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Bladder cancer is often characterized by a multifocal growth pattern. This observation has given rise to the hypothesis of "field cancerization," predicting a polyclonal origin of multiple tumors rising from an area of independently transformed mucosa cells. On the other hand, genetic studies suggested a monoclonal origin. To address these contradictory hypotheses, we performed comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) on 32 tumors originating from six bladder cystectomy specimens. All tumors derived from the same patient showed a set of 7–13 identical chromosomal aberrations and additional individual alterations. Most striking were the findings of 17p losses in all (32 of 32) tumors of the six cystectomy specimens and 20p gains in all tumors of four bladders, as well as an unexpected high number of chromosomal changes (20.4 alterations per tumor on average). To clarify a possible role of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene on 17p13, we applied immunohistochemistry and sequence analysis on the tumors and additional 52 mucosa samples. Identical TP53 mutations and protein overexpression was found in individual tumors only as well as in mucosa samples from continuous areas. Our results not only provide further evidence for a monoclonal origin of multifocal bladder cancer but also point at intraepithelial migration of tumor cells carrying specific chromosomal aberrations.
About one-third of all bladder cancers occur as a multifocal disease forming several tumors simultaneously at different sites of the bladder wall. During the last years, different concepts have been assumed to explain this phenomenon. One is the field defect hypothesis, according to which individual cells of the bladder urothelium are primed to undergo transformation because of environmental mutagens, consequently leading to the development of independent multiclonal tumors. This theory is mainly based on morphological and immunohistochemical mapping studies demonstrating areas of modified cells adjacent to the sites of the tumors (1 , 2) . In contrast, genetic studies have given evidence for a monoclonal origin. Sidransky et al. (3) showed that all tumors of a single patient with multifocal disease revealed the same X chromosome inactivation pattern. Additionally, mostly the same patterns of loss of heterozygosity (4) as well as identical TP53 mutations (5) were detected. Most investigators, therefore, concluded that an intraluminal seeding or intraepithelial migration of cells originating from a single primary tumor might be responsible for multifocal tumor occurrence.
Most of the previous studies on multiple bladder cancer have been focused on few specific genetic changes (4 , 6, 7, 8, 9, 10) . However, bladder cancer is characterized by highly complex chromosomal changes affecting numerous chromosomal loci. Recently, a cytogenetic study provided a more complex overview about chromosomal changes in six cases of multifocal bladder cancer, showing a highly similar pattern of genetic changes in distinct tumors (11) . However, a systematic analysis of both multifocal tumors and the surrounding urothelium to find clues for the mechanism of multifocal tumor development has not been performed yet.
We analyzed a set of 32 multifocal bladder carcinomas and 52 tissue samples from macroscopically uninvolved urothelium originating from six cystectomy specimens. In our study, we used CGH 3 that detects all DNA gains and losses present in a tissue sample to search for typical patterns of chromosomal aberrations in multiple bladder cancer. Our data not only provide further evidence for a monoclonal origin of multifocal bladder cancer but also point at intraepithelial migration of tumor cells carrying specific chromosomal aberrations.
Cystectomy specimens of six bladder cancer patients (five males and one female) with multifocal disease were investigated. Samples were taken from 32 different tumors of the bladder specimens containing three, four, five, five, six, and nine tumors, respectively. Additionally, a total of 52 tissue samples were taken from sites of macroscopically uninvolved urothelium surrounding the tumors as well as from distant sites. The histological classification of each sample is given in Table 1 ⇓ .
DNA Isolation.
Genomic DNA of the 32 unfixed tumor samples was prepared following standard DNA extraction procedures. If necessary, laser microdissection (PALM) was carried out on 10-μm sections to assure a tumor cell content of at least 80%.
All 32 tumors were investigated by CGH. CGH analysis and the criteria for the evaluation of copy number changes have been described elsewhere (12 , 13) . CGH profile shifts were rated as gains and losses if they at least reached the 1.25 and 0.75 thresholds. The Cytovision 3.1 software package (Applied Imaging International, Ltd.) was used for digital image analysis and subsequent karyotyping.
TP53 IHC Analysis.
Sections (4 μm) of all formalin-fixed tissue samples of the 32 tumors and the 52 mucosa samples were investigated for TP53 accumulation by immunostaining. The procedure and the antibodies used have been described elsewhere (14) . Scoring was performed to the following criteria: − (negative), cells completely lacking nuclear staining; (+) (very weak), weak nuclear staining in widely scattered and <10% of cells; + (weak), weak nuclear staining or strong immunostaining in widely scattered and <10% of cells; ++ (moderate), strong immunostaining in 10–50% of cells or moderate staining in >50% of cells; +++ (strong), strong immunostaining in >50% of cells.
TP53 Mutation Analysis.
All tumors of cases 3227, 3253, and 3312 (n = 15) were analyzed for TP53 gene mutations because they showed at least moderate TP53 immunostaining (see "Results"). In addition, the TP53 IHC-positive mucosa sample IX of case 3253 was analyzed. Sequencing of the remaining IHC-positive mucosa samples was not performed because the content of IHC-positive cells was too small to allow the detection of a potential mutation. Mutation analysis was performed by solid phase sequencing of single-stranded PCR products from exons 5 to 8 of the TP53 gene, which are known to harbor ∼80% of all mutations (15) . The procedure was performed as described before (16) . Gel electrophoresis, data collection, and analysis was performed on an automated laser fluorescence sequencer (A.L.F.; Pharmacia).
CGH ratio profiles were generated from DNA samples of each macroscopically identified tumor. All tumors derived from the same patient shared a set of 7–13 identical alterations (hereafter referred to as "basic changes"). Additional genetic changes were found in individual tumors or subsets of the tumors. On average, all 32 tumors investigated showed 20.4 chromosomal changes (range, 6–33).
The most frequent change was a loss of chromosome 17p material that was present as a basic change in 32 of 32 tumors (100%) of the six bladder specimens. Gains involving 20p affected all tumors of four cases. Interestingly, particular aberrations appeared frequently in combination as basic changes, whereas others were seen in the course of progression only (Table 2) ⇓ .
Following the theory of an accumulation of genetic changes during tumor development and progression (17) , we developed cytogenetic pedigrees reflecting the accumulation of chromosomal aberrations for each case of multifocal bladder cancer (Fig. 1) ⇓ . Starting from a hypothetical precursor cell population characterized by the set of basic changes (X0 in Fig. 1 ⇓ ), additional clones (X1–Xn) were identified based upon the highest number of identical chromosomal aberrations in addition to the precursor clone (Fig. 2) ⇓ .
TP53 Immunohistochemical Analysis.
All 32 tumors and 39 of 52 mucosa samples were successfully analyzed by IHC. The results are given in detail in Table 1 ⇓ . A moderate or strong positive immunostaining [++ or +++ (positive)] was detected in individual samples of cases 3227, 3253, and 3312. In case 3227, only tumors A and B showed positive staining but none of the remaining samples. In cases 3253 and 3227, the positive samples were located in a contiguous area. In case 3253, this area included tumors A, B, and C as well as mucosa samples IX (dysplasia), XI (pT1 tumor), and XIV (carcinoma in situ; Fig. 3 ⇓ ). In case 3312, positive staining was found in tumors B, C, D, E, and F and mucosa samples X (dysplasia), XI (normal urothelium), and XII (dysplasia; Fig. 4 ⇓ ).
TP53 Mutation Analysis.
The findings of 17p deletions in all 32 tumors and positive TP53 immunostaining in 15 tumors investigated suggested an involvement of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene. Sequencing of TP53 of the IHC-positive tumors revealed point mutations in individual tumors of two bladder specimens. In case 3253, a transition from guanine to adenine at exon 8 codon 269 was found in tumors A, B, and C that resulted in the change of GAG (glutamic acid) to AAG (lysine). Tumor D showed the wild-type sequence. The TP53 IHC-positive mucosa sample (sample IX) revealed a mixed population of tumor cells carrying the known mutation and TP53 wild-type mucosa cells (Fig. 3) ⇓ . In case 3227, also a transition from guanine to adenine occurred but affected exon 5 codon 179. It was present in tumors A and B but not in tumors C, D, and E (data not shown). In both cases, the mutations resulted in a moderate or strong TP53 immunostaining (++ or+++ ). None of the tumors without mutations was IHC positive. The tumors of case 3227 did not show mutations within the analyzed exons.
In our present study, we demonstrated a close genetic relationship between all tumors of a particular cystectomy specimen in six cases of multifocal bladder cancer. Comparison of the CGH ratio profiles obtained from the tumors belonging to the same case enabled us to elaborate individual cytogenetic pedigrees portraying the accumulation of chromosomal aberrations during multiple bladder cancer progression.
In our sets of tumors, between 7 and 13 identical chromosomal aberrations were found in each case as well as identical TP53 mutations in two cases, indicating a clonal origin of the tumors. This is in concordance with previous studies that showed clonality by X chromosome inactivation patterns, genetically closely related or identical tumors, or TP53 mutations in patients with multiple or recurrent tumors (3 , 7 , 10 , 11) .
The sequence of genomic changes acquired during progression of the tumors was highly individual and complex in each case. It can be assumed that early aberrations frequently affect all tumors of a case. Potentially early changes in this study include alterations such as− 17p, +20p, −9p, −9q, +2q34–qter, +12q14–q21, +1q22–q25,− 8p22–pter, −5q31–qter, and +17q. Subsequent tumor progression may be characterized by the accumulation of changes like +11q14, −21q,− 5q13–q14, +8q22, +10p, −10q22–qter, and −11p, which occurred only rarely in all tumors of a case. Alterations appearing in particular tumors only, such as +3q24–q26, +2p21–cen, +3p26, +5p13–p14,+ 6pter–p22, and −22q, are likely to be very late changes. Under this assumption, the order of chromosomal aberrations outlined in Table 2 ⇓ (from top to bottom) represents a hypothetical, unified sequence of frequent genetic changes acquired during evolution of multiple bladder cancer.
The majority of chromosomal changes detected in our study are commonly found in singular bladder cancer as well (12 , 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) . Some of them have been linked to special tumor properties, e.g., tumor initiation (−9p, −9q; Refs. 12 , 20, and 23 ), papillary growth (−9q; Ref. 21 ), high-grade or invasive phenotype (−8p, −11p, −17p; Refs. 12 , 21 , 22, and 24 ), or are suggested to represent late events (+5p, −5q; Refs. 21 and 22 ). Numerous genes that are known to play a role for tumor development may be affected by these alterations, e.g., TP53 (17p13), MDM2 (12q13–q15), and PMS1 (2q34; apoptosis and maintenance of genomic stability), CDK4 (12q13–q15), CDK7 (2p15–cen), CDKN2A and CDKN2B (9p21; cell cycle regulation), or DBCCR1 at 9q34 (tumor initiation). However, the findings of 17p losses in all tumors of all bladder specimens, 20p gains in all tumors of four bladder specimens, and the high number of aberrations per tumor are strikingly different from previous reports. In this regard, it is important to note that the majority of tumors investigated were late-stage, advanced carcinomas, because otherwise no cystectomy specimens would have been available. This means that our set of tumors is not entirely representative for typical multiple bladder carcinomas that are usually noninvasive.
The average number of aberrations per tumor (20.4) was remarkably higher as reported for pT2–4 (7.9 aberrations) or grade 3 carcinomas (7.8 aberrations) by means of CGH (21) , suggesting an exceptional high degree of genomic instability in multifocal bladder cancer. However, it cannot be ruled out that the high number of chromosomal aberrations might be attributable to the preselection of extremely advanced tumors. Another point is that most of the previous CGH analyses have been performed on DNA obtained from formalin-fixed tissue samples. The direct comparison with CGH results from fresh tissue and may be problematic because shifts of the CGH profile are usually stronger in this case and might account for the larger number of profile shifts passing the thresholds. Nevertheless, it has been reported that mere reduction in TP53 levels may be sufficient to promote tumorigenesis (25) . Loss of 17p that was present in all of our tumors may consequently account for a reduced activity of TP53 downstream mechanisms like induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and prevention of chromosomal instability, providing an alternative explanation for the high number of chromosomal defects.
However, the 100% rate of 17p losses must be interpreted with care because of the small number of cases. Nevertheless, it is remarkably higher than reported in non-multifocal bladder cancer by means of allelic loss (30–70%; Refs. 3 and 26, 27, 28, 29 ) or CGH (up to 28%; Refs. 12 , 20, and 21 ) and suggests a possible involvement of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene. Yet, in our set of tumors, TP53 mutations were detected in two of six cases only. Consequently, loss of 17p might be attributable to advanced tumor stage and grade rather than reflecting a characteristic alteration in multiple bladder cancer. On the other hand, it can be hypothesized that TP53 may not be the target gene responsible for multiple tumor development. There might be one or more currently unknown genes located on 17p that may exert an influence on multifocality, e.g., by inhibiting cell migration capabilities in healthy urothelium. A similar effect may be induced by gains involving chromosome 20p that appeared as a basic change in four of six cases (66%). This finding was surprising, because in non-multifocal bladder cancer, this alteration has been described rather rarely (9%; Ref. 21 ), arguing for a certain role of genes located on 20p for multiple bladder cancer.
Interestingly, cytogenetically closely related tumors revealed a close spatial relationship in this study. This raises the question on the mechanism of tumor cell spread leading to multifocal bladder cancer. To address this aspect we applied IHC for the detection of cells accumulating the TP53 protein in tumors and normal urothelium located between the tumors.
Notably, weak immunostaining (+) was found in most tumor samples of all cases but did not indicate a TP53 gene mutation. Nuclear accumulation of TP53 can occur for several reasons besides intronic mutations, e.g., overexpression of wild-type TP53 (30) , interactions of TP53 protein with other intracellular or viral proteins (31 , 32) , or extensive posttranslational modification of wild-type TP53 (33) . TP53 gene mutations were solely detected in samples showing a moderate or a strong (++ or +++) immunostaining in our study. For this reason, analysis of IHC data to search for TP53 mutated cells in the urothelium was restricted to those cases showing moderate or strong (++ or +++) immunostaining.
In both cases where TP53 IHC-positive (++ or +++) urothelium samples were found, these were located in contiguous areas as shown in Figs. 3 ⇓ and 4 ⇓ . DNA sequencing of samples containing TP53 IHC-positive cells showed the same TP53 mutation in three tumors and in an adjacent mucosa sample of one of these cases. Together with the CGH findings indicating a common progenitor for the TP53 mutant tumors, these results give strong evidence for lateral migration of neoplastic cells throughout the urothelium.
Other studies had suggested intraluminal seeding of cells shed from a primary tumor as a probable mechanism for multiple clonal tumors. Shedding of tumor cells is a frequent phenomenon and can be used for the analysis of tumor cells in urine samples (34 , 35) . However, intraluminal seeding is likely to require complex regulation mechanisms; cell adhesion must be lost to allow cells to shed from the primary tumor but must be retained for the process of attachment and implantation into the mucosa at a different site (36) . For subsequent invasion of the urothelium, cell adhesion has to be disabled again to allow cell migration. The spread of a neoplastic clone throughout the epithelium by mucosal migration may be less complex. Although it requires loss of cell adhesion in the onset of migration mechanisms as well, there is no need for switching between cell-cell adhesion and dispersion. In addition, cells are not forced to leave the epithelial environment and to survive in the urine. However, probably most important, the spread of a neoplastic clone by intraepithelial migration can be expected to lead to the formation of a single circumscribed area of transformed cells, whereas intraluminal seeding would cause a number of randomly distributed tumors. Consequently, the observation that TP53 mutant cells were restricted to a particular area adjacent to the tumors gives strong evidence for lateral migration as the underlying mechanism for multifocal cancer development.
Taking together the cytogenetic and immunohistochemical data, it can be hypothesized that the decision whether a neoplastic cell population becomes multifocal might depend on the order in which particular genetic defects are acquired. In non-multifocal cancer, a growth advantage with tumor formation may be the initial step, followed by genetic instability, invasion capability by lysis of the lamina propria, migration into the muscularis mucosae and blood vessels attributable to loss of cell adhesion, and finally, metastatic settlement. In contrast, multiple tumors might be characterized by early genetic instability and loss of cell adhesion, leading to the migration of neoplastic cells through wide areas of the urothelium. It can be expected that this process is driven by specific genetic changes, e.g., loss of 17p that might inactivate genes preventing a lateral spread of cells throughout the urothelium or maintain genetic stability. The close spatial relationship of tumors revealing identical genetic features, e.g., TP53 mutations and patterns of chromosomal aberrations, as well as the detection of tumor cells within continuous areas of the urothelium reflect the migration of tumor cells of clonal origin throughout the bladder epithelium.
We thank Ulrike Neubert, Lydia Grote, Petra Meyer, Frauke Schmidt, and Petra Fischer for excellent technical support. We are grateful to Dr. Guido Sauter (Institute of Pathology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland) for helpful discussions.
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
↵1 This work was supported by the Deutsche Krebshilfe Grant 10-1346-Te3.
↵2 To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Institute of Pathology, University of Basel, Schönbeinstrasse 40, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland. Phone: 41-61-265-2843; Fax: 41-61-265-3194; E-mail: ronald_simon_de{at}yahoo.de
↵3 The abbreviations used are: CGH, comparative genomic hybridization; IHC, immunohistochemistry.
- Received May 23, 2000.
- Accepted October 26, 2000.
- ©2001 American Association for Cancer Research.


