Thursday, August 15, 2019

3376. Constipated cat - recurring constipation X rays



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ANOTHER CAT HAS SEVERE CONSTIPATION




Tuesday, August 13, 2019

3375. Ultimate Internet Marketing Strategies & Tactics for turbulent times - Dr Michael Teng

2009 by Corporate Turnaraound Cente Pte ltd


8th floor NLB Victoria St




www.corporateturnaroundcentre.com


daughter Ms Janelle Teng    www.starwarcard.com


CHAPTER ONE. Direct sales
1. Creatre Hope. Website that sells. Best with informational products.  Also physical products.


2. Try to instill a feeling of urgency.


3. Try to look like a figure of authority.


4. Try to appear impartial


5. Gie importance to fear.


6. Try to be as UNUSUAL as possible.


CHAPTER TWO: Branding
CHAPTER THREE: Listing building
CHAPTER FOUR: Market testing with good adwords
CHAPTER FIVE: Market Analysis





















Saturday, August 10, 2019

3374. Dachshund elbow tumour electroexcision and Z-plasty

Today is DAY 11.,  August 18, 2019.  It is 11 days after surgery of this Dachshund, M, 4 years old.
You can see the dog had the left elbow stitched up. The stitches had not broken down or infected.








IMAGES 




Z-PLASTY IN ELBOW TUMOUR SURGERY.
A Be Kind To Pets Veterinary Educational Video, sponsored by Toa Payoh Vets.


This video shows the effectives of a surgical procedure called Z-PLASTY. This procedure is used to relieve tension in a mobile area such as the elbow, so that the stitches will not break down after removal of a large elbow tumour. It involves two long skin incisions on opposite sides of a circular wound, undermining the skin and then stitching up the whole area. The end result is a "Z", hence the name Z-PLASTY.


DAY -5



Antibiotics and E-collar for 5 days before operation


DAY 1









Benign cutaneous histiocytoma



DAY 2 BLEEDING  NO STITCH BREAKDOWN
 DAY 11   All ok with stitches




UPDATE IN FEB 2020 - 6 MONTHS LATER.



DAY 11

FINAL VIDEO




ADDITIONAL IMAGES
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Thursday, August 8, 2019

3373. Singapore wildlife: Javan mynahs in Singapore. A rare black-winged myna.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS: Focus on eye, single point focus. Dodge eyeball with Photoshop to brighten it.

Canon R5, AV, 105mm, 1/125sec, f/11, ISO 400. Lens is 24 - 105mm

The Javan Mynah was high up and far aawy on the roof of The Singapore Recreation Club on 27 Mar. It was getting dark, being close to 7pm.

I took 9 shots. Only this image shows a sharp eyeball! Therefore, if I shot 1 image, unlikely to get any sharp image. 

 

The Javan mynah is considered a pest. Nowadays, you'll be fortunate to see 2-5 birds, as the authorities have had efficiently culled them. Should be extinct in 2025.

 #myna
#mynah
#javanmyna
#singapore
#toapayohvets
#kongyuensing
#singkongyuen
#shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets

TO BUY PHOTO:
www.shutterstock.com/g/toapayohvets

UPDATE:
https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-rare-black-tailed-mynah-white-mynah.html

 

 

 

 


 

 




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6 Dec 2020. MYNAS IN SINGAPORE

The Javan Myna (black plumage) is the predominant species in Singapore for the past decade or so. It enters windows of homes, hawker centres and garbage bins to eat food.  It teaches a person to be proactive and flexible to survive in this world. Pest control companies have had reduced their population.

The Common Myna (brown plumage) is a rare myna nowadays. I saw this loner on 15 Apr 2020 (Singapore Covid-19 lockdown) in Yio Chu Kang Crescent.


The black winged Myna is extremely rare. I saw around two in Yio Chu Kang Crescent for the past 3 years.



The Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa) is also the most unique-looking with yellow facial wattles and an orange bill that has a yellow tip. It is popular in the bird trade. I have not seen any as it is found in forested areas and does not associate with people.

MORE IMAGES OF Singapore mynas and other birds at:

https://2010vets.blogspot.com/2019/08/a-rare-black-tailed-mynah-white-mynah.html

 

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nparksbuzz/issue-45-vol-2-2020/lifestyle/recreation-and-activities/what's-that-black-bird





The black mynahs are very commonly seen daily in the public areas
in Singapore. Some images are as follows:

The Javan Myna



Javan Myna



Previously endemic to the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali, the Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) was reportedly introduced to Singapore in the 1920s through the caged bird trade. 

