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Nice Boat, No Dock
Superyachts are all the rage after years of rising sales. Marinas for parking them are not.
OWNERS OF THE WORLD'S superyachts are running into a new problem as they set sail across the crowded seas: finding a place to park.
After years of rising yacht sales—including those of so-called superyachts, which exceed 30 meters in length—the most coveted marinas in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and parts of Asia are telling owners there's no room at the dock, leaving some boat captains high and dry. Boat owners have reported shortages from Florida to New Zealand, while prices for berths are surging to new highs across the Mediterranean and elsewhere.
A berth in Antibes, in southern France, for instance, now costs the equivalent of about $2,600 a day or $78,100 a month for a 60-meter-long boat. Local real-estate agents are offering up to 16-year leases of prized docking space for as much as $6 million, according to reports by Lloyd's Register. "There is a huge shortage in high season," says Franc Jansen, director at yacht-management company Hill Robinson, which has offices in Antibes. "There are more boats, they're bigger, and finding space is getting really difficult."
The traffic jam is hardly surprising considering that the world's fleet of superyachts has ballooned in the past five years by 25 percent, to around 4,600, according to Marina Projects, a U.K. consultancy firm. On average, 200 new boats are delivered each year. But environmental regulations and the heavy costs of starting new marinas big enough to handle megayachts are deterring developers from adding more berths in places where they're needed most. In the Mediterranean, which is where most of the yachts are located, there are an estimated 3,000 superyacht berths, Marina Projects says. That would be plenty, except not everyone wants to be in Croatia in July, and the hot-spot ports like Monaco, St. Tropez, Newport and Fort Lauderdale just haven't been keeping up.
But nowhere is the berthing shortage more acute than in Hong Kong, a port city with thousands of rich tycoons from mainland China and elsewhere ready to spend. The number of yachts there—almost all under 30 meters long, so not considered supersized—exploded by 40 percent to 675 between 2007 and 2011, according to the Hong Kong Marine Department. And like some other boating hubs, local officials aren't eager to add more berths when there are so many other competing uses for the city's limited waterfront property. The last parking lot for floating palaces that got approval to be built, the Gold Coast Marina, opened in 1993, and now the city's eight marinas are filled to capacity.
The government has written it off as a "rich man's issue," says Leo Wong, a local boat dealer. "They don't want to be seen as helping the wealthy." Hong Kong's Marine Department says its main purpose is to make sure there's enough space for boats to take refuge during "inclement weather." It added that there's enough room to house the "forecast demand of vessels concerned" until 2025.
'Johnny Chan's yacht is parked in a Hong Kong berth that could fetch $1 million.'
For superyachts, though, there's literally zero space available. Hong Kong's largest yacht, the 213-feet-long Ambrosia III, owned by a reclusive tycoon named Ambrose Young, occupies one of just 16 places at the Gold Coast Marina for boats of that size. The waitlist for a spot at that marina can last up to two years or more, the club says. When Paul Allen's 415-foot-long Octopus came to Hong Kong in 2007, the boat had to dock at an unused commercial wharf. Young did not respond for comment, while Allen declined.
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According to Olivier Besson, Asia manager at Yachting Partners International, a yacht-management and brokerage firm, large yachts are being forced to moor in the city's many bays; but even for that, prices have tripled in two years. What's more, insurers won't touch a boat that's tethered to a mooring, worried that a typhoon could blow it out to sea or damage it. And a mooring means owners have to suffer the indignity of hiring a motorboat to pick them up, while the super-rich with slots in marinas can simply walk off the dock.
Indeed, the fortunate few who have berths are reluctant to let them go. Johnny Chan, a fund manager in Hong Kong, calls his "lucky" decision in 2006 to secure a long-term lease of a berth at the Aberdeen Marine Club as "a much better investment than almost all asset classes." His 68-foot Azimut yacht is parked at a berth that he says could fetch as much as $1 million if it came up on the open market. He declined to disclose how much he paid for the berth. Chan regularly gets calls from boat agents asking to see if he'd rent out his berth on a short-term monthly basis, but he tells them to sail elsewhere.
Of course, a long-term lease like Chan's is contingent on being a club member, which requires not only an invitation from the club but increasingly deep pockets. Today, a membership costs a one-time fee of about $450,000, up 20 percent from 2012. The club said it expects to hand out "fewer than 10" new memberships this year.
Until they do, one of the groups that is most worried about the berth shortage is local yacht dealers. In Hong Kong, sales have slimmed to almost nil over the past two years, mainly because buyers worry they'll have no place to park. Boat dealer Mike Simpson says he could sell many more boats if there were a place to dock them—especially to rich mainland Chinese businessman who are eager to obtain a flashy status symbol. "With no berth, there's no point in buying a yacht," he says.
Shortages in some countries mean opportunity for other aspiring yachting centers. But will boat owners want to broaden their horizons? In Asia, Singapore and Phuket are vying to become the new Monaco of the East, with facilities to accommodate the largest yachts. Marina developments are also sprouting across China, especially Hainan Province, a small island on the southern coast that Chinese promoters hail as the country's Hawaii, with palm trees, resorts and crowded beaches. But China's punitive 46 percent tax on yachts and its restricted waters—the Chinese navy is very protective of the coast—have been obstacles.
Elsewhere in the world, Montenegro, Spain and Dubai all have expanded facilities to host superyachts and grab wealthy traffic away from the coasts of France and Italy. The problem? Dubai in July isn't exactly the Riviera.


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Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who died in a shootout with police early Friday morning, leaves behind a wife, a child, and in-laws who are shocked and appalled at the terror that unfolded this week.
"We cannot begin to comprehend how this horrible tragedy occurred," the family of Tsarnaev's wife Katherine Russell, 24, said in a statement released to PEOPLE Friday.
"Our daughter has lost her husband today, the father of her child. In the aftermath of the Patriot's Day horror, we know that we never really knew Tamerlane [sic] Tsarnaev," they said of their son-in-law, 26.
"Our hearts are sickened by the knowledge of the horror he has inflicted. Please respect our family's privacy in this difficult time."
Russell converted to Islam for her husband, according to the U.K.'s Daily Mail. The couple have a three-year-old daughter, Zahara.
On Friday night, Tamerlan's brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was taken into custody by police.
Monday's bombings near the finish line of the marathon left three people dead and 176 injured.
Deceased Bombing Suspect's In-Laws: 'Our Hearts Are Sickened'

subset: commoncrawl


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Intrusion Alert
I wana thanx a dear friend and fellow hacker Codelock for passing this article to me
Codelock u rock
Many people live under the impression that if they follow all the computer security safety rules, they are 100% safe from crackers. Unfortunately, even if you do follow all the rules, there are still many ways for you to have your privacy invaded, and thus, I have decided to write a little tutorial as to how to act if you think you are getting hacked.
1. The first sign of possibly being targeted for an attack is being port-scanned. In short, port-scanning is basically trying to find if there are any "open doors" to your computer. If you have a firewall (which you should), then it should make some kind of an alert telling you that you are being port-scanned. However, many crackers scan hundreths of IP addresses at the same time, so if you are getting scanned, it does not always mean that you are getting hacked.
2. If you think you are getting hacked, you must first remain calm. Don't start panicking and thinking that the cracker is going to destroy your computer. Remember, calmness is the key.
3. Decide if you are truly getting hacked. If the port-scans just keep on going, and you have are seriously worried that you are being a target, then you must take action. First of, find out the IP of the attacker. IP (Internet Protocol) are four sets of numbers that help identifying each computer. Beware though, if the cracker is any good, they will most likely spoof their IP address, so if you manage to trace them (I will talk about tracing little later) you may trace it to some innocent 6-year old on his first computer. If you have a good firewall, you should look into the logs (*Logs are the places where all of the traffic gets logged. Depending on the firewall, the logs are in different places, but they should be clearly visible for you) where it will show their IP address. You have two options. In some firewalls, such as the Sygate Personal Firewall, you have the option to backtrace the attacker. If succesfull, you may even get their adddress. There are also many other programs, which shows you a visual route of where the attacker is. The other way could be considered more "leet" so I am going to teach you how to trace someone through DOS (Disk Operating System). DOS is basically a shell in Windows, which means that you can type commands into it that the computer understands. So, go into DOS
(Start>run>type "cmd" without the quotes") If you are on Windows 95 or 98, do the same thing, but type "command" instead. You should now see a black screen with some letters on it. Type this: tracert yyy.yyy.yyy.yyy
Of course replace the y's with the actual IP address. Also, depending on the operating system, you may need to type traceroute instead of tracert. You can test this out on yourself. Just type: tracert localhost
You should get something like this:
Tracing Route to <your computer name> [127.0.0.1]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
1. ə ms ə ms ə ms localhost [127.0.0.1]
Trace Complete
Let's go over what this means. First of, the 127.0.0.1 is your Loopback IP address. Every computer has an ip of 127.0.0.1, but that's not their real IP, it's just another way of saying "localhost", which is your own computer. The ms stands for milliseconds, which just shows how long the packet had to travel to reach that ip adddress. If you would be doing this to the attacker, there would be a lot more lines, and on the last line, you should see their ISP. ISP (Internet Service Provider) is just the company that provides them with the Internet)
4. If your attacker is stupid and does not spoof his IP, then you will get the real ISP and his real IP address. What you can do now is save those logs that have his port-scans in it and send them an email. If it is good enough, your attacker will have to find another ISP, since they will kick him out :)
Scenario 2: Attacker is inside
The steps that I described above could be taken if the attacker is just attacking you, but what if he/she is already inside your computer? What if they gained access over night when you were sleeping? If that happens, there is a lot more steps that you have to do. First of, you should check your firewall logs to see if any traffic has been recorded. If you are sure that they got in, you should immidiately unplug the modem from the wall. This would ensure that if the attacker is still inside, it would cut him of. I am sorry to tell you this, but you are going to have to do some major investigations now.
