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Are You Over-Paying (or Under-Paying) Consumer Use Tax?
Automation and improved control can save your company millions.
July 29, 2010
It's no secret that taxing jurisdictions across the country are suffering from the economic downturn and are anxious to close the tax gap. Before asking their constituents for a tax increase, they're deploying sophisticated auditing techniques like statistical sampling to uncover incorrect calculation of consumer use tax (California State Board of Equalization, "Audit Manual," Chapter 13, Statistical Sampling, 1301.05, 2000.). This is especially true when the taxpayer has such a volume of records that it's impractical for an auditor to examine every record (Florida Department of Revenue, "Tax Information Publication," No. 07ADM-02-Practice and Procedure — Audits by Tax Type — Statistical Sampling of Fixed Assets, 205-067, June 29, 2007.). In this environment, it may be a good time to review the processes your company currently has in place to manage consumer use tax. First, a primer.
Consumer Use Tax: What Is It?
Every state that imposes a sales tax has a mirror-image tax called a use tax. The tax can take two forms: a seller's use tax or a consumer use tax. The seller's use tax is imposed upon an inter-state transaction and is collected from the buyer by the seller. The requirement for a seller to collect use tax depends upon whether or not the seller has nexus in the buyer's state. (Nexus is the minimum necessary connection between a business and a jurisdiction in order to trigger the requirement to register and collect tax.) If the seller does not have nexus in the buyer's state, the state then requires that the buyer self-assess the use tax and remit payment to the state. This is known as consumer use tax. Most states have a consumer use tax at the local level as well as the state level, which adds to the complexity of maintaining compliance.
Use Tax Is Often a Second Priority
While most companies have been diligent about calculating, collecting and remitting sales tax, a systematic approach to dealing with consumer use tax is not as widespread. Most businesses maintain in-house tax expertise or use consulting services to determine the taxability of what they sell. Determining the taxability of what they purchase is typically left to the purchasing or accounting department. This loss of control for the tax department can result in underpayment or overpayment, costing a company millions. There are a number of contributing factors that can make this approach costly:
Determining Taxability
When determining consumer use taxability, there are myriad of considerations, including:
In addition, there are specific asset and inventory events that should trigger a closer look at consumer use tax liability, including:
Other Considerations
To further complicate the process, here are two additional scenarios that can affect taxability determination. Both require that a company use an automated system for consumer use tax. But without careful management, both scenarios can result in over-payment or under-payment.
Automation Is the Solution
Without a thorough understanding of all the intricacies of consumer use tax, your company could be over-paying or under-paying. Given the complexities of the tax laws and the multitude of items most companies purchase and use in different ways, the only feasible way to handle the requirements of consumer use tax is through automation. There are software applications available that provide tax rule support in conjunction with data element mapping and configuration capabilities. By utilizing general ledger account numbers, project numbers, vendor codes or usage codes, these applications can make the proper use tax determinations.
When the time for an audit does come, the fact that your business has a system in place for consumer use tax will go a long way toward convincing the authorities that your company doesn't have systemic use tax problems. This will make audits go quicker and help prevent examinations from spiraling out of control.
This, in turn, will reduce the administrative overhead associated with the use tax audit and minimize penalties and interest for incorrectly reporting use tax. The bottom line? Automating consumer use tax can dramatically affect your bottom line.
Rate this article 5 (excellent) to 1 (poor). Send your responses here.
John Minassian is a financial executive with over 30 years of experience in operational, accounting, finance and tax matters. As chief sales and use tax officer, he writes and speaks on today's tax issues and currently leads the tax research function for Vertex Inc. Minassian's work experience includes positions with E. I. DuPont de Nemours, ICI Americas and AMP, Inc. (now Tyco Electronics).


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And, of course, the fine print:
Get free shipping on your next order when you spend over $100. The discount will be automatically applied to your purchase; no promo code required. The subtotal of your purchase must be $100.01 or greater after any promotional discounts have been applied. Additional fees such as tax or shipping and handling do not apply toward your minimum subtotal requirement of $100.01. Offer applies to standard shipping only. Certain items that require additional shipping and handling are excluded from this promotion and do not apply towards your $100.01 subtotal minimum. Offer subject to change.
This handsome screenprinted t-shirt displays a wealth of affection for Maine's wilderness. A couple of majestic woodland creatures, a regal conifer –– all the requirements for an excellent t-shirt can be found here.
- Black
- T-Shirt is 100% cotton
- Screenprinted in white ink
This product ships from the maker within 7 days, via USPS
If you're not happy with this item for any reason, you may return it for a full refund within 14 days.

subset: commoncrawl


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Just as slavery in the United States did not end until ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865 – Lincoln's proclamation applied only to the Confederate states over which he had no control, and he had no authority to abolish slavery in any case – the fiscal cliff deal will only deepen the unhealthy level of dependency that exists between millions of Americans and those who rule the Washington plantation.
Those who believe that taxes exist primarily to impose economic "fairness" were no doubt thrilled that President Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress managed to increase federal incomes for the wealthiest .07 percent of Americans, making the top rate of 36 percent the most progressive since at least 1979.
But when the Congressional Budget Office reports that $620 billion in extra taxes were matched by a mere $15 billion in spending cuts – and Democratic leaders insist on another $1 trillion in new revenues this year – it should be obvious that Americans' economic emancipation remains elusive.
If anyone cares.
The evil genius of modern American politics is that it has succeeded in making almost everyone wards of the state, including (through "entitlement" programs such as Medicare and Social Security) those who pride themselves on their independence. Thus does any attempt at reform generate an angry backlash, such as from clueless voters who claim not to have realized that the fiscal cliff deal might hit their pocketbooks, too, by ending the 2009 "holiday" that reduced Social Security withholding from 6.2 to 4.2 percent.
Americans simply aren't used to having to pay for the government they demand. They'd rather elect Democrats who are only too eager to give them free stuff and enough Republicans to keep taxes from going through the roof. That's why the nation is drowning in more than $16 trillion of red ink and politicians are debating an increase in the debt ceiling despite fiscal-cliff deal and the additional revenues supposedly on the horizon.
In a rational world, willing dependency on such a system would be considered insane, if not suicidal. But just as some people are willing to trade freedom for security, so are millions of others willing to exchange the potential setbacks and victories of the rugged individualism that built this nation for the soul-stifling, liberty-stealing sort of security the welfare state promises but can never truly deliver.
Politicians and the special-interest groups who provide votes in exchange for handouts never talk about government that way, of course. Those who promise more and more spending are the compassionate ones, while those who promote the free market and worry about little things like an insurmountable national debt are dismissed as callous and uncaring.
And so it is seldom noticed that those who are the most ostentatiously compassionate – with other people's money, of course – are also those most eager to promote dependence in exchange for political gain. If you can take care of yourself or can rely on family, friends and private charity, you don't really need some bureaucrat's help, do you?
But America's willing descent into serfdom is so complete that, as the New York Post reports, the supposedly "poor" routinely use their welfare cards to take out cash at liquor stores, strip clubs and adult video stores, and even the nation's most privileged view themselves as entitled to benefits they have not earned. According to a survey of college freshmen by psychologist Jean Twenge, a sense of entitlement is on the rise among college students, whom she said are growing increasingly narcissistic.
Remember when Americans used to gladly clean toilets so their children could go to college? Now we're told the nation must open its borders to the unskilled and uneducated because Americans – who just received an extension of unemployment benefits thanks to the fiscal cliff deal – are no longer willing to do such menial jobs.
Some will call that progress. But the truth is that those who rely on government can never be truly free. They will have only as much, or as little, as their overseers allow.
This month, as we celebrate both the Great Emancipator and Wall Street's giddiness over Washington's latest desperate bid to postpone the day of reckoning, it would be nice if somebody at least noticed the irony.


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A Bold and Color-Filled New York Apartment
Decorative painting by Rising Tide adds texture to the floors, walls, and the client's gateleg table in the dining area designed by Mary Douglas Drysdale. The 1940s-style French painted chairs are available through the Drysdale Collection. Seat fabric, Kravet linen. Pillows, Sferra.
Subtly striped walls add charm to a narrow space, and the cohesive palette makes the small area seem larger.
A Sophisticated Bermuda-Style House in Naples, Florida


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In 1987, Charles Hynes was vacationing upstate when he received word he would be the chief prosecutor in the trial of a racially motivated slaying of a 23-year-old African-American man in the Howard Beach section of Queens.
"I was watching a TV news special in the library of this hotel," Hynes recalled. "And I saw the crowd at Howard Beach chanting, 'Haven't you heard? Howard Beach isn't Johannesberg.' At that moment there was an announcement. I was wanted on the phone."
When he picked up the receiver, Hynes, then a special state prosecutor for then-Governor Mario Cuomo, was assigned to what would become his most famous case — the December 20, 1986 slaying of Michael Griffith, and the assault and harassment of two other men in Howard Beach by a group of white males. The incident incited racial tensions across the city — with demonstrations like the one Hynes witnessed, led by the Reverend Al Sharpton, becoming a common sight.
Twenty-five years later, Hynes who is now the district attorney for Kings County, recalls how difficult the laws of the time made it for him to get a felony conviction.
"There wasn't a question in my mind [that it was a racially motivated attack]," he said. "But we didn't charge it as a hate crime because a hate crime at the time was a misdemeanor."
Unable to argue the case as the racially-motivated felony he claims it would be today, Hynes had to prove the defendant's guilt as if it were a typical murder charge. In order to do so, he relied on the testimony of one of the attackers.
"The evidence I had was [from] one of the people who was involved in the case," Hynes said. "We had him plead to a lesser charge in order to get his cooperation. Without his testimony, there would have been no conviction."
After an 11-day deliberation period, which he reports was the "the longest ever at the time for a Queens criminal trial jury," the State Supreme Court in Queens convicted Jon Lester, Jason Ladone, Scott Kern and Michael Pirone with manslaughter, second degree murder and first degree assault.
Hynes, who went on to write a book about the case, credits it as a major reason for acquiring his current position.
"There's no question the celebrity that came out of it was as responsible as anything in getting me elected district attorney in 1989," he said. "I was in people's living rooms for three months."


