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Some are very basic while others go a little deeper – but all have been selected from our archives specifically for beginners and new camera owners. Enjoy.
1. Digital Camera Modes Explained – I spoke with a family friend recently who had just bought a new point and shoot camera. She came up to me with her camera when no one was watching and embarrassedly asked me if I could tell her what all the little icons on the dial on top of her camera meant. This article explains what each of these most common digital camera modes means and does. Knowing them can take your shots to the next level.
2. Aperture and Shutter Priority Mode – this introduction talks you through these two very useful settings that can be found on many digital cameras. Aperture and Shutter Priority modes take you out of Automatic mode giving you more control over your images – but don't thrust you fully into manual mode – they are great settings to explore and master.
3. Introduction to White Balance – one of the most common problems that I see in beginner photographer images are shots with incorrect color. We've all seen them – portraits where your subjects teeth and eyeballs (and everything else) has a yellowish tinge. Learn what causes this and how to combat it with this tutorial on White Balance.
4. Understanding Histograms – 'histograms are scary' – this is what one reader said to me recently when they discovered that they could view these little graphs or charts on their camera. While they might seem a little technical it is amazing how simple a histogram is to interpret. Know what you're looking for and with just a glance you'll know if your image is under or over exposed. It's a useful tool to master.
5. Automatic Exposure Bracketing (AEB) – this feature is another of those often unexplored settings that many cameras have built into them that will allow you to get well exposed shots in even the trickiest of lighting situations.
6. How to Hold a Digital Camera – this beginner tutorial covers a topic that most camera owners skip over without realizing that it is a foundational lesson in photography. Get this wrong and it can impact the quality of your shots.
7. Shutter Release Technique – another 'basic' or 'beginner' type tip that many do intuitively – but which can drastically improve your photography if you don't do it.
8. How to Use Focal Lock – yet another beginner technique that many of us take for granted yet which is at the core of how all digital cameras focus automatically. Get this wrong and you'll take a lot of shots of out of focus subjects and in focus backgrounds!
9. How to Take Sharp Digital Images – 'my shots are fuzzy' – it's a common problem that we're asked about at DPS so we wrote this tutorial to refer people to to help them get the sharpest images that their camera can take.
10. Shooting with an In Camera Flash – flash photography with an in built flash can lead to some terribly blown out images – here are a few tips on how to avoid them. On a similar topic – here's 7 Strategies for Avoiding Flash Blow Out.
11. How to Get Shallow Depth of Field in Your Digital Photos – a great technique to learn if you're into many types of photography (portraits, macro etc) is how to control the depth of field in your shots and make your main subject 'pop' out by making your background nicely blurred – this tutorial talks you through how to do it.
12. Understanding Exposure – this post talks new camera owners through the three main elements of Exposure. Once you've read it also check out our introductions to ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed.
13. How to Avoid a Dirty DSLR Sensor – one of the fastest ways to ruin every single shot you take with your new DSLR is to end up with a dirty image sensor. This tutorial gives some basic tips on how to ensure it stays as clean as possible.
14. How to Clean a DSLR Lens – as much as you try to protect them – lenses tend to get a little grimy over time. This tutorial shares some basic tips on how to clean them up so that your shots will be as clear as possible.
15. 7 Digital Camera Predators and How to Keep them at Bay – this tutorial talks you through 7 of the most common ways that digital cameras get damaged – what to look out for and what preventative action to take to avoid them.
16. The Rule of Thirds – whether you know it to follow it or break it – it's something you should at least know about.
17. Points of Interest – an image without some visual point of interest in it is unlikely to hold the eye of anyone viewing it.
18. Getting Horizons Horizontal – the perfect way to ruin that lovely sunset or landscape shot is to make it lean to one side. Get your Horizon Horizontal!
19. Fill Your Frame – this is not applicable to every shot you take but many photographers could drastically improve their photography by getting in close to their subject and filling their frame.
20. Getting Backgrounds Right – the background of your shot can make or break your image. This tutorial talks you through a number of things to look out for and techniques to use to get them just right.
21. Adding Randomness to Your Photos – learn how to set your images apart from everyone else's by injecting creativity, variety and a little randomness into your shots.
Of course the above 21 Settings, Techniques and Rules for beginner camera owners just scratch the surface of all there is to learn about the art of photography. Subscribe to our blog here (via email or RSS) to get more free daily tips to help you keep improving and learning.
If you're looking for a complete guide to getting control of your camera then you might like to check out our course – Photo Nuts and Bolts which walks you through everything you need to know to start taking beautiful photos. Here's the intro.
Join this great new dPS course here.
Hello, My older camera:Fujifilm FinePix A600 has four different quality settings. could you please explain alittle on witch one does and what is the best setting? Thanks! They are as follows: 6MF 39 frames, 6MN 79 frames, 3:2 79 frames, and 3m152 frames. Thank you very much for your time! ;)
Great Info, Thanks!!!!!!!!! now to figure out how to use it!!
I have read after nearly four years the introduction to digital photography primer was published. It is very useful better late than never.
and about automatic vs manual http://vimeo.com/39844136
This site dedicated to giving photography tips and tutorials to photographers of all levels.Includes everything from buying a camera to what to do with the photographs you've taken.
I love photography. Thanks for tips and tutorial about cameras so that I can know and understand about my camera. Thank you
Thank you so very much for taking the time and making such an easy, yet, comprehensive information about photography.
Really thank you. You made everything so informative. Please always keep this website and all it's links working because i will keep coming back and keep this as my handy guide to photography!
Amazing work.
For Cool Effects:
1. Move your Camera
- panning
- rotate
- camera throwing
2. Zoom your camera in or out while taking a photo
3. Focusing. Get your camera out of focus
4. Shoot from the ground upwards at your object
5. Over expose your shots by experimenting with different exposure levels.
6. Slow Sync Flash
7. Stand on something and take a photo looking down on your object
8. Multiple exposures
9. Grainy photos
10. B or Bulb settings
11. Infrared
#16 Rule of Thirds
-Rule of Thirds refers to a technique that many photographers use to highlight interesting or important parts of a photograph
-to use the Rule of Thirds, you break up the picture into nine rectangles that are all the same size
-the "Thirds" comes from the fact that the horizontal and vertical sides are broken up into groups of 3, therefore making nine rectangles
-the result of the splitting into Thirds is 4 lines
-the photographer usually imagines these lines and rectangles while looking through the lens in order to line them up with interesting or important parts of the image they are seeing
-for example, in the image of the woman in the orange shirt, the photographer lined her up with the vertical line on the left
-if the photographer had placed her in the middle, rather than along this line, the picture could have looked somewhat awkward
That's great!
Thank You
please learn some hand made light equepments to us,but not expensive!!!
I can't remeber when or where I first saw this article, but it was put in my "favorites". I am relatively new (1 yr) to DLSR photography, and it is a great crash course on the basics. It is also nice to have all the basics condensed and in one place for brush-ups. The only problem (in a good way) I have is getting sidetracked on all the "you might also like" articles. Can spend WAY to much time surfing!
Thank you for putting this out there for us newbies.
Oh, found this just in time when i need to understand using SLR. The best introductory tutorial/tips for for beginner like me. Thanks!
This is really useful and really helped me out. I highly recommend newbies have a good read of this!
Great tips and techniques. Very useful for me as new owner for DSLR camera. Thank you very much for publishing it. Wish you all the best.
Thanks for sharing all this valuable information. I've been making notes all day and doing the practicals as I go along... I feel fully equipped as an amateur ;)
I am a great follower of your tips...kindly help me with some tips on proper focusing and landscape...I also have an quarry on "how to take good landscape from top of a hill and what can I do to take a good photograph in fog?"
About a month ago, I received an entry level Nikon D3000 as a gift. I've been searching all over to find a website that would give me great tips on photography to help me grow as a photographer. And I think I just found it. Thanks!
Fantastic post yet again! I've been a regular reader and follower of DPS and enjoy it to the fullest.. Though I've just been surviving with a pro-consumer Canon SX 10IS I realized long back that having a "Better Camera" plays a good part, but not the whole part in making one a "Better Photographer". :) So keep em coming! Kudos..
Thank you so much for this information, Darren I got my first SLR for Christmas and havent had a chance to have a play with it yet. There is so much I need to learn and am so looking forward to learning to take better photographs.