1. Do AV scans. The first thing you should do is check if the attacker installed any viruses on your computer. Start up your AV and let it scan your entire system. Even if it takes 5 hours, let it run. If it finds anything, make sure to get rid of it. If it doesn't, then at least you don't have any viruses.
2. Scan for Trojan Horses. A trojan horse is basically a program that lets the attacker execute commands on your computer. This means that if you have one installed on your computer, the attacker could open your cd-drive, mess with your printer, scree, etc. Basically, you would be screwed. The AV should automatically get rid of it, but if you want to be sure, go to www.download.com, search for "trojan removers" and it will come up with a bunch of trojan scanners and removers. Make sure though that you are not on the Internet, so that the attacker can't connect to you.
3. Check the processes. If you press Ctrl+Alt+Del, and then processes, you should see a bunch of things. These are basically the things that are taking place in your computer. Try to look for anything that looks suspicious, and if you find something, kill the process. I can't tell you what you should for exactly, which is the exact reason to get familiar with your computer and know what are its settings.
4. Check the registry. Basically, registry holds all the computer files. If someone would really wanna mess up your computer, they would attack the registry. Once again, try to look for anything unusual. There is one place through where you really should look:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentV ersionRun]
What you see on your right side are all of the things that start when your computer starts up. Once again, make sure you delete anything that looks like it's a bad thing. If you are unsure, you can always back up the registry by going to File>Export>and then just either saving the key or the whole registry. You should name it something like backup.
5. Discover how they got in. This can be the hardest part of the entire process. You should definitely see if there are any windows updates, and if so, then they most likely used the discovered exploit that you aren't patched against. You should also update EVERYTHING on your system, such as the firewall, AV, etc.
6. Getting back. After you are sure that there are no more bad things on your computer, you may put it back online. If, however, something similar happens, you should most likely seek professional help.
Tips and Ideas:
This is just a few things to keep in mind:
1. You should make regular back-ups of your whole system. If you get hacked, you can just load on the back-up, thus eliminating any kind of bad software.
2. Get Tripwire. There is a program called Tripwire (Do a search for it) that takes a "snapshot" fo your system, and is then able to identify if any files have been messed with. It costs money, but it's really worth it.
3. Change all the passwords. This should have been in the actual guide, but it's always a good idea to change your passwords for everything, including your computer, firewall, etc.
4. If yu have some serious damage, you could call the cops, but don't do that unless your computer was seriously damaged.
5. Have your important system files encryped, so that the attacker won't be able to read them, unless they know the algorithm, and know how to crack it.
more later....
|All times are GMT +5.5. The time now is 07:12.


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Average Ratings
5 out of 6 people recommended this car.
Consumer Reviews
Great Truck for the Money
by Practical Car Shopper from Hartsville, SC | November 14, 2013
Mid Size truck that sits five comfortably. Drives and handles well, comfortably, quit ride. Has all the interior features that I need, including eluminating interior lights. Better gas mileage than the big size trucks. Has the best sporty look among all pick up truck designs.
Purchased a new car
Uses car for Transporting family
Does recommend this car
Most comfortable truck I have owned
by luv my truck from Llanesboro MA | January 2, 2013
Great highway ride. Plenty of power and cruised along acheiving 22mpg with a v-6 and a tonneau cover. Truck feels solid all the way around AND HAS HIGH SAFETY RATINGS. Paying less FOR INSURANCE than I did for my 2001 truck. Comfortable seats, good road clearance and visibility while driving. Would recommend if you can find one and have a dealer close by.
Purchased a new car
Uses car for Just getting around
Does recommend this car
This Is the best priced Pickup truck ever!
by Suzuki! from Joliet Il | November 29, 2011
This truck only lacks fuel effiency but other then that what more could you ask of? The Suzuki RMZ4 is the best 260 hp
Purchased a new car
Uses car for Off-roading
Does recommend this car
ok truck
by bob from alaska | September 4, 2011
good truck but looks way to much like the nissan frontier. good towing but is bad on fuel compared to most trucks i've had . i did not feel comtrable because of that nissan frontier thing
Purchased a new car
Uses car for Towing
Does not recommend this car
Nice riding and nice looking truck.
by dogs72 from Iowa | August 3, 2011
I love this truck. The price and amenities are near perfect. Trucks should not require a "mortgage" payment yet should be durable. My only suggested improvements would be lighted cruise control components and Ipod or MP3 jacks. Great looking truck!
Purchased a new car
Uses car for Just getting around
Does recommend this car
Very Good Truck
by JuJu from Joliet Illinois | January 7, 2011
We just bought this exact one! Runs great is heavy duty. Comfortable. I highly recommend this truck. There aint many like this one around!
Purchased a new car
Uses car for Transporting family
Does recommend this car
Featured Services for this Suzuki Equator
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Instrumental Posters Series- Santorella Publications
Instrumental Posters Series- Santorella Publications
These colorful and unique fingering charts are the perfect teaching aid for the bandroom, classroom, private studio or simply as a beginners quick reference guide while practicing at home. �Order specific instrument posters or the whole set at a special price. �Each poster displays the entire range of the instrument via chromatic scale and includes a fingering chart for each note including every alternate enharmonic substitution. �11" x 17".
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As patients exert greater control over their healthcare, drug makers need to master the complexities of consumer behavior. Consumers are willing to offer feedback that informs who they are, how they behave and how existing biases impact their behavior. Drug makers that tap into this feedback will reach a new level of success.
Download the report
Cost and side effects dominate consumers' top frustrations regarding their treatment experience
Consumers have a habit of reshaping industries at inconvenient and unexpected times. Their expectations and demands initially appear irrational, faddish or impossible. But over time, a dance takes shape from a series of uncoordinated movements. Today, the retail, banking and travel industries make their moves based on a real-time understanding of consumer behavior. Fast feedback and a focus on the customer becomes the lifeblood of the company.
Hospitals and insurers have been slower to follow suit, nudged along by competition and payment systems that now factor in patient experience. For the pharmaceutical sector, the economic implications of consumer behavior are more complex. Prescription drugs remain a highly regulated business with physicians prescribing the product. At the same time, insurance companies and employers bear much of the cost. While consumers have limited veto power over the choice and price of prescriptions, they nevertheless have strong views on the industry, its products and expectations for a positive customer experience.
Just as change is sweeping across the rest of the healthcare landscape, the pharmaceutical sector is shifting as well. Drug makers today must increasingly prove that the "value" of their products goes beyond established measures of safety and efficacy. To do that, they need help from patients— the individuals best positioned to provide real-time insights into how a product works.
The rise of high-deductible insurance plans places more financial burden on individuals and families. In the past five years, patient out-of-pocket costs for prescriptions have climbed by 250%. As they increasingly spend their own money, consumers are no longer passive players in treatment selection and usage. They're customers with unique priorities, expectations, and demands.
PwC's Health Research Institute (HRI) discovered four defining elements of next generation patient:
In spring 2013, PwC's Experience Radar team surveyed more than 700 US consumers to understand their preferences and behavior in drug treatment selection and use, segmenting respondents into distinct groups. Key findings include:
Asthma is taking a toll on the United States. More than 25 million suffer from the chronic condition, triggering 10 million physician office visits, two million ER visits, 500,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year. The disease costs the nation about $56 billion a year in medical costs and lost productivity. Poor patient adherence is one contributing factor— up to 50% of patients do not take medication as prescribed.
Patients can avoid attacks if they know how to manage the condition and avoid certain triggers. In the past, patients were asked to keep daily written logs of symptoms, frequency of attacks, and reaction to therapy. Patients had difficulty sticking with the system, leading doctors to question the reliability of the data. But patients using an electronic diary showed consistently higher adherence in one recent study, suggesting patients were eager for a more convenient tool.
Propeller Health is hoping technology can fill the gaps. The company received FDA clearance in 2012 to market its platform device for respiratory diseases, including asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), to patients, doctors, and hospitals. Some insurers and public health agencies are smoothing the way by providing enabling access to the devices for patients with asthma.
A small, portable device that fits on top of inhalers uses GPS, Bluetooth-enabled sensors, and a mobile app to help patients and doctors manage asthma through accurate trigger and symptom tracking. Text messages and pop up alerts via smartphones remind patients to take their medication and log their symptoms.
