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Home » Articles » Telecom Turmoil Jio Juggernaut Aside Incumbents On The Ropes
Telecom turmoil: Jio juggernaut aside, incumbents on the ropes
Publish date: 28th August, 2018
The country’s telecom industry is in the doldrums, if you discount Reliance Jio that is.
Reliance Jio’s eye-grabbing tariff plans have rocked the boat of the big two incumbents: Bharti Airtel and Idea-Vodafone.
In the quarter ended June, both Bharti Airtel and Idea-Vodafone did report profits, but the numbers don’t tell the tale really.
Airtel’s malaise
Bharti Airtel reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 97.3 crore in the first quarter, boosted by an one-time gain made from a deferred tax asset in Nigeria. India’s largest telecom player managed to stay just above the red zone because it received Rs 515.6 crore in deferred tax gains in Nigeria.
Bharti’s India business, though, recorded a Rs 940.4 crore loss this quarter as against a profit of Rs 834.9 crore in last year’s corresponding period.
Expectedly, the company’s revenues were not much better either, falling by 13.5% in the quarter. The slide is especially especially alarming because the company’s India business accounts for 75% of its revenues.
The management’s vim and brio in the early Jio days has mellowed somewhat. The Bharti top brass would then insist that they were confident of gaining substantial market share and further consolidate their numero uno position in the sector. But now, the company accepts that they foresee three large players (Bharti, Vodafone-Idea and Jio) with an equal market share to dominate the telecom industry going forward.
The management also admitted that the current average revenue per user (ARPU) levels remains unsustainable, implying that Jio's affordable data and talktime plans have shaken up the industry.
The subscriber numbers seem to be under threat too. Bharti had seen its subscriber base swell by 4% last quarter due to shutting down of Aircel and Reliance Communication. But that advantage will come under scrutiny due to the sustained Jio juggernaut.
Idea’s un-idyllic mess
Idea is in the dire straits, even more so than Bharti because the latter can at least bank on a healthy balance sheet and its strong Africa business.
Idea may have reported a profit for the first time in six quarters but that was largely due to the sale of its tower arm. The telco’s net profit stood at Rs 256.5 crore, mainly due to the Rs 3,364.5 sale of Idea Cellular Infrastructure Services.
The company reported a decline in revenues (3%), operating profit (54%), ARPU (Rs 100) and margins by more than half. A livemint.com report suggests that the operating profit this quarter was half of its interest costs.
The company has ceded ground to Jio in the revenue market share (RMS) too. Media reports suggest that Idea Cellular RMS has slid by 106 basis points to 15.4%, while its soon-to-be-partner Vodafone’s RMS slipped by 175 basis points to 19.3%. On the other hand, Jio’s RMS has expanded by 253 basis points at 22.$% in the quarter-ended June.
This indicates that both Idea and Vodafone have buckled under Jio’s disruptive pricing in the broadband data service.
To exacerbate matters, Jio’s aggressive pricing has chipped away at both Idea and Vodafone’s subscription base — Vodafone’s subscriber count fell by 1.6% and Idea’s declined by 3.4%.
Jio’s sustained march
Jio’s numbers are in stark contrast. A 14% quarter-over-quarter revenue growth, lower cost structure and confidence in the fixed broadband business suggests that the Mukesh Ambani-helmed company are on an upward march. The company’s three-on-the-trot quarterly profits also makes the incumbents’ woes look worse.
The fact that Jio reported a revenue growth without the help of the industry’s revenue pie suggests that the company is aggressively striving to become the top dog in the telecom sector.
Another foreboding aspect is the company’s focus on home broadband. Besides the meteoric rise in the wireless data business, Jio aspires to provide broadband connections to 50 million homes, which is almost three times larger than the entire industry’s total count at the moment.
Both Bharti Airtel and Idea-Vodafone are in a catch-22 situation. They have two alternatives ahead of them. They can either match Jio’s pricing and see a sharp reduction in the revenue pie or they can maintain the price but forego market share.
Tough decisions need to be taken by both the incumbents.
