View allAll Photos Tagged usability
Great usability meets poor usability.
The little click remote that comes with the 3G iPhone brings back one of my favorite devices / switches / remotes ever (I used to have a similar one button remote on a Walkman in 95).
But, it's attached to the awful old school ear buds that act more like they are designed not to stay in your ear. So good. So bad. Almost though.
This is a free texture that I am offering to anyone that would like to download and use it. I will be uploading a new texture every week so check back for new ones.
Original Size
Using a Kodak 35mm camera that my Father brought home from overseas after WWII ended, my wife took several photos of my friends and I with my friends 1939 Chevy that he had at the time.
Usei:
2x Azul Biônico - Colorama
1x Nature's Effect - Top Beauty
1x Brilho da Sereia - Impala
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Esmaltinho que o namorado escolheu para o aniversário dele (que foi ontem, parabéns novamente meu bobo!). Eu amo azul, adorei esse e espero que não seja terrível para tirar!!!
beijos,
Gab!
Kenworth W900s Commercial Used Trucks for Sale in Virginia
This Kenworth Dump Truck Specifications :
Condition :USED Year: 2001
Manufacturer: Kenworth Model :W900s
Engine Type: C-12 Engine Specs: Caterpillar
Mileage:209,091 Transmission: 10 SPEED FULLER
Horsepower: 395 Suspension: AG 200Ratio: 4:11
Wheelbase: 242" Number of Rear Axles: Quad
Front Axle Lbs: 20,000Rear Axle Lbs: 40,000
Striped background with texture. Free for Any Creative Purpose. Please don't redistribute as is.
Credit Encompass--rose.blogspot.com or rosebfischer.wordpress.com
In 1962, the US Navy issued a requirement for an eventual replacement for the A-4 Skyhawk. Of the proposals submitted by various companies, Vought’s design won the competition in February 1964. What became the A-7 Corsair II was based on the already successful F-8 Crusader fighter, a decision which figured heavily in the Navy’s selection of the aircraft. The A-7, however, was smaller and shorter, with a much less sleek fuselage but a larger wing. It was the first operational American aircraft to use a turbofan engine, a HUD, and an internal INS linked to the bombing radar, permitting very accurate bombing in all weathers. After a remarkably trouble-free development, the YA-7A first flew in September 1965 and entered service a year later, with a combat debut in December 1967 over Vietnam. Because the A-4 was more maneuverable, the A-7 only supplemented the Skyhawk in US Navy service until the early 1980s; likewise, it was not chosen by the US Marine Corps for the light attack role, as the Marines preferred upgraded A-4s and later the AV-8A/B Harrier series.
The USAF, however, would acquire the A-7 in large numbers, at first as an interim to bridge the gap between the F-105 Thunderchief and the F-111 Aardvark, and to replace the ancient A-1 Skyraiders then serving as COIN, close air support, and rescue support aircraft. The A-7D made a number of changes, including USAF-style boom/plug refueling port, the more reliable and powerful Allison TF41 engine, and deletion of the A-7A’s twin 20mm cannon for a single M61A1 Vulcan 20mm gatling cannon. The A-7D entered USAF service in September 1968, and its combat service over Vietnam impressed the US Navy enough that the follow-on A-7E Corsair II incorporated both the TF41 engine and the M61A1 gun armament. Aside from the two-seat TA-7C/A-7K conversion trainers and EA-7L electronic warfare trainers, the A-7E was the penultimate Corsair II variant. Vought proposed an advanced, supersonic long-range strike variant, the A-7F, but this only went to the prototype stage.
The A-7 served in every conflict the United States entered into from 1968 to 1991, including Vietnam, operations against Lebanon, Libya, and Iran in the 1980s, and the First Gulf War. The latter was the swansong for the type in US service, with only two US Navy A-7E squadrons seeing service. With the drawdown of the 1990s, the A-7D was rapidly retired from USAF and Air National Guard units in favor of the F-16 Falcon; the A-7E left US Navy service in favor of the F/A-18 Hornet. The aircraft was exported in the 1970s to Greece as the A-7H and Portugal as the A-7P, both of which saw service in the Third World War. Thailand received ex-US Navy A-7Es in the mid-1990s. Greece retired the last operational A-7s in the world in 2014.
(The following is a fictional history of a fictional naval air arm.)
With the adoption of the US Navy-style carrier battlegroup by the FIRN/FIRNAA in the late 1970s, the FIRNAA also adopted the Navy-style carrier air wing of F-14 Tomcats, A-6 Intruders, and A-7 Corsair IIs. The latter were deemed to be of low priority, with the FIRNAA acquiring and upgrading ex-US Navy A-4E Skyhawks, and there was some controversy over the need to buy the A-7 at all. The sale went through because of the A-7’s ability to carry more ordnance further, and the first order for 36 A-7Es and five two-seat TA-7Cs were placed in 1985. As the A-7 production line had closed by that time, these came from ex-US Navy stocks and were refurbished before delivery; the only addition to the aircraft was a Pave Penny laser designator, which allowed the A-7E to drop precision guided weaponry. TA-7Cs were also in short supply, so instead Vought converted five ex-USAF A-7Es to A-7K standard, though these aircraft had a bulged refuelling probe and were designated TA-7K. (The TA-7K retained its boom/plug system, making it a “hermaphrodite.”) The first FIRNAA A-7E entered service in August 1986 with NAS-17, and both it and NAS-18 were fully operational with the Corsair II before the end of the Third World War. The last batch entered service with NAS-19, with the last being delivered in July 1988. These aircraft would provide yeoman service during the First Gulf War.
