Amanda ♥

Photography is just my hobby, but I have a nice camera and a few nice lenses that I'd like to take good care of. Unfortunately, as a college student, I live in a basement apartment. This can create ideal conditions for fungus to grow in a lens. I was just searching around on the internet, and I came across an idea to prevent fungus. The articles mentioned keeping thyme in the camera bag to help kill fungus because "thymol" in the herb is a natural antifungal. They didn't specify how to keep it though. I'm not sure if it was supposed to be a bundle of fresh leaves, or dry leaves. Fresh ones would have moisture in them, which could be bad for the lens, but it seems that fresh ones would also have more of the antifungal properties than dried leaves. Does anyone know anything about this? I'm really not even sure how well this can work, but I figured there wouldn't be any harm with sticking some leaves in my camera bag given my basement location. Note that my lenses do not have signs of fungus, I simply want to extend their life expectancy, and possibly give them a spicy scent.

I have a great photo that I want to submit to a wildlife magazine, so I went to that magazine's site to look up the information I needed (guidelines and whatnot). I read through it and this is what I read:

"D. Color: Only original transparencies (slides), 35mm and larger, and high-resolution digital images will be considered for publication. Color prints are not acceptable."

I took it with a digital camera, so I'd clearly be submitting a "high-resolution digital image" but the only way to submit work is by mail, not e-mail. If "color prints are not acceptable", how exactly to they want me to mail the image?

I got bigger flash that attaches to the top of my Nikon D5000, I was just experimenting so I didn't pay much. I was taking normal pictures just the camera's regular flash, but decided to attach the new one and test it out. The first photo I took turned out way too bright (as I figured) so I adjusted the shutter to be quicker, when I did this, this is what I got

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/Amandarno...

When I adjusted the settings the other way, I got

http://i1182.photobucket.com/albums/x459/Amandarno...

I have no idea why my photo is being cut in half, and I would really appreciate it if someone more knowledgeable would enlighten this amateur.

I've seen so many versions of Photoshop when I search that I've confused myself. I would like a good program that allows photo manipulation such as removing the red tint from infrared photos and includes tools to create effects like blur and such. There are so many different Photoshops out there right now that I don't know which programs do that(or if they all do) and which programs are just addons for the full program. I would like to avoid the most expensive one for now, but I would just like some insight.

I'm looking to buy an infrared filter for my Nikon, but the Hoya ones that seems to have the best reputation run well over $60. There are many other brands that sell them from a broad range from $5 to $12 to $20 or so. Do these cheaper ones still get the job done? I probably wouldn't buy a $5 filter but hopefully you see where I'm coming from about the huge price difference.

I'm expecting a package to be delivered via UPS, but it'll most likely be while I'm away from home for a few days visiting family. I know they try to deliver the package 3 times before it's returned to the sender, and I don't want that to happen. Is there anything I can do to make sure the package isn't sent back?

I recently tried to dye my hair back to its root color because I was tired of having to keep up with coloring and hiding roots. I picked a dark brown, but I only picked up 1 box since last time I only needed 1. Well it didn't cover as well as I wanted, while by hair was brownish anyway, the dye turned out much darker than the box said. I found the color I'd like to fix it with, just barely lighter, and I'll remember to get 2 boxes, but how long do I wait to fix it? I don't really want to go out in public much with the color so uneven, but I can tough it out if needed.

I have a Nikon D5000 and I have the flash on. When I have the lights dim, it'll auto flash for me, but when I have the lights on it won't flash. I understand that it's just trying to self-adjust, but I would really like that extra bit of light from the flash even with the lights on. Is there a way to make it flash no matter what the situation?

I have(well, had) one of those big glass measuring bowls big enough for a mixer to fit in with a handle. I was making minute rice and had the rice and water in there and I put it in the microwave. I thought glass was generally microwave safe, but about the 4 minute mark we noticed something funny so we opened the microwave door and the handle of the bowl was entirely melted. We pulled it out, turntable and all to examine it. I'm positive it was glass because moments later, it shattered. Does glass normally melt in microwaves? Or are they adding some crazy plastics to the glass these days?