The only positive is that the government believes that the worst is over and the telecom industry will stabilize by early next year. The implementation of the National Telecom Policy and the Big Three’s ability to find new revenue streams such as streaming services will play a crucial role in reviving the ailing industry.
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Weber’s Hot Cross Buns
by admin | | 0
Weber - Q
Yields: 12 Serves
Recipe uses the Large Q™ Ware Frying Pan
7 g Dried Yeast
125 ml Milk, warmed
450 g Plain Flour
50 g Butter, cubed
1 cup Fried Mixed Fruit
50 g Plain Flour
1 tbsp Caster Sugar
1 tsp Powdered Gelatin
In a small bowl or jug, combine the sugar, yeast, warm milk and 80ml of warm water. Set aside for approximately 5 minutes or until the mixture is foamy. Whisk the egg into the mixture.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour and mixed spice. Using your fingertips, rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the fruit and stir. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and pour the yeast mixture in. Stir to create the dough. Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until smooth.
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm draught-free place for an hour or until the dough doubles in size.
Grease a Large Q Ware Frying Pan with butter. Remove the dough from the bowl and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead again until the dough returns to the original size. Divide the dough into 12 portions and roll into balls. Place side by side in the pan. Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draught-free place for 30 minutes or until the dough has doubled in size.
Set the barbecue up for indirect cooking with a convection tray and trivet. Preheat the barbecue on HIGH for 10 minutes. Please refer to your handbook for further information.
To make the flour paste, combine 1/4 cup (60ml) cold water, flour and sugar in a bowl. Spoon the mixture into a snap-lock bag and snip off 1 corner. Pipe the crosses onto the buns.
Once the barbecue is preheated, turn down to the roast/baking setting. Please refer to your handbook for further information.
Bake the hot cross buns for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
While the buns are cooking, make the glaze. Combine the sugar, gelatin and 1 tablespoon of boiling water in a bowl, stirring until the sugar and gelatin have dissolved.
Once the buns are cooked, turn out onto a wire rack. Using a pastry brush, brush the buns with the glaze.
Best enjoyed warm and served with butter.
John Alan Betta Home Living
Westfield Knox Shopping Centre
8133/509 Burwood Hwy
Wantirna South, Victoria, 3152
10 Summertime Meals Cooked on the Weber January 20, 2020
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The Best Tips to Keep Your Weber Clean September 19, 2019
© 2020 John Alan Betta Home Living | Sitemap
John Alan Betta Home Living Terms & Conditions
The Promoter is John Alan Betta Home Living Pty Ltd ABN 83 616 443 791. Contact Number: 03 9800 2266
Information on how to enter and prizes forms part of the terms of entry. Entry into the competition is deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions.
If there is any inconsistency between these Terms and Conditions and anything else that refers to this competition, these Terms and Conditions will prevail.
The term prize, mentioned in the terms and conditions below grants the selected winners the opportunity to win a Shelta Honolulu 4-piece Outdoor Furniture Setting. Aluminium Framing Construction with Olefin Cushions. Includes a 2-Seater Sofa (x2) Dimensions: 164cm x 70cm x 65cm (Width x Depth x Height), Corner Sofa Dimensions: 70cm x 70cm x 65cm (Width x Depth x Height), Coffee Table Dimensions: 110cm x 60cm x 30.5cm (Width x Depth x Height). Total of $1899 RRP.
Who Can Enter
Entry is open to all residents of Victoria over the age of 18 except employees and immediate families of the Promoter and their associated companies and agencies. Immediate family includes the following: spouse, ex-spouse, defacto spouse, child or step child (whether natural or by adoption), parent, step parent, grandparent, step grandparent, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, brother, sister, step brother, step sister or first cousin.
Entrants must be 18 years of age or older as at the date of entry in order to be eligible to enter the competition.
The Promoter reserves the right to request winners to provide proof of identity, proof of residency at the nominated prize delivery address and/or proof of entry validity or proof of registration ownership in order to claim a prize. Proof of identification, residency and entry considered suitable for verification is at the discretion of the Promoter. In the event that a winner cannot provide suitable proof, the winner will forfeit the prize in whole and no substitute will be offered.