Though the United States was rapidly retiring the A-7, the FIRNAA decided to keep the aircraft due to its range instead of acquiring more F/A-18 Hornets. Because of its lack of speed and the desire to keep the aircraft in service at least until 2005, the FIRNAA commissioned a study to upgrade its Corsair IIs. Vought had gone out of business by this time (1993), but the A-7F study was resurrected and the contract given to Predator Propulsion. Initially designated A-7P (for Predator Propulsion, but dropped due to confusion with the Portuguese A-7Ps) and then A-7S, this upgrade included completely updating the avionics, with a new HUD system, LANTIRN compatibility, the ability to carry the AGM-84 Harpoon and AGM-84E SLAM, and most importantly, the A-7F’s Pratt and Whitney F100 turbofan. Since the A-7S lacked the lengthened fuselage and modified tail of the A-7F, the engine was derated to 24,000 pounds, though the afterburner was retained. This increased the top speed and range of the A-7E, as the F100 was more fuel efficient. The first A-7S flew in July 1994 and entered service in December 1995; by 1996 the entire fleet had been upgraded.
Despite the expense of the upgrade, the A-7S’ career was to be brief. The decision to acquire the F/A-25 Rafale to replace it was made only two years after the A-7S entered service, and it began to be withdrawn from service in 1999. The outbreak of war in Afghanistan and Iraq only delayed withdrawal for a short time, though the A-7S would fly combat missions in what was the Corsair II’s final combat deployment. Both NAS-17 and NAS-18 would convert to the Rafale, while NAS-19 retained it’s A-7s until the squadron’s disbandment in 2004. The last FIRNAA Corsair IIs made a four-ship flypast of Viper Lake IFAAS in August 2004, marking 18 years of faithful service. Eleven A-7s were lost during the aircraft’s career, six in combat during the Third World War and the First Gulf War, and the remainder in accidents; these were replaced from US Navy stocks, making total procurement 52 aircraft.
(Back in the real world...)
Though I prefer 1/144 scale for my own personal models, there is not yet a 1/144 kit of the A-7; Tamiya, however, makes a 1/100 kit. After finding one in Indiana in 2010, I built it out of the box as a standard A-7E. I used a darker gunship gray over medium gray color scheme (which would probably be unworkable for carrier operations in real life). I used kit decals, but the tailcodes and crocodile tail motif were hand-painted. It is armed with 12 Mk 82 750-pound bombs and two AIM-9B Sidewinders, which were not as difficult to put on as I had originally thought.
Using a Nikon D100 (made in 2002). Lens: Cosina Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2 SLII ASPH.
Darmstadt, Germany
Used for one season of wrestling. Still in good condition. Many years left in these shoes.
Offer below
Interested in Trading
Flickr ✔ If you would like to use this photo, contact
www.sebastien-duhamel.com/contact/
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Reportage complet de Vandana Shiva et Pierre Rabhi www.flickr.com/photos/sebastienduhamel/sets/7215764930073...
Projets/Reportages FNH www.flickr.com/photos/sebastienduhamel/collections/721576...
Reportages Éducation et Politiques www.flickr.com/photos/sebastienduhamel/collections/721576...
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Rencontre entre Vandana Shiva et Pierre Rabhi sur le thème de la défense de l’agro-écologie
"Une épopée écologique de l'Inde aux Cévennes" www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTaE3zJu7s
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La rencontre
L'un comme l'autre ont un jour renoncé à la vie qui les attendait pour se consacrer corps et âme à la défense de l'agro-écologie. Sans se connaître, ils ont tous les deux choisi de mettre leurs méthodes à l'épreuve des faits : Vandana Shiva sur ses terres de la vallée de Dun, épuisées par l'agriculture intensive et Pierre Rabhi dans le désert du Sahara, puis sur l'ingrate terre ardéchoise. L'un comme l'autre ont fait la démonstration d'une même réalité : la terre n'a besoin ni de produits chimiques ni d'OGM pour nourrir le monde.
Ce constat met plus largement en lumière l'inquiétante fragilité de notre économie et du système de valeur sur lequel reposent nos sociétés. Mais la pédagogie par l'exemple est un puissant levier de changement. Aussi, partis sans aucun moyen financier, l'un comme l'autre sont parvenus à faire entendre leur voix. Cette rencontre sera l'occasion d'un récit croisé de leurs histoires.
Vandana Shiva et Pierre Rabhi échangeront aussi leurs visions de l'avenir et évoqueront le rôle que nous, citoyens, pourrions jouer pour transformer la mutation écologique en cours, en une opportunité décisive.
Vandana Shiva
Docteur en physique quantique et en philosophie, Vandana Shiva est la co-fondatrice du mouvement altermondialiste et est devenue un emblème mondial de la révolution écologique. Paix, démocratie et capacité à se mobiliser sont des valeurs fortes pour cette femme qui érige la non-violence en règle suprême, et ne cesse de voyager pour encourager les mouvements citoyens actuels, qui prônent une révolution par le bas.
Le retour à une production locale et à une distribution en circuits courts est au cœur des solutions qu'elle propose. Ses combats et procès contre les multinationales les plus puissantes lui ont valu de nombreuses récompenses dont le Prix Nobel Alternatif. Son travail basé sur la pédagogie par l'exemple a irrigué les cinq continents et initié un mouvement planétaire appelé l'Alliance pour la liberté des semences. Elle est également l’une des grandes figures de l’écoféminisme. Lionel Astruc publie dans la collection "Domaine du possible" chez Actes Sud une série d'entretiens, Vandana Shiva. Pour une désobéissance créatrice, en novembre 2014.
www.actes-sud.fr/recherche_rapide?keys=Vandana+Shiva&...
Pierre Rabhi
les voix de l'espéranceAgriculteur, écrivain et penseur français d’origine algérienne, Pierre Rabhi défend un mode de société plus respectueux de l’homme et de la nature. Il soutient le développement de l’agroécologie à travers le monde et en particulier en Afrique pour contribuer à l’autonomie, la sécurité et la salubrité alimentaires des populations. Il a créé de multiples associations telles que Colibris et Terre et Humanisme, destinées à relier l'homme à la nature, et a fait de l'exemplarité un choix philosophique, pour amener de plus en plus de gens à s'interroger.