Here is another common flaw: Don't bullseye heads in the center of the shot. Similar to using the rule of 3rds, I often see shots of couples or groups with the heads set right smack in the center of every shot. Fill the frame horizontal or vertical when shooting people. Get close enough to get heads in the upper third of the frame. Also, helpful to get the flash off of the camera, but that is probably a more advanced tip.
Fantastic post! Most informative and was a great "into to dslr's". You should make this your pilot email to subscribers.
One of the most complete, right-to-the-point, easy-to-understand articles I 've ever seen . Amazing info.
Thank you Darren.
the beginners BIBLE!!
Your generosity week after week is amazing. Great list and I'm going out now to try a number of these tips on the beach in NZ.
Another nice compilation. My response to the type of person in #1: Come talk to me after you've read the manual.
A great list of things all shutter bugs should know, even the simple things (listed) should all be part of our mental invintory when we go out and shoot. From the pro to the amiture, we have all had to learn these things. D-P-S has been a great resource for these and many tricks/tools/skills that will make us all better photographers. Thank you Darren, and the many contributors, moderators, and members who have helped so many obtain the skills that have made us better photographers.
Sincerely, Jamie.
Excellent article Darren. This hits all the important points succinctly for not only beginners, but those of us needing simple yet thorough refreshers as well. Well done!
Have been using a Samsung Digimax v5 for nearly 5 years and will be upgrading to a Lumix DMC FZ45. This posting is so useful and informative. Many thanks!
Thanks for all the wonderful insight and tips. I have one question, though. When taking a group shot where the people are not all on one plane, where some are in front of others, I have a hard time getting everyone in focus. The camera, of course, wants to focus on the people in the front, but it leaves the people behind them out of focus. How do I correct this? Thank you.
P.S. - I have a Nikon D90
A great list for sure! Does any of it apply to point and shoot cameras or is it for DSLR users?
All these compiled will make a very good book!
This post is a great collection of the basic knowledge all new DSLR owners need. As I teach DSLR photography lessons in Tampa Bay, Florida area ( http://jasoncollinphotography.com/blog/2009/10/3/dslr-photography-lessons-in-tampa-bay-area.html ) often to people brand new to the DSLR world, I will refer them to this post as a FAQ sheet to help them after the lessons.
I have been getting "serious" about photography over the last few months. My friend, whom I might add is a very talented photographer, emailed me this website and said this is where she learned quite I bit. We went out the other weekend and i was playing around with her Canon. She was explaining a lot of ISO/aperture/shutter speed/white balance/"rule of thirds"/etc. This was the first time I have had anyone break all of that down like that. A lot of it stuck, or at least planted a seed. I just read about five or so articles on this site, on my iPhone sitting on my couch, and feel like I just found the 'Holy Grail' for beginner photographers wanting to get to the next level. Keep up the great knowledge!!
- NextCEO...
Thanks Darren! This is a goldmine of refresher information! Love the site and all of the helpful reminders and tips! Cheers!
The article is very informative. Now I know how to set up my digital camera properly. Thanks for the advice.
Great roundup. While the title indicates this is for new camera owners, I'd say that if more professionals actually started using the techniques you have listed, they'd have much higher quality work.
Nice list. Today's high-tech cameras have more features than most people know what to do with. If you're interested in seeing how famous photographers light their images, take a peek at GuessTheLighting.com
I'ill forward this link to all my "how do I" asking friends :)
Useful. Bookmarked.
You never know, maybe I'll need to come back, and read the tips again.
THANK YOU!!!! I've spent my summer learning all these things (from a "Photography for dummies" book from the library.) I still have SO much to learn. This is an amazing post... may I link to it from my blog?
What a fabulous collection of articles! I work for the National Wildlife Federation and we've just recently put together a collection of tips for people who want to focus specifically on nature photography...if any of your readers are interested, it's at http://www.nwf.org/phototips in our online Photozone.
nice post, nice blog! :)
i read it 2 times
I have been lost for like a week since I got the new camera. I was going crazy trying to figure out the features but this post helped me to get it all in perspective. A big help for a newbie like me.
great tips for those just starting out.
histograms ARE scary! When you said they are easy I said WHAT! Well I went back and tried to reason it out again after reading this and well - they are not so bad.....
Thanks for the links to your previous posts to do with exposure. I have struggled with that and typically let the camera decide - sometimes to my detriment. I have gained some understanding now as to how that all works.
Very usefull tips. I will surely improve my pictures.
Thanks for such useful tips! My newest camera is only two weeks old and I was intimidated by all the features. Your post will be a big help for me to use my camera in the best way possible.
New owner of a Nikon D60 and very much enjoying this informative site! Hitting zoos in the surrounding areas to practice for the last three weekends in a row and learning so much! Thanks!
great tutorial! i pointed a bunch of friends to come to this site to learn from you! thanks for putting this all together.
Very informative. A lot of very useful tips and techniques provided on how to shoot for a high quality photo. Love it very much.
Thanks for the tips, I can never get my shots quite as good as when I had old film cameras, but these should help. Thanks!
I can't stop coming back to this page. Very useful information. Thanks again. :)
Heck yeah histograms are scary! Great info here.
I m a new user to the DSLR camera's n by luck got ended up to this site and believe me I never searched for another site to grab knowledge. Thnks buddy.
Great info! Thank you. :)
Any tips or techniques on how to clean a DSLR CCD?
Thanks - def. a few in here that I need to read upon :D!
Working through this list is a good way to start the new year! Brushing up on some stuff and learning some new things - looking forward to it.
Thanks for the reminders. I've been taking photos since I was 18, I'm 77 now. And I learned something from your list.
I appreciate it
These are more than tips - these topics essentially amount to a master class in digital photography. You are doing a great job lifting standards. Well done.
Now, i know the the complex side of taking photos. Thank's so much for the great help.
Thanks a ton for the great tips!
WoW! Great content!! Tons of great information here for any new budding photographer! Thanks for all of your hard work!
Oh wow these are great. I would have to agree with just about everything you said.
Very nice list. I'm going to read them all and hope to learn how to use my new Nikon a bit more. Thanks.
Oh lordy! What perfect timing. A few weeks ago I bought an Olympus e-520. My first DSLR... eesh!
Now I may have a chance to defeat this digital beast of the future and make it comply to my photographic whims!! Victory will be mine! HA
Oh, Thank you.
this is a great post, for beginners and a great refresher for pro's and pro-ams alike. never hurts to reiterate the basics.
Thanks so much for these tips. I learned something new today (about the night setting for flash when indoors to reduce burn-out). I find your tips very useful, and enjoy reading your newsletter! Happy New Year!!
As i'm a newcomer in Photography, just Thank you for this very Usefull guides !
This compilation is very useful. Thanks!
Awesome list, and a great way to get some of my friends / family who have been asking me to teach them how to use their digital cameras hooked on this blog.
Thanks for posting this. It is very timely.
This was one of the best basic lists I've read! Thank you for sharing so much information and including the links to all the pertinent articles.
I never even knew that half of these settings were in my camera, and now I know how to use some of them! Thanks, guys, for this great post!
Should elaborate a little bit even you can click to the link. Examples, 4.Understanding Histogram: bla... bla... You should see the curve is like spread tone for more balance. Or 13. How to Avoid a Dirty DSLR Sensor - bla.. bla.. use this kind of clothes to clean up your lense. Just a simple and basic suggestion for users/ readers. Great anyway.
Deirdre, the comments on old articles are always left in place, you may sometimes need to click on the 'more' or 'comments' link at the bottom of a post to get to them.
Hope this helps,
These are great tips that even many Pros forget. It never hurts too review the basics once in a while.
I know what I'm reading tonight.
I was at the Huntington Library this past weekend (after Christmas) and I was amazed at the number of cameras I saw. Literally everyone had a camera and I was also surprised at the number of digital SLRs.
very nice list!
the photo of the broken lens is causing me physical pain ;)
Very helpful compilation of articles. Thank you.
By the way, I wish that even if you didn't want to allow more comments on old articles, you would still leave the old comments up. I sometimes learn as much from comments on an article as I do from an article.
I have so much to learn, and love this site. Thank you so much. You've got a regular reader here.
Great, great list! I forwarded to this link to two people! I really think you should modify it though and switch group 1 (6-12) and group 2 (1-5) as it's critical to have done Understanding Exposure before getting into modes and setting (1 & 2). in those very articles it says "we've reviewed.." and refers to exposure understanding.
also, #3 is a typo and is listed as #4.
Very concise list, I like it :)
Just an FYI though...you numbering goes:
WOW! What a list. It seems like it took me forever to master everything thats in this list. If I got a new SLR for Christmas, I'd head straight here for a leg up! I suppose white balance was the last thing for me to figure out as a beginner, because I shot in RAW and simply "corrected" it on import. Now shooting with flashes and mixed lighting, white balance (and gels) seem to be one of the most important!
Excellent, thanks for posting this :)