When To Enter
The Promotion commences at 9am AEST on Tuesday October 1st, 2019 and ends at 11.59 AEST on Tuesday December 31st, 2019 (Promotion Period). Entries must be received by the Promoter prior to the competition close date and time.
The time of entry will in each case be the time the online entry is received by the Promoter’s system, not at the time of transmission by the entrant.
The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any late, lost or misdirected entries. Computer generated and repeated entries are invalid and will not be accepted.
Entrants may enter the competition by completing the online registration form, or via an entry form in store.
The online registration form will be hosted at https://johnalan.com.au/outdoor-furniture-giveaway
Entrants are required to take full responsibility for the content of their entry and for ensuring that their entry complies with these Conditions of Entry.
Any entry that is made on behalf of an entrant by a third party will be invalid, unless the entrant requires the assistance of a third party to enter due to a disability.
The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who tampers with the entry process, who submits an entry that is not in accordance with these Terms & Conditions or who has, in the opinion of Promoter, engaged in conduct in entering the Promotion which is fraudulent, misleading, deceptive or generally damaging to the goodwill or reputation of the Promotion and/or Promoter. This includes, but not limited, to entrants and households using multiple email addresses, postal addresses, PO Box addresses or SIM cards to register single or multiple purchases.
Number of Entries Permitted
Entrants may enter each of the home game competitions once and only one Top Prize will be awarded. If the same, or substantially the same, Eligible Entry is submitted in more than one entry, only the first Eligible Entry received will be accepted.
Competition and Notification of Prize Winners
The Prize winner will be chosen at random in accordance with the terms and conditions on Monday 6th January 2020 at 12.00pm AEST. The draw will take place at John Alan Betta Home Living Pty Ltd ABN 83 616 443 791. Contact Number: 03 9800 2266
The Promoter’s decision is final, and the Promoter will not enter into correspondence regarding the competition result or any other decisions the Promoter makes in connection with the Promotion.
The Prize winners will be notified via Facebook comment, email and phone within 2 days of the closing date.
Prizes will be awarded to the person named in the entry.
Should an entrant’s contact details change during the promotional period, it is the entrant’s responsibility to notify the Promoter. A request to access or modify any information provided in an entry should be directed to the Promoter.
If the winners are unable to be contacted or do not claim the prize by 11:59pm AEST on 13/01/2020, an unclaimed prize draw will take place at John Alan Betta Home Living Pty Ltd ABN 83 616 443 791. Contact Number: 03 9800 2266 on 14/01/2020. The winner of the unclaimed prize draw will be notified by phone or email on the day of the unclaimed prize draw.
Top Prize On Offer
The Prize on offer through this competition is:
Shelta Honolulu 4-piece Outdoor Furniture Setting. Aluminium Framing Construction with Olefin Cushions. Includes a 2-Seater Sofa (x2) Dimensions: 164cm x 70cm x 65cm (Width x Depth x Height), Corner Sofa Dimensions: 70cm x 70cm x 65cm (Width x Depth x Height), Coffee Table Dimensions: 110cm x 60cm x 30.5cm (Width x Depth x Height). Total of $1899 RRP.
The prize must be collected in store at John Alan Betta Home Living, Knox Ozone, Shop 8132/509 Burwood Hwy, Wantirna South, 3152.
Independent financial advice should be sought as tax implications may arise as a result of accepting the prize.
Prizes cannot be transferred, exchanged or redeemed for cash.
It is a condition of accepting the prize that the winner must comply with all the conditions of use of the prize and the prize supplier’s requirements. It is the responsibility of the winner to confirm such conditions with the prize supplier or other relevant third parties.
It is a condition of accepting the prize that the winner may be required to sign a legal release in a form determined by the Promoter in its absolute discretion.
