Model: Sony KDL-52XBR9
Description: 52" LCD TV 1080p resolution
Reviewer: Robert Wiley with Jack Burden
Date: Fall/Winter 2009
Sony Bravia KDL-52XBR9 Review
A shot of an SI Swimsuit edition clip of Marissa Miller on the set - available from the Sony XBR's Bravia Internet connection.
Test and Optimum Viewing Distance: 15 feet
Calibration
See full
calibration results
Calibration Notes: The XBR9 was more difficult to calibrate than many recent TVs. There is error occuring in varying ire points creating a condundrum in where to tighten up color and where to just allow it to fall where it will. Gain controls may only be reduced on the XBR9, when we needed to drive blue up. We ended up with error in the 40, 50, 60 range opting to let the middle float and keep the ends of the scale on scale. Off axis viewing dramatically affects blacks and grays when calibrating - making calibration difficult when color shifts at varying angles. See Viewing Angle section for more.
Sony KDL-52XBR9 Picture Settings
Backlight 7
Picture 85
Brightness 55
Color 49
Hue R1
Color Temp Warm 1
Sharpness Minimum
Noise Reduction Off
Motion Flow On
For complete picture settings including white balance settings, see the calibration page.
HQV Processor Testing
See full HQV
test results
720p/1080i/1080p Picture Quality: HD picture quality was much crisper and colors are more saturated. Blacks become slightly hazy at side angles but straight appear plenty saturated. I beleive the anti glare technology introduced into the LCD panel creates most of the weakness issues with color calibrations and off angle viewing. Dont misunderstand, the HD picture from Blu Ray and Broadcast HD was clear, vivid and colorful as always, but alas the image does not appear as deep as some of the better pictures we've viewing lately.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Tall Women Fashions
f you're a taller than average woman it can sometimes be a frustrating experience when you are trying to find the styles of clothing that suit your body structure. When you are looking for women's clothing it shouldn't be a guessing game or a gamble. You will end up wasting a lot of money on clothes that don't suit your height or figure. You should know exactly the kind of women's clothing that suits your body structure and what kind of clothing to stay away from. Below are some helpful tips for taller women so they can fill their wardrobes with the proper types of women's clothing.
Tall women should avoid wearing Women's clothing that have bright and wild prints. Wear a different coloured top than what you wear below. Wearing two different colours above and below will help break up your height. Stick to outfits that have both light and dark colours. As much as possible, stay away from monochromatic women's clothing. Tall women look attractive and appealing with wide belts because it makes their torso appear shorter. A wide belt can be the perfect accessory to a simple a-line dress, a skirt, or even trousers. Belts help define the waist on a tall figured woman so she doesn't seem like one big endless mass. When searching for the right pair of trousers look for those which have cuffs on the bottom. Cuffs at the bottom of your pants will help make you appear shorter than you actually are.
Wear dresses and skirts that end at your shins. Do not bother with dresses that end at your ankles because they will accentuate your height. Other ideal clothing that end below the knee are capris. Shin skirts and dresses and capris are the types of clothing that will reduce the elongated look of your body. Whatever womens clothing you decide to wear make sure they are neither too loose nor too fitted. Your tops should be longer than what you wear below. By wearing a long top and something short below you make you give the impression that you are shorter. Wearing low heeled shoes such as ballet flats will avoid adding height to your already tall frame.
Tall women should avoid wearing Women's clothing that have bright and wild prints. Wear a different coloured top than what you wear below. Wearing two different colours above and below will help break up your height. Stick to outfits that have both light and dark colours. As much as possible, stay away from monochromatic women's clothing. Tall women look attractive and appealing with wide belts because it makes their torso appear shorter. A wide belt can be the perfect accessory to a simple a-line dress, a skirt, or even trousers. Belts help define the waist on a tall figured woman so she doesn't seem like one big endless mass. When searching for the right pair of trousers look for those which have cuffs on the bottom. Cuffs at the bottom of your pants will help make you appear shorter than you actually are.
