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Irish woman gets message from Armenian who received her charity shoebox 16 years ago
16 years ago, Claire sent a shoe box with a letter and some other items to children in Armenia, and had hoped to get a letter in response.
She did eventually get word back from the person who received her donation, but it wasn't until just this week that she heard from them, according to breakingnews.ie.
Arsen Khachatryan, the boy who got the box, managed to track her down and sent her a text message saying that he still remembers getting the clothing and gifts that she sent and that he "always wanted to express my gratitude for that gift-box". For her part, Claire was completely taken aback, but shared her story with the Galway Advertiser, who posted screengrabs of the messages up on their Facebook.
Writing on Facebook, she explains what happened:
"When I was 8 years old I wrote this note and put it inside a shoebox filled with crayons, gloves, a toothbrush and loads of other bits and it got sent off to children in disadvantaged countries.
"This morning, 16 years later, I got a message from a man in Armenia to say he's been searching for me for years to thank me for his
Edited by onjig, 27 May 2015 - 10:35 AM.


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Once upon a time, people used to talk about "bulge bracket investment banks." Now it's more normal to talk terms of banks that are tier one, tier two, or tier three - but which is which? And do you work for a top tier bank or something more diminutive? Today's release from research firm Coalition answers all these questions and more.
The tier one global investment banks: J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Citi, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Merrill Lynch (in that order)
If we take tier one investment banks to mean banks which are global leaders in most product categories, there aren't many. As the Coalition chart below shows, there's only really one: J.P. Morgan. J.P. Morgan ranks first or second globally across all product areas (credit and municipal finance excepted). As the regional charts at the bottom of the page show, J.P. Morgan is also strong across markets in the U.S., Europe and EMEA.
This time last year, Citi was the second most high ranked bank in Coalition's global chart. However, Citi has now retreated to third place, leaving Goldman Sachs second. With the exception of rates and commodities, however, Goldman's FICC business is generally worse ranked than Citi's. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley is only really strong in equities and Bank of America Merrill Lynch is only a world leader in credit, securitization, municipal finance and debt capital markets.
The tier two investment banks: Deutsche, Barclays, Credit Suisse, HSBC, UBS
While you have a strong chance of working for a top tier business at J.P. Morgan and a strongish chance if you choose carefully at other U.S. banks, you're probably not working for a world leading franchise at a European.
For all its struggles, Deutsche Bank is still the strongest European bank globally. It's first globally for credit trading (up from second in 2017) and third for G10 FX. It's a big player in investment banking and fixed income and commodities trading (FICC) in Europe and is biggish in FICC in America. Deutsche's problem is the U.S..
By comparison, Barclays, UBS Credit Suisse lack top slots globally in any products, but broadly rank in the top four to six for most of them. HSBC is big globally for G10 FX and macro trading, and is predictably strong in Asia but lacks a real presence in the U.S. Barclays' investment bank has been stronger in the U.S. than Europe the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) ever since it acquired Lehman Brothers, but its EMEA investment banking division has gained ground after heavy investment. Credit Suisse and UBS both look like also-rans in every market.
Beyond the first and second tiers things get a bit more complicated. Just because a bank's not top ranked globally, it doesn't mean it's not strong in its home market or a particular niche. BNP Paribas, for example, ranks outside the top 10 in the U.S, and APAC, but is comparatively strong in Europe. SocGen is a leading player in equity derivatives and futures and options trading, but is grounded in Europe and lacks a real presence elsewhere.
Using McKinsey's categorization, it's evident that many of the tier three banks occupy the category of, 'regionally focused banks strong in some product areas.' The same applies to Nomura in Asia and Wells Fargo and RBC in the Americas.
Changing tiers
Coalition's data is a snapshot in time. The tiers are - needless to say - evolving as banks change their strategies.
Have a story or comment you'd like to share? Contact: email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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This completion stitch is used when you have eight working strands, as in
SuperBrick and CorkScrew. This is a slight variation of the Brick Completion
Stitch, in that we want to balance where the strands exit the project:
Start this
Completion Stitch by doing one more project stitch, but leave it LOOSE. In
this case, we're doing a loose SuperBrick Stitch. Notice we have THREE holes,
one inside the NEON RED strands, another inside the NEON TANGERINE strands,
and a third inside the APPLE GREEN strands.
We have EIGHT
strands to feed through this time. Feed THREE strands through the two outside
holes, and TWO strands through the center hole. Start with one of the long
strands. Bring it AROUND the other long strand, then UP and THROUGH the hole
nearest where it exited the stitch.
Moving in a
clockwise direction, take the second strand AROUND the base of the strand
next in line, then UP and THROUGH the CENTER hole; the NEON TANGERINE hole in
this example.
I'm going to
SKIP the next strand, so as to purposely make an error, so I'll move on to
the fourth strand, which goes AROUND its neighbor, then UP and THROUGH the
THIRD hole.
The next strand
should be the other end of the long strand that you started this completion
stitch with. It goes AROUND, UP, and THROUGH the THIRD hole as well, which
would have made it the THIRD and LAST strand to exit the NEON RED hole...
The sixth strand
does the same AROUND, UP, and THROUGH maneuver, however it comes up through
the SECOND, or MIDDLE hole we created. This makes it the last strand this
hole needs!
The seventh
strand comes up through the APPLE GREEN hole, making it the second strand to
exit from here.
The eighth and
last strand also comes up through the APPLE GREEN hole. This is the LAST
strand to come through the APPLE GREEN hole.
Now back to that
strand we missed earlier. Turning the work up, so we can see the side of the
stitch, remember we need to work in a clockwise direction. Can you see the
curved NEON RED stitch that we need to bring the NEON TANGERINE strand up
Feed the NEON
TANGERINE strand under the NEON RED strand, so that it comes up inside the
NEON RED hole...
...sorta like
this. (I know it's kind of hard to see, but trust me! hehe)
Before we start
to pull this completion stitch tight, check to make sure you have THREE
strands exiting the OUTER holes, and TWO strands exiting the INNER hole...
...and start to
pull them tight. Just a little more pulling...
and there you
have it!
Only one thing
is missing...
...snip off the


text:
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This energy-efficient textured tannery bronze deck light is constructed of durable cast aluminum in a stylish design with a wide, sloped shade that's rectangular at the bottom. Coordinates with the Kichler 4-Corners path light, sold separately. Illuminated by a long-lasting 2700K color temperature integrated LED that produces a warm white light. A stylish green energy solution from Kichler Landscape that will work with your existing low voltage landscape lighting system.


text:
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International Conference on Emerging Trends in Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (ICETMIE-2015), ITM University, Gurgaon, Haryana, 18 July 2015
Conference name: International Conference on Emerging Trends in Mechanical & Industrial Engineering (ICETMIE-2015)
Organized by: ITM University, Gurgaon
Important Dates:
|Last date for Submission of Full length paper
|10th June 2015
|Notification of acceptance and comments
|19th June 2015
|Camera ready revised full paper
|30th June 2015
|Last date for Registration
|08th July 2015
|Conference Date
|18th July 2015
Conference details: The objective of the International Conference on Emerging Trends in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (ICETMIE-2015) is to provide a platform for academicians and practitioners to explore the emergent technologies in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering further to contribute and disseminate their important work for the purpose of exploring solutions to the global challenges. The conference will provide opportunity to researchers to know about the latest developments and emerging trends in mechanical engineering through scientific information interchange between researchers, developers, engineers, students, and practitioners in this field. The International Conference on Emerging Trends in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering (ICETMIE-2015) will be held on 18th July 2015 at ITM University, Gurgaon, Haryana.
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The following is only a partial list of topics and not an exhaustive one. The authors can, however, choose any topic of their choice which is relevant to the theme of the conference.
Industrial Engineering
- Decision analysis and methods
- Facilities planning and management
- Global manufacturing and management
- Information processing and engineering
- Intelligent systems
- Manufacturing systems
- Operations research
- Production planning and control
- Project management
- Quality control and management
- Reliability and maintenance engineering
- Safety, security and risk management
- Systems modeling and simulation
- Performance modeling and optimization of manufacturing system
- Concurrent engineering
- Safety, quality and reliability
- Supply chain management
- Green and lean operations of manufacturing SC decision-support
- Integrated development of products and processes
- Industrial quality and quality management
- Low carbon, green and clean manufacturing SC design & operations
- Reverse manufacturing supply-chain
- Performance measurement
- Economics and cost engineering
- Case studies from industries
- Decision-support software's and manufacturing supply chain
- Engineering optimization
Design & Manufacturing Engineering
- Casting
- Powder Metallurgy
- Welding and Joining processes
- Machining
- Materials Forming
- Manufacturing system and simulation
- Manufacturing processes and technology
- FEM in manufacturing
- Cellular manufacturing
- Lean and Agile Manufacturing
- Nano Fabrication and Precision Engineering
- Mechatronics
- Computer Aided Metrology
- Material Science
- Advances in Composites
- Nanomaterials
- Surface Modification Technologies
- Materials Characterization
- Automation
- Industrial Automation and Process Control
- Intelligent Controllers
- Virtual Instrumentation in Automation
- Machine Vision system
- Industrial Robots and Automation
- Programmable Logic Controllers & Distributed Control System
- Embedded System
- Sensors for Automation
- Vibration Engineering
- Design
- Deployable structures
- Solid design
- Kinematics and dynamics of machinery
- Robotics
- Solid mechanics
- Tribology
- Acoustics
- Instrumentation and measurement
- Dynamics and control
- Transportation systems
Automobile Engineering
- Vehicle Design
- Engine and Transmission Technologies
- Fuel Economy and Emissions
- Manufacturing Technologies and Testing
- Digital techniques in Automotive Manufacturing Process
- Advanced Safety Technologies
- Assisted and Automated Driving
- Automotive Human Factors and Ergonomics
- Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) Engineering
- Environmental Implications of Automobiles
Thermal Engineering
- Heat & mass transfer
- Thermodynamics
- Fluid mechanics
- Aerodynamics
- Conventional energy technologies
- Energy conversion systems
- Renewable energy technologies
- Energy and environment
- Computational fluid dynamics
- Combustion
- Single and two-phase flows
Address & contact details:
ITM University, HUDA sector 23A, Gurgaon, Haryana – 122017
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://www.itmindia.edu