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Real-world samples from the Nikon-mount Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM
Sigma USA has announced availability of the Nikon-mount version of its 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM Art fast zoom for APS-C DSLRs. The Nikon version will retail for around $799, the same price as the Canon version, and will be available from November. We've been shooting with one for the past few days, and have put together a sample gallery of images showing what it's capable of.
We've already reviewed the Canon-mount version of the world's fastest zoom lens for SLRs and, with some reservations, gave it our highest rating. Click here to read the full review.
Our initial impressions with the Nikon mount version are even more positive, with much greater focus accuracy than we've seen with any of the copies of the Canon-mount version we've used. We've shot a samples gallery, giving a taste of what this 27-53mm equivalent lens can do on the Nikon D7100.
|Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM (Nikon Mount) Sample Gallery - Published 11th October 2013
There are 19 images in the preview samples gallery. Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter / magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing (in conjunction with this review), we do so in good faith, please don't abuse it.
Unless otherwise noted images taken with no particular settings at full resolution. Because our review images are now hosted on the 'galleries' section of dpreview.com, you can enjoy all of the new galleries functionality when browsing these samples.
I own it
I want it
I had it
Discuss in the forums
Some photos shoot with Nikon D7100 + Sigma 18-35:
Received this lens Tuesday in Canada after a months-long preorder. I could not be happier! I own a 50/1.8 and never believed you could approach that quality in a zoom. This is a great walkabout lens in conjunction with that little prime. Highly recommended. If you search flickr for "sigma nikon 18-35 1.8" you'll see a half dozen or so test shots. Haven't really been out with it yet but I'm stoked to be doing so this weekend!
Any chance for sample shots on an infrared converted body?
The contrast is too low, especially on the shots with large portions of the sky and one of the portraits with strong backlight. Flare problems?
Dear Richard Butler. Can you write the experiences with focusing on Nikon D7100? I want to buy Sigma 18-35/1.8 and to sell my Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55/2.8G after many, many years. I have D7100 and D300 and I am affraid Sigma 18-35 is not exact and faithful for focusing. I read your experiences with Sigma 18-35/1.8 on Canon. Are your experiences on Nikon D7100 better? Is it the good idea to buy Sigma USB dock for 18-35/1.8 or D7100 AF Fine Tuning is satisfactory? I want to shot the people indoor in the distance of some meters with SB-800 flash and without it. I love Nikkor AF-S DX 17-55/2.8G focusing, but Sigma is faster and better in the image quality.
I have sold Sigma 10-20 and buy Nikkor 10-24 three years ago for better focusing and better image quality, is it now the time to sell Nikkor (17-55) and buy Sigma (18-35) ????
As I wrote above - it seems much more reliable than the Canon-mount versions we've used. I shot several hundred images and am not seeing the inconsistency of focus that we saw with the EF mount version.
I'm not going to say with absolute certainty that the problem doesn't exist - I did have two shots taken near infinity, where it's got the focus wrong - but they're also shot pretty-much straight into the sun, so it's impossible to know which issue caused the missed focus.
Thank youy very, very much!
I actually received this lens yesterday. Tested it for a little and i just placed an order for the usb dock cause it definitely need some micro adjustments on the focus. At close range (from minimum focus distance to about 3ft) i found the focus to be pretty accurate and acceptably fast. I find that when my focus subject is more than 6ft away, the lens tends to front focus. I would return this lens if it wasnt for the fact that i "need" this lens! hopefully the usb dock will solve the issue.
I shoot weddings in a photojournalistic style (as a second shooter). I bought it to take use between 1.8 and 2.8 on my D7000 to pair up with the 70-200 2.8 on my D600 to take avantage of the natural light since i avoid using flash on my shooting style.
I will get the USB dock tomorrow and i will be putting the lens up to a challange at a sweet sixteen and a christening this comming weekend. Send me a message and i will tell you what i think of it.
Could you guys please tell me where can I buy this lens for Nikon mount?. I'm looking around but I couldn't see any one in stock.
PLEASE stop using the term "REAL WORLD". It's become a cliche on this site and is technically not correct. Be specific like-- landscape photos with this lens- or portrait photos with that lens. "REAL WORLD" has become a catch all. Thank you!
Well for the first time a sigma with zoom ring turning the right way for nikon users.
I have refused to buy sigma because of this. Can not afford to lose the shot because I zoomed in the wrong direction. It happened to me all the time when using a 17-50 so I sold it and got the nikon.
Hopefully we will see more lenses with the zoom ring turning the right way.
On DSC_4281 - can I ask were you focusing on the eye to camera right (the subject's left eye)?
Looks pretty good overall to me, from the Canon samples I have no real concerns other than the AF and since I shoot Nikon, your initial thoughts are a positive confirmation! :)
Yes, I had chosen a focus point on the camera's right (subject's left) eye.
I understand this lens is designed for low light photography, but yours samples is from bright sunny day, when same pictures can be taken with kit lens or maybe Samsung mobile phone easily.
Do some dedicated test- in church, for example! Use your brain!
@Jurka - low light is one of the things a wide-aperture lens can be used for. However, low light shots will tend to be at higher ISO, where noise and noise reduction erode the sharpness we're trying to demonstrate.
It was a concious choice, not an omission.
I won't be buying it as I'm on full frame, but this lens is a milestone in lens design and for Sigma.
I'm looking forward to purchasing this lens. It will definitely be my new candid wedding lens. I've been using the Nikon 35 f1.4 & 35 f1.8. This will make my workflow that much easier without having to switch. I hope they have one at the PhotoExpo in NY this month so I can test it live.
The feat pulled off here by Sigma, both in historical terms as well as current technology, is nothing short of amazing. If ever there was a zoom lens that lived up to the 'stack of primes' moniker - this is it. Newer shooters would do well to simply bypass their reservations and get this lens (experience shooters already know).
Nikon and Canon should be freaking out that Sigma can design/produce a few popular lenses that, even if a comparable zoom were attempted, would best them for so much less...
Corners are really bad. Center and around is perfect.
While this may be as sharp or sharper than some primes and as bright or brighter I still wouldn't buy it because A. It lacks Character, B it is to short for a standard zoom.
So you like abberations (AKA character)...Good. I think Sigma will survive your decision even if I have to buy 2 !
In that case you are in luck :) Pre-owned market is full of fine, cheap old timers with little or no coating at all and brimming with character.
Once again I seem to have different eyes to others here. Everyone is going on about how sharp this lens is but it doesn't look particularly special to me. These pictures aren't great for judging edge sharpness but take a look at the last image of the building taken at f6.3. At that distance and f-number everything should be in focus but the edges are nothing to shout about. The word Georgetown is at the same distance as the wall to its right but that area quickly becomes blurry. Don't get me wrong if you want fast glass which is OK in the centre, then fine, but people seem to be in love with this lens to the point of not being critical.
Well, what's the pixel density of the monitor you're using to view these Sigma samples?
And to your eyes does the exact same monitor show other claimed to be sharp lenses as sharp?
Then how much are you zooming into the images to judge lens sharpness?
(Also I still don't get why anybody makes image quality claims, including sharpness, based on jpegs from a raw capable body. That said decent jpegs should look sharp if focused correctly.)
Who knows what the jpeg engine does and that's partly the point.
I take it you mean that the center of the photo is sharper than the zone around the edges. Okay, that's a possible indication of trouble with the lens, but then one has to look for possibly sharp, in focus, edges of things near the edges of the photo. Finding none in hundreds of samples (can be high resolution jpegs) from several copies of this lens would seem to confirm your point.
Good luck collecting and sorting the data. But jpegs from one camera body with one copy of the lens is not confirmation.
And the Nikon D7100 is fine camera, can we have raws for download, raw is sort of important for making judgements about a lens' optical qualities.
This review confirms that the camera and lens perform as a system, and Nikon often has the edge, at least for now. Like many, I am impressed with the Sigma 35/1.4 on the D600. My only complaints are minor -- the front and rear lens caps aren't as good as Nikon's and the dang thing is heavy, which sometimes keeps me from carrying it. I eagerly await other lenses of this quality from Sigma. Meanwhile, it seems the 18-35/1.8 is a much better deal at $799 compared to $899 for the 35/1.4. I am hoping for an aggressively priced Sigma 24-70/2.8 (or similar range and f-stop) with OS/VR to replace my 24-85VR, which is not bad, but is mediocre compared with my other lenses. Way to go, Sigma!
If I'd be bying fresh into APS-C right now, I'd not hesitate at all to get the Nikon D7100 with some nice lenses, for focussing accuracy and high iso. However, I've aquired some nice EF mount lenses over the years (with Sigma's 50-150 one of my favs), so I'll stick with that system... Anyway, differences in real-life shooting and printing are mostly negligable already, and will only reduce with every new generation of cameras. In that view, the 18-35 is definitely a must-get lens, as it will easily match future cameras with even greater image quality.
Incredible, must get one!
Looks like a very sharp lens but difficult to know for sure as your sample images are awful subjects to determine that and/or only one image is raw processed. It doesn't help either when you guys can't be bothered to rotate your images.
Come on guys; you can do better than that!
We've already tested the lens (in Canon mount), as have several other sites - it's astonishingly sharp.
The issue is mainly whether it can be accurately be focused in combination with a Nikon body - that's what this gallery aims to show.
And having only had the lens for a couple of days, few of which have been sunny and having been stuck in the office during almost all the daylight hours during that time, this probably is the best I can do.
Fair enough, but you have to admit such samples are not going to help you determine autofocus performance without more information, such as knowing exactly what you are focusing on.
My recommendation, in the absence of such information, is to take images where content is generally flat in terms of distance, such as distant scenics or walls.
And as I have said before, there's no excuse for not rotating your images before posting them. This has been a problem with your site's samples for years. It's the difference to attention to detail that makes for an exceptional site and one that is simply existing and going through the motions.
@Basalite - the reason I've shot subjects with fore-aft separation is to make it clearer what is and isn't in focus. The camera does record which AF point was used in the file's EXIF, so I may be able to check if you want to know, for any given image (I'm not sure how I'd convey this, but I'll try).
just to be clear on image sample rotation - we do nothing at all to the full size images precisely because we present them as 'out of camera'. It is a decision, not an oversight. We actually take pride in the amount of attention we pay to detail :)
In this case little less "purity" would be nice. Btw. my 6 and 8 years dSLR are capable of auto-rotating images? :D Its still out-of camera.
And anyway, if you want to see that sample per-pixel and in normal aligment, you need to download that and rotate yourself, so really no point there.
"just to be clear on image sample rotation - we do nothing at all to the full size images precisely because we present them as 'out of camera'. It is a decision, not an oversight. We actually take pride in the amount of attention we pay to detail :)"
Leaving images that are not rotated to a viewable orientation is not something I would take "pride" in. All that does is irritate most of your readers.
"the reason I've shot subjects with fore-aft separation is to make it clearer what is and isn't in focus"
Considering what I previously said, what's left is a function of aperture setting and sensor size, not AF performance.
"The camera does record which AF point was used in the file's EXIF, so I may be able to check if you want to know, for any given image..."
That's not a practical or feasible thing to do and not something I would ask or expect you to do. What would be practical and feasible, for the reasons you said you took the pictures, and otherwise, is what I suggested, subjects at different distances with subject matter that is essentially flat in distance to each other.
Just offering some constructive criticism. You have to understand that you are producing a product for others. A chef that says he's OK with some crab shell in a crab dish doesn't mean most people are willing to eat such a thing. I saw that on Chopped. And yes, that chef got chopped, and rightly so.
Nice subjects, photos appear in correct orientation. Mr. R Butler, the work and effort are appreciated. Great job.
It seems very good - I've only shot around 200 images so far, but the focus seems pretty reliable, having examined them.
Richard, I LOVE the "Preservative Paints" sign than needs painting! :)
It's the UW Medicine building at South Lake Union in Seattle.
I do not believe0
Is this an X-Files reference?
I'm not quite sure what aspect of this requires belief.
This would be a great lens for a D7100. Most zoom lenses don't resolve enough detail to really exploit the potential of the 24MP sensor. I don't own a D7100, but I owned a Sony NEX-7 (until it was stolen from me), which has the same or very similar sensor. Sigma should also make this lens available for the Pentax K-3, which likewise shares a Sony 24MP sensor.
The D7100 is a Toshiba sensor, the K-3 may use the same.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/983904-REG/sigma_210_109_18_35mm_f1_8_dc_hsm.html and yes sigma has 18-35 1.8 with K-Mount (pentax) sometime ago .. Unlike D7100, K-3 use sony sensor
I heard somewhere Toshiba and Sony sensor maker are now both partner I am not sure it is just rumour but it doesn't make sense to me really. Pentax works very well with Sony sensor and have lower noise than Nikon and Sony camera. Because of Pentax prime image processing engine is so good, although would be nice if they improve over red colour rendering in JPEG though.
Wow!!! Nice lens
|Patrick Finds Inner Peace by ecastellon
from Your best photo of the week!
|Forks by Kukla
from Arranged everyday objects
The new iZugar 3.25mm F2.5 super fisheye lens offers an insane 220-degree angle of view. That means it can basically see behind itself... good luck keeping your feet out of the shot.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll remember that time you took a picture of the frozen pizza baking directions.
A Craigslist poster has discovered the worst possible way to photograph a car: taking pictures of pictures displayed on a cracked and scratched up smartphone screen.
With the iPhone X coming out soon, the title probably won't last, but the iPhone 8 Plus is officially the best smartphone camera DxOMark has ever tested, and the iPhone 8 is second.
Kodak's new Facebook Messenger chatbot is trying to bring back the 'Kodak Moment' by digging up your old social media photos and trying to sell you prints and custom coffee mugs.
Affinity Photo for iPad was touted as "the first full blown, truly professional photo editing tool to make its way onto the Apple tablet." This update makes it that much more convenient.
Yashica has released a new teaser video, and this one claims they'll be releasing an "unprecedented camera" in October on Kickstarter. Ready... set... speculate!
Storage solutions company Synology has just released its very first 6-bay NAS tower. Combined with the DX1215 expansion units, it can hold and control up to thirty drives.
We're always expanding our collection of product overview content, and we've just added videos for the Canon EOS 6D Mark II, the EOS Rebel SL2 and EOS M6.
The venerable Canon PowerShot G1 was announced seventeen years ago this week, marking the start of a line of enthusiast-focused compacts that's still alive and kicking.
Super macro photographer Can Tuncer captured these incredible close-ups of a single peacock feather using a special setup and three different microscope lenses.
After successfully crowdfunding the Biotar 75mm F1.5, Oprema Jena is at it again. This time they're bringing back the Biotar 58mm F2: the world's only lens with a 17-blade aperture.
Adobe's move to a subscription model is treating it very well indeed. The company has posted record revenue for the second quarter in a row, hauling in a mind-boggling $1.84 billion.
More details have emerged about the potential sale of Blackstone's 45% stake in iconic camera brand Leica.
Popular mobile editing app Snapseed just got a major update that includes a new interface and 11 new presets for both Android and iOS, as well as adding the Perspective tool to the iOS version.
It might sound like a strange idea, but taking macro photos of boiling water can actually result in some really cool photographs. A good photo experiment for a rainy day.
The database was created to "break with the narrow lens through which history… has been recorded" by equipping those who commission photography with "the resources to discover photographers of color available for assignments.
Lensbaby has released two new optics for their special "optic swap system." The Lensbaby Sweet 80 Optic gives you that trademark sweet spot of focus, while the Creative Bokeh optic gives you 9 different drop in aperture plate options to play with.
TechCrunch has already posted their review of the upcoming iPhone 8 (not yet the iPhone X), and they're calling it "a look into the augmented future of photography."
Affinity Photo is a $50 photo editing software with no subscriptions. That's it – pay for it once and you're done. And we think it's actually pretty darn good.
Instagram is currently testing a major change to the app's profile layout: replacing the 3-photo across grid with a 4-photo grid... and some users are NOT taking the news well.
A report by USSRPhoto is shedding some light on the return of the famed Zenit camera brand. It seems the full-frame mirrorless camera they're working on will be made in part by Leica using components from the Leica SL.
According to a reliable Korean report, Samsung is developing a smartphone sensor that's capable of super slow motion. Translation: Samsung's next batch of Galaxy smartphones may be able to shoot 1,000fps.
This simple photograph of a seahorse and Q-tip has taken the internet by storm. We spoke to photographer Justin Hofman about how it was captured, and what it means to him.
After a massive leak last week, Profoto has officially debuted the Profoto A1: the company's first on-camera flash system that they're calling "the world's smallest studio flash."
"When the first hyperfocal distance charts were designed, someone decided that an acceptably sharp background contained some blur — enough to notice in a medium-sized print [...] After that point, nearly every other hyperfocal chart followed suit."
The Canon EOS Rebel SL2 (also known as the EOS 200D) is the company's impressively compact entry-level DSLR. Packing a 24MP APS-C sensor, DIGIC 7 processor and Dual Pixel AF, it promises a lot of bang for the buck. And while not mind-blowing, it handles most tasks very well.
Correct these four common composition mistakes and your photos will be more balanced, tell a better story, and lead your viewer's eye where you want it to go.
The rugged, compact 360° action camera Kodak unveiled at Photokina in 2016, the Kodak PixPro Orbit 360, is finally available in the United States.
iOS 11 launches tomorrow, and it'll save all of your pictures in a new high efficiency image format called HEIC. Fortunately, there's now a converter that will let you turn those photos back into JPEGs.