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Do you follow Tikeetha Thomas? If not, then here are a few reasons why:
- She's one of the co-authors of Daddy: Reflections of Father-Daughter Relationships.
- She's an amazing lifestyle blogger who discusses everything from parenting to dating.
- She's an all-around inspirational person who uses her own life to motivate each one of her followers.
In this first video, I ask Tikeetha to make connections between the relationship she has with her father and those she has in the dating realm. Check it out below:

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If you're on a budget, a home theater is definitely out of reach, right? Wrong! While experts recommend you have a budget of at least $5,000 in order to do it right – and that's to install it yourself – you can definitely make some adjustments and get it done for less.
Don't let money deter you from having an awesome home theater setup. While you won't be able to afford all the bells and whistles, you can save a ton of money with just a few tricks. By repurposing some items, and even skipping some altogether, it's possible to get the movie theater experience in your home and have money left over for groceries and other life necessities. Here are some tips and ideas to make it happen.
1. Incorporate What You Already Have
You don't have to go out and buy all new equipment. If you've bought a TV in the past few years, you may not need to upgrade to a new one just yet. In fact, contrary to what you may hear, you don't even need a smart TV. A Blu-ray player has all the features of a smart TV and is much cheaper.
2. Don't Buy Everything At Once
Technology is always changing, and upgrades tend to come out at various times. You won't be able to buy the most up-to-date components all at the same time, so don't even try. Instead, find out what is most important to you and get those first.
3. Use An Old PC
If you have an older PC lying around, put it to good use as a home theater. PCs are versatile and offer many benefits. Streaming devices like Roku allow you to stream media, but that's about it. With a PC, you can not only stream media, but also enhance the various features in order to turn it into an all-in-one media center. You can upgrade the processor or audio card, add a graphics card or Blu-ray player, or turn the PC into a gaming computer. Computers offer the ability to add on in the future.
4. Buy The Right Speakers – But Not The Biggest Ones
When it comes to speakers, bigger is not better. Bigger is more expensive, but that's about it. When it comes to sound quality, it's all in the placement. You need only a 5.1 setup – this includes five satellite speakers and one subwoofer.
5. Invest In A Blu-Ray Player
Forget plunking down thousands of dollars on a TV. Believe it or not, your main component should be a high-quality Blu-ray player. They are more expensive than DVD players, but they offer many more benefits. They can not only play Blu-ray discs and DVDs, but also audio and video, as well as images and content from a USB device.
In addition, many Blu-ray players are network-enabled. This means you can connect them to a router, and they'll be internet capable. You can then stream content online.
6. Don't Pay More
When creating a budget for your home theater, don't overlook accessories. You'll need wires, cables, and connectors, which can get pricey. At the same time, you don't need to plop down $100 for an HDMI cable. While some cables may be more effective than others, for the most part, you don't need to spend more to improve the quality of your home theater.
You can also save money when it comes to your main components. Check into refurbished devices, which can save you a ton of money. Refurbished items are typically like new, although there may be some exceptions. Some items considered refurbished simply have an open box, so nothing has been done to them. Some may be defective or have some sort of damage, so be wary of this, as this could affect quality.
You can also look at Craigslist and search estate sales for some high-quality equipment. Some people – looking to unload items quickly – may be giving away electronics for free or at rock-bottom prices.
Amazon and eBay also have great prices on a variety of items. There is a lot of variety as well, so you can choose from numerous mid-range items if you don't want to buy the cheapest or the most expensive item.
7. Consider A Home Theater In A Box
If you already have a TV, you can simply buy a home theater in a box and be done with it. These systems include just about everything you need, such a receiver and speakers. Some even include a DVD or Blu-ray player.
This will make things easier for you, especially if you dream of having a home theater but don't consider yourself a techie.
8. Budget In Ongoing Costs
Once your home theater is set up, the costs don't end there. You have to pay the costs required to keep it up and running. This includes Blu-ray discs, a streaming service, internet costs, cable or satellite TV costs, and pay-per-view costs. Make sure you can afford all of this, or you won't be able to enjoy your home theater system – which would defeat the whole purpose of having one.
Even if you don't have thousands of dollars on hand, you can still enjoy a home theater. By understanding what components you absolutely need and which alternatives you can use, you can save money without sacrificing quality. You'll be able to enjoy high-definition picture and sound without breaking the bank.


