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JOHNSTOWN - With 1:50 remaining in the first half of Saturday's Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference girls championship game between Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic and Westmont Hilltop, the Lady Hilltoppers had played an even game with the Lady Marauders with the game tied, 11-11.
Westmont then missed the front end of two one-and-one opportunities and committed a turnover in its final three possessions of the half that proved to be costly as Bishop Guilfoyle went on to defeat Westmont Hilltop, 42-28, at the Richland Sports Center.
Guilfoyle's Brittany Boslet hit a baseline jumper after the first one-and-one miss, Elyssa Ehredt made two free throws off of the second miss and followed up with a layup after the final turnover as the Lady Marauders escaped with a six-point lead at the break.
"We got off to a rugged start with Kayla [Bates] picking up two fouls," Bishop Guilfoyle coach Mark Moschella said. "It knocked us back a couple steps until we could regroup."
Guilfoyle (21-2) struggled from the field in the first half, as Moschella credited the Lady Hilltoppers (19-4).
"We came in tonight to play a good team," Moschella said. "Westmont had a lot to do with us not shooting well."
The Lady Marauders were also battling some issues off of the court, with Bates and Halee Adams not at full strength.
"Kayla had a viral infection and wasn't able to practice [this week]," Moschella said. "Halee was also trying to overcome some pain she's having in her knee."
"We didn't take advantage in the first half with Bates in foul trouble," Westmont Hilltop coach Jodi Hillegass said. "Adams wasn't playing much either, and we missed some key one-and-ones."
After scoring six straight to end the first half, the Lady Marauders carried that momentum into the second half.
BG outscored Westmont in the third quarter, 15-6, with Adams starting and scoring eight of her nine points in the frame.
"We became more patient [in the third quarter]," Moschella said. "We started running our offense and endured more success with our shooting percentage."
Ehredt led Guilfoyle with 10 points, Adams finished with nine, and Devin Stessney chipped in eight.
"They don't make many mistakes," Hillegass said. "They are seasoned and play a solid consistent game with all of their seniors playing together for years."
While the Guilfoyle offense was suspect to start, its defensive effort put it in position to succeed once again.
"They play tough man-to-man defense," Hillegass said. "They took us out of our rhythm."
Westmont's bright spot was senior guard Erin Rodgers, who had a game-high 17 points, scoring 13 of the Lady Hilltoppers' 17 second-half points.
The Lady Marauder third quarter gave them a 15-point lead with a quarter to play, as they cruised to their third LHAC championship in four years, while Westmont has lost in the final the last three years.
"I feel great for the senior group," Moschella said. "I feel we can grow from this and go into the playoffs with a good head of steam."
Guilfoyle will wait to see who it will play in the District 6-A quarterfinals, as it faces the winner of Williamsburg and United, which will be played on Monday.
BISHOP GUILFOYLE (42): Craig 1 0-0 2, Boslet 1 1-3 3, Stessney 1 5-6 8, Adams 4 1-2 9, Ehredt 4 2-2 10, Miller 1 4-6 6, Bates 1 1-3 3, McGhee 0 1-2 1, Luciano 0 0-0 0. Totals - 13 14-22 42.
WESTMONT HILLTOP (28): Rodgers 6 2-2 17, Lamberson 3 0-1 7, Miller 1 0-0 2, Roper 1 0-1 2, Sheehan 0 0-2 0, Moyer 0 0-0 0, Hoover 0 0-0 0, Flick 0 0-0 0, Zolnosky 0 0-0 0. Totals - 11 2-6 28.
Bishop Guilfoyle9 8 15 10 - 42
Westmont Hilltop4 7 6 11 - 28
3-point goals: Bishop Guilfoyle 1 (Stessney); Westmont Hilltop 2 (Rodgers, Lamberson).
Records: Bishop Guilfoyle (21-2); Westmont Hilltop (19-4).


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Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Cake Mix Blondies with Maple Butter Sauce
38 comments :
Who doesn't cheat from time to time?! I always keep a few boxed mixes on hand because you can whip up just about anything with them. My favorite to keep around is the Betty Crocker Pound Cake Mix.ReplyDelete
Wow this looks amazing! And a perfect quick dessert, we all have those days where cooking from scratch is just definitely not going to happen. But with a delicious blondie like this who cares!ReplyDelete
This is too funny, because just a couple nights ago my husband and I were talking about how I wished I had a good blondie recipe!?! (I've never made them...) Whaala! Here it is! Thanks so much for baking this and sharing with us. There's no shame in box mix! Just means I'll make it more often. :)ReplyDelete
This looks alot like that dessert at Applebee's that they serve on a sizzling plate. That's our favorite dessert there. Definitely trying this. It's a big pro to me that it uses a mix!ReplyDelete
I order a dessert similiar to this every time I go to Applebee's. Now I can make this at home without the sizzling plate. What a great recipe and the shortcuts make it more appealing. I can't wait to try this sometime.ReplyDelete
Wow...they look really tempting and yummy..ReplyDelete
Thanks for the recipe dear...
Brandie -- this looks DEVINE :)ReplyDelete
Being a grown up is too much work sometimes! We all need shortcuts! These look great!ReplyDelete
That looks great! and super easy to make :)ReplyDelete
Man, these sound amazing! I'm a sucker for white chocolate :) And who doesn't love a shortcut?ReplyDelete
The Applebee's dessert is one of my husband's favorites.It will score me big "blondie" points if I can make this at home.ReplyDelete
It would be great to make a batch of these to freeze and pull out for dessert quickly. Do you think the sauce would freeze with good results, or would it seperate and get watery?
Holy frekkin moly Brandie!! This is amazing....I am pretty much in love with that maple butter sauce!ReplyDelete
Boxed mix or not, these look ah-mazing!ReplyDelete
Hey, no shame in using a box mix! Especially when you jazz it up with that amazing maple butter sauce!ReplyDelete
LOVE IT!! I think there is a reason they still make box cake mixes & it is SO I CAN USE THEM!! I will be trying this one soon. Thanks for the great recipes! p.s. i will be using the "chubby hand" in mine also! :)ReplyDelete
Wow these blondies look fabulous! I love the addition of the white chocolate chips and that maple butter sauce is making my mouth water!ReplyDelete
Looks delicious. What a great fall dessert!ReplyDelete
this is my moms absolute favorite! I cant wait to surprise her with this!ReplyDelete
I am quickly becoming a fan of these shortcut recipes. They are just as good (if not even better) than the long versions but sooooo much easier! This blondie recipe looks so good!ReplyDelete
Sometimes there is nothing like a shortcut. I love white chocolate and my tastebuds are doing the happy dance just looking at these.ReplyDelete
I'm a lazy baker myself. Yesterday I made brownie cupcakes that Giada made, starting from a box. So . . . good enough for her, great for me.ReplyDelete
So many of the recipes uyou make are similar to the ones the familt always make. I like them all. I don't remember who pointed me in your direction, but glad I listened. Thanks for the chance to win all your recipes.ReplyDelete
I'm right there with you...standing in line to purchase a cake mix that can make baking soooo much easier. *_* These sound amazing - would be awesome to serve to company I'm sure. You can never go wrong with sweetened condensed milk! MMM!ReplyDelete
Brandie, that looks really yummy! ANd I can be a really lazy baker too! I love yummy shortcut recipes!ReplyDelete
These blondies look delish. Everybody can use a shortcut from time to time. Your pics are gorgeous.
Have a great weekend!
Brandie, these look amazing! Why bother with baking from scratch when you make something this delicious so easily. I'm sold. In fact, I'm pinning it to make for the family. They will LOVE it. Thanks for sharing your recipe and have a great weekend!ReplyDelete
I love blondies and the maple sauce sounds delicious. I'd like to invite you to share your recipe on Sweet Indulgences Sunday.ReplyDelete
Looks delicious... I'm excited to try it!ReplyDelete
Too easy and too delish! I love the sauce idea.ReplyDelete
This looks so sinful! I almost licked my computer screen.ReplyDelete
YUMMY! I have to pin this!ReplyDelete
Oh, YUM! I just pinned this! Thank you for sharing this!ReplyDelete
This may be a lazy baker recipe but the idea to pair blondies with a maple butter sauce sounds like a serious treat!!!ReplyDelete
hello I was wondering there are a couple of different sized condensed milk cans what size?ReplyDelete
Yes, I just commented on the awesome mac and cheese recipe :) however, I also made this for dessert yesterday and loved it!! It's better than Applebee's and much cheaper!! Maybe you could just plan my dinner menu... just a thought.... :-)ReplyDelete
Awww shucks - thank you! Applebee's was my inspiration but I also wanted to keep it easy! So glad you liked it!!ReplyDelete
Mmm...made these last night. The group loved them! Thanks! I LOVE this blog!ReplyDelete
Is this recipe with the newer smaller cake mixes? I love using cake mix recipes but I always ask as some are written for the 18+ Oz mixes but are only like 15 Oz now. Thank you. :-)ReplyDelete