It is primarily grey with a yellow bill and eyes, and two distinct white patches that can clearly be seen on the underside of its wings in flight. Since becoming established in Singapore, this invasive species has flourished and is now the most commonly found bird in the country.
















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Common mynaAcridotheres tristis


By Yotam Orchan, Assaf Shwartz - Amassing Efforts against Alien Invasive Species in Europe. Shirley SM, Kark S, PLoS Biology Vol. 4/8/2006, e279. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0040279, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1480806


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Common Myna

Once a commonly found bird in Singapore, the Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis) is a native species that has declined due to competition with the introduced Javan Myna.
It can be distinguished from the Javan Myna by the yellow skin around its eyes and brown body. 


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The black-winged Myna
 
 
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Wednesday, August 7, 2019

3372. Writing. First 10 pages.

Writer's Digest  Mar/Apr 2019
Page Master - Laura Zats


The quality of the first 10 pages - stressful or fearful for a well-informed author.
99% of the time, an agent stops reading a partial submission before Page 10. Agaents get 10,000 queries a year. No time to find the plot after 50 pages.


Opening pages of the book are the most imortant pages of the book. 2 reasons:
1. Browsing readers use the first pages as a sample to decide to buy or not to buy.
2. More basic reason: You have to read the beginning to get to the rest of the book. If they don't like the protagonist on page 5.... no need to read further.

3371. Self-Publishing. New rules. New strategies. New paths to success. By Orna Ross. Writer's Digest Mar/Apr 2019.

Aug 7, 2019

Self-Publishing. New rules. New strategies. New paths to success. By Orna Ross. Writer's Digest  Mar/Apr 2019


1. Independent authors must position themselves as brands and equip themselves with business savvy to succeed


2. Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) founded by Orna Ross
to encourage ethics and excellence in author-publishing.


3.  Self-publishing 1.0.  Print-on-demand in the 90s
     2.0. Amazon  e-reader and app, the Kindle, a digital publishing platform, Kindle Direct Publishing and a new payment process based on commission on sales instead of royalties and advances. Amazon is the largest bookstosre in the world. Audiobook and print publishing and other services followed such as Apple iBooks, Nook, Kobo etc. The author, NOT the platform,  became the publisher. Circumvent gatekeepers.


Publishing has 7 tangible proceses:
editorial, design, production, distribution, marketing, promotion and rights licensing. Now self-publishing is thriving.  In 2017, Bowker that registers ISBN numbers in the US says it has passed 1 million for the first time.

At ALLi, 7% of membership is "Authorpreneur" category = sold more than 50,000 books in the past 2 years. A book can earn over $100,000 annually without being on a best-seller list.

Self-publishing 3.0, many authors are creative entrepreneurs, running successful and sustainable digital businesses.

Being "discoverable" in an ocean of books, finding your readers, building a brand and growing a business are all challenging. They are creative challenges unlike dispiriting rounds of REJECTION that were the only path in the past.

The state of the mind distinguishes indie authors: being creative directors of our books and author businesses. With the vast number of distribution, marketing and publicity options, we can each a truly global readership.

New technologies - artificial intelligence,  virtual reality, voice search and blockchain seem set to shake up the book business.

Whatever  changes, one thing remain constant. Only authors who have developed the INDIE MINDSET - an empowered, creative attitude that says, "I can do that!" are well placed to take advantage of opportunities.

Orna Ross is director of the Alliance of Independent Authors


Thursday, August 1, 2019

3370. How to research before writing a book.

How to research before writing a book

Most writers need to do research - to generate ideas, find authentic content for stories, check facts and search for publication opportunities. Unerstand the basic processes and different sources can make the research experience more enjoyable and save a lot of time.
Efficient research is about systematically investigating materials in order to discover or verify information. Making a research plan is the first step of being systematic.

Why do you need a research plan?

Preparing a plan for your research before you start writing will help you to:

  • Clarify what your research needs are. When you know what you are looking for, it’s easier to find it!
  • Remember what you need to find out. The more complex your research needs, the more important it is to write everything down. 
  • Stay focussed. When you come across material that’s interesting but irrelevant, you can get sidetracked. Having a concrete plan in front of you can minimise the temptation.
  • Keep track. As you go about doing research, you can tick off all the objectives you’ve completed.

