Sunday, August 8, 2010

How to spot a fake Vivienne Westwood bag

This guide will help you to spot fake Vivienne Westwood bags a mile away. Fakes help fund criminal groups, who exploit people and make them work in terrible conditions. Also, I bought a bag off eBay once, found out later that it was a fake, and it made me feel cheap. I lost 50 and now the bag is stuck at the bottom of my wardrobe and I never use it.Anyway, to start with there are two main rules to follow...one, most VW bags on eBay are fake. Two, if in doubt, don't buy. Here are some more steps to follow:1 - HerviaGo to hervia.com and browse. Familiarise yourself with the bags - prices, materials, plates, labels, zip pulls, styles etc etc. If you know exactly what you're looking for it makes it easier to spot the fakes. Any VW bag listing on eBay that doesn't have a photo of the plate label inside the bag instantly write off as fake.2 - LocationIf the seller is in China and the bag is authentic I'll eat my hat. Yes, some of the less expensive VW bags are made in China, but look carefully at the label; it's a dead giveaway if the label plate inside the bag says made in Italy but the item location is China. Again, compare the plate photo to hervia.3 - PriceBrand new VW bag, normally 500 ish, selling for 25. Too good to be true? Yes. Labels, tags, dustbags, zip pulls etc can all easily be faked. If it's got a really low starting price and without good reason from the seller in the description, it's fake.4 - PlateInside VW bags is a plate. On the more expensive. leather bags the plate should read 'Vivienne Westwood London Genuine Leather Made in Italy' and the plate is either gold or silver coloured metal. If it says 'Vivienne Westwood Genuine Leather Italy' or some other variation of the wording I mentioned I would be very catious. On the less expensive bags that are made in China the label either says 'Vivienne Westwood Accessories' or 'Vivienne Westwood London' and the plate is leather or leather look material. Again check hervia - sometimes the lettering on the leather or leather look plate is a different colour to the background. Also, it's so easy to steal photos from hervia, so check listing photos against those on the hervia website to check if they've been copied. If it's EXACTLY the same photo is definately stolen. This is a common-sense thing.Once you've confirmed the photo is real, check the label is real by comparing the W, s and o in Westwood to the hervia label. The curve/loop at the top left of the W should be nice and rounded, not squashed or flattened looking. The s is quite stylised and in a unique font, not flat and plain looking. The 'o' has a diagonal break in the top of the circle. Also, check the two 'n's' in Vivienne...they should join up at the bottom. Check the 'tw' in Westwood....they should also join up. Check both of the 'i's' is Vivienne are dotted. Again my instructions may sound strange, but if you are familiar with the labels you'll know what I mean.5 - SellersCheck their feedback, check the other items they have for sale. I've seen a seller with some designer boots for sale, and when I checked her other listings she was having a clear out and all her other stuff for sale was used high quality designer stuff, much of it was used, branded and/or from good shops like m

What tools do you need to install your new kitchen?

Many people forget that they may need to buy some new tools in order to fit their new kitchen or bedroom. Whilst this guide will try to include as much information as possible it is by no means the definitive guide. You could own the entire inventory of Screwfix and still discover that you need something else!


Unlike many kitchen companies, the owners ofThe Kitchen Workshophave many years practical experience in actually installing the products that they sell, starting way back in 1984. It is hoped that this guide is usefull to you.


First of all we need to look at the issue of cost versus quality. Cheap tools are exactly that, cheap. If you have to purchase new tools think about how you are going to use them. If you are a keen DIYer then it will be beneficial to spend a little more on the items, they'll last a good few years. If you feel that after the installation that you are never going to look at a screwdriver again, then buying cheap tools and throwing them away after you've used them is sort of acceptable. In any case, you should always buy the best equipment that you can afford, but this doesn't mean buying a 700 DeWalt radial arm saw just to cut 3 pieces of cornice.


To build your units you'll need some basic tools. Basic tools include a set of assorted screwdrivers that include both flat and posi-drive heads of various sizes. A claw hammer and a club hammer, bolster and chisel.A Stanley knife (or similar) and blades. A fine tooth handsaw and a hacksaw. Pliers, adjustable grips and wrench. A good spirit level of at least 1m in length. Pencils. A set of wood chisels. A mitre saw.