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Technical Steps to Support Nuclear Arsenal Downsizing
Executive Summary
Technical Steps to Support Nuclear Arsenal Downsizing
Report Press Release
POPA Reports
All POPA Reports
Suggest Future POPA Studies
There is a long history of US Presidents working to reduce the role and the spread of nuclear weapons. Most recently, President Obama voiced America's commitment "to seek a world without nuclear weapons," while clarifying that "as long as these weapons exist, the United States will maintain a safe, secure and effective arsenal."
Critical Role of Science and Technology
Science and technology(S&T) will play a critical role in advancing the US plan to balance deterrence with downsizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal. In particular, S&T are essential to enable three key goals associated with this plan:
- Verifying the process of downsizing and dismantling stockpiles
- Sustaining the capability and expertise to ensure that the remaining arsenal is safe, secure, reliable and effective for as long as is necessary
- Ensuring the peaceful use of fissile materials.
Steps Toward Verifiable Downsizing and Dismantlement
Consistent with that plan, we recommend the US take the following steps to allow S&T to more fully sustain and support nuclear arsenal downsizing and nonproliferation:
- Declassify the total number of US nuclear weapons – deployed, reserve and retired – and encourage other nuclear armed countries to do the same.
- Establish international centers for verification research and validation to serve as test sites for assessing technologies and methodologies.
- Support R&D and demonstrations of "nuclear archeology" – a method for examining facilities to determine past material production – as a step to developing an internationally accepted capability to validate fissile materials declarations. To support the goal of sustaining the capability and expertise:
- Refurbish elements of the US nuclear weapons infrastructure needed to sustain a smaller nuclear weapons stockpile.
- NNSA and its laboratories must adapt for the broader nuclear security mission that stockpile reduction will bring and for the national nuclear security roles that they will play. To support the goal of ensuring peaceful uses of fissile material:
- Sustain federal investments in key programs including those to enhance safeguards, detect undeclared nuclear facilities, and address potential risks associated with global growth of nuclear expertise.
- Elevate the priority of non-proliferation in the NRC licensing process.
- Establish a program of information sharing among nuclear-related industries.
Taken together, these steps will provide a strong S&T foundation for nuclear arms reduction proposals and nuclear nonproliferation goals.
About APS & POPA
The American Physical Society was founded in 1899, with a mission of advancing and diffusing the knowledge of physics. APS is now the nation's leading organization of research physicists with more than 48,000 members in academia, national laboratories, and industry.
This report was overseen by the APS Panel on Public Affairs (POPA). POPA routinely produces reports on timely topics being debated in government so as to inform the debate with the perspectives of physicists working in the relevant issue areas. Indeed, APS has long played an active role in federal government; its members serve in Congress and have held positions such as Science Advisor to the President of the United States, Director of the CIA, Director of the National Science Foundation and Secretary of Energy.
Report Committee
Jay Davis, Chair
John Browne
Patricia Lewis
Carolyn Pura
Allen Sessoms
Tom Shea
Francis Slakey
Benn Tannenbaum
Jim Tape
John Taylor
Peter D. Zimmerman
APS Staff
Jodi Lieberman
Jeanette Russo