subset: commoncrawl


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Sony NEX-5 Review
Latest Camera Reviews
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80 Review
Your Comments
135 Comments | Newest Oldest First | Post a Comment
Even though this camera isn't for me, I'm glad to see that there are more choices becoming available to the consumer. I really like the mirror-less design of the four-thirds and EVIL formats but unfortunately I don't want to have to deal with replaceable lenses. A small zoom with a big sensor,a relatively affordable price (cheaper than Sigma's point and shoots), and something small enough to fit in a pocket is what I'm waiting for.
Thanks for the review!
I really love the simple "basic" design of the NEX-5. While much others say it looks awkward with the big lens and the tiny body I think it's interesting, and the idea to use a standard "compact camera"-design in a system camera is what I looked for.
Also the interface seems to fit my needs. But is the picture quality good enough to justify an upgrade from an Canon IXUS 210?
Thanks for your replies!
"First off, the rectangular body shape and blocky grip looked to our eyes closer to the austere 'built in a Russian tractor factory' style of Ricoh's GXR system camera than the immediately appealing retro finesse of an Olympus Pen, or modernist rubber clad curves of the Panasonic G series." - That must be one of the best reviews sentences around PB ...
I think this camera is at the too small point… if one fits a bigger zoom/tele lens he/she has to hold the lens and not the camera.. :/
Overall i think it's an impressive little camera, but with m43 settled in this segment of cameras it would only please to those that want a smaller camera… but then, a premium compact would make more sense…
Has anyone tried to reduce the in camera sharpening to allow for less soft photos? Or shot in raw and see the result? the soft pics is strange and it may not be the lens but aggressive in camera processing
I am looking to buy a new camera; superzoom or DSLR, I am undecided as yet. However my local specialist camera shop does not stock Sony cameras because from their experience, Sony back up and support service is not good enough. Has anyone out there had this problem?
My Tz"s yes, my g9 yes, Ep1l yes, this is image quality from a ?what? size sensor?
Yep, Zeb, it's a fine and wonderful sentence and a credit to its author. However, as a former newspaper sub-editor and photographer, one has to ask: What does it mean? And I take it that the Panasonic G series has "rubber-clad" curves, as opposed to rubber clad curves? What is a clad on its own and does the possession of one improve one's photography?
Seriously, I find this camera interesting. I see nothing wrong with using a lens as a camera. Back to basics, really.
Small interchangeable lens cameras are great, but there has to be balance i think between the size of the lens and the camera body.
Its nice to have a tiny camera body but with a hulking big lens on the front the overall sze is bulky, and one would think a bit hard to handle??
Either much smaller lenses or a relative sized body packing in more and more things would be the way to go. Sometimes smaller isnt necessarily better…....
Here it is sold for 1100 dollars with standard lens. shall i buy it ? is it good?
Francoise @9
Where is "here"? America, Europe? Asia?
As a professional photographer, I find this camera interesting. (I began my photographic career on a newspaper, in the mid-1960s. We used Leicas, then Nikons.)
Should you buy it? That depends on your knowledge. What do you wish to photograph and for what purpose? If you are serious about photography, it's certainly an option to be considered. But first, learn the basics of photography. That is, aperture, shutter speed. Light. Get that right and pretty much any camera will do ...
I like the concept of this camera for two main reasons.
1. Its design recognizes the technical fact that photography is all about lenses - and the operator's eye.
2. It does RAW. The digital negative. And the electronics have been shrunk. It is, I gather, strong. It is approaching my ideal digital camera - small, strong metal box, FF sensor, optical viewfinder, no crap like "face detect" or "smile" mode. In fact, no modes. Just full manual, shutter priority or aperture priority. Powered by readily available AA batteries.
Come to think of it, the new Samsung EX1 almost fits this bill ... but has yet to be proved in the field.
Looks like an interesting camera. Anyone purchased one of these in Australia yet, and if so for what price?
Unless you're looking for the smallest body possible for an interchangeable lens camera, there are better things, or at least more mature… (for example, micro four thirds cameras)
Also, like Tony said, don't expect to use it to its best without knowing the basics…
Jezza @8
Hmmmm. I take your point, but it depends on whether one needs a camera to take photographs - in all conditions - and be paid for it? Or is a camera simply a fashion accessory to be shown off at the local coffee parlour?
I want a simple, strong box full of durable, no-frills electronics that will accept a good lens. Preferably Nikon. And an optical viewfinder. A must.
I've lugged too many heavy Nikon film cameras to not welcome the electronic revolution. But I want it light, strong, reliable - in all conditions.
The manufacturers of cameras are slowly getting it right, but I will wait for about another five years. By that time, maybe Leica will come to its senses ...
I have used the Panasonic GH1 with it's super zoom HD lens for 12 months now It is the best that micro 4/3rds have to offer and a great camera.
But my new Sony Nex 5 beats it hands down in most respects - but in particular low light video and stills - a key weakness of all the Panasonic G cameras.
I find the Sony menu system very pragmatic and easy to use for a pro-sumer. My DSLR is history now as I finally have a portable camera that I can rely on.
I just bought this camera (NEX 5) and I love it. I'm glad I didn't listen to many of the negative reviews. The menus are fast and easy to get to. The camera takes fantastic photos with amazing video.
I also have the Panasonic GF1 so now I can alternate between them.
I think Sony has done a great job with this camera.
I purchased an NEX-5 about 4 weeks ago. Initially the battery life was shocking (it seemed to be processing even when turned off). A firmware upgrade to V.02 resolved the problem and since then I have been absolutely delighted with the NEX-5. I own a Nikon D700 which, although I love, is just too big and heavy for every day use. The Sony has produced some cracking shots so far - a compact camera with an APS-C sized sensor is what I have been waiting for. As a previous Song F717 owner, finally we have a true successor. Many reviews comment the menu system is clunky, but apart from a couple of extra clicks to change ISO, everything is very well laid out and intuitive.. Quite a few reviews have moaned the defocus option is dumbing down - but is it? After all, changing the aperture does just that, whats wrong with making it more accessible to people who really cannot get their head around aperture and f stops? Final word on the screen, I was a bit concerned about battery drain and ability to see the screen in sunlight, especially as all the controls are soft and changed via the wheel/screen and not hardware buttons. Having fixed the battery life bug, I've not had any problems, the screen is bright and gorgeous in daylight!
I am still getting used to the size and quality of my nex-5 w/16mm lens but so far I'm impressed. Does anyone have a suggestion for a camera bag small enough that this camera won't rattle around inside it? I've seen the form fitting leather ones, but want a bag that will fit a couple of accessories too.
Hi, has anyone had printed the stitched pics. the nex5 takes, does it cost more to print, does it take ages to download these shots from the camera?
I have always been a NIKON fan and use my D300 and D80 all the time with mutliple lenses and love them. Bought the NEX-5 with the 18-55mm kit lens a month ago and took a 10 day trip to Italy and forced myself to take just one camera. The NEX-5 produced some of the best pics I have ever taken and I was blown away by the results. I purchased a second battery and the optical eyepiece and spent time in Rome, Florence and Venice and took over 2,000 pics. I am having trouble deciding which ones to process as they are so good. If price is not an issue to you, take the plunge, spend time learning the menu system (not that bad actually) and don't look back. You won't regret it.
Thanks Tony, I also have Nikon D80 plus Sony Cybershot. I hope to go a cruise to Egypt next year and didn't want to carry D80 but find screen of the Sony difficult to see in bright sun. I hoped Nex-5 would be good for bright sun withought using an eyepiece. My other Sony has one but I find it difficult to see with as my eyesight could be better. I see you bought an eyepiece, did you have problems seeing the screen when you were away?
Hi Avril:
I bought the eyepiece just because I was worried about the screen in bright light. I shouldn't have bothered, since the screen was perfect at all times, even in very bright sun. Keep in mind that the screen tilts so you can always find the right angle to block birght lights.
The eyepiece is also optical and not electronic, so it does not give the "through the lens" view like a regular DSL and in some instances, especially when using the lens at it's longest telephoto setting, my pictures were not composed properly. I found that I stopped using it almost immediately and now just keep the flash gun permanently attached (which makes the camera look kinda cool). Hope this helps.
Hi Tony, many thanks for all your help, I will probably buy the NEX5 now as you've answered all the querys I had. I might wait untill nearer the end of the year to see if the price comes down a bit tho. I'm looking forward to trying out the stitching feature in Egypt. Happy snapping
Avril x
Hi Avril:
The stitch feature works very well for static pictures like landscapes and buildings and streetscapes,etc. It's not so good if there are people or vehicles in the scene if they are moving. You get some interesting results - three legged people, or headless people, etc. Other than that it's a fantastic feature. Good luck.
i'll probably wait for the next generation of this line.. NEX-? something…
Heads up! Sony's NEX7 (Improved but, More costly) and the NEX10 (Full HD Camcorder) are just around the corner….
This camera seems very interesting but I have been wondering if the fact that the 16mm pancake lens wasn't stabilised (as opposed to the other lenses) prestented any problems (blurry pictures…)?
Well reading the comments I think im decided…
I was going to buy the DSC HX5 as I was hooked on the sweep panorama.Also I was going to get a camcorder to accompany the camera but then saw reviews on the NEX5 Im gonna just put the money towards this camera instaed of a camcorder as well…Is this wise?? Also im just your usual holiday snapper who wanted something different just didn't want the large DSLR's
hi michael. u said u have Gf1 and NEX5. which one do u prefer? which camera can produce better quality pictures. i am dilemma in chosing between these two cameras. thanks bro =)
Thanks for posting the nice info of Sony NEX-5
I like the blog . Thanks
Can you get an GPS accessory for the NEX5 for geotagging photos? Anyone know?
I noticed that the camera gets warm. Is this normal? Thanks.
All, after reading the review, where it questioned the image quality, I want to thank those who have commented on real life experience. Interestingly, the Photo Blog reviewers gave all the M43 products in the same price range higher image ratings, even though the sensors are so much smaller.
After getting your feedback I think they should try again!
"I think this camera is at the too small point… if one fits a bigger zoom/tele lens he/she has to hold the lens and not the camera.. :/"
Don't most cameras with a longer barrel have you supporting the lens?
I am not sure what your beef is.
Indeed I bough a Nex5 and am quite impressed, better than the 4/3 olympus we have. Night shots especially awesome. The low noise level is good to see. The bigger sensor is definately an huge advantage over 4/3, you can see it instantly in the pictures.
The latest firmware, v3, fixes a lot of the GUI complaints, it cannot get much simpler.
And it is in between basic snap shots and professional, it's somewhere in the middle ground, so you can only compare to it's near rivals. And on that score, for price to performance, it wins hands down.
People who make comments about holding the lens barrel maybe have not used an SLR… but really, I am not sure it's fair to compare to 2000 dollar SLRs at all.
It's an advanced/high end compact. It nears the SLR and betters some of the lower end ones.
It's not fair to expect much more at the price level.
Pretty new to this. Would a Nex 5 work well with a Zeiss 35mm 2.0 rangefinder lens and adapter? I'm thinking primarily for travel.
The review states that putting on the flash is difficult because of access to the screw. I thought this too at first until I found the back access hatch on the flash that totally exposes the screw and makes it simple.
With the v3 firmware, having soft button customization is awesomel now having direct access to iso and setting the features I want makes this camera a much better camera control wise.
It's awesome they are offering both lens in a deal now, and with a md/mc adapter there are a lot of very cheap options for used glass to expand the camera.
Excellent pictures with the 18-55 model SEL 1855 lens. 3meg minimum resolution is ok for casual shooting. BUT the camera is not well backed up by Sony yet. It is too new. I lost my flash on the first day I received it, October 2nd, 2010, and to this date October 22, Sony cannot provide this flash through any of its outlets, SonyStyle, Sony Parts, or dealers. More so, there are no compatible flash units in the market. So, if you need a larger flash, forget it. It is shameful that Sony can put such a fine camera in the market without proper backup. I would NOT purchase this camera until full back up is available through Sony or through dealers