Il est l’auteur de nombreux ouvrages dont Vers la sobriété heureuse (2010) chez Actes Sud, et Olivier Le Naire a publié dans la collection « Domaine du possible » un livre d’entretiens, Pierre Rabhi semeur d’espoirs, en octobre 2013 (Actes Sud). Pierre Rabhi vient de contribuer à l’ouvrage collectif Nos Voies d’espérance, paru en coédition Actes Sud.
www.actes-sud.fr/recherche_rapide?keys=Pierre+Rabhi+&...
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Vandana Shiva : fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandana_Shiva
Fondation Vandana Shiva : www.navdanya.org
Vandana Shiva démythifiée : blogs.mediapart.fr/yann-kindo/blog/240814/vandana-shiva-d...
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Pierre Rabhi : fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Rabhi
Le mouvement Colibris : fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mouvement_Colibris
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Quelques liens vidéos avec Pierre Rabhi :
2016
Pierre Rabhi, Sylvain Tesson, M. NDiaye, L. Mauvignier, A.Makine - 13 octobre 2016 :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFDr9T-299U
Vers la sobriété heureuse par Pierre Rhabi, conférence-débat de l'iMagination Week Global BBA – 10 octobre 2016 :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rceSyYGPo7Q
André Comte Sponville Pierre Rabhi Samuel Rouvillois Ajoutée le 22 octobre 2016 :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-7DuMt086Y
Pierre Rabhi Faire la Paix avec la Terre version longue - 4 avril 2016 :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEqcHTTl2Lg
2015
Pierre RABHI, la sobriété heureuse le 26 novembre 2015 :
A la veille de la COP 21, le philosophe et auteur Pierre Rabhi, fondateur du Mouvement Colibris, invite à sortir du mythe de la croissance indéfinie, à réaliser l'importance vitale de notre terre nourricière et à inaugurer une nouvelle éthique de vie vers une « sobriété heureuse ».
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-ZsEWtNOrw
Entretien Pierre Rabhi & Paul Watson : Le pirate et le paysan – 2 novembre 2015 :
Les deux hommes se sont rencontrés pour échanger sur leurs approches, leur vision, avec la grande question que sous-tendent leurs deux mouvements : tenter d'éteindre le feu ou bien neutraliser les pyromanes... Comme dans la nature, la diversité des approches est une richesse.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbBCQieuXlI
Quand Marion Cotillard retrouve Pierre Rabhi - le 21 mai 2015 :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjQvZl1HW5E
2014
Agir à son échelle et construire ensemble le 30 avril 2014 :
Que pouvons-nous faire à notre échelle pour participer au changement que nous voulons pour notre vie, pour nos enfants et ceux que nous aimons, pour tous les autres êtres vivants, pour la paix et pour le monde ? Comment installer la cohérence au cœur sa propre vie, et dépasser ses contradictions internes entre sa conscience et les contraintes quotidiennes ?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUmtPOOtPck
LGQ, Pierre Rabhi, Stéphane Le Foll, Matthew Ricard le 16 octobre 2016 :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oxAz6q7bA8
2013
Les clés du paradigme le 16 mars 2013
Retour sur le parcours de Pierre Rabhi, agriculteur, philosophe et essayiste français d'origine algérienne. Ce dernier est l'inventeur du concept de «sobriété heureuse». A travers le monde, il est reconnu comme l'un des experts internationaux de référence en matière de sécurité alimentaire.
En Ardèche, dans son refuge, l'homme se confie sur son enfance passée en Algérie et à Paris. Il revient sur la décision la plus importante de sa vie : quitter avec sa femme le monde industriel de la banlieue parisienne pour l'univers rural de l'Ardèche. De cette expérience, il en tire un nouveau modèle de société basé sur «l'agro-écologie».
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmCDX2tkSkI
Faut-il remettre en cause le mythe du progrès ? le 27 mars 2013 :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQVk_LbIFTM
2011
Y a-t-il une vie avant la mort ? TEDx Paris 2011 :
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyNinbbzGuE
2009
Pierre Rabhi & Nicolas Hulot chez Michel Drucker le 10 décembre 2016
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMkERwhCxZ4
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Photographie de Sébastien Duhamel, professionnel de l’image
www.sebastien-duhamel.com/présentation-références/
Derniers reportages photos www.flickr.com/photos/sebastienduhamel/collections/721576...
Classeurs photos www.flickr.com/photos/sebastienduhamel/collections
Albums photos www.flickr.com/photos/sebastienduhamel/sets/
Tournages vimeo.com/137495739
www.dailymotion.com/user/Sebastien_Duhamel/1
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Photo / Conditions www.sebastien-duhamel.com/conditions-tarifs/
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[NB] Les photos HD sont de 5610x3740
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Tous droits réservés sans la permission de l’auteur
All Right reserved without permission from the author
At Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a crane is used to lift NASA's Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport, or InSight, Mars lander for mating atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. InSight will be the first mission to look deep beneath the Martian surface. It will study the planet's interior by measuring its heat output and listen for marsquakes. The spacecraft will use the seismic waves generated by marsquakes to develop a map of the planet’s deep interior. The resulting insight into Mars’ formation will provide a better understanding of how other rocky planets, including Earth, were created. InSight is scheduled for liftoff May 5, 2018. Photo credit: NASA/Leif Heimbold
used this free pattern: LuLu B's Sedge Cloth
www.lovelulub.com/2013/06/crochet-with-lulu-b-free-patter...
I used to have a home.
I used to have a family.
A mommy and a brother.
Somebody decided we no longer belonged to that house
And abandoned us on the streets.