Automating the chore of tracking medications, symptoms, and other data could be a game changer. Propeller keeps track of medication use by taking a digital snapshot of the time and location of inhaler use. The system shares this information with physicians. Propeller Health also offers ongoing educational outreach through email, text, mobile apps, and phone calls with certified asthma educators. Physicians can remotely monitor asthma symptoms and how well their patients are sticking to their medication schedule. Physicians can also set up customized alerts if a patient's condition deteriorates.
"One of the biggest challenges for patients with asthma is the cost of their medications," said Dr. Alan Leff, professor emeritus at University of Chicago Medicine and a pulmonary specialist. The cost of asthma medication can easily exceed $1,500 per year. Costs climb higher for patients who fail to control their disease. Propeller Health estimates that its approach can reduce annual costs $4,000 to $6,000 per member, making it attractive to health plans. Amerigroup Florida, a WellPoint plan, recently invited a targeted group of members to participate in a new asthma management program with the Propeller tools.
New medical technologies always take time to diffuse into patient and provider acceptance. Propeller Health's approach improves patient awareness of triggers, is more convenient for the patient, and has the potential to lower other medical costs.
Pressure test customer models against the evolving healthcare consumer. Pharma companies have long tried to segment and target their customers. However, traditional efforts may not be enough to understand the next-generation consumer. The industry must find a way to tap into its customers' nuanced lives to offer an enhanced personalized experience.
And while marketers are accustomed to analyzing by brand, companies can maximize a customer's "lifetime value" by pressure testing consumer profiles across multiple therapeutic areas and product lines to deliver a unified customer experience. While only a handful of companies have a portfolio extensive enough to cover several conditions, those who do not should consider partnering with others that offer complementary products.
Align real-world patient expectations and corporate strategy. For pharmaceutical companies, making treatment easier for the patient should be the new recipe for product success. Companies that have succeeded in the past with outdated strategies may be skeptical about new approaches. Leadership must proactively communicate the vital role that the consumer plays in determining a company's success.
Create a permanent seat at the table for patients. If companies box patients in as clinical trial subjects or focus group participants, they don't have a true customer-centered model. Companies can strengthen patient input in clinical trials— from study inclusion criteria all the way through to communicating trial results.
Patients are anxious for answers to the questions that most meaningful to them. When beginning a drug therapy, they want to know, "Will I have to take off work for this?" and "What side effects will impact me the most?" Creating a community in which patients feel comfortable expressing ideas about the information they receive is important, especially as disease states change.
Make it personal, make it precise. Consumers want to know that the treatments they're taking are right for them. In the absence of information, they turn to friends, family and wider social networks to compare experiences. Regulations make it difficult to participate in these networks, but pharma should find ways to work in tandem with regulators to educate and clarify the value they can bring to patients.
As the pharmacist's role expands and more retail pharmacies become full-service health centers, pharmacists have greater opportunity to influence behavior by integrating care. Drug makers should rethink the robustness of their pharmacist relationships, especially where retail clinics and pharmacy consulting services are available.
Targeted biologic medicines and molecular diagnostic products are routing patients to treatments more tailored to their genetics. Companies with these products can proactively communicate their purpose to strengthen the personal connection to consumers.
Embrace DIY consumers determined to control their conditions. Consumers are looking for better ways to manage their medications and associated costs, and many prefer to do so themselves. Technology that gives consumers more control over their lives, suggests healthy decisions, and avoids unnecessary medical appointments can bolster patient empowerment and improve outcomes. Building on these industries' successes, the healthcare industry must determine how to provide patients with tools that can achieve desired results.


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Closed Captioned
Celebrate a new life or a treasured friend with the gift of a stunning lace baby blanket or shawl. Renowned lace designer Laura Nelkin will knit along with you as you create her delicate Life Cycle pattern. She will show you how to master nupps, read lace charts and work this square project in the round. You will work through five beautiful motifs before adding an edging that is a work of art in itself.
Meet Laura and learn more about lace patterns.
Learn about the shawl you'll be making, Life Cycle. Get to know the double-pointed needle cast-on and the magic loop cast-on, then make your choice to get started on your lace knitting!
Create your egg stitch using double-pointed needles and the magic loop method.
Continue your egg stitch and review the sections you've just completed.
Start on the next sections of your lace with the beautiful instar stitch and cocoon rounds.
Now that you've gone over multiple lace stitches, step up your game with the nymph stitch.
Learn the delicate imago stitch so you can add something unique to any of your lace patterns.
Let's talk about edging! Learn about joins and the construction of edgings.
Learn how to finish your piece with the Kitchener stitch and weaving in the ends. Also learn about soaking and blocking in this finishing lesson.
Go back to basics with gauge and needle choice as Laura delves into the best ways to knit your lace.
Finish your lace experience with some techniques and tips, including how to use a lifeline and fix mistakes. Also learn about knitting with beads and working from charts.
"I recommend this class for several reasons: The instructor, Laura Nelken, gives clear directions and has many helpful suggestions for improving my knitting techniques. I have learned the circular cast on, the life line, and a new provisional cast on so far, and I'm only 1/3 of the way through the course and my project. The written directions are also very clear and easy to use. The project is interesting, with varied stitches; I am practicing each stitch enough to become proficient, and then there's a new thing to learn. I have been knitting for almost 50 years but have never done much with lace. I'm glad to be able to add it to my repertoire with this course."
- mixbarrington


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Network Monitor (Netmon) 3.3 Overview
- Posted: May 02, 2009 at 7:20AM
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SysOrb from Evalesco does both Windows monitoring and linux monitoring. It is a very scalable product that often is used with success because of the userinterfaces ease. http://www.evalesco.com/
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Police in Exeter, New Hampshire, are hoping new information becomes available that helps them solve a 30-year-old missing-person case.
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Celebrity best friends
Everybody needs friends, even celebrities. In honor of International Day of Friendship on Saturday, check some celebrities who just happen to be best friends.
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Damir Kramaric ('13) | Online Graduate Student, Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation
Damir Kramaric has a unique opportunity to help people in his home country of Croatia with the skills he's learning in ACU's Conflict Resolution and Conciliation program.
In Croatia, the majority are Roman-Catholic believers, while less than 1 percent are born-again Christians. There is often conflict and fighting among the people revolving around religion, says Kramaric, and few are trained to help resolve the arguing. That is where Kramaric wants to help.
I was looking for a program that would prepare me for leadership role in dispute resolution and in a wide range of disciplines requiring the effective management of conflict. I found it in the Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation that is offered through ACU.
Called to be peacemakers
"There is a tremendous need for an expert on the field of conflict resolution and reconciliation in Croatia," Kramaric said. "Christians here do not know where to turn when they find themselves in a real conflict situation. The pastors and elders are not trained for those situations, and they act according to their own instincts. We need a person who will be able to teach people how to analyze, address and manage conflict effectively and professionally."
His desire to help his people is what brought him to ACU. Though he originally enrolled in the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry program, he soon found the degree in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation would better fit his goals.
"Having this diploma will enable me to organize seminars, workshops, approach pastors and elders of different churches and offer professional help in the field of reconciliation and conflict resolution," Kramaric said. "The possibilities are really wide and diverse."
From atheism to Christianity
Raised as a hard worker, Kramaric was a successful student and studied to be a veterinary doctor. He earned the degree and respect among his fellow doctors, but it was not what he desired deep down.
Kramaric had been raised to believe there was no God, and that success was all that mattered.
"I was born into a family that did not believe in God," Kramaric said. "My parents were Communists and always taught me to believe in myself only. I was a good student and had enough money to live a hedonistic life. Deep down, I felt empty and miserable. After some time, I started contemplating suicide."
In the midst of his desperation and confusion, God sent Kramaric a friend from the other side of the world, Texas, to be exact.
"I met a young student missionary from Brownwood," Kramaric said. "We became best of friends, and he showed me the God I never thought existed. He opened the Bible for me for the first time in my life. I was stunned with Jesus' words, and my world turned upside down. After a long time of struggling with God, I finally gave up and admitted that He is the Creator."
A heart for his nation
Kramaric says he had many chances to start a successful career as a veterinarian, "but a war broke out, and our world crumbled before our own eyes. For the next four years, it all boiled down to a mere survival. I watched many of my friends go to the front only to come back in caskets," he recalled.
"At about the same time God started laying on my heart burden for my nation," he said. "God led me to a good church, and I started preaching regularly and leading worship.
"After the war the Trans World Radio (the biggest radio network in the world, transmitting Christian programs on more than 200 languages on all continents) approached me and offered me a position as head secretary in Croatia," he said.
Kramaric is hopeful that God will give him the opportunity to help his people end their constant struggle. "The enemy has succeeded to divert us from our true role in the society - we are called to be peacemakers," he said.
"I focus on testifying my faith to the lost and sharing the Gospel to anybody that is willing to hear it," Kramaric said. "God has led me this far, and I am willing to follow him to the end."
Learn more about the Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation


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|Registration and Academic Guide 2015-2016
Grading System
All credits offered are expressed in term hours. One semester hour of credit is granted for the successful completion of one hour per week of lecture, or two or more hours per week of laboratory training, for the period of fifteen weeks.
At the end of each semester, faculty members are required to submit final course grades. Students may access their grades by using MyFSU. Official grades are available starting at 8:00 am the Tuesday following exam week.