I just had the internet set up yesterday, brand new modem, brand new wireless router. The internet on the modem is online for like an hour and then it goes offline for the next hour. I know it's not the wireless because we even plugged the ethernet cable into the modem and our computer and still nothing. Maybe someone has had this happen to them before that can help? We've called the company at least 3 times and they just tell us to unplug things and try again. They said they were going to send a technician over at 3 p.m. but it is now 10:30 p.m. and still a no show.

I understand that it's tradition to get an engagement ring when he proposes and then get a band on the day of the wedding, but how common is it to just have one ring? And in those circumstances, does the bride wear the ring as an engagement ring until the day of the wedding and then takes it off to be placed on during the ceremony? Also, is it completely weird to not want a solitaire, and prefer a simple band only? These are basically questions of tradition and opinion here, so anything helps.

I want to write what my character is thinking, without her saying them aloud to herself. How to I correctly put that onto paper? I'm not sure if I'm supposed to use quotation marks, it would look something like: "Why are they here?" she thought. But that kind of makes it look like she said it aloud, even though I put "she thought". Or do I write it in italics, or maybe use nothing special at all?

Obviously, no one likes a massive amount of hair down there, but what is most preferred: Trimmed short, landing strip (Hitler stash) or completely shaved? I've heard some controversy about being completely shaved resembling a little girl, but for some reason I hear a lot of men like it shaved. I'm just trying to get some insight. =)

I've been dating this guy pretty seriously for almost 4 years now, and everything seems to be going smoothly; we argue sometimes, but never escalates into fights or anything, typical healthy couple behavior. I was working at an elementary school for one of my college classes and I met another guy. He seemed pretty cool so we added each other on Facebook and we would chat it up quite often. Well then I started hanging out with him(no, not cheating, strictly hanging out) and I've found that I really like him, and I can't get him out of my head. I'm having trouble finding my current boyfriend sexually attractive anymore and all I want is this new guy. I feel awful because my current boyfriend and I have built so much together and I don't want to give up on it and are planning to get an apartment together, but I can't think about anyone but the new guy...any advice? Or has anyone been in this situation before and is willing to share their experiences?

I'm a college student and I needed my annual check up to get another prescription for my birth control pills. I usually just pay the enormous amount at my normal doctors, but I don't have health insurance and wanted other (cheaper) options. I found a clinic that is income based, and they said since I was a college student with student loans, that just a donation would be fine. I really don't know how much I should donate. Can anyone help? Like $10? or $20? More? Ugh I just don't know.

I'm getting this tattoo, and I've planned this for about a year, and even after a year I'm still positive that I want it, so please, no posts ranting about how bad tattoos are.

Little by little,

one travels far.

It's a quote from J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

My question here is, do I add Tolkien's name at the bottom as to not steal to quote? Or should I leave it as is? So..

Little by little,

one travels far.

or..

Little by little,

one travels far.

-Tolkien

Note that the "-Tolkien" will be shifted to the right a little, it wouldn't do it correctly in this question box.

I know it's a small difference but for something so permanent, I want it to be right.

A friend of mine has been battling cancer for years, and he thought he was cancer free, but went in for regular screenings. Today the docs found more cancer after almost a year of being cancer free. I would like to send him a card, but which is more appropriate? I kinda of think that a "Get Well" card is more for the flu or a broken arm or something...I don't know. Would a "Thinking of You" card be better?

Okay so I got a shiny normal, but every time I evolve it, it loses its pretty colors and turns white!! I'm raising it with both sides equally so I know it's not turning into a hero type. Is there any way to have a shiny normal and have it evolve with its normal colors??

Just curious if I have to buy one or if the console itself can hold the memory.

I'm a big fan of the Animal Cops show on Animal Planet, but I notice that whenever I see a nasty injury or an embedded bloody collar, my arms, legs, and back actually starts to hurt. Does this happen to other people and is there a name for it?