 World Series Game 2 as a 13 year old. Want to take my son to a a World Series Game in Cincinnati in my lifetime.
Pretty good baseball day imho. Caught the Nats/Braves makeup game. Attendance was abysmal but that means you get a better shot at foul balls (nada) or bazook'ed t-shirts (2!). And, because I'm well on record here with my strong belief that the Nats are irrelevant to the Reds this year, it was a fun game to see the way it ended.
5-0 for us. Loving this game.
And, the Padres are handling the Bucs. Pittsburgh may well be a stop on the road to St Louis for us.
Reds & Nats, 2013 LCS. Take2 (9/13) Reds but no Nats
Watching with the sound off because I'm writing, and something about the accompanying silence made that one even sweeter.
30 home runs, 100 RBI's. Decent.
The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.
― Madeleine L'Engle
My Goodreads Author Page
Pads now up 5-2 an still threatening v. Bucs. Pirates have to go on the road to finish the season, presumably they want to win these home games rather badly.
Nats will sweep it looks like.
Mr. Perfect in for Houston.
"Since I've been with the Reds in 1989, we've never had a farm system this loaded," Bowden said. "If we were the New York Yankees and had unlimited dollars, we could have traded for Colon, (Jeff) Weaver, Rolen, (Cliff) Floyd, (Kenny) Rogers and Finley and gotten them all -- and still held onto our top five prospects. That's an amazing statement."
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. -- Terrance Mann (Field of Dreams)
Hi, my name is Billy. Mind if I play CF for 6 inn?
1940757690 (09-17-2013),Falcon7 (09-17-2013),MillerTime58 (09-17-2013),Norm Chortleton (09-17-2013),powersackers (09-17-2013),redhawkfish (09-17-2013)
Gone! Slam! Boom-bah! Bruuuuuuce!
Wow. Can we keep hitting like this when we get to PNC? 'cause that'd be most cool.
Reds & Nats, 2013 LCS. Take2 (9/13) Reds but no Nats
The LAstros: the gift that just keeps on giving.
The Rally Onion wants 150 fans before Opening Day.
Love to see Bruce wind up with a 850 OPS. Getting hot for a final push
"But I do know Joey's sister indirectly (or foster sister) and I have heard stories of Joey being into shopping, designer wear, fancy coffees, and pedicures."
Quick.....who did Leake last face in the lineup?
Humber with the 8.27 ERA in the put out the fire
Board Moderators may, at their discretion and judgment, delete and/or edit any messages that violate any of the following guidelines: 1. Explicit references to alleged illegal or unlawful acts. 2. Graphic sexual descriptions. 3. Racial or ethnic slurs. 4. Use of edgy language (including masked profanity). 5. Direct personal attacks, flames, fights, trolling, baiting, name-calling, general nuisance, excessive player criticism or anything along those lines. 6. Posting spam. 7. Each person may have only one user account. It is fine to be critical here - that's what this board is for. But let's not beat a subject or a player to death, please.


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Do-si-do and Face the Sides - Tony Parkes
Dublin Core
Do-si-do and Face the Sides - Tony Parkes
Tony Parkes calls Ted Sannella's square dance, Do-si-do and Face the Sides, at the Dare To Be Square weekend held November 18-20, 2011, at the John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC. The tune is "Ragtime Annie," which Tony said is his favorite square dance tune. Musicians are Steve Hickman and Jim Morrison, fiddles; Claudio Buchwald, piano; Sam Bartlett, banjo.
The dance, written in 1953, is published in Ted's book, "Balance and Swing". Viewers can find other video recordings of this dance here and here.
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Weekly 3's is a fun game that The First Years be playing each week in September. Every week, we'll have a different topic and you post the three things you feel fit the category best. Each week a new winner will be selected to win a True Fit Premier Convertible Car Seat from The First Years.
Click here for official rules.
Time for a fun one -- What are the top three car names that don't work as baby names?
These can be car makes and models -- like Gremlin and Pinto--- or names that you given your cars like Bessie or The Brown Bomber.