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By Katie Kuba
Senior Staff Writer
"I have a proven record; my opponent has no record," Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said about the gubernatorial race Friday afternoon, amidst a Mountain State Forest Festival in full swing.
Fresh from his official duty of crowning Queen Silvia LXXVI Emily McKibbin Everson, Tomblin also set aside time for campaigning, stopping at a handful of businesses and community organizations to greet Randolph County residents as well as festival goers from far away.
At one of his stops - the McNeer, McMunn, Highland & Varner law firm in Elkins- the governor sat down to talk about why he believes he's a better choice than his Republican opponent, Bill Maloney, what role he sees central West Virginia playing in the state's future, and of course, what he likes best about the Forest Festival.
Asked what he believes is the most important issue for voters to consider in the upcoming Nov. 6 general election, Tomblin said it should be a candidate's ability to create a business-friendly climate, pointing to the new Macy's distribution plant located near Martinsburg.
"We've continued to lower taxes and are eliminating the business franchise tax," Tomblin said. "The food tax will be gone by July 1 next year. Our bond rate is the highest it's been in decades. We've created a more business-friendly climate, and we're seeing a lot of inquiries and a lot of investment in the state because of our stability."
Tomblin, who was elected to finish the unexpired term of Sen. Joe Manchin in October 2011, said businesses have invested more than $6 billion in the Mountain State in the last 18 months, generating 6,500 new jobs as a result.
"I've proven I've got the ability to continue to move our state forward and to be able to create the kind of jobs that keep our children and grandchildren in the state," Tomblin said.
His positive rapport with Republicans hasn't hurt either, he said. Citing the passage of legislation designed to regulate the natural gas industry, increase coal mine safety and address statewide substance abuse, Tomblin said he has the tact to inspire bipartisan voting on key issues.
"Some of those measures mentioned were done with bipartisan support, and I'm not sure my opponent could have done that kind of work," the governor remarked, referencing Maloney. "I have experience balancing a budget, I can write legislation and I have the ability to work with all sides."
Tomblin said he feels "very confident" as the November election looms, noting he's spent the last 21 months talking with - and listening to - voters.
"I've gotten a lot of positive responses, and people seem to like what we're doing." he said.
So, with political power shifting from the southern part of the state to the Eastern Panhandle due to large population increases, how does Tomblin view central West Virginia's role in the Mountain State's future?
Tomblin said the state Legislature's leadership is more diversified now than it's been in the past.
"Leadership is dispersed all over the state," he said. "The timber industry here is doing very good, as well as wind power. It's absolutely important if we want to continue to move forward for people in this region to go to the polls and vote."
And finally, what does he enjoy most about the Forest Festival?
"The parades, and just walking around and seeing all the people out," he said. "I enjoy taking in the wood chopping contest and all the other things around going on.
"It's an exciting time for Elkins," he said.


text:
Fujifilm FinePix S1600 Review
Latest Camera Reviews
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G80 Review
Your Comments
126 Comments | Newest Oldest First | Post a Comment
In the past, Fuji superzooms have usually delivered some exceptional images, like the S200EXR, which makes us all the more disappointed to report that the S1600 performs way below expectations.
You are completely right i have been using somw older version of Fuji camera and found their resolution much better that the FinePix S1600 12.2 MP
I bought this unit in December 2009 in a local photo shop, after several months of use I have three words PIECE OF SHIT! Honestly, I really do not know where to start
I agree with the first two posters that older cameras do produce cleaner and sharper images.
The S1600 is actually very good when you compare it to today's super zooms though. Image quality is very good and noise reduction is under control and images are fairly sharp with lots of detail. ISO 400 also looks usable which is good news.
As for the third poster, sd card, this camera was announced on the 02-Feb-10 so there's no way you bought one in December 2009.
I have to agree, after extensive testing on the S1600 is a big pile of poo!
Had this camera since March. Very happy with it compared to "point & shoot" cameras I have owned at around the same price.
The S1600 is not perfect, but unless you want to pay loads more for a DSLR, it would be a good choice if you want to have much, much better pictures than P & S camera. Much more versatile too. Have a look at some of my pics here. http://www.myfinepix.co.uk/gallery/88902
I think some of the above comments are not valid as their links take you to their sites to try to sell you something!
If you consider the price of this camera (I just bought one for £134) they are excellent.
I am not getting on very well with all the auto features (aimed the camera at a beautiful sunset in scene recognition and it said AUTO which means can't recognise) but in program mode where you control some of the parameters it produces some great shots.
In comparison to my Canon Powershot SX20 IS it is a complete toy but it was half the price.
These are ideal cameras to 'learn' about SLR or as a cheap 'throw around' when you don't want to risk damaging your other equipment.
which one is recommended, the s1600 or the s1500? I'm considering both but would like a second opinion.
@lily jones
The main difference is the S1600 can record high definition video. The S1600 also has a slightly more powerful zoom.
Apart from that there are subtle differences but on paper at least the S1600 is just that little bit better in most categories.
There are only two links to UK prices, above - too see the full picture you can visit:
I'm from Bulgaria, the price of this camera here is like 229$, I just got it =)
It feels and look really great! Good gripe.
I like: fast startup, panorama feature, that zoom!!!, not bad at all pseudo HD video mode, this battery setup, that EVF make's me geeky, manual control…
But image quality is clearly jerky. It's like to take on walk expensive web camera.
Pooor color range, rich details are friends with some artifacts that look like very compressed JPG,(tree leaves look more like snivels) "standard" sharpness settings means that over your image is going to pass some not very talented photoshop user whit two layers of "sharpen effect", but don't lower this - will be even worst.
Yep, I'm not suppose to be surprise, as well as you! It is just that design, that mimic some more advanced camera, but is it a toy! If you have little budget there is no good choice - all that cameras are shit! :D
...maybe the better choice for same money is some Sony DSC W3—. Image should be however on "water filter" from our talented photoshop user, with slightly greater colors and wide-lens but I wasn't ready for no viewfinder, lithium-ion battery, also HD video from S1600 looks better than Sony one.
I was practicing my english, yeah. Take good shoots, have good life :)
Hello, which you advise, this machine or the Canon PowerShot SX120 IS? Which one is better?
@Guilherme that Canon don't have viewfinder. I still think S1600 have cheap quality after some tests. However batteries never go down :) Check if you wish some of my best shots: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jojokyra/sets/72157624045336297/
I had mine for 3 days and i'm gonna return it. Complete piece of shit, despite not having image stabilization, my 4 year old olympus SP 500 UZ takes better shots.
i got the camera a few months ago and i am dissapointed, i thoulght it was just me being picky but it seems other people have the same problems with the s1600 as i do, although it does zoom in really far, it is no use as the images are not sharp! so then whats the point in zoom if your pics will be crap? also, i have bin through all the different settings trying to make it sharp, but stil nothing.i wanted sharp pictures.also takes to long to take the picture from the point of pressing the button.looks like a fancy top notch camera,but its really dissapointing.anyone no of any actual amazing cameras?
Wonderinf if this camera has image stabilization "non-bluring mode". I brought it 2 take photos of sport. Will it blur. Is it qyick shor?
Low price camera with powerful zoom and acceptable photo quality.
if you expect more,you will have to throw alot more money for a better one.
Please compare it with any general Compact digital Camera, not with SLR. I think S1600 is a kind of little bit uplift from compact ones. What do you think?
I also have the Panasonic FZ-35 and Fuji S1600
and the Fuji aslong you use the camera at ISO 64
it produce exelent pictures,however the Pana is alot faster.have more detail,but Fuji have smooter pictures viewing at 100%
cosed by noise reduction,but in good wether the pictures can come out exelent.
The S1600 best picture qalitie is when you use the lens from 30 mm to 300 mm.
It is an good camera,expecial when you compare to the prise.
Also viewfinder and LCD is good.
Here some pictures with the Fuji S1600
and here FZ-35 FZ-38
Have fun :)
I like the s1600 at the moment…it takes a pretty good pic…if using zoom I reduce the frame size by pressing down on the pad.
I'm sure though that as I get better at taking pics I will inevitably grow bored of it.
It's a damb good camera to start off with and I'm
convinced that most of the people who say it's shit probably will take shit photos with whatever camera they are using.
A bad workman always blames his tools !!!!
I think I'm going to have one next month . The price is really good for the beginner.
i also have one recently the camera act quite slow no matter in focus,or taking and saving picture.
wonder would that be the problem of the firmware ?
the image stabilization is a little bit weird ,which not really do the job
in general with that price range u can expect how it does.
Really, guys, which one is a better deal, S1600 or the older S1500? I'm interested mostly in the picture quality & sharpness then in the slightly increased zoom of the S1600 or the (almost)HD movie it can deliver.
I've seen that there's a similar post (#8), but I'd like to know if there is a more detailed comparison of the two cameras.
If I were you, I would go for the s1600. I own the s1500. I also own a f70exr. My take, the s1600 must have improvements over the s1500. As for pictures, the f70exr takes great instant pictures better than my s1500. However, I find the S1500 so much more fun cuz of all the manual settings plus it feels just great..I love the s1500 even though is nowhere near perfect..go look for examples at flickr..
