Canon Powershot A4000 IS a solid point-and-shoot camera

Posted on May 18, 2012 by guccihandbags10

Recently, there has been an increasing chorus of people who claim that standalone cameras are on the way out, due to the rise of strong smartphone cameras. And while a dent has certainly been made in the camera market, there is still a lot of demand for standalone cameras, which can offer more variety and a greater amount of customization for the avid photographer and are now so small and light they are equally as portable as a smartphone.High-end cameras can get pretty pricey if you’re really serious, but if you’re the average user you’re probably looking to stay in the under $200 range.

Canon has some new releases in this area, including the PowerShot A4000 IS, which I recently got to check out. I’ll let you know how it performed and where it fits in the overall camera market.Before we get to performance, let’s get looks out of the way. The A4000 IS weighs in at a very light 5.11 ounces — including battery and memory card. It’s one of the least weighty cameras I’ve had the opportunity to try out, making it extremely portable and easy to fit in your pocket or a small purse.Overall dimensions on the camera are 3.75 x 2.22 x 0.96 in, meaning it is less than in inch thick.

The lens retracts when the camera is turned off, so it can maintain that slim profile.The controls on the A4000 IS are a little small are hard to use at first, but they are easy to learn and get used to. It’s simple to open up what you’ve shot and browse through and see how it looks.The one touch button to film a video is great, as you do not need to hunt through menus to find that option. There is also a one-touch “help” button if you’re not sure how to do a specific function on the camera.Fashion focused buyers can choose from a variety of colors — black, silver, blue, red, and pink.

 
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New mom Jessica Simpson launches line of maternity clothes

Posted on May 17, 2012 by guccihandbags10

New mom Jessica Simpson knows what it’s like to look for stylish clothes while very pregnant.The 31-year-old singer-actress, who gave birth to daughter Maxwell Drew Johnson on May 1, announced Monday a partnership between Camuto Group, the master licensee behind her label, and retailer Destination Maternity for a line of clothing for moms-to-be.The clothes, with a hint of a 1970s vibe, will be in stores in the fall. The “Fashion Star” mentor said she’ll aim for clothes “flattering to your baby bump.”Simpson famously tweeted while pregnant that she dreamed she went to the hospital wearing an animal-print kaftan. She also famously posed without clothes for an Elle magazine cover.

The new collection builds on Simpson’s already strong fashion portfolio, with 24 product categories, including clothes, jewelry, shoes and beauty products.It is likely to boost Simpson’s earning power, which Forbes put at $14 million for 2011-2012, including payment from licensing deals and a regular gig mentoring on NBC’s “Fashion Star” reality competition show.Forbes predicts a post-baby earning bump from multiple revenue streams, including product endorsements and new lines like the one just announced.The Clothing & Footwear Wholesaling industry has a low level of market share concentration, with no major players.

Industry players usually specialise in a certain type of stock, whether it be clothing or shoes, which means concentration is low. Although industry concentration remains low, trends across other wholesale industries suggest the industry may experience increased concentration levels in the future. Greater consolidation within the industry would allow companies to achieve greater economies of scale and to function more profitably.

 

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PLA Sends Entertainment Unit to Receive Troops in South China Sea

Posted on May 15, 2012 by guccihandbags10

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has sent a song-and-dance unit to Xisha Islands in the South China Sea to provide entertainment for officers and soldiers garrisoned at the tropical territory.The unit, commissioned by the PLA’s General Political Department, sent regards and appreciation to the garrison with art performances through a tour to five major islands, including the largest Yongxing Island, in the area from May 9 to 12.

Comprising a tenor who was taught by Placido Dominggo, a pop singing star and a Tibetan singer, the unit entertained the soldiers some of whom have served on the islands for more than 16 years.The Xisha Islands, known as the Paracel Islands for the West, has been a traditional fishing area of Chinese for hundreds of years. Chinese government recovered the islands in 1946 after Japanese invaders surrendered.