All entrants agree that if they win the prize, they will not, and their companions will not, sell or otherwise provide their story and/or photographs to any media or other organisation, including the internet. Photographs will be allowed when shared on the entrant’s personal social media pages, or at the discretion of the Promoter.
Further Terms and Conditions
Subject to complying with all relevant legislation, the Promoter reserves the right to amend, cancel or suspend this competition if an event beyond the control of the Promoter corrupts or affect the administration security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the competition. The Promoter will disqualify any individual who has tampered with the entry process or any other aspect of this competition.
The Promoter and their associated agencies and companies assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorised access to, or alteration of entries, and reserves the right to take any action that may be available.
If for any reason this competition is not capable of running as planned, including due to infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical failures or any causes beyond the control of the Promoter, which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or integrity or proper conduct of this promotion, the Promoter reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, take any action that may be available, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the competition, subject to any direction given under relevant Regulation.
Entrants are responsible for any cost associated with accessing the promotional website. Access to that site is dependent on the Internet service provider.
If an entrant uses any form of software or third-party application to enter multiple times (including scripting software), organises for a third party to enter on their behalf in breach of these terms and conditions or enters using incorrect contact details, his or her entry will be deemed invalid. The Promoter has sole discretion to determine whether an entrant has breached this clause. The Promoter reserves the right to request whatever documentation it deems necessary to confirm whether an entrant has breached this clause. Entrants must provide whatever documents the Promoter requires upon request.
If the prize is unavailable, for whatever reason, the Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize for a prize of equal or greater value, subject to relevant legislation. It is a condition of accepting the prize that the winner must comply with all the conditions of use of the prize and prize supplier’s requirements. The prize must be taken as stated and no compensation will be payable if a winner is unable to use the prize as stated.
The Promoter will make reasonable efforts to deliver prizes to the addresses provided by competition entrants. If a prize is returned to the Promoter because it could not be delivered to the address provided, the Promoter cannot guarantee that it will be able to resend the prize to the prize winner. The Promoter and its associated agencies and companies will not be liable for any damage to or delay in transit of prizes.
The Promoter reserves the right to redraw the prize if an entrant who claims to be a prize winner is unable to satisfy these terms and conditions.
In consideration for the Promoter awarding the prize to the winner, the winner hereby permits the winner’s submission, image and/or voice, as recorded, photographed or filmed during the winner’s participation in the prize to appear in connection with the John Alan Betta Home Living brand or the advertising or marketing thereof, in any media whatsoever throughout the world and the winner will not be entitled to any fee for such use.
Each entrant hereby assigns to the Promoter all right, title and interest in and to all copyright and all moral rights in any material created or otherwise submitted to the Promoter in connection with that entrant’s entry or participation in any aspect of the prize (Works). Each entrant warrants that the Promoter is free to use the Works (including modifying, adapting or publishing the entry, whether in original or modified form, in whole or in part or not at all) and to exercise its rights in relation thereto and neither the entrant nor any third party will be entitled to any fee for such use.
In the case of the intervention of any outside act, agent or event which prevents or significantly hinders the Promoter’s ability to proceed with the competition on the dates and in the manner described in these terms and conditions, including but not limited to vandalism, power failures, tempests, natural disasters, acts of God, civil unrest, strike, war, act of terrorism, the Promoter may in its absolute discretion cancel the competition and recommence it from the start on the same conditions, subject to any directions given under relevant Regulation.
The Promoter reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who the Promoter has reason to believe has breached any of these conditions, or engaged in any unlawful or other improper misconduct calculated to jeopardise the fair and proper conduct of the promotion. The Promoter’s legal rights to recover damages or other compensation from such an offender are reserved.
All entries become the property of the Promoter. The Promoter collects personal information about you for the purposes of conducting this promotion. Any disclosure of such information will be made as required by law and in accordance with these terms and conditions, but no further use of this information will be made without prior consent.