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11-Piece Bryant King Bedroom Collection with Pillow Top Mattress
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<11-Piece Bryant King Bedroom includes: Chest, Dresser, Mirror, Nightstand, Headboard, Footboard, King Pillow Top Mattress, Box Springs, Mattress Protector, Box Spring Wrapper and Rails
The Bryant bedroom group features beautifully carved wood moldings that accent the solid wood framing to create a classic vintage style that is practical enough for everyday use. Each item is made of solid pine and veneers and the cases are dust proof on the bottom and constructed using finger joints and corner blocked reinforcements for added stability. All of the drawers are constructed with French dovetail detailing and have built in drawer stops for ease of use.
Woodhaven bedding only uses premium soft touch foam to provide enhanced comfort and a supersoft feel. The king pillow top mattress set is constructed from 240-gram stretch knit fabric that is both luxurious and durable. The bonded insulator pads are made of shredded fabric that is heat bonded and pressed for strength while the double edge supports firm up the sides of your mattress so it retains its shape. The double edge supports also increase the sleep surface by allowing you to lay closer to the edge without rolling off the mattress. The king mattress features 648 coils, 13-gauge wire coils, and tempered steel innersprings that provide durability without sacrificing on comfort. The Invisicase mattress protector protects against bed bugs and dust mites and the high performance fibers create a 100% waterproof barrier that repels moisture and is resistant to stains. The mattress protector is machine washable and provides a clean and hygienic sleeping environment for all ages.
*Shown in Queen size with optional accessories
King Bed Overall: 82" W x 90"L x 62"H
- Bed Size King
- Dresser 62"W x 34"H
- Chest 38"W x 52"H x 18"D
- Headboard 82"W x 62"H x 5"D
- Mirror 44"W x 48"H x 2"D
- Nightstand 26"W x 24"H x 16"D
- Mattress 76"W x 13"H x 80"D
- Style Traditional
- Bedroom Color Honey
- Bed Material Wood
- Mattress Frame / Base Included Yes
- Mattress Construction Foam
- Chest Included Yes
- Mattress Top Pillow Top
- Nightstand Included Yes
- Dresser Included Yes
- Footboard Included Yes
- Mirror Included Yes
- Support System Innerspring
- Wood Type Solid Pine & Pine Veneers
- Adjustable Base Compatable No
- Mattress Firmness Plush
- Mattress Reversible No
- MaterialType Polyester
- Max TV Size for Chest 36"
- Comfort Layers 4 layers
Number of Drawers
Chest: 5
Dresser: 7
Nightstand: 2
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- bvseo_sdk, dw_cartridge, 17.1.0, p_sdk_3.2.0
- CLOUD, getReviews, 6ms
- reviews, product


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Next in the line of sessions slated for this year's GDC AI Summit is Believable Tactics for Squad AI. It was submitted as a joint lecture by AIGameDev.com founder Alex Champandard, along with AIGameDev engineers Matthew Jack and Philip Dunstan.
From the GDC description:
Squads of non-player characters are notoriously hard to get right, particularly when designing the highly visible interactions of teammate squad members. Through a series of live, interactive demos, this presentation will compare a wide variety of techniques commonly used in the games industry for creating dynamic squad behaviors, including attacking and flanking, suppression and player leading and following. The analysis will include both centralized and distributed designs for squad member synchronization, the trade-offs of scripted versus procedural designs and high-level techniques for tactical squad path finding and cover selection.
Alex Champandard, Founder & CEO, AiGameDev.com
Alex is the mastermind behind AiGameDev.com, the largest online hub for artificial intelligence in games. He has worked in industry as a senior AI programmer for many years, most notably for Rockstar Games. He regularly consults with leading studios in Europe, most recently on the multiplayer bots for KILLZONE 2-3 at Guerrilla Games. Alex authored the book AI Game Development and often speaks about his research – notably at the Paris Game AI Conference he co-organizes. He's Associate Editor for the IEEE Transactions on AI in Games, and serves on the Program Committee for the AIIDE and CIG conferences.
Mathew Jack, AI Consultant, Moon Collider Ltd
Matthew founded Moon Collider in January 2010, where he consults on AI for companies in the US and Europe and builds bespoke AI systems. He specializes in CryEngine 3 and Recast/Detour. He developed AI at Crytek for many years in a senior R&D role, including work on Crysis and Crysis 2. He has since worked for Microsoft and AiGameDev.com, and consulted for games and serious games companies in Europe and the US. Current clients include Xaviant LLC and Enodo, with products delivered to companies such as BMW. He has written for Games Programming Gems and presented at the Paris Game AI Conference and at Google.
Philip Dunstan, Senior AI R&D Engineer
As a Senior Engineer on the AI Sandbox at AiGameDev.com, Philip Dunstan prototypes cutting-edge solutions to the Artificial Intelligence problems found in today's games. In addition, Philip brings his experience from six years of working within Electronic Arts' EATech Central Technology Group, where, as a specialist in physics simulation, core technology and console performance, he worked on several of EA's biggest franchises including FIFA, Need for Speed, Battlefield and Harry Potter.


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Homemade Char Siu aka Chinese BBQ Pork
There's nothing like Char Siu. That sweet, savory and tangy Chinese BBQ pork would send most meat lovers drooling. It's one of my favorite comfort foods and I have many fond memories of my father returning from work with styrofoam containers filled with this delicious treat. Recently I picked up the book Asian Dumplings: Mastering […]
All Hail the Mighty Mighty Mug!
The untippable Mighty Mug was on my list of last holiday minute gift ideas. Having seen various videos I was compelled to pick one up for my mom. I so was shocked and amazed at how well it stood up to being slapped around that I purchased two more! Take a look at the video below where […]
December 2013 Loot Crate Unboxing!
The theme for the December Loot Crate was Console Wars! Lots of geekiness surrounding the Sony PS4, the Xbox One, and even some acknowledgement that Nintindo's WiiU made an appearance in 2013.
Last Minute Holiday Gift Ideas
There's only a few more days until the holidays swing into high gear! In the spirit of giving I thought I'd share some interesting finds and hopefully make your last minute holiday gift dash to the mall (or online retailer) more enjoyable!
Should Santa Buy a Blackberry Q10?
With the holiday season in full swing one of the biggest questions any technophile will be asking themselves is whether they should buy or upgrade their smartphone. When someone asks me about smartphone recommendations I, like many, tend to go with the usual suspects: an iPhone or an Android phone (e.g. the Nexus 5 or […]


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I checked the weather.... 90 degrees... partially cloudy!!! Great day for sewing...don't you think?
You will NEVER believe what I did... (sometimes I scare myself.... does that happen to you?). I've been working on a NEW table topper out of our County Londonderry fabric and when the idea hits you... you must act quickly!!! Or... at least I must... or the inspiration will be gone!
So... I cut out my blocks... pieced them all together (it looks wonderful)... then proceeded to work on my wool applique medallion center. OMG!!! It is so pretty.... here are the drawing and photos...
It's not fancy... nice and simple and easy!! It measures 38" square.
Here is the center applique - from luscious wool!!! Of course... it will piece into the quilt on point!
I madly stitched it all down....went back into the sewing studio to give it a good press and my heart sunk to the floor!
I don't know where my mind was... but I read the measurements incorrectly! The applique block is WAY TOO SMALL!! Wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!! For some reason I had it in my head it was 16" square... so I cut it 18" (larger because of the applique...then I cut mine down to size when it's all stitched...) It's supposed to be 26" !!
So... I took a deep breath... and told myself what a gorgeous pillow top this wool applique block has now become. Yes... I wanted to make several pillow patterns from our fabric line... and this just brought me to the resolution of what to design for them even quicker. I'm going to add double ruffles around the pillow... it will be so sweet!!! Now I can't wait to finish it!
However... I must get back on track and finish the table topper first. So today it's back to my wool and designing another medallion... I will be adding more flowers, etc. to fill the larger block up more evenly.
I woke up early this morning thinking about it...so that means I may as just as well get out of the bed and get busy...because there is NO going back to sleep when my brain in in the "thinking creative" mode! Know what I mean?
I did finish my "B-a-a-a-d Girls" project for the girls to work on in July and August!!!
It's our "Sewing Arm Cozy" ! I adore it... even if I do say so myself. I showed it to them this weekend to get them excited... I think it may have done the trick!
Here are some photos of it for you....
It fits over the arm of your easy chair...or couch... with pockets on both sides and a pin cushion on top.
One side has a flower with a bee button on one of the leafs... and a sweet bird on the other side pocket.
This is the entire cozy laid out flat.
This is our pincushion... When it's lying this way it kind of looks like a BIG eye is watching you...doesn't it? Creepy....
I will be writing a pattern for this project and putting it on our NEW website under "E-Patterns" !! You too can make this sweet little "Sewing Armchair Cozy"!!!
I'll let you know when it's ready for you to download.
Ok...that's it for me today.. I'm off to the sewing studio to get busy! I have to prepare my new applique center and finish piecing my new sample for Cinnamon's.... Pioneer Braid Quilt!!!
It's coming out so awesome.... I can't wait for you to see it!
Happy Sewing!!!
mmm....time for more coffee....


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TVlogic VFM-056W Premium
In stock
- TVLogic_056WP
- Categories
- Monitor / HDMI / SDI
Light & Clear 5.6″ High Definition Monitor
The VFM-056W Premium is the upgraded version of the VF-056, it has more option as the Waveform or the HDMI loop via HD-SDI out.
Input: Component, SDI, HDMI.
Work with Canon LP-E6 OR Sony NP-F550/570/750/770/950/970.
Resolution: 1280 x 800
Luminance: 300cd/m2
View Angle: 170° (H,V)


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Issues with Background Image and Centered Table in Outlook 2007/2016
Hey everyone,
I am working on a small thank you email for a company. The jumbrotron/hero has a background image, and inside the hero, there is a centered table for the content. I am having issues with centering that table in Outlook 2007, 2016. The background image seems a little janky too. Is that because of the conditional VML? It seems to look fine in the other clients and Outlooks. The The test link is posted above. Thanks!