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Today was truly our last day in the garden–pulling tomato plants, salvaging the very last of what there was to salvage.
Mostly tomatoes, but also a small handful of onions. We pulled up the cages and stakes, stored them in the loft above the tool shed. Rolled up the hoses. Talked about what a good time we'd had, and how we'd miss this.
We said, "See you at the library!"
We said, "Goodbye, garden!"
We said, "Thank you."

subset: commoncrawl


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Dispatch the Flying MonkeysDecember 01, 2003
And here's the extra special edition wherein it's announced that for a limited time only, I am on the job market! Yes, that's right, the holidays are fast approaching, and what better way to cope with a killer Visa bill than a shiny new spot at a great company?
I'm looking for a full time design gig in Vancouver, B.C. I want to work with a forward-thinking firm in virtually any industry that's relevant. Be it custom design, online media, software development, or any other, I'm open to suggestion. You know my work, but much more is available upon request. Serious inquiries can be sent via this site's contact form.
If you, or anyone you know are in need of a designer up on the latest web standards, let's chat.


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NBC Not Charged for Magazine Display
Lesson learned? NBC will not be charged for David Gregory's display of a high-capacity magazine on Meet the Press, the D.C. attorney general's office confirmed Friday, citing "prosecutorial discretion" in its decision. Despite blatantly breaking the law, the network was spared charges because Meet the Press displayed the magazine in order to inform in the "ongoing public debate about firearms policy" in the U.S., and because the magazine was promptly returned to the police after the show was produced. The decision not to press charges was nonetheless "very close," and the attorney general's office said any other similar occurrence will be "prosecuted to the full extent."


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The Lighthouse has been an open access clinic for the care of HIV related disease and for supporting the palliative care of terminal illness.
At Lighthouse we offer free open access counseling and testing services using in-session serial Whole Blood Rapid Test kits.
Lighthouse HBC works through existing community groups in densely populated areas of Lilongwe City South and North.
Lighthouse offers a variety of trainings to meet your organization's capacity building needs. This calendar details all courses offered for 2013.
We also increasingly play a large role in national efforts in Monitoring and Evaluation of AIDS programs in Treatment, Care and Support.
The Lighthouse offers a Continum of Care to its clients, caring for them from initial testing, through periods of illness, through to palliative care at the end of life.


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- Who We Are
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What's On Calendar
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Ballet Creole - Soulful Messiah 10th Anniversary
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Soulfully danced to Quincy Jones Grammy Award-winning R&B rendition of Handels Messiah, this performance will leave you singing throughout the festive season. Discover the magic of this universal holiday season favourite!
Event run: December 2–4, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Tumbling Into Light breaks new ground in musical theatre, bringing together high-level performance and multidisciplinary techniques to create a seamless flow of artistic crafts.
Event run: December 1–4, 2011
For details inquire at the Info Desk or call 416-973-4000.


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Justin Timberlake joins actor Matthew McConaughey, comedian Will Ferrell, rapper Kendrick Lamar and the late "Sopranos" star James Gandolfini as GQ magazine's 2013 Men of the Year.
Timberlake was bestowed the magazine's "#Hashtag of the year" honor, Lamar was rapper of the year, McConaughey was the magazine's leading man of the year, Ferrell was funnyman of the year and Gandolfini was honored with a tribute cover on the mag's five-cover 18th annual edition.
The "Suit & Tie" crooner has had quite the 2013, indeed, stating that he doesn't see himself "as someone who's ever going to be defined by one moment."
PHOTOS: Justin Timberlake's career in pictures
The 32-year-old 'N Sync alum pulled off a successful comeback with the release of "The 20/20 Experience" and all its hit singles and tour, staged "Timberweek" with late night host Jimmy Fallon, performed at the White House, hosted "Saturday Night Live" for the fifth time (earning himself another Emmy nomination), released the second part of his album, #hashtagged his way back into our hearts, reunited with 'N Sync at the MTV Video Music Awards and starred in Ben Affleck's "Runner Runner."
"I've been doing this professionally since I was 10," "The Mickey Mouse Club" alum told the mag. "If entertainment years were dog years, man, I'd be like Gandhi. I'd be like 250 years old."
But still he asserts that he isn't cool. (Wha!?)
"Listen, I'm not cool," he said. "Being cool is about keeping your blood pressure steady. So no. Don't be cool. Be passionate. Be dedicated. Be tenacious. Be uncompromising. Be pissed. Be happy. Be sad."
PHOTOS: Our favorite ripped Hollywood hotties
This coming from the triple threat who's become a golden boy of the sketch-comedy circuit and is married to Jessica Biel ...
"I've made a career out of doing things that I should not be doing. I wasn't cool about it," he said. "Because being cool would have meant I passed up on those opportunities. If you do that, it's because you're afraid. And what are you afraid of? You know?"
Still, he's getting these accolades despite the "double whammy" that came later in the year upon the box-office bomb of "Runner Runner" and the release of the second part of his album, "The 20/20 Experience Part 2." He started off his interview with GQ's Amy Wallace on the wrong foot, giving her these cutting quotes, which he later apologized for.
"Sometimes I find it funny that I've been able to acquire the patience it takes to be kind to people in our business. Because sometimes I just want to ... kill everybody," he said of the critiques.
"This face. This recognizable face that you work so hard to get — not because you want the recognition but because you know you're made to do it," he added. "The movie didn't do well at the box office, so I should quit? Hold on a second. If I was somebody else, you wouldn't have said that. I have the number one album this week, and I shouldn't have released it? Come on, man. You sound like a .... It just shocked me because, like, you're trade magazines. None of your opinions count. And by the way, none of you can do it."
But he composed himself later in the interview, Wallace said, and delivered a handful of observations that made us fall in love with him all over again.
As for the other Men of the Year, GQ deputy editor Michael Hainey took to the "Today" show Tuesday to talk about them.
Hainey called McConaughey — star of critically acclaimed "Mud" and "Dallas Buyers Club" — as a "full-on 'McCona-ssance."
"He's gone from that guy who played bongos naked to now, like, full-on leading man."
PHOTOS: Justin Timberlake's career in pictures
Lamar is "the rapper who stole the crown this year," Hainey said. The "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" rapper went platinum in 2012, opened for Kanye West and made headlines when his explicit lyrics leaked online and when he feuded with rapper Drake after the MTV VMAs. He was also named No. 1 MC in the country by MTV.
"Anchorman" star Ferrell is joined by his broadcast alter-ego Ron Burgundy on the mag's cover. The comedian has appeared in several viral videos this year (a Lakers security guard, a member of the USC Spirit of Troy marching band) and took the stage at the Emmy Awards in September with his three sons.
As for Gandolfini, the magazine paid tribute to the late "Sopranos" star and also noted that his work in the indie film "Enough Said" with Julia Louis-Dreyfus also has him as a potential award-season contender.
GQ's editor-in-chief Jim Nelson feted the men Monday with a private dinner at Carbone in New York City with guests including Timberlake, his wife, Jessica Biel, actor Ethan Hawke, Willie Geist, Questlove, Ronan Farrow, Patrick Stewart, Emily Ratajkowski, ASAP Rocky, Tunde Adebimpe, Neil Barrett, David Chang, Ronan Farrow,Taran Killam, Mark McNairy, Eniko Mihalik, Alyssa Miller, Stephen Moyer, Frank Muytjens, James Purefoy, Kehinde Wiley and Italo Zucchelli.
GQ's Men of the Year issue hits newsstands Nov. 19.
Sacha Baron Cohen's killer prank rolls BAFTA awards in L.A.
Alec Baldwin heckled by Genevieve Sabourin during stalker trial
Olivia Culpo, Nick Jonas trade love notes at Miss Universe 2013
Follow Ministry of Gossip @LATcelebs.
PHOTOS: Celebrity portraits by The Times
PHOTOS: Our favorite ripped Hollywood hotties
PHOTOS: Celebrity mug shots


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Well suited for work in lower density soils and light materials. Cat® High Capacity Buckets have the same durable characteristics as heavy duty buckets but are capable of moving greater volumes.
Enhanced bucket shape allows material to flow more easily. Tapered bucket sidewalls allow for easy dumping of sticky material.
Cat Buckets are designed for superior productivity, reliability and long life.