In 1974, China took the complete control of the Xisha Islands through a naval conflict with the South Vietnam.Chinese government’s administrative division for the South China Sea, Administration Office for the Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha Islands of Hainan Province, is stationed at Yongxing Island.

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Dannielynn Birkhead Dresses Up for the Kentucky Derby

Posted on May 10, 2012 by guccihandbags10

Dannielynn Birkhead, the five-year daughter of Anna Nicole Smith and Larry Birkhead, made a rare appearance at this year’s Kentucky Derby in Louisville. Wearing a flowery hat and a floral dress, the little girl seemed to enjoy her time at Churchill Downs over the weekend. She looks like a happy, well-adjusted little girl, which is good considering the vast amount of extreme sadness that swept over her life during her infancy.

Birkhead, who was eager to separate his daughter from the lifestyle that ultimately claimed the life of her mother, decided move Dannielynn back to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Her mother, as you may recall, died when she was just five months old. His eagerness to keep her away from the madness and mayhem that consumed her family is entirely understandable.However, nothing from the past seemed to darken their Derby Day experience.Dannielynn spent the day with her father, checking out horses and attempting to navigate the tricky waters of the Turf Club.

The little girl’s visit to Churchill Downs must have been bittersweet for Larry, as this was the place where he met Dannielynn’s mother back in 2004.When asked how his daughter was enjoying the event, Birkhead stated, “She is having a great day but is more excited to go to Toys ‘R’ Us after the race.” Strangely, I can totally relate to that. However, something tells me that Dannielynn and her father will be back next year.Atiyah Anderson made her dress in three days. And if Emily Bankes wins, “she will buy a dress with the money for next year’s prom, since she’s not going this year, and use a bit for her creative pursuits, too.”

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What is the best type of kitchen flooring for you ?

Posted on May 9, 2012 by guccihandbags10

There are five basic fiber types. The most popular synthetic fiber is well-known for its durability in high traffic areas and resistance towards soil and stains. “Solution-dyed” nylon is best for rooms where sunlight is constant as it is colorfast.Coming in a close second is a fiber called “olefin” (many Berber carpets are made of this) which is also a strong stain-resistant, color-fast material. Polyester, even though a slightly less expensive fiber, is harder to clean so it is not recommended for high traffic areas. Acrylic fibers are for those who want the general appearance and touch of wool but with good moisture and mildew resistance. Then finally the most uxorious carpet is made from wool. It is soft, very resilient and its price often reflects that.

Many manufacturers blend these fibers together to get a good combination of there different characteristics.The one main thing to remember if you choose to install carpet is to select the right pad. The cushion of this is what ultimately provides the support for absorbing the level of foot traffic in that area. Selecting the right one will not only create the comfort level you want but also extend the life of your carpet. If there is any doubt it is always advised to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.Vinyl (also known as “resilient flooring”) is usually a good choice is you spend a lot of time in the kitchen as it yields, making it comfortable to stand on.

It is also a product that is known for the old cliché “you get what you pay for”. Usually the more expensive the vinyl floor is, the longer it will last. Its durability is measured by the “wear layer” (The thicker the layer, the more it will cost.). It is manufactured in whole sheets or in tiles. Even though installing sheet vinyl makes for fewer seams to clean dirt out of, it is imperative to take into consideration that if the floor gets cracked or burned, many times the whole floor will need to be replaced. If tiles are used, the day-to-day maintenance is harder as the cracks will collect dirt and/or liquids but only the individual tiles need to be taken up in the case of any damage.

 

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Baby monitors allow video access to your home

Posted on May 7, 2012 by guccihandbags10

Baby monitors can be a great asset for parents trying to keep a watchful eye over their little ones, but have you ever thought about who might be watching you?”I saw arms reach in and pick up what I thought was my child and even as I tell this story I get chills,” recalls parent Danielle Kelly.  Kelly vividly remembers the night she thought someone was trying to abduct her baby. She ran through the house in sheer panic. To her surprise, she saw little David nestled warmly in his crib, undisturbed.”We had picked up a feed of someone in our neighborhood, and that was very scary,” says Kelly.