text:
Audio Samples
Album Summary
- Said Pressley (Voice)
- JungBum Heo (Voice)
- Catherine Webber (Voice)
- Robert Balonek (Voice)
- Julian Whitley (Voice)
- Anthony Caputo (Voice)
- Rasdia Wilmot (Voice)
- Molly Davey (Voice)
- Jeffrey Taveras (Voice)
- Derek Greten-Harrison (Voice)
- D'ana Lombard (Voice)
- Diana Wangerin (Voice)
- Ilene Pabon (Voice)
- Joshua Benevento (Voice)
Notes & Reviews:
First performed in 1986 by the Des Moines Opera with Jacque Trussel as Caliban, the opera has come full circle with this recording of the Purchase Opera where Jacque Trussel served as director. Hoiby, born in Wisconsin in 1926, was infused with operatic ambitions during his studies at Curtis with Gian Carlo Menotti. He has written a number of operas, including several on Albany Records (A Month in the Country, Bon Appetit!, and This Is the Rill Speaking).
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Also Purchased
Works DetailsHoiby, Lee : The Tempest, opera
- Performers: Said Pressley (Voice); JungBum Heo (Voice); Catherine Webber (Voice); Robert Balonek (Voice); Julian Whitley (Voice); Anthony Caputo (Voice); Rasdia Wilmot (Voice); Molly Davey (Voice); Jeffrey Taveras (Voice); Derek Greten-Harrison (Voice); D'ana Lombard (Voice); Diana Wangerin (Voice); Ilene Pabon (Voice); Joshua Benevento (Voice)
- Conductor: Hugh Murphy
- Running Time: 5 min. 55 sec.
- Period Time: Modern
- Form: Opera/Operetta
- Written: 1986


text:
The onestopenglish team
Meet the people behind the scenes at onestopenglish and click on a photo to find out more …
Inside the onestopenglish team
Hello, I'm Angela and I'm a BA Honours graduate from Bogota, Colombia. Having worked previously in customer relations management in my home country, I decided to seek a new and fresh challenge in the United Kingdom. I have lived in London now for four years. In my spare time I like to explore new restaurants and indulge in the many cuisines that London has to offer.
Hi, I'm Claira and I am part of the customer service team who looks after all of our onestopenglish customers all over the world. Having taught English in Spain for a year after university, I understand something of the challenges that face teachers in the classroom every day and I'm very happy to still be involved in the wonderful world of education through my job at Macmillan Education.
Hello! My name is Claudia and I come from the south of Spain. After spending a year in California teaching Spanish to college students and English to members of the Mexican community, I decided to move to the UK to study for a Masters in Business and have been living in London since 2011. I love all the museums, restaurants and activities that this city has to offer!
I'm Erica, the resident onestopenglish designer. Having come from a TV broadcasting background I'm new to the world of ELT, ESP, ESOL, CLIL and all the countless other acronyms that I've had to get my head around over the last few months.
I grew up in a small city close to Venice, in Italy, and spent some time in Paris, Madrid and Melbourne before coming to London in 2006 to study Comparative Literature and deciding to make it my home.
I'm Henry and I'm the Social Media Marketing Executive for onestopenglish. I joined the team in February 2013 and look after the onestopenglish social media channels. It's a great way of interacting with teachers all over the world, and there are always lots of fun campaigns to share with our customers!
I've been part of the onestopenglish team since I first joined back in 2012, and I now look after the content marketing at Macmillan Education. Day-to-day, my job involves working closely with the rest of our international marketing team to coordinate our digital marketing campaigns and make sure everything we do is fit-for-purpose online!
Following a degree in Modern History, I am very pleased to be joining the onestopenglish team. My customer service based role gives me the opportunity to interact with the wonderful onestopenglish community across the world, providing help, support and guidance to whatever query you may have. I look forward to speaking with many of you.
I grew up in Birmingham (the home of Cadbury chocolate and The Lord of the Rings, amongst other things!) and, following a couple of years spent mooching around the world, I decided to study for a degree in Russian and Italian at the University of Manchester. As part of my course I lived and worked abroad in St Petersburg and Pisa, where I fell into the wonderful world of ELT.