All entries become the property of The Promoter. All opt-in entries will be entered into a database and The Promoter may use the entrant’s names, addresses and for future promotional, marketing and publicity purposes in any media worldwide without notice and without any fee being paid unless otherwise advised by the entrant. By opting-in, entrants confirm that they allow their details to be used for this purpose. If entrants no longer consent to their details being used for future marketing purposes, the entrant should contact The Promoter on their details set out below. Any request to update, modify or delete the entrant’s details should be directed to The Promoter.
The term prize, mentioned in the terms and conditions below grants the selected winners the opportunity to win a Hisense 170 Litre Black Fridge (model HR6BF170B) valued at $499 RRP, Smeg 2 Slice Black Toaster (model TSF01BLAU) valued at $189 RRP & Smeg Black Kettle (KLF03BLAU) valued at $199 RRP at a Total of $887 RRP.
The Promotion commences at 9am AEST on Monday July 1st, 2019 and ends at 11.59 AEST on Monday September 30th, 2019 (Promotion Period). Entries must be received by the Promoter prior to the competition close date and time.
The online registration form will be hosted at https://www.johnalan.com.au/giveaway/
The Prize winner will be chosen at random in accordance with the terms and conditions on Monday 7th October 12.00pm AEST. The draw will take place at John Alan Betta Home Living Pty Ltd ABN 83 616 443 791. Contact Number: 03 9800 2266
The Prize on offer through this competition are:
Hisense 170 Litre Black Fridge (model HR6BF170B) valued at $499 RRP, Smeg 2 Slice Black Toaster (model TSF01BLAU) valued at $189 RRP & Smeg Black Kettle (KLF03BLAU) valued at $199 RRP at a Total of $887 RRP
The Promoter and their associated agencies and companies assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries, and reserves the right to take any action that may be available.
The term prize, mentioned in the terms and conditions below grants the selected winners the opportunity to win a CHIQ 49 inch Full HD TV with Netflix valued at $799.
The Promotion commences at 9am AEST on Monday April 1st 2019 and ends at 11.59 AEST on Sunday June 30th 2019 (Promotion Period). Entries must be received by the Promoter prior to the competition close date and time.
Entrants may enter the competition by completing the online registration form.
The Prize winner will be chosen at random in accordance with the terms and conditions on Monday 8thJuly 12.00pm AEST. The draw will take place at John Alan Betta Home Living Pty Ltd ABN 83 616 443 791. Contact Number: 03 9800 2266
CHIQ 49 inch Full HD TV with Netflix valued at $799
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Savoy Theatre, London
Music & lyrics by Dolly Parton
Book by Patricia Resnick
Directed by Jeff Calhoun
As David Hasselhoff steps into the role of sexist misogynist boss Franklin Hart Jnr in Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5, the show is lifted to an even higher plane of brilliant musical theatre comedy. Hart is a 2-dimensional shallow monster, and with Hasselhoff stepping up (or down) to the role, the self-deprecation that sees a globally recognised TV star being humiliatingly hoisted around the stage clad only in bondage gear, is quite simply a treat. Hasselhoff has a decent voice too - he still retains legendary status in Germany as a singer - which only adds to the show's fun.
The audience cheer ‘The Hoff’ on his first appearance - he could just as easily be being booed by the crowd for his character’s despicable antics and attitudes come the final bows - and it is this pantomime aspect that makes an already outstanding show, a perfect night out.
Any successful musical can only be as strong as its book and Patricia Resnick’s 1980s fable does a fine job of creating believable, and above all, relatable issues from her 2-D comic book heroines and villains. Coming from way before the #MeToo era, the sexual harassment and exploitation of the storyline may be played for laughs on stage, and the show’s ending maybe as fantastic as a fairytale, but the laughs are all at the expense of the bad guy(s).
Caroline Sheen as key protagonist Violet Newstead remains flawless in her leading the company. Natalie McQueen’s Doralee Rhodes - the Dolly Parton tribute character - is equally strong, with Chelsea Halfpenny as Judy Bernly completing the talented trio. It is still Bonnie Langford's harridan Roz who stops and steals the show half way through act one. Langford's tango duet with Hasselhoff, Heart To Hart has the audience cheering to the rafters.