Power tools will be a neccessity, a cordless screwdriver with a spare battery and at charger of at least 1 hour tops this list, some people may put this at the top of their basic tool list. An electric hammer drill and a set of drill bits. In our experience a fairly cheap set of drill bits in a case from the hardware store is the best buy as even the most expensive drill bits can snap and become blunt. The best sets will contain a variety of items, screwdriver bits, hole saws, masonary and wood bits etc. and can cost from around 35. A jigsaw with some good blades, Bosch blades seem to resist twisting more than other makes. A circular saw with a good blade with at least 20 teeth on it. An electric planer is good for skimming the backs of worktops.


Other power tools that you could consider are a table saw and a router. The routeris essential for machining worktop joints, but a decent 1/2 inch machine and the relevent worktop cutting jig will cost quite a lot of money. A cross cut saw will cut the cornice, pelmets and plinth faster and more accurately that a hand mitre saw but a good quality saw can cost a lot.


A pair of saw horses can be very handy, you can buy a plastic set quite cheaply. If you are going to do your own plumbing you will need a pipecutter and possibly some type of pipe bender.Modern push fittings have eliminated the need for a blowlamp.Never attempt to alter the gas supply. If you plan to alter the electrics you will need to be very careful, new legislation has made many alterations in the kitchen illegal for non registered persons to carry out. In any case you'll need the proper insulated tools. It is always recommended that gas and elecrical works are entrusted to registered trades people.


Along with these tools you'll need an assortment of screws and wall plugs, plenty of spare time and a lot of patience. And of course the Great British builders favourite, lots of steaming hot tea.




5 Top eBay Selling Tips for Starting Out

This is quite simple: follow these 5 rules when starting out on eBay. I won't buy from anyone unless these conditions are met:1) Choose an eBay ID to reflect what you're doing - my company is Diamond Line International Ltd., therefore dli-ltd. If you are a business, use either the business name or the product you sell.2) Subscribe to eBay's turbo lister - life becomes so much easier!!!3) Sell as much as possible of absolutely anything to start off with - you need the feedback!4) Send goods the next day - I've paid the money, I want the stuff!5) Keep the buyer posted - use the contact buyer function of My eBay - let them know when goods are packaged and when they are due to be sent out. ALWAYS acknowledge a payment received! This can be done automatically.For listing and style ideas, look at Items from Diamond Line International Ltd.We format all listings using HTML. We then just relist each time we make a sale.Good luck!

Antique Japanese Woodblock prints,Ukiy'oe

The rules for caution on payment remain the same as in my previous gude.



Prints are great fun, the price has come down and the variety increased on e.bay.


Simple rule of thumb is this.......


Buy some books on the subject.


Ask the seller to confirm origin


Look for famous names,eg, Utamaro. If these are cheap be aware that laser copies are very good, for decorative purpose fine.


A good genuine print by say Sharako will cost tens of thousands while by Utamaro may cost 1000 up.


Ask for macro photographs of the print, the paper quality is important and should be hand made.


Many interesting prints can be had for a few ponds but 'Big names' always fetch big money if genuine.


The "Good" buys now are from the later dates,prints with a European influence, Hasui,Gekko and the like, wonderful era....... But be cautious as always. With this in mind I have placed a "Anti Fraud" visitors book on my web site. The concept being that we, in a small way, warn our web community of those out their who are "Stealing from us" by miss describing the print while aware that many will not know the difference between hand made paper of a genuine print or that of a laser copy.


Visit,add your comments both positive or negative but be objective. www.collectorsloot.homestead.com


Greyman

Motorola V3 Video Unlock Software Guide

Motorola V3 Video UnlockThe E-book Motorola V3 Video Unlock Software is without doubt the best to buy, The E-book instruction guide is clear and simple to follow, however, there is one instruction which is not clear, this is the two softwares you need to unload to enable the PTS Phone Programmer. Many ebayers are downloading the software and will then put these into seperate folders, both softwares must be put into the same folder and then continue with the instructions. We hope our guide is of help. Mick4547

The complete guide to MP3:

Looking for a great gift? for a friend or yourself? addicted to music?If you answer yes to the aboven an MP3 player is the tool for YOU!