I grew up in Guernsey before moving to London in 2008 to study Literature at university. After a brief spell working in investor relations and an even briefer spell working in an art gallery, I began my career in marketing, working and travelling as part of an international conference company before joining Macmillan Education in March 2014.
I joined the onestopenglish editorial team in 2009, and have been lucky enough to work on and witness the birth of some fabulous resources including Business Spotlight, our Mini-plays on British culture and the audio feast that is A ghost's guide to ...


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Portsmouth: Portal to D-Day
English town celebrates its role as the starting point of World War II's Operation Overlord
Why D-Day?
The explanation is surprisingly simple.
In military parlance, "D" stood for the day on which an operation was scheduled to take place. So, for the planners of Operation Overlord, D-Day would be the day — whichever date — on which the landings would begin. Hence "D Minus One" was the eve of the invasion and "D Plus One" was the day after the landings. In the same way, "H-hour" meant the actual hour of the landings. On June 6, this varied between beaches according to the tide.
Source: The D-Day Museum, Portsmouth
If you go
The D-Day Museum and Overlord Embroidery, Clarence Esplanade, Portsmouth, England.
Nearest train stations: Southsea or Portsmouth Harbour (Portsmouth is a 90-minute train ride from London with frequent service). For more information: BritRail: britrail.com
Open daily except Dec. 24, 25 and 26; an admission fee is charged
Information: ddaymuseum.co.uk, visitbritain.com
PORTSMOUTH, England "OK, let's go."
Those three words spoken here by Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower amounted to one of the biggest gambles in history.
They launched Operation Overlord, the greatest amphibious invasion the world has ever seen, setting the stage for a multination armada and swarms of aircraft to assault the beaches of Normandy, France, on D-Day, June 6, 1944.
Terrible weather already had forced Eisenhower to put off the original June 5 landing date. Amid the churning seas of the English Channel, thousands of soldiers and sailors were aboard ships waiting for the go-ahead, their stomachs in knots from seasickness and fear of what was to come.
The final decision was made at 4:15 a.m. June 5 at Southwick House, a mansion that served as the allied headquarters. Just north of Portsmouth, Southwick House today is open to visitors by reservation, its large map room left intact at the hour the invasion started on the morning of June 6. A few miles away, overlooking the English Channel, the story of the buildup to the invasion is brought to life at Portsmouth's city-run D-Day Museum, one of four major museums devoted to the landings. The others are in Caen and Bayeux, France, and New Orleans.
The museum was built to house not only exhibits, but also the Overlord Embroidery, a 34-panel depiction of key events surrounding the invasion. Designed by artist Sandra Lawrence, it is 272 feet in length and serves as a counterpart to the nearly 600-year-old Bayeux Tapestry in France, which depicts the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the last successful invasion across the English Channel before the D-Day landings.
In his memoirs, Eisenhower discussed those few minutes on June 5 that are now locked in history: "Our little camp was shaking and shuddering under a wind of almost hurricane proportions … the rain seemed to be traveling in horizontal streaks. The mile-long trip through muddy roads to the naval headquarters (Southwick House) was anything but a cheerful one, since it seemed impossible that in such conditions there was any reason for even discussing the situation."
Assembled for a final go or no-go meeting in the mansion's library were Eisenhower's senior commanders and chiefs of staff, including British Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery, who had been tasked with overall direction of ground troops for the operation.


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BAGCO™ 21" x 14" x 9" Shopping Bags in Natural
BAGCO™ 21" x 14" x 9" Shopping Bags in Natural
Weights & Dimensions
|Product Type: Storage Bags
|Color: Natural
|Country of Manufacture: United States
About the ManufacturerThey are a leading provider of quality plastic reclosable packaging serving the industrial, medical and food service markets. What they do best is provide quality product, at affordable prices. They find ways to get your name and product out there in a package that best suits your needs. Their own recognizable Zippit® is produced with the white Color Line® that holds your product securely. Choose from their clear, white block, hang hole, antistat, UV protected, and medical bags.