text:
Two men are injured after five men allegedly forced their way into their St Albans home armed with steel poles.
Police allege a group of five men broke into a Foxton Street home at about 1am Sunday.
The men then fled the scene with stolen goods, police allege, crashing their car into a tree on St Albans Road soon after.
Police arrested three men at the scene, aged 20, 25 and 26, but are searching for another two men.
The two Foxton Street residents were treated for injuries, with a 29-year-old man taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with facial injuries and a second 31-year-old man was treated at the scene with minor leg injuries.
Detectives are investigating and are asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.
The three men arrested are assisting police with enquiries.


text:
THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web
I've been really busy lately. A big component of that time has been my involvement with the new Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008 program. I was privileged to be chosen to teach six days of the fifteen day program in the recent alpha rotation. In addition, I decided to attend (and pay !) to attend the rotation, do the exams and qualifying lab.
Well it was quite an experience!
Anyone considering this program needs to understand the demands that it will place on your time. The three weeks of classes run from 8am to 6pm daily but most attendees would then spend up to another three or four hours per night studying while there. On the weekends, you have lab work that needs to be completed before the next week and each Monday morning, you have a two hour Prometric exam. On the final Saturday, you have another two hour Prometric exam followed by a six hour hands-on qualifying lab. I was with a wonderful group of people on this first rotation and have to say that all looked exhausted at the end.
Paul Randal and Kim Tripp covered the first week, Adam Machanic, Paul Nielsen, Allan Hirt, Ron Talmage, Andy Kelly, myself and Gert Drapers covered the second week and I covered the third week.
While I obviously can't tell you anything about the exam content, I'd be giving nothing away by saying it's in a different league to the questions you see on the MCITP exams. And the final qualifying lab has some carefully chosen scenarios that you need to navigate your way through, with lots of little (intentional) road-blocks on the way.
If you look into doing this program, you need to block a bit over three weeks of your life completely out. It's also expensive and what might surprise you more is that most candidates don't pass at the first attempt. I was one of the fortunate ones to do so this time but you should not consider it to be any sort of failure if you don't achieve it on the first attempt. You can retake the exams (with similar rules to the other Prometric exams) but you can't retake the qualifying lab until you've passed the exams. You only get two attempts at retaking the qualifying lab or you then need to retake the whole course. (I believe that would happen at a 50% discount but you should check the rules for clarification). Also, don't plan to fly out on the Saturday night at the end. Leave the time to have dinner with the rest of the people in your rotation and avoid any time pressure related to flights. That's the last thing you'll want on your mind at that stage.
Regardless, it's highly recommended if it makes sense for you. I'll be back teaching in the next rotation and I'll look forward to seeing any of you that decide to tackle it.
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Subscribe to this post's comments using
Hi Greg, I've been intrigued by this for quite a while. Since you teach the class and are involved with administering the test, do you get a pro forma Master's certification yourself? Or would you still have to go through the testing process to get the certification?
Best regards,
Great question Kevin! I wish!
The content and the exams are both developed independently from the same objective domain, which is the first thing created. The content folk and the exam folk were not aware of exactly what each were doing, only of what needed to be achieved.
For the first rotation, I made sure I did the exams exactly the same way the students did. I specifically did not want to see them beforehand. The tests aren't administered by the instructors.
I imagine I'll now be also involved in the exam process for the future rotations of the course, but just from the point of view of being another check on the accuracy of the questions and from making sure that all the topics are covered.
It's important to note though that the exams can cover anything from the prereading, not just from the course content.
So I got to do the exams and labs just the same as the students and even got to pay to attend as well, even for the days I was teaching...
Ok, let me get this straight. Microsoft called and said "Greg, have we got an offer for you. We want YOU to PAY US to teach one one of the most rigorous courses in our profession. Sounds great, eh?"
And then you said "Sign me up!"? <big grin>
Hi Kevin,
Yep, it's a bit like that. I got paid to teach it but also paid to attend it.
Greg, I'll be attending the March 2009 rotation. Will you be instructing? Any tips, tricks, or additional insights for success? Thanks!
Hi Jimmy, it's great to hear you'll be attending. I've read many of your blog posts over the years. Paul and Kim will be taking week one. I'll be taking week three and probably one or two days at the end of week two.
My main advice is to not plan to do anything else while attending the class. Your best outcome will be to totally dedicate yourself to it for the three weeks, including the last Saturday. There's just too much material to cover to also try to tackle anything else concurrently. Just plan to immerse yourself in the product during the course, including the weekends.
I look forward to seeing you there.
how much of the exam cover xml data? This is my weakest area with programability.. so should I worry about it? It it mostly on design physical and logical and sql internals?
Hi Danielle,
While I can't comment at all on what the Masters cert exams cover, it's reasonable to mention that the course is very much DBA focussed, rather than dev focussed, even though a number of dev topics are covered.


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Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations
Chilam Yun 11/9/12
Department of Health and Human Services
|Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration
|Center for Tobacco Products
9200 Corporate Boulevard
Rockville, MD 20850-3229
VIA Electronic Mail
To: Chilam Yun
Dear Mr. Yun:
The Center for Tobacco Products of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently reviewed your cigarette products on the website http://www.ebay.com, and determined that your cigarette products listed there are offered for sale to U.S. customers. Under section 201(rr) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. § 321(rr)), as amended by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, these products are tobacco products because they are made or derived from tobacco and intended for human consumption. Although the website recites that your cigarette products are not intended for human consumption, this is not sufficient to overcome multiple other indicia that they are. Certain tobacco products, including cigarettes, are subject to FDA jurisdiction under section 901(b) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. § 387a(b)).
FDA has determined that several of your products are adulterated under section 902(5) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. § 387b(5)) or misbranded under section 903(a)(1) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. § 387c(a)(1)). You can find the FD&C Act through links on FDA's homepage at http://www.fda.gov.
Our review of the website, http://www.ebay.com, revealed that you offer for sale the following cigarettes: "DJ Mix Apple Green Menthol," "DJ Mix Strawberry, Special Feel, Strawberry Flavor," "Peel Menthol Orange," and "Black Devil Rose" which are purported to contain an artificial or natural flavor that is a characterizing flavor of the product. Section 907(a)(1)(A) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. § 387g(a)(1)(A)) provides:
[A] cigarette or any of its component parts (including the tobacco, filter, or paper) shall not contain, as a constituent (including a smoke constituent) or additive, an artificial or natural flavor (other than tobacco or menthol) or an herb or spice…that is a characterizing flavor of the tobacco product or tobacco smoke.
As of September 22, 2009, cigarettes marketed and sold in the United States in violation of this provision are adulterated under section 902(5) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. § 387b(5)). Thus, your flavored cigarettes are adulterated.
If, however, these cigarettes do not contain a characterizing flavor, they are misbranded under section 903(a)(1) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. § 387c(a)(1)) as their labeling is false and misleading because it makes the representation that the products contain apple, strawberry, orange, or rose as characterizing flavors of the tobacco products.
You should immediately correct the violations stated above and take any necessary actions to bring your tobacco products into compliance with the FD&C Act. The violations discussed in this letter do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list, and it is your responsibility to ensure that your tobacco products on eBay Inc., any other online market place, or any websites you own, operate, and/or control comply with the applicable provisions of the FD&C Act. Failure to ensure full compliance with the FD&C Act may result in FDA initiating further action without notice, including, but not limited to, civil money penalties, no-tobacco-sale orders, criminal prosecution, seizure, and/or injunction. Please note that adulterated and misbranded tobacco products offered for importation into the United States are subject to detention and refusal of admission.
Please submit a written response to this letter within 15 working days from the date of receipt describing your corrective actions, including the dates on which you discontinued the violative promotion, advertising, sale, and/or distribution of these tobacco products.
Please note your reference number, RW1200038, in your response and direct your response to the following address:
PAL-WL Response, Office of Compliance and Enforcement
FDA Center for Tobacco Products
9200 Corporate Boulevard
c/o Document Control Center
Rockville, Maryland 20850
If you have any questions about the content of this letter, please contact Ele Ibarra-Pratt at (301) 796-9235 or via email at email@example.com.
Ann Simoneau, J.D.
Office of Compliance and Enforcement
Center for Tobacco Products
VIA Electronic Mail


text:
Canvas Print
Ferret 1by Rob Art | Patterns
25% Off Everything Today!
Fine art print on bright white, fine poly-cotton blend, matte canvas using latest generation Epson archival inks. Individually trimmed and hand stretched museum wrap over 1-1/2" deep wood stretcher bars. Includes wall hanging hardware.
One of the elements of the Creative Pet Project pattern. Stop ferreting around!
The Creative Pet Project is a group of talented artists working to publish a charity book to help donate to a chosen animal cause.
Over 70 artists from around the world, with unique and different styles all blending together in one volume, because the love they have for their pets and nature.