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The bartender was almost crushed to death.
"All the married men please stand next to the one person who has made your life worth living."
And speaking of married men, I sent my parents flowers for their 57th wedding anniversary. They had forgotten it was their special day, and wondered why the hell they had received flowers! So we had a good laugh. Next year I'll send a reminder postcard, like my dentist sends me.


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We've started a petition here for the NHS transplant service to change their computer system so that it doesn't misgender people who are transgender. We asked them to:
a) record people's titles and genders independently of physical characteristics that might affect blood donation
b) allow gender-inclusive titles such as Mx (which are frequently used by people who are nonbinary)
We've now had a partial response saying that binary-gendered trans men and trans women can register in their correct gender. However we still need them to change things to include nonbinary people. We need more signatures to support this, so please do sign the petition.
Copy of letter (content note for some of the language around gender and physical characteristics)
Accessible transcript of letter: (content note for some of the language around gender and physical characteristics)
Dear Mx [name removed]
Thank you very much for getting in touch with us.
Your query has been passed on to our department for further comment. I can see that Vivian did explain that our IT system is currently unable to offer the options of non-specific gender title of Mx.
It is not a problem if a transgender person wishes to donate providing we establish the donor's preferred gender i.e., male or female. Once we have established the preferred gender of the donor, we will treat the donor according to his/her preference. Trans men FtM donors will be treated as male donors regardless of their female characteristics and similarly we will treat trans women MtF donors as female donors regardless of their male characteristics. Again, the donor has to decide whether they will be gendered as male or female before we can proceed. It is clinically important for us to identify wheter the donor is male or female in order to ensure we only accept donations when it is safe for both donors and recipients. Our haemoglobin testing on session have different acceptance levels between male and female donors. We have a much higher cut-off level for male donors than female donors. I must apologise for the wrong information you have been given. Male donors tend to have a higher haemoglobin count compared to female donors but not necessarily the platelet count. There are various factors why this is the case and one of these are the high levels of testosterone among the male population including those on testosterone therapy i.e. trans men donors.
Hoping you will find the information useful. Please feel free to contact our helpline on 0300 123 23 23 if you need to discuss further and request to be put through to the Clinical Support Team. We are available between 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 5.00pm on weekends.
With best wishes and kindest regards,
Yours Sincerely
Albin Fabiana Senior Nurse Practitioner


text:
#SGIAfeature with Lucy Hamidzadeh
15 November 2017
Hi Lucy, how did you first get into photography?
I guess it all started from a very early age, I always remember having a camera in the house. Whenever there was a family holiday, days out or a celebration, the camera always came out, and I generally had hold over it. I remember the element of anticipation and then surprise when film got developed and I looked though the prints (some pretty dodgy and over exposed, but there was still that excitable anticipation). I guess back then I never thought anything of it. It was a way of keeping holidays and family time memorable. I started taking photography more seriously when I joined Instagram many years later. It was then that I met some hugely talented and inspirational individuals, and I decided photography was something I really enjoyed and wanted to pursue. I was inspired by what I was seeing in such an overwhelming way that going out taking photos was all I found myself thinking about, and all I wanted to do was to get out and shoot. I was using my mobile phone a lot back then, but at the same time I was starting to understand more about how my camera worked, and more so, what I could do with it. I loved the freedom and control that I had to make something unique. Fast forward a couple of years and what started as a hobby has grown into a passion. And, as cheesy as it sounds, it has changed my life in ways I could never have imagined.
© Lucy Hamidzadeh.
Your street photography works are really interesting, are these images spontaneous or do you know where to wait to capture an interesting shot?
I never know what I'm going to capture, it's all spontaneous and that's what I love the most. I often find myself walking the streets for hours and hours taking photos. Every image I capture is the result of a little flicker that happens to catch my eye in such an overwhelming way that it becomes impossible for me to simply ignore. And, when I get that special moment, it's such a great feeling. Saying that, I do have a favourite café window that I always have to stop by. It's where I get a lot of my window reflection inspiration from, and also where I do a lot of thinking. I'm forever curious, and always wondering what the people behind the café window are thinking, what emotions they are going through or experiencing. Their unfinished stories will always remain a mystery to me, and I want the whoever is looking at my photo to imagine what went through my mind, the moment I pressed the shutter.
© Lucy Hamidzadeh.
You vary your shots between colour and Black & White, is this decided before you shoot or in post-production?
It's something I decide when I'm editing. I always shoot in colour, but I think it all comes down to my mood a lot of the time when I sit down to edit. Sometimes I try both a colour version and a black and white to see which speaks the loudest to me. Black and white photos have that nostalgic feel, and I'm an old romantic at heart. I love the timeless quality of black and white, the high contrast and the mystery. I hardly ever have a feeling so strong when I look at a colour photo. I find that stripping away the colour from an image allows the viewer to focus much more on the emotional status of the image/person. I read more from the look in someone's eyes, I search for a story in a person's wrinkles, and their thoughts appear louder. That said, there really is a time and a place for a black and white. I would never post a sunrise, sunset or one of my ice cream shots in black and white.
© Lucy Hamidzadeh.
Who is your favorite ambassador?
That's so hard, as there really are so many talented and inspirational photographers amongst the Sony Ambassador community, and everyone recognised as an ambassador is remarkable in his or her own creative way. And, I'm not just saying that as an easy answer, there really are so many. It would be hard for me to name just one. I love that Sony recognises such incredible, beautiful and unique bodies of work created by artists capturing the world around them with their Sony cameras. It's refreshing for me to come across a body of work that inspires, and everyone benefits from these being shared.
© Lucy Hamidzadeh.
What are you currently working on?
Wow, this is a good question as I very recently decided to change my career path and pursue my dream of becoming a freelance photographer and writer. I'd been wondering on and off about making this leap for a fair while, and then suddenly I was made redundant. Once I got over the initial shock, I took it as a sign, and thought 'it's now or never'! I've so many ideas buzzing about inside my head at the moment, and I'm really excited. I've a personal goal of travelling more and ticking off a few places on my ever-growing bucket list. There's so much of the world I want to see. As well as taking photos, I love writing, so I want to document my travels more too. I made a promise to myself at the start of the year to travel to a new place once a month, and I'm currently re-living those trips by writing about my experiences and sharing them to my website. It's a joy that photography and writing are pretty inseparable for me at the moment. If I can create and share something that inspires an individual to feel something, that for me is hugely humbling and gratifying. The idea that someone may travel somewhere or experience something for themselves, invest or try something new based on any of my work continually gives me the desire, energy and the motivation to keep on going. Right now, my goal is to always be learning. And, to challenge myself - and I've done a lot of that in the last few weeks. I want to enjoy what I do - I think that's important - as well expand and creatively collaborate with more people.