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Image: L:R George Bush Sr, President Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter
By Steve Holland
Their rivalries have helped to define American politics for more than a quarter-century.
And sometimes the complex relationships among the only five people alive who know what it's like to be president of the United States have seemed to be straight out of a soap opera. They have called each other names and blamed one another for the nation's problems.
But when they have a rare meeting in Dallas on Thursday for the opening of former president George W. Bush's library and museum, there will be smiles for the cameras and friendly chatter by President Barack Obama and former presidents Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter.
It will be the first time they have all been together since January 2009, when they met in Washington a few days before George W. Bush left office and Obama was sworn in as president.
The library's dedication at Southern Methodist University will be something of a re-emergence for George W. Bush, who has preferred to stay out of the spotlight since leaving Washington after eight tumultuous years in office that followed six years as Texas governor.
"Fourteen years was enough for me," Bush told People Magazine last week. "But I do want to stay engaged in issues that matter to me."
Having served in a stressful job that always seems to age its occupants, the five men share a "common bond that supersedes any short-term policy or political differences," said Karen Hughes, a former top aide to George W. Bush.
That said, this isn't necessarily the friendliest of fraternities.
Obama, a 51-year-old Democrat, twice won election by denouncing Republican George W. Bush's handling of the presidency, from the struggling U.S. economy to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Obama, the nation's first African-American president, also accused fellow Democrat Clinton of injecting race into the 2008 campaign, when Clinton was campaigning in South Carolina for his wife, Hillary, in the Democratic presidential primary.
Republican George W. Bush, 66, criticized Clinton's handling of theeconomy in defeating Clinton's vice president, Al Gore, in 2000. Clinton used the same economic argument in 1992 to deny a second term to Bush's father, George H.W. Bush.
It was George H.W. Bush, now 88, who had perhaps the most colorful putdown of Clinton and Gore in the 1992 presidential campaign when he said, "My dog Millie knows more about foreign policy than those two Bozos."
It took a while for the edge to wear off from that campaign.
When then-President Clinton attended George H.W. Bush's presidential library opening in College Station, Texas in 1997, Clinton aides recall that Bush and his wife, Barbara, were particularly gracious.
On the other hand, their sons, George W. and Jeb, were frosty to the Clinton side, former Clinton press secretary Mike McCurry said.
Five years after Clinton had denied the elder Bush a second term in the White House by casting the Republican as out of touch on the economy, "things were still a little bit raw," McCurry said.
Now, Clinton and George H.W. Bush probably have the closest friendship within the group of presidents. They have worked together to raise money to help those stricken by a 2005 tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed more than 230,000 people in more than a dozen countries.
"You cannot get mad at the guy," George H.W. Bush wrote of Clinton after traveling with him in 2005. "I admit to wondering why he can't stay on time, but when I see him interacting with folks my wonder turns to understanding, with a dollop of angst thrown in."
The younger Bush now gets along with Clinton, too. They worked together on Haiti earthquake relief in 2010.
"I like him, and I love his father," Clinton said during an appearance with George W. Bush in Salt Lake City last August.
The relationship between the last two presidents, Obama and George W. Bush, remains something of a work in progress, aides said.
The two rarely speak, although Obama was gracious to his predecessor last year when Bush visited the White House for the formal unveiling of his presidential portrait.
"We may have our differences politically, but the presidency transcends those differences," Obama said at the ceremony. "We all love this country. We all want America to succeed."
A senior administration official said that Obama, now in his second term, has not changed his views about what he saw as "poor policy decisions" by Bush on the Iraq war and the U.S. economy. But, the official said, Obama has an appreciation "for the enormity of the decisions that a president has to make and the burden that a president has to bear, especially when Americans lose their lives."
The Bush side, which was not happy at how Obama bashed him during the 2008 campaign, nevertheless is pleased that Obama is joining the group in Dallas.
If there is a wild card in the group, it is Carter.
Aides to Obama and those close to both Bushes and Clinton say the four of them are all a bit baffled and bemused by Carter, 88, who was president from 1977 to 1981, before the late Ronald Reagan's conservative revolution stormed Washington.
Carter has consistently criticized all of his successors, even when they have been fellow Democrats.
"The odd man out is Carter," said Ron Kaufman, a former adviser to the elder Bush.
So what do the presidents talk about when they get together? If the past is any guide, they will keep it light.
Dana Perino, who was a press secretary to George W. Bush, said after the presidents were together in 2009 she asked her boss what they had discussed.
Bush's response: "We mostly talked about our families."


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The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has announced that Aarti Singh, assistant professor of machine learning, is one of 42 scientists selected this year to receive research funding for three years through the Air Force's Young Investigator Research Program (YIP).
The YIP is open to scientists and engineers at research institutions across the United States who received Ph.D. or equivalent degrees in the last five years and who show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research.
Singh's research proposal was "Compressive and Adaptive Measurement Design for Inference Problems in Multi-Attribute Large-Scale Graphs."
Last year, Singh was the recipient of a National Science Foundation CAREER Award. Singh earned a bachelor's degree in electronics and communication engineering from the University of Delhi in 2001, and master's and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003 and 2008, respectively. Prior to joining CMU's Machine Learning Department in 2009, she was a postdoctoral research associate at the Program in Applied and Computational Mathematics at Princeton University.
Byron Spice | 412-268-9068 | firstname.lastname@example.com


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Why am I always late for everything? As the More is More Mom®, I suppose it's because I'm always trying to squeeze in just one more thing. However, when it comes to going to the movies, I do my level best to be on time. I hate to miss the Coming Attractions, because sometimes that's the very best part of the movie going experience.
As with most families, evenings can be kind of tough. If we're not racing off to a game, dropping off a gaggle of teenagers, picking up a gaggle of teenagers, we're hosting a gaggle of teenagers that require some supervision in our home. Sunday afternoon Chuck and I were able to sneak in a quick movie run (allowing plenty of time to be home to see our Chicago Blackhawks play Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Why does the Flyer's #19, Hartnell, look like a cross between the kindly Grizzly Adams and the Unabomber? He plays like the Unabomber). Killers looked entertaining, so why not?
It's so exciting when there are a couple of movies that look fairly promising.
• Charlie St. Cloud didn't look too bad if you're a Zac Efron fan. Shocking I'm sure (because I have a teenager daughter and the Disney Chanel plays 24/7 here), but I have never seen High School Musical I, II or III (but I do think you should Get Your Head in the Game, Gotta, Getcha, getcha, getcha, getcha head in the game…). Despite the fact that there didn't appear to be any singing or dancing involved, this picture looked sweet and touching.
• I'm afraid that the previews might very well have shown the best parts of this movie, but Going the Distance looked entertaining enough. I absolutely adore Drew Barrymore. She is the most charming gal in the motion picture business (with Sandra Bullock running a close second), so I would give it a shot for that reason alone. Throw in her on again, off again cutie pie Justin Long, and you might just have a winner (or at least not a complete stinker).
• Annette Bening and Julianne Moore make a beautiful lesbian couple in The Kids are Alright. Why not? Mark Ruffalo is the sperm donating wanna be dad, and you've got yourself a family comedy…..
• What do 80's Mega-Action-Superstars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sly Stallone and Bruce Willis (totally in my top ten favorite actors EVER!!) have in common? They all star in The Expendables….. Though it does beckon the question, were Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford and Jean Claude Van Dam busy? I'm not a super fan of the Action Blockbuster, but throw in the come back kid (or old man) Mickey Rourke, his fabulously creepy costar in The Pope of Greenwich Village, Eric Roberts, martial arts expert Jet Li, Rocky's nemesis Dolph Lundgren, current action hottie Jason Stathom, and Terry Crews (the dad on Everybody Hates Chris….)…..and I'm there!
I had extremely high hopes for Killers. I mean we're talking about the absolutely adorable Ashton Kutcher (tweet, tweet) and the beautiful but befuddled Katherine Heigl (in the part that she endearingly plays in all of her movies).
The ever handsome Tom Selleck and the lovely and hysterical Catherine O'Hara are perfectly cast as Ms. Heigl's parents, so where did it all go awry? The action and the intrigue were perfect in the first part of the movie. I was all about Martin Mull as Ashton's boss. The banter was witty, with a certain Hollywood classic's feeling. Sadly though, it became a ridiculous farce as the bounty on Ashton's head was unveiled and everyone and their brother wanted him dead. I mean seriously, how on Earth did their suburban neighbors get their hands on all of those firearms? I live in the suburbs and we are merely armed with SUV's, wine and a competitive edge.
Over all Killers wasn't too bad, but it left me wanting more. I can tell you however, with certainty…..Killers was no Hot Tub Time Machine! Where is John Cusack when you need him?
PS-Please visit my audition for my own show on the OWN for Oprah. Vote early and often…..that's the Chicago way!
Vanessa's Audition: Vanessa – The More Is More Mom – OWN TV