text:
Hopping John is traditionally made on New Year's Day, but truly this tasty soup is great to make all during the cold months, whenever you need a little dose of good luck. (Hopping John Soup was updated with step-by-step photos January 2011.)
If you're not familiar with Hopping John, it's eaten throughout the southern U.S. on New Year's Day. The origin of the name Hopping John is uncertain, but it's thought to have come from the Creole French pronunciation of the pigeon peas used in the dish. Recipe variations for Hopping John abound, but all contain ham, black eyed peas, and collard greens, the peas representing coins and the collard greens representing dollar bills for financial luck in the new year. I took the Hopping John ingredients of black-eyed peas, ham, and collard greens and turned them into a soup a few years ago, and the recipe has been a hit ever since.
There are also some more fun recipes with black-eyed peas on the blog, just in case you'd like a little more good luck!
Hopping John Soup (Black-eyed Pea, Ham, and Collard Green Soup)
(Makes 6-8 servings, recipe created by Kalyn with inspiration from The Gourmet Cookbook.)
1 onion, chopped in fairly small pieces
1 cup celery, chopped in fairly small pieces
1 T olive oil
1 tsp. minced garlic
2-3 cups diced ham (cut off the ham rind and save)
8 cups homemade chicken stock
(or use water with chicken soup base or canned chicken broth)
2 16 oz. packages frozen black-eyed peas
(or use 6 cups freshly cooked black-eyed peas or 4 cans black-eyed peas)
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1 bunch fresh collard greens, chopped (about 2 cups when measured after chopping, but next time I would use more)
pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tsp. apple cider vinegar, or more to taste
Optional: ham flavor base if needed (I like Goya Ham Flavor Concentrate if you can find it)
Transfer mixture to large soup pot, add chicken stock, black eyed peas, dried thyme, and ham rinds if available, and cook at very low simmer for one hour.
After soup has cooked one hour, taste for flavoring. Add more water and ham flavor base if needed. (It will depend on your ham, but I usually add a tiny bit. I added about 2 cups more water to the soup at this point.) Add chopped collard greens, stir into soup and simmer one hour more, or until black-eyed peas are quite soft.
When black-eyed peas are as soft as you want them, remove pieces of ham rind, then use an immersion blender, food processor, or hand masher to partially process about half the soup. You want a mixture of broken and unbroken black-eyes peas, with some thickening of the soup from the pureeing process. Be careful not to over process. Add red pepper flakes and vinegar and simmer 10 minutes more (or longer, I sometimes cook as much as an hour more at this point.) Serve hot.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Read More About Lucky Foods for New Year's:
Lucky Foods for New Year's (my post at BlogHer.com)
Black-Eyed Peas to Bring You Luck in the New Year (my post at BlogHer.com)
More Black-Eyed Peas for New Year's Luck:
(Recipes from other blogs may not always be South Beach Diet friendly; check ingredients)
Black-Eyed Peas Recipes for Good Luck in the New Year from Kalyn's Kitchen
Smoky Spiced Black-Eyed Peas with Bacon from Pinch My Salt
Black-Eyed Pea and Chorizo Soup from Homesick Texan


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|2012-11-25, 07:49
|Link #42
The First Rasengan!!
Join Date: Nov 2007
no brotherly love or "avenging the clan" similarities?!?!? lol
|2012-11-25, 11:19
|Link #43
Corrupted fool
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: JEEEESUS CHRIIIISTOOOOO
|2012-11-25, 11:22
|Link #44
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: up on Melancholy hill
|2012-11-25, 14:02
|Link #45
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
itachi and izuna's relationships to their brothers are not similar at all. izuna was always at madara's side and they were close. itachi branded himself a serial killer who was sasuke's enemy and target. when sasuke learned the truth, itachi was already dead. just because they both ended up giving their eyes to their brothers doesn't mean they had similar paths in getting there. also madara doesn't have any brotherly love. he said to the kages that izuna was only useful for his eyes and was otherwise a waste of a person leaving nothing else behind of any use. and regardless of izuna giving up his eyes willfully or not which we don't know yet, madara still took them and regarded izuna as just a means to an end for his own power. sasuke legitimately loves itachi
as far as avenging the clan, madara and sasuke aren't similar either. madara despised his clan for never listening to him about first joining the senju and then about konoha's oppression. he was later ostracized and left on his own. he didn't want to avenge the uchiha, he wanted to take vengeance on them and konoha and forcibly become the leader of both but he lost to hashirama
|2012-11-25, 15:31
|Link #46
The First Rasengan!!
Join Date: Nov 2007
but after reading your post, i'll say i didn't get the impression of madara not caring for his brother AT ALL when he was talking to the kages...imo it sounded like losing his brother was in part motivating him to genjutsu the world...on another note, what do we make of the nine tails reference to madara when meeting sasuke? sasuke and naruto fighting much like madara and hashirama fighting?
|2012-11-25, 16:18
|Link #47
Corrupted fool
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: JEEEESUS CHRIIIISTOOOOO
|2012-11-25, 16:54
|Link #48
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
|2012-11-25, 18:13
|Link #49
Corrupted fool
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: JEEEESUS CHRIIIISTOOOOO
|2012-11-25, 21:33
|Link #50
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
|2012-11-25, 23:11
|Link #51
The First Rasengan!!
Join Date: Nov 2007
|2012-11-26, 11:31
|Link #52
Kamen Rider Muppeteer
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Unknown
Age: 33
Well, it's strongly implied that there is at least one more unknown piece to the puzzle to understand what the hell is going on here. There is something more behind this war that we don't know about.
Not saying it won't be something lame. Not saying it will be either.
|2012-11-26, 13:09
|Link #53
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hidden Village of Sake
Then there are the secrets of the Sage of 6 paths, i think these are now more relevant to the story and more interesting than the Uchiha secrets. But some things have already been cleared: the "demons" have acknowledged that Naruto is the one the sage was talking about, the Gedo Mazo is the shell of the 10-tails, etc. I think the most interesting mistery now is what was exactly the relation of the 10-tails and the sage. Was the 10-tails a creation or is it some eternal existence that sometimes destroys and recreates the world, etc. One thing that seems odd is that the 10-tails has a rinnegan+sharingan eye, so it therefore doesn't make too much sense if both the 10-tails and the sage had independently the same eye pattern. Which would mean tha the sage didn't have the rinnegan before he sealed the 10-tails inside himself, and also that his Senju and Uchiha sons were born after the sealing which would explain why they have their powers. It can also mean that Naruto can get the same eyes as the 10-tails has if he has in himself the chakra of all the 9 tailed beasts. Also it explains the role of the Uzumaki: if the sage was an Uzumaki that could explain why Madara wanted his eye to be transplanted into Nagato, if he believed that to use the eye one needs to have the same bloodline as the sage (and he would never give that eye to the enemy Senju or the Uchiha traitors).
The discussion threads for recent chapters are only a few pages long, because there's not much to discuss any more.
|2012-11-26, 18:04
|Link #54
Tofu Driver
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: On Winding Roads.
Age: 27
Isn't the Senju and Uchiha surname given to the descendants of the Sage of the six path's offsprings? They were brothers which meant that they should have the same last name as their father, the SoT6P. It was explained (forgot who did) that the sage's eyes and body was given to the brothers separately.
On the side note: I do believe Naruto will one day get the Rinnegan but not through his own awakening. It would probably be Sasuke's attempt at redemption when he gives his EMS to Naruto while he's near death. Naruto would need it to revive the world via the unlimited chakra of the 9 beast and the Rinnegan.
|2012-11-26, 19:30
|Link #55
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Hidden Village of Sake
The idea that the Sage's rinnegan is from the 10-tails can make it possible for Naruto to temporarily awaken the rinnegan if he has the chakra of all 9 demons, and we saw in recent chapters that they gave a part of their chakra to Naruto telling him that it's a useful gift. Eye jutsu is not Naruto's style, so that's why it would be just a temporary powerup that makes it possible to revive masses of people died in this war.
I agree that there's a very good chance that the alliance army will be revived at the end of this war. I mean Kishimoto never made such a massacre before this war, until now about 2/3 of the army is dead, that's like 50-60,000 people, it's a huge massacre until now and it doesn't seem to be ending yet. (BTW it would also give a chance to Kabuto to redeem himself if all those who died because of him are revived. And we saw some pages about people waiting Kabuto back to his orphanage.) After the Konoha massacre which was much smaller than this all those killed were revived, so there's a good chance for that here too.
|2012-11-26, 20:09
|Link #56
Tofu Driver
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: On Winding Roads.
Age: 27
As far as we know, Kakashi is not related to the sage in anyway (Not Uchiha, Senju, or Uzumaki) but he was still able to use the MS proficiently as many Uchihas (Sasuke, Obito, and someone as awesome as Itachi) have commented. It wouldn't be that far-fetched for Naruto to use some sort of Doujitsu. We have seen him with weird patterns in his eyes already (Sennin Mode /+ Kyuubi). I don't know what it is but I keep thinking Sasuke will make a 180 turn around and save Naruto while suffering from a hole in the chest then plucking his eyes out and telling Sakura (who happens to have a M.D. in Narutoverse) to transplant them making Naruto go OMGWTFBBQ on a Madara turned Devil-like-God-cotton candy-Super Saiyan-Chuck Norris.
And it wouldn't be too difficult to turn Sasuke good again. It's as simple as Madara saying to Sasuke "I'm the one who convinced Danzo to convince Itachi to massacre the Uchiha Clan because I can, it's fun, and my eye's put Itachi's Tsukiyomi/Amatsukami to shame."
|2012-11-26, 21:10
|Link #57
Corrupted fool
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: JEEEESUS CHRIIIISTOOOOO
I've just realized that while Sasuke doesn't have the requirements to activate the Rinnegan, he has a lot of Karin's DNA (she is an Uzumaki according to Kabuto) in his body as a result of biting her in order to heal him. Does that make him suitable to activate the Rinnegan? I hope Kishimoto makes him return soon considering the way he changed last time. He reminded me a lot to Naruto in his fight against Pain thinking about Jiraiya's wish. Thus, I don't think a Naruto vs Sasuke could be possible during the war.
|2012-11-26, 21:51
|Link #60
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
all summoned and controlled creatures by people with sharingan/rinnegan seem to have the sharingan/rinnegan for eyes (i.e. pain's creatures, manda, kyuubi) so the juubi may be no different and might not actually possess the rinnegan, but merely it is because obito summoned it that it is showing it. i'm not sure to what extent if any that obito is controlling it though. if true, then it follows that the so6p had rinngegan prior to his involvement with the juubi (which i do believe)
|Thread Tools


