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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Dec 31, 2019 11:46:34 GMT
Texas yes, on the southern edge of the Edward's plateau a mile or so from the Balcones fault-line. USDA Zone 8b, meaning it occasionally will get down to 20 F but normally no lower than 26 to 28 F and that irregularly. A dusting of snow every two to three years, if that often.
This part of Texas is listed as semi-arid and when you start getting to Uvalde it's closer to arid. So far we have one Coastal Redwood sprouted, a couple stone pines, and we'll be getting Moroccan and Arizona Blue Cypress going among others, as well as Himalayan banana.
There are cowboy hats to be seen, though as a rule I wear a military patrol cover.
It's a beautiful area.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2019 13:57:38 GMT
Wow. Cowboy hats and military patrol cover. Himalayan banana and Moroccan and Arizona Blue Cypress. I can imagine it as I shovel today.
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paul
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Post by paul on Dec 31, 2019 14:31:56 GMT
I'm confident people understand that Paul was just posting boilerplate disclaimer language for the sake of Lulu. I'm sure he has to. Anyone who has seen your work knows the level of quality. Precisely this. Currently, Lulu offers paid services and we're contractually obligated to not offer any other services beyond those. So I wanted to be sure we're clear about that. You'd be surprised how often we hear from authors who have paid a professional designer to make a cover or format a book that does not adhere to our standards. I have no doubt that folks like Maggie and Ron, who are familiar with Lulu, can and will create files that work just fine. It's just a statement I feel is worth making once so it's on record for anyone else who might offer services through this forum down the road.
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Post by ronmiller on Dec 31, 2019 14:44:59 GMT
It was 70 degrees and sunny here yesterday!
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Post by ronmiller on Dec 31, 2019 14:55:18 GMT
I'm confident people understand that Paul was just posting boilerplate disclaimer language for the sake of Lulu. I'm sure he has to. Anyone who has seen your work knows the level of quality. Precisely this. Currently, Lulu offers paid services and we're contractually obligated to not offer any other services beyond those. So I wanted to be sure we're clear about that. You'd be surprised how often we hear from authors who have paid a professional designer to make a cover or format a book that does not adhere to our standards. I have no doubt that folks like Maggie and Ron, who are familiar with Lulu, can and will create files that work just fine. It's just a statement I feel is worth making once so it's on record for anyone else who might offer services through this forum down the road. Here is a sad truth: Simply because someone charges a fee doesn't necessarily make them a "professional." I realize that you are talking about the physical parameters of formatting, etc. (i.e., not making a trade cover, say, 4 x 10 inches, or sending in a cover at 75 dpi) ..but what you say really does extend past that. There are far, far too many "cover designers" who do little more than apply text to stock imagery. I, frankly, think this borders on being fraudulent. Just a few days ago, an author posted on Scribophile how thrilled she was about the new cover she'd gotten for her book, profusely thanking the person who "designed these really cool book covers for me." But it took only five seconds to discover that there was no designing involved at all. There was exactly the same art on six other books. Worse, the "designer" had placed the type with little regard for the art itself. It was patently obvious that all they had done was find a stock image and slap a title onto it pretty at random. And then they charged a fee. This sort of thing really makes me gnash my teeth, which is terrible for the enamel.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Dec 31, 2019 15:27:42 GMT
I'm confident people understand that Paul was just posting boilerplate disclaimer language for the sake of Lulu. I'm sure he has to. Anyone who has seen your work knows the level of quality. Precisely this. Currently, Lulu offers paid services and we're contractually obligated to not offer any other services beyond those. So I wanted to be sure we're clear about that. You'd be surprised how often we hear from authors who have paid a professional designer to make a cover or format a book that does not adhere to our standards. I have no doubt that folks like Maggie and Ron, who are familiar with Lulu, can and will create files that work just fine. It's just a statement I feel is worth making once so it's on record for anyone else who might offer services through this forum down the road. Paul,
You've made the statement, actually more than once, thank you, and I think people get it.
Ron has seen 'professional' graphics designers whoweren't creating original covers. I also know I've seen 'professional' editing and formatting services that left a lot to be desired.
I know how to look up BBB complaints, apply a grain of salt, and make a reasonable determination.
With all paid services it pays to remember Caveat Emptor, or Buyer Beware.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2019 19:18:39 GMT
I think it would have been better to make a new thread with that statement than under my thrilled post, given that I was just thrilled. Not even sure I'm going to offer services here, because I am busy publishing. I may, though, because I love the people who come here. I may even do some for free, which I have done in the past. So, right under my happy post, not the best call. But then again, I have made some bad calls. Many many. Even at Lulu, and I was forgiven. We move on. Still, I'm so happy there is a Services Section!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2019 19:27:03 GMT
70 degrees! You gloating over-happy people! Oh, get this. I tried to hire the company Bo Pelouse to remove my snow this winter. I paid them in advance $290 and they refunded my money. They didn't want to do my driveway because of vines and a basketball net. Anyway, today I drove over the snow in my driveway, hoping I wouldn't get stuck, and as I'm driving I see everyone shoveling. It was kind of funny to watch, and didn't even notice the absence of snow removal trucks--only to find out once I reached the dog run that they just QUIT. In the middle of winter. They took everybody's money, no refunds and quit! What luck that they didn't want my money. Sad for all the elderly who can't get out of their driveway, but I'm glad they rejected me.
It's all over the news today. So, I'm not defaming them, just in case anyone is worried.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Dec 31, 2019 19:33:26 GMT
The high for today, about 62 F. Chilly for this area as it's normally around mid-70s. The downside is I've seen it hit 113 F near Halloween and 100+ F in February.
We have Sprummerall instead of Spring, Summer and Fall. Sprummerall lasts eight to nine months.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2019 19:47:28 GMT
I think I gotta look up the farenheit/celsius conversion to be more jealous. Right now 70 degrees sounds like you're cooking.
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Post by ronmiller on Dec 31, 2019 20:11:43 GMT
I think I gotta look up the farenheit/celsius conversion to be more jealous. Right now 70 degrees sounds like you're cooking. 21 o C (I forgot where you were!)
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Dec 31, 2019 21:20:14 GMT
I've worked in environments where I was expose to a bit over 82 C.
During what a lot of people would call Winter we have 15 C to 26+ C on a regular basis.
During your Summer it is not uncommon to have 42+ C to 45+ C.
Calm it balmy.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2019 22:52:45 GMT
hahaha Ron. Yes. Where are you, Ron? I knew years ago but have since forgotten.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2019 22:55:01 GMT
Cameron, during our summer it is so sticky and humid that people are confused. We just stare at each other, like, is this for real? I can live with 15 to 26 all year long, and definitely with 21 all year long. Celsius.
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Post by Retread-Retired-Cameron on Dec 31, 2019 23:00:14 GMT
Ron is on the East Coast, US. Gulf Stream eases his winters.
It gets a bit warmish here.
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