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- 8 ounces (225 grams) of unsalted butter, plus more for greasing pan (this can be a little hard to find, at least in SA)
- 1 cup (236 ml) smooth peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pound (.45 kg) powdered sugar (here, they call it "icing sugar")
Combine the butter and peanut butter in a large microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. (I didn't do this and it was just fine.)
|Peanut butter and butter.
|Hot. Hot. Hot.
|The lumps made no difference! Phew!
|It would be smoother if I'd used a pan with right angles.
|One word. Yum.


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The latest victim in a string of dolphin deaths was found dead Sunday in Fort Morgan, Ala., and brought to Northwest Florida on Monday.
The latest victim in a string of dolphin deaths was found dead Sunday in Fort Morgan, Ala., and brought to Northwest Florida on Monday.
According to the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network, a fisherman in Fort Morgan, Ala., found the bottlenose dolphin Sunday with a severe head injury that appears to have been caused by a gunshot.
Members of both rescue agencies assessed the dolphin at the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge on Okaloosa Island before bringing it to a local veterinarian for X-rays and further research. Investigators were measuring the dolphin and the hole in its head, which looked to be about 4 inches across.
�We won�t know for some time what exactly killed this animal,� said Steve Shippee with the wildlife refuge. Shippee said that with only one wound on the animal and no bullet or pellets found yet, a definitive answer may take weeks or months.
The dolphin appeared to be relatively healthy otherwise � a full-grown male, about 480 pounds, about 8� feet long � �in the prime of his life,� according to Shippee.
Sources say there has been an unusually high mortality rate of bottlenose dolphins along the Gulf Coast since 2010. Shippee said there have been about 700 dolphin deaths since then. Typically, he said, they see only about 100 each year.
A handful of the deaths have involved mutilated dolphins missing appendages on beaches in Alabama and Louisiana. Some of the cases have been especially heinous, according to marine wildlife experts, who�ve seen everything from homemade pipe bombs, gunshot wounds, and a screwdriver stuck in the head of a dolphin. Those cases have captured headlines nationwide.
If you encounter an injured or dead dolphin, contact the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge at 850-650-1880 or the Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 877-WELL-HELP.
Destin Log Jessica Coker can be reached at 850-654-8464 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @DestinLogJess.


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Beyond Herbalife: The War Between Direct Sellers And Short Sellers
By Mia Lamar and Anna Prior
Hedge-fund manager William Ackman's $1 billion bet against nutritional-products maker Herbalife Ltd. is again shining a light on direct-selling companies, prompting investors to evaluate investing in an industry that seems a magnet for controversy.
Mr. Ackman's assertion that Herbalife is operating a pyramid scheme is a familiar accusation, one that also has been aimed over the years at direct sellers Usana Health Sciences Inc., Medifast Inc. and most recently Nu Skin Enterprises Inc., in its battle with short seller Citron Research last year. As direct sellers, the companies rely on individuals to market and sell their products to others, rather than operating a typical retail operation.
Investors in direct-selling companies have seen the value of their shares rise and fall with each twist in the Herbalife drama. Shares of Nu Skin, for instance, dropped to their lowest point since May 2011 after Mr. Ackman went public with his bet last month. They have rebounded somewhat–as has Herbalife's stock–though Nu Skin shares are still off roughly 7% from where they were.
"If you're really an investor, I don't know how you go near these things," said Timothy Ghriskey, chief investment officer of the Solaris Group, a $2 billion investment firm. "You are subject to the whims of these activist investors, who move the stock significantly."
More on this after the jump…


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Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Canned drams
While the mere idea of whisky in a can can still provoke outrage and bemusement in Scotland and other whisky markets, these whisky highball cans are now absolutely mainstream in Japan, with several brands available in most shops.
It is easy for people outside the country to get the wrong idea about the place of these drinks in the Japanese alcohol market. Essentially, they have their roots in the "chuhai" canned drinks sector, rather than Japan's whisky culture. "Chuhai" was originally a contraction of "shochu highball", the term given to the soda and shōchū cocktails that became popular in Tōkyō's drinking districts immediately after the war. But, today, it normally refers to cheap cocktails sold in a can. I could blather on endlessly about the whys are wherefores of chuhais but, basically, it is best summed up with a graphic, stolen from Kirin's annual report:
Basically, Chuhai competes with beer and beer substitutes ("Happo-shu" and "New genre") and Japan's barmy tax regime means that chuhai is far cheaper than beer. The story of the last 15 or so years in Japanese alcohol has been the relentless rise of these low-taxed alternatives to beer (and subsequent squabbles among them for preeminence). The new canned whisky highball phenomenon has dovetailed perfectly onto the end of this narrative, adding a bit of class and glamour (on the back of Suntory's very successful highball campaign) to the low-tax booze ticket.
Not all of these canned whisky highballs are particularly cheap and that too is part of the ungoing narrative of alcohol in Japan. The big drinks companies, having driven down the cut-price road about as far as they could go and finding that they were just cannibalizing sales of products with higher margins, are desperate to increase the profits on their drinks. The classy image of whisky offers that opportunity. The furthest the concept has been pushed so far is Nikka Whisky's Pure Malt Taketsuru 12-year-old Highball (part of this range), which costs about 300 yen, substantially more than a can of the much higher taxed beer. (The Torys highball is far cheaper than any beer, at about 160 yen for 350 ml, but it too is drawing on a very well established and much-loved brand)
So, in summary, these things are less of a product of Japan's whisky culture than an outgrowth of the probably universal desire for a cheap way to get blasted (but are developing beyond those roots). Their existence will, nevertheless, have a great bearing on the future of Japanese whisky, not least because they are sustaining Japan's large whisky distilling sector. International competition winning single malts were never going to be able to do that on their own.
I must admit it seems a little strange (desperate?) to be canning 12-year-old Nikka pure malt but perhaps I am a fuddy-duddy. I do sometimes have a guilty sip.
2 comments:
- sku said...
Interesting. Are these just whisky and soda water or are they sweetened?
- March 1, 2011 at 11:37 PM
- LingLongLang said...
Enjoying the site. As I currently live in Japan, thought I'd add my thoughts.
Yes, these are just whisky and soda water as far as I can tell. The abv ends up around 7% in most cases.
While I definitely prefer a single malt straight, I find these canned highballs to be appropriate(ly tasty and convenient) for many situations. I was glad to see the new line come and stay on the market so long.
One point I think worth noting is that these are for the most part convenience store niche products. In the past when deciding what drink to grab from the convenience store during a night out, I'd usually prefer a beer, and only grab the standard Suntory highball if I had a strong itch for whisky taste. Now I almost always get the Four Roses one, I think it works really well in this format. I even prefer it over the Taketsuru 12 one. This coming, however, from someone who would rather drink Four Roses in a highball before straight or on rocks.
Speaking of Nikka, where is the coverage of their Tsuru 17 blended on this site? :p It's great stuff!
- March 4, 2011 at 2:30 PM