My brother was rescued but I was too afraid
And kept on the debris hiding, with my mom.
She decided I was a grown up and had to live but my own.
And she went away.
But I'm only three months old.
And I needed protection.
So I decided to trust a good man.
He took me to his home.
I like him very much, and the girl who lives there too.
But I don't like the other cats.
The other cats don't like me.
So I have to live in the bathroom.
Alone.
Don't you think I deserve a home?
If you appreciate good company, love and fun,
Let me live with you!
You will not regret!
I made this meme today.
It was prompted by a news story I saw about Michael Stipe dropping an f-bomb when speaking about Donald Trump using an REM song without his permission at an event. The news anchor insinuated in a typically smug and swarmy way, that this was some sort of terrible faux paus on Mr. Stripe's part. That he had lost control of himself in public in some sort of unseemly and inappropriate way.
This in turn made me (aside from questioning why this was even being addressed at all on a mainstream news program rather than a more appropriate venue) a little offended on Michael Stipe's behalf. Who was this rediculous so-called news person to suggest that his use of the word "fuck" in this instance was a mistake on his part and somehow inappropriate and an example of a loss of personal control. I feel that he was totally sincere in expressing his complete frustration with his art being exploited to further a cause that is the complete antithesis of his values. "Fuck" was the absolute perfect word to use in such a circumstance.
Have I ever told you how much I love the word "fuck"?
Well I do love it!
It's so raw, so visceral! So instantly relatable!
Such a powerful word should not be taken lightly, it should be used sparingly, so it can do it's work most effectively. Like anything else, it can lose some of it's mojo with overuse.
Indeed, it is most appropriate that we call it an "f-bomb" since when used correctly, it can be just as devastating as any real bomb can be.
I believe that Michael Stipe's use of the word in this instance was a sterling example of such a thing. It was neither insincere, nor insufficient in summing up the depth of his feelings, and therefore was anything but inappropriate to communicate his point.
Well played, Mr. Stripe, well played!
I can relate.
I promise you that if I drop an f-bomb, that I am completely sincere in doing so. If you are the recipient of my f-bomb, do not tremble with sadness, but rather rejoice that you or your works have mattered enough to me to draw forth such an honest and heartfelt response, negative though it may be, in this age of such practiced and forced politeness. that I have deemed it necessary to break through the veneer of socially acceptable language to deliver a special message to you is something you should treasure! For a brief moment in time, I allowed you to peer into my soul, and my whole being thundered back "FUCK YOU" or "FUCK THAT (thing)" or "FUCK THIS (thing we are experiencing). Now you know exactly where you stand with me on a certain topic, and that understanding is a positive thing.
Not that "fuck" can be used to express only negativity, although granted, it's implicit harsh, brutal constant - heavy sound seems to always carry an undercurrent of inherent negativity. For example, it can be used to punctuate a very pleasant thing when not used with sarcasm. An unsarcastic "This is FUCKING GREAT!" Is praise of the highest order. And of course, the literal act of fucking can be very nice indeed, if done right and with the right person for all the right reasons. Indeed, is there really anything as a truly, 100% bad fuck (outside of obvious things like instances of rape or molestation)? Although even a relatively bad fuck is really not all that bad compared to most things you could be doing with your time. It's like eating a bag of slightly stale chips, yeah, they may have lost a bit of the flavor, but it sure beats the hell out of having NO chips to eat. And even slightly stale chips are often far more tasty than a lot of other things one could be eating.
However, getting fucked in the figurative sense is virtually always a bad thing.
Use of the word "fuck" can also bring people together by using it, you are dropping social norms and assuming a level of familiarity with a fellow human being that is itself a form of intimacy. Think of the thrill you experienced the first time a boss, parent or some other authority figure used the word with you. It humanized them. "Ah, you are one of me!" you thought, and on some level you understood and therefore liked them just a little bit more. And that is the key to Trump's success right there. Even though he wasn't the one dropping an f-bomb in this case, his whole demeanor is so crude, that it's impossible not to imagine him doing so left and right when cameras aren't rolling just like you do, or sometimes want to do in your secret heart of hearts.
And that is what the magic of "fuck" is all about for me, whether taking the literal or figurative meaning of the word, there are fewer ways of more effectively expressing your sincerity to someone else, and sincerity and honestly are very important principles.
Bain News Service,, publisher.
San Antonio Aeroplane used for army messages
[between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915]
1 negative : glass ; 5 x 7 in. or smaller.
Notes:
Title from data provided by the Bain News Service on the negative.
Photograph shows a Wright Model "B" biplane which was rented to the U.S. Army in 1911 in San Antonio, Texas. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2012)
Forms part of: George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress).
Subjects:
Airplanes
Format: Glass negatives.
Rights Info: No known restrictions on publication.
Repository: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA, hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
General information about the Bain Collection is available at hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.ggbain
Higher resolution image is available (Persistent URL): hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ggbain.09427
Call Number: LC-B2- 2229-2
This Lego Trophy award cup uses Technic Bricks and Liftarms to form the cylinder. It displays nice symmetry. The Lego Digital Designer (LDD) .lxf Building Instructions file and Parts List are available on Rebrickable.com ( rebrickable.com/mocs/DavidLuders/trophy-using-technic-bri... ).
Prepping Nikon Picture Control types for use:
1. Using the Picture Control Utility in View NX2, for each Picture Control create a variant, with the following settings, (adjustments set to Manual in the Picture Control utility):-
Sharpening = auto
Contrast / Brightness = auto
Saturation = auto.
Note you first click the "Manual" button (to enable customisation) then proceed as follows
2. For each Picture Control type, name each (and save) as follows:-
Standard = as "Standard auto" variant
Portrait = "Portrait auto"
Etc. so that you have an auto variant for each Picture Control type, to get you started using them, in VNX2.
You can Export these pre-sets to your camera via SD card, refer to the help (ticked on the schematic.)