As you may now be aware there's now a gadget on the high streets called mp3 players. If you are totally unaware of mp3 files or players or even computers in general then here are a few brief tips you may consider before buying an mp3 player.


1) Shape/style: it is vital you buy a player that suits you, if your a simple kind of person then don't go buying an expensive item that looks like something Batman would have on his utility belt! 2) The "size" or capacity of the player: This is the most important specification. This is how many music tracks you can store and save on the player. A good player can store about 300 songs/tracks at a good quality.This is a chart showing the size of player and how many songs it can hold:


128mb = 40


256mb= 60


512mb= 120


1gb= 250


2gb= 500


3gb= 700



...and my third and final tip, the PRICE!


I would advise purchasing online, you can the same technology as in the shops and even better for a lower price. For example, lets say a 1gb mp3 player is for saleat 80 in the shops, it's likely you could get one from an online retailer or online "seller" for half the price!!


Happy Listening,Jamema4

How to make money videotaping weddings!

HOW TO MAKE MONEY VIDEOTAPING WEDDINGS

There is a huge potential market for wedding videos. Just look in your local


paper any summer week and see how many weddings there were. Since almost


every household in the country has a VCR, you can bet that almost every


wedding has a video. Keep in mind, though, that there is also big competi-


tion in this field. If you want to make it, you'll have be sure of two


things: you have the skills necessary, and that you can offer more in your


area.


There's more to taping a wedding than just setting up a camera and turning


it on. If you're married and had a video taken at your wedding, I'm sure


you'll agree. You, the photographer, can expect to be dropped into an


environment of potential conflict. Last minute spats between the bride and


groom, conflicts between family members, still photographers, all can be a


source of headaches for you.



The best way to prevent problems is to set up a meeting with the bride,


groom, close family members, and, if possible, any other photographers that


will be at the service/reception. This way, you can find out exactly what


the family wants, any special shots they will want, any unusual parts to the


ceremony that they may want on tape, how many people will be involved, and


other issues. Keep in mind, the family will be paying you, so they will


probably want to TELL you what you can or can't do. If what they want is


reasonable, don't fight it. That makes your job easier. But, if what they


want is unreasonable, be honest with them, but, by all means, be tactful.


If you can meet with the other photographer(s), discuss where they need to


be to get their best shots, so you and your camera won't be in the way.


Also, this will help you with your planning so they won't be in your video,


and you won't show up in the photos. This brings up the subject of planning.


Planning is all important when it comes to wedding videos. You will be


producing something that the couple will want to view over and over, that


their family and friends will be seeing. It's your best advertisement.


So, you will want it to be the best it can be.


If you know what the ceremony will be like ahead of time, and what special


shots the couple and family will want, you've got the ball in your court.


Be sure to attend the rehearsal, so you can set your equipment up and plan


your camera angles. Since you've planned your work, all you have to do is


work your plan.


Here's an idea of the equipment a well-stocked wedding videographer should


have or have access to:


- At least two VHS camcorders with high-quality low-light


functions


- At least one VHS VCR for editing and dubbing


- At least one free-standing light for each camera


- A tripod for each camera, preferably ones with a large range


of heights


- At least two twelve hours of batteries for the camera


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- The best quality wireless microphone you can afford


(one for each camera)


- All necessary cables, with spares


- Extra tapes, the best quality available.


Don't let this list scare you off. If you don't own all this, you don't


have to rush out and empty your bank account. You can either rent what you


need, or barter your services with someone who has the equipment. Then,


pick up the stuff you need piece by piece. Also, keep your eyes open for


good quality used equipment.


Other equipment you may want to consider would include a good video editor


deck, for putting your finished product together; a film-to-tape camera


attachment (can be used to create a montage of scenes from old home movies


of the couple when they were kids - a great service to offer and a unique


marketing point to offer!); and a graphics/title generator.


So, you may have wondered, why would you need more than one camera? If you


have two cameras set up, you:


- can have different angles of the action, instead of the


standard wedding video, which has a half-hour of a still camera; and



- you're covered if one of the cameras messes up or lighting


is bad.