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PLEASE CALL M and B auto group AT 540-738-0989.
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Soaring summer temperatures are hardly conducive for cooks to turn the oven on for dinner. Here is an easy lasagna using only the stovetop to whip up for the family.
No-Bake Lasagna
500 g (1 lb) ground beef
1 onion, minced
1 garlic clove, minced
500 ml (2 cups) spaghetti sauce
250 ml (1 cup) mixed frozen vegetables
500 ml (2 cups) grape tomatoes, halved
4 lasagna noodles
175 ml (3/4 cup) ricotta cheese
50 ml (1/4 cup) grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
Salt and pepper, to taste
Fresh basil, for garnish (optional)
In a medium saucepan, combine beef, onion and garlic and brown. Add spaghetti sauce and frozen mixed vegetables; cover and simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until hot, 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove from heat; stir in grape tomatoes.
Meanwhile, cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Cut each crosswise into 3 pieces; set aside.
In a small bowl, combine ricotta and Parmesan cheeses, salt and pepper.
Scoop some hot beef mixture onto each of 4 plates and top each with 2 noodle pieces, ovelapping. Top each with a spoonful of ricotta mixture, followed by more beef mixture. Repeat noodle, ricotta and beef layers.
Garnish each with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan and some fresh basil, if desired.
Makes 4 servings.
Nutritional information per serving: 517 calories; 35 g protein; 19 g fat; 51 g carbohydrate.
Source: Canadian Beef Inc.


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Optimise the performance of your SAP software and the people who use it with the SAP User Experience Management application by Knoa, available for delivery on-premise or cloud. Collect real-time data directly from users' desktops to identify exactly where problems lie, so you can determine and implement the most effective solution.
- Evaluate user interaction with your business-critical software
- Collect usage data to spotlight system and user issues and errors
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- Achieve operational excellence by identifying and removing barriers to optimal system usage
- Use data-driven decisions, not just feelings and perceptions, to improve user productivity


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The Seattle Seahawks released back up tight end Evan Moore and promoted tight end Sean McGrath from the practice squad to their 53-man roster.
After surprisingly deciding to part ways with Kellen Winslow Jr. at the conclusion of training camp, the Seahawks signed Moore on Sept. 3. Moore had been released by the Cleveland Browns during final cuts.
Despite playing in every game for Seattle this season, Moore had been on the field for just 104 of the team's 934 offensive snaps (11-percent). He recorded just one catch for six yards in 14 games with the Seahawks. He served as the team's third option at tight end behind Zach Miller and Anthony McCoy.
McGrath spent training camp with the Seahawks before being released during final cuts. He has spent most of the season on the team's practice squad. McGrath was an undrafted rookie out of Division II Henderson State University.
Seattle signed linebacker Kyle Knox to the practice squad to fill the hole opened by McGrath's promotion. Knox also spent training camp with the Seahawks.


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Some might be surprised to learn that Phoenix, Arizona, is the fifth-largest city in the country with a population of more than 1.6 million residents. Known as the "Valley of the Sun," Phoenix was settled in 1867. The economy has thrived on cattle, citrus, copper and cotton. The area continues to grow due to the influx of "snow birds" who come for the pleasant, warm weather. With its abundant sunshine and warm temperatures, you're able to get out year-round to shop, golf, hike and experience the city's energetic nightlife and rich arts and cultural scene.
Did you know?
It may take up to a century for just one branch of the Saguaro cactus to grow an arm. If you kill the endangered Saguaro cactus - a beloved symbol of the West, but actually only found in the Sonoran Desert - you might spend up to a year in prison!
Phoenix Attractions
Phoenix's sunny reputation invites you outdoors to explore notable attractions like the majestic Desert Botanical Gardens, offering winding pathways lush with towering Saguaros and blooming cacti.
Phoenix Apartments and Neighborhoods
Whether you're a young professional seeking a studio apartment in a hip area like downtown Phoenix or a family looking for an established community like Verrado with great schools and tree-lined streets, Phoenix offers a variety of options for every taste and budget. From the high-rise condos in Old Town Scottsdale to the condominium complexes in the North Tempe area, finding an apartment that best suits your lifestyle is easy in this desert metropolis. Arcadia, one of the most sought-after areas, lies in east Phoenix and is favored for its charming architecture, health-oriented amenities and proximity to the airport.
Best of Phoenix
If Phoenix's incredible weather isn't enough to win you over, this best-ranked list might:
Free Things to Do in Phoenix
Adventure abounds around every corner in Phoenix. Check out our list of free things to do:
From a shopping excursion in Scottsdale to a pub crawl in Tempe, you won't have any trouble finding things to do in Phoenix this weekend.
Phoenix Adventures
For even more entertaining activities in Phoenix, check out this Top 5 list:
Phoenix Sports
Phoenix is home to four major professional sports leagues: the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, the NBA's Phoenix Suns, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes so there's always a team to follow. Plus, the University of Phoenix stadium hosts the annual college football Fiesta Bowl.
For Families with Kids
Phoenix has its share of fun activities and places for families with kids, including the Children's Museum of Phoenix, where kids of all ages can scale "The Climber" structure or take a bike ride through "Pedal Power." Phoenix is home to 325 public schools and more than 200 charter and private schools in 30 school districts, two of which made Niche.com's A-list: Chandler Unified District No. 80 and Heritage Academy.
Phoenix Natural Beauty and Outdoor Living
With nearly 300 days of sunshine every year and an average year-round temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit, Phoenix is perfect for outdoor adventurists. Travel just minutes from downtown to Camelback Mountain for a day of hiking the trails that loop around crimson red rocks and offer scenic views of the desert landscapes below.
Dog-friendly Activities in Phoenix
The city boasts more than ten dog parks, with top picks being Friends of Hance Dog Park and Chaparral Off Leash Area, which offers separate areas for active and passive dogs. Phoenix also has a Doggie Street Festival in January, where you can find music, food and check out options for dog training, food, vets and services.
Phoenix Getaways
Living in Phoenix puts you within driving distance of several major cities that make great day trips, including Las Vegas and Palm Springs, both about four hours away, Flagstaff, less than three hours away, and the iconic Grand Canyon, just over three hours away. When you need a change of scenery and temperature, make the six-hour drive to San Diego for a skiing weekend.