Thanks, Finepixperiod
I should probably tell you (and everyone on this site) that I'm planning to move up to S1500/S1600 from a point-and-shoot Pentax Optio L30 (that is, if I may say, an incredible sturdy camera; don't ask me how I've got this piece of knowledge :)), so, probably, any of the Fujifilm cameras that I was talking about would do just great for me.
Still, I'm concerned if anyone tested the both Fuji cameras and was satisfied or dissatisfied with them. I've read the posts from all the guys and I still don't know what's it gonna be.
C'mon, guys, give me some real clues in terms of sharpness and picture quality… Pleeeeaaaase!
have you tried people reviews on amazon.com or buzillions.com??
Just got my S1600 , Great camera , I think the negative people on this comments page are expecting too much of a camera at this level, Its a great mid range camera if you dont need a Slr level camera for lots of money. Once again , well chuffed with mine….
well after reading all these reviews on here reguarding this camera I have to dissagree with the majority of people who say this is a crap camera.
I am not a professional photographer, but this is without doubt the best Camera I have owned it does exactly what it says on the tin, the zoom is outstanding, the picture quality is good not had chance to try out the HD Recording mode.
but for me this is a great little camera
Can anyone tell me if this camera has the application where you can take a black and white photo and have some objects that stay coloured?
You will need to manipulate your pics in a photo editing program on the computer such as Gimp (free) or if you are serious - then Photoshop. There are other programs that are free on the net. I don't know of any camera that can do what you ask. Go here to find many answers to questions like yours. http://www.myfinepix.co.uk/
The Canon Powershot SX20 IS has a standard feature in the camera called color accent which allows you to select a color in the viewfinder and make everything else black and white. It also has a color swapping feature as well. This camera costs a lot more than the S1600 though.
I think most comments on here are very unfair on the Finepix S1600. I have been using it for a number of weeks now and have to admit that it delivers a lot more than you pay for.
Low light situations are handled pretty well. The camera has an effective "burst shoot" feature that allows you to take multiple photos in succession at full resolution. The Electronic viewfinder (which you don't usually find at this price tag) is very effective and useful when light conditions outdoors make the LCD screen hard to see.
Picture quality is good and can be improved even more with manual tweaking rather than using the Auto modes which are aimed at absolute beginners. The camera offers several options for manual user intervention up to a mode that is fully manual, allowing you to set shutter speed as well as aperture - alongside with exposure compensation. This affords ample room for creativity.
Its use of pencil batteries is an advantage - they are cheap to replace and readily available - should you run out of juice while on holiday.
My only complaint is the lens cover - I would have liked it to have a tighter fit.
Yesterday I got it from a webshop. This is my first digital camera, I had a reflex analog camera before buying this one, but it was beginning to have several troubles. What I can say at the moment is that the zoom is sursprising, the image quality is absolutely satisfying and that it's quite easy to use. I agree with Adama: working with auto settings is good for beginners or when still learning to use the camera, but with a small effort you can use manual settings to get even better performance. I hope to post another review in a short time, after testing it accurately.
i got the s1600 for my b day and would say it's one of the best fuji's around!
After using it longer, I am very satisfied. It's not that easy to be used, but with a small effort I managed to obtain very good results. Obviously, as this is a super zoom, obtaining perfect pictures at full zoom is quite hard without a stand, but anyway the double stabilizer works very fine. The panorama mode is great! I have the feeling that I'm using this camera at 20%... I believe that in a short time my familiarity with it will grow very well
right now im in portugal and i just took a lush panarama by the sea i've had a lot of fujifilms but this is in my top three.but can be a bit sharp
At the link below you can find a photo taken with my S1600 with the Panorama mode:
A remarkable camera for the price. Pity there weren't more sample pictures at ISOs above 800
to show low light performance.
Can't fault the rest of your review.
I bought this camera. It was slightly more expensive than the older HD2000 but has almost the same specs.
During the day you can shoot some nice pictures but when there is little light it gets hard to get decent pictures. Mainly because there is no manual focus option. Auto focus is really lacking.
I now wonder if I should have gone for the HD2000 as that one was a more profi camera at the time (2008).
My main 2 problems with the camera is the lack of manual focus and HD video only goes up to 9min (says 15 max in the manual). Now I get the 2GB FAT restriction but why not let the camera keep on filming and auto cutting up the peaces.
I have just purchased this camera and I am very pleased with it. Its a whole lot better then I expected . Have a look at Claus Marnix's picture link - outstanding! I dont know how anyone can criticise this little camera - and so cheap too. I remember 35mm SLRS I had in past - some costing £300 + The fuji pix are far superior and such atomation!
LCD display look fall apart when I use this cam in low light condition.
How can I take a good picture, if what I see in the viewer look bad…
Any suggestion?
I think all you have to do is go look at Mr Marnix's photos - esp the Audi car - amazing. A lot of pros would like to have taken that picture.
Looks like a great camera so i will start saving. Really good in-depth reveiw.
These pix (hope you can see them) were taken today using the s1600 all without a tripod - at least of them was taken at max zoom WITHOUT A TRIPOD!!
Hi Paul,
I can't see you photos can you please post the link again? cheers
Sarah - my name was the link - did you try it? Here it is again anyway - a link to my Picasa album.
Juts hope it reaches you as a link! Paul
Here are some test shots I took last night mostly with flash also some macro or close up shots too.
It works fine if you just use it for taking pictures.In the video mode,it has static in the background,like a hissing. Also when the zoom is used, it is very audible. And lastly, when recording sound that is a bit loud,it comes out distorted.
which camera buy - Fujifilm s1600 or Nikon Coolpix L110?
Does ne one know about the battery if its rechargable and wha bout the S1800 how is the camera?
Standard batteries. Anyway you can use rechargeable ones and set the camera to work with them. What I know about S1800 is that the only difference with S1600 is the zoom.
I think the little s1600 takes great pix
- and here are some more!
hi i just bought one it sreally good except for when you download pictures on to the pc because i inserted the cd rom and went through the paces but then it was meant to come up with save image wizard and it said I/O error instead theni had to click ok and nothing happened and i dont know what to do any help would be much appreciated??????? x
'E' Forget about program with your camera. GOTO http://picasa.google.com/ and download Picasa 3 which is a very good free program and will import your pictures too
'E' dont forget when you connect your camera to your PC/Laptop via the USB cable it automatically creates a 'removable disc' which you can double click on to see your pictures and videos then just highlite and drag to 'pictures' on your PC.
Thats basic with most cameras and mobile phones these days
simple n easy, good camera. I like it.
would this camera (s1600) take good action sports pictures? Football, baseball ??
Would this camera take good night shots?
I'm looking at a new camera, I currently have a Canon SD1000 and it takes terrible night shots.
Hi all..
I'm new to the s1600.. When I press the shutter in single shot mode, there is a blank display for around a second or so before the taken image appears.. This is something that didn't happen on my Kodak Z612 Bridge.. Is there a problem with my camera, or is this a characteristic of the s1600..
Feedback would be appreciated.
Many thanks
I think any camera when used for takign night shots would need either a tripod or flash OR both.
I do believe if you look trough the menu's you will find a Night scene setting (still need tripod though)
I had not really noticed LITTLEJOHN the blank display when takign picture - but I don't think its a problem or fault - just concentrate on taking great pix - like these of my home town of Brighton south coast UK.
The problem I'm having with night shots is that focusing hardly ever gets it right. As there is no manual focus I would have to say no not very well suited for night photography.
This is one of the better night shots. Still pretty bad. The rest is even worse (approx 30 shots taken).
Has anyone used this camera at a concert? Are the shots really grainy?
Only one way to find out….....
It is actually possible to increase flash output (ie More illumination) - I believe the menu is accessible when the flash is in up position - that might help.
make sure you return to normal position when finished as it naturally use up more power. Use Lithium batts anyway they last fro ages and are worth the extra.
Hey guys, i use my current sony v1 for the occasional trophy shots when fishing in all light conditions but am thinking of upgrading. Im no expert and the sony has to many options for my liking, with ease of use and picture quality in mind what do you think regarding the fuji???
Dave G: The little s1600 is a very sophisticated little device and amazing for the price. It can take pictures an all sorts of lighting conditions. A lot depends on things like how high an ISO its using - remember back in 35mm times we rarely went up past ISO 200…
But you do have TOTAL MANUAL CONTROL with this camera. And there are also two night modes too one needing a tripod. You can also increase the flash output too. The pictures I have taken at night were fine with just one a bit blurry.
At night always use a tripod…
Thanks Paul and i do have a tripod so it seems to tick the boxes and certainly sounds value for money!
Thanks again.
Hey, im thinking about buying this camera, does it take black and white pictures without using editing software on the computer? is this a good camera to buy? Thanks.