Wear dresses and skirts that end at your shins. Do not bother with dresses that end at your ankles because they will accentuate your height. Other ideal clothing that end below the knee are capris. Shin skirts and dresses and capris are the types of clothing that will reduce the elongated look of your body. Whatever womens clothing you decide to wear make sure they are neither too loose nor too fitted. Your tops should be longer than what you wear below. By wearing a long top and something short below you make you give the impression that you are shorter. Wearing low heeled shoes such as ballet flats will avoid adding height to your already tall frame.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Baby Clothes Deal
Highlights
Haunt garage sales and thrift shops
Host a clothes swap
Consider cheaper brands and buy big
Watch for post-purchase price drops
Register (or drop hints) for gifts
Make the Web work for you
Tiny dresses, pants, shirts, overalls, and one-piece outfits can bust a family budget faster than you can say "Baby Gap." And of course, kids grow like weeds, so those cute outfits have a short life of usefulness. What's a parent to do?
Secondhand clothes are a great way to save dough, especially when kids are young and not yet fashion-picky. Make sure to check these guidelines on clothing safety from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. But if you're also dying to buy cute new duds, coupons, overstock sales, and other methods can land you new kids' clothes for a lot less. Read on for more ideas!
Haunt garage sales and thrift shops
To get high-quality baby clothes for a fraction of retail prices, search the classified ads in your local newspaper or online for people selling them by the box load. Garage sales and children's thrift stores can also be gold mines, with items selling for as little as 25 cents apiece. You might get lucky and find brand-name clothing in mint condition.
And while everyone loves to find those perfect, worn-once items, don't hesitate to buy a few gently used outfits as well. That way you won't mind if your baby gets them dirty at daycare or during playtime. You can also use iron or sew-on patches to cover spots or other small imperfections.
"You can get one-piece outfits really cheap at yard sales, but they're usually yellowed or stained. I tie-dyed the ones I bought that weren't perfectly white, and they're adorable." — Narshkite
"The best part about going to resale shops is that when your children outgrow the things you buy, you can take them back to the shop and basically make your money back." — Lori Ward
Host a clothes swap
Have a "freshen up your kid's wardrobe" party where you ask friends and family to bring old clothes their children no longer wear. Toss everything into the middle of the room and do a big trade. Everyone usually goes home with something new and it's absolutely free.
Haunt garage sales and thrift shops
Host a clothes swap
Consider cheaper brands and buy big
Watch for post-purchase price drops
Register (or drop hints) for gifts
Make the Web work for you
Tiny dresses, pants, shirts, overalls, and one-piece outfits can bust a family budget faster than you can say "Baby Gap." And of course, kids grow like weeds, so those cute outfits have a short life of usefulness. What's a parent to do?
Secondhand clothes are a great way to save dough, especially when kids are young and not yet fashion-picky. Make sure to check these guidelines on clothing safety from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. But if you're also dying to buy cute new duds, coupons, overstock sales, and other methods can land you new kids' clothes for a lot less. Read on for more ideas!
Haunt garage sales and thrift shops
To get high-quality baby clothes for a fraction of retail prices, search the classified ads in your local newspaper or online for people selling them by the box load. Garage sales and children's thrift stores can also be gold mines, with items selling for as little as 25 cents apiece. You might get lucky and find brand-name clothing in mint condition.
And while everyone loves to find those perfect, worn-once items, don't hesitate to buy a few gently used outfits as well. That way you won't mind if your baby gets them dirty at daycare or during playtime. You can also use iron or sew-on patches to cover spots or other small imperfections.
"You can get one-piece outfits really cheap at yard sales, but they're usually yellowed or stained. I tie-dyed the ones I bought that weren't perfectly white, and they're adorable." — Narshkite
"The best part about going to resale shops is that when your children outgrow the things you buy, you can take them back to the shop and basically make your money back." — Lori Ward
Host a clothes swap
Have a "freshen up your kid's wardrobe" party where you ask friends and family to bring old clothes their children no longer wear. Toss everything into the middle of the room and do a big trade. Everyone usually goes home with something new and it's absolutely free.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Baby Boys Clothes
NEW YORK (WCBS 880 / CBS 2) - The New York City Health Department health department has released the list of most popular names for both girls and boys in 2009.