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This is the foot bath that provides a drug-free, non-invasive spa-like treatment to reduce pain, tingling, and numbness in the feet due to the debilitating effects of neuropathy. Delivering transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) that rejuvenates nerve endings, increases blood flow, and blocks pain signals to the brain, the aquatic system surrounds the feet with a soothing and uniform level of current. The intensity level is controlled with a tap of a button via the water-proof touch screen. Once-daily sessions of 30 minutes are recommended for best results. With touchscreen device, carrying case, foot bath, and 8 oz. of Epsom salt. Recharges in three hours via the included charging cord. Blue. 17" L x 12" W x 10" D.
Lifetime Guarantee
The Neuropathy Pain Relieving Foot Bath comes with The Hammacher Schlemmer Lifetime Guarantee. Items that we sell are guaranteed for their normal life under standard non-commercial use.
Should any product fail to meet your expectations, we will replace it or refund the cost of the item less shipping and service fees. Returns older than one year will be credited in form of a gift certificate.
Should you have any questions, we are available seven days a week (Monday - Friday 7:30 AM - 9 PM EST and Saturday - Sunday 7:30 AM - 8 PM EST) Please call 1-800-321-1484 to speak with a specialist or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com to receive a response within 24 hours or less.
Shipping charges noted in parentheses apply in addition to our standard shipping & service charges on this item.
Shipped via truck and may require customer assistance upon delivery. You will be contacted to make an appointment for delivery. We're sorry, but gift wrap and gift cards are not available.
GST still applies and will be charged upon processing.
May we recommend:
The products we offer are as unique as our name and our merchandise is backed by our Lifetime Guarantee of Satisfaction.
The independent Hammacher Schlemmer Institute was created in 1983 to rigorously research, test and rate products to make the Best products available to our customers.
As an employee owned company, our customers are served by those with a vested interest in ensuring complete customer satisfaction.
Register at Hammacher.com for:


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Dennis Leuthold, Sabetha, and Jeff and Joyce Russell, Sabetha, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Haili Leuthold, to Ryan Hoffman, son of Alan and Sharon Kay Hoffman, Hays.
The bride-elect is a 2007 graduate of the University of Kansas with a bachelor of arts degree in human biology and a 2011 graduate of Wichita State University with a bachelor of science degree in nursing. She is employed in the labor and delivery department of Wesley Medical Center, Wichita.
The prospective bridegroom is a 2004 graduate of the University of Kansas with a bachelor's degree in political science and a 2007 graduate of Washburn University School of Law with a certificate in natural resources law. He is employed as a litigation counsel for the conservation division of the Kansas Corporation Commission in Wichita.
An April 14, 2012, wedding is planned at Holy Cross Shrine, Pfeifer.


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FCC reform hearing set
The House Telecommunications Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), will hold its first hearing on FCC reform on Thursday, March 29. FCC Chairman Michael Powell is expected to testify. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.) has said he will leave "first crack" at agency reform to Powell.


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Smart Commission.
That's Spicer.
Smart Commission
Spicer Real Estate, Inc. utilizes technology to effectively market listings and manage transactions. Our clients benefit from a substantial commission savings and top notch Realtor service.
Full service guidance
We know market conditions, home pricing, negotiation strategy, property inspections, mortgage financing and title work. Our Realtors will carefully guide you throughout your entire transaction.


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Long Arm Quilters
Need a Quilting Professional?
Need help finishing that quilting project? Our guild has several members who offer professional qulting services. Take a look.
Joyfully Stitching
Mary Tague
Mahtomedi, MN (near White Bear Lake)
(651) 303-7281
Hand-guided machine quilting. APQS Millennium.
Budget Helper Designs Available.
Cove Quilting
Rachel L. Tschumper
Hudson, WI 54016
Enhancing the beauty of your quilt with hand-guided machine quilting.


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Optimal data collection tools for your business
When it comes to data collection and transmission, AbeTech has the solution. From rugged laptops to lightweight and durable handhelds, we have data systems from the top manufacturers in the industry designed specifically to suit your business requirements.
At AbeTech, we use our extensive product training and knowledge base to help you choose the system that works best for your needs. We assess your organization's needs and recommend the best option to match your business applications now and in the future. Whether you're in the office or out in the field, you need a mobile computer that effortlessly moves with you.


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|Ready Player One is buzz-worthy
SXSW is a major festival used by studios to generate buzz about movies set to come out in the near future, with Ready Player One getting its world premiere there last night. So far it's besting the social media buzz that Edgar Wright's Baby Driver received last year, as it went on to initially garner a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score on its way to earning $107.8 million domestically and $226.9 million globally. It also ended up with three Oscar nominations.
Warner Bros. chose to bring Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One to Austin not just because of the festival's stature, but also because Texas is the home of the movie's author and co-screenwriter Ernest Cline and star Tye Sheridan.
RelishMix reported that Baby Driver's world premiere at SXSW last year, saw #BabyDriver hashtags jump to 3,700 in the 24-hour period following the film's premiere. #ReadyPlayerOne did even better. The film's hashtags were averaging between 250 to 2,500 each day in the week before the premiere. Since last nights premiere at the Paramount theater, its hashtags have increased to an outstanding 19,300.
Spredfast Social Analytics is reporting a Twitter increase for Ready Player One of +94% with a reach of 106 million people from close to 10,000 posts following the premiere, with #ReadyPlayerOne and #StevenSpielberg trending. Rober Rodriguez also posted his support of the film on Twitter.
#ReadyPlayerOne is classic Spielberg fun! What a blast, can't wait to see it again. Rewards repeat viewings. Tons of great references, visuals and heart. So kick ass it blew the speakers!— Robert Rodriguez (@Rodriguez) March 12, 2018
So far it currently has a 75% fresh Rotten Tomatoes score from 15 reviews, with journalists singing its praise on Twitter and Instagram. The film is currently expected to earn somewhere between $36 to 42$ million on its opening weekend, and possibly as much as $66 million-plus.
The film is being adapted from the 2010 novel of the same name, written by Ernest Cline. The book was a New York Times bestseller and won the 2012 Prometheus Award.The cast also includes Tye Sheridan, Mark Rylance, Olivia Cooke, Simon Pegg, T.J. Miller, Ben Mendelsohn, Win Morisaki, Philip Zhao, and Hannah John-Kamen. It is scheduled to be released on March 30, 2018.
"When the creator of an MMO called the Oasis dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all Oasis users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune. Wade Watts finds the first clue and starts a race for the Egg."


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The House of Breath
Publication Date
July 1999
Page Count
191 pages
Trim Size
5 1/4 x 8
The House of Breath
Readers can now rediscover one of William Goyen's most important works in this restoration of the original text. The House of Breath eschews traditional conventions of plot and character presentation. The book is written as an ethereal address to the people and places the narrator remembers from his childhood in a small Texas town. More than a story, it is a meditation on the nature of identity, origins, and memory.
"The House of Breath is not a novel at all but a sustained evocation of the past, a long search for place and identity, and the meaning of an intense personal experience; an attempt to cleanse the heart of its mysterious burden of guilt. . . . The writing as a whole is disciplined on a high plane, and there are long passages of the best writing, the fullest and richest and most expressive, that I have read in a very long time." --Katherine Anne Porter


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When the Entire Internet Seems to Break at Once
For more than two hours on Friday morning, much of the web seemed to grind to a halt—or at least slow to dial-up speed—for many users in the United States.
More than a dozen major websites experienced outages and other technical problems, according to user reports and the web-tracking site downdetector.com. They included The New York Times, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, GitHub, Etsy, Tumblr, Spotify, PayPal, Verizon, Comcast, EA, the Playstation network, and others.
How was it possible to take down all those sites at once?
Someone attacked the architecture that held them together—the domain-name system, or DNS, the technical network that redirects users from easy-to-remember addresses like theatlantic.com to a company's actual web servers. The assault took the form of a distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS) on one of the major companies that provides other companies access to DNS. A DDoS attack is one in which an attacker floods sites "with so much junk traffic that it can no longer serve legitimate visitors," as the security researcher Brian Krebs put it in a blog post Friday morning.
How Much Will Today's Internet Outage Cost?
… For more than one-third of companies, a single hour of a DDoS attack can cost up to $20,000, according to a 2014 report by the security firm Imperva Incapsula. (For some companies, the cost of an attack can exceed $100,000 per hour.) Given that the majority of attacks continue for more than six hours, these losses add up quickly. In a particularly stark example, the airline Virgin Blue lost $20 million in period of IT outages that spanned 11 days in 2010.
Other estimates have been even more dramatic. One 2012 study, by the Ponemon Institute, a security and data protection researcher, found the average company's cost for every minute of downtime during a DDoS attack was $22,000. ("However, the cost can range from as little as $1 to more than $100,000 per minute of downtime," the report said.)
Another one bites the dust.
Lisa Vaas reports:
We already know that if you threaten to shoot up a school on the ostensibly anonymous social media messaging platform Yik Yak, the law will come knocking, and that gossamer veil of not-really privacy will be shredded.
Now, researchers have found that Yik Yak anonymity can be erased even without a warrant or Yik Yak's compliance with US laws that force it to turn over user information. The researchers did it by relying on publicly available location data from the app, mixed with location-spoofing and message-recording on a device outfitted with simple machine learning.
Read more on Naked Security.
For my Architecture and Governance students. Would you have a way to prevent this?
Sulina Gabale and Jason Gordon of Reed Smith write:
This month, the Indianapolis Colts, app developer Yinzcam, Inc., and ultrasonic technology provider Lisnr, Inc., were hit with a federal class action lawsuit in Pennsylvania for violating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act by allegedly allowing the Colts fan app to listen in on users' personal phone conversations, and use that information for advertising purposes without obtaining adequate consent.
The app provides Colts fans with team stats, scores, and other relevant news. The app also uses Lisnr, a service that utilizes web beacons, ultrasonic frequencies and audio signals in order to allegedly track how users interact with advertisements. The complaint alleges that Lisnr's software determines a user's precise location by activating the user's built-in microphone, and listening for nearby Lisnr audio beacons in order to allow the Colts app to target specific consumers and send them tailored content, promotions and advertisements based on their location.
Read more on Technology Law Dispatch.
A cost/benefit analysis.
Gigabites: An Unexpected Gig Gift
… Who needs a gigabit anyway? Well it turns out that even if you're not planning to buy up every virtual reality application coming to market, there's still a very good reason to hope gigabit broadband makes it to your neighborhood. A new study by the Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council finds that when a city gets gigabit service, the cost for other broadband speed tiers goes down.
In the top 100 US markets, the FTTH Council reports that the price for broadband speed tiers of 100 Mbit/s or more drops by about 25% when there's also a gigabit service on offer. That percentage equates to about $27 per month, and it goes even higher when more than one gigabit service is available. According to the Council, when there are two gigabit providers in a region, the average price of secondary speed tiers drops in the range of 34% to 37%, or $57 to $62 per month.
Something to amuse my student geeks.
2017 will be the year of interactive email
… Virtually no one knows interactive emails are even technically possible
Since emails have no JavaScript, the programming language behind most web interactions, we tend to think of emails as a "read-only," one-way channel; good for sharing calls to action that get people back to your website.
If you think this, you are completely wrong.
CSS3 does allow for basic interactions, like switching tabs, without any JavaScript at all. Mark Robbins of RebelMail describes a technique called "Punch Card Coding" that uses CSS alone to allow users to click buttons that change what they see on screen, essentially by having every permutation as a different "tab."
The following GIF shows interaction within a shopping cart inside the email client.
The "buy now" button takes the user directly to online payment. This is a really big deal. There's no need to download and install a separate app. No need to sign-in to an account. All you need to distribute this simple application is an email address.
Is it just me or are we seeing a lot of mergers nearing the $100 billion dollar mark?
That Was Quick: AT&T to Buy Time Warner for $85B
Late Friday, AT&T and Time Warner were reported to have entered an agreement in principle for the former to take over the latter for $85 billion.
Thomson Reuters cited unnamed sources who said AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is set to pay $110 a share. With some legal jots and tittles left to take care of, the deal could be finalized as early as Sunday.
Interesting how they can cling to (huge) profitability.
The real reason Big Tobacco is getting even bigger
British American Tobacco said on Friday that it has offered to buy U.S. tobacco giant Reynolds American in a $47 billion deal that would create the world's largest publicly traded tobacco company.
… The new company would enjoy a "leading position in the US tobacco market" and "significant presence in high growth emerging markets across South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia," the company wrote.
… Vivian Azer, an analyst with the Cowen Group, said that tobacco companies are currently in a strong position. In the US, "tobacco profits have accelerated for three consecutive years," she said. She attributes that primarily to the ability of tobacco companies to raise prices in order to compensate for a diminishing number of customers.
The deal also would help the combined company capitalize on a growing customer base. British American Tobacco said that the merger would also create "a world class pipeline of vapour and tobacco heating products," such as e-cigarettes.
Ah, it must be Saturday!
Hack Education Weekly News
… Via The Chronicle of Higher Education: "A Closer Look at Income-Based Repayment, the Centerpiece of Donald Trump's Unexpected Higher-Ed Speech."
… Via The New York Times: "The New Jersey State Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a bill requiring the state's student loan agency to forgive the debts of borrowers who die or become permanently disabled."
… Anne Trubek writes in the JSTOR Daily about "Student Writing in the Digital Age," drawing on a study by Andrea and Karen Lunsford. Among the findings: "Students in first-year composition classes are, on average, writing longer essays (from an average of 162 words in 1917, to 422 words in 1986, to 1,038 words in 2006), using more complex rhetorical techniques, and making no more errors than those committed by freshman in 1917."
… Via Edsurge: "The Top Skills Employers Need in 2016, According to LinkedIn."