Well,How boring can people be on such things that DON'T matter.I purchased a Lumix G1 Panasonicin Feb2010.Not a patch on this NEX5.Night time shots fantastic,easy to follow menu(hardly looked at instruction book )and are people so weak that they can't put another hand up to the lens!I think it looks great and certainly people do ask "what sort of camera is that ?"
I agree with the back up comment I have ordered the 200mm lens and have now waited two months.i am Uk based but was in Switzerland recently and no shortage of them there.Looks like the UK really has lost the plot.But seriously anyone want a G1 Panasonic cheap !
D3100 or nex5, what would you say?
sorry bob what is a D3100
I think he means Nikon D3100 ... it is a different equipment all together…
NEX5 sensor seems to be a bit better (i would say a stop of advantage), but the ergonomics and other features kinda make it bad… personally i would go for a Nikon as the smallest body my hands can have is a G1/2/10/GH1/2 body size… smaller than that and i'll be pressing lots of buttons by accident :/
Lens might be another pressing issue… and flash unit…
On a side note, and being totally honest, i kinda dislike sony stuff, so i may be biased to Nikon (or any other) from the start…
I am not a professional but on thing I do know is that very often with any hobby/sport you will end up with more than one item.I shoot in the field and over clays and have five different guns ! maybe that awnswers some questions of the readers!!
Gareth FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Understand where you are coming from - but the whole point is that people cannot afford or do not need 5 cameras.
I had several guns, until I realised that my Beretta Ultralight was the perfect gun for me. Sure there are compromises, but it is a great, small light gun for the field but very capable in all uses except where you need magnum cartridges.
Same is true of the Nex-5. If you want a small but capable SLR-type camera with interchangeable lenses - it is very hard to beat. The Lumix series are OK, but in low light they are a disaster, especially on video - the Nex-5 has no such compromises, indeed it is better than many traditional SLR's.
I am no Sony fan - this is the first Sony product that has impressed me - OK the menu is not everyone's taste because it is different - but I find it quick and easy to use - others will hate it.
As they say - the best camera is the one you have with you - that means my best camera is my iPhone 4 (and it is great for 720p video and non-moving subjects), but the Nex-5 is small enough to be there a lot of the time. The Lumix GH1 will be in the cupboard at home along with all the other big clunky stuff.
Yep, Nex-5 also impressed me in image quality, not so much in video…
"The best camera is the one you have with you" .... that's why i carry the GH1 + 14-140mm in a single small bag (it's a bag for a bridge camera, it even has the picture of a Canon SX20 on the paper) everywhere i go - one camera, one bag, most of my needs are filled ;)
But yes… currently mobile phones with camera are everywhere and are more than enough to grab nice mementos and many people want a camera just for that, rarely printing those or requiring lots of quality…
I can't understand why you say GH1 is a disaster in low light videos (perhaps G2 or G10 doesn't work as well), sure, NEX-5 has less noise, but saying it's a disaster…
I would add to that and say: the right camera for you is the one that more closely fill your needs ... so being a mobile phone or a medium format camera, if it works for you… get it!
I had exactly the same as you - GH1 + 14-140 - and as a camera it was a great replacement and improvement on my Nikon. But at dusk, the video was unusable - the stills were too noisy - the Nikon was better.
The Nex-5 changed all that, performing very well at dusk and even darker. This was a big issue for me.
The GH1 is still to big to fit in a coat pocket - so a smaller, lighter and cheaper camera that outperforms is too good to pass up.
I sold my GH1 for 400 more than I paid for the Nex-5 - good deal and I am pleased with the outcome.
Thanks Peter you talk sense.no one has picked up on my comment of not being able to get the 200mm lens Iv'e had one on order from Jessops for about to months.They say it is still being made!!...I was in Switzerland recently and a photo shop in Basel had them in stock so should have got one then.The other point I would like to make is the price of the case for the Nex-5 £80 + or so what a joke.
This review is far olympus pen oriented! I really feel that who wrote this review, already had his opinion before trying NEX-5 and "just" did his job, well, i won't criticize it, but not impartially/ neutrally.
I just bought one NEX-5 and I have to say that the camera's manufacturing quality is amazing, much above the standard (the body is in Magensium alloy! Not Chinese made plastic like the most!!). how can you give only 3.5 for the design!?
The APS-C sensor gives you a low light sensitivity that any micro 4/3 won't never be able to give… image quality is amazing, FULL HD videos are awesome… Up to now only pros, no conservatives. I really recommend this camera to everybody. When you need AUTO mode the camera does his job very well, when you want to play around with the manual settings you can change everything you wish. Well done SONY, brilliant product !
I am going on African Safari next year. I 'm hoping to capture some amazing shots of wild life, I've never handled anything beyond your normal point and shoot camera costing less that £90.
I was contemplating getting a canon D500 (which I now find too bulky and would like to travel on the light side), until I saw this - I like the size and it fits my budget. But would it give me quality shots for moving wild life and at a distance. My knowledge of cameras is next to nothing pse help!
Buy the kit option with two lenses if you can - the 16mm equates to a 24mm wide angle on a 35mm full frame - stop it down to f8 and you will get some of the sharpest images you have ever seen from a Digital camera, let alone a compact!
I think a 16-105mm zoom would be a good one for Sony to bring out - the 18-55mm zoom is just a little too short at the telephoto end - Image quality from the 18-55mm zoom is not brilliant at full aperture, but perks up remarkably around f5.6/f6.3
If you're having problems with battery life - upgrade the firmware to Sony's latest version, it makes a big difference!
As of today Sony has not made the flash for the Nex-5 available for sale. I ordered one on October 2nd and am still waiting. My new camera has not had a flash unit since I bought it. I am patient but Sony could and should do a better job at making these indispensable parts available sooner.
No flash? Mine came in the box with my Nex-5. You should check back with your dealer or Sony direct in your area.
The flash was supplied with my 'kit' Nex-5 and it is listed as being part of the kit - in the UK the flash is supplied with th eNex-5 wether ort not you buy the single lens option or the dual lens option kit.
How did you get the sample images that goes beyond 55mm? The lens of the unit you evaluated at that time is 18-55mm only?
The dealer did not have a flash to provide me. They suggested I contact Sony Parts, which I did. Sony Parts took the order to be shipped to a friend in Florida because they don't ship to Puerto Rico. They also asked me for a credit card which I gave them (AMEX), and am still waiting for the part, two months plus 4 days into the fracas. Counting on Sony I got back to the dealers too late and I lost my opportunity for a full camera replacement (30 days). So now I have to wait for Sony and they seem not to be interested in helping me. I have called the order department, the service departement and a special service department for priority service. NONE have responded to my request for the flash. All of you that received your flash with the camera please don't lose it because Sony is not ready to supply a replacement.
I think the bigest problem of computer HDR of the NEX-5 is the AUTO-HDR works from +/- 1 EV to +/- 6 EV in the NEX-5 but the exposure bracketing for Photomatix Pro, Artizen HDR o Photoshop ONLY works
from +/- 0,3 EV to +/- 0,7 EV. (0.7 steps).
Anyone can understand the reasons of that deficit (very easily solvable with a new firmware) in the best Sony 3D camera?
The problem with the computeral HDR in the Nex-5
is its poor exposure bracketing: only +0,7 , 0 , -0,7 (or +0,3 0 -0,3…
From the web:
"One big problem of the NEX is if you want to use the auto bracket feature, it is limitated to ±0.7EV with 3 shots. To get a good result with photomatix you will need at least ±2.0EV shots. To achieve that result with the NEX you'll need to change the settings between each shot, so it won't be possible to do it handheld".
"The images clearly need some post processing. Not sure this is really a con for us because it is hard to believe that the camera could do a perfect job. As the result the camera produces very soft and de-saturated images.
Only 3 shots in bracketing and the bracketing only allows +/- 2/3 EV exposure steps. This seems strangle because the in-camera merge allows more EV spacing.
The easy solution, from Sony for us, is to increase the exposure steps of the bracketing for acheve the best HDR results.
In the ideal world we would like to be able to get all exposures as RAW files and the merged image as well. If this would be too hard to implement then Sony should at least allow to get the middle exposure as a RAW file because we are not really happy with the NEX JPEG quality (shadows are way too much crushed for our taste)".
Hello everybody!
Please tell me, it is enough to buy the 16 mm lens or I need the 18-55mm to take nice photos? I'm short with money…And is it true that with the 16mm it's impossible the defocusing feature- a nice feature?
Thanks a lot!!!
So long as you don't mind manual focus only- you can buy lens adapters off eBay for around £25 / $45 which will allow you to attach Nikon, Canon, pentax bayonet lenses to your NEX - it is even possible to get an adapter for m42 thread lenses - this greatly increases the versatility of your NEX and avoids you having to shell out for expensive Sony dedicated lenses -I used my Nikon 60mm macro on my NEX5 courtesy of one of these adapters and got wonderful high quality images.
Could someone please tell me what if any is the difference between the Nex 5 and the Nex 5K.
So far as I can tell it's just a kit number i.e. a Sony NEX-5 with a 18-55mm Lens.
I'm planning to buy this at the airport next week or online before the end of the year while Sony have their VAT-back offer in the UK. I wasn't sure having read the review but the majority of your comments here are very positive so I'll give it a shot!
Hi guys,
bought one myself.
While it takes nice photos (a nice upgrade from my previous camera ... an old fujifilm finepix) its menu system is somewhat agrevating.
I just spent an hour trying to work out why I couldn't select the exposure bracketing .. because all it would tell me is that it is "currently disabled" but not tell me why.
Another annoyance;
I would think it is common sense to be able to do exposure bracketing on a self-timer?
Lets say you wanted to do your own HDR, and use bracketing to do so. You can't do it with the nex-5 with any confidence, because you have to be holding the button down when it takes the shots. It doesn't let you set it up, let the camera go (on a stand) and do its thing in a few seconds.
Or am I missing something?
Otherwise, takes nice shots. A good newbies camera. But needs work on the menu system.
I like the comment about the NEX-5 being a good 'newbies' camera, but I would like to add, that from my perspective - a professional who has been equipped with a brace of Nikon bodies and a wide selection of lenses from 6mm to 1000mm for many years. I have found the NEX-5 a totally refreshing approach to compact high quality digital photography - true the menus are quirky and I hope Sony will address this issue with future firmware updates, but that little camera is capable of capturing stunning quality 'commercially' valid images if needed. To those of you looking for a great point and shoot, 'street camera' try it with the pancake lens, with the aperture set f5.6 or higher - the results may astound you!
Yes, I should qualify my 'newbies' comment.
I stated this only with from the point of view of someone who is a newbie; Someone usually content with point and shoot on Automatic mode. And the NEX-5 does a wonderful job of it. And 'newbie' because from all my reading reviews, the lack of fine control (or at least, quick and convenient) is something that is pointed to as something that a professional would not be content with. Although, the latest firmware (v3) makes some amends with this.
Again, my only complaint with this camera is the seemingly illogical restrictions within modes (as described in my earlier comment). And I only complain, in the hope that others have also found this a problem, and that the more people who say so might prompt sony into recognizing it as an issue, and provide a solution for it in a future firmware update.
Otherwise, I am quite happy with it.
.... And before I forget
Try to resist the temptation to capture only jpeg images with your Nex, it is far better to capture raw or raw + jpeg with these cameras and post process with your 'favourite' image processing application. Jpegs will yield soft images, which can be improved with post processing, BUT, to nowhere near the extent thar raw images can be processed. Remember that raw provides you with the most detailed digital negative, from which you can always derive jpeg or tiff images later.
thanks for the tip! I'll give the raw format a try!
It is UGLY, huge barrel on compact power and shoot camera, unaccepetable. will go for any newer entry level dslr, or proper looking camera.