Once you have saved all the 'Auto' variants for each Picture Control type, then you can start to process your NEFs, using these saved custom settings. You can do this in the field when out shooting, or post the shoot, in VNX2 / CNX2.
Double click a NEF to bring it into the Edit window - then view the camera applied Picture Control type, then decide if you want to change / experiment.
You will or should notice a dramatic improvement in quality.
You will most often find very little extra sharpening is required.
N.B. Don't start messing around with curve customisation, until you know what you're doing and have built up experience with the customisation I've outlined at the top of this posting.
A Pair Of Candle Sticks That I Have Restored
Restored EPNS Candlesticks
Most silver plated cutlery and hollow ware is marked 'E.P.N.S.' - the abbreviation for 'Electro-Plated Nickel-Silver'. 'Nickel-Silver' identifies the base metal as a copper-zinc-nickel alloy; it contains no silver but, because its nickel content imparts a colour more akin to silver than brass, it has always been known as 'nickel-silver'. 'Electro-plated' in this context means that the articles are electro-plated with silver - the first metal to be used extensively in electro-plating. In many countries including USA, nickel silver is not used, but brass is used instead.
Stainless steel cutlery or hollowware is sometimes silver plated, in which case it may be marked 'E.P.S.S.'. Knife blades with a cutting edge are made from stainless and are not plated with silver because it would blunt their edges. The life of silver plate depends upon its thickness and how often it is used. A household that saves its silver plated cutlery for special occasions may use it on average only once a month - elsewhere it may be used several times a day. When selecting cutlery, it is advisable to compare the thickness of silver claimed to be present on each and every piece (averages based upon half a dozen pieces are less meaningful because some pieces are likely to have a significantly thinner silver thickness than that average). Silver thickness is normally quoted in 'microns'. (One micron is one thousandth of a millimeter). As a very approximate guide, work on at least 1 micron of silver thickness for every year of intended use.
CARE OF SILVER
The characteristic white 'patina' of silver which is responsible for much of its aesthetic appeal becomes more pronounced with age due to the optical effect of the multitude of very fine scratches that develop in use. On new highly polished silver, however, the few fine isolated scratches that first appear tend to be somewhat conspicuous until the white patina has fully developed.
Tarnish
Silver, being a noble metal, is highly resistant to corrosion, but it can be tarnished by sulphides that are always present to some extent in the atmosphere and in many foods, green vegetables and eggs being the most potent. Tarnish consists of a superficial film of silver sulphides. Initially it is a light gold colour, but, with prolonged exposure to sulphides, it can develop into a blue-black discolouration.
Sulphides in the atmosphere originate mainly from combustion of gas oil, coke, wood etc. and from living creatures. To avoid the need for frequent cleaning, it is best to store silver cutlery in a box or drawer in a room without a fire of any type and, if convenient, in one of the lesser used rooms. To avoid tarnishing by food, rinse it off the cutlery as soon as convenient. Tarnish resisting papers and cloths are available to store silver, which certainly reduce the rate of tarnishing.
Tarnish Removal
Four methods of detarnishing silver are available: polishing powders or pastes, chemical dip solutions, electrolytic methods and ball burnishing.
Polishing Powders and Pastes
Only those sold specifically for silver should be used; cleaners intended for chromium plate, stainless steel etc will scratch silver. Always apply the cleaner with a soft cloth or sponge - either of which should be thoroughly and freshly washed to eliminate any abrasive dust particles which could cause scratching.
Some cleaners that are available in paste or emulsion form, not only remove tarnish but contain tarnish inhibitors. Such products are particularly useful for hollowware (being handled, washed and wiped less frequently than cutlery, the inhibiting effect lasts longer).
Over zealous pressure when cleaning with powders may remove significant amounts of silver which ultimately will wear through the plate completely.
Chemical Dip Solutions (Often referred to as silver dip)
Provide a rapid, less arduous method of detarnishing, especially on heavily embossed designs whose crevices are difficult to clean with silver powders. These dip solutions convert the film of tarnish (silver sulphides) back to silver by removing the sulphides without removing any silver. However, the following precautions must be taken:
- (1) Never leave silver plated cutlery in the dip solution for more than 10 seconds.
- (2) Do not use dip solutions to remove very heavy tarnish. They will convert the silver sulphides to silver but, because heavy tarnish is thicker, the surface of the restored silver may have a matt finish.
- (3) Dip solutions can stain or even etch stainless steel knife blades. Any drops that fall onto blades or other stainless steel equipment should be rinsed off immediately.
Electrolytic Methods
Tarnish can be removed from silver by immersing it in a hot solution of washing soda of about 30 grams per 5 litres whilst the cutlery or hollowware is in contact with aluminium.
Proprietary kits are available but the process can be carried out on a DIY basis in a plastic bowl with a sheet of aluminium foil laid in the bottom so that the cutlery is in contact with the foil. When the foil eventually darkens and becomes brittle, it becomes ineffective and needs replacing.
As in the case of chemical dip solutions, the process is not suitable for use on very heavily tarnished silver upon which it can produce a dull white finish.
Ball Burnishing
This is a bulk process for use in large catering establishments. The cutlery is placed in a rotating drum containing steel ball bearings, water and a corrosion inhibitor to prevent the steel balls from rusting. Its prime purpose is to brighten and harden the surface so that it becomes more resistant to scratching and wear. However, it will also remove light to moderate tarnish, except in the crevices of heavily patterned pieces.
Despite the apparent severity of the process, it does not wear off the silver if carried out under intelligent supervision and in accordance with the machine supplier's instructions. Problems likely to occur are:
Entanglement of fork prongs which may cause some to bend. This can be avoided by positioning the compartment separators closer together so that the forks stay orientated across the barrel.