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Sports/Fitness: AmazonBasics Pull-Up/Exercise Bar $16 (Reg. $20), Buck Hunter Knife w/ Leather Sheath $28 (Orig. $40), more
Update: $50 Cabela's Gift Card for $40 with email delivery (20% off)
Amazon is offering the AmazonBasics Pull-Up and Exercise Bar for $15.99 with free shipping for Prime members or in orders over $49. That's 20% below the regular price tag and the lowest Amazon has ever offered it for. Ideal for getting fit around the house/office, it supports multiple workouts ("pull-ups, chin-ups, push-ups, dips, crunches, and more") and is adjustable to fit most door-frames. Rated 3.8/5 stars from over 20 Amazon customers.
Amazon is also still offering the highly rated Stamina Doorway Trainer Plus (Black, Chrome) for $23.98 Prime shipped, if you're looking for another option.
Amazon has the Buck Knives 110 Famous Folding Hunter Knife with Genuine Leather Sheath for $27.99 with free shipping for Prime members or in orders over $49. That's more than 30% below the orignal listing, matching the lowest we have seen on Amazon in years and the best price we can find. This very highly rated knife has received a 4.8/5 stars from nearly 1,200 Amazon customers and features a 3-3/4-inch Clip Blade made with 420HC steel, Dymondwood handle with brass bolsters and comes with a genuine leather sheath. It is made in the USA and includes a "Forever Lifetime Warranty".
Amazon offers Zippo's 6-hour Hand Warmer for $9.98 Prime shipped. That's good for 50% off the original price and a few dollars off the normal going rate. Stay warm this winter with this flameless pocket-sized heater that provides "2.5x more heat than disposables." Rated 4.3/5 stars by 270 Amazon customers.
Today's Top Sports/Fitness Deals:
- Black Diamond Sonic Hiking/Camping Pack $56 (Reg. up to $100+) | Amazon/REI
- 2-Pack JointFlex ICE Sport & Arthritis Muscle Pain Relieving Lotion $13 (Orig. $40) | eBay
- $10 Off $50 worth of Kershaw Folding Knives | Amazon
- Headphones: SoundPEATS Bluetooth Earbuds $16, more | Amazon/Other
- Up To 15% Off When You Subscribe & Save on ON Supplements/Protein Products | Amazon
- Kinda Deal – Contigo Beverage Vessels: 24-oz. Water Bottle $10 (Reg. $12), 16-oz. Autoseal Travel Mug $15 (Reg. $18)
- $10 off $50 Purchase of Select Hearing Protection by Walkers | Amazon
- $10 off $50 Purchase of Select 5.11 tactical/trainer Belts | Amazon
- $10 off $50 Purchase of Best Selling Plano Fishing Products | Amazon
- $20 off $100 Purchase of Select Mustang Life Jackets | Amazon
- TomTom Golfer from $140 (Reg. $200) | Amazon
Head below for more: expand full story


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The Commission has a number of grant programs that provide funding in support of fishing, boating and aquatic resource conservation. A list of the major grant programs appears below. Select the appropriate links for program description and grant details.
Boating Facility Grant ProgramProvides grants for the planning, acquisition, development, expansion and rehabilitation of public boating facilities.
Boating Infrastructure Grant ProgramProvides grants for transient moorage (tie-ups) serving recreational motorboats 26 feet and longer.
Clean Vessel Act (Pumpout Grant Program)Helps fund the construction, renovation, and maintenance of pumpout and dump stations to service pleasure boats.
Coldwater Heritage PartnershipProvides leadership, coordination, technical assistance, and funding support for the evaluation, conservation and protection of Pennsylvania's coldwater streams.
Cooperative Nursery GrantsProvides monies for new construction, additions and improvements, and equipment to existing nurseries within the PA Fish and Boat Commission's Cooperative Nursery program.
Erie Access Improvement Grant ProgramFunding to assist non-profit and government organizations in the acquisition and development of angler access in the Erie watershed.
Ralph W. Abele Conservation Scholarship FundThe Ralph W. Abele Conservation Scholarship Fund was established following Ralph's death as a living, continuing memorial. The scholarship helps deserving students learn more about the conservation of our precious natural resources.
Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed Restoration Grant ProgramFunds to develop and implement projects that benefit fishing, boating, and aquatic resources in Cameron, Elk, Potter and McKean counties, with primary emphasis on projects within the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed upstream from the confluence of the First Fork of Sinnemahoning Creek.
State Wildlife Grant (SWG) ProgramFederal monies for high-priority conservation projects for endangered, threatened and at-risk species across Pennsylvania.
Tulpehocken & Quittapahilla Watershed Grant ProgramFunds for this program are used to support projects that benefit fisheries and aquatic habitats in these watersheds.
Valley Creek Watershed Grant ProgramFunding for the restoration of the Valley Creek Watershed in Chester County, PA.
York and Lancaster Counties Habitat Improvement Grant ProgramFunds for this program are used to support projects that benefit habitat improvement and sediment reduction projects in these counties.
Buy a Fishing License
Register / Title a Boat
The Outdoor Shop
Shop Fish and Boat Merchandise
PA Angler & Boater Magazine


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When the 2nd generation of Chromecast was announced, two Chromecast products were announced: Chromecast (Chromecast 2015) and Chromecast Audio.
Although it sounds simple, it is actually not so easy for many potential buyers, especially, for those who are new to Chromecast, to decide which Chromecast is for them.
This page will show you the major differences between Chromecast and Chromecast Audio so that you can make a correct decision.
Chromecast vs Chromecast Audio: HDMI output (audio and video) vs audio cable output only
The major difference between Chromecast and Chromecast Audio is the output interface and output signal.
Chromecast has an HDMI output interface. You can connect Chromecast to the HDMI port in the TV or AV receiver.
Chromecast will output both audio and video to the connected devices.
As a comparison, Chromecast Audio can only output audio through one of the 3 audio cables (depending on your speaker input options):
- 3.5mm stereo cable (which is included in your Chromecast Audio box) for analog output.
- 3.5mm to RCA cable for analog output. It should be very cheap and you probably can find it in your old DVD box.
- Mini TOSLINK to TOSLINK optical cable for digital output. It should cost you around $10 to get one.
Please note, Chromecast Audio only has one 3.5mm output port, into which you can insert the 3.5mm end of any of the 3 cables mentioned above.
You should choose the cable based on your speaker or AV receiver. Generally speaking, digital optical output gives the best audio quality.
So, if your speaker has the TOSLINK input, it is wise to spend $10 to get a Mini TOSLINK to TOSLINK optical cable.
Chromecast vs Chromecast Audio: for your TV vs for your speaker
For some users, you may have a AV receiver which accepts both HDMI and audio input (usually digital). You can connect both Chromecast and Chromecast Audio to it.
But you need know, Chromecast Audio only output audio, there is no video output at all.
Essentially, Chromecast Audio is for your speakers only. Chromecast is mainly for your TV.
It is possible to use Chromecast for your speakers as well if
- the speaker supports HDMI input. This is not common.
- or the speaker is connected to an AV receiver, which connects to Chromecast.
Chromecast vs Chromecast Audio: does Chromecast Audio provides better audio quality?
As mentioned, Chromecast can also be used to stream music if you connect Chromecast to an AV receiver or to an HDMI port in the speaker.
Then, some users may wonder about the audio quality.
Chromecast does not have a DAC (digital-to-analog converter). This means the audio quality from Chromecast depends on the device connected to Chromecast, not Chromecast
For Chromecast Audio, it has its own DAC, which will be used if you use 3.5mm audio cable or RCA cable (i.e., you use the analog output). Of course, if you use TOSLINK, audio quality is up to the DAC in your AV receiver.
The DAC in Chromecast is a AKM AK4430 192kHz 24-bit stereo DAC according to iFixit's teardown. The sound quality should be comparable to most AV receivers with a price tag about $200-$500.
So, in most cases, Chromecast Audio is not the bottleneck of audio quality.
But it is hard to say whether Chromecast Audio offers better audio quality than Chromecast, because Chromecast does not have its own DAC and the audio quality depends on the device connected.
Please note, audio quality is mainly limited by the music (media) source, and your speakers. Chromecast and Chromecast Audio is unlikely a bottleneck for the audio quality for most users.
Chromecast vs Chromecast Audio: differences inside
Except the output options, the new Chromecast and Chromecast Audio share similar hardware specs. They are being sold at the identical price ($35).
In the technical side, there are two differences inside Chromecast and Chromecast Audio:
- Chromecast has 4GB RAM, while Chromecast Audio has 2GB. As Chromecast Audio does not process videos, the 2GB RAM is sufficient.
- Chromecast Audio has a 192kHz 24-bit stereo DAC. Chromecast does not have a DAC. DAC is not necessary for an HDMI output.
So, the difference of Chromecast vs Chromecast Audio is linked to the different intended usage.
Why Google didn't combine Chromecast and Chromecast Audio into one device?
It sound logic that if Google adds a DAC in Chromecast and drill another hole for audio output would make one combined device of Chromecast and Chromecast Audio. Users will not have a hard time to decide which one to buy.
But I guess it is wise to release two products, because A lot of Chromecast owners would get confused and make mistakes if Google has combined Chromecast and Chromecast audio.
Remember Chromecast is targeted at mass market, not just geeks. If you have a device with two mutually exclusive outputs, a lot of consumers will be confused. With two products with different output cables, ALL Chromecast device owners know where to plug Chromecast.
Cost is probably another consideration. Chromecast is targeted at $35 (you have to consider sales cost) in the market so that it is very affordable in almost all regions. Current hardware configuration probably is the limit unless Google does not want to make any money on the product.
Do you have any questions on the differences of Chromecast vs Chromecast Audio?
If you have any questions on the difference between Chromecast and Chromecast Audio, please let us know in the comment box below.
The community will try to help you find the answer or solution.
For more Chromecast Audio guides, please visit Chromecast Audio guide page.
If your question is on Chromecast including both 1st generation Chromecast, and new Chromecast (aka Chromecast 2015), please visit Chromecast how-to guides page.