Go on then, but it's the photographer that makes the picture, not the camera, so purchasing purely on aesthetics is no guarantee to achieving good results - once a snapshotter, always a snapshotter!
To all people who owned professional cameras from either Nikon or Canon. After you had purchased NEX-5.
1- Would you recommend it?
2- Is it really that the image quality is not that good?
3- Have you tried the 16mm lens, is it really that the images produced on aperture more than 12 are not that sharp?
4- Overall what do you think?
I got Canon 450D, and I need a new camera that record HD videos. So, I'm kinda lost. I don't want to take photos that are not really in good quality. I'm happy with the fine results of my 450D. I hope the NEX-5 is the same tho!
Thank you in advance, waiting to hear your opinions and answers to my questions.
It has been really helpful for me reading all these comments. I was stuck between deciding to buy an Olympus Pen and the Sony Nex-5. I am now deided on the Sony. I have just one question, at the moment but budget only allows me to buy one lens, which is the better lens to have on it's own before I am able to buy the second? I am tempted to go with the 16mm lens to begin with due to size? Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!!
I would buy the short zoom, 18-58. It works great for all kinds of photos, later you can buy the other lenses. Please read my comment on losing my flash unit. Make sure you don't lose yours by attaching it well… Up to now, almost three months after I purchased the camera Sony has not shipped my order for a new flash and they say it is still out of stock.
Hey, thanks for responding. I have ordered it today and managed to find it for an ok price with both lenses, so have ordered it with both now. I will be collecting it on Friday. I will take extra care not to lose the flash!! Thanks for the warning.
Tip for anyone buying the Nex-5 (may be too late for you Claire):
I got a really good price by buying from the Sony Style shop at Heathrow Terminal 5 last week. I found a price for £467 online (following Sony VAT cashback promo) at http://www.camerabox.co.uk for the camera plus the two lens kit and 5 year warranty. Sony Style matched the price but could only offer 1 year warranty. I have since seen the camera with only one lens being offered for £499 in a regular Sony Style shop (ie not tax-free and without VAT-back offer). The other benefit from buying from Sony Style at Heathrow was that Sony's VAT-back promo that was running till Dec 24 could be processed by them immediately (ie I didn't need to post a form and wait for the cheque). So all in all, a very good deal.
Been looking at my pics from my Dubai holiday and I'm really impressed with the colours the Sony produces although the flash is a little weak.
Not impressed that the flush-fit Sony camera case cover you can buy doesn't even allow space to keep the flash attached to the camera body however you can hang it off the strap.
Hope that helps someone!
You did well to get the two lens kit at a good price - the lenses bought in isolation tend to be really expensive! Bought in a bundle however they represent real value for money. I hope you have many a happy hour taking great pictures with your new Sony. A word or two of advice though… Firstly get to know the camera's 'quirky' menu system well, it will make things a lot easier knowing where it's menu controls are hidden and how they operate. Also consider shooting in raw + jpeg simultaneously so you get the best quality if you need it and also the convenience of print ready compact jpegs.
I am collecting it tomorrow now, so once I have got it will spend the rest of the day getting used to it and learning how to use it. Thanks for the advice, much appreciated :).
Picked the camera up today. Absolutely love it.
Just read your comment Baij… that's a good price. I got mine with both lenses for £499 - although I did find one online for £459 but wasn't in stock, and I wanted it now, so paid £499 for it. Am looking forward to taking some more shots with it. I would love to use it in Dubai as all my many Dubai photos were taken with a 7mpx digital camera!! I shall have to go back there soon!
I am already sold on the specs and look of this camera and will be buying one to replace my Canon DSLR that i had to unfortunately sell last year but still have a couple of questions…
1) I am a stickler for how my gadgets 'look' (especially when parting with this kind of money!) and while i prefer the black option i hate how it clashes with the silver lens. Is it worth going for the silver body to match the lens OR should i stick with the black anyway as i intend to invest in other lenses later on which are most commonly finished in black?...
2) Assuming i get a lens adapter to allow for dedicated macro and telephoto lenses would i still be able to use the in-camera function that allows you to adjust how much the background is blurred using the main dial? I'm assuming this is linked to to the kit lenses that can auto-focus…?
No way man!!! ;)
Take another look at the black body with the silver lens. At first, I thought the same as you.
But after a while, it grew on me. And I think the black body looks much better than the silver.
The silver body gives it a bit of a more 'fake' look… while the black looks solid.
The silver lens though is really solid, and looks good with the body.
After join the Sony NEX-5 camera
with the Panasonic 3D Lumix lens (H-FT012)
using an adapter (NEX E-Mount to micro 4/3)
the result is the hybrid W8 camcorder
and is possible to shoot 3D dynamics stills
and also to make video clips.
Sony Nex-5 is like a compact digital Sony camera with a lense, this cannot be leveled to DSLR cameras available in the market, DSLR is still the best when it comes to image sharpness and other features that you can do in editing the pictures.
Dont worry i know the NEX-5 cant replace a DSLR - i meant a replacement for my 'high end' camera as opposed to point & shoot compact. I will in time get a DSLR again but this is more for fun/hobby shooting for now.
Anyone able to answer my second question???
2) Assuming i get a lens adapter to allow for dedicated macro and telephoto lenses would i still be able to use the in-camera function that allows you to adjust how much the background is blurred using the main dial? I'm assuming this is linked to to the kit lenses that can auto-focus…?
I agree with Duane, I have bought NEX-5 18-55mm lens for USD$655, its not really worth buying, image sharpness is poor, and "defocus" doesn't work most of the time. With NEX-5 price, its more practical to have entry level DSLR camera.
Interesting i have read a lot of comments on other blogs/forums saying dump the kit lens and get some good glass (with third party adapter). Im intending to get the NEX-5 with the standard pancake lens and then start investing in other specialist lenses - sacrificing the auto focus isnt an issue for me but i would love to keep the background de-focus if possible…
I don't know. Duane's comment didn't make much sense to me. All cameras have lenses, and editing is best done on a computer, later, not on the camera.
I have the NEX-5 camera, and in comparing it at least to my girlfriends Sony 550D, it is very good quality. Of course, it has a bigger sensor.
It is unfortunate though that the lens choice for the camera (the e-mount lenses) is still quite poor, with only 3 to choose from.
However, I'm looking forward to a good zoom lens next year maybe.
It is not a DSLR, true, but it is pretty damn good, and does what I wanted it to do. A great update from my old pocket camera, and still very light to handle. That 'background defocus' is a little difficult, can be attributed to the 18-55mm lens, not the camera. But for those wanting to be able to quickly and easily create a panorama, or quickly and easily (without post-processing) create a HDR shot (features which I have found in no other camera) then, it does the trick!
A couple of little faults (can't use self-timer or remote with bracketing or HDR) can be fixed with a firmware update, as indeed have some problems with the interface already, with the 2nd release of firmware (v 0.3 I think) which make the camera much easier to use and configure.
Rick - NEX-5 18-55mm lens for USD$655 ??? That seems an awfully large amount considering you can buy an NEX 5 kit with flash, pancake 16mm and the 18-55m zoom for less than £500 (USD799) here in Britain.
As for the 18-55mm zoom, it is actually a very good performer when used carefully, has yours been knocked or dropped? Try using it at f8 or smaller in shutter priority mode, you may be surprised at the quality it can squeeze onto the Sony's 14MP sensor - one of the problems with the NEX range, and any other compact for that matter, concerns how programme and auto modes default to high shutter speeds to minimise shake, at the expense of 'sensible' aperture values, thus the lenses when used in such modes are more often than not used wide open, or near enough to wide open so as NOT to display the best quality such lenses can achieve.
As for 'defocus', if such a facility is the 'prime' requirement for buying an NEX 3 or 5, then I suggest the choice of an NEX APS-C sensor camera is a mistake anyway. The main point of the current NEX range is to create near DSLR quality from a diminutive, discreet and lightweight device - this it achieves very very well!
The NEX-5K is a great camera. The accessories leave a LOT to be desired. Not wanting to spend over $800 for the e mount 200mm lens I bought the LA-EA1 adapter, downloaded the auto focus firmware and attached my SAL55200 Alpha lens.
After the fact Sony informed me that a 10 to 20 second delay in focusing would be normal(?) in this configuration and not to use it for any action type photos.
Not what I have come to expect from Sony.
Hi Richard,
I am wondering; I am also looking for a lens to buy, and well, the 200mm lens is quite expensive (but then, so are most lenses I think)
But I am curious to know what you went with, and how much it cost (and which currency).
Also, regarding the firmware; I tried installing the auto-focus firmware, but it didn't work.
Probably has something to do with the fact that I don't actually have the LA-EA1 adapter yet, but I wasn't sure if the firmware applied to the camera itself, or the adapter, (I assumed the camera) and it wouldn't matter if the adapter was attached yet or not.
Any idea?
ah whoops! I missed that you already had a lens. sorry. Firmware question still applies though, if you don't mind!
I'm a newbie to my NEX-5. Should there be any difference in color between the RAW and JPEG files when shooting raw+jpeg? From the same shot of a stationary race car-the JPEG shows red/orange (the color I remember seeing)-the RAW shows almost neon/pink red. Could I have mis-adjusted any of the camera settings? I import to iPhoto on a Mac. Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks in advance.
I've read lots of comments & reviews about both the NEX-5 & the NEX-3, many have commented on the lack of imiage sharpness. Would this be rectified by moving the camera's inbuilt sharpening setting to high?
Your right Rick.
Hi Sean when the image sharpness produce by a any camera, is poor definitely your photoshop or your computer cannot do much editing on it, like NEX-5 does, its very limited and you will not enjoy. Hope this make sense to you now. Have it, can attest it, do you have NEX-5?
Personally, I would never dream of relying on 'in-camera' sharpening - its far better to apply "Unsharp Mask" in your favourite photo application after you have downloaded the images.
The best way to get good results from the NEX series is to shoot RAW, then convert to TIFF, make your alterations/improvements, then save them to your preferred file format
Hi Frank,
Regarding your question about the RAW format;
It is probably the software you are using to import.
Try the sony provided processing software. I think the exact format sony uses isn't quite supported (yet) by other software. I had a similar experience when trying to use a couple of software programs on linux (ufraw, raw studio); strange colours. But using the sony software the colour was fine.
Hopefully someone at ufraw get the time to investigate what strange stuff sony has done to the file format!
sean and Frank,
DCRaw supports NEX-3 and NEX-5 RAW formats in its latest version… I'm not aware of any issue with it, since i only looked at source code of it… It should work fine.
I think the NEX-5 with leica lens adapter and a 28mm or 35mm is totally "it"!
With those lens I would rather get a Leica body :/
But having the leica noctilux f/0.95 would make my day :]
Hi zebarnabe,
With you 100% on that one!
Just send me the £3600 extra for the M9 and I'll try it out!
Oh, and the £6100 for the noctilux…
Good snapping!
Thanks-Sean and Zebarnabe!
Based on your posts I dug into Apple's support site and discovered the NEX-5 RAW files are compatible ONLY with the latest Aperture 3 program and therefore ONLY with the newest iPhoto that runs on OSX 10.6.6. I'm still running 10.5.9 for my audio software compatibility. So anyone considering a NEX-5 in RAW mode on a Mac has have the latest software.
The NEX-5 menu system does suck a bit!
Thanks again for your help!
As someone relatively new to digital photography there's loads I'm still learning. After your comments I spent a few hours checking the differences between in-camera sharpening & photoshop. As you're someone who knows the NEX-5 would you say that if you often shoot JPEG images you'd be better off looking elsewhere?
I would say that if your primary intention is to capture images in the vastly inferior and lossy jpeg format, you would be far better off saving a considrable amount of your money and buying a well equipped, but less complex compact camera from Fujifilm, Canon, Nikon or Pentax - such cameras which genetrally output to jpeg format only will cost around half of the cost of an NEX, whilst being similarly compact.
Bought it for £380.04…bargain and produces absolutely awesome pictures :)
Entry Tags
hd video, hd, 3 inch LCD, hdmi, mirrorless, sony, 14 megapixel, 1080i, 7fps, system camera, nex-3, nex5, nex-5, Sony NEX-5, Sony NEX-5 Review, nex 5