text:
Oh What a Night
I wanted to post quickly about an evening out that Hubby and I had the other day. I got invited to attend a dinner event at Myers+Chang from myBlogSpark.
I don't know much about myBlogSpark, so I figured it would be a great opportunity to learn more about the organization. Plus, it's nice to include Hubby in my blogging adventures, and my friend Cara from Cara's Cravings and her Hubby were going to be there too!
When we got to Myers+Chang, we were shocked to learn the restaurant had closed down for the event. A few people were already sitting at small tables when we arrived.
I spotted Cara and we sat down with them. Cara and I chatted about how this wasn't like any other blogging event we'd been to. Granted, we've only been to a few, but still. There was no mingling or anything, everyone just sitting at their tables as if we weren't all there for the same purpose.
At our place settings, we had a 4-course menu with a few items to choose from for each course. We started with a round of drinks and our first course.
I got the Pork and Chive Pot Stickers and Hubby got the Crispy Spring Rolls. Both were very tasty and we switched plates after our first few bites. I loved the freshness of the spring rolls.
For the second course, Hubby got Wok-Roasted Mussels. If you don't know Hubby, know that he loves mussels. Almost as much as he loves lobster.
I went with the Thai Ginger Chicken Salad. Both were made with very fresh ingredients and tasted delicious.
Then came time for our entrees. We decided as a table to order four different entrees and share them all. As a table, we ordered the Orange Chicken, Shrimp Lo Mein, Beef and Broccoli, and Kung Pao Chicken. We also ordered a scorpion bowl for the table. How fun is that?
When our entrees came out, we could tell something was different. One thing I did notice was that the brocolli in the beef and broccoli (see below) was really small. It was crisp, but usually broccoli in dishes like that are large and have a longer stem.
As we were eating, we were also commenting about how the entrees were pretty good, we all liked the first two courses better. Then someone from General Mills stands up to make an announcement. Turns out they had done a "switch" on us and we were in fact eating frozen entrees from Wanchai Ferry.
Just like those Pizza Hut commercials with the pasta. In fact, I always wondered how they got that many people in a room and none of them figured it out. Well now I guess I know. This makes sense now why there wasn't any mingling or big tables for people to meet and talk. Once one person figured out the trick, we would have all known.
We weren't at all surprised that the food was frozen entrees and we were looking forward to dessert at this point. Hubby got the Coconut Cream Pie.
I had the Chocolate Terrine. Myers+Chang gets their desserts from Flour Bakery. Both were devine.
At the end of the night, we headed out still scratching our heads at what had happened. We definitely had a good evening chatting with Cara and Ben and enjoyed the meal. Based on the first two courses, I would go back to Myers+Chang. I would definitely go back to Flour bakery as well. As far as whether I'd actually buy and Wanchai Ferry frozen entrees… Hubby and I both enjoy cooking. If we eat at home, we cook our dinners ourselves. We definitely stay away from processed foods as much as possible. Even when we need a quick meal, we don't go for frozen entrees. So I highly doubt we will ever actually buy any Wanchei Ferry entrees.
Check Cara's blog to see her recap. We also saw Megan from Delicious Dishings and the Boston Chomper. Thanks to myBlogSpark for hosting the evening.
7 Responses to "Oh What a Night"
Interesting to know those things really happen! So what was your official feedback, and had everyone been raving about the food before the announcement? Hubby and I have eaten the Wanchai Ferry Sweet & Sour Chicken and weren't thrilled with it (tasted very sweet and goopy, just overall processed). I guess it's all psychological!
Hahahaha that's so funny that they did a little switch on you. Like you pointed out, I guess that is how they did the Pizza Hut commercials.
I think you did a great, fair recap of the event. It was at least really nice to run into you there! And you got some great pictures.
Sarah – I updated my post to include more feedback. As I mentioned, we were discussing how the first two courses were much better than the entrees. At least at our table, there was no raving.
I'm glad you had fun, although I'm a bit perplexed that they thought they could fool foodies with a frozen dinner! I still haven't been to Flour and really need to go – I feel like I'm a bad Boston blogger!
I agree Kerstin, most food bloggers probably don't eat many frozen entrees… But it definitely wasn't all food bloggers.
I heard about this event from Megan and it sounds interesting to say the least. It just seems like GM didn't do their research because that is not similar to Myers + Chang's food! Either way, at least you had fun with some other food bloggers!


text:
Get the Recipe
If you're ever in the mood to put together a fancy dessert at home, mousse bombes are a fantastic way to go. They satisfy my craving for many things at once; a little cake, a little frozen mousse, and a surprise bit of fresh fruit, jelly, or nuts. Best of all, they have a gorgeous, smooth shell of chocolate that looks as beautiful as it tastes, giving you the dramatic payoff of a plated dessert with just a little effort. These are the perfect thing for people who love customizing their treats. Don't like white chocolate? Simply use milk or dark. Have a great recipe for a salted caramel mousse? Have at it! When you consider all of the different flavor variations for the cake, mousse, hidden surprise, and the shell, the combinations are more dizzying than a trip to Sixteen Handles. Only with these, the end product is guaranteed to look elegant and refined.
When making frozen mousse bombs, here are some tips to consider:
- If making the shells with milk or dark chocolate, tempering the chocolate will prevent white streaks from forming.
- Mousse that contains gelatin is ideal to help it hold its shape as the bombe melts a bit.
- Virtually any cake sponge baked in a flat sheet can be used (or, alternatively, a flourless meringue-based cookie).
- For best appearance, cut the round of cake exactly to the size of the bombe's footprint.
The silicone dome molds for making bombes are affordable; they go for less than ten dollars on Amazon. Get one, then let your imagination go as you plan flavor combinations for your own mousse bombs, or, click over to this recipe for one with white chocolate mousse and a frozen raspberry in the center, sitting atop a rich chocolate cake, covered with a thin shell of white chocolate.
Get the Recipe
About the author: Lauren Weisenthal has logged many hours working in restaurant kitchens and bakeries of Brooklyn and Manhattan. She is a graduate of the Artisan Bread Baking and Pastry Arts programs at the French Culinary Institute. You can follow her on Twitter at @evillagekitchen.


text: This news item expired on 3/5/2013, so the information below could be outdated or incorrect. Enka-Candler Book Club: Iron House Tuesday, March 5 at 7pm Enka-Candler Library 1404 Sandhill Road 250-4758 The book to be discussed is "Iron House" by John Hart. All interested readers are welcome to attend. The Enka-Candler Book Club will be celebrating their 10th anniversary at this meeting.


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Sun, Moon or Planet?Riddles are little poems or phrases that pose a question that needs answering. Riddles frequently rhyme, but this is not a requirement.
I am here all the time,
Even if you can not see me,
I appear to be as big as a dime,
I am able to do something different,
But closer than another galaxy,
I am important in your life,
In more than just a couple ways.
Am I the Sun, a Planet, or the Moon?
HintRead it again closely, because there is a clue!
AnswerThe Sun!
The clue was the last two lines: The Sun is important in your life because we could not live on Earth without the Sun warming us, helping our plants grow, and helping us see.
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this riddle, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
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text:
Candy Memories
We screamed so loudly that our mothers heard us a half a block away and came running like mad to see what was wrong. After they stopped laughing, they picked us up and carried us the rest of the way to the store so we could buy our wax lips -- good thing we didn't get them before our feet started to burn, or I fear we would have had a bag filled with melted lips -- that concrete was really HOT!! But those were the hardest earned wax lips we ever had! Sally from Ohio
Ratings & Reviews
Posted by: Sue Jaynes
Wax lips
My grandchildren and I enjoy the wax lips very much and have for many years
Quality Value Price
Posted by: Candace
Wax Lips are gorgeous
Wonderful website. My order arrived far faster than I expected in great shape. We took the wax lips to our Thanksgiving dinner and snapped pictures of those who wanted to pose while wearing them. There were 4 generations attending. It was fun and we got some great pictures for our memory book. Thanks for the great service and the quality product.
Quality Value Price
Posted by: Amy Kefauver
Reunion Ice-Breaker
I had two groups of friends come to a party. Both known to me of course (!) but strangers to each other. The wax lips were a perfect silly ice-breaker! Everyone was comfortable and laughing in no time. The men with full beards were especially hilarious, and many many photos were taken of the event. Great fun!
Quality Value Price
Posted by: Marianne
Wax Lips Retro Candy
I had the wax lips along with several other of your 1950's candies at a 60th Retro Birthday Party. Each guest left with a bag of their favorite childhood penny candy. It was so much fun. The candy tasted just how we remembered it! Great Quality.
Quality Value Price
Posted by: Paula Cooper
Love these things!
Got my box in the mail and i swear i can't stop chewing on these. I'm 30, and i've never stop loving wax lips. My box came pretty quickly and everything was okay inside. Will use these guys again!
Quality Value Price