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The head of Maori Television says it's looking to air more of its in-house programmes in Australia.
Its flagship news programme Te Kaea aired for the first time on Australia's free-to-air National Indigenous Television on Sunday night.
A partnership between the two broadcasters will see Maori TV's Saturday night news programme play every Sunday across the Tasman.
Maori TV chief executive Jim Mather says social media feedback shows many Maori in Australia have felt moved by being able to get a weekly update on key events in Aotearoa, especially because a lot of the news is in te reo Maori.
He says it's more and more important to air Maori content in Australia, where about 140,000 Maori and more than 800,000 New Zealanders live.


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Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Years!
So it's here, the day to make resolutions and start over fresh. I've been thinking about what I would like to have as a New Years resolution and so far here is what I've come up with for Second Life.
1. Send more IMs to friends and start making Second Life more fun again.
2. More comments and favorites on people's blogs and Flicker streams that I admire and read.
3. Clear the clutter from the my SL inventory.
4. Explore to find new Sims and Stores...(This sounds like a star trek resolution, :P)
I know it's only four resolutions and they're really not big ones, but I think that perhaps these might make SL a bit more of a social place again, and open new doors to friendship. Recently I've been feeling a bit left out and isolated in SL. I've decided that the only way this can change is if I make the attempt first and put effort into building relationships again. I might be changing the blog a bit as I start exploring this new part of Second Life, but I will always continue to post my, "mishaps in fashion".
I hope you have a wonderful New Years. May 2011 be the best year you ever had and bring new possibilities and a brighter future.
Bells Semyorka
Special Sales and Group Gifts Available
Glitterati- one more day for the huge sale, sale ends Jan 1
New Pose used in post will be available after New Years Sale Ends.
!Bang-Group Gift Pose.
L'Abel-50-75% off all items
The Look- New Years Eve 2010/2011
Hair-LeLutka-Pompai hair-Blue Night
Eyes- Curio-Tragic Eyes-Light Grey
Skin-Dutch Touch-SjOrs-Caramel-Snow
Eye Makeup-Cheap Makeup-Bright Lights 7
Neckalce-Paper Couture-Topez Crystal Necklace
Dress-L'Abel Ydi Black Dress
Pose-Glitterati- pose 151
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 12:36 PM 1 comment:
Labels: Cheap Makeup, Curio, Dutch Touch, Glitterati, Label, lelutka, NewYears 2010/2011, Paper Couture
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Fruit Of Sin
I'm usually not one that drools over shoes, but when I saw a sneak peek photo of Adam n Eve's New Yorkers shoe I gasped and said, "Must Have". Needless to say I have waiting for these shoes to be released. The New Yorker is available in 16 different colors, The feet and toenail polish are modifiable as well as the bead accents on the back of the stiletto. I really love these heels and had fun putting together a whole look around their sexy tall spiked heel, peep toe front and open lace back.
For my Fruit of Sin look I brought out an oldie but goodie lingerie outfit from Insolence. My Dionne Latex Catsuit was begging to be put on and thankfully it fits like a glove and hugs in all the right places. The hair was a bit trickery, but I remembered Shag's Erotica hair and before I knew it I was in business. See no Evil, Speak no Evil were soon my new mantra.
The Look- Fruit Of Sin
Skin-Dutch Touch- SjOrS-Caramel-Eagle CL2 EBB FR
Eye makeup-L. Fauna-Shadow Edge
Lingerie- Insolence- Dionne Latex Catsuit-Misty Line
Shoes-Adam n Eve-The New Yorkers- Black
Prop- Glitterati- Lockdown
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 6:38 PM No comments:
52 Weeks of Color-Week 8-Green
Were already on to week 8 of Luna's 52 week of Color challenge. Whooooo hoooo!!! I made a promise last week that I would completely commit to the color and I think this week I'm upholding the commitment by wearing Green from top to bottom. Truth be told, Green really wasn't a hard color to come by since it's a festive time of year and it's found in an abundance. This week I wanted to try to play off the holiday and give a classic look which would work well when dressing for a party. So without further delay here is my holiday outfit.
Now lets start with the dress. As I've spoken about in my last couple of posts, HUGE sale at 5th and Oxford, Luxuria because of the entire store closing. All items are only 50L which made this Appletini dress one of the best bargains I've ran across this week.
The shoes were given as a holiday gift from Maitreya as mentioned in my last post they were available in the subscriber kiosk history and open to all.
My necklace is from Caroline's Jewelry and has accents of green which I thought were fancy enough to make my entire outfit sparkle.
The Look- Holiday Green
Skin-Tuli-Claire-Tone 3 skin 03
Eyes-Exodi-Soulful Eyes-Hazel
Neckllace-Caroline's Jewelry- Spring Flowers Set
Dress-5th and Oxford-Summer Cocktails-Appletini
Shoes-Maitreya Group Gift Pumps- Green
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 6:25 AM No comments:
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas 2010
I want to send a big warm hug to all my friends. Thank you all for making this year incredible. I wish you all the best for 2011. Buon Natale from Italy!
Bells Semyorka
The Look- Christmas 2010
Hair-Maitreya-Lauren- Natural Blonde-Christmas Gift
Skin-Curio-Moonbeam-Light-Ice Queen and Snowflake Blush-Christmas Gift
Hat- Tee*fy-Anya's Pico Trapper Hat- Limited edition item from One Eleven
Sweater-Artilleri-December Sweater- Red
Pants-Friday-Low Rise Jeans- Midnight
Shoes-Reek-Autumn Boots- Snow
Deer-Cream Shop-Multi pose Deer
I wanted to give a news and freebie update so you wouldn't miss out on all the goodies this Christmas.
5th and Oxford/Luxuria
As promised here is the LM for 5th and Oxford, Luxuria.....Skins will be available soon, All items are marked down to only 50L. Quite the deal..
Christmas Gifts-**freebies***
Maitreya- Lauren Hair and Pumps- Group gift located in the subscriber kisok (open enrollment)
Curio- Skin and Snowflake Tattoo Layer- Available in Group notices (open enrollment)
LAQ- Vilda Skin with exclusive Makeup- Available in subscriber kiosk check history (Open Enrollment)
The Loft- Antler Chandelier and Hurricane Poinsettia- (subscriber group gift)
COCO- Ruffle Ankle Boots-Red- Must be a group member and click on the group gift notices.
Ivalde-Advent gift- The Final #25 is always the best- look under the tree (Open to All)
Woe and Exodi-Final 12 days of Christmas gift, It's a big one. (Open to All)
Wynx's Main store- Tiny Quad Reindeer- Super cute reindeer avatar- (Look for the box in the middle of the store)
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 6:01 PM No comments:
Thursday, December 23, 2010
52 Weeks of Color-Cerise-Week 7
It's on to week 7 already in Luna's 52 Week of Color Blogger Challenge. I think this is the point in other challenges where I tend to get lazy and stop posting, but nope not this time. I'm pushing forward and continuing on with the color challenge. This week's color is Cerise, which I totally had to look up in wiki. I'm really not a huge fan of this shade of pink and I somewhat copped out/compromise on the color.
*holds up her right hand over her heart and makes the vow. "I promise to try better next week and fully commit to the color no matter what."
With that said, Lets get on to today's Outfit....
It all started with this cute skirt from Sn@tch, Ivy Deschanel's Blue light special "Seriously Pink", is completely cute I really enjoy the fringe on the bottom of the skirt and how shiny and sparkly this skirt is. The blue light special is a special treat because it's an entire outfit for only 65L. The complete look entails, a cashmere sweater, hazard knee socks, the sequin mini skirt and wait for it......TWO layers of makeup. Swoon....I'm currently wearing Cerise Makeup 1 which I found was a great compliment to bring the color Cerise into the post. Now, if the whole Pink color is throwing you off don't worry. Ivy is planning on releasing some new colors on Friday(tomorrow) of this outfit, but if you would love to get this limited edition outfit please hurry and TP before the Blue Light Special is gone.
I also want to point out a really cute necklace I recently picked up from Yummy, it's the baking charms set. As a newly married woman I have started to enjoy the life inside the kitchen, so this baking charm is something I completely fell head over feet in love with. It's sweet charms are reminiscent of the cute charm bracelets and is great gift for someone that is either sweets lover or one who happens to love to baking.
and finally on a sad note, I want to talk about 5th and Oxford and Luxuria. Recently Roslin Petion plurked that both 5th and Oxford and Luxuria clothing is preparing to move to a warehouse for one last sale. I'm sadden by this because I've really become attached her new line of lingerie. I have found that the Caer bra (Shown above) is the perfect peek of femininity and provides the much essential cover up when trying to retain a bit of modesty. I wish Roslin the best of luck on her next endeavors and will be patiently awaiting ant new project she works on.
Sn@tch- Blue light special until Friday! Hurry and get your copy of the limited edition Seriously Pink while the price is only 65L.
Luxuria and 5th and Oxford- sometime within the next couple of days will be having a huge markdown sale. Please keep your eyes open and I hope you don't miss out. (No LM currently given, but I will post when the warehouse is open)
The Look- Cerise's Girl
Hair-Lamb-Breeze- Powder
Skin-Fashionably Dead-Bird Skin- Slasher6 (Freckles)
Eyes- Exodi-Clear Eyes- Ocean
Sweater-Artilleri-Elspeth cardigan- Pale Pink
Shirt-Sn@tch-Precious Cargo Sweater- White
Bra undershirt- Luxuria-Caer- Bra Rose- 50L friday
Skirt-Sn@tch-Sequin Mini- Blue Light Special- Limited Edition
Stockings-Zaara-Nishar Socks Thigh- Ivory
Makeup Layer- Sn@tch- Cerise Makeup 1
Necklace- Yummy- Baking Charms
Ring-Paper Couture- Golden Wings Rings
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 4:48 PM No comments:
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Red Love- Bodice Lingerie
If your a fan of lingerie then you must make a stop at new store Bodice, owned by Rai Blaylock. Rai has managed to make a some goodies which are perfect for Christmas. Her two lingerie sets Santa's Helper and Santa baby doll are both naughty and nice. They are moderately priced under 75L (prices reduced for the holidays) and are so worth it. Santa Baby doll is available in 4 colors while the Santa Helper is available in 6.