text:
Reflections on GRR's first year
When Leah Stacy approached me last summer about starting a theater review website, I remember thinking there was no way Syracuse would have enough theater to fill an entire site. But I'd come all the way from Texas to study theater criticism at the Newhouse School, so why not? We didn't have a name, a structure or even a list of theaters in town, but we decided to launch at the beginning of the fall semester. On a trip to Dallas in August, I attended all the shows in town. In one post-show conversation with my friend Blake, he was saying he spent the time between his 9-10 lines in the green room backstage. He said he brought books, had conversations with the other actors and meditated on the next time he'd be on stage.
That was it, I thought. Green Room Reviews - where you go before the show. It was almost too catchy for its own good. Leah thought it would be fun to wear green to all the shows. And at first all of our writers were female, so we could be the GRRls. I purchased the domain name, started a twitter and a week later we showed up at a preview of Disenchanted: Bitches of the Kingdom, which Rarely Done produced at CNY Jazz Central. We walked right up to Dan Tursi, explained who we were and he graciously invited us to stay.
At first it felt a little like a joke - a sham put on by a few graduate students. Leah's first review was more like an outline of why you should see the show. And we knew we'd have to put something on the site at least once a week if we wanted to build a readership. Thank goodness for Syracuse Arts - I found almost all of those first shows on their website. Shadowlands came next and despite Appleseed Productions' low budget and Syracuse's penchant for dinner theater, I found myself blown away by the talent - this was community theater like I'd never seen it before.
From there, reviews picked up. It seemed the shows didn't stop opening. Over lunch with Dustin Czarny (Not Another Theater Company's guru) he said "Syracuse is nuts for theater." And almost a year later I believe him.
We covered small theaters like Garrett Heater's Covey Theatre Company, local staples like Syracuse Shakespeare Festival and suburban companies like Baldwinsville Theatre Guild. As we grew to upwards of a dozen writers, we expanded coverage to all of Central New York, including Rochester and Ithaca.
What a ride it's been. Between musicologist Leah Harrison's critical perspectives on the The Met: Live in HD, to Sarah DeSantis' experience of Red Light Winter (the naked show) at Kitchen Theatre Company to theaters hitting my soft spot with pointed shows about Texas, Red Hot Patriot and A Tuna Christmas -companies here have the courage to do it all. Throughout the year, my co-founder dropped out due to lack of interest, I received several emails amounting to "Who do you think you are?" and we covered more than 65 shows.
As I wrap up my master's degree, I consider myself lucky to have experienced CNY theater in the way I have. I take pride in different theater's successes and better understand why critics are slow to give a negative review in this town - we want theater to grow, to blossom.
Green Room Reviews is not going away. There will be a month-long hiatus of reviews, due to graduation and capstone projects. But I committed to working here this summer and will be appointing a new editor from amongst the Arts Journalism master's students of next year. Even if I move in the upcoming year, I look forward to reading reports of the hits and misses from the theater scene on these webpages.
I just want to extend a huge thank you to everyone in the community for sharing your talent with myself, my staff and your respective cities. Central New York has blown me away with its breadth of commitment to my favorite art form.
A standing ovation from GRR and my greatest respect,
Lauren Smart


text:
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* indicates Appalachian Trail Conservancy event
Join the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club on Saturday July 14 as they work in the Nantahala National Forest to relocate a steep section of the A.T. to a location that is more sustainable for the long-term. The work day will take place alongside the Konnarock Trail Crew. This crew is typically made up of volunteers from across the country and often includes members of other trail associations. Spend a rewarding day alongside devoted A.T. volunteers to make a difference.
Participants should wear sturdy boots, long pants, and work gloves. Participants should bring lunch, water, a rain jacket, and sun protection. Tools, supplies, and training will be provided. The hike to the worksite will be strenuous.
Please fill out this form to register your participation. Your participation will not be confirmed until a trip leader contacts you directly with the meeting location.
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Random awesome factoidSaturday, January 14th, 2012
Did you know that the official scientific name for a Sabretoothed Cat is Smilodon Fatalis? That leads me to think that someone had a pretty awesome sense of humor.
Did you know that the official scientific name for a Sabretoothed Cat is Smilodon Fatalis? That leads me to think that someone had a pretty awesome sense of humor.
This video title was a smidge misleading… I was thinking of a different type of crack, and was utterly horrified.
This morning, I came across this totally amazing story.
Lucky Yun said: "I began to choke and sank even lower and I thought that was it for me – I was dead. Until I felt this incredible force under me driving me to the surface."
That incredible force was a "sensitive" beluga whale, named Mila, who realized that Yun was having problems, and took Yun's leg in her mouth and pushed the free diver to the surface.
For the entire story and some more cool pictures: check out this article.
What a good whale! Although I think that Mila, the whale, should have saved her good deed for someone who isn't likely to try to kill themselves again (by free diving w/ no equipment in arctic waters).
I know I'm a bit late on the mark, but last week I turned 27. Devon was super sweet and amazing and totally out did himself again. I think my favorite part of my birthday weekend extravaganza was that he arranged for me to be a trainer for the morning at the New England Aquarium! It was totally awesome. I got to help train their harbor seals, and fed their gigantic sea turtle, Myrtle.
View all of the pictures here.
I had worked with a number of orphaned harbor seals at my wildlife rehab job in Seattle, but we were always very hands off with them, as we always had the intention of releasing them back into the wild. They were often sick and vocalized the most heart-wrenching noises. The seals at the NE Aquarium were fat and happy, and seemed quite content. Since they are permanently housed there, they need to be trained to do certain things that would help vets perform their exams, such as lifting flippers and opening their mouths. It was really cool to see a completely different side of harbor seals… I even got a smooch from one! I'll be posting that video on youtube!
Fifi likes to climb onto my veggie garden bed and eat my pea plants! Bad lizard!
Thanks for the photo Devon!
Today I finished filling my raised garden bed. The snap peas, carrots, spotted mint and some cilantro are in the ground. I have other stuff to plant, but it's too early to plant them.
Fifi also had a lovely day in the garden. She got out and romped around, eating as much clover as she possibly could. She even made a friend who had similar interests….
Cute no?
Guess who's parent's got Fifi a stroller of her very own, which also doubles as a yard wagon/wheelbarrow.
We're totally going to tow Fifi around on walks through the neighborhood this summer!
If I could knit them all sweaters, I would.
Iguanas falling from trees in Florida.
NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — The chilly weather in southern Florida this week was cold enough to force some iguanas to fall from trees.
Experts say the cold-blooded reptiles go into a deep sleep when the temperature falls into the 40s. Their bodies basically shut off and they lose their grip on the tree.
According to Collier County Domestic Animal Services control supervisor Dana Alger, iguana reports traditionally rise when temperatures drop, as the reptiles seek to warm themselves on asphalt surfaces such as sidewalks, roads and driveways.
Most of the iguanas were once pets that got released when they got too big. The reptiles can grow up to six feet long.
So I've been watching Daisy for the week, my parent's West Highland Terrier. Exciting because I like dogs. And because Devon is still nixing my plan to adopt every dog in every pound in the world.
I just finished giving her a bath, because she went crazy & rolled around in Fifi's feces. Oh yeah. Daisy was totally covered. On her back, her legs, all over her face. Covered. And she was licking it before i was able to drag her away from it & back inside.
Dogs are really gross. Devon was horrified. It was hilarious.
But yeah. Add dogs to my "I don't want one right now" list.


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BIG-MONEY buy Alberto Aquilani finally arrived at Anfield with an impressive performance to justify his £17m price tag.
The Italian midfielder capped a man-of-the-match display with his first Liverpool goal as the Reds demolished basement boys Portsmouth in their quest for a top-four finish.
Striker Fernando Torres also enjoyed a return to his blistering best with two goals, while Ryan Babel struck the other as Rafa Benitez's men moved to within a point of fourth-placed Tottenham having played a game more.
Three goals in six first-half minutes virtually ended the game as a contest. Torres slotted home the first after a mistake from goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown.
Torres then set Babel for a second goal two minutes later and also had a hand in the third for Aquilani, who finished coolly.
Ashdown made a series of fine saves after the break as Portsmouth played damage-limitation before Torres finally rifled home his second and Liverpool's fourth with 13 minutes remaining.
Nadir Belhadj hit a late consolation for Avram Grant's side who remain five points adrift at the bottom of the table, even without their imminent nine-point deduction for going into administration, which should be confirmed this week.


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Sorry it's been so long since I've checked in....Things are going great!! At my last checkup at Vanderbilt, I did have a new spot that my kids nicknamed "smiley mole", I'll post a pic below so you can see how they got the name...anyways, the new spot had some irregular vascular patterns that my Dr thought was unusual and warranted a biopsy. Thankfully, the smiley mole was removed because the pathology came back as a moderate dysplastic melanocytic nevus (in other words, on it's way to becoming another melanoma). Good news is, it was caught very early and my Dr excised the lesion with clear margins, so no more surgery. I go back to Vandy in early August for another routine checkup
|Smiley Mole
|Biopsy Site Lt upper thigh
In other news, I ran my second half marathon (13.1 miles) with a time of 2:03 on April 6 in Xenia, OH. It was a beautiful run with some amazing friends from my running group. This was definitely a "shove it in cancer's face" moment :-)
|Xenia Half Marathon April 6, 2014 time: 2:03
|Me and my family at the memorial day 5K...PR 26:40
Thanks for all your love, support and prayers. Please remember to run or do outdoor activities before 10 am and after 5 pm...always share the love and spread the lotion (SPF) to those around you.
Much Love,


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So my wife and I went. People started to drift in, the guy who ran it (a harmonica player) was there, there were four guitarists, a keyboard player, a flutist and a bassist. Came the time to get started, but the fellow who'd led most of the songs the previous time hadn't made it yet; another leader had car problems, and the harp player said, "Anybody sing? Can lead?"
I'd had part of a stout ale, so I said, "Uh, well, um ... I can. I got one ..."
I hadn't planned to go first, but what the hell ...
So, I wrote the chords down on the white board, did a little intro, and rolled into it. I sang a couple of verses, played chords for everybody who wanted to take a solo, then did the last couple of verses, and tagged it.
It went well. I was inordinately pleased.
A guitarist got up, led another song, but the real singers hadn't made it yet.
Harp player said to me, "Got another one?"
"Well, I can do 'St. James Infirmary.' How would that be?"
It would be great ...
Eventually, the real singers started to arrive, but meanwhile, I did two more: "House of the Risin' Sun," and "Woke Up Dead Blues," and I didn't screw up any of them.
Funny. That big step I was worried about for, like years?
Nothing to it. It just blew right past, no sweat.
How about that?