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Cruising Misconceptions and Mythsby Tim Rubacky
Surprisingly, the myths and misconceptions about cruising are probably the top reason why cruising is still one of travel's best kept secrets. Getting people on their first cruise is the hard part, but the number of people who continue to cruise after trying their first cruise is extremely high. All it takes is one cruise before all of the mis-conceptions are dashed. Following are some of the most stubborn myths about cruising.
I'LL GET SEASICK Yes, people do occasionaly suffer from motion sickness and this is a valid concern. However, today's modern ships are all stabilized to reduce rolling (side to side motion) and designed by sophisticated computer aided design equipment to minimize pitching (up and down motion). On all of the cruises I have been on (100+), I have rarely encountered seasick passengers in all but the roughest of seas.
But you can be proactive and minimize the chances of any discomfort with many simple and inexpensive remedies.
The remedy I find simplest and most effective is using "sea bands". These are little wristlets that feature a "nub" that is positioned to strike a pressure point on the underside of your wrist. I have found them terribly effective, even in 40 foot seas! There are no side effects as they are drug free and the best part is they're inexpensive!! About $7.00/pair. They can be found in just about any pharmacy or in the giftshop onboard.
There are several medications such as Bonine or Dramamine. I have heard these can be quite effective but I personally avoid them due to the side effects that one may experience such as drowsiness, sleeplessness or dry mouth. It is also recommended that you avoid exposure to the sun and avoid alcholic intake. As with any medication, your physician or pharmacist is the best resource and you should definitely consult them before you plan on taking any one of these remedies.
I'LL BE BORED Cruising is not the sedentary pasttime it used to be, unless that's what you choose to make of it. Every cruise ship publishes a daily newspaper and activity schedule to keep you busy and entertained while on board.
During the day you'll find numerous activities such as Bingo, trivia games, lectures on topics such as art collecting, politics, world affairs and investing not to mention the ports you'll be visiting and shopping; exercise classes, wine tastings, cooking classes, shuffleboard, card tournaments and good old-fashioned relaxing in the sun by the pool or catching up on all those first run movies you never have time for at home. Then there are other alternatives you'll find on some ships such as golf simulators, miniature golf courses, putting greens, batting cages, basketball, volleyball and tennis courts. You can treat yourself to a day in the spa or in the ships's onboard fitness center, massages, facials, hair and nail salons, a sauna or a session with a personal trainer on the state-of-the-art exercise equipment. (But do watch out for activities that carry extra costs! More on that later).
In the evenings you have all of the bars and lounges at your disposal for mixing, mingling, dancing or people watching. There are lavish production shows and cabaret acts, comedians and the late night disco to keep you going into the wee hours.
And don't forget how much your ports of call provide for exciting diversions and discovery. You can trek off on your own or take one of the ship's pre-arranged tours.
I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SHIPS: I'LL LOOK SILLY Fear not, the majority of cruisers today are not "old salts" and you'll all be in the same proverbial boat together. There are a few basics that I think everyone should know:
- Bow: the front or "pointy end" of the ship
- Stern: the back of the ship
- Port: the left side of the ship as you face forward
- Starboard: the right side as you face forward
- Galley: VERY important!! It's the ship's kitchen!
- Bridge: Where the ships officers control and navigate the ship from. Usually high up and forward. It is the command center or "cockpit" of the ship if you will.
I WON'T BE LIKE OTHER PEOPLE That's a good thing, everyone is unique and different. I find this to be one of the most enjoyable aspects of cruising; meeting and learning about different people. However, cruise ships tend to be very friendly places and most passengers are outgoing and sociable. But you can keep to yourself if you so choose.
EVERYONE ON A CRUISE IS OLD It used to be the case and in some instances, it still is, but cruising is becoming more and more appealing to younger passengers as it gains mass appeal. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, the majority of cruisers today are between 48 and 59 with the 25 to 39 and 60+ age groupings in a virtual tie. In fact, it has recently been reported in the trade papers that the cruise lines have identified the Baby Boomers and Gen-X'ers as the most likely candidates for explosive market growth over the next five years. The cruise lines are catering to younger cruisers like never before by offering more and more variety, options and excitement.
CRUISING IS TOO REGIMENTED Au contraire! Cruising has never offered more options, variety, choice and informality than it does today. The cruise lines realize that today's passengers do not want or need regimentation on their vacations because they already have an overwhelming amount of it in their daily lives. Passengers are now afforded the option to choose when, where and with whom they dine, what types of entertainment they partake in and a more varied array of shore excursions besides the normal bus tours. There is an increasing emphasis on passenger comfort in terms of dress and informality in the ambiance.
Princess, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and NCL are all leading the charge and now pushing the envelope even further in this arena and NCL has just recently announced its new "Freestyle Cruising" concept which will offer open seating dining in the main restaurants, several alternative dining venues and an overall more loosely structured environment to encourage choice and informality.
One need not dress up every night in a tux or attend formal dinners as it had been in the past. But the cruise lines will and still do offer you the choice of a more "traditional" experience complete with assigned seating at dinner, formal nights and an extensive list of scheduled activities if you enjoy such sophistication.
ALL THERE IS TO DO IS EAT! Once again, a very common and not unfounded misconception. It used to be that a cruise revolved around eating. Early riser's Danish and coffee, a light breakfast on deck, full breakfast in the dining room, mid-morning snacks, buffet lunch on deck, hamburgers on the grill, full lunch in the dining room, afternoon snacks, ice cream and cookies, afternoon tea with pastries, hors d'ouvres, dinner, the midnight buffet and late night snacks served every day! I'm bloated just thinking about it.
With the trend towards healthier living and eating habits today, the cruise lines have changed their tune. Yes, you may still partake in all of the above offerings, but the cruise lines are also offering the public what they want -- healthier foods, lighter meals and spa cusine. You'll now find ligther selections on the menus every night and many even list the calories, fat content, protein and other pertinent information right on the menu.
Even that bastion of cruise line traditions, the midnight buffet, has gone by the wayside on many cruise lines.
But should you choose to eat, eat, eat you can work off all of those excess calories by using the fitness centers and climbing stairs instead of using elevators. On my last NCL cruise, I did not gain one extra pound as I practiced moderation and found their new "Cooking Light" offerings to be exceptional. One must never sacrifice taste and enjoyment on a cruise when eating healthy and you wont. In fact, I have found some of the healthy or "light" options to be tastier and more interesting than the standard fare.


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In the late 19th century, Italian families began to arrive in the United States by the hundreds of thousands. They brought with them memories and recipes from home, adding to an already rich culinary marketplace. Today, many of these early pioneers have passed their love for Italian cuisine on to a new generation. While times have changed, the recipe remains the same: traditional Italian favorites made the old fashioned way, with locally sourced ingredients hand-picked for flavor.
For over sixty years Lovera's has been hand-crafting Italian specialties for the midwest and beyond. In addition to their award winning, hand-formed cheeses, Lovera's is proud to provide authentic Italian olive oil, baked goods, pasta and many other specialties. We invite you to experience this one-of-a-kind family tradition for yourself.


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This article provides a quick-start example for importing JDBC Metadata into Designer to create a relational model, creating a VDB from that model as well as deploying and executing SQL queries via a JDBC connection through your Teiid VDB.
This guide assumes you have at least one JDBC data source available including type, driver jars, URL and other necessary connection information.
Install JBoss AS, Teiid & Teiid Designer
Install Jboss AS Server 5.1 (or greater)
Install Teiid 7.2 into the "../server/default" directory
Drop your JDBC driver jars into "../server/default/lib" directory. This will include the jars you used to Select while importing and creating JDBC Sources in 6.3 Designer's JDBC Importer and the same jars you'll need when defining DTP Connection Profiles.
Open console window, navigate to AS install directory's "bin" directory
Start the server with ./run.sh
- Install Teiid Designer 7.2 into your Eclipse 3.6 or above
Create Relational Model
Launch Eclipse, open "Designer" perspective and create New > Model Project
Select "File >Import" and select "Metadata from JDBC" option
Select "Connection Profiles..." button to launch New Connection Profile (CP) wizard (DTP).
Note you can also create CP's in DTP's Database Development Perspective.
You'll need to get familiar with this perspective because it is the view where you will create Teiid JDBC Source connections to your VDB's in order to query data (replaces SQL Explorer).
Each CP will required setting selecting the "Driver" jar(s) similar to MMX & 6.3 Designer. They should be the same jars you dropped into Teiid's install "/lib" folder during Teiid installation.
After creating or selecting existing CP, hit "Next" and continue with importing as usual
After importing, The model will be modified to include the connection profile properties used during import.
Note: You can change the model's connection profile info by selecting a model then right-click select "Modeling > Set Connection Profile" action.
Create Teiid server Instance
Right-click in Teiid view and select "New Teiid Instance"
Provide valid Admin URL information (Default URL for Teiid is "mms://localhost:31443")
- Specify Host (default = localhost)
- Specify Port Number (default = 31443)
- Specify User Name (default = "admin")
- Specify Password (default = "admin")
- This connection will be used by Designer to Add/Remove data-sources required for setting up valid VDB's and for deploy and undeploy your VDB's you wish to test.
Provide valid JDBC URL information (Default URL for Teiid is "mms://localhost:31000")
- Specify Host (default = localhost)
- Specify Port Number (default = 31000)
- Specify User Name (default = "admin" in teiid-7.2 / "user" in teiid-7.3.0.CR1)
- Specify Password (default = "teiid" in teiid-7.2 / "user" in teiid-7.3.0.CR1)
- This connection info will be used to set up JDBC connections to perform JDBC data queries to VDB's deployed on your Teiid server instance.
Hit finish
Initial Teiid View should contain your new Teiid server instance.
The Teiid view default contents will include any VDB's deployed to this server instance and any of your specific "workspace" Data Sources.
Data Sources are the "JCA-compatible Connection Factory" xml configuration components required for Teiid to create the necessary connections to query data at run-time.
Create Data Source connection in Teiid
In order for a VDB to be executable, a Data Source (Connection Factory) needs to be deployed in the ".../server/default/deploy" directory. This will be in the form of "xxxx-ds.xml". You can manage these items via JON/JOPR
We've provided an action, "Modeling > Create Data Source" to assist you in quickly creating compatible DS's on your local Teiid Server.
The "Create Data Source" wizard displays your referenced connection profile, a default name (name of source model) and the connection properties that will be used to create the new data source.
This action should result in a new DataSource artifact showing as deployed to Teiid.
Create VDB
Select Relational Model and choose "New > Virtual Database"
This will automatically add the Model to the VDB
You can still select project or nothing and create Empty VDB.
VDB Editor opens and contains your model (or empty)
Add model to VDB Editor if empty
Should have one row in the top table and have the "Translator" name and "JNDI" names populated.
If Translator name is empty, enter an appropriate name from your Teiid view reflecting the DB your imported from ("oracle", "sqlserver", "derby", etc..) or select table row for model and right-click select the "Change Translator" action. This will display a simple tree view of your servers containing available Translators. Select a Translator and hit OK.
Next you need to supply a JNDI name for a Data Source (Connection Factory) on the server you wish to deploy your VDB to.
If you used the "Create Data Source" option above for your local Teiid and chose the default model name, the JNDI name should be set to this same default value.
If you customized your data source name, select the table row for the source model and right-click select "Change JNDI Data Source" action. Select the appropriate Data Source and hit OK.
If you wish, you can also look in "...server/default/deploy" folder for the generated xxxx-ds.xml file. The file name will contain the Test Project name, folder names and end with the Model Name + -ds.xml. Copy all but the -ds.xml and paste into the JNDI name field for your source model
Save the VDB
Execute VDB
Select VDB in Model Explorer and right-click select "Modeling > Execute VDB" action.
- This action should result in the VDB being deployed to your default server, a connection profile created and opened in the Eclipse Database Development perpective.
- Note: This action will deploy the VDB to the "Default" server. If you have more than one server, the user is required to keep only one of the servers as the Default. You can change it by selecting a non-default Teiid server and right-click select "Set As Default" action.
- This action should result in the VDB being deployed to your default server, a connection profile created and opened in the Eclipse Database Development perpective.
Querying your VDB
Select your new Teiid connection in Data Source Explorer
Right-click select "Open SQL Scrapbook"
Enter "Select * FROM PARTS" (or your favorite table), add criteria, whatever.
Note: if you are federating data with multiple sources or have similarly named tables, you'll need to fully qualify the table names (I.e. SELECT * FROM PartsView.PARTS)
Select the text and right-click select "Execute Selected Text"
Results View should be opened and result shown in the "Results1" tab on the bottom right.