The Health Department reports the most popular name for a girl born in New York City last year was Isabella and the most often-picked name for a boy was Jayden.
New Yorkers also took their cues from celebrities, including Scarlett, Penelope, Usher, Rihanna, Peyton, Brady, Iman, Chanel, Armani, Zahara, and Jayden.
The top names for girls by ethinicity were Isabella for Hispanics, Madison for blacks, Olivia for whites, and Sophia for Asian & Pacific islanders. The top names for boys by ethnicity were Jayden for Hispanics and blacks, Michael for whites, and Ryan for Asian & Pacific islanders.
Among the most rarely picked names for the girls were Nava and Zeldy. Among the most uncommon names for boys were Drake, Orion, and Pinchus.
Interesting! What other names have you heard quite commonly recently??
The Health Department reports the most popular name for a girl born in New York City last year was Isabella and the most often-picked name for a boy was Jayden.
New Yorkers also took their cues from celebrities, including Scarlett, Penelope, Usher, Rihanna, Peyton, Brady, Iman, Chanel, Armani, Zahara, and Jayden.
The top names for girls by ethinicity were Isabella for Hispanics, Madison for blacks, Olivia for whites, and Sophia for Asian & Pacific islanders. The top names for boys by ethnicity were Jayden for Hispanics and blacks, Michael for whites, and Ryan for Asian & Pacific islanders.
Among the most rarely picked names for the girls were Nava and Zeldy. Among the most uncommon names for boys were Drake, Orion, and Pinchus.
Interesting! What other names have you heard quite commonly recently??
Friday, October 22, 2010
Petite Women Fashions
Save on Petite Fashions During Kohl’s Sale!
Posted in: Kohl's, Pick of the Day, TopsTags: Kohl's, petite clothes clearance, petite clothes sale, petite fashion, stylish petite clothes
Petite Apt. 9® Paisley Pleated Top
Petite Apt. 9® Paisley Pleated Top
Big savings and great styles at Gold Star Clearance. Shop petite clothing, stay in style and save up to 70% off original price.
♦ Gold Star Clearance
♦ Kohl’s Womens
♦ Kohl’s Gift Card page
Get this gorgeous look in Dana Buchman
Posted in: Kohl's, Pick of the Day, TopsTags: Kohl's, petite clothes clearance, petite clothes sale, petite fashion, stylish petite clothes
Petite Apt. 9® Paisley Pleated Top
Petite Apt. 9® Paisley Pleated Top
Big savings and great styles at Gold Star Clearance. Shop petite clothing, stay in style and save up to 70% off original price.
♦ Gold Star Clearance
♦ Kohl’s Womens
♦ Kohl’s Gift Card page
Get this gorgeous look in Dana Buchman
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Winter Snow Tires
Winter Tires
If you regularly encounter ice, unplowed snow, or slush, then you're going to need winter tires (also known as “snow tires"). Winter tires will give you that extra traction, braking and handling you'll need to confidently drive on snow and ice. They have specialized rubber compounds and tread designs to handle the cold temperatures. The tread remains flexible to prevent snow buildup and help with traction on ice. Tests that has been conducted on ice show that even at 15mph, vehicles equipped with winter tires stopped from 1/2 to a full car length shorter than identical vehicles on all season tires. Without winter tires you are more likely to fishtail on corners and spin out on that icy hill.
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System), traction control, and vehicle dynamics control systems are limited by the grip the tires can provide. These are all safety features you don't want to fail under emergency circumstances.
The very common misconception among SUVs and other 4WD vehicles' drivers is that a 4 wheel drive vehicle provides them with the safety measures they need when driving on the ice. This deadly misconception has no grip on reality whatsoever. A 4WD vehicle will help you get started from a full stop and will slightly help you around corners, but will certainly not help you to stop or slow down the car any faster.