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text:
A method that allows the real-time replacement of the designated background portion of an incoming video signal with an alternate background. The method utilizes the actual background image for reference as the basis for determining the background and foreground elements within the image with the end result being comparable to traditional blue-screen processes, such as chroma-key and ultimate technology, but requiring only a personal computer, video camera and the software. In this case, however, the reference background image can be any reasonably static scene with a sufficient and stable light source captured by the camera. The video data stream is modified in real-time by comparisons against the reference background image and is then passed on to its original destination. Multiple signal-noise processing algorithms are applied in real-time against the signal to achieve a visually acceptable matte.
1. A method of digitally altering a video data stream representing an original image in real-time, using a computer system having a memory, and a visual display screen, to remove portions of the original video image and substitute new elements to create a new video image comprising the steps of:
storing at least one frame of data representing said original image in a first incoming video data stream in a data structure in a first location in said memory in a computer;
displaying said stored original image on said visual display;
capturing real-time video from a second incoming video data stream representing a subsequently modified original image and storing data representing said modified original image in a data structure in a second location in said memory in a computer;
comparing video data in the second video data stream representing said original image with modifications with said stored original image video data to differentiate the background and foreground elements;
removing the common background elements of said stored original image and the subsequently modified original image leaving only foreground elements of said subsequently modified original image;
replacing said background elements of said subsequently modified original image with alternate background replacement elements; and
displaying only the foreground elements in said subsequently modified original image upon the said alternate background replacement elements to form said new image.
2. The method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
using a stationary video camera to obtain said original image in the form of said first incoming video data and said subsequently modified original image in the form of second incoming video data;
coupling said camera first and second incoming video data to said computer; and
digitizing said first incoming video data of said original image and said second incoming video data of said second real-time video data stream for storage in respective first and second locations in said memory.
3. The method as in claim 2 further comprising the steps of:
causing said original image to be reasonably free of movement; and
lighting said original image sufficiently to enable the detection and separation of background and foreground elements when said digitized second real-time incoming video data stream is compared with said stored digitized original image.
4. The method as in claim 3 further comprising the steps of:
creating said first and second video signals with pixel receptors in said video camera, each pixel receptor generating an output signal containing values that represent the stored original image carried by the first incoming video data stream and the stored real-time incoming original image carried by the second video data stream; and
creating a first set of data structures in said memory for storing values from said pixel receptors that represent variations in the original image, variations in the dynamics of the original image lighting, and variations in pixel signal values caused by the camera pixel receptors generating the first incoming video data stream representing said original image.
5. The method as in claim 4 wherein the step of comparing the video data in said second real-time video data stream representing said modified original image with the stored original image data further comprises the steps of:
creating a second set of data structures in said memory for storing data that represents variations in the second real-time original image, variations in the dynamics of the lighting, and the signal variations in pixel signal values caused by the camera pixel receptors for the second real-time original image; and
comparing pixel values of said data stored in said second data structure for said second real-time original image with corresponding pixel data values stored in said first data structure to determine foreground and background elements in said second real-time original image.
6. The method as in claim 5 further comprising the steps of: comparing the data in said second real-time video data stream representing said modified original image with the stored original image data; and
generating signals representing only said foreground elements for display on said alternate background replacement elements.
7. The method as in claim 6 further including the step of adding a person to said second real-time video data stream to replace at least a portion of said original image.
8. The method as in claim 6 wherein the step of forming said alternate replacement image further comprises the step of providing one of a moving video, a bitmap, or animation, or any image capable of being represented in a digital format, as the alternate replacement image.
9. A computer-aided system for digitally editing, in real-time, a video data stream representing an original image by identifying and separating portions of the original image into foreground and background elements and replacing the background elements of the original image with substitute elements to create a new image, the system comprising:
a visual display for displaying said original image contained in said video data stream;
a camera having a device associated therewith for digitizing video data representing said original image and captured by said camera;
a computer coupled to said visual display and said digitizing device;
a first memory in the computer for storing the digitized original image from said video data stream;
said camera and digitizing device capturing and digitizing a second real-time video data stream containing data representing the original image;
a second memory in the computer for storing the digitized second real-time original image from said video data stream;
a third memory in the computer for storing program instructions for comparing the digitized second real-time original image with the stored original image to detect and separate foreground and background elements;
an alternate replacement background image stored at a fourth memory available to said stored program instructions for display on said visual display;
said second real-time original image being modified by the background elements thereof being replaced with the alternate replacement background image;
said camera and associated device capturing and digitizing said modified original image having the replacement background image; and
said program instructions comparing said modified original image with said stored original image to obtain only foreground elements and causing said foreground elements to be displayed upon the alternate replacement image to form the new image.