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Kerala PSC Recruitment for Occupational therapist – Health services – 499/2016
Kerala PSC Recruitment for Occupational therapist: Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) invited applications for the post of Occupational therapist in Health services department. Last date for submitting online application is 01.02.2017. More details about Occupational therapist are given below.
- Name of the post: Occupational therapist
- Department: Health services
- Category Numbers: 499/2016
Read Official Notification
How to Apply
Interested candidates must register as per the 'One Time Registration' with the official Website of Kerala Public Service Commission website before applying for the post. Candidates who have registered can apply by logging on to their profile using their User-ID and password. Candidates must click on the 'Apply Now' button of the respective posts in the Notification Link to applying for a post.


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New Me to You Winter and Christmas Teddy Bears
The new Me to you Winter and Christmas teddies are now in stock. They include a huge variety of teddy bears of different sizes to suit all budgets and include a variety of "relatives" Tatty Teddies, for Mums, Dads, Sons, Daughters, Aunties and Nieces.
Pick your favourites now – they'll make ideal winter gifts for Birthdays, get well, Christmas and other occasions where you want to show how much you care.
Pictured here, is the popular Tatty Teddy Bed Warmer – a 20 cm (8″) Me to You Bear made of soft grey shaggy fur, with a blue nose and patches on his head and tummy. He wears a long knitted hat with a white fur trim and a blue and white stripy pattern. This bed warmer is sold in a Me to You presentation box and features a microwavable wheat filled tummy insert. Please take extra-care and read the enclosed instructions before use.


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National Institutes of Health
National Center for Research Resources
Main Getting Started Teacher's Guide Student Activities About NIH and NCRR
This lesson gives students an opportunity to pull information together and demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts discovered in earlier lessons. In the first of two activities, students use the scenario from Lesson 3 to evaluate technology from a historical perspective. They first develop timelines for key developments in biology, medicine, and technology. They then are asked, If you were a scientist in the mid-1800s, how much progress would you make in solving the problems in Lesson 3? In the second activity, students consider whether our technology toolbox is complete. They choose one of three problems and propose a technology or combination of technologies to solve it.
New technologies are developed, and old technologies are improved and refined, continuously. This must be done to meet the demands created by new and existing problems.
After completing this lesson, students will
See the following sections in Information about Using Technology to Study Cellular and Molecular Biology:
4 Major Techniques in the Study of Cellular and Molecular Biology
5 Technology and the Origins of Molecular Biology
|Web Version?
|Activity 1
|Activity 2
none required
|Activity 1
|Activity 2
|none required
Activity 1
On each of 24 sheets of white paper, use the black marker to write one of the key developments listed on Master 4.2, Some Key Developments in Biology, Medicine, and Technology (eight developments are listed in each of three categories: biology, medicine, and technology). Do not provide the year of the development or the name(s) of the individual(s) involved. There are two options for this activity: use a blank transparency to record student responses as they construct the timeline for developments in biology, medicine, and technology, or stretch the string across the width of the classroom and affix it well at both ends. If you choose the second option, write one of the following on each of five sheets of white paper: 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, or 2000. Use a paper clip to attach the sheet indicating 1600 at the near the left end of the string. Attach the sheet indicating 2000 near the right end of the string. Attach the remaining sheets with 1700, 1800, and 1900 in order between 1600 and 2000.
Activity 2
No preparations needed.
Write student responses on the board. The pictures present microscopes developed over approximately 250 years. Students can respond to differences in design, such as the development of multiple objective lenses. Some students may respond with differences that are implied, such as better optics, electrical components, and computerized components. The objective of this question is to engage student thinking about the changing face of science and technology across time.
For example, could they have identified the infectious agent? Could they have determined how the disease was caused? Students will probably have little specific knowledge of when relevant discoveries were made or when relevant technologies were developed. Allow the students to wonder about the timeline of scientific discovery. Even though the problems in Lesson 3 are the same as in any time period, the technologies and knowledge available at a given time will determine the extent to which the problems can be solved.
One group will focus on biology, the second on medicine, and the third on technology.
In classes with fewer than 24 students, you can give students more than one sheet or you can give the group all eight sheets. In classes with more than 24 students, you can add the following developments:
Other developments can be added at the teacher's discretion.
Allow only a few minutes for students to do this.
This can be accomplished two ways. Students can call out their results to the teacher, who then records the information along a line drawn on a blank transparency projected for the class to see. Alternatively, students can clip their sheets to the string that spans the width of the room. Sheets should be placed at a location representing the approximate date of each development. For instance, a development occurring in 1850 would be placed midway between 1800 and 1900.
Students see that technologies available in 1850 were not capable of providing the information required to solve the problems in Lesson 3. Students also develop a firmer understanding of the relationship between technology development and the advancement of knowledge.
Teacher note: This activity should follow Activity 1 without a break in discussion.
You might ask students to suggest some new technologies and write these suggestions on the board. Student responses are less important than shifting the focus from existing technologies to new ones (or refinements of existing ones).
This is a challenging activity for students. However, the key issue is the rationale students provide for their technology. Students should consider at least the following:
Use class discussion to discover problems and weaknesses and to help group members refine their ideas.
Technologies should be described in sufficient detail to indicate the student's understanding of the concepts presented in this module.
|Activity 1: Time Travel
|What the Teacher Does
|Procedure Reference
|Show students a transparency of Master 4.1, Microscopes Across Time. Ask them to look at the microscopes and describe the differences they observe.
Step 1
|Ask the class to imagine that they are scientists or physicians living in the mid-1800s. How much progress do they think they would make solving the problems in Lesson 3?
|Step 2
|Divide the class into three groups.
|Steps 3–7
|Show students a transparency of Master 4.2, Some Key Developments in Biology.
|Steps 8–9
|Activity 2: Is That All There Is?
|Ask students,
|Step 1
|Divide the class into groups of four or five.
|Steps 2–4
|Reconvene the class and allow each group to present its technology.
|Step 5
|As a final assessment, ask each student to prepare a written report describing his or her technology.
|Step 6
= Involves using a transparency


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Hallo. I am Gabrilduro, the Developer of this Western Mod of M&B WB v. 1.158/1.167. I always dreamt of a Western videogame or of a ACW videogame and this Mod has them both and is an Rpg in 1st/3rd and strategic view. It is for a Single Player Campaign, but has also Custom Battles and a cool Multiplayer (even in Coop mode!) with playable Factions of the American Civil War and Wild Frontier, Mexican Second Empire and Indian Wars. DOWNLOAD LINK for last UPDATES of 1860s Old America is in the Update and Download section. Just click it. Sorry, but you will NOT get any assistance here. Please go to the main Homepage on Talesworld Thread and post a comment there....to get all the explainations, watch Videos, Pics and posts. Thank you Gabrilduro PS....DO NOT forget to RATE the mod in the REVIEW section, folks!!!
LATEST Version of 1860s Old America 1.5 -Fixed all major bugs and added a lot of new stuff Once again, I dedicate all this to my Best Supporters and Old...
1860s old america 1.5 fulldownload -latest version full version
...as some kindly asked, I added this tiny patch to delete nude pics and change them to a unique natural picture. Pls Folks... do not judge those that...
1860s old america 1.1_patch_no_nude_scenes patch
-DO NOT DOWNLOAD- 1.1 Old version! Enjoy it and...stay tuned! I will not update officially for a long while but I will need a good bunch of supporters...
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PREVIOUS VERSION. DO NOT DOWNLOAD! this is a version that had some bugs,and problems,. pls download new version 1.1 Thx
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OLD version, DO NOT DOWNLOAD Very stable and ready to play. Please download and read the READ ME file inside the Folder. Feedback only after a deep try...
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1860s old america v. 0.99 g full version
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27 September 2016
A Birmingham man who went on the run from the NCA has been given a seven year prison sentence, four years after he and his organised crime group were first arrested.
Tahir Mahmood, 37, from Kenelm Road in Small Heath, was detained by West Midlands Police on 1 August 2016. He was attempting to climb into the roof space of an out-building at his family's home at the time. Officers suspected he was back at the address.
Mahmood was the outstanding member of an organised crime group which was investigated by the NCA for importing heroin worth around £1 million from Iran in July 2012.
The drugs were found by Border Force staff carrying out searches on incoming freight at Heathrow Airport. They had been hidden inside cloth handbags (right).
Mahmood was arrested by border investigators with his co-conspirators Israr Ahmed and Razwana Kosar shortly after taking delivery of the parcels. He was bailed pending further enquiries but failed to report and fled the area.
NCA investigators found evidence that Mahmood had helped orchestrate the importation. Analysis of his phones showed he had been in contact with people in Pakistan to arrange the shipment, with details of the flight and an online tracking number found in text messages. He also made numerous calls to the shipping company.
Ahmed and Kosar, also from Birmingham, were later convicted and sentenced to seven and five years in prison respectively.
Following his re-arrest Mahmood pleaded guilty to conspiring to import class A drugs, and on Tuesday 27 September a judge at Birmingham Crown Court gave him a seven year sentence.
Dawn Cartwright, head of the NCA's Birmingham border investigation team, said:
"Tahir Mahmood spent four years on the run and maybe thought the coast was clear and he could come back to Birmingham and pick up where he left off.
"He soon found out that those involved in this kind of organised crime never drop off our radar. We are grateful to our partners at West Midlands Police for their help in bringing him to justice."