A recent study [1] conducted by the Canadian Press and Leger Marketing paints and interesting picture of winter tires usage across Canada: Québec has the highest usage at 84%, followed by Eastern Canada at 57%. Surprisingly, only 29% of Ontario drivers make use of winter tires. British Columbia is next at 28%, followed by Alberta at 22% and only 10% winter tires usage in the Prairie provinces. While still only 42% of Canadians use winter tires, the trend is unmistakable: more and more people are switching to winter tires.
Usage of All Season Tires During Winter
All Season tires are not designed to be optimal in one specific weather condition. They are meant to be adequate in all weather. To be able to handle different types of weather, compromises have to be made. The tread design of an all season tire is not as aggressive as that of a winter tire and is also not as flexible in the cold. An all season tire's tread will quickly get packed with snow and you lose traction.
Although all season tires are branded M&S (or M+S, which stands for Mud and Snow), this is only based on the void-to-rubber ratio of the tread design, where the severe snow rating is based on actual performance testing. If you expect you will have to drive in moderate to severe snow, you should purchase a set of winter tires. If you drive in a particularly wet climate or you only get a very small amount of snow, all season tires could be a good idea.
Severe Snow Tires Grading
On February 1, 1999 the Rubber Manufacturer's Association (RMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) introduced a winter tire grading.
These tires are specifically designed for severe snow conditions and meet snow traction performance requirements. Tires meeting this standard are marked with a pictograph of a peaked mountain Snow Tires Grading. This standard helps drivers choose a tire that will help make their winter driving safer.
Winter Tires Installation and Purchasing Tips
There are few things to keep in mind when shopping for winter tires. In most cases, you should consider purchasing separate rims for your snow tires. This will save you the time and costs involved in balancing the winter tires onto your existing rims. Typically, balancing a tire on a rim costs between $15 to $25 CAD per wheel, and you will have to bear these costs once again, when switching back to your summer tires or all season tires. Alternatively, a low-cost steel rim is approximately around $80 CAD, and opting for a separate rim also gives you the opportunity to install the winter tires by yourself and at your convenience. You may decide to go even farther and purchase alloy rims to enjoy a consistent and esthetic look of your car, all year round. Purchasing a full winter package is most likely the best way to go, as balancing is provided for free on such packages.
If you regularly encounter ice, unplowed snow, or slush, then you're going to need winter tires (also known as “snow tires"). Winter tires will give you that extra traction, braking and handling you'll need to confidently drive on snow and ice. They have specialized rubber compounds and tread designs to handle the cold temperatures. The tread remains flexible to prevent snow buildup and help with traction on ice. Tests that has been conducted on ice show that even at 15mph, vehicles equipped with winter tires stopped from 1/2 to a full car length shorter than identical vehicles on all season tires. Without winter tires you are more likely to fishtail on corners and spin out on that icy hill.
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System), traction control, and vehicle dynamics control systems are limited by the grip the tires can provide. These are all safety features you don't want to fail under emergency circumstances.
The very common misconception among SUVs and other 4WD vehicles' drivers is that a 4 wheel drive vehicle provides them with the safety measures they need when driving on the ice. This deadly misconception has no grip on reality whatsoever. A 4WD vehicle will help you get started from a full stop and will slightly help you around corners, but will certainly not help you to stop or slow down the car any faster.
A recent study [1] conducted by the Canadian Press and Leger Marketing paints and interesting picture of winter tires usage across Canada: Québec has the highest usage at 84%, followed by Eastern Canada at 57%. Surprisingly, only 29% of Ontario drivers make use of winter tires. British Columbia is next at 28%, followed by Alberta at 22% and only 10% winter tires usage in the Prairie provinces. While still only 42% of Canadians use winter tires, the trend is unmistakable: more and more people are switching to winter tires.