10. A computer memory product containing a program for causing real-time digital alteration of a video data stream from pixel receptors in a video camera that represents an original image by removing portions of the original image and substituting elements to create a new image, the program comprising the steps of:
causing video data in a first video data stream representing the original image to be stored in a first computer memory location;
causing a comparison of a real-time video data stream representing the original image having substitute portions added thereto with the stored original image to obtain only the substitute portions; and
controlling the computer in response to program instructions stored in the memory of the computer to cause a visual display of only the substitute portions of the original image upon an alternate replacement image to form a new image.
11. The program of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:
accessing a first set of data structures in the first memory location in the computer that stores digitized video signals that represent the original image carried by the first video data stream including variations in the dynamics of the original image lighting, motion, and variations in pixel signal values caused by the video camera pixel receptors;
accessing a second set of data structures in the computer memory that stores data that represents variations of the original image with substitute portions therein in a second real-time video data stream, variations in the dynamics of the lighting of the original image, motion, and the signal variations in pixel signal values for the second real time video data stream; and
controlling the computer to cause a comparison of the stored data from the second real-time video stream, including substitute portions, with the stored original image data to determine foreground and background elements.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to digital image processing and in particular to a system and method for altering a real time video data stream to remove portions of the original image and substitute elements to create a new image without using traditional blue screen techniques.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
In the motion picture and video industries two or more images are often combined into a single scene. For example, an image of a weatherman may be combined with another image of a weather map to show the weatherman standing in front of the map. This technique of combining images is primarily achieved through the use of a "blue screen" process in which one image is photographed against a solid blue background and the second image is substituted in place of that blue background. This substitution can be made electronically or through optical photographic techniques.
Various improvements have been made to the prior art "blue screen"process. U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,132 discloses a traveling matte process to create male or female mattes that can be altered or corrected frame-by-frame on a computer and that can be used to create special effects in conventional cinematography and video recordings without the need for a blue screen background. Further, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,432, a video difference key generator has a stored reference video image. An input video image is compared with the reference video image by an absolute difference circuit that subtracts different corresponding pixels of the two video images, the smaller from the larger to produce a difference video image. The difference video image may be filtered and then is input to a transfer function circuit to produce an output that may be used as a key signal for compositing video images.
There would be a significant advantage to these background replacement methodologies if the laborious and time-consuming functions could be performed in real-time, if analysis of video frames could provide greater understanding of the image composition within each video frame, and if the use of blue screen techniques could be avoided altogether.
The present invention simplifies the process of removing the background scene from a video image and replacing it with an alternate background. A simple PC computer can be utilized instead of the complex computer systems of the prior art. In the present invention, a series of video frames (or a single frame) produced by a stationary video camera are captured. These image(s) and their slight frame-to-frame variations, such as lighting, color, shadow, subtle movements, and the normal variations produced by the video camera itself are passed to the computer from the camera where they are analyzed by the software to produce a mathematical description of the video, in real-time, as it is captured by the computer.
The mathematical description of the captured video is then used to analyze new video segments of the same scene to determine if any changes to the scene have taken place. Elements of the new video that fall within a preset tolerance relative to the original mathematical description, are defined as background. Elements of the new video that fall outside the preset tolerance are defined as foreground and can be isolated from the background. This understanding and isolation of the different foreground and background video elements allow modifications to be made to the new video stream.
For example, the background can be changed to an entirely new image while the foreground remains unchanged. The background image may be one of a moving video, a bitmap, or animation as desired.
Thus, the functionality of traditional blue screen processes are achieved without using a blue screen.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to remove the background image from a live video scene, in real-time, through the use of a software-only programming mechanism that employs a mathematical description of the elements of the live video scene and which does not employ traditional blue screen processes, and replaces the background image, in real-time, with an alternate background image including the original foreground elements.