The show is a technical gem. Whip smart dancing, Andrew Hilton’s phenomenal band and ingenious lighting and projections all combine to create a world class night at the theatre.
Booking until 23rd May 2020
David Hasselhoff appears until 8th February 2020
Labels: 5*, 9 to 5, Andrew Hilton, Bonnie Langford, Caroline Sheen, Chelsea Halfpenny, David Hasselhoff, Dolly Parton, Howard Hudson, Jeff Calhoun, Lisa Stevens, Musical, Natalie McQueen, Patricia Resnick, Savoy Theatre
MishaMisha 27 December 2019 at 22:39
Yes! Completely agree. It’s five stars from me too!
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Blog > July 2019 > Hay just might be the future of farming
By Ashley Peterson 10.01.2019
Hay just might be the future of farming
Alfalfa's formula for success: Science, technology and time
In an era of cell phones, same day grocery delivery and air travel, it’s no wonder we’ve grown accustomed to instant gratification. Well, most of us.
Stephen Temple, Director of Biotechnology at Forage Genetics International (FGI), is patient when it comes to seeing his work bear fruit. With an eye to the future, his outlook isn’t focused just on the next quarter or even next year, but rather the next 10 or 15 years. That’s how long it can take a scientist to have his or her work thoroughly tested and approved by regulators and out in the market. This long-term vision is what drew Stephen to a career in science and technology -- and what drew him to a career in agriculture at Land O’Lakes, Inc.
Stephen will never forget the day when one of his mentors at the Rothamsted Research Station in the United Kingdom (UK) showed him around the research facility -- they were studying how agrobacteria was able to transfer DNA to plant cells. “I was exposed to the cutting edge of technology in plant sciences. I could see the possibility and how it could impact agriculture -- I wanted to be a part of it,” says Stephen.
After completing his PhD, serving as a research fellow, working for Los Alamos national lab and New Mexico State University for 7 years, Stephen subsequently found himself running an alfalfa research lab at the University of Minnesota. It’s here where he was noticed by an up-and-coming company focused on the future of agriculture: Forage Genetics International (FGI), a subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc. In 1999, Stephen went to West Salem, Wisconsin to join the FGI team. At the time, it was a risky move. Plant biotechnology was still in its early days and didn’t have a road map, but Stephen knew that this meant he could do something significant. “Farming is a tough business. I knew the science I was passionate for could help farmers tackle some big challenges,” says Stephen.
Pause for a moment to think about some iconic images of a farming community. Cows, corn fields, a tractor -- and haystacks. Often, those haystacks are made up of dried alfalfa, a perennial crop plant high in protein. The protein makes it an important ingredient in livestock feed -- particularly for dairy cows. Decades ago, alfalfa growers had no choice but to use conventional breeding techniques to build those haystacks.
But, decades of research and development done by the West Salem team have brought two game changing commercial products to the market for alfalfa growers:
Weed control: Anyone with a green thumb knows weeds can easily take over a harvest. With the Roundup Ready® alfalfa technology, alfalfa growers are better able to control weeds, which allows more seedlings to survive. In turn, the plants require less maintenance, have faster and healthier growth potential -- which would naturally translate to increased yields and higher quality alfalfa for the grower.
Digestibility and flexibility: Lignin is a critical part of a plant cell’s genetic makeup -- helping make plants sturdy. However, it can also limit a cow’s ability to digest alfalfa, which can reduce the feeding quality needed for milk production. HarvXtra® alfalfa, a forage biotechnology developed by a small team at West Salem, along with partnerships with USDA and The Noble Foundation, reduces the amount of lignin in the alfalfa plant while maintaining the plant’s structure and agronomic characteristics. High-quality forage can provides the opportunity for greater profit potential or increased forage utilization by the animal. Those benefits can make a huge difference in a farmer’s income. What’s more, HarvXtra alfalfa gives farmers flexibility to delay harvest if needed. “Before, when heavy rains came it would put the harvest at risk,” says Stephen. “HarvXtra alfalfa builds in flexibility of timing. Farmers don’t typically take vacations, but with HarvXtra alfalfa they could.”