And guess what, it happens more often than you’d think.”I can tell you that it’s very easy to do,” says wireless expert, Gary Savage. He says the reason why is simple. There aren’t enough audio and video frequencies to go around. So many times, lines get crossed.”You know baby video monitors are still in their infancy. So it is still possible to pick up feeds from neighbors or a passerby,” explains Savage.Now imagine putting that power in the hands of the wrong person who’s watching your every move. With that realistic fear in mind, we decided to put two audio and two video baby monitors to the test.

In less than ten minutes, we can see a clear shot inside a crib on our monitor, but no baby.”It’s now 12:48 p.m. so this is about 20 minutes in and a baby was just placed inside this crib literally seconds ago. We’re going to try to track down which house this is coming from,” reports WMBF News Anchor Heather Biance while conducting the investigation.WMBF News crew knocked on the door of Jason Cox, a dad with a 1-year-old absolutely shocked at what he was seeing on our monitor.”It’s really freaky,” admits Cox. “Can you see how somebody with the wrong intentions could use this in a bad way,” asks Biance.

 

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SF State’s Runway 2012 fashion show showcases secondhand clothing

Posted on May 3, 2012 by guccihandbags10

Armed with scissors, pins and sewing machines, students in the Advanced Apparel Design Problems class transformed clothing they found at a Goodwill store into new and trendy outfits that will grace the runway along with their senior collections tomorrow at “Runway 2012: Defined.”The Fashion Network Association’s Spring 2012 fashion show not only gives students an opportunity to show off their work, but is also the culmination of a project created by three SF State professors who teamed up with Goodwill to promote sustainability.

Professors Connie Ulasewicz, of apparel merchandise and design, Hamid Khani, of broadcast and electronic communication arts, and Kathy O’Donnell, of marketing, wanted to find a community engagement that students from all of these areas could be involved with. Their goal was to promote the used-clothes recycler to a younger generation of college students.The marketing students conducted surveys to find out why students did or didn’t shop there. The people from broadcast and electronic communication arts turned that information into a visual, and those from ADM created window displays at two Goodwill stores with the outfits they made.

“These students are millennial students and have a better idea of what students and other people want, so they can help support the concept of Goodwill, so all of us together are making a difference,” Ulasewicz said.This was the first time that professor Adrian Leong had given this assignment to his design students, who work on their required senior fashion collection in his Advanced Apparel and Design Problems class. Each student was given a $15 voucher that they could spend at the Goodwill As-Is Store, which is where clothes from the other Bay Area Goodwill stores go after they have surpassed their shelf life of four weeks. The students were given 30 minutes to search through the large blue bins and racks of used clothes. Each piece sold for just a few dollars before the store was open to the general public.

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HOM Furniture adds flooring to six Twin Cities stores

Posted on May 2, 2012 by guccihandbags10

HOM Furniture says it is expanding its array of flooring products with its new World Floor and Rugs department.The Top 100 retailer already sells area rugs in its World Rugs department. It recently added the other flooring products to its six Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area showrooms. Offerings include hardwood, stone, tile, vinyl and laminate flooring and granite, marble, quartz and other stone countertops.

“In response to strong customer demand, we dramatically transformed our World Rugs departments to include a comprehensive selection of solid and engineered hardwood floors, bamboo, cork, ceramic tile, vinyl and laminate flooring,” Rodney Johansen, CEO, said in a statement. “The customer will not be disappointed in the selection of top quality or name brands in our showrooms.”The company said its flooring design team also has received additional training in the new categories to help customers select flooring and countertop products for their homes. The team assists with the coordination of colors and pattern designs and also provides custom measurement services, installation and other support and supplies.