Thus, the present invention relates to a method of digitally altering, in real-time, a live video scene, with a computer system having a memory, a visual display, and a stationary video camera connected to the computer such that the video signals from the camera pass to the computer where an altered video scene is formed. This is performed by first digitally capturing and then mathematically describing one or several frames of the live video scene, referred hereinafter as the "reference view", in a first data structure in memory. Next, each subsequent frame from the live video scene is digitized and captured by the computer, with each new frame mathematically described by the software and stored in a second data structure in memory. In real-time these first and second data structures are compared using multiple signal-noise processing algorithms, available to anyone sufficiently skilled in the art, and the background image of the reference view is mathematically removed from the newly captured frame. Additionally, at this stage, given that a mathematical description of a different background image in a third data structure in memory is available, such as recorded video, a bitmap, or animation, it may be substituted into the second data structure in place of the removed background image of the reference view thereby creating a new mathematical description of the digitized frame. Finally, the mathematical description of the frame is converted back into a video signal and displayed on the visual display, or transferred to any suitable destination such as a video-conferencing participant or a capture file. Thus, the output from this process gives the appearance that any foreground elements in the original video scene (the reference view) are now superimposed on a different background creating a new image.
These and other features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed when taken in conjunction with the following DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS in which like numerals represent like elements and in which:
FIGS. 1(A)-(D) are representations of the display screen when it shows the reference view, the black (empty) screen it presents when the reference view has been mathematically removed, the black screen with new foreground elements detected, and a replacement view substituted for the reference view with the previous foreground elements forming a new image;
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the maimer in which the screens in FIG. 1 are obtained;
FIG. 3 is a representation of the mathematical boolean exclusive-OR operation that matches duplicate bit values between two matching sets of boolean data and which represents a reference view stored in standard digital data format with the reference view then being digitally compared to data representing the live video scene to leave only data that is not present in both scenes; and
FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the novel steps of the present invention.
FIGS. 1(A)-(D) represent the basic steps in the novel process of the present invention. In FIG. 1(A) a reference view is captured and displayed on the computer's visual display. A reference view is defined as a mathematical description of a finite sequence of digitized video frames that is stored in a data structure in a computer memory location. It is used as the representative video scene for the separation of foreground and background elements from subsequently captured digital video frames. A reference view can be comprised of one or many digitized video frames depending upon the algorithm chosen.
Subsequent video scenes of the same view are mathematically removed from each captured frame by making comparisons against the reference view. Adjustments are made to the algorithm's parameters (either manually or automatically by the software) until the display screen is entirely empty (the color black was chosen in this case but it could have easily been white or any color) signifying complete removal in real-time of the reference view from the digitized video stream as illustrated in FIG. 1(B).
The display screen shown in FIG. 1(C) demonstrates the effect achieved when a person moves into the scene as captured by the video camera. Since the person was not a part of the reference view, he is considered by the software process a foreground element and appears superimposed in front of the black background. All of the scene, except for the person, is being mathematically removed from the digitized video stream in real-time by the software.
FIG. 1(D) demonstrates the ability to replace the removed reference view with an alternate view. A computer graphic, animation, or video may be digitally substituted for the reference view giving the appearance the person is in front of the alternate view. Thus the results shown in FIG. 1(D) demonstrate how foreground and background elements have been digitally rearranged resulting in a new image.
FIG. 2 illustrates the apparatus of the present invention for creating the new image. The reference view 10 includes a desk 12 and a chair 14 defined as the visual image captured by the camera 16. The reference view should be free of unnecessary motion and should be illuminated by stable and strong overall lighting for the best effect.