How to prepare a research plan

Start by jotting down what you need to find out. It’s often useful to write down specific questions as opposed to general themes. For example, ‘Bathing customs during the Victorian era’ might lead you to research what these customs were, whereas ‘How did the Victorian bathing customs come about?’ reminds you to search for their history and reasons behind them.


Once you are clear what you are after, organise your questions. Group similar topics and questions together. This will make your research more manageable. If you have a very large project, you could make a separate plan for each of the major elements. For instance, if you are writing a travel guide for Europe, you could research each country separately.


Now, look at the questions and work out which methods and sources would be most likely to provide satisfactory answers. Do you need to read books, journals, newspapers or magazines? Do you need to consult archival material, interview people or prepare questionnaires? Can you use the internet to access relevant materials? Perhaps you need to use a combination of sources? Don’t forget that sources go beyond text and words.


Audio-visual material can help you to tap into different sounds and images. You can also observe people, places and objects by using all of your five senses: looking, listening, smelling, tasting and feeling.


Once you know which sources to use, make a note of these next to the questions. Include their locations, too. For example, if you know that the books you need are in different libraries, write down which books are where. Jot down any other information or reminders for yourself, too.
Your rough research plan is now ready. It’s usual to treat it as an evolving document: it functions best when you develop and modify it as you go along and learn more about your research area. Remember to keep it up to date.

Is your research project feasible?

Before you start researching, consider the following:
  • Does the information you require exist?
  • Can you access the required sources? For example, can you access the needed archival material or travel to another country?
  • Do you have the time to do the research?
  • Can you afford to do the research? Bear in mind that travelling, buying books and photocopying can be expensive.
  • Do you have the necessary skills to carry out the research? For example, if the material is written in another language, you need to be able to understand that language or have assistance from someone who does. 
If you answered ‘no’ to any of these questions, you should rethink your project and modify it so that it becomes feasible.

Tips for organising your research

  • Decide which questions need answering first. Working from the more general questions towards the more specific ones is often a useful strategy. For example, if you are writing about the Victorians, get a general feel for that historical period first before getting down to all the details.
  • It’s virtually impossible to consult all the different sources relating to your subject area. Therefore, start with the most relevant sources and keep digging deeper until you’ve found your answers.
  • Plan when and where you will consult all the needed sources. If you have to travel long distances to get to libraries or archives, make sure you have a clear list of tasks with you. This will help you to avoid any unnecessary further trips.
Research can be very enjoyable when you get into the swing of things. However, it’s worth remembering that ultimately it is only a means to an end: writing. So, don’t use research as a way to procrastinate. Start writing as soon as possible.  


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Women of Wakefield - Gaynor Haliday

Struggle and suffrage in Wakefield. Women's lives and he fight for equality.

1. First-hand archive material - minutes of women's organisations' meetings; records of the Wakefield refuge for discharged female prisoners; council meetings; medical officer reports; csnsus information, trad directories, school records, nursing records, the 1866 suffrage petition etc

newspaper reports, journals, various online resources including creating entire family trees for some of the women I was investigating.

Lucky break - Met a fellow dog-walker. MD of Double Two Shirts employing women. retired directors of a sister company, a major employment of women in Wakefield. Loaned family scrapbook.

Met authors Struggle and suffrage in Halifax, Struggle and Suffrage in Bradford.
So many outstanding women's stories have been revealed, untold stories of women's roles in the lives of the people of Wakefield and the plethora of tales of its menfolk.

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www,paulroland.net  More than 50 non-fiction books published by major publishers, small press imprints - Paul Roland, professional freelance authr for nearly a40 years. Never considered writing to be work.

The "trick" is to find interest and enthusiasm for that subject. If I'm drawn into the world I am writing about and care for the characters, then presumably the reader will too.

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Travelling for research -

1. Make sure to take a notebook to jot down any inspiration.
2. Take/download photos of places and scenes that attract you - to create a mood board of sorts that you can refer back to

3. Schedule an in-person or phone interview with a prominent townsperson or historian for a first-hand account

4. Interact with locals. Visit town newspapers' website, google menus of local diner, scroll around town virtr5ually on Google Maps, wathc a film/YouRTube video to pick up on dialect etc.  Be wary of making characers recognisable true-to-life, you need permission to include certain details in your work.