Make sure your videos are special, different from the run-of-the-mill


wedding videos. Try to get a camera aimed toward the faces of the couple,


so you can capture them during the vows, and at other points. This will


also provide close-up footage to edit in at slow points. Try to have a


camera at the end of the aisle, so you can catch the exit of the bride and


groom. This camera could also be used to show the bride from the back,


entering the ceremony, an angle that you rarely see in a wedding video.


If possible, get or draw up a floor plan of the location of the ceremony.


It will help you plan your camera placement and shots.


Position your microphones where they'll do the most good. If possible, get


either the bride or the groom to wear one, and get the minister or celebrant


to wear one. This way, you'll have crisp, clear sound. Just remember to


warn the bride and groom not to whisper anything they wouldn't want the


microphone to pick up! (You can always edit out any unwanted sound.)


Other places you may want a camera would be (with the couple in the 12


o'clock position): 10:00 or 2:00. Use the camera to get views of the


crowd, the parents of the couple (edit a shot of them in during the vows -


catch the emotion of the ceremony), and the entrance of the attendants.


If the ceremony is a specialized ethnic ceremony (becoming more popular,


especially with Black Americans) or unusual, you should look for points of


interest to capture on tape which will show the special meanings and


emotions of the ceremony. If the couple and family can watch your tape and


feel the same emotions they had during the actual ceremony, your tape is a


winner!


Technical skills are important, but they can be learned. The most crucial


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skills are smooth panning and zooming. Before you ever do your first PAID


wedding, practice with another event - for free. Practice makes for fluency.


The worst wedding video is the most common: one stationary camera, no zooms,


never moving. People look around when they're at a wedding, and so should


the camera, within reason. Practice a slow, smooth pan that keep the


subject in the frame of the camera. Practice smooth zooms that aren't


jerky, and aren't too close or too far from the subject.


You've probably figured that you'll need a helper for the actual taping.


Unless the only camera that will pan and zoom is the one you're operating,


and the others are stationary, you'll need someone. Be sure your helper is


well-trained, with skills up to par with yourself. Ideas: a friend who


also has a videocamera (here's a way to save on equipment costs); a college


or high-school kid with video experience (they're becoming more common, as


more and more schools add video classes to their curriculum); or a


free-lancer (possibly a crew member from the public access channel at your


cable station).


At the reception, it's important to get the "traditional" events: the


garter/ bouquet toss, cutting the cake, toasts, etc. Use the same


guidelines as before: keep in mind what's important to have in the frame,


and try to tape it smoothly. A good idea may be to talk to the relatives of


the couple and see if some of them would want to say a few words about the


couple on tape (try to do this early in the reception, before a lot of


drinks have been served!).


If your videos are special and well-produced, you should be able to charge


fees that are toward the top range in your area. Premium wedding


videographers in large areas should be able to get $750 to $1000 for a


wedding. Discretely call other videographers in your area to get an idea


of what the range is. Marketing ideas:


(1) Scan your newspaper for engagement announcements. Then, use your


computer's word processor to print out personalized letters detailing your


services. Use your library's city directory to find the addresses you need.


Send the letters and a brochure to the lucky couples.


(2) Set up a referral network with florists, formalwear shops, printers,


and other wedding-related retailers in your area. You could offer them a


set commission fee each time a referral leads to a taping job.



(3) Find a wedding photographer in your area who doesn't currently offer


video. Set up a deal where your photo and video services could be offered


as a package.



(4) Participate in local bridal shows. These are attended by people who


will be marrying soon, qualified prospects for your services. Have plenty


of your brochures and marketing materials handy, so you don't run out. A


good idea is to have one of your best videos playing on a monitor at the


show (get permission from the couple on tape first, maybe offer them a


discount in exchange for letting you use their tape for marketing purposes).


(5) Advertise in your newspaper's wedding supplement. Most newspapers


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publish at least one a year.


If your taping was simple, with only one camera, you may be able to deliver


the tape to the couple at the end of the wedding. If more extensive editing


needs to be done, make sure you give the couple a realistic date when they


can expect the tape. Don't give them a time that will leave you rushed. If


you don't have your own editing equipment, check ahead with your local cable


station. Many times, they have facilities for their public access station


which can be rented. Many also offer short courses in video editing which


are worth checking into.