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Candin Safety & Efficacy Study for the Treatment of Warts
This study is ongoing, but not recruiting participants.
Nielsen BioSciences, Inc.
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Nielsen BioSciences, Inc.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: December 21, 2012
Last updated: October 3, 2016
Last verified: October 2016
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
The primary objective of this study is to determine the safety of Candin® (Candida albicans Skin Test Antigen) at a 0.3 ml dose level at up to 6 monthly injections for treating common warts (Verruca vulgaris).
|Warts Human Papilloma Virus
|Biological: Candida albicans Skin Test Antigen
|Phase 2
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Study of the Safety and Effectiveness of Candin for the Treatment of Common Warts
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: Warts
Drug Information available for: Candida albicansU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Nielsen BioSciences, Inc.:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Safety of Candin® (Candida albicans Skin Test Antigen) at 0.3 dose level at up to 6 monthly injections for treating common warts (Verruca vulgaris) [ Time Frame: Monthly evaluations for up to 5 months ]Symptoms will be evaluated daily for 7 days following each monthly treatment for safety
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Evaluation of the relative efficacy of the 0.3 mL dose levels of Candin® for up to 5 months [ Time Frame: Monthly evaluations for up to 5 months ]Presence or absence of wart lesions will be determined monthly
|Study Start Date:
|September 2012
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|December 2016
|Primary Completion Date:
|December 2014 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Candin® 0.3 mL
Monthly intralesional injections of Candin® 0.3 ml until lesion resolves or up to 6 injections.
Biological: Candida albicans Skin Test Antigen
0.3 ml injected intralesionally monthly. Number of injections: until wart lesion is resolved or up to 6 injections.
Other Name: Candin®
Detailed Description:
The primary objective of this study is to determine the safety of Candin® (Candida albicans Skin Test Antigen) at either 0.3 mL dose levels at up to 6 monthly injections (a maximal, cumulative dose of 1.9 mL, including the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) test) for treating common warts (Verruca vulgaris). A secondary objective is to understand the relative effectiveness of the 0.3 dose level for treating common warts, both those that were injected and those that were not injected as well as other types of warts that were not injected to allow a determination of appropriate dose levels to use in a future dose-ranging efficacy trial.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 65 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Must have at least 3 and not more than 10 common warts not located on the palms or digits
- Positive DTH response to Candin® required
Exclusion Criteria:
- No previous medical treatment for warts other than OTC
- No immunocompromising medical conditions or medicines allowed
- No preexisting inflammatory conditions at treatment site allowed
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01757392
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01757392
|United States, Arkansas
|Johnson Dermatology
|Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States, 72916
Sponsors and Collaborators
Nielsen BioSciences, Inc.
|Principal Investigator:
|Sandy M Johnson, MD
|Johnson Dermatology
More Information
Keywords provided by Nielsen BioSciences, Inc.:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
|Responsible Party:
|Nielsen BioSciences, Inc.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01757392 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
Nieslen Protocol CFW-2c
|Study First Received:
|December 21, 2012
|Last Updated:
|October 3, 2016
Keywords provided by Nielsen BioSciences, Inc.:
common wart lesions
(verruca vulgaris)
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Neoplasms, Squamous Cell
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Papillomavirus Infections
DNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Skin Diseases, Viral
Tumor Virus Infections
Skin Diseases, Infectious
Skin Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Escada Sport Country Weekend Perfume
By Escada for Women
Escada Sport Country Weekend Perfume by Escada, Escada country weekend was launched by the design house of escada in 1997 . This fine fragrance contains jasmine, cedar, apples and is accented with cinnamon, nutmeg and amber making country weekend perfect forâ casual use. All products are original, authentic name brands. We do not sell knockoffs or imitations. ... Read More
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3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray (Tester)
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History and background of Escada. ESCADA is the international luxury fashion group in women´s designer fashion. It has pursued a course of steady expansion since its founding in 1976 by Margaretha and Wolfgang Ley and today has nearly 440 shops and corners in more than 60 countries. Read more about Escada
More Escada fragrancesfor Women: Escada Magnetism , Escada Cherry In The Air , Escada Sentiment , Escada Rockin'rio , Escada Taj Sunset , more
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Time from order placed to receipt of product was outstanding. Product just what I wanted and prices are the best. I notice FragranceX prices for merchandise I've previously bought at dept. stores are 50% less!!!
C. Myslewski (Harrisburg, PA)


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Celebs in Victoria Beckham Dresses
Celebs in Victoria Beckham Dresses — See Who's Obsessed!
Celebs in Victoria Beckham Dresses — See Who's Obsessed!
Ever since Victoria Beckham went into designing, flocks of celebrity fans have been rocking her fashion-forward dresses. Everyone from Eva Longoria to Olivia Palermo to Jessica Biel to Beyoncé and so many more stars work styles like form-fitting sheath dresses to exposed-zip gowns to futuristic cuts to schoolgirl-chic details. The latest to wear a Victoria Beckham number is Julia Roberts at the LA premiere of Jesus Henry Christ last night. Step inside to see her and many more celebs rocking Victoria Beckham dresses, then shop our favorite VB frocks for yourself.
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Fremantle coach Ross Lyon often boasts his team isn't a one-man band.
But the Dockers have been left singing the blues with Luke McPharlin and Zac Dawson ruled out of Saturday's crunch clash with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
McPharlin (quad) and Dawson (ankle) were both injured in last week's AFL win over West Coast.
Dawson tried to prove his fitness behind closed doors on Thursday, but ultimately failed.
The absence of McPharlin and Dawson leaves only Michael Johnson as a first-choice tall in defence.
And with Port Adelaide boasting multiple threats in attack, the double injury blow comes at the worst possible time for Fremantle.
Power spearhead Jay Schulz leads the Coleman Medal race with 24 goals, while 199cm Justin Westhoff, All-Australian Chad Wingard and former Bomber Angus Monfries also have the potential to wreak major damage.
The Dockers have recalled Alex Silvagni for his first game of the year, while forward Chris Mayne is set to play in defence.
Mayne performed well on Eagles forward Jack Darling in the second half last week, while Silvagni has had his moments during his stop-start 39-game career.
Ruckman Zac Clarke is another option to throw back.
But they are no match for the defensive combination of McPharlin and Dawson.
McPharlin, 32, not only shuts down the opposition's best forward, but his rebound sets up numerous attacking thrusts.
Dawson appears slow and lackadaisical at times, plus he's a horrible kick.
But the former Saint is a spoiling machine whose presence is crucial to Fremantle's structure.
Lyon put on a brave face when asked about the daunting task of fronting up to Adelaide Oval minus two of the club's best defenders.
"It's a challenge, but it's nothing we haven't done before," Lyon said.
"Alex Silvagni played in a final against Geelong on the biggest stage in Melbourne and stood up.
"As always, we'll defend if the pressure's right up the field."
The Dockers have at least been boosted by the return of midfielder Stephen Hill, who has recovered from a minor hamstring niggle.
Port Adelaide welcome back Alipate Carlile, Hamish Hartlett and Kane Mitchell.
The Power sit in second spot following a 6-1 start to the year, while Fremantle (4-3) are yet to hit their straps despite starting the season as a hot flag fancy.


text:
Posted 5 years ago
(116 items)
When I first started placing items on this site, I put multiple pics up on the same page and only showed one pic of each basket. I wanted to do some over so I could add more detailed pictures of them. Hope nobody minds.
This is a "Old Pit River" basket I have in my collection. It does have some damage at the top rim but it is still great. It is a pedestal basket and was made around 1920. Made from Willow, Bear Grass and Pine Root, this basket stands about 6 inches high and the bowl is about 5 inches around. Really nice, enjoy the pics.


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- Outlook.com
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- Hardball
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- Last Word
- msnbc
This week's groundbreaking visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Ireland is raising passions and security fears in a nation that has traditionally cast a cold eye on its former master. Full story
Ireland has received a first tranche of 3.6 billion euros ($4.9 billion) from the euro zone rescue fund, slightly more than the initial amount agreed, a fund source told Reuters on Sunday. Full story
Ireland's nationalist Sinn Fein party is having a good crisis. Full story


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While all that may be true, the above representation is hot. I think, however, I would prefer somethinmg a bit more tradtional, some of which are very lovely in their visual expressions of compassion.Sanghamitta wrote:Just to explain a little Annicca, this is a Theravadin Forum and the Mahayana Bodhisattvas like Guanyin are not recognised as having any validity in the Theravada as they were not taught by Shakyamuni Buddha.
But welcome to the Forum.
David N. Snyder wrote:Although not a Theravada figure, there has been growing interest in Kwan-Yin in Theravada countries / adherents; see: http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=662
tiltbillings wrote:While all that may be true, the above representation is hot.
I think, however, I would prefer somethinmg a bit more tradtional, some of which are very lovely in their visual expressions of compassion.
Anders Honore wrote: this one impressed me:
Kim O'Hara wrote:Anders Honore wrote: this one impressed me:
Stunning ... though I do wonder about the comment 'the original music is much better'. Do you know anything about that?
Kim O'Hara wrote:...a few other little chunks.
Justsit wrote:Sorry, being unmindful, sincere apologies
Nothing to apologize for. Honestly, if one finds Mahayana moving, there really is not a problem with that.Justsit wrote:Sorry, being unmindful, sincere apologies
And it was with The Buddha's cousin, Nanda:Anders Honore wrote:At the risk of continuing to be off-topic, I'm going to be bold anyway as I think there's an amusing and slight dhamma related point in it:
I was once told, secondhand, that one Asutralian bhikkhu (don't recall his name, no one famous), once remarked that once he actually got to see a female deva himself, it really took the gloss off what desire he might have for ordinary human women. Apparently, they are so ridiculously beautiful, he could just never look at human women again without them looking utterly flawed and plain in comparison.
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text:
Mary Higgins Clark—who at 83 still churns out at least one book a year—remains as lucrative a brand as ever. Her books have sold 100 million copies in the U.S. alone. All 42 of her books have been best sellers. At 83, she is contemplating appointing a successor to continue the franchise when she is gone. What writer in the genre do you most enjoy reading?
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text:
First of thanks for installing the Sila (conduct) forum, may it grow to a great sorce of references and advices from friends on the path. I am aware that it might seem to be very greedy, tiresome or invasive (don't worry its just a very perishable and shorttimely apperiance) that I knock another time in regard of Dana but I guess it was to much suggestions in one topic.
As most practicier here are naturally layman or still worldlings, Dana is a very importand aspect of the pratice and very required to make the first steps torward the eightfold path. Sadly Dana is really not good understood broadly and even through teachers wrongly taught.
To learn how to make Dana (as a effective meritious action) is not that easy at one might think and not understanding it well, it can even lead to much frustration and suffereing. For one self as well as for others.
As a very importand step, long before one is even able to meditate, Dana requires much understanding.
Maybe it is possible to install such a subforum, not so much thought as a pool of specific Dana suggessions but a place where we could share experianses and explainations in regard of Dana.