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Dinosaurs, Relatives Coexisted
News Article: www.trib.com
Written By David Perlman
July 21, 2007
Scientists digging deep into a remote New Mexico hillside have discovered a trove of fossil bones that they say is evidence that dinosaurs and their early relatives lived side by side for tens of millions of years before the relatives slowly died off and left the dinosaurs to dominate the ancient world.
Until now, many scientists had thought that dinosaur "precursors" - perhaps their ancestors - disappeared suddenly long before the dinosaurs themselves rose to prominence, but the bones dug up by University of California-Berkeley paleontologists show evidence of a different story.
The discovery of a wide variety of creatures all mingled together in layer upon layer of rocks dating from Earth's late Triassic period between 235 million and 200 million years ago, they say, shows that the strange relatives of the dinosaurs remained on the scene while the dinosaurs evolved into truly dominant creatures during the Jurassic period, between 120 million and 200 million years ago.
Until now, many scientists have argued that the early close relatives of dinosaurs must have disappeared abruptly in an early "mass extinction" about 215 million years ago that has never been clearly explained. Others have thought that the true dinosaurs, whether carnivores or plant eaters, simply outcompeted their relatives for dominance in the ancient environment and quickly drove them to extinction.
But the new findings show clearly that the disappearance of what noted Berkeley paleontologist Kevin Padian calls "the dino wannabes" was a long, very slow process.
The scene of this latest dinosaur discovery is New Mexico's fabled Ghost Ranch - a modest cluster of buildings in a spectacular landscape of mountains, cliffs and canyons where Georgia O'Keeffe once lived and drew inspiration for her paintings from the red-rock mesas and the stark, bleached animal skulls strewn about the desert floor.
Two of Padian's graduate students, Randall Irmis at Berkeley and Sterling Nesbitt, who is now working at the American Museum of Natural History, led the dig for the past two years, and have recovered more than 2,300 fossil specimens, from dinosaur thigh bones a foot long to microscopic fish scales. A report on the team's discoveries was just published in the journal Science.
The fossils date from a time when all the continents of the world were massed into one "supercontinent" now called Pangea - long before the process of continental drift began splitting Pangea into separate land masses - and the fossil site was then located at the equator.
"This is the first time anywhere that we've found dinosaurs together with their closest relatives," said Padian, "and the dinosaurs obviously lived with those guys for a long, long time."
Although Padian and his colleagues will not say that his wannabes are direct ancestors of the dinosaurs, Anthony Fraser, a paleontologist at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, thinks that's possible.
Fraser was not connected with the Berkeley fossil-hunters, but in an interview, he praised their work and the fossils they found. "Those guys are surely on their way to being dinosaurs," he said of the mysterious dinosaur precursors. "They're in the same lineage, at least, but we may never know who's an ancestor of what."
Among Padian's wannabes - collectively known as "basal dinosauromorphs" - are the bones of a species that has never been seen before, but is clearly at least an early relative of the dinosaur. The team has named it Dromomeron romeri, and it may have been, according to Irmis, a two-legged animal and probably a swift runner.
Another precursor relative puzzles the team completely because its fossilized remains are so fragmentary. It may be a long-gone creature named silesaurus, which was first identified when its bones were dug up in Poland about seven years ago. Researchers believe it must have been a large reptile about 7 feet long with a big, toothless beak, indicating it was probably a plant eater. "It's very bizarre," says Irmis of his team's Ghost Ranch find.
Mixed with those fossils in the same rock layers are the bones of several species of small true dinosaurs, none much larger than 6 feet long, the team reports. Among them was one known as chindesaurus, a meat eater that ran swiftly on two legs, and another related to the carnivorous dinosaur coelophysis - both reminiscent of the much later velociraptors, the vicious pack hunters of "Jurassic Park."


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Citrus Fruits 2010 Summary
Citrus utilized production for the 2009-2010 season totaled 10.9 million tons, down 8 percent from the 2008-2009 season. Florida accounted for 65 percent of total United States citrus production, California totaled 31 percent, and Texas and Arizona produced the remaining 4 percent.
Florida's orange production, at 134 million boxes, is down 18 percent from the previous season. Grapefruit utilization in Florida, at 20.3 million boxes, is down 6 percent from last season's utilization. Florida's total citrus utilization decreased 16 percent from the previous season. Bearing citrus acreage, at 517,100 acres, is 13,800 acres below the 2008-09 season. This is the lowest bearing acreage since the 1986-87 season.
Utilized citrus production in California increased 15 percent from the 2008-2009 season. California's all orange production, at 56.5 million boxes, is 22 percent higher than the previous season. Grapefruit production is down 13 percent from the 2008-2009 season and the lemon crop is down 2 percent. California produced a record tangerine and mandarin crop, with production at 9.90 million boxes. Utilized citrus production in Texas is up 4 percent from the 2008-2009 season. Orange production is up 12 percent from the previous season and grapefruit production increased 2 percent. Total citrus production in Arizona is down 27 percent from last season. Arizona lemon production is also down 27 percent.
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David Mendoza of Huron Pleads Guilty to Harboring 2 Juveniles Who Escaped from Jail
HURON - A Huron man has pleaded guilty to harboring two juveniles who escaped from a Beadle County jail last fall.
Authorities say 20-year-old David Mendoza hid the two suspects after they assaulted a jailer and broke out of the facility on the evening of Nov. 13.
The two juveniles were apprehended the next day.
Mendoza is charged with concealment of an escape prisoner. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
KKOK radio reports that the plea agreement calls for prosecutors to drop a second concealment charge and two counts of being an accessory to escape.
A sentencing date has not been scheduled.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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