Personally I love the Santa's Helper ( shown above) I feel it's more than just a holiday outfit and is perfect anytime of year. The six colors are not only limited to holiday themes of red and green, but have deep colors such as blue, purple, pink and teal. there are two bows along the side of the stockings and one bow on the back to tie the entire look together. I like this lingerie set so much I am planning on doing some shopping in SL wearing just this.
Bodice is available on the SL Marketplacet
Glitterati- currently having a giant sale until Jan 1st, All items are discounted in some cases over 50% off. I love Glitterati's poses and managed to pick up some cute prop sets, the Barstool was only 100L.
The Look- Red Love
Hair- YunA's Hair- AMI- Brick
Skin-Tuli-Claire-Boost Clevage and Claire tone 3, 06
Eye Accent- L. Fauna- Shadow Shape
Lingerie-Bodice-Rai Blaylock- Santa's Helper- Red
Shoes-Stiletto Moody- Elegant Slingback-Ruby Red
Prop-Glitterati-Barstool- Female
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 9:44 AM No comments:
Monday, December 20, 2010
Nothing But Business
Adam and Eve is one of the oldest stores that I know of in SL. I can remember as a young resident first Teleporting into this shop and thinking, "WOW"! I remember when Adam and Eve brought sexy back with a new line of default SL avatars. To me Adam and Eve is legendary, a part of SL history with wonderful sexy designs. Adam and Eve caters to both women and Men. With one stop shopping you can purchase Hair, Skins, formal attire, casual, business, and shoes.
Today I'm going to talk about two new releases from Adam and Eve, NYC Shirt and the San Belt.
The NYC shirt both are saucy and I love them because they make me feel like a business woman with a sense of style. I really enjoy the unbuttoned look, high collar and sleeves. NYC shirt is available in 6 different colors. NYC shirt is also very versatile because not only is it a shirt, but there is also an option to wear as a dress which I must say is so very cute. The San belt,(shown above) is also completely suited for the sexy business woman look and is a perfect compliment to the NYC shirt. The San belt is available in 6 colors.
Some things I really enjoy about Adam and Eve...........
Demos on clothing- A total treat, No more wondering if an item will look the same as it does on the ads, with the demo you can have the assurance that you are
Shoes- Adam and Eve turned out to be a hidden treasure of shoes. I have several on my wish list already and joined the subscriber so I can find out about the newest release. A little bird told me that the next pair of heels are going to be a must have.
Friendly Staff- As soon as I teleported to Adam and Eve I was given a warm welcome. I love when stores offer customer service and greetings. It makes me want to spend time at a location and I know that if I ever encounter a problem the chances of it getting fixed are fairly high.
The Look- Nothing but Business
Skin-Dutch Touch- SjorS-Carmel- Lucious
Necklace-Deco- Essential Pearl Necklace- Winter Berry- November group gift
Eyes-Exodi-Clear Eyes-Oak
Shirt-Adam and Eve- NYC shirt- Grey
Belt- Adam and Eve- San belt- Charcoal
Pants- Fab Pony-Mezzy Pants- Charcoal
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 4:23 PM No comments:
Friday, December 17, 2010
52 Weeks of Color-Yellow/About me.....
I almost skipped this weeks 52 weeks of color challenge because finding Yellow in my inventory was a little difficult, everything was suited for summer. Finally, I just decided to give in to the summer feel and post this picture. (Style Credits at Bottom).
I'm kinda doing a combo Post today all because of Luna Jubilee, recently she completed a post "About Me" where she answered some questions about herself. This was a response to a note card that had been circulating among some of her SL friends and she brought it to the blogger table. Luna is also the creator of the 52 week color challenge many Bloggers have been participating in.
So here are my answers, just in case you wanted to know more about me..
Bells Semyorka- Palliard, yea I kept my maiden name too
What is your occupation in SL?
Blogger, Owner of Bells Boutique, and klutz
How many items in your inventory?
21,660 and to me it's too much. I'm very....um particular about my inventory and categorize everything into sub folders. Often cleaning notecards LM and other useless clutter out from my inventory.
What are you listening to right now?
Tegan and Sara- Call it off
What was the last thing you ate?
An Apple- I've really been on an apple kick recently.
Can you drive a stick shift?
Yes I can. I had two Ex boyfriends try to teach me. I caused a small fire and burned one of the cars... smoke from under the hood=No Bueno. Finally it took my mother parking me on a steep hill and telling me to DRIVE for me to finally "get it".
If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Blue- I did some quiz last week and that was my color.
Last person you spoke to on the phone?
My Sister- on a skype call
Do you like the person who sent you this?
Of Course, Who dosent like Luna, She's Awesome! :D
How old are you today?
In RL 28, In SL 4
Favorite drink?
What's your favorite sport to watch?
Basketball. But don't tell my hubby, He thinks it soccer and that my favorite team is Juventus.
Have you ever dyed your hair?
Yes, I dye it Black the darkest brightest shade of Black I can find, Stiletto Black. In the past I've had fire engine red streaks in my hair and even a really bad highlighting job where it was semi blonde. For my olive dark completion It looked horrible.
in this country None, but back in America I have my chihuahua, Macho. I miss that little monster.
Favorite food?
Last movie you watched?
The "New" Nightmare on Elm Street- Scary Movie Lover
Favorite day of year?
New Years Eve- Fireworks, Kissing, Champagne, and new beginnings. What's not to Love?
What do you do to vent your anger?
Plurk, it helps to say my rant online then delete.
What was your favorite toy as a child?
Super Nintendo
Whats your favorite season?
Hugs or Kisses?
Hugs Always
Cherry or blueberry?
Do you want your friends to send you this back to you?
I would LOVE to see more people do this.
Who is most likely to respond?
Not sure?
Who is least likely to respond?
Frankie Palliard, He stopped logging into sl
When was the last time you laughed?
This morning Hubby sent me an email titled," Fruit of Sin".
When was the last time you cried?
Last night, after seeing pictures of my dog. I was so sad and couldn't keep it in.
What is on the floor of your closet?
Christmas Presents....Shhhh
Who is the friend you have had the longest you are sending this to?
hmmm I'm just going to say.....Frankie Palliard. He's the person I've known the longest in SL
Favorite smells?
Clean Cotton, Sea Breeze
Who inspires you?
Movies, Music, and People
What are you afraid of?
Snakes and Clowns
Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers?
No Cheese, Must have LOTS LOTS of pickles and Mustard.
Favorite car?
I like smart cars and mini coopers, oh and VW bugs.
Favorite cat breed?
I think you can be a cat person or a dog person.....and I'm a Dog person.
Number of keys on your key ring?
How many years in your current job?
Unemployed- Moved to a country where finding a job is impossible
Where's The Question?
How many states have you lived in?
Two , Flordia and Texas
Do you think you're fun?
LOL, You're joking right?
Favorite Tree?
green ones?
Favorite all time music Album/CD
No Doubt
The Look-Weather don't get me down
Hair-Lamb-Wild Nothing-Butterfinger
Skin-Tuli- Claire-03
Eyes-Exodi-Clear Eyes- Ocean
Teeth-PXL-Mouth open
Shirt-Artilleri-Marcy Top- Yellow
Skirt-Artilleri-Carla Circle Skirt-Yellow
Hair Flower-Arilleri-Orchid-Hair Flower
Kitchen and Bar- Artilleri
Pose- Bang!- How's that- pose set
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 5:52 AM No comments:
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Winter Charm
Winter has finally made it's way to the Semyorka/Palliard home, which is great because the Christmas season is just around the corner and I'm in the holiday spirit this year. My little parcel has been transformed into a Winter Paradise complete with a cabin, snowbanks that run along each side and even a few animal friends. It's the perfect little cozy spot to curl up and settle in for the chilly nights.
Another great way to combat the cold is to bundle up, and it seems that I've recently found some goodies which make this task easier and help create some Winter Charm. A cute warm knit sweater from WoE and Thick woven scarf from Exodi are the perfect combination; when wearing you'll forget all about the chill and enjoy playing in the snow perhaps even venture into a little reindeer games.
**News Updates**
Exodi has released some new eyes. Two gorgeous sets are available, "Clear Eye Series" and "Soulful Eyes Series". I found these to be my new favorite eyes because they give a luscious shine that will entrance and captivate from far away. 75L per color 300L for packs of 5
Exodi also has some new winter themed Gotcha items, 21 Beautiful scarves and 5 rare colors . At only 25L per try playing the Gotcha machine means you're always a winner.
Has two cozy knot sweaters available the Ginger Sweater and The Graham Sweater. Each sweater is knitted and has a sculpted collar and sleeves. The ginger sweater has a defined bell shape collar while the Graham collar is more of a turtle neck hybrid. Both can be worn without the collar and paired with a scarf of your choice. Each sweater is 200L while fatpacks are 1200
The Look-Winter Charm
Hair-Lamb-Wild Nothing-Snickers
Skin-Dutch Touch-SjorS-Caramel
*Eyes-Exodi-Clear Eye Series-Ocean
*Lashes-Exodi-Makeup extra-Eyelashes Natural
*Sweater-WoE-Ginger Sweater- Clay
Pants- Zarra-Ishaya Velour Slacks-White
*Scarf-Exodi-Winter Scarf- Cream
Ring-Zaara- Kashiti bobble ring
*Blogger Gift
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 5:55 AM No comments:
Labels: Dutch Touch, Exodi, LAMB, WoE, Zaara
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Diamond Decadence
Bells Boutique has just released a new dress "Diamond Decadence", which is a little retro inspired dress. Diamond Decadence was name by two of my fellow Plurk buddies and is a combination of two names they suggested. This dress was so much fun to create because I tried to venture out from my usual comfort zone and used sculpts for the first time. I also worked with creating my own pattern from scratch for the first time. The Diamond pattern floats along the jacket and skirt layer while the Dress top is one solid vibrant color accented with a transparent peek of skin on the back. The cleavage area is embellished by a sheer ribbon. Diamond Decadence is all about options and provides you with choices. The Dress is made to be worn alone or paired with the jacket included. The Jacket is also cute enough to to have it's own day in the sun and can be worn alone. Multiple Layer options are included for your enjoyment.