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All school children learn at an early age that when you do something bad, it's best to admit what you've done and take responsibility. The worst thing you can do, kids are taught, is to blame someone else.
Maybe some school officials still need to learn that lesson.
On Monday, the Barbour County Board of Education voted - after more than two hours of discussion - to move all the county's fifth-grade classes from elementary schools to middle schools for the 2014-2015 year.
Barbour County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Super said several times Monday the idea for the drastic change was born after the board received requests for more room by the elementary schools' Local School Improvement Councils.
"The LSICs all requested more space in the schools when we visited the schools last fall and winter," Super said. "This is a proposal based on their request for more space in the schools."
The Local School Improvement Councils are made up of parents, teachers, service personnel and business partners. No LSIC members spoke about the proposal at Monday's meeting.
Despite any requests the LSICs might have made for more room, information presented at Monday's meeting by a school board official showed the elementary schools are far from crowded with students at the present time.
Glenn Sweet, director/manager of attendance, facilities and technology, said the space at Volga-Century Elementary is currently at 31 percent utilization, and will drop to 24 percent after the fifth-graders are removed from the school. Mt. Vernon Elementary will drop from its current 36 percent utilization level to 28 percent after the move.
The most "crowded" elementary school in Barbour County, Philippi Elementary, is currently at 67 percent utilization. After the move, it will drop to 58 percent - or just over half - utilization.
Asked by a board member what the state would think of the drops in utilization, Sweet replied, "In general, the state would say we are not utilizing our dollar value."
Doward Matlick and Joanne McConnell, the only two BOE members to vote against moving the fifth-graders, asked how the move would save money. Finance Director Annette Hughart said the move would be "a wash" and would result in no savings to the school system.
Also during the discussion, Transportation Director Marjorie George said bus times for students after the move could range up to a high of 68 minutes. She said the state's recommended bus time for a middle school student is less than 45 minutes.
So let's take a look at this decision: moving the fifth-graders will further empty already under-utilized schools, save the school system zero dollars, and will run counter to several state regulations.
And we're asked to believe this major upheaval is being undertaken simply to make the LSICs happy?
Please. How dumb do they think we are?
Hey, LSIC?members, if the BOE really likes you that much, now's the time to ask for a swimming pool?and new gymnasium for your schools.
Isn't this the same board that effectively did away with middle school sports earlier this year, before several parents' groups raised and donated enough money to rehire the coaches? Was the Barbour board concerned with what the LSICs thought about that decision?
Could it be possible the Barbour board actually wants to empty out the smaller elementary schools to make it easier to close them a year or two down the road?
After all, Super and board members have said the failure of last year's proposed excess levy and bond call meant "tough decisions" would have to be made, possibly including the closure of the Mount Vernon and Century-Volga schools.
But hey, decisions aren't so tough if you just blame them on someone else.
Let's hope our kids don't learn from this example.