So, thanks to modern ag technologies -- not to mention the blood, sweat and tears of some talented scientists -- FGI has helped revolutionize alfalfa production. And now, the FGI team is taking HarvXtra alfalfa to international markets. Farmers in Canada and Argentina are (or will be soon) using the product to compete in their local markets. Stephen: We’ve changed the industry, but we aren’t stopping there.
Land O’Lakes member owners regularly visit the facility to learn about FGI’s portfolio of products. “These are smart business people running multimillion dollar operations. Their success doesn’t happen by chance -- it’s our purpose to help them progress,” says Stephen.
And, the learning goes both ways. Stephen listens to the issues they are facing. Their visits keep the West Salem team close to their primary customer: the farmers. This grounds the team’s day-to-day work in that critical long-term vision of advancing the forage industry. Stephen is particularly excited about two innovations on the long-term pipeline:
The power of the flower: When purple pops, it’s time to harvest. “If we can delay the timing of when alfalfa flowers, a grower will see significant increases in biomass, which can lead to increased yields on less land.” Though a commercial product may not hit the market for a decade or more, this kind of innovative technology is needed on a planet trying to feed more with less.
More protein on the scene: When cows digest alfalfa, a portion of the protein benefit is lost during digestion. “If you feed legumes containing condensed tannins to cows, you see an increase in protein efficiency -- the tannins bind to the protein to increase protein use efficiency.” Knowing this has got scientists like Stephen searching for ways to engineer alfalfa plants to produce condensed tannins.
A united enterprise
Though FGI is a part of WinField United, Land O’Lakes’ crop inputs, insights and technology business, Stephen’s work crosses all of Land O’Lakes, Inc.’s diversified business areas. “Our primary customers are dairy producers, which include dairy members of the Land O’Lakes system,” says Stephen. “Their milk gets processed into Land O’Lakes dairy foods products, like the butter and cheese.” On the other side, FGI’s work in alfalfa also directly connects with Purina, the animal nutrition business. Stephen regularly consults with animal nutritionists to understand how alfalfa can be optimally used to support a healthy animal diet.
The strength of this farm-to-fork enterprise model, rooted in cooperative values and a purpose of Feeding Human Progress™, is what gives Stephen the daily space and support to bring growers the innovation of tomorrow. After all, Feeding Human Progress doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, hard work, and a whole lot of science and technology.
Innovation Talent
Totally TUB-ular: Purina's circular economy in action
Planning a summer trip? Agriculture as a destination in the heartland
From typewriters to smartphones to Millennials: 50 years at Purina Animal Nutrition
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Man rushed to hospital with serious injuries after crash between car and motorbike
999 crews and an air ambulance were deployed to the scene
Police closed the road for several hours (Image: Coventry Telegraph)
A man has suffered serious injuries after a crash between Retford and Worksop, police have revealed.
Officers were called to the A57 after a collision between a motorbike and a car at 10.45am this morning, Thursday, August 15.
An air ambulance and paramedics were also deployed to the scene and the road was shut from the A614 Five Lane End junction to the Manton Wood roundabout.
Police have now confirmed that a man was seriously hurt in the crash.
Live updates as air ambulance descends after crash between car and motorbike
A force spokesperson said: “Officers from Nottinghamshire Police were called to reports of a collision just before 10.45am today.
“The incident involved a car and a motorbike.
“A man is being treated in hospital for serious injuries.
“If you saw what happened, you should call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 204 of August 15 2019.”
The road is now back open and traffic is moving freely.
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Lezenswaard
Poëzie/Poetry
Proza/Prose
Andere/Other
English - Proza/Prose
Champagne flutes tinkled in harmony with the Mozart sonata. A harp underscored the subdued pitch of the party chatter. Griffin Scope moved serpentine through the black tuxedos and shimmering gowns. People always used the same word to describe Griffin Scope: billionaire. After that, they might call him businessman or power broker or mention that he was tall or a husband or a grandfather or that he was seventy years old. They might comment on his personality or his family tree or his work ethic. But the first word - in the papers, on television, on people's lists - was always the B word. Billionaire. Billionaire Griffin Scope.