A matt scratched finish, caused by having insufficient water in the burnisher - this can occur as a result of leakage if the machine's lid has not been adequately tightened or if its seal is defective.
Developments of grooves on the sides of vessels such as tea post. This is caused by the compartment separators being too close together, thus allowing steel balls to become entrapped between the separators and the sides of the vessel - to the detriment of the latter. Compartment widths should be adjusted to suit the width of vessel being burnished.
Hollowware can be damaged if large heavy items are burnished in the same compartment.
Silver cutlery should be washed thoroughly after cleaning.
CARE OF STAINLESS STEEL CUTLERY
Stains
First, it must be emphasised that staining is a rare phenomenon and that in most cases it is due to something that becomes firmly deposited on the steel, rather than to any attack of the steel itself. Probably the most common cause of staining is attack by one of the proprietary dip solutions used for removing tarnish from silver. Although excellent for cleaning silver and E.P.N.S., these solutions should never be allowed to come into contact with stainless steel; they contain acids that etch the steel, first giving it an iridescent rainbow stain and ultimately etching it a dull grey. Even if care is taken to dip only the silver handle of a knife, it is so easy, when lifting it from the solution, to let drips fall onto the stainless steel blades of other cutlery that happen to be lying around.
All tap water contains dissolved mineral salts that would leave an extremely thin film on any article on which it was allowed to dry out without wiping. In most cases, the resultant stain will wipe off, but occasionally more vigorous treatment is needed, using a polishing preparation, such as stainless steel cleaners.
Detergents, especially unnecessarily strong solutions of detergent, can leave an indelible rainbow stain on stainless steel if they are not rinsed off and are allowed to dry, out on its surface. This is a common problem with some dishwashing machines when the rinse cycle is malfunctioning.
Very hard water can deposit a chalky film on stainless steel, but this is only likely to occur in dishwashers that use un-softened or incompletely softened water.
Very hot grease, fat or meat juices sometimes leave stubborn rainbow coloured stains on stainless steel, but this is more likely to occur on meat dishes than cutlery - again this does not mean there is anything wrong this the stainless steel and the articles will be as good as new after the stain has been removed.
Heat by itself will impart a rainbow coloured heat tint to stainless steel, but this is only likely to occur if the cutlery is accidentally left on a hot plate or gas burner, when the cause would be immediately obvious.
Prolonged immersion in synthetic 'vinegar' (condiment) can stain stainless steel knives if left on for several hours, but more rapidly if the 'vinegar' also contains salt.
Sometimes rust coloured stains occur. Wet fragments of steel wool that find their way onto cutlery may go rusty and leave indelible rust stains on the stainless steel. Other rust coloured stains may come from corrosion pits in the cutlery, although the pits themselves may be so small as to be barely visible.
Most stains that resist ordinary rubbing with a soapy cloth can be removed with stainless steel cleaners.
Finally, it must be pointed out that there may be other causes of staining that have not yet been identified.
Pits
When stainless steel corrodes, it does not rust all over like non stainless steel but acquires small localised pits or holes. Remember its STAIN LESS steel which means it will rust or corroded under some circumstances.
The majority of spoons and forks are made from stainless steels that have such excellent corrosion resistance that they are virtually immune to pitting. For knives, however, the blade steel is selected to give a compromise between corrosion resistance and cutting properties. In order to achieve a lasting edge, a steel that is much harder but of lower corrosion resistance that spoon and fork steel is used. The corrosion resistance of this steel is strongly influenced by care in manufacture (thorough hardening and avoidance of overheating when grinding etc) but only marginal improvements are achieved by the selection of alternative steels, however, expensive. Research is continually being carried out in the search for significantly better steels and method of treatment.
Prolonged contact with water is probably responsible for more pitting trouble than anything else. Knives have been made from stainless steel for such a long time that the highly corrosive effect of tap water, caused by the traces of mineral salts it contains is not appreciated. Why then do blades in one establishment last for years without trouble, whilst in others pitting becomes apparent within a few months? The answer lies in the length of time the blades are wet; knives that are left undried or actually immersed in water overnight can receive, in this time, as much exposure to the corrosive effect of water as three or four months' ordinary use where they are in contact with water for only a few minutes each time they are washed.
Common salt and liquid bleaches or disinfectants are very corrosive and will greatly accelerate the corrosive action of water. Some water softeners are regenerated with salt. If they are not functioning correctly, the softened water can have a high salt content. After adding salt to water softeners in a dishwasher, make certain that it is put through the rinse programme recommended by the supplier before washing knives in the machine. Detergents, on the other hand, are normally harmless when fully dissolved - indeed they often inhibit corrosion by water. If, however, certain powder detergents are allowed to come into contact with blades in hot water before the detergent is fully dissolved, pits and/or stains can form within a few minutes. Un-dissolved table salt can have a similar effect.
If pitting does occur, a diligent enquiry into the washing procedure is recommended to find out whether the cutlery is ever left in contact with water for a long item. Managers of catering establishments are not always aware of what really happens in their kitchens - for example, probably only the person directly involved may know that dirty cutlery is always left soaking in a bucket of water until someone has time to wash it, or that the last batch of knives to be washed in the early hours is left unwiped to dry overnight in a humid basement.
WASHING CUTLERY IN DISHWASHERS
Dishwashing machines provide a welcome relief from the task of washing up but to maintain knives in good condition a few simple precautions are necessary. Special hardenable stainless steels are generally used for knives to give them a lasting edge but these steels can become slightly pitted or corroded if left repeatedly and for too long in contact with moisture.
- Whenever possible wash knives immediately; do not leave them wet overnight and do not subject knives to the 'rinse and hold' cycle. The use of the dishwasher as a dirty storage cabinet causes many cases of knife corrosion.
- As soon as the dishwasher has completed its cycle, remove the knives and wipe them dry. It is particularly undesirable to leave them overnight in the damp atmosphere of a dishwasher.