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A type of stew made every Sunday by local bums down by the bridge. My grandpa and his friends throw rocks at and try to knock over the Mulligan Stew makers. Sometimes has carrots in it.
Mmmmm... there's nothing like Mulligan's Stew on a cool Sunday afternoon.
Por Couch monster 13 de noviembre de 2003
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He said the movie Crash had an ensemble cast, but it was more like a Mulligan's Stew.
Por Willy Gilbert 07 de marzo de 2006


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Peter Jackson's adaptation of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," is based on J. R. R. Tolkien's book. Penned in 1937, "The Hobbit" is an adventure-fantasy centered around a childlike character who discovers he has unexpected strengths. Compared to the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Tolkien's sequels, written in the mid-1950s, "The Hobbit's" more humorous tone does not come through in this first of Jackson's three "Hobbit" installments.
Jackson planned to split Tolkien's 287-page "Hobbit" into two films, but after deciding to incorporate the "Lord of the Rings" appendices, the plans was revamped for another trilogy.
"The Lord of the Rings" films overflow with nail-biting adventure and captivating battles while part one of the "The Hobbit" dwells largely in talky scenes and character exposition. Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf, bringing both gravitas and humor to the wizard responsible for persuading young Bilbo to join in an adventure that becomes more important than the adventurers predicted.
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Led by the dead dwarf king's son Thorin (Richard Armitage), the company of 13 dwarfs seek to reclaim their lost, underground kingdom from a fearsome dragon. Beyond restoring their kingdom, the dwarf's quest is important to restoring the balance of Middle Earth, where the side of good is represented by wizards, men, elves, hobbits and dwarfs, and evil emerges in the form of dragons, orcs and trolls.
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Because Tolkien wrote "The Hobbit" with a younger audience in mind, this tale is considerably less tense and frightening than "The Lord of the Rings." Because the franchise can expect to rake in nearly $1 billion per film, as did each "Lord of the Rings" movie, Jackson has been accused of milking the material for its maximum profit. During "The Hobbit's" opening weekend, the film garnered $85 million dollars. Whether viewers like it as much as his "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, Jackson will have delivered nine hours of quality film by this trilogy's end. The audience gets its money's worth while enjoying another opportunity to revisit Middle Earth.


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Week 8 saw wide receiver Marvin Jones burst onto the fantasy scene with four touchdowns, Calvin Johnson win quite a few matchups for owners with a 329-yard performance, and quarterbacks like Cam Newton and Colin Kaepernick reward patient owners with huge games.
So what sort of fun awaits in Week 9?
After Thursday Night Football, owners of A.J. Green (11 receptions for 128 yards), Giovani Bernard (104 yards from scrimmage, two touchdowns and arguably the play of the season) the Miami Dolphins defense (four turnovers, a Brent Grimes touchdown and a safety) and Lamar Miller (16 rushes for 105 yards) were off to an excellent start this week.
Andy Dalton owners (four turnovers, no touchdowns, just six fantasy points in standard-scoring leagues) weren't so lucky.
Fantasy lineups will be a bit weaker than usual this week, with six teams on bye and fantasy mainstays such as Megatron, Matt Stafford, Reggie Bush, Peyton Manning, Knowshon Moreno, Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Julius Thomas, Victor Cruz, Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, Colin Kaepernick, Vernon Davis and Anquan Boldin all unavailable.
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Make sure those lineups are set, flip over to NFL RedZone and get ready to anxiously glance down at your lineup every minute or so—it's time for fantasy Sunday.


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Exact location / area: Villars (1,250 m.a.s.l.)
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Today, people in 192 countries are banding together in peaceful demonstration to celebrate Earth Day. Founded in the twilight of the hippie movement, the first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970 and is now the largest secular holiday in the world. Due in part to events like Earth Day, we've learned a lot about our environment and what we need to change to keep the blue marble spinning a while longer.
The word "green"— now an adjective, noun, and verb—is synonymous in our culture for expansive and minute efforts in environmental sustainability. Not surprisingly, there are a number of "green" diets. In celebration of Earth Day 2013, we've compiled nine eco-friendly diets that will help you reach your weight loss and fitness goals while reducing your carbon footprint.
The Kind Diet is a book by actress and vegan Alicia Silverstone that illustrates the benefits of a plant-based diet. Silverstone uses the book to show that a vegan diet can not only help your body, but help animals and the planet, too. The diet is beneficial because it allows you to progress in stages and preserves animal life on Earth. However, the drastic change to a plant-based diet may be too extreme for some, as no meat, dairy, or animal products are allowed. (more…)


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Oracle's Internships for Technical Writers Look to the Future
By chlander on Aug 23, 2013
This is the second year in a row that we've had the fortunate opportunity to hire technical writer interns from Ottawa, Canada's Algonquin College's post-graduate Technical Writing program. Kayla Robinson and Rachel Rosenfeld have been on board for four months (May through August) and during that time, they've learned about tech writing from the experts on our team and we've use their skills and enthusiasm to get work done--what a perfect match!
First a bit more about Kayla and Rachel. They both have arts backgrounds: Kayla majored in English at Carleton University and Rachel majored in history at Dalhousie University. Kayla enjoys creating graphics and writing social media pieces. Rachel enjoys learning about new products and software applications. During their time at Oracle, they worked on AIA, IP Service Activator, UIM, OSM, and MSS projects.
Today's blog is all about their experiences and I'm sure you'll enjoy reading it. This also is a good reflection of the things we do on our team to ensure our team members continue to develop their skills, share their experiences, and focus on creating high-quality content. Thanks to Kayla and Rachel for a great blog and for four excellent months of work - best of luck to you in your tech writer careers.Cheryl Lander, Oracle Communications InfoDev Senior Director
Oracle's CGBU Information Development (InfoDev) team provides quality internships for new technical writers, like us, who want to gain real world experience in the workplace. Fostering a mutually beneficial relationship with Algonquin College's technical writing program in Ottawa supports the local community and new professionals looking for industry training.
This blog post is the culmination of our efforts to select the top 5 reasons why our internship has blown our socks off:
1. Participating in Brown Bag Presentations
Brown Bags are not a packed lunch that technical writers bring to work. We are much more likely to be found getting sushi takeout or stopping by one of the gourmet food trucks in downtown Ottawa. Oracle Brown Bag presentations are lunch-and-learn web conferences that focus on a variety of topics.
Brown Bags explore new product innovations, current projects, customer feedback, and tips on documentation, courseware tools, and processes. Some really useful topics included Doc Bug Best Practices, How Audiences Read, and tips on how to take advantage of features in our FrameMaker authoring tool.
2. Collaborating with a Global Team of Technical Writers
Meet the diverse team we collaborate with:
Technical experts have specialized knowledge that range from fixing computers to programming languages.
Tool gurus are willing to take the extra time to help you when you get stuck on a tools issue. When you have stumbled into the Bermuda triangle of software errors and cannot find your way out, your fearless tool guru will show you the path.
Mentors are the experienced writers who are willing to instruct you on how to perform the tasks necessary for job success. Our mentors really helped us adjust to the company processes. They even provided us with a cheat sheet of useful links and tips. Definitely a must-have.
Team Leads and Managers have calendars with schedules more complex than any Rubix cube puzzle, and somehow they still have time for us! We haven't figured out quite how they manage to do this, and we are inherently suspicious of their super-human abilities.
Documentation architects focus on structuring information in a logical and consistent way for a user. Our documentation architect visited Ottawa and held focused learning sessions about document structure and writing for different audiences. To learn more about documentation architecture, read Scott Miller's blog post: Online Help and the Epic BFFL Throwdown of the 90s.
Editors fokus, among other things, on making our writing klear and task-oriented instead of describing softwear featyours. Our editor, Bob, holds an informal meeting every Friday where he updates the team on unit-wide developments, addresses questions, and occasionally we get to hear his cat Jason in the background. Wut wood we do without our editor?
Courseware Developers are knowledgeable about the products and can be a good resource. They appreciate it when you perform usability tests on courseware and troubleshoot the courseware in a real-time training environment.
3. Working with Industry Tools
There are many tools available for writers. Our toolkit is definitely more extensive thanks to Oracle, and you can check out our favorites below:
Structured FrameMaker: A popular structured authoring application that uses tagged mark up to create consistently structured documentation.
Oracle Review is an internal tool where writers post their drafts and invite reviewers to pin comments to the posted draft.
Graphics tools: Microsoft Visio makes it possible to create flow charts to illustrate complex concepts, and we use Snagit to snag awesome screenshot captures and painlessly edit them.
Version-Control: Version control software keeps a history of when documents are modified and provides controls to make sure that multiple authors aren't working in the same book simultaneously. It also provides backup so writers don't lose their work, because we have writers in California (earthquakes), Texas (tornadoes), and Canada (maple syrup shortages).
TWiki is an internal InfoDev wiki where guidelines about writing style, process, content, structure, and procedure are all documented. We would have been lost without this oft-bookmarked and frequently accessed resource.
4. Learning the Company Values
Blending in with a company's corporate culture is a significant part of succeeding in a work placement. We have learned two things about Oracle:
Oracle values technical documentation: We heard stories about companies where writers spent their days chasing down developers who had no time for questions. At Oracle everyone was more than willing to provide us with information, patiently answer our questions and provide us with the resources at their disposal.
Oracle promotes working independently: After our initial two weeks of training, learning processes and downloading tools, we were expected to work with minimal supervision. We were provided with a work schedule, encouraged to ask questions when we were unsure and expected to provide status updates and attend meetings, but we weren't micro-managed. Being trusted to work independently encouraged us to take initiative in ways that might not have been possible if a manager had been hovering over our shoulder. We were accountable for our time at work, and this trust encouraged us to work hard.
5. Engaging Tasks
"Working hard, or hardly working?" Well we know for a fact that we were working hard, but our favorite tasks hardly seem like work. Here is a list of the tasks we enjoyed most:
Fixing bugs: When a documentation error or required update is flagged in the internal database, we call it a documentation bug. Fixing documentation bugs involves putting on your Sherlock Holmes hat and doing some detective work. Research and tracking down subject matter experts can take time, but it is worth it in the end when you can go into the bug database and change the bug status to a satisfying 89 to indicate you have solved the problem. For example we might say, "Sweet. I 89ed that doc bug all the way to Quality Assurance. Take that."
Writing Content: Writing content is what comes to mind when you think about technical writing. In reality, there is so much else involved in the average workday. After all the planning , researching, converting documentation, attending meetings, and all the other tasks that take up your day it is nice to sit down and write content.
Creating Graphics:
A key aspect of communication is maintaining an open dialogue, and continuously eliciting feedback. When an international company like Oracle encourages two technical writing interns to contribute to the company blog by writing about our experience as interns, we can provide guidance and tips to the next generation of interns by sharing our experiences of a memorable summer at Oracle.
Please help us by sharing your best advice, tips, or personal anecdotes for new interns with a comment!
We value your feedback. If you would like to suggest improvements or report issues on any of the product documentation, curriculum, or training produced by the Oracle Communications Information Development team, you can use these channels:
Post a comment on this blog.