The camera 16 must be mounted in a stable position and is connected to a personal computer 18. The personal computer 18 will include the appropriate video software and hardware required by the camera when it is installed and operational. Video software can include operating system video drivers, compressors, decompressors, and applications of software such as video conferencing or video editing software. The personal computer 18 digitizes the captured reference view, stores it in a first location of its memory schematically represented by unit 19 and displays it. The personal computer 18 contains a software system running in its random access memory (also represented schematically by unit 19). The software system captures the video signal from camera 16 as each frame that is indicated to be part of the reference view appears. The subsequent frames are captured as indicated by reference numeral 20. To achieve superior results, the scene being viewed by the camera 16 should be reasonably free of movement and well lighted. The reference phase 20 of the software builds a set of data structures, easily understood by anyone sufficiently skilled in the art, containing values that represent the scene, the dynamics of the lighting, and variations in the pixel values caused by the camera receptors. The reference phase is adjustable to allow for optimum rendering of the scene. The reference scene 10 is displayed on the computer's monitor 22 to allow for easy adjustments by the operator. The software also allows for automatic adjustment. Phase 24 represents the removal phase of the software system that mathematically removes the reference view from the captured video signal, thus leaving an empty view 27 (represented here by the color black) on the computer's monitor 22. The removal phase requires processing by multiple passes of signal-noise processing algorithms (well known in the art) against the data representing each captured frame of the video scene to create a visually acceptable empty view 27. "Visually acceptable" is defined as a solid unwavering single color (black was chosen here) video image.
The replacement phase 28 of the software allows the replacement, in real-time, of an alternative background image onto the resultant video signal. The replacement scene 32 is also stored in another computer memory location also represented schematically by unit 19 and can be a moving video, a bitmap, or animation. Any type of visual image or set of images can be placed on the empty view. The replacement image is mapped pixel-by-pixel to the empty pixels left when the reference view was removed. Since the pixels map from an identical coordinate system to the reference view, the replacement image is displayed as would be expected. The new replacement scene 32 is then displayed on the computer monitor 22 as shown.
The operator 34 now enters the camera's view adding a new element to the captured video scene 33. The video scene is captured by the same camera 16. The incoming video signal representing the video scene 33 is stored in another computer memory location in unit 19 and is displayed on monitor 22 of computer 18. That signal passes to the matting phase as depicted by the numeral 40 and is processed such that only the mathematical difference, within adjustable tolerances, between the live scene 33 and the original reference view 10 (in this case, the person 34) is displayed upon the replacement view 32 transforming it into the new image. The new image shown on display monitor 22 includes the alternate scene 32 and the added person 34. Best results are achieved if the operator is not wearing colors that correspond directly to colors that are directly posterior in the reference view 10. The result is similar to the blue-screen processes and can cause a bleed-through effect. Unlike blue-screen processes, however, certain parameters within the software (since it has an understanding of the visual elements within the scene) can account for a percentage of the bleed-through effect and remove it.
As stated earlier, alternate scenes that can replace the reference view are easily swapped in and out of the video stream. The process scales quite well to color video, although there is a correspondingly larger demand on the central processing unit of the PC, due to the greater data requirements of color. A moving video background may be replaced into the live video screen giving the appearance of an office meeting.
FIG. 3 illustrates a simplistic boolean exclusive-OR arrangement, known to anyone skilled in the art, that matches duplicate bit values between two matching sets of binary data and which is conceptually utilized in the present process to obtain an empty view. Consider the eight bits of row A to be the stored reference view and the eight bits of row B to be a captured frame from the subsequently captured incoming video. If the eight bits of row B were identical to the eight bits of row A and they were subject to an exclusive-OR operation, the output would be all zeros or an empty frame would be generated. Given that row B illustrates the eight bits of the video scene 33 as shown in FIG. 2 and displayed on computer display 22, by performing an exclusive-OR operation between rows A and B, row C is obtained. Note the only data shown exists where there has been a change in the video scene compared to the reference view. Thus, the only information that is displayed 1is the change in data represented by bits 3, 5, and 8.
Thus, summarizing, the reference view is captured in row A and stored in standard digital data format. It is then subject to an exclusive-OR operation to data representing a live video scene of the same view and shown in row B. The common data present in both scenes then can be subtracted out of each frame of the live video. In a perfect world, this would be the only operation necessary to achieve a perfect matting effect. However, in reality, an entire series of advanced signal-noise processing algorithms must be applied against the data multiple times to achieve this separation of foreground and background elements due to variances in lighting and shadows over time, subtle movements in the reference view, and the digital quantification effects of the CCD video camera on pixels between successive frames. The iterative use of such series of algorithms is well known to those skilled in the art.