- Observe the dishwasher manufacturer's instructions concerning the type and quality of detergent used and the method of loading cutlery in the compartments provided.
- Water with a high salt content is particularly corrosive to stainless steel. Dishwashers are often fitted with water softeners that must be regenerated with salt. After adding salt, make certain that the machine is put through the programme recommended by the supplier before washing knives in the machine.
- Cutlery with handles of wood, plastic, bone or china should be washed by hand unless it is stated to be suitable for dishwashers.
- If any stains are produced by hard water, detergent or by any other cause, they can usually be removed by rubbing them with a non-abrasive metal cleaning paste or liquid. Detergent stains can often occur with regular dishwasher use and show themselves as rainbow like stains, these can easily be removed with lemon juice.
- Do not allow undiluted dishwasher detergent to come into contact with silver or silver plated items as this may result in permanent staining of the surface. Some dishwasher manufacturers are not aware of this and position the cutlery basket immediately below the detergent dispenser.
- Do don't place silver plated or silver cutlery in at the same time stainless steel items, as it can increase the risk of the stainless steel corroding. Don't place knives with silver/ silver plated handles in the dishwasher at all.
Printed copies of this document are available to cutlery manufacturers, distributors and retailers for inclusion with cutlery/flatware at the point of sale.
This information is given without liability in connection with its application or use in particular circumstances
CATRA can provide specific help for users where they are experiencing problems
Use this link to view available class dates and enroll online!
www.stitchlab.biz/Classes/diypatternmaking_designwithslop...
Using the olive green, this Metrobus has had 2 coats of paint. One of 5 MCW MkIs in the M&D fleet, based at Chatham. FKM 266-70V
© This photograph is a copyrighted image. Please do not download this image to use or distribute for any other purpose without my expressed consent.
Use without permission is ILLEGAL.
Using leftover wood block samples from my office and custom hairpin legs from etsy i made these two small tables which together are my new coffee table.
Playing with power tools is fun, but even simple projects have learning curves I have realized. attaching the legs was a bit tricky because of the angle of the legs and the placement of the holes on the attachment plates.
Bonus Fun fact: This project actually took ages. Lots of time between many many coats of varathane, and sanding, and then waiting for the legs to arrive. But worth it. I love my tables!
Photo by Andrea Hazard
***PRODUCTS USED***
~~FACE~~
Make Up For Ever (MUFE) HD Primer
MUFE HD Foundation - Color 125
MUFE 5 Camoflage Cream Palette (1st & 2nd concealer from left)
MAC Mineralize Satinfinish SPF 15 - Color NC30
MAC Sculpting Powder - Sculpt
MAC Mineralize Blush - Nuance
~~EYES~~
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Make Up For Ever (MUFE) Star Powder #944
MUFE Star Powder #906
MAC Electric Eel Eyeshadow
MAC Freshwater Eyeshadow
MAC Deep Truth Eyeshadow
MAC Ricerpaper Eyeshadow
MAC White Frost Eyeshadow
MAC Smolder Eye Kohl
Benefit Bad Gal Lash mascara
Loreal Voluminous mascara - Carbon Black
MAC Spiked Brow Pencil
~~LIPS~~
MAC Subculture Lipliner
MAC Barely Lit Lipstick
MAC Bare Necessity Dazzleglass
Used to sit here for a quite a while then it suddenly vanished. Last time and first time I saw a Peugeot was a 505 sedan. But back then, I didn't have a camera.
Here's more proof that I can't throw anything away. OK, so I do throw things away, but I'm becoming more consistent with my recycling habits.
Here, I have a used detergent container holding our "collection" of USED BATTERIES. Now I just have to figure out WHERE to drop these off!
See what Earth911.com says about single-use batteries:
Using a 30 second shutter speed and light by the full moon allowed for me to create this very different image, you can even see some stars. Annoyingly because it was 'dark' i didn't notice the bag of dog crap at the foot of the steps.
Using small batch format production we as independent operators deliver uniquely integrated beauty, wellbeing and environmentally conscious products. PURE is Sodium Laurel Sulphate and Paraben free and is created without dyes or synthetics. We only use high quality essential oils to scent and each product is made in small batches to ensure quality. Through the use of natural, botanical ingredients, free of harsh chemicals and preservatives we deliver health and beauty products to the eco minded health conscious consumers through hotels, spas and retail locations throughout North America.
(If you'd like to use any of these photos for anything pls contact Kris Krüg first - kriskrug@gmail.com or 778. 898. 3076. Thank you! (c) (r) (tm) 2016)
Used to have to hike to get to the top of Whistler Mountain...this was about the last time it happened - May of 1986 ... the boot pack up little whistler
This was a story I wrote years ago...
There's a long traverse up in the Whistler alpine area this year that leads from the top of the Saddle to Shale Slope. Shale Slope has lots of tracks on it but the big bumps that in recent years usually cover the run have yet to form. Skiers are getting up to the alpine on the Harmony Chair because the Peak Chair hasn't yet opened for the season. It's amazing what the lack of the Peak Chair does to the skiability of the alpine.
With only the Harmony lift open it's a fairly long traverse to Shale. Skiers actually have to work a little to get there and it's obvious that only a few skiers are willing to put in the work.
Once upon a time there was no Harmony Chair and no Peak Chair and the alpine area had a totally different character. Whistler Bowl, Glacier Bowl, Shale Slope, and West Bowl were not bump runs. On the right days they were back-country runs where skiers could convince themselves, with only a little effort, that they were up on an unserviced mountain, far away from civilization.
The T-bars have been around since Whistler opened. The early developers of the mountain rightly realized that access to the alpine was something that made Whistler special and the T-bars allowed access to that area. Skiers could ride to the top of the T's and then either ski down right beside them or, if the sign line was open, venture further. It was called the sign line because the sign said, "Attention. If you proceed beyond this point you leave the Whistler Mountain patrolled area. Steep slopes, hazardous terrain and uncontrolled avalanche danger. When skiing above this point you do so at your own risk." The sign meant what it said.