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What to do if you iPhone 6s/6s Plus' battery percentage indicator isn't working/
If you change the time on your iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus manually or change time zones when traveling, you might notice that the battery percentage doesn't update. If this is happening with you, follow these steps:
- Restart your iPhone.
- Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and make sure that Set Automatically is turned on. Learn more about the date and time on your device here.
If this happens again and you didn't change the time or time zone on your device, contact Apple Support.


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Doktor Doom Extra Strength Farm & Livestock Insect Eliminator (Commercial) (Canada)This page contains information on Doktor Doom Extra Strength Farm & Livestock Insect Eliminator (Commercial) for veterinary use.
The information provided typically includes the following:
- Doktor Doom Extra Strength Farm & Livestock Insect Eliminator (Commercial) Indications
- Warnings and cautions for Doktor Doom Extra Strength Farm & Livestock Insect Eliminator (Commercial)
- Direction and dosage information for Doktor Doom Extra Strength Farm & Livestock Insect Eliminator (Commercial)
Doktor Doom Extra Strength Farm & Livestock Insect Eliminator (Commercial)This treatment applies to the following species:
FOR USE ON: Cattle, in Animal Quarters, Milk Rooms, Dairy Barns, Horse Barns, Piggeries, Shelter Sheds, Food Processing Plants, Restaurants, Hotels, Hospitals, and Other Commercial and Industrial Buildings
KILLS AND REPELS: Stable Flies, Horse Flies, Face Flies, Deer Flies, Horn Flies, Mosquitoes, Biting Midges, and Crawling Insects such as Dog and Cat Fleas, Brown Dog and American Dog Ticks and Bed Bugs
Piperonyl Butoxide
KILLS & REPELS: House Flies, Wasps, Flying Moths and Crawling Insects such as Cockroaches, Spiders, Crickets, Ants, Carpet Beetles, Centipedes, and Silverfish.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE: SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING. This product has a special valve that sprays in all directions even upside down for hard to reach areas.
SPACE SPRAY: Food processing plants, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and other commercial and industrial buildings. In hospitals, do not use in nurseries or rooms where infants, ill or aged persons are confined. Remove all personnel and patients before starting to treat area. For space spraying building with animals, remove animals before treatment. Direct spray upwards to all parts of the room, especially windows and other light sources. Apply at a rate of 6 to 10 seconds per 30 cubic metres. Keep spray at least 1 metre from interior walls, fabrics and furniture. For best results, close all doors and windows during treatment and keep room closed for fifteen minutes before ventilating. Do not remain in treated areas. Ventilate treated areas thoroughly for at least 30 minutes before re entry. In meat packing plants, apply only when plant is not in operation. Remove all food before treatment. Cover all food processing surfaces and clean thoroughly with potable water before resuming operations. In food processing plants and food service establishments, you can apply when plant is in operation.
LIVESTOCK SPRAY: To treat beef and dairy cattle (lactating and non-lactating) against flies. Spray animals once daily with fine mist. Apply at a rate of 6 to 8 seconds per animal. Spray should be enough to wet ends of hair only, do not wet the skin. Take care not to spray in animal's eyes or mouth. Treat dairy cattle at least 20 minutes before milking. Wash udders before milking.
MILK PARLORS AND MlLKROOM SPACE SPRAY: When used in milk houses, and milk parlors use only when milk house is not in operation. Remove any animals from treatment area before spraying. Cover or remove all milk and milking implements before spraying to prevent contamination from spray and dead insects. After spraying, wash all surfaces that may contact milk and rinse thoroughly with potable water before resuming operations.
CRAWLING INSECTS: Apply to insect hiding places and breeding areas such as baseboards, moist areas, opening around sinks, drains, and pipes, behind cabinet and storage areas. If possible, hit insects directly to kill. Spray ant trails, around door sills, window frames or in ant nest.
BED BUGS: Spray Mattress, particularly around seams and tufts. Take bed apart, spray joints. Repeat as required.
FLEAS: Spray infested areas such as pet's bed and resting quarters, nearby cracks and crevices, along and behind baseboards, windows and door frames, and localized areas of floor and floor covering where these pests may be present. Remove old bedding after treatment. Insects must be contacted to be killed. Do not treat animals with this product.
PrecautionsKEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Do not remain in treated areas. Ensure proper ventilation after areas have been treated. Any treated surface that may contact food or feed products should be washed thoroughly with potable water after spraying and before re-use. Do not contaminate feed, food or water troughs. Avoid inhalation of spray. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Wash after using. CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE. Do not place in hot water or near radiators, stove or other sources of heat. Do not puncture or incinerate can or store at temperatures over 50°C. Do not spray into or near any open flame, spark, or while smoking.
FIRST AID: If swallowed: Call a poison control centre or doctor immediately for treatment advice. Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so by a poison control centre or doctor. Do not give any liquid to the person. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. If on skin or clothing: Take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. Call a poison control centre or doctor for treatment advice. If inhaled: Move person to fresh air. If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial respiration, preferably by mouth-to-mouth, if possible. Call a poison control centre or doctor for further treatment advice. If in eyes: Hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing eye. Call a poison control centre or doctor for treatment advice. Take container, label or product name and Pest Control Product Registration Number with you when seeking medical attention.
TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION: This product contains petroleum distillates. Vomiting may cause aspiration pneumonia.
DisposalWhen container is empty, press valve to release all remaining pressure. Dispose of empty container in accordance with provincial requirements. Do not puncture or incinerate. For information on disposal of unused, unwanted product, contact the manufacturer or the provincial regulatory agency. Contact the manufacturer and the provincial regulatory agency in case of a spill, and for information on the clean-up of spills.
NOTICE TO USER: This pest control product is to be used only in accordance with the directions on the label. It is an offence under the Pest Control Products Act to use this product in a way that is inconsistent with the directions on the label. The user assumes the risk to persons or property that arises from any such use of this product.
UltraSol Industries, 10755-69 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6H 2C9
(780) 432-6535
|Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the Doktor Doom Extra Strength Farm & Livestock Insect Eliminator (Commercial) information published above. However, it remains the responsibility of the readers to familiarize themselves with the product information contained on the Canadian product label or package insert.
Copyright © 2019 Animalytix LLC. Updated: 2019-01-22


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So I'm a little behind. Again. Who's surprised? I'm not surprised. Anyway, we made chocolates for Easter. Not starting from grinding the beans kind of felt like cheating and makes it hard to me to feel entirely comfortable saying we "made" them, but it was fun. We had some organic baking chocolate we'd got on clearance and it was... well, it had probably seen better days. Kaia unwrapped all the chocolate bars.
We added sugar and melted it all in a pot, Kaia kept it stirred.
Once up to temp, it took a really long time to cool. Kaia started getting very tired, so while we waited for it to be cool enough to pour in the molds, we started playing with the ingredients we had out to add to the chocolates. We dipped almonds in the melted chocolate and then into coconut. They were yummy!
We have a mold that was my grandmother's - roosters, eggs, and rabbits. It was neat to be making chocolates in the same mold she used. As we filled the molds, Kaia added almonds and coconuts to them.
We picked up a second mold at a thrift store with a variety of neat shapes.
We made chocolate suckers, too. I put either a cereal puff, a gummy bunny, or a jelly bean in each one before pouring the chocolate in. They ended up being mostly enveloped by the chocolate, so in the future I think I will stick them on afterward with a bit of melted chocolate. Not that this bothered the kids. :)
We put the almonds and chocolates in mini muffin papers and packed them in little boxes to give to family and friends.
I cut squares of plastic wrap to wrap up the suckers and tied them with twisty tie bows.
They were all well received and came out delicious, we will definitely be making more!