Yes it does take B&W images in Auto mode hit the little 'F' Function button top right of main menu control you will see a menu to set:1)Normal 2) Chrome (Hi color) 3) B&W
I think this little camera is very good value for money - esp as the price has recently dropped a lot (around £102!!!) I paid £148 GBPs for mine (bummer) It has very sophisticated manual controls and even read eye removal HD Video, Panoramic and total manual control over all functions - a very good macro setting too and a zoom lens that is the equivalent to 28 - 420 mm!
amazing! If you have more money though I would probably recommend the Panasonic Lumix F38 its better at capturing action shots and the s1600 does have a bit of a problem with zoom motor noise when recording video - its not a problem though.
2 recommendations:
1) DO use Lithium batteries - they are a bit dearer but last for ages. - or rechargeable. Standard batteries dont last 2 minutes.
2) Dont bother to install the software on the CD that comes with this camera - I recommend the Free Google Picasa 3 its a great free prog and when you put yr cameras SD card or USB connection it will sync automatically and download yr pix/Videos It also makes it very easy to upload your pix online also to youtube.
Thanks, really helped. Is the focus good on it? I currently have a little fujifilm compact camera but want to get into photography more without spending loads on the proper big cameras so this is perfect. Thanks again for your help.
I would award the focusing 9 and a bit out of 10. It does miss sometimes.
I have noticed occasional Out of focus with the video mode.
When taking photos just refocus, also make sure image stabilisation is ON and use a tripod/flash in low light conditions and 'Sport' setting for action shots. If you go to the fujifilm finepix website you can download the instruction manual as a Pdf file so you can check it our before you buy.
Hi Guys,
Have been looking at buying the fuji s1600 for a couple of months now but am still undecided on the comments and reviews that i have read.
I have previously just had standard point and shoot cameras - olympus & canon. Never a fuji.
im a very basic beginner and would just love a decent camera to take sharp photos with a little more life to them, also something with great pigmentation of colour you could say?
i am from Australia and are able to buy this camera for around $180 but dont want to buy and be disapointed that the shots will be the same as my other cameras.
Would love for someone to give me a novice a great insight to if i am expecting a bit much of such a cheap camera?
thanks guys.
Well, I suggest you read the comments and inwardly digest - also look at the photograph links and decide from that. Over here in UK you an get this camera for £107 GBP (VERY CHEAP) I would however suggest you go for the s1800 which has 18 x magnification but is otherwise identical but with a much more powerful zoom lens - eqivelent too 600mm!
Only fault with these cameras is the there is some noise form zoom motor when recording in the HD video - annoys soempeople but for the price its worth disregarding. After that you need to look at the Panasonic Lumix cameras which ARE superior - but dearer. the F38 and the new F45 have stonkign good write-ups - the Lumix F45 is best with a 24 X zoom and 14 MP sensor!!!
Hello, i already have the fujifilm j30 but not sure whether to get this fujifilm s1600. Is there much difference between them?
i have been thinking about getting this camera (fuji finepix s1600) for a while and have received very contrasting reviews; it seems like a love/hate product.
i use cameras mainly for macro or action shots (i know they are very different) mainly animal subjects. this camera seems to have good macro reviews, and some sample macro images are amazing, but i was wondering what action shots were like? Such as flying birds, moving pets or just general moving animals. does it blur or become grainy? thanks for the help :)
and are there any other bad points about it?
Action shots are quite decent but that's more a question of finding the right settings and how fast ur subject is moving. Getting a still non blurry image that isn't to dark or anything from a car moving on the high way (over 60Mph/100kmh) isn't exactly easy but to a certain degree doable.
Lets see if I can upload some useful sample pics.
Swans "running" of (50% otherwise file was to big for upload).
Hope this helps.
Aparently I can only add 1 or maybe 2 links per reply. So here are the others.
Plane flying over head (cropped otherwise file was to big for upload).
120mm fans mounted on plexiglass (50%, flash may have been used, not sure)
- Motion blur
120mm fans mounted on plexiglass (50%, flash may have been used, not sure)
- No blur
I dont really think that this little camera's forte is action photography. I live right next to London Gatwick airport and getting any kind of sharp clear images of aircraft taking off is largely down to luck, light and settings. Obviously you need to select the sport mode to get fastest shutter speed - the problem with doing this on Auto is that the camera can select up to and above 800 ISO/ASA and this is where the rot sets in with this kind of bridge camera - noise, pixelation, speckling and blurring of detail.
The thing to remember is that the physical laws of photography have NOT changed since the old 35mm days…... Back then we mostly all used 200ISO/ASA film although of course you could buy 400 if you wanted action shots…most of us stuck to 200 for general photography. But even with 400 film there was some degradation of the images with so called 'faster' film.
If you zoom out with the s1600/1800/1900's 410mm lens within the ground effect THE SHUTTER SPEED WILL DROP! So without a tripod or support you can expect shake and blur. But in auto mode as I said above - the camera will try to compensate for the lack of light coming in by upping the ISO. Pointing your camera up at the sky causes diffent problems with a bright cloudy sky you will of course get silhouetting. The little s1600 series of cameras are very sophisticated in manual - you can switch to P for program and program your camera to act just as if it was a 35mm camera using 200 ISO film! You can even save it as a personal profile using 200ISO to be used again and again.
If you are trying to target moving objects/action shots you have to develop the skill of tracking the object, focusing and and bracketing the exposure - there are better camera for this of course, and dearer ones too. The Panasonic Lumix FZ100 is a very good example.
No doubt about it though, this particular camera does have a very good close-focus/macro mode.
Good luck
thanks for the help and the sample shots. the swan one especailly helped as i will mainly be photographing large swans, or the faster movign seagulls. they seem to be decent shots with not too many faults.
thankyou as well for the advice, and for being truthful. i am still considering it, although i understand that action shots may not be it's strong point.
the panasonic looks beautiful but the hard truth is, i can't afford a camera like that. maybe one day, but for now i think the fuji will hopefully suit my needs.
thanks again for the help everyone, more advice is appreciated :)
Hello, sorry just wondering if anyone can answer my question. I have a fujifilm j30 but not sure whether to get this fujifilm s1600. Is there much difference between them?
Thanks :)
@Paul Milhouse
That really depends on what you're missing in the J30/what you want to do with it.
I would say yes they are quite different.
big - small
zoom lens - not really
EVF - no EVF
HD video - lower res
Quite advanced features - little less advanced
Think those are things ur interested in. Picture quality is probably quite similar.
I have had this camera since Oct…took it to Japan. At first was a little disappointed, but as i become more familiar with it i am really enjoying it. I think for the price, you are getting a pretty nice little camera. Of course it's not up to snuff with a DSlr, but really….come on….how can you compare?? We are looking at hundreds of dollars difference in price. For me this is the perfect camera to get familiar with before taking the big jump to a DSLR. It's great that is has manual settings; the zoom is nice'; and by and large the quality of the pics is very acceptable, sometimes even very very good.
I've had this camera since September 2010 and i'm fairly happy with it. If you want to see some of the pictures if taken, you can look here: http://s1091.photobucket.com/albums/i391/keishaDWW/
I just have one question. I'm going to an indoor concert, and i'll be using manual settings. what should I set the ISO & shutter speed to?
Does anyone know how I can get my images off the internal memory?
Please help!
Alibaby: I have not tried this as I put in an SD card straight away, you cant take many pix using internal mem anyway.
Have you tried simply connecting up to your PC/Lappy via the USB cable?? This should create a 'removable storage device' Click on 'Computer' in your start menu (This being the cameras internal memory. CLICK on that. Or - Get an SD card say 2GB (4 is better) you should be able to copy your pix to it I think the s1600 has a menu.
Failing that you could try installing the software that comes on the CD I assume you got that. OR. Download Google Picasa 3 which is an excellent FREE photo editing organizing prog from Google http://picasa.google.com/ I use it all the time. Good luck!!
Transferring internal pics to sd. Turn on cam, press green "play" buton, press the menu button, go to copy and press "right". Rest is child's play.
Thank you so much Paul Edwards and eNdEmiOn. :)
well i got the camera for my birthday, and tbh i dont find it very good the images are not deatailed i might aswell have a digital camera and i cant take it back :(
@grace how bad are the images? have you had any other cameras that are better?
also the fuji finepix s1600 is a digital camera as far as i know, but i understand what you mean :)
If you've read this far and you are still undecided, have a look at some shots that I've posted on Flickr
For the money - highly recommended!
I agree totally - this is a very neat little camera and I think the pictures I take these days are far better then anything I took with 35mm camera's I had 15 years or so ago ( I had some good ones). With the big advantage of course that you never need to put up with the odd bum image (just delete it!) Click on the links on this page and look at various, often very good, images taken by s1600/s1800 owners - after all the whole point is to take photographs = to capture a moment in time - we are not professional photographers are we? IF you really want to take excellent images then you must buy a DSLR probably costing GB £300 + then another 2 or 3 hundred $/£ for a lens (you will probably need more then one) ......get the picture?? IF in doubt set the s1600 to auto and bang away at anything that takes your fancy ...... I cant believe you wont get some nice pictures.
Paul Edwards
I've decided to order one of these cameras as I want a point and shoot camera that takes decent photos, has a bit of video on family days out. It's cost me £99 from Amazon and for £99 I can't see a better camera on the market. I recently sent back a Panasonic FZ100 because the image quality was awful. I then did some research and found this camera to be one of the best value cameras available on the market.