There was a very well-used low traverse that cut across Glacier Bowl and Whistler Bowl and finally cut across Shale Slope about three-quarters of the way up that run. It was often a pretty challenging traverse because there were lots of rollers and skiers had to commit to pretty high speeds along the route in order to stay high. It usually got pretty interesting as it snaked around the corner underneath Don't Miss.
If there were no slower skiers in front (because the traverse was almost always only wide enough for one skier at a time) and the skier was prepared to let the skis run it would take a little less than ten minutes to get to Shale Slope.
There was a high traverse as well and it, obviously, started and stayed higher than the lower traverse. It allowed for longer runs down Glacier and Whistler Bowl and required more effort, but that extra effort was usually rewarded by more untracked and more turns.
Skiers who really wanted the alpine experience got off the T-bar, traversed to the sign line, took off their skis, and hiked, yes, hiked, up Little Whistler. Hiking up Little Whistler took thirty to forty minutes. Unless the sign line had just opened there was usually a well-defined staircase cut into the snow made by previous skiers but it was still a grunt. Most who hiked up stopped for a few minutes to sit on the rocks at the top of Little Whistler, catch their breath, and socialize.
The Roundhouse used to seem a long way away from up there. As soon as hikers put on their skis and turned the corner at the top of Little Whistler to start the relatively flat traverse along the top of the mountain they felt like they were really in the mountains, away from the ski area, on their own. There were no buildings and no lifts to be seen. There was no ski area noise. There were no snivel stations. It was glorious
Skiers could choose to traverse along and drop into Glacier Bowl from the top, or continue along and drop into Whistler Bowl, or ski Burnt Stew (which had a hellishly long exit before the mountain cleared the traverse and began grooming it), or continue to West Bowl. Really adventurous types might head for Piccolo, Flute, or Oboe.
Because it required work to get there not a lot of people made the effort which meant that those who did were rewarded by lots of uncut powder lines. Depending on the day it could take four or five hours before all the obvious lines were skied and less popular, hidden lines could be found for days.
One of the best days in Whistler's alpine was the staff party the spring before the Peak Chair went in. The mountain closed, as it often does, in a blizzard. It snowed all the next day too but then the day after that, the day of the staff party, the weather cleared. It was a beautiful day. The party was held at Pika's and the T-bars were open.
The entire alpine was blanked by twenty-five centimeters of light, dry, uncut powder. A consensus decision was made that there would be no low traverse cut that day. When the sign line dropped, to the chant of "No low, no low, no low!" staff started cutting the high traverse. The first in line dropped into Glacier Bowl and cut lovely turns down the slope. Face shots all the way. Those behind continued on to find their own fresh. Because many staff were more interested in the party going on at Pika's than in skiing there were only around a hundred and fifty people skiing the bowls. They got fresh tracks all day long on uncut white slopes under a big blue sky. Those who were there will probably remember that day for the rest of their lives.
The next year the Peak Chair was running. Anyone who has waited in the Peak Chair corral for the lift to open knows what that scene is like and what happens to the alpine once the lift starts unloading public at the top on a powder day. Skiers riding up the Red Chair (which isn't even red anymore) who look over and see the Peak Chair opening know it's not even worth heading for the lift because everything will be skied out before they even get to the chair. The alpine area has become one big bump run. There are so many bumps up there that they now have to groom the Saddle.
The opening of the Harmony Chair provided even easier access to the alpine and allowed more skiers to get up there even faster. It also seemed to allow skiers to notice the area to the south. Piccolo and Flute now have a highway leading to them. Flute sports bumps when it hasn't snowed recently. Soon, rumor has it, there will be sleeping and eating yerts (a yert is a kind of mountain hut), a hot tub, and doubtless generators chugging away, at the bottom of Flute somewhere. This facility sounds like it will not be for the Gore-Tex and duct tape crowd but rather the corporate types from Fort Worth who can afford it. Is this the thin edge of the wedge? If they're going to run a hot tub they should be able to run Super Nintendo play stations. Why not get the corporate partners involved? Maybe they can be called the Nintendo 64 Yerts. Maybe one day there'll be a movie theatre on the top of Blackcomb, a climbing wall on Decker, a Nike store at the bottom of the Cakehole...
The alpine area continues to be developed. It has little of the back-country feel it once had. This was perhaps inevitable and from a certain perspective it is probably a good thing. People who never, ever would have made the climb can now stand on Whistler Peak and look over at the dramatic black pillar called the Tusk. They too can enjoy being at the top of the mountain. For many (judging by the line-up on the Peak Chair, especially on a sunny day) it's the best place on the mountain to be.
In a way it's just a matter of degree anyway. How much is too much? Whistler Peak was really only a back-country adventure when skiers like Stefan Ples were hiking from the valley to ski it. The T-bars began the development. The Peak and Harmony chairs just continued it. Doubtless there were those who considered the T-bars almost sacreligious when they first went in. And yet, in providing high-speed lift access right to the Peak, the alpine area changed in a fundamental way. It became just another part of the ski area, like all the rest, but with fewer trees. Ultimately it was just too good to last, too wonderful to remain the terrain of those willing to work for it. It became a victim of itself.
Nothing is certain in the life except change. What happened to the alpine is a lot like what happens to some small towns. People are attracted by the laid-back people and small-town feel. The empty parking lots, uncrowded stores, and absence of bylaws are charming. They move so they can enjoy the lifestyle. More and more people move in for the same reasons and then, one day, the very thing they moved for has disappeared.
This is a jackal at the Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, India (known world-wide as a bird sanctuary). Obviously, other animals find relief there as well.