All prims are Mod/Copy, no transfer.
Each dress is 175L
As a special thank you I have released a Christmas version of Diamond Decadence.
Bells Semyorka
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 11:04 AM No comments:
Labels: Bells Boutique
Thursday, December 9, 2010
La Foule
Today's post is titled La Foule because it happened to be the song I was hearing when editing my last photo. Sung by the sultry siren Edith Piaf, this song seemed to completely match the dress and gave a feeling of french beauty. Feel free to listen to the song here.
Recently, I was gifted "Party Nights" from my lovely friend Cleopatra Xiganlia, owner of CLEO Couture. I have seen Cleopatra's designs grow for a number of years from Togas of all various types a new line has emerged couture gowns. I became entranced when I first tried on "Party Nights" because it was so different from her previous line. The skirt and jacket combo are right up my alley when it comes to style. The top of this dress is designed to showcase a sheer teasing look around the decolletage, which I absolutely LOVE.
I want to point out one thing that I didn't like and created a small problem for me. The prims are no modify no copy, which comes in handy for transferable gifts. I know that Cleopatra works with her customers so if you have a sizing issue she will help correct the problem, just send her an IM. I would have just loved to have been able to do this own my own rather than to make a designer take time from their day. In all I really do enjoy this dress which I feel is an excellent example of Vintage Couture.
The next items I want to talk about today are eye jewels and hair. Lets start wit the shiny sparkly beautiful jewels that are accenting my eyes. Voshie Paine has been kind enough to drop of a little sneak peak from her store, La Petite Morte, which open on Friday, ( Hey that's tomorrow!) I can tell you La Petite Morte has some great photo sets as well as lovely eye jewels, shoes and other accessories.
I have to admit that I had a bit of trouble setting the eye jewels properly. When wearing them I found them to be a bit too big for my eyes, even after trying to edit my shape and the prims. After much editing I was able to find a position where they sat comfortably on my face, between my eye and lashes, but still not entirely attached to my face. I edited in photo shop slightly the right side because the jewels were hanging off into space. I think these eye jewels would look great during a still photographs, but might be a bit hard to wear during everyday use because of the different curve of each avatar's eye shape. I also thought about perhaps editing each individual prim to fix so it was attached to my face, but I really ended up with a jumbled mess. I suck ad editing prims and thank goodness I made a backup layer first.
Finally it's hair time. Amacci's most recent hair releases over the past month have been designed with hair base usage. I love that Carina Larson has been creating beautiful up dos and poney tails bringing a sleek look incorporating the tattoo layer in her designs. Rina is my favorite out of her newest release because I absolutly love the knotted buns and complicated look. I do wish for one thing regarding Amacci hair, optional bangs. I would love if I could provide a bit of fringetta to the top of my head. My Christmas wish for SL this year.
In all I love today's Look I feel totally prepared for the Holiday and when Christmas party time arrives, I might be wearing this cute little ensemble.
The Look- La Flour
*Hair-Amacci- Carina Larson- Rina hair- Brown Sugar
Skin-Dutch Touch-Sjors- Caramel- CleoPatraSiS *picked today cause of the name and lip color
*Eye Jewerly-La Petite Morte- Voshie Paine-Diva Ametrine
*Dress-CLEO Couture- Party Nights
Shoes-Nardotix-Kurvy Ruby Slippers
*Blogger Item
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 11:53 AM No comments:
Labels: Amacci, CLEO Couture, Dutch Touch, La Petite Morte, Nardotix
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
52-Weeks of Color- Sepia- Week 5
When I was a child my grandmother had this big box of photographs. I used to love hearing her stories and looking through all the photos. The style of dress was different, hair styles usually proofed up and all the photos were tinted a touch of Sepia. To me they were beautiful, a glimpse into the past and a treasure of memories that someone wanted to preserve. It's amazing when you stop and think about how much technology has advanced over time. Will we once look at our digital photos in the same manner?
For Today's look I really wanted to attempt to capture a sepia photograph. After I took this photo I edited in photo shop the background giving the touch of sepia. For my outfit I choose to pick out colors that were dark in the brown family to give a bit more of the sepia feel. I didn't want to overwhelm my photo with the beautiful rich color but rather wanted to highlight.
The Look- Sepia
Hair-Clawtooth- The Eye Patch-Hot Chocolate- 50%off sale on all hair until Dec 31
Skin-Dutch Touch-SjOrS-Caramel-Snow
Eyes-Curio-Dark Brown
Sweater-Insanya-Brown-Shirt-FTLO Fall Hunt freebie
Skirt- Surf Co-Summer of Stripes Skirt
Necklace-KessKreations/Maio-Shelly Necklace
Stockings-Zaara- Nishar leggings- Thigh high socks- Nude
Boots- Bax Boots- Brown Leather
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 6:10 AM No comments:
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
What Season?
So originally I wanted to name this post "It's SL wear what you want", after a Plurk but I changed my mind because it didn't feel right for this post's context.
According to my last post I was holding out on breaking out the "winter wear", but guess what I'm sneaking in another two looks that are not exclusive to the season. The reason for the mash up is I received a cute pack from Evelyn Hartshon, owner and creator of *evie*.
I've been watching Evelyn's clothing designs develop on Plurk for the last couple of months and have become quite impressed with the ideas she comes up with. Her clothing designs are hand drawn which I love. I admire how she is able to match the seams and the detail she gives to smaller items such as the buttons on a sweater or the cross stitching on a seams.
*Evie* dropped off on me two different items, "Vintage Sweater" and "This Love Halterneck". It's hard for me to pick a favorite out of the two because I actually love the look that was created using both of these two tops. The Vintage sweater is available in Three colors, Gray blue, Gray Green and Grey Pink (Shown Above). "This Love Halterneck", is available in Three colors as well. Blue, Yellow and Purple. Each top runs for 120L a piece while Fat pacts are 300L.
Some News about *Evie*....
*Evie* is currently in the process of re branding so be on the look out for a new name. Also there is a new main store which is currently in a construction process.
*Evie* is currently involved in several different hunts. There is a board at the front of the store that provides a listing of the hunts as well as invitations to new hunts. Creators if your interested check out the "Fist Pump Hunt".
With the start of the holidays *Evie* has a festive booth out front with holiday goodies available at moderately low prices.
The Look- What Season?
Hair- Elikatira- Horizon- Red 05
Skin-Fashionably Dead- Bird Skin-Slasher 6-Freckles
Top-*Evie*-Evelyn Hartshon- This Love Halter Yellow
Sweater-Surf Co-Floral Cab Sweater- Tan
Shorts-Surf Co-Cafe Shorts- Khaki
Gloves-Corduroy- Catero's Wrist Warmers- 2007
Stockings-Zaara-Nishar Leggings- Primary Art Print
Rings- Zaara- Kashiti Bobble Ring- Pearl
The Look- I'm Cuddly
Hair-Lamb- The Chills-Butterfinger
Skin-Fashionably Dead- Bird Skin-Slasher 6-Freckles
Ears-Magic Nook-Snow Baby Headband
Top-*Evie*-Evelyn Hartshon-Vintage Sweater- grey and pink
Skirt-W&B- Paige Stripped Skirt- Orchid
Socks-Mocha-Loose Socks- Plain Dirty- Pink
Shoes-Mijnt-Potato's Shoes- White
Posted by Bells Semyorka at 6:02 AM No comments:
Labels: Elikatira, EVIE, Fashionably Dead, LAMB, Magic Nook, Mijnt, Mocha, Surf Co, Zarra
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text:
By Tribune News Service : sfexaminer – excerpt
Cyclists in California would be allowed to pedal past stop signs — without stopping — under legislation proposed by two lawmakers who say it would make the roads safer.
The two-tiered approach to the rules of the road — one for cyclists and one for cars — is unlikely to ease growing tensions over sharing California's roadways.
Bike advocates have won such victories in the Statehouse as requiring drivers to yield a three-foot radius of manoeuvring room to cyclists or face fines. Motorists meanwhile have expressed frustration that they see certain cyclists pick and choose which laws to follow.
Assemblymen Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) and Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) introduced their measure on Friday that would allow bicyclists to treat stop signs as merely yield signs — proceeding with caution if conditions are safe.
In effect, it would legalize the so-called California roll, although just for bicyclists…(more)
This law AB-1103 Bicycles: yielding has been through the legislature a number of times and has not passed yet. It will create more problems than it will solve and is not supported by all cyclists:
- Will this apply to 2-way stop signs or just 4-way stop signs? How will cyclists know the difference?
- Does anyone think cyclists will slow down more than they do now to look before "rolling" through?
- Legislators should include a clause that requires cyclists to purchase licenses and insurance to cover damages resulting from passage of this new law.
- This will be particularly difficult for drivers of large vehicles like buses and trucks, who can't easily see bikes or stop on a dime when they do.
- How can SFMTA speed buses though intersections when they must worry about hitting cyclists rolling through stop signs?
- This will negatively impact the safety of other cyclists, pedestrians, tourists and young people who will find it even more confusing to walk safely on the streets than they do now.
- Wait for the lawsuits to come in.
Details on the AB-1103 – An act to amend Section 21200 of the Vehicle Code, relating to bicycles – Introduced by Assembly Members Obernolte and Ting (Coauthors: Assembly Members Bloom, Chávez, and Kiley)
Principal coauthor: Senator Wiener


text:
A new and quite hefty update for Vindictus is now live. Rise: Revolution boasts a host of story changes, spanning across all three of the game's seasons.
That's the highlight of the patch, but the notes themselves are pages long. Characters have been changed, as have items and various systems in the game.
You can read the full notes on the official site.