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For those of you who are still suffering under a heat wave or are expecting a hot summer. It has happened again. Police in New Jersey had to rescue a dog (and a two-legger!) who had been accidentally locked in a hot car. WPVI, 6-Action News, the ABC affiliate in Philadelphia reports on the scary […]
Dogs in Hot Cars
DOGTV Launches "Adoption Show"
Dogs who are hoping to star in the lives of a forever family are literally getting the chance to enjoy 15 minutes of fame thanks to the just-unleashed DOGTV series The Adoption Show, which showcases…
[[ This is a summary only. Click the title for the full post, photos, videos, giveaways, and more! ]]
Dogs of Management
Ha ha! Until next time, Good day, and good dog!
A big yawn in Naples.
That's a big yawn!
Fido + Fluffy's Freebie Friday Has a Rainy Week
In many places, it may be a matter of "April showers bring May flowers" but in central Texas, May showers bring…well…tolerable June temperatures. Memorial Day weekend is…
[[ This is a summary only. Click the title for the full post, photos, videos, giveaways, and more! ]]
New York City Dog Lovers: Don't Miss Best Friends Super Adoption!
A big event for dogs and cats in The Big Apple who are looking for forever families to love, Best Friends Animal New York will present a Super Adoption during the first weekend in June. Potential…
[[ This is a summary only. Click the title for the full post, photos, videos, giveaways, and more! ]]
Just Another Desert Hang – An Outfit Post
Last month, I shared an outfit post where Essley and I were just, ya know, hanging in the Sonoran desert in unintentionally matching dresses. And I mentioned in that post that these days, the vast majority of the outfit posts I share (which are probably 3-5 a year, if that) are taken on annual Arizona vacations, because the scenery is just so beautiful. So it will come as no surprise that this outfit post was also taken on our trip there in April. I almost didn't share these photos because in all honesty, the dress looks a lot better in person – the golden hour sun sort of washed out the details of the cut and pattern, and it almost resembles a hospital gown in these shots if we're being honest. But in real life I am smitten with the dress, and the background scenery is just to good not to share. So here we are.
I wonder if our backyard looked like this if I'd shoot more outfit posts, or if it's just not my thing anymore in general. Regardless, I have a feeing that even if it comes down to only being one of these posts a year, I'll never give up shooting them when we're in the desert. Even when the outfit may be a little lackluster, the landscape makes up for it. Give me all the cacti and desert sun, man.
8 Ways to Encourage Imaginative Play In Children
I remember picking Essley up from preschool early in the year and her teacher telling me that she had a "very active imagination" when she played – and, as I often do as a newish parent, feeling little unsure as to whether or not that was a good thing. So I went home and did some research only to find out that not only was it a good thing, it was something that is a crucial part of their development and should be actively encouraged. We had always participated in pretend scenarios when playing with her, acting out different parts and creatively make believing, and it was reassuring to find out we were doing something right. But I wanted to find out more about how we could continue to nurture this type of play. So I did some more research, and also began to try out different ways to encourage it. Today I thought I'd share some of the things I've learned that seem to be the most successful (and I'd love to hear about your experience as well!).
1. Choose toys that can be used in a variety of ways. Open-ended toys encourage creativity and imagination because they can be used in completely different ways. Building sets and costumes or dress-up clothes are great examples of these types of toys.
2. Provide your children with art supplies. I am constantly amazed at what Essley can create with some crayons. Drawing, coloring, painting, sculpting, etc. are not only great for developing fine motor skills, they also help foster an incredible sense of imagination.
3. Get involved in your children's pretend play. Don't just observe – play and imagine alongside them. If your little one says he or she is a giraffe and eats leaves from trees, encourage and participate! Saying, "wow you're such a tall giraffe!" is great, but actively playing along side them and pretending you're a giraffe too takes imaginative play to the next level, by helping them learn about interaction and relationships.
4. Get your kids outside. Kids seriously lack outdoor time these days which is having adverse affects on them physically and mentally. There is no better place to practice in imaginative play than outside. Take a hike or walk in the woods, ride bikes, or just let your little ones explore your backyard or local park.
5. Create Storytimes. We absolutely love books around here, and going to the library is one of our kids' favorite activities – but we also make time to just sit around and tell stories. When Essley gets involved and begins adding to the stories with her own tales, it's evident that her imagination is really at work. Even at 16 months, we are seeing Emmett start to participate in story time as well. The act of storytelling is a proven way to help children develop their imaginations.
6. Put on music. In addition to the benefits that come along with dancing, music stimulates children's brains in a variety of ways. When music is playing, Essley will use it as a background for acting out little plays and pretend situations, and it's so cool to watch. And while Emmett is much younger and still in the parallel play phase, it so obviously encourages his imagination when music is playing as well.
7. Let them explore. Whether we're on adventure at a local play place, at the library, or at the park, we encourage Essley and Emmett to explore the colors, shapes, textures, and sounds around them. Giving kids freedom to explore allows them access to endless possibilities for make believe.
8. Put children in environments outside of the home that focus on imaginative play. Allowing kids to practice creative play independently, away from their parents, is an incredible way to expose them to new experiences and encourage them to pretend and create on their own. This is one of the reasons we started Essley in preschool at 2.5 and chose the preschool we did (their program is play based). It's also something we take into consideration with childcare. And it's why I love the idea of KidsPark childcare service so much (and wish so badly we lived closer to one of their locations!). KidsPark is a really cool, super unique, custom child care option that focuses on imaginative play through a recreation setting that features games, art, indoor play structure, drama, and stories, in an environment that encourages freedom to explore. Everyday they offer fun featured activities like cooking, arts and crafts, sensory exploration, and hands-on science. And in addition to the wonderful opportunities they provide for kids, their childcare is available by the hour, including on evenings and weekends (they're open until midnight on Fridays and Saturday!). There are no reservations needed either, which means parents can keep appointments, run errands, enjoy a date night, or do whatever they want without having to make plans in advance. They also make a great back-up solution if your regular childcare doesn't work out. For us, the biggest challenge with childcare is finding babysitters who we trust that can take the kids for just a few hours during the day while I work from home, and/or who are available without a lot of notice if I have a last minute project come up, etc. KidsPark would be the perfect solution. And all KidsPark teachers have an Early Childhood background and pass all background checks, so you can feel at ease when you drop off your little ones. While we don't have a location near us, we've researched where they do have locations so we can utilize them in our travels. I'm really looking forward to it.
Have you used KidsPark before? If not, click here to see if there is a KidsPark location near you! How do you encourage imaginative play in your children?
Thank you for supporting the brands that help make Bubby and Bean possible. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Easy Lentil & Spring Green Salad with Mac & Cheese
You guys know by the recipes I tend to post here that I like to create meals that are quick and easy. I think one of the reasons I disliked cooking for so long was due to the time involved in making elaborate dishes from scratch. It took me a while to realize that it is indeed possible to prepare meals for myself and my family that can accommodate a busy lifestyle by saving time, but are still nutritious and delicious. I've found that the key to doing this is, like most things in life, balance. A balanced plate that contains, for example, one frozen item (frozen prepared foods are a great time saver and there are so many new dishes and flavors to choose from!) alongside a unique salad or homemade veggie dish, makes for the perfect meal. And today I'm sharing with you my current favorite – lentil and spring green salad with baked macaroni and cheese.
Makes 5-6 servings
Mac and Cheese
1 package Stouffer's Family Size Macaroni & Cheese
1-1/2 cup of steamed lentils
1 bag of organic spring greens
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes
handful of raw almonds
1/3 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1 lemon
Prepare the Stouffer's Family Size Macaroni & Cheese according to package directions (either in the oven or microwave). For the salad, put spring greens into a large salad bowl. Slice tomatoes in half, and add to bowl, along with lentils (I buy them pre-steamed) and almonds. Toss. For dressing, whisk together the olive oil and mustard, then cut lemon in half, squeeze in juice, and whisk again. Pour dressing over salad and serve alongside the mac and cheese.
Everyone in this house is a big fan of this meal. The lentil and spring green salad perfectly balances out the rich flavor of the macaroni and cheese, and it ends up being a hearty, delicious dinner or lunch that is incredibly simple to put together – which for working parents of a three year old and a one year old is a lifesaver. And I love how the Stouffer's Mac & Cheese recipe includes real, simple ingredients, like freshly made pasta, cheddar cheese, milk and butter.
We know that everyone wants to eat better but needs inspiration and simple solutions to choose from so they can make it a reality more often. This dish is just one of endless possible combinations that work within the concept of balancing your plate. To build a balanced meal, use frozen prepared foods as your base and pair with an easy-to-make side dish made of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and/or low-fat dairy. It's a great way to enjoy a nutritious, tasty meal without the effort of making an entire dinner from scratch.
If you try these recipes for your balanced plate, I'd love to hear what you think! And if you want to see this meal being prepared, stop by my Instagram and check out the short video I put together the last time we made it.
Thank you for supporting the brands that help make Bubby and Bean possible. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.


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Thursday, February 2, 2012
Gratitude and Grieving
9 comments:
- Jessica Roy said...
Kristen, I am so, so sorry. My Mom died right after I turned 18, and my Dad a few years later. That time of life is so, so hard to lose a loved one, especially a parent. I am praying HARD for your entire family - please let us know if there is anything we can do. Sending you love!
- Thu Feb 02, 05:30:00 PM 2012
- Jen said...
I know it is not easy to put something like that into words, but you said it beautifully and I will be thinking of you and your family. On a happier note, I LOVE your blog and your style and can't wait to see more! I too am a stay at home mom and blogging has opened up a whole new world for me as well!
- Thu Feb 02, 05:35:00 PM 2012
- Andrea said...
Cancer is such a horrible, scarey thing to watch someone go through. My Aunt passed away a year ago from Ovarian cancer. I sure hope that there is a miracle for your cousin.
- Thu Feb 02, 06:06:00 PM 2012
- Tammy of {Tattered and Timeless} said...
First I want to say I am so sorry for your situation. It is never easy to watch someone you love hurt. And knowing that the prognosis is not good makes it even more difficult. You expressed your feelings in a wonderful sympathetic way. And thanks for reminding us all that in these busy times that each day- each moment is so precious and should be treasured.
- Thu Feb 02, 06:30:00 PM 2012
- Tina@WhatWeKeep said...
I'm so sorry to hear this, Kristen.
It's a terrible thing to watch someone you love suffer and to feel powerless to help them.
She's lucky to have such a loving family.
Sending prayers for all~
- Thu Feb 02, 07:25:00 PM 2012
- Meadowsweet Cottage said...
It seems to unfair the that rest of the world blithely goes about its business while someone close to you feels like their world is crumbling.
As you say, it's important to live and love and enjoy while we are given the opportunity.
Sending good thoughts your way!
- Thu Feb 02, 08:33:00 PM 2012
- dee dee said...
So glad to be part of your blogging world! You are inspiring! Thank you for reminding me that life is to be enjoyed and held onto for the time we have been given. Lifting you all up in prayer...
dee dee
- Thu Feb 02, 08:46:00 PM 2012
- Blissful Blooms said...
I am so sorry Kristen. I can't even imagine how you and your family feels. Please know that I will be praying for you.
I love that I found your blog and that I already own one of your amazing bracelets from Farm Chicks. You are incredibly talented and I look forward to seeing all your creativity.
Blessings to you!
- Thu Feb 02, 10:08:00 PM 2012
- Debra from Bungalow said...
Hi Kristin,
I'm so sorry to hear this news. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean on Him especially in times like these. I will pray for the family. I lost my Mom last year and it's hard to got through, as you know.
The bracelets are amazing and so is your decorating style. I'm looking forward to seeing more!
- Fri Feb 03, 09:50:00 AM 2012