5. good luck, have a prouctive and fun time researching travelling and writing. Be brave, adventurous and be safe.   

 



Sunday, July 28, 2019

3368. Photography. Stock images - photography./Register with shuttlestock for beginners



3 Mar 2020

Shoot Stock - Technique
Amateur Photographer  2 Nov 2019

Interview with Matthew Horwood
Professional photographer and stock library contributor.
Contributes editorial stock images to news agencies

1. He supplies Alamy and Getty. Getty has good reach.  11,000 with Alamy and 8000 with Getty. See
www.bapla.org.uk lists more than 100 agencies. 
British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies

2. Variety and quality more important than numbers. 
Uploaded 1,000-2,000 before he sees regular monthly sales.

3. Images exclusive to the agency - Alamy pays 50:50, but 40:60 for non-exclusive.


4. It takes time to make a good income. Most of his photography income is from commissioned work for PR clients and news agencies. Usually commissioned work leads to stock images.

5. A lot of time using the mirrorless Nikon Z7 - the small size and high resolution makes it perfect for stock when you want to pack light.  

6. What sells well? Rights-managed editorial images mostly with a news theme. Political conference to images highlighting environmental issues.  Also images related to ongoing issues sell well e.g. high street closures

7. Do you write the keywords yourself? Yes. use software Photo Mechanic to keyword images. Incredibly fast, autocompletion of keywords, keyword libraries, structured/nested keywords etc. Keywording is one of the most important parts of the process. If a customer can't find you, they can't buy the images. 

8. Is it a good idea to include people in your pictures? Yes, if the person's identity is central to the image - politician or celebrity. Close-up of hands on a walking stick, doctor holding test tubes.

9 A strong stock image - whether it tells a story quickly and directly. Anything new or different is a bonus. More obscure , lesser photographed pic seem to sell well cf. sunsets or beaches e.g. hand filling up a car with petrol. 

 
10. Current trends in stock? Brexit, sugar tax, high street shop closures, environmental issues, gig economy worker, social and housing issues.


Many stock libraries list 'picture needs' on their websites---alamy 'What should I shoot'. Read up on latest photography trends for inspiration and ideas.

11. Listen to news/read papers for leads?
Yes. Read online news. Make list of potential stock images. Some need planning. 

MATTHEW'S TOP TIPS FOR SELLING STOCK
1. Spot trends - market not saturated with stock- sells better
2. Be efficient. Try to keyword, caption and upload your stock shots asap. Make it a routine. Newer images - Buyers often search for images in the order they were taken.  


3. Keyword carefully. Details matter. Use keywording software like Photo Mechanic.

4. Watch the news. Online news. News outlets buy stock images every day. Make list of ideas for stock images.  useful.

5. Quality over quantity. 

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AP'S TO TIPS FOR MAXIMISING SALES

1. Keep costs down. Shoot stock during work/travel.


2. Stay local. Better than Eiffel Tower or Santorini. Local landmarks, towns and villages - imagine you are a tourist in your own neighbourhood.

3. Remain flexible. Do research, use google map. If scaffolding in building, this could be a unique opportunity for valuable stock 
images 

4. Display as thumbnails. Look at everything as a thumbnail. If it does not stand out, tweak it or don't submit it. 

5. Make connections.  If you don't ask, you don't get.

6. Aim high. Achievable goals. e.g. one image a month. Be patient. Take camera out everywhere you go. 










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Jul 28, 2019
TIPS FROM NICOLE GLASS


1.  https://www.shutterstock.com/g/zdenkadarula
I love to photograph people, business, medical, children and abstract.

Zdenka Darula spoke on Nicole Glass website

1. Videos earn more. Learn how to do it.
2. Can make a full-time if research trends, effort and skills, and create more of the in-demand images for shutterstock.
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2. Uploading branded products to shuttlestock - illustrative editorial images

ILLUSTRATIVE Editorial image  (need really amazing and good quality), high demand but not supersaturated categories..

Smaller brands
Famous Combine with other products or unique ways.
MUST KEY in "Illustrative" "Editorial".
Cannot add or remove  ie.. NO ALETERATION. Can colour enhance



v. regular editorial image (document event e.g. politics, protest,  no need so sharp and high quality)




Friday, July 26, 2019

3367. A panting Shih Tzu. Lung nodules, enlarged heart and liver.



Not photoshopped








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