myMind

90 Marks

David’s Batch Processor is excellent for resizing images for galleries and automatically tweaking them for a better picture. Here is a brief tutorial on getting started in Windows. The utility does lack in some features I would expect to find such as keeping the aspect ratio when doing an explicit resize. Sometimes images that are dark do not turn out right with the automatic color level adjustments (blue and grainy). Overall the tool is easy to use, and gets the basic job done.

1. Assuming it is not already installed. Download and install GIMP
   Link to the GIMP download: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/gimp-win/gimp-2.6.6-i686-setup.exe
2. After you have installed GIMP install this guy’s batch processor for GIMP (it will allow you to do all of the images in one swoop).
   Link to Batch Processor: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~hodsond/dbp-1.1.8.zip
   Extract the file in the zip to this location: C:\Program Files\GIMP-2.0\lib\gimp\2.0\plug-ins (may vary slightly, but important part should be from GIMP-2.0 part onward.
3. Once this is installed open GIMP.
4. Under Filters you should see a new option labeled Batch Process… clicking it will open David’s Batch Processor
5. Once DBP is open you will see the Input screen.
6. Add the files you would like to work with.
7. Go to Colour and Select Enable and Auto Levels (This will automatically adjust your images to look a little better… some images do not look good after this conversion… those need to be manually edited)
8. Go to Resize and choose Enabled and Absolute. Set the width to your desired width and set the Fit to be Outside. (For thumbnails I like 150px width and for “full size images” I like 400px.)
9. Go to Rename and click Select Dir. Choose the directory you would like to output to.
10. Go to Output and choose JPG.
11. Click Start.
12. It will resize your images and put them in the output directory you chose.
13. If you would like to resize the same images to another size simply go back to the Resize tab and change the numbers. Then, go back and change the Select Dir in the Rename tab to a new directory, or your old images may be overwritten.

100 Marks
Location:
1953 West Gray Blvd.,
Houston, Texas 77019
Website:
http://www.lukeslocker.com

Luke’s Locker is the recipient of my 100 Marks, because I have never had a better buying experience for any sporting equipment. This shop is a running specialty store that sells everything you can use for running toes to the top of your head. The prices are what I expect to pay for performance clothing and accessories for any sport.

I was looking for a hydration solution for running when I was approached and greeted by Harryette Wright Accessory Specialist. Harryette helped me by explaining the differences between all of the solutions, but we would expect this to happen at any shop. After deciding on a belt she asked me the magical words, if there was anything else I was looking for. If she had not asked that I would have left the store with the belt and not solved my second problem of not having enough clothes to run 3 days during the week.

Harryette helped me find running shorts and shirts that fit my body type, and helped me pick out appropriate colors. Harryette’s extreme patience when dealing with my color blinded, uncoordinated, indecision about what I wanted to wear while running was unbelievable. After about an hour of trying on different brands and sizes of shorts and shirts we finally settled on ones we both agreed fit me well, and looked good. This level of service I never expect to find anywhere… I can’t even get my sister to put up with finding clothes for as long as she did!

I liked the service so much I referred a friend who was interested in running to buy some shoes, and she reported back to me that the person who helped her gave her similar amazing service in the shoe department. She found a good pair of shoes within her budget that (most importantly) fit the way they are supposed to. She said they had her walk around the store without shoes on to assess her normal walking style as well as needed arch support, and then run in the store with the shoes on to ensure they were the right fit and feel!