I've downloaded a few sample photos taken on this site and done some 'curve correction/sharpening' and they look damn good for a point and shoot camera. I've also checked some of the posts on flickr and other photo sites and I think this will do me as a walkabout snap shot camera for the foreseeable future.
I also own 2 DSLRs a Nikon D300 and a Fuji S3 Pro but want something thats light, decent zoom, decent snap shots for when I'm down the beach with the kids and the dog and I don't want to lug 25+kg's of camera equipment about with me. Coming from the world of a DSLR where I generally have to post process virtually all my photographs. For £99 I think this camera is hard to beat :)
I've had this camera since November and have had very few issues with it. The panorama feature took a little getting used to (had some pretty interesting double bridges and what not,) but overall a great buy for only $160US. It's perfect for me because I wanted a camera that felt like a real camera but I'm not quite so dedicated that I need a dSLR.
Here's a night panorama shot that I took back in January:
I bought a finepix s1600 last week and cannot get a sharp image on the lcd unless I have used the zoom. Has anybody else had this problem or is there a fault with the camera?
Entry Tags
hd video, hd, 3 inch LCD, wide-angle, 720p, 12 megapixel, manual, fujifilm, super-zoom, fuji, finepix, EVF, 15x, s1600, Fujifilm FinePix S1600 Review


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'Edelin' | Thong Leather Sandal by HUGO
Style No. 50262835
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This sandal by HUGO is crafted from smooth calfskin in a thong construction with a clear strap at the front for a modern look. A tonal buckle detail at the ankle and the 0.5 cm (0.19 in) heel completes this look. This pair is leather lined with a leather sole for comfort.
- 100% Calfskin
- Metal stud details down front
- Tonal buckle at ankle
- Clear strap across toes for a modern look
- Logo detail on inner sole
- Goat leather lining
- Leather sole
- Heel height: 0.5 cm (0.19 in)


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This Transmittal Notice (TN) forwards a change to the delegation, Part 1, Chapter 5, Delegations of Authority, Exhibit 1-5.2F-11, Subject: Appointing Authority. The Office of Research and Development, has been changed to the Office of Health Program Development; and the Nashville Program Office appointing authority is exercised through the National Hansen's Disease Center, Carville, Louisiana.
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Q: What brought you to our website?
A: I saw it mentioned in a GW2 forum along with other guilds. I researched it and this looks like a good fit for me.
Q: This recruitment process requires that we get to know you a little bit. Please tell us a little about yourself.
A: I am a male in my 30's. professional career. I have hobbies that include working on cars, computers and home stuff.
Q: If possible, it would be helpful if you could tell us what Account Name you are using in-game, as many members on our site here have a different user name compared to their account name. This will allow us to know it is you.
A: JerseyMike
Q: All members are expected to uphold respectful conduct when communicating with other players and guildmates. This applies to in-game situations, our website and on guild/GW2 related websites and message boards. Intolerance for others based upon religion / sexuality / gender / ethnicity / etc. is not welcome. We are a guild of HONOR and INTEGRITY, and we reflect that in all public forums. The general rule of thumb is to treat people how you would like to be treated in return. How do you feel about this?
A: That is how I feel....part of the reason I am requesting membership
Q: In-Game Guild Status - Guild Wars 2 will allow characters to switch between multiple guilds as they wish while playing the game. The OSD Division Leadership Council within the Guild Wars 2 game expect that you will focus your time and energy towards this guild alone and will keep your characters as members of the OSD. Therefore it is an expectation that you will be 'representing' the Order of the Silver Dragons at all times while playing in-game as a member of this community. With that said, there might be a feasible reason why an alt character or an RP character should be in another guild. Special cases and requests will be handled on an individual basis. What are your thoughts on this?
A: sounds fine with me...I plan on having all characters in the guild.
Q: Ventrilo is a communications tool that allows our membership to experience the full effect of being in a community-based gaming guild. If you feel alone in game and you don't feel that much is going on, or felt the scheduled event experience was lacking or not working as intended... it might just be because you aren't using the communications tools available to you.
VENTRILO use will be 'Strongly Encouraged' for all players to actively use while performing normal game activities whenever you are playing in GW2. Even though it is not a requirement, it should be strongly considered for usage as a communications tool that allows our membership to experience the full effect of being in a community-based gaming guild.
VENTRILO use can, and no doubt will be 'Mandatory' during organized guild events, such as Dynamic Content runs and meta-events/dungeons, WvW, sPvP, group or team meetings, as well as other types of scheduled events if the event coordinator advises of such.
You don't have to speak if you don't want to, so long as you are on to listen to other members that might need help or guidance. With that said, we have several dedicated Vent rooms that allow you to sit quietly in peace if you so wish. All public discussion areas such as public vent channels are PG-13. Are you okay with our Ventrilo policies?
A: yes
Q: If you are accepted as a member of our guild, you will automatically be placed at our 'New Member' position within the game. Please be mindful that this is not a single-player RPG game, but a multi-wing online gaming community. You will be expected to communicate, interact and support your fellow guildies, as well as ensure that you follow our Charter of Excellence at all times. In order to show your allegiance or loyalty to our community, we will ask that you perform certain 'Community Quests' that give you the opportunity to communicate, interact and generally become a member of our community (don't worry, they are enjoyable tasks that allows you to get involved with our player-base). Once these 'Guild Quests' are resolved, you will be raised one rank level in-game which allows you to access all the benefits of our guild. Are you okay with this?
A: yes
Q: We have found that guild members have a better gaming experience if they use the forums and the events calender. This allows you to get game information and join guildies in events as your real life time permits. Do you intend on being active on our website forums and events calendar?
A: yes
Q: Once you learn how, we would like you to create events or RSVP for other scheduled events as your real life schedule permits. What are your thoughts on this?
A: sounds good as long as it doesn't interfere with work or my wife.
Q: Have you been playing MMO's for a while, or are you just getting started?
A: I played for a few years on different MMO's in the past. I was very active in GW1. just getting back into things with GW2
Q: We expect all members to submit and update their characters in our Guild Wars 2 sub-forum 'Character Roster' (character name, class, level, possibly build, etc.). Are you okay with this? After reading the above content, why do you think it might be important?
A: yes, so that my characters are known to the guild and it keeps me involved.
Q: What kind of character do you typically play? Tell us about your main character you envision, and please list any alts that you know you will be bringing into the guild as well.
A: to start with I have a basic traditional warrior (somewhat tank like). but I also prefer casting characters and have a secondary elementalist that I will probably play as well. In GW1 I had 3 main charaters...fire elementalist, monk and warrior.
Q: What type of playstyle do you enjoy the most?
A: PVE group play, roleplayer.
Q: If you violate any rules defined within the gaming EULA, you will face disciplinary action up to and including removal from this community. Do you understand, and agree with this rule?
A: yes
Q: What time of day do you typically play? How often?
A: it varies. but mostly afternoon or night, sometimes mornings if not working.
Q: Are you affiliated with any other guilds?
A: no
Q: How do you think you can best help this community? How can this community best help you?
A: by being an active member
Q: OSD is generally a "casual, do it all" guild, meaning we welcome players from all playstyles and don't limit our focus to one playstyle in particular. We welcome PvPers, PvEers, Roleplayers, Crafters, etc. For example, while we may offer weekly raids, we are not a hardcore raiding guild that requires you to raid 5 or 6 nights a week. We also do not consider any one playstyle to be more important than another, all members of OSD are equal. For example, a hardcore PvPer will never be considered "more valuable" to the guild than a casual Roleplayer would be. Are you okay with this? Any additional thoughts on this topic?
A: this sounds great
Q: With the previous question in mind...We will never force you to participate in any activity or event that falls outside your playstyle of choice. However, from time to time you may be asked to help the guild out if we are short a particular class, or just need to fill up an empty group spot. Are you okay with this? Any additional thoughts on this topic?
A: sure as long as i have the time to step in.
Q: We do ask that you stay active on the guild website as much as possible. We don't expect anybody to become a forum junkie by any means. But we do expect our members to cast their votes on any polls we put up, give input in any posts we make asking for opinions, as well as chime in with your thoughts when other members open discussions. What are your thoughts on this?
A: sounds good
Q: What previous experience, if any, do you have with the original Guild Wars?
A: I played for years and was very active. I was in a guild with a few friends and family members (very small guild...just a few members) and enjoyed it.


text:
The Auction this year will include:
2 Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational Golf Bags filled with goodies
Pittsburgh is Hockeytahn tees
A 2009 Stanley Cup Final Program autographed by Mario Lemieux
Game worn Max Talbot gloves, autographed
An authentic autographed Mario Lemieux jersey
A Pittsburgh Pirates program from the 1987 Retirement of #9 autographed by Bill Mazeroski
Original artwork from The Pensblog's own Stephen S.
Penguins game tickets
Labatt Blue, Bud Light, Miller Lite, & Red Bull prizes donated from Fuhrere Wholesales & Wilson-McGinley
If anyone is interested in donating anything for the auction or helping out with the festivities in any way, please email me at email@example.com
It is an all-ages event, but please bring id for the adult drinky drinks.