FIG. 4 illustrates the novel process of the present invention. Thus, the process starts at step 46. At step 48, data representing live video is routed from an input device such as a video camera into a computational device such as a PC. Within the PC, it is converted into a digital representation of the analog data (if that has not already been performed by the camera) and moved into a representative data structure at a memory store. This is the reference view that is captured.
At step 50, a decision step, it is determined if the proper scene is captured. If not, the process is routed at 52 back to step 48 until the proper scene is captured. This is visually determined by the operator of the software.
When the proper scene has been captured, at step 54, using the data from the reference view initially stored at step 48, a series of algorithms are applied against digitized captured frames from the current video feed. The algorithms attempt to match the chrominance and luminance values for pixels in corresponding positions within each frame to the corresponding chrominance and luminance pixels initially stored as the reference view in step 48. When a match is determined, this pixel position within the frame is marked as empty.
Due to variances in lighting, shadows, movement, and the quantification effect when analog data is converted to digital data, the pixels corresponding to the same view within subsequent frames can vary in their values. Thus, data structures representing all this information are created and maintained by the software within memory. Subsequently, sophisticated, well-known signal-processing algorithms, or "filters", are applied against the incoming video data to accurately identify pixels as matching between frames and thus marking them as empty In this manner the reference view captured at step 48 is eliminated from the captured video scene. This process is repeated for every captured frame of incoming video data. At decision step 56, it is determined if the reference view is completely removed from the captured video. The degree of background removal can be adjusted manually or automatically by the software to remove the maximum amount of the reference view from the current video feed. If the scene is not completely removed, the process reverts along 58 back to step 54. If the reference view is sufficiently removed as determined by the software or the operator, the process moves at 60 to step 64 where the scene is varied as by a user entering the video camera's view. Typically in this step, a person (referred to in the production industry as "talent") enters the scene being captured by the video camera. Since the talent pixel data is not a part of the reference view, the software recognizes that the talent pixel values do not match the original pixel values and considers them foreground elements. The talent pixels are not removed and subsequently appear within an empty frame of video as shown in FIG. 1(C). At step 66, additional signal-noise processing algorithms may be applied against the captured video feed to enhance the image of the talent or "hero" in the empty frame as shown in FIG. 1(C). These filters may be quite sophisticated. For example. if the talent's tie matches the color of the background in the reference view shown in FIG. 1(A), "bleed-through" is observed. However, with an appropriate filtering algorithm applied, sophisticated guesses can be made by the software to exclude the tie from being marked as empty (since it matches the pixel data of the reference view directly posterior to the tie) based on the fact that it is surrounded by foreground elements. This is an important feature that traditional broadcast technology, such as chroma-key and ultimate cannot achieve. The implementation of these filters may be done manually or automatically by the software.
At step 68, if the image of the talent is acceptable, the process moves to step 72. If not, it reverts at 70 back to step 66 where the filters continue to be manipulated until the talent is properly displayed at step 68.
When the talent is properly displayed at step 68, the process moves to step 72 where an alternate background can now be substituted for the empty portions of the video scene. This new image may be any graphical image capable of being represented digitally within a computer system and will create the illusion that the talent is now in front of the new background. The substitution of the new image is achieved by replacing the corresponding empty pixels with the corresponding pixels of the new image on a frame-by-frame basis. Using this technique, if the talent moves, he will appear to be moving in front of the new background. The background may be a pre-recorded video which can be manipulated frame-by-frame. This gives the effect of the talent in front of a moving background.
If the session is complete at step 74, the process stops at step 78. If the session is not complete, the process moves at 76, back to step 72.
Thus, there has been disclosed a novel system which allows the real-time replacement of the designated background portion of an incoming video signal with an alternative background. The system utilizes the actual background image of the reference view as the basis of creating a new video image with the end result being comparable to traditional blue-screen processes, such as chroma-key and ultimate technology, but requiring only a personal computer, video camera, and the software. In this case, however, the background image can be any reasonably static scene with a sufficient and stable light source captured by the video camera. The video stream is modified in real-time and then is passed on to its original destination.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.
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