Usage of All Season Tires During Winter
All Season tires are not designed to be optimal in one specific weather condition. They are meant to be adequate in all weather. To be able to handle different types of weather, compromises have to be made. The tread design of an all season tire is not as aggressive as that of a winter tire and is also not as flexible in the cold. An all season tire's tread will quickly get packed with snow and you lose traction.
Although all season tires are branded M&S (or M+S, which stands for Mud and Snow), this is only based on the void-to-rubber ratio of the tread design, where the severe snow rating is based on actual performance testing. If you expect you will have to drive in moderate to severe snow, you should purchase a set of winter tires. If you drive in a particularly wet climate or you only get a very small amount of snow, all season tires could be a good idea.
Severe Snow Tires Grading
On February 1, 1999 the Rubber Manufacturer's Association (RMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) introduced a winter tire grading.
These tires are specifically designed for severe snow conditions and meet snow traction performance requirements. Tires meeting this standard are marked with a pictograph of a peaked mountain Snow Tires Grading. This standard helps drivers choose a tire that will help make their winter driving safer.
Winter Tires Installation and Purchasing Tips
There are few things to keep in mind when shopping for winter tires. In most cases, you should consider purchasing separate rims for your snow tires. This will save you the time and costs involved in balancing the winter tires onto your existing rims. Typically, balancing a tire on a rim costs between $15 to $25 CAD per wheel, and you will have to bear these costs once again, when switching back to your summer tires or all season tires. Alternatively, a low-cost steel rim is approximately around $80 CAD, and opting for a separate rim also gives you the opportunity to install the winter tires by yourself and at your convenience. You may decide to go even farther and purchase alloy rims to enjoy a consistent and esthetic look of your car, all year round. Purchasing a full winter package is most likely the best way to go, as balancing is provided for free on such packages.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
1000 Thread Count Luxury Sheet Sets
1000 Thread Count Luxury Sheet Sets
Don't pay hundreds! Today from just $69.95!
3 colours available, see the range below
Expect to pay well over $120, $140 and in some places over $200 for 1000TC bedsheets of this quality. With 3 colours available, you can pick the colour that suits you best in Queen or King size, so check out the range below!
IT’S GOOD TO BE NUMBER 1 - LETS PARTY!
Every now and then we decide to throw caution to the wind and test Australia's internet infrastructure to its fullest extent. This time we have good reason to; after recently being officially named the number 1 online department store by industry buffs Hitwise we feel like celebrating with our members, the ones who made this possible in the first place. That's you by the way!(Pat on the back, y’all)
So this Tuesday we will be featuring one mad catch every hour - with some special surprises in between. Expect to see TVs, PS3, iPods, Chocolates, Games, Cameras and more at prices you won't believe. As usual there are limited quantities available on each item.
We plan to start the event this coming Tuesday morning at an unspecified time; the precise starting time will be announced only by e-mail the evening before. Make sure you’re subscribed to our e-mail list, ‘cause it’s the only way you’ll know when it starts! If you are not a member yet simply enter your e-mail address below:
Don't pay hundreds! Today from just $69.95!
3 colours available, see the range below
Expect to pay well over $120, $140 and in some places over $200 for 1000TC bedsheets of this quality. With 3 colours available, you can pick the colour that suits you best in Queen or King size, so check out the range below!
IT’S GOOD TO BE NUMBER 1 - LETS PARTY!
Every now and then we decide to throw caution to the wind and test Australia's internet infrastructure to its fullest extent. This time we have good reason to; after recently being officially named the number 1 online department store by industry buffs Hitwise we feel like celebrating with our members, the ones who made this possible in the first place. That's you by the way!(Pat on the back, y’all)
So this Tuesday we will be featuring one mad catch every hour - with some special surprises in between. Expect to see TVs, PS3, iPods, Chocolates, Games, Cameras and more at prices you won't believe. As usual there are limited quantities available on each item.
We plan to start the event this coming Tuesday morning at an unspecified time; the precise starting time will be announced only by e-mail the evening before. Make sure you’re subscribed to our e-mail list, ‘cause it’s the only way you’ll know when it starts! If you are not a member yet simply enter your e-mail address below:
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