$10 cover at the door that goes straight to the MLF.
Calico Jack's will also be donating $1 for every person that walks through the door. Their staff is also donating 25% of all tips collected throughout the evening so tip hearty, my friends.
DJ Dave will be spinnin' tunes all night while classic Pens games will run on all of their tvs.
Drink specials include $2 Labatt Blue & Blue Light and $3 Captain Morgan & Parrot Bay from 8pm-10pm.
Come on down anytime after 6:30. Winners of the auction will be announced by 10pm. You must be present to win.
Calico Jack's is located at 353 North Shore Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15212-5834
Posted by Rick on Dec 19, 2009 21:54


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Beneficial Bug House
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Exclusive | Beneficial Bug House Welcomes Pollinators and Pest-Eating Insects
- Invite beneficial insects to take up residence
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Like a three-story inn for beneficial insects, this attractive insect house provides just the right habitat for some of gardeners' best friends. Solitary bees will nest in the bamboo "upstairs" and the holes in the first floor wood block, so they'll be ready to pollinate your garden come spring. The middle floor will attract pest-eating lacewings and ladybugs; the door opens so you can add a bit of dried grass and a few twigs for them to settle on. We designed the house to the exacting specifications of the insects so they'll feel right at home.
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- Fir protected with eco-friendly preservative and oil stain
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There are no special shipping restrictions or charges associated with this item. For detailed information about our delivery methods and charges, click here.
We're proud of the fact that this item is shipped to you directly from our warehouse in Vermont, by one of our 250 employee-owners. In-stock items are packed with care and shipped within the next business day to ensure prompt delivery to your home and garden!


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A Weld County family discovered a dead bear on Wednesday morning in a ditch near their feedlot northwest of Greeley, and wildlife officials believe it's the same bear that spent Monday napping in a tree along U.S. 34.
Liz and Nate Hergert said their grandfather discovered the small bear, apparently hit by a vehicle, next to their farm on Weld County Road 27 north of Colo. 392, about five miles east of Windsor. Nate Hergert said officials from Colorado Parks and Wildlife picked up the bear's body Wednesday morning.
"It's kind of unusual for me to start off my day by looking in a ditch at a bear," Hergert said.
Jennifer Churchill, spokeswoman for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said officers believe the bear whose body they recovered Wednesday morning is that of the bear that surprised a Johnstown family early Monday morning.
The bear took refuge in a tree along U.S. 34 at Weld 17, a few miles west of Greeley, where he stayed all day Monday before heading south that evening.
Wildlife officials were hopeful the bear was on its way back to its habitat. Churchill said officers were glad they didn't have to tranquilize, tag and relocate the bear, since they would have to kill it if they were to find it in trouble a second time.
Churchill said the bear whose body was recovered on Wednesday had injuries consistent with being hit by a car.
Bureau Chief Steve Reams, spokesman for the Weld County Sheriff's Office, said his agency hadn't received any reports of a vehicle hitting the animal.
Churchill said it's important for residents to do their part to prevent attracting bears with food sources, and drivers need to be aware that wild animals are everywhere in our state.
"It's just an unfortunate part of what wildlife have to go through," she said. "We don't want them near us for these very reasons."


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Runner disappointed by garbage in Elkins
January 12, 2013
Editor: I am an avid runner who travels to every state through my employment. I take every opportunity to run my seven to 15 miles in every town or city where my work takes me....
Elkins has only become this trashy since the closing of the Randolph County land fill. People have NO place to dispose of TV's or large appliances! There is no proper place to dispose of them, not even on your own dime! Even the number of illegal trash dumps has increased dramatically in the last few years since the county dump has been closed! When will our local officials address this major problem? But they are to busy installing fake brick sidewalks in the downtown area, and installing pleasent, friendly lighting for the down town area! Maybe we should work on cleaning up our trash first?
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This newspaper is one of the top contributors of the negative sterotypes of the region. Newspapers are typically a window into the soul of a community. Visitors who came to Elkins last week and noticed the headlines and feature stories in the newspaper boxes as they entered their hotel rooms saw glaring headlines almost daily about sexual perverts and meth heads who live here. Maybe the newspaper could start putting those types of stories on page two instead of the front page. And to think, they're more worried about a tv show called "Buckwild".
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When I was growing up during the sixties and seventies, small towns like Elkins, Belington and Philippi's neighborhoods were clean. People kept their yards and homes nice and you were proud to have visitors come for a visit. Once those homeowners aged and passed there properties were sold to individuals who have no pride in their property or worse "slumlords" who refuse to keep-up with their properties and could care less as long as the rent is paid. There definitely needs to be housing and property codes and enforcement officers to offer warnings and fines. There is no excuse for household garbage, furniture and applianceso n the roadsides. I no longer make my residence here but have family that does.So sad to see the way things have changed. An idea for the abandoned properties would be to give a warning to clean up or demolish these structures within 90 days or the city will at the cost of the deed to the property. Where I live it will cost $300 if leave your empty trash
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Simone: You and I have some things in common; I too am a runner and am disgusted by the amount of litter I see on the side of the road. I will say, however, that your letter comes off as elitist, judgmental, and annoying. I personally am happy that you addressed this issue, but how about offering some solutions as opposed to just a derisive commentary that we "fail to notice or just don't care"? There are many people here who care about the environment and want our state to be as beautiful and clean as possible, and, of course, there are a number of people (as there are anywhere) that litter.
Trash disposal and littering is a problem in Elkins and in West Virginia as a whole. I sincerely hope that your letter reminded the city government that this continues to be a problem. However, we generally don't take too kindly to words like "hillbillies" or assertions that we are unaware or careless. These types of people exist everywhere, not just here.
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This problem is not only for the local officials to address, but for the county, state, and federal officials to address as well. The local officials are at the bottom of the ladder - they do what the "higher-ups" mandate by law. The real problem is not the City government's - it is EVERYBODY'S. FACE THE FACTS - we have dirty, lazy, irresponsible, uneducated drug-addicts living in our City who take absolutely no pride in anything; they're always waiting for someone else to clean up after them and take care of them.
I actually look forward to getting the Inter-Mountain these days, I love seeing the meth busts and other criminals being brought to justice! Go Inter-Mountain for publishing these items on the front page!
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Monday, January 14, 2013
So, here I am at 52. How'd THAT happen? Just yesterday I was 22 and eating tofu for the first (and last) time.
Speaking of time, it's amazing what can go down in 12 months. In the last year, my husband and I have traveled near and far, coped with elderly parents, buried a loved one, bought a boat and tiptoed through the minefield that is married life. (Widdle Baby and I are happily wed, but anyone married longer than six minutes understands the "minefield" reference.)
I like to think I learn a little more with each passing year; otherwise, what's the point? Thus, some truisms I've learned (or re-learned) in the last year:
• It's never too late to give yourself a happy childhood.
• Chocolate is over-rated. So is bacon. (Ducks and runs for cover.)
• People without grandchildren probably won't appreciate the video of your grandson warbling "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in the Pre-K talent show. If they're friends, they will listen politely. If they're not, don't bother.
• Exercise every day. It will change your life.
• Psychiatrists say if we pretend to be happy by smiling and acting cheerful, in a very short while we ARE happy. So, fake it til you make it.
• You were not put here to be perfect. Unclench your jaw and relax.
• When people ask, "How are you?" all they really want to hear is "Fine."
• If you feel like you don't matter, adopt a dog. You will soon realize you're the most important person in the universe!
• Frozen yogurt tastes as good as premium ice cream. Truth.
• It's not too late: Decorate for Christmas, even if you don't feel like it. A dozen mini-lights wrapped around a potted cactus is better than nothing.
• Nobody likes a complainer. Check yourself.
• People who constantly post photos on Facebook of their perfect projects, perfect child, perfect meals, perfect home and perfect vacations ("Off to Austria for another fabulous ski trip!") are… wait for it… perfectly boring.
• And people who unfriend you on FB are probably just shallow and jealous, like me.
• I am so over Paula Deen.
• If you wouldn't want to see your behavior featured on CNN Headline News, don't do it.
• Shop locally when you can. (Most of the time, you can.) It helps your neighbors and makes you feel good.
• If you don't know how to cook, sew or clean, you'd better look hot in a little black dress.
• Yes, I'm Episcopalian. No, I don't want to talk about it.
• Never miss an opportunity to miss a meal. You won't explode or drive the wrong way on I-26 and the world won't end. (Unless you're an insulin-dependent diabetic, and in that case, why are you listening to me and not your doctor?)
• I sin, you sin, everybody sins. Don't judge.
• Envy is normal, but I think it goes away as we age. I used to be so jealous of what other people had I couldn't sleep at night. Now I couldn't care less. I still don't sleep, but it's nice not to care.
• If you think you need pepper spray, you need pepper spray.
• Hang on to the people who make you laugh. Truly funny friends are hard to find.
• The worst movie I've seen in the last year—possibly in the last decade--is "Dark Shadows." I fell asleep.
• If you're over 17, you know the difference between right and wrong. Do right.
• Go with the flow; it's easier to float.
Julie R. Smith, who realizes none of this will matter if the Mayans are right, can be reached at email@example.com.
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