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Whatever you think of Brian Lopes, this has gotta be for Ibis:
Brian Lopes has a new ride for 2008 with Ibis Cycles. The 36-year-old, a four-time four-cross world champion, had been looking for a new bike sponsor since fall, when GT Bicycles let him go. Lopes will race Ibis Mojo carbon and SL carbon-fiber bikes, and the new Tranny hardtail.
I feel like for a long time I was riding on a Ford or a Chevy, and now Im going to be cruising around on a Ferrari, the reigning four-cross world and World Cup champion
said. Im was looking for something long-term, something where I can grow into being part of a company.
Lopes change brings a new focus. The Californian will still tackle select stops on the UCI World Cup and the 2008 world championships in Val de Solay, Italy, he also will focus on festival-oriented events in the United States and Europe.
I think Brian will bring a whole new set of awareness to the brand for us its way more than just a racing sponsorship, said Ibis Scot Nicol. Were not looking at Brian to sell four-cross bikes because he is much more than just a gravity racer. He has a really diversified skill set on a bicycle.


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Over deze norm
|Aantal pagina's
|Gepubliceerd op
1.1 General:
1.1.1 This test method covers the determination of the humidity of atmospheric air by means of wet- and dry-bulb temperature readings.
1.1.2 This test method is applicable for meteorological measurements at the earth''s surface, for the purpose of the testing of materials, and for the determination of the relative humidity of most standard atmospheres and test atmospheres.
1.1.3 This test method is also applicable when the temperature of the wet bulb only is required. In this case, the instrument comprises a wet-bulb thermometer only.
1.1.4 Relative humidity (RH) does not denote a unit. Uncertainties in the relative humidity are expressed in the form RH ± rh %, which means that the relative humidity is expected to lie in the range (RH − rh) % to (RH + rh ) %, where RH is the observed relative humidity. All uncertainties are at the 95 % confidence level.
1.2 Method A—Psychrometer Ventilated by Aspiration:
1.2.1 This method incorporates the psychrometer ventilated by aspiration. The aspirated psychrometer is more accurate than the sling (whirling) psychrometer (see Method B), and it offers advantages in regard to the space which it requires, the possibility of using alternative types of thermometers (for example, electrical), easier shielding of thermometer bulbs from extraneous radiation, accidental breakage, and convenience.
1.2.2 This method is applicable within the ambient temperature range 5 to 80°C, wet-bulb temperatures not lower than 1°C, and restricted to ambient pressures not differing from standard atmospheric pressure by more than 30 %.
1.3 Method B—Psychrometer Ventilated by Whirling (Sling Psychrometer):
1.3.1 This method incorporates the psychrometer ventilated by whirling (sling psychrometer).
1.3.2 This method is applicable within the ambient temperature range 5 to 50°C, wet-bulb temperatures not lower than 1°C and restricted to ambient pressures not differing from standard atmospheric pressure by more than 30 %.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 Warning—Mercury has been designated by many regulatory agencies as a hazardous material that can cause serious medical issues. Mercury, or its vapor, has been demonstrated to be hazardous to health and corrosive to materials. Caution should be taken when handling mercury and mercury containing products. See the applicable product Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for additional information. Users should be aware that selling mercury and/or mercury containing products into your state or country may be prohibited by law.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (For more specific safety precautionary statements, see 8.1 and 15.1.)
|Engelse titel
|Standard Test Method for Measuring Humidity with a Psychrometer (the Measurement of Wet- and Dry-Bulb Temperatures)


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Aluminum Shot Glasses
I'd like to thank you for your time, viewing this project.
The middle one in the picture is our main prototype,
-which one looks the most appealing?
-All I ask of you is for you is how much would you buy this Aluminum shoot glass for?
-And what do you think of the shape of it?
The material is 7075-T6, used in aerospace application.
We plan on launch this product with in the next few weeks on kickstarter, check back for a link and spread the word.
Thanks again!


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The Appliance Place
About Us
We have been servicing the tri-city and chesterfield area since 1978. We have a full section of Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove appliances in our showroom consisting of more than 25 different models. We also offer a variety of installation services to fulfill the complete buying experience; therefore, we are able to provide the customer a seamless and easy transition from start to finish. Please remember, "Our showroom is your showroom."


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Click here to view handouts from 2010 - 2013 conferences. (Under agenda, then archives)
Click here to view past conference highlights.
Presented at the 20th Annual Research Conference
Download Handouts: 332kb pdf
Session Number: 34 Room: Salon B
Presenting: John Straus; Suzanne Fields
All Authors for this paper: John Straus; Suzanne Fields; Ginny Kula; Loren Schecter; Marolyn Moriarty
Presentation Type: paper presentation
Synopsis: To address concerns about the overuse and underuse of psychotropic medications for children in state custody, a comparative analysis was conducted of medication prescribing for children in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems to children not in state custody. Findings demonstrated that children in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems were not medicated differently than other children in the Medicaid MCO plan. There were small but statistically significant number of children in the study group that had higher levels of polypharmacy and more instances of prescriptions that were not appropriate for the diagnosis. Implications for managed care will be discussed including the absence of a community standard for the utilization of psychotropic medications in children.
Date: Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Session Time: 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Presentation Time: 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM


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The Paula Sanders Report:
Virtual Fashion for Poser
June 21, 2006 2:27 pm
Imagine! Now you can create your own fashions for James, Jessi, Miki, and Terai Yuki. It is easy and fun with Virtual Fashion Basic for Poser. Create many different styles of garments, including shoes, in this program and then import them into Poser 6. It is that easy. Now one can create a Poser figure from hair to heels. Figure A has not only had her dress and shoes created in Virtual Fashion, but her strand based hair was created in the Hair Room in Poser 6.
One can create an outfit in Virtual Fashion that encompasses a skirt, top and shoes, for example. One can also create all these items individually and dress the Poser 6 figure in separate garments and process them simultaneously in the Poser Cloth room.
Before describing how the clothing is draped onto the figure in Poser, a discussion of Virtual Fashion is in order. Virtual Fashion Basic for Poser (VF) is a program that allows the user the ability to create clothes for some of the most popular Poser 6 models - James, Jessi, Miki and Terai Yuki 2. It is internally connected to Poser and becomes an adjunct to Poser.
VF is set up with rooms, in a similar style to Poser's rooms. The two rooms that are the most directly involved in the production of clothes are the Designer Room and the Fitting Room.
In the Designer room, one creates the clothes using specific tools.
One first sets up the project.
On the left is an example of Jessi in the Designer Room before any of the clothes have been started. On the right is a picture of Jessi after the clothes were finished and she is in the Fitting Room waiting to be exported to Poser 6.
The garment is saved in a special file in Virtual Fashion. A Virtual Fashion folder is set up in the Poser Library.One will use two categories in the Library. The VF folder in Poses will contain a special Pose for all of the figures; the VF folder in Props will contain the clothes that were created in the Virtual Fashion program.
The process can best be explained by the following sets of screen captures: First Jessi is selected from the Figure section of the Library palette. Then, under the Poses section, the Virtual Fashion Jessi is selected. She will automatically replace the original Jessi. Next, under the Props section, the clothes created in Virtual Fashion are chosen from the Virtual Fashion folder. Lastly, in the Poser Cloth Room, the actual process of draping the figure is begun. The last picture shows the draped figure.
Below is a rendered version of this same dress. Notice not only the pose, but the fact that the proportions of Jessi's body have been altered and the dress was able to fit the altered figure as well as a non-altered Jessi. (See above).
In Virtual Fashion one can use the cloth that is already created such as silk, heavy wool, leather, cotton, etc. One can also create cloth in the Materials Room. One can color the fabric a solid color or use a pattern. By varying how the pattern is applied, one can control its size, so that a garment can be composed of patterns that vary in size. Garments can even be made transparent or contain transparent areas.
When you drape the figure in the Cloth room, the first frame will always be the Virtual Fashion rendition of the model and the last frame will represent the new pose for still work. While I did not create an animation, you can see from the above screen captures that the clothes definitely followed the new poses.
The requirements for Virtual Fashion are, Poser 6 and the following:
Virtual Fashion Basic for Poser is currently only available for download for Windows. It is priced at an introductory offer of $79.99.
For more information, go to the e frontier web site at: http://www.e-frontier.com. Check out the Virtual Fashion demos, gallery, fashion videos and more. You can even download a free VF garment.
copied, printed, or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the artist.
Article Comments
Thanks for this report. I got the program today and, other than having issues with registering it (waiting on customer service response) I love it. The very first thing I created was a very simple pair of wedge mules for Miki. I'm getting ready to try them out in Poser now.
Hhhmmm, no plans for a Mac release...big slap in the face for a huge buying percentage of artists. With no solid word on if the other Mill figures are useable or if updates will add them on, they ain't gonna sell many. Intresting concept and program, though, if it was fully compatable with all the Poser people I might be tempted to give it a whirl one day.
It definitely sounds like a great idea executed with huge blinders on. Like most of the Poser community, I use the DAZ figures much more than those that ship with Poser itself (I think I've used James once ... I just don't care for their geometry or their texturing), and I haven't fallen on the Asian/anime bandwagon - I've used Aiko maybe twice, and have no desire for Terai Yuki or any of the other Asian figures - nothing against Asians, as some of my favorite women are Asian, but is that ALL we want to do with a program like Poser? I live in Indiana, not Tokyo! If someone wants to impress me, or get my money, they need to create a program that generates deformer magnets based upon a mesh's surface geometry, so the clothing I already have will fit any character I use. Or something that automates the conversion of existing clothing to dynamic clothing and also automates the simulation itself. THOSE would be useful - this is just a curiosity for me, nothing more.
The concept is very good, in fact, this software is based on the famous reyes clothes, an top notch digital fabrics creator and simulator, the e-frontier approach is a lil excluyent, cause the engine uses hardcoded figures, and this will remain the DAZ family out due copyright issues ( at least i can imagine it) would be great to combine wardrobe wizard with this piece and maybe you can have a decent universal base clothes creator. a lil expensive bet to try out, as i found in the hard way, the only efective way to create neat clothes is using a modeling software. No competitve shortcuts at the moment for this process, lets face it.
I bought this before I knew it would not work for the Daz figures. It is easy to use though. I did take a little mini skirt I made and tried it on a V3 and with some changes in scale it worked but.. I got to thinkin...$80 bucks would of bought me a lot of Markeplace clothes. One thing is, the clothes are props... I like the confroming clothes that let you modify them. You can modify a lot though with this VF program...but it is, as someone said, kind of useless if you use DAZ. Soooo I kind of feel like I wasted some money here but maybe one of you gurus will come up with some better uses for it.
I think it is overpriced. And I also disagree with their page saying it uses the most popular poser figures. I don't use jessie or james - I find them a bit too boxy. and TY and Miki - I haven't bought on the principle that I think they are overpriced as well. So far I don't see any complex clothing images and it makes me wonder whether it can handle complexity...
Don't forget the G2 EF figures will be available soon. You might then decide to use Jessi, TY2, etc more than you do now. I use them a far amount and can't imagine I'm alone (but likely in the minority). The one year license is for product updates and support ONLY after which you can pay for the major version upgrade but should you choose not to the program will still run. The license fee you pay is perpetual in nature and you may sell / redistribute any you export from it. As evidenced by comparison of the program / demo from the www.virtual-fashion.com website and the software EF is offering (VF for Poser) are different enough to cause one to misjudge it based on the demo (as it's somewhat crippled). Beware of this! Since the items created by this product are dynamic in nature, you should be able to adapt many of them without modification (or very little) to DAZ figures. A free clothing sample is provided for your evaluation. Those with PhilC's Wardrobe Wizard can further tweak anything that comes out of this program and very likely convert it to nearly all figures supported by WW (which is alot)! If you fancy something cheaper, you might like PhilC's "Clothing Creator" which is only half as expensive. The WW / CC combination is very decent alternative even if it can't do shoes and the like. PhilC's products work only in Poser PP/5/6, whereas since VF is a standalone product which means it should work with D|S which you could probably test with the demo version.
I thought I was in front of the (at last!) definitive clothing creation tool. But I was wrong. 1. It's overprized 2. Dynamic clothing in Poser is a true pain in the ass only comparable to dynamic hair... 3. Who the hell uses Jessi or James?... 4. I didn't see a piece of clothing for males, so I assume this is just a tool for Barbie dressers. I was considering PhilC's "Clothing Creator" instead, but I am not sure about this app either. Don't be afraid, V3-only gazillion clothing merchants over here, your dominion won't go to an end with the arrival of VFP. ;-)
I've tried it out and it seems pretty promising as well as a good idea; The two things that were'nt plus signs were that vicky-3 and Michael 2 and 3 were not taken into consideration and how many times have I seen James,Jessi,Miki and Terai in the Poser gallery???..Hmmm......Three times; I hope that Virtual-Fashion realizes the popularity of the DAZ models and creates a plug-in to accomidate them.
Daz has done a great deal lately to encourage use of of V3 and Mike...like making them free. I can't imagine them NOT having a response to this. I too find the descriptions of this product are vague, and the fact that many of the features only work with a model that is apparently resident in the program worries me. I'll wait on this one.
From the PDF reference manual or what they're not telling you at e-frontier. Design Issues Affecting VF Garment Simulations in Poser While testing Virtual Fashion garments with Poser, we discovered that certain design choices may either cause very slow simulations or fail simulations altogether. These are the two areas where such problems may occur: Narrow strips of fabrics Some design elements such as bands, straps or sashes may result in an unevenly distributed mesh when exported from Virtual Fashion, and as a result may affect the cloth simulator performance and render results in Poser. Specifically, the Poser cloth simulation may in some cases be degraded, and render results may show shadow artifacts. These effects may occur when straps or bands are created in Virtual Fashion by mirroring and duplicating cuts using the Cutter options. The shoulder straps in the following figure are an example of straps created by mirroring and duplicating an original curved cut. The resulting mesh may include polygons that appear to be elongated or bunched together, as shown in the following image. When converting such a garment to dynamic cloth, in some cases the cloth simulation performance may be markedly slow or may terminate. In order to improve simulation performance in such cases, the straps can be removed or constrained from the cloth simulation. Of course if you constrain the straps on a dress for example then they sit above the shoulders where the should contact. 'nuff said.
Time to eat humble pie. There's a VF forum thread in the Poser forum that is helping to solve a lot of the initial problems that I and other VF users had. I've gone from feeling like I had been ripped off to being an enthusiastic supporter of VF. 'nuff said.
I have purchased VF and overall I am very happy with my purchase. There are issues with this software, but i have yet to buy any software that has not had any at all. The program makes creating clothes very easy, and once you know the things not to do, they simulate in poser very well indeed. I do admit that the fact that millenium figures are not supported is a bit of a pain, but i really dont think people should hold this against the software. ( i.e check out clothes converter ) The 3d painting option for textures is also very good indeed.
At first this sounded good, then 1. The price! 2. Limited figures, that I don't even use. 3. Not enough info on this. Like: folds, pleats, overlapping {jacket-shirt-tie }fringe, buttons and such. They make it sound like LOTS of hoops you have to jump through once you buy it. I want to buy something, download it, & use it. Not go through contortions to please a seller. Plus, the price is going HIGHER after June 30! When people are questioning the product & the price, increasing the cost is not the answer.
Since this obviously creates meshes that are draped on the figures in the cloth room, I'm wondering how hard it would be to chop up the meshes and make them conforming clothing? If this is doable ... then any clothes made this way for fitting the basic poser people would be available to every one via Wardrobe Wizard. Personally I hate draped clothing. It's to difficult to work with and takes WAY to long to render.
I bought the new Virtual poser the other day.Boy was I diapointed,Wthis this model it does not have the makeup room. It does not have wigs on the models. And the pure fact that you have to do drapping in poser which I have not gotten it all yet is pure hog wash .It's alot of frigen money for not much of a product. $175.00 us dollars down the drain. When I ask for help on the draping part there answer at virtual fashion was this. Oh we don't know that much about poser 6 . You need to ask the manufatours of poser 6 how to get the clothing to fit proper where it will move with the body and say on. Wat a pile of horse pooh. Why can't thay simply make a product that will make the clothes fit and pose in there VIRTUAL FASHION. Don't Pay that much money for a half working program.I feel like I got taken to the cleaners.
I just bought the new improved Virtual Fashion,What a let down. You spent $175.00 us dollards for a program that the clothing will not fit till you take it to the cloth room and do draping. You would think for $175.00 that Spain could produce a product that would render clothing instead of going to the cloth room and having to do draping on it. PHilC did a better product than this one and these folks stoped the man from selling his product. What a pile of cow pooh.Don't buy Virtual Fashion
I was initially alarmed at VFBs unnaturally paranoid activation system (locking user created content to the license key and all that this implies for backup/restoration and working from another machine and sharing files with other users). Then I was alarmed at its non-conventional handling of graphics and interfaces (slow, stuttery, non-standard). Now, today, I have run a RootKit scan and discovered that VFB is hiding some of its files from the operating system! Now, is there anyone out there with the technical know-how who is running VFB who can confirm whether it is acting as a rootkit or not? This is a question that needs to be addressed urgently as it may indicate a huge security hole.