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The highest grossing film of all time gets the bare bones home video treatment...
For a great selection of film, comic and TV action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, PastGenerationToys.com, MonkeyDepot.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, and YesAnimation.com.
For a great selection of film, TV and pop culture t-shirts and apparel, check out TShirtGurus.com and 80sTees.com.
No doubt if you saw Avatar in theaters, you were anxious to see it again at home. And, while only the wealthiest of us can afford one of those 3-D home theater set-ups, unfortunately this first home video release of Avatar wasn't ready for 3-D. In fact, it wasn't ready for much more than playing the movie (with or without subtitles).
While no one will contest the sheer beauty of Pandora, the film's setting, fans can criticize all they want the lack of any - and I mean ANY - special features on this, the initial release of the highest grossing film of all time. While some might not mind the idea of releasing a film to home video with nothing but the film itself ready for action (remember, VHS was like this 20 years ago!), most watchers today hate the idea of having to dish out hard earned scratch on a home video - no matter its format - just to find out it's being re-released 6 months later as it should have been released, with its intended bonus material, special features, commentaries, and more.
This version of the film, which includes both DVD and Blu-ray discs, features the film and nothing else. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Again, while that's not entirely unheard of, for a film of this caliber, it's almost shameful...
Now that I've got that out of my system, let me reiterate the film itself is amazing, gorgeous, and sheer brilliance. The hi-def transfer in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio is spot-on with beautiful, bright bold colors and sharp lines and edges. There's no issues with any of the visuals and it's because of that that Avatar gets popped into my Blu-ray player at least once a week. Likewise, the film's 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround track impresses with harsh explosions, hushed whispers, and everything in between.
If you're a die-hard fan of Avatar and, like me, watch this movie over and over again for the sheer thrill of revisiting Pandora as often as possible, picking up this Blu-ray/DVD Combo pack for around $20 is well worth the money. For those who want to hold out for the more comprehensive release - which is sure to include audio commentaries, "making of" featurettes, and bonus material galore - you're better off waiting until this November.
- Jess C. Horsley


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This star rating is the opinion of the property owner only. A Self-Rated hotel has not been assessed by the AA or Visit Britain, whose official star ratings we use across LateRooms.com.
Arcadia Hotel5 Self rated
Frantiskanska 3, Bratislava, 811 01
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About the hotel
ARCADIA Hotel is the first 5-star hotel in Bratislava and the one and only member of prestigious group The Leading Hotels of the World in Slovakia. ARCADIA Hotel is housed in a beautiful 13th-century listed building which has been carefully renovated to maintain its well-preserved historic substance. The foyer is a definite eye-catcher, with arched hallways, an olive tree and a painted glass ceiling.
Step inside and discover the magical interiors that lend a unique atmosphere to this splendid hotel. The unique modern Slovak cuisine with fine wines from Slovakia and all over the world, satisfy the most demanding gourmet at the hotel's Restaurant L`Olive. Our guests appreciate the daily opened Library bar with open fireplace as well as the relaxed atmosphere of the Lobby lounge. Conferences are possible in our events facilities, which have enough space for up to 100 people. ARCADIA Spa features a fitness centre, whirlpool, sauna, steam bath and private Jacuzzi. End your business trip or holiday in Bratislava the relaxing way with a wonderful professional massage.
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- Parking
- Car parking available onsite, Valet Parking
- Business
- Wi-Fi Available, Meeting Facilities, Wi-Fi Available In Public Areas, Wi-Fi Available In Rooms, Private dining services
- Dining
- Restaurant, Bar, Breakfast to go
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- Fitness Centre, Sauna, Steam Rooms, Massage, Jacuzzi, [Channels] News, [Channels] Movies (Free), [Channels] Foreign (European), [Channels] Foreign (Other), [Channels] Music
- In Room Entertainment
- Video/DVD Player, TV, Satellite TV
- Accessibility
- Disabled Access Public Areas, Disabled Access Bedrooms, Disabled toilets on ground floor, Wheelchair Access, Wheelchair Access To Reception, Wheelchair Access To Restaurant, Wheelchair Access To Bar, Wheelchair Access To Conference Rooms, Wheelchair Access To Leisure Facilities, Wheelchair Access To Disabled Car Parking Spaces
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text:
Following the drought and dust storms of the 1930s, the federal government's response was to invest $13.8 million to plant over 200 million trees and shrubs throughout the Great Plains.
These plantings were initially established to reduce windblown soil, but research suggests that there is an additional benefit that would surprise many agricultural producers: Windbreaks may increase crop yields.
"Conventional wisdom suggests otherwise since the zone immediately adjacent to windbreaks usually exhibits obvious reductions in crop yields," said Bob Atchison, rural forestry coordinator with the Kansas Forest Service. "But is seeing always believing?"
"This same research further supports that the visible yield reductions immediately adjacent to windbreaks are more than compensated for by increased yields in the rest of the field, the area that falls within the 'protected zone' of the windbreak," Atchison said. "These yield increases were summarized on a world-wide basis as far back as 1986 at the First International Windbreak Conference and documented 12 percent yield increases for corn, 8 percent for spring wheat, 23 percent for winter wheat, and 15 percent for soybeans."
Some economists also suggest that field windbreaks will also pay for themselves within 10 to 15 years and provide additional income over their remaining life span of 50 years or more, even when you consider the land removed from production by the windbreak and the yield reductions that occur immediately adjacent to the trees, he said.
In an attempt to check the validity of this long-standing research and discourage the removal of shelterbelts and encourage planting new ones, a crop yields study associated with windbreaks is being considered throughout the Great Plains.
"For the Great Plains Crop Yield Study, we propose to obtain information from yield monitors that allow producers to assess the effects of weather, soil properties, management, and in our case, windbreaks on agricultural production," Atchison said. "The concept behind this study is to compare multiple years of data from fields with and without windbreaks over a large area and from many farmers. Because we are looking for relative crop yield changes and not absolute numbers, this approach will minimize the variables of rainfall, fertility, crop rotation, and farming methods."
The key is that the data already exists with farmers because many have crop yield monitors installed on their equipment. When combined with GPS, yield monitors can provide crop yield data for virtually every point in a field.
The first step, the forester said, is to find conservation-minded landowners who understand the intent of the study and are willing to share their yield monitor data. Ideally, the data would be from both windbreak-protected and unprotected fields. The field(s) will be identified on aerial photography and when windbreaks are involved, their effectiveness will be determined. Then the landowner can either upload the monitor data to a site for analysis or save it to a storage device for uploading later.
"The eventual outcome from the study will be an updating of our knowledge of the windbreak/crop yield interaction," Atchison said. The information will be shared among farmers and conservationists through technical reports, journals, agriculture-related publications and conferences.
"By the way the study has been designed, it will not be possible to report comparison yield results for a specific location," he said. "However, if the study can include several years of data, we may in time, be able to answer other questions, such as, do windbreaks have greater, lesser, or no effect during times of drought? Are they more effective with some crops and less with others?"
A database that spans several years and a wide region may potentially add value to agriculture production beyond the original purpose of the study, he added.
Farmers, scientists, and other stakeholders interested in participating in the study should contact Atchison at 785-532-3310 or email@example.com.


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SAN JOSE–In the city's third-officer involved shooting this month, a San Jose patrolman shot and wounded a suspected car thief after, authorities said, she tried to run him over Wednesday afternoon.
"The vehicle came directly at him and the officer tried to get out of the way and realized he was unable to," San Jose police Sgt. Albert Morales said. "So he discharged his firearm."
Morales did not offer any more details as he spoke a block away from the shooting on Almaden Road, just southeast of downtown in a neighborhood of modest apartment buildings, old houses and light-industrial businesses.
About 4:30 p.m., police dispatchers received a call about a stolen, red car in the area and alerted patrol officers nearby. When they arrived and stopped the car, Morales said, the woman at the wheel "immediately put the vehicle in reverse and drove forward, striking one of the officers."
Morales said the officer fired at least once, hitting the driver, but he did not know the nature of the driver or officer's injuries. He said both were taken to hospitals with injuries not considered to be life-threatening. A second passenger in the stolen car, a man, suffered minor injuries, possibly from broken glass, Morales said.
Police did not identify the officer or the suspects and continued to investigate at the scene well past sundown.
It was the third officer-involved shooting this month in San Jose, and third of the year. The first two ended with fatal results.
On March 18, Officer Bruce Barthelemy shot and killed a suspect who police say accelerated at him in a stolen car in unincorporated East San Jose. Police said the driver had rammed two police vehicles and crashed into a parked car.
In the first officer-involved shooting March 2, Ronald Aduddell — a 28-year-old with a history of drug and burglary offenses who was facing a third strike — was shot and killed after leading police on a high-speed chase in South San Jose.
Contact Joe Rodriguez at 408-920-5767. Follow him on Twitter.com/JoeRodMercury.