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It's official - Phillip Phillips has rescheduled his Elkins concert, and he is slated to appear at the Davis & Elkins College Nov. 8.
Tickets for the previously scheduled May 14 concert will be honored for the new November date.
"Only a few hundred tickets remain," said Sid Gillispie, chief executive officer of the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA. "Don't wait to purchase tickets because they will sell out soon."
Article Photos
Limited tickets for the concert are available by contacting the Elkins YMCA, Davis & Elkins College or by calling 1-800-594-TIXX.
Phillips, winner of the 11th season of "American Idol," is a singer/songwriter and guitarist who started making music at age 14 in his hometown of Leesburg, Ga. His debut album, "The World From the Side of the Moon" - featuring the hit single "Home" - was released Nov. 19 via Interscope Records.
Representatives from Phillips' management said he postponed the May concert because of several medical reasons.
"Phillip Phillips will not be able to conclude his remaining tour dates in May. He looks forward to getting healthy, seeing everyone on the John Mayer tour this summer and rescheduling the shows he missed for the fall," a representative said.
In addition to the Elkins date, Phillips was forced to reschedule tour dates in York, Penn.; Springfield, Ohio; Newark, Ohio; and a slew of cities in Wisconsin, including River Falls, Green Bay, Stevens Point and Eau Claire.
Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA. Officials with the Y said they plan to use the proceeds from the show to improve the YMCA's sprinkler system and fire alarms, as well as for swimming pool renovations.
In support of the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA and the community, The Inter-Mountain is offering an invitation to those affected by the postponement of the concert.
The Taste of Home event will kick off with a vendor fair at 2 p.m. and cooking show beginning at 6:30 p.m. May 23 at the National Guard Armory, located off Route 33 near Belington.


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Xfinity Charging Station/Portable Surge Protector - 2.1A, 3x Outlets, 2x USB Ports, 2x Phone Cradles, 540 JoulesItem#: U12-42058 | Model#: U12-42058
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Xfinity Portable Surge Protector with USB Product Details
Ultra Xfinity Charging Station/Portable Surge Protector
Ensure the safety of your critical components and network connections with the Ultra Xfinity Charging Station/Portable Surge Protector. This excellent portable surge protector safeguards your phone, fax, network connections, and other household appliances from power surges, spikes, and AC contamination. It also acts as a charging station for your tablets and smartphones thanks to its 2 USB ports. Not only that, it even features two foldable cradles for holding smartphones. Buy the Ultra Xfinity Charging Station/Portable Surge Protector right away!
What It Is And Why You Need It:
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Important Note: All brand names and trademarks are properties of their Respective owners.
Additional Resources: Product Manuals
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Educational Background
- B.S., University of Pittsburgh
- M.S., Virginia Tech
- Ph.D., Virginia Tech
Research Interests
- Fall prevention in older adults
- Motor learning
- Postural control
- Gait biomechanics
Selected Publications
Bieryla KA, Anderson DA, Madigan ML. Estimations of relative effort during sit-to-stand increase when accounting for variations in maximum voluntary torque with joint angle and angular velocity. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology 2009;19:139-144.
Bieryla KA, Madigan ML, Nussbaum MA. Practicing recovery from a simulated trip improves recovery kinematics after an actual trip. Gait Posture 2007;26(2):208-213.


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UNIVERSITY PARK - Allen Robinson went from having a single reception for 6 yards in the first half to catching a game saving ball while time was winding down to fumbling in the third overtime period.
To say the least, Robinson's day could be compared to a roller coaster.
The high of that roller coaster ride came at the end of regulation when the 6-foot-3 wide receiver went up for a pass from Christian Hackenberg with under 30 seconds left.
Robinson hauled the ball in for a 36-yard reception just in bounds at the Michigan 1-yard line over the head of Channing Stribling, who jumped too soon to make the play.
"It was just me and No. 8 over there," Robinson said. "It was a 50-50 ball and he threw it up and gave me an opportunity to make the catch and I was able to make the play."
Previous to making the catch that set up a Hackenberg sneak to tie the game, Robinson made a toe-dragging, 14-yard catch to get the drive going.
To counter the high of Robinson's day, the low came when the wide receiver came across the backfield on an end around play and fumbled the ball, leaving Michigan with a golden opportunity to come away with a victory in three overtime periods.
Robinson said he picked his eyes up off the ball too soon and didn't secure the ball first.
"I couldn't believe I fumbled the ball on that play, but you know you got to play the next play, and our defense was able to stop them," Robinson said.
The stop came in the form of a Brendan Gibbons missed field goal and Robinson said it was a relief once the field goal pushed left.
Robinson's day was slow to get going as he was held to just two receptions for 18 yards heading into the final quarter of play.
Hackenberg did not target his go-to receiver nearly as much as he has in the first five games of the season, but Robinson said the quarterback was just going through his reads.
"It's not something I can complain [about]," Robinson said. "Sometimes, I might say I'm open and he doesn't think I'm open, so it's all about what he's reading at the time."
Bill O'Brien said Robinson was frustrated he wasn't getting the ball, but echoed the receiver's words and said it was just the read of the play that kept the ball out of Robinson's hands.
"What is says about Allen is that he never quits," O'Brien said. "...It's not always pretty, but a guy like Allen is going to keep hanging in there, keep fighting and try to come up with big plays when the ball is thrown to him and that's what he did."
D-line shines in win
Kyle Baublitz put the highlight on the Penn State defensive line's night, one in which it kept a potent Michigan offensive in check.
Sam Ficken had just missed a 40-yard attempt in the Nittany Lions' portion of the first overtime period and it looked as if the comeback attempt would fall just short.
But, Baublitz stuck his hand up as Gibbons attempted a 40-yarder of his own and blocked it from sailing toward the uprights.
Baublitz said he took note of Gibbons' previous attempts and noticed a trend with them.
"We wanted to push the lineman," Baublitz said. "I saw the kicks were low, you just have to put your hands up, there's not much to it."
While field goal blocks are relatively rare, an even more unusual scene came from the defensive line when Penn State's No. 98 Anthony Zettel picked off Michigan's No. 98 Devin Gardner.
The interception came in the second quarter as Zettel dropped into coverage, nabbed the pass and returned it 18 yards to set up a one-play touchdown toss to Jesse James.
Zettel, who got the start against the Wolverines, had to jump at the right time in order to make a play that isn't typically seen from a lineman, but he said he knew he could do it.
"I played a little basketball," Zettel joked.
Fellow lineman C.J. Olaniyan struggled for most of Penn State's season, but the defensive end made up for it against the Wolverines.
Olaniyan recorded 2.5 sacks, as he came into the game with just one on the stat sheet, a forced fumble that was recovered by DaQuan Jones and two pass breakups.
Olaniyan, who is from Warren, Mich., joked when he goes back to Michigan during Penn State's upcoming bye week, he won't have to hear anything.
O'Brien said he could not say enough about his defense's play and that it kept coming up big.
"They gave up a couple big plays, but I think they played a whale of a football game," O'Brien said. "C.J., all those guys, they were rushing hard, making it difficult to run the football."
Handling Michigan
The Wolverines' entire offense rested solely upon the shoulders of quarterback Devin Gardner.
Gardner rushed for a career-high 121 yards and passed for 240 and three touchdowns while running back Fitzgerald Toussaint only netted 27 yards on the night.
Gardner provided the duel threat with his legs and Olaniyan said how the quarterback changes a pass rush.
"Whenever you rush, you have to have awareness and be alert tat whenever the pocket is closing, he's going to try to get out of the pocket," Olaniyan said.
Olaniyan also said the line's job was to pressure Gardner and make it easier for the defensive backs.
Another player that Michigan had to rely on was kicker Brendan Gibbons, but Gibbons did not fare as well as Gardner.
Gibbons went 4-for-7 on the night with a miss to win the game in regulation and another in overtime in addition to the blocked attempt.
Ficken went over to Gibbons after the game to tell the kicker to keep his head up and keep working hard.
"I've been there before," Ficken said. "It's not the greatest feeling in the world."
Gibbons was 4-for-5 coming into the night with a long of 44 yards.
Personnel report
PSU's game captains were LB Stephen Obeng-Agyapong, C Ty Howler and DT DaQuan Jones. ... O'Brien almost always takes the ball first if PSU wins the coin toss, but he elected to defer and put the defense on the field first. RB Adam Geiger took over as the holder on FGs and PATs, replacing P Alex Butterworth.