World Floor and Rugs is an authorized Shaw carpet gallery and displays a full line of Karastan carpets. Its other brands include Masland, Mannington, Tuftex, Congoleum and others.Seven who bid more than $500 for labor and materials face misdemeanor charges for contracting without a license. Some also must appear in court for illegal advertising. Contractors must place their license numbers in all advertisements.The nine workers bid on painting, flooring and concrete jobs during a sting, according to the Contractors State License Board. The board’s investigative fraud team set up an undercover operation on Tuesday in a single-family home in Lincoln.

 

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Realtors to collect clothing donations

Posted on April 27, 2012 by guccihandbags10

In partnership with the Yuma Sun and RE Magazine, the Yuma Association of Realtors will hold a clothing drive during open houses this weekend to benefit the Assistance League of Yuma.Collection bins for clothing donations will be placed at open houses throughout Yuma on Saturday as part of the National Association of Realtors Open House Weekend.People are encouraged to bring new or gently used clothing they no longer need or use and drop it off while touring local homes that are for sale at the various open houses.For a schedule of open houses being held this weekend, check out real estate advertisements in Friday’s Yuma Sun and Saturday’s issue of RE Magazine.

The clothing will be donated to the Assistance League for sale in its thrift store at 1054 S. 4th Ave. Proceeds from the thrift store help fund the Assistance League’s various programs to benefit the community.Among them is the ALBY program that provides teddy bears to the police and fire departments to give to trauma victims. The Assistance League also creates Assault Survivor Kits, funds the Assistance League of Yuma Scholarship Program and Operation School Bell, along with Las Dedicadas Auxiliary and its programs.”The Yuma Association of Realtors was looking for ways to give back to the community,” said Bobbie Cooper, public relations chair for the organization. “Assistance League needed clothing donations to help stock the thrift store.”

“The donation of clothing will greatly assist us in sales at our thrift shop,” said Betty Borland, a member of the Assistance League. “As you know, the resources gained from thrift shop sales enable us to purchase the clothing, shoes and books that are given to needy children throughout the county. The need is great and we anticipate another very busy year for Operation School Bell.”Cooper noted that the clothing drive is but one of numerous projects undertaken by the Yuma Association of Realtors to help the community. “It’s part of our outreach program to ensure donations stay in Yuma.”Nearly half of homebuyers visit open houses during their home search, according to the 2011 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors.

 

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Taking Photos of Firefighters, Moving the Flash Off-Camera

Posted on April 25, 2012 by guccihandbags10

Have a question about digital photography? Send it to me. I reply to as many as I can–though given the quantity of e-mails that I get, I can’t promise a personal reply to each one. I round up the most interesting questions about once a month here in Digital Focus.For more frequently asked questions, read my newsletters from January, February, and March.I take photos of firefighters, which during the day is not a problem. But at night, the reflective strips on their uniforms reflect my flash, and resulting glare takes over the photo, ruining the shots. I have tried using a diffuser, but I still end up with the same mess.

Is there some way around this?I have a couple of suggestions, Karen. Your reflection problem stems from the fact that you’re using an on-camera flash. It’s similar to the red eye effect: The light from your flash hits the reflectors then bounces straight back at the camera, which causes the ugly glare you get in your photos. A diffuser won’t solve the problem, since the light source is still very close to the lens. Consequently, the solution is to move or eliminate the flash.If there’s enough ambient light where you’re shooting, try to turn off the flash and shoot using a very high ISO setting.

Another approach is to move the light source off the camera so the light won’t reflect right back into the lens. If you can mount your flash externally, such as on a handheld flash bracket, that might do the trick. You can get an inexpensive cable to connect the flash to the camera.You’ve stumbled upon something that confuses a lot of people. Your photo editor’s crop tool doesn’t actually resize photos, even when you choose a preset dimension like 4 by 6 inches. Cropping lets you cut away the parts of the photo you don’t want while you trim the photo to a new aspect ratio. This is handy because digital cameras don’t take pictures in standard frame-ready proportions like 4-by-6 or 5-by-7 inches.

 

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