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Benefits to Increase 1.7 Percent in 2013
Monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for nearly 62 million Americans will increase 1.7 percent in 2013.
The 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits that more than 56 million Social Security beneficiaries receive in January 2013. Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2012.
The maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $113,700 from $110,100. Of the estimated 163 million workers who will pay Social Security taxes in 2013, nearly 10 million will pay higher taxes based on the increase in the taxable maximum.
Learn more about the COLA and resulting changes by reading the press release and fact sheet at www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/2013cola-pr.html.
The ARC Recognizes Commissioner Astrue for his Commitment to Serving People with Disabilities
The Arc, one of the largest charitable organizations in the United States that serves and advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, presented its 2012 President's Award to Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue. The Arc honored Commissioner Astrue for his steadfast commitment to people with disabilities during his six-year tenure as Commissioner. To learn more, please read the press release at www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/2012-presidents-award.html.
Get a Head Start on Retirement
If you have clients who plan to retire early in 2013, now is the time to apply for Social Security benefits. People can apply as early as four months before they want benefits to start. The most convenient way to apply is online at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.
Applying online for Social Security benefits means there is no need to visit a Social Security office or wait for a scheduled appointment with a Social Security representative. Retiring online can take as little as 15 minutes. There are no forms to sign and, in most cases, no documents to submit. Tell your clients to go online to apply for benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.
Open Season for Medicare Prescription Drug Program
The current open season for enrollment in the Medicare prescription drug program runs from October 15 to December 7. Newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries who want to enroll, and current beneficiaries who are considering changes to their Medicare plan, can do so now.
The Medicare prescription drug program is available to all Medicare beneficiaries to help with the costs of medications. Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan is voluntary, and participants pay an additional monthly premium for the coverage
While all Medicare beneficiaries can participate in the prescription drug program, some people with limited income and resources also are eligible for Extra Help to pay for monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth an average of $4,000 per year. Learn more about applying online for the Extra Help at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10525.html.
Learn more about Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/medicare.htm.
Individuals who don't have prescription drug coverage may also be able to get help in obtaining the medicines they need for free or nearly free by contacting the Partnership for Prescription Assistance at www.pparx.org. This organization offers a single point of access to more than 475 public and private programs, including nearly 200 offered by pharmaceutical companies.
Subscribe to Social Security Update today and you'll always be in the know when it comes to Social Security news. All we need is your e-mail address.Subscribe here.


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Top Definition
Unable to cook food on a grill or barbecue.
When Bob returned from the barbecue with a plate of burnt steaks, it was obvious that he was grilliterate.
Dave Tucker tərəfindən 09 Aprel 2008
Trending Now
Can you define these popular missing words?
The state of knowing nothing about grills or grilling.
Amanda looked at the grill and had no clue about how to turn it on, proving that she was grilliterate.
"Toaster" tərəfindən 19 İyul 2012


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Sofa-beds: practicality and elegance combined
Whether you need sofa-beds for occasional guests or for use every night, you can find what you're looking for within our range of stylish and easy-to-use options. Many of our beds have built-in storage, so you won't need to worry about where to put your pillows and duvets when you're not using it. Some other designs allow for storage space underneath, so you can choose from our range of storage boxes to maximise your space. And as sofas, our sofa-beds provide comfortable support for your body when you're seated, and those with memory foam regain their shape again when you get up.
Sofa-beds: versatility and choice
Our sofa-beds, corner sofa-beds and armchair beds often coordinate with other seating, such as our EKTORP range. And some come with castors or wheels, so they're easy to move around. All our products are quick and easy to transform from comfortable seating into a cosy bed. Our LYCKSELE, BEDDINGE and IKEA PS beds come with a range of mattress choices, so you can pick a mattress that best suits your body. And many also come with removable covers, so you can pick a new design whenever you feel like a change of colour or pattern.


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The aerial cable car Hoch-Ybrig/Weglosen takes you to Seebli, where the hike up the Spirstock begins. Alternatively, you can use the chairlift to the Sternen and subsequently hike along the ridge. From Spirstock the trail takes you to Ibergeregg and then to Holzegg, at the foot of the Grosser Mythen. Here you can ride the cable car to Alpthal.
The careful planning of a tour will ensure that you also derive the maximum pleasure and enjoyment from it. Please take the time to contact the local information centre and enquire about route and weather conditions before setting off. Your intended trail may be fully or partially closed, depending on the time of year and weather conditions.


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Robert Baker moves a little slower and tackles more sitting-down jobs than he used to.
But at 88 years old, the man who came to Altoona in 1958 to open Unkel Joe's Woodshed continues to work in the store where he's affectionately referred to as Unkel Bob by store employees with the exception of his son, Larry, who now manages the store, and his grandson, Tim, a buyer for the store.
"Where's Unkel Bob?" one of the employees asked when searching for the founder who usually works in the rear stockroom, checking in the store's varied merchandise and preparing it for sale.
Article Photos
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Robert "Unkel Bob" Baker stands with some merchandise in his store, Unkel Joe's Woodshed, located in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center.
Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Robert Baker holds his WWII Army Division cap.
In an office at the front of the store, Baker has a desk surrounded by a few family pictures, a framed certificate from store employees praising him for his World War II service and some other reminders of the events in his life.
"I bet you don't remember this," Baker said showing a color picture postcard of the Unkel Joe's Woodshed store at its 520 W. Plank Road location. That was the store he opened and operated until 1987 when Unkel Joe's Woodshed moved to a newly constructed building in the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center where it remains today.
Before coming to Altoona, Baker and partner Joe Anderson, known as "Unkel Joe," opened the original Woodshed store in February 1956 in their hometown of Lock Haven. They built an advertising campaign based on the use phonetic spellings, as evident in the store's name, and slang, as included in the store's longstanding pledge: "We ain't got everything but you might find anything."
Although 57 years have passed since the Lock Haven store opened and Baker is long past a typical retirement age, he said he still gets questions about when he's going to retire.
"What they usually say when they come into the store is: 'Are you still here?' " Baker said.
It's a question he laughs about.
And his response, he said, is usually to laugh.
"I've been blessed with pretty good health," Baker said. "I have some pesky things that bother me, but nothing serious. If I had to stay home, I'd probably die in a year."
And no one is asking the octogenarian to stay home.
"He may say he works 25 hours a week, but he's in the stockroom morning to night," said 10-year employee Linda Wible, who decorates the store's Christmas shop. "He's an inspiration to work with."
"He's my mentor," son Larry Baker said. "And a great father, a great-grandfather, someone special."
Grandson Tim Baker, who does much of the buying for Unkel Joe's Woodshed, said he is lucky to have "Pap-Pap" as a grandfather.
"He's the best guy I ever met," Tim Baker said.
The elder Baker is also known as a great storyteller.
"One time we bought all these remnants of Cannon towels, a lot of odds and ends," Baker said. "And because we bought them by the pound, we sold them by the pound. They were a big hit."
The store sells a variety of household goods - now priced individually - along with collectibles, gifts and hunting and fishing equipment and holiday merchandise.
But Baker's stories go beyond the Woodshed's walls.
The World War II veteran was part of the 63rd Infantry Division that landed in southern France in December 1944, six months after the massive Allied invasion of western Europe known as D-Day. He and fellow soldiers fought their way through France and Germany.
"I can understand why some of the soldiers don't want to talk about their experiences, but it doesn't seem to bother me that way," he said. "I can speak about it."
Baker recalls a time when he was in Germany, riding in the third of three jeeps traveling a back road, and was lucky to remain alive. The second jeep, he said, struck a land mine and three of the four soldiers in that jeep died. He saw everything.
"Two of those guys in the second jeep were alive [initially] and they began shooting them full of morphine," he said.
As the war began to wind down, his division was ordered to search and secure concentration camps and he remembers the scene his unit encountered upon arriving in Landsberg, Germany.
"Their bodies weren't buried, so we made the civilian population from Landsberg come bury the bodies," he said. "There were thousands."
As for his wartime experience, Baker said he no regrets.
"I was glad to be a part of putting to an end to all of that," he said.
But he objects to being called a hero.
"The heroes are all dead," he said. "I was just one of the lucky ones to come home."
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 946-7456.


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