Griffin had been born rich. His grandfather was an early industrialist; his father improved the fortune; Griffin multiplied it several fold. Most family empires fall apart before the third generation. Not the Scopes'. A lot of that had to do with their upbringing. Griffin, for example, did not attend a prestigious prep school like Exeter or Lawrenceville, as so many of his peers did. His father insisted that Griffin not only attend public school but that he do so in the closest major city, Newark. His father had offices there, thus setting up a fake residence was no problem.
Newark's east side wasn't a bad neighborhood back then - not like now, when a sane person would barely want to drive through it. It was working class, blue collar - tough rather than dangerous.
Griffin loved it.
His best friends from those high school days were still his friends fifty years later. Loyalty was a rare quality; when Griffin found it, he made sure to reward it. Many of tonight's guests were from those Newark days. Some even worked for him, though he tried to make it a point to never be their day-to-day boss.
Tonight's gala celebrated the cause most dear to Griffin Scope's heart: the Brandon Scope Memorial Charity, named for Griffin's murdered son. Griffin had started the fund with a one-hundred million-dollar contribution. Friends quickly added to the till. Griffin was not stupid. He knew that many donated to curry his favor. But there was more to it than that. During his too-brief life, Brandon Scope touched people. A boy born with so much luck and talent, Brandon had an almost supernatural charisma. People were drawn to him.
His other son, Randall, was a good boy who had grown up to be a good man. But Brandon... Brandon had been magic.
The pain flooded in again. It was always there, of course. Through the shaking hands and slapping of the backs, the grief stayed by his side, tapping Griffin on the shoulder, whispering in his ear, reminding him that they were partners for life.
"Lovely party, Griff."
Griffin said thank you and moved on. The women were well coiffed and wore gowns that highlighted lovely bare shoulders; they fit in nicely with the many ice sculptures - a favorite of Griffin's wife Allison - that slowly melted atop imported linen tablecloths. The Mozart sonata changed over to one by Chopin. White-gloved servers made the rounds with silver trays of Malaysian shrimp and Omaha tenderloin and a potpourri of bizarre finger-food that always seemed to contain sun-dried tomatoes.
He reached Linda Beck, the young lady who headed up Brandon's charitable fund. Linda's father had been an old Newark classmate too, and she, so like so many others, had become entwined in the massive Scope holdings. She'd started working for various Scope enterprises while still in high school. Both she and her brother had paid for their education with Scope scholarship grants.
Developed by Matthias Kunnen.
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Screenwriter donates trophy and hat from iconic movie to Snowflex
July 13, 2016 : Liberty University News Service
Dan Gordon, a Hollywood screenwriter/director known for “The Hurricane,” “Highway to Heaven,” and “Wyatt Earp,” gifted a massive hunting trophy along with a hat worn by actor Sam Elliott on the set of the film “Tombstone” to Liberty University for display in the Barrick-Falwell Lodge at Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre.
Gordon has visited campus a number of times, often sharing his industry expertise with students of the Cinematic Arts, Zaki Gordon Center, which was named after his late son.
The trophy is a massive bull moose head, dubbed “Bullwinkle,” which Gordon harvested in Alaska in 1986. It is currently on display in the lodge, along with a large collection of North American wildlife trophies harvested and donated to Liberty by longtime university supporter Dr. Al Barrick.
Elliott played Virgil Earp in the 1993 film “Tombstone,” which was released a year before the Gordon-penned screenplay “Wyatt Earp” hit theaters. Gordon also donated a few other cowboy hats worn by late family members, including Zaki Gordon, which will be hung on the moose’s antlers. An identifying plaque will also be hung.
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The City and the Stars
Arthur C. Clarke, The City and the Stars (1956)
Reviewed by John Hertz
Reprinted from the amateur publication Challenger; copyright remains with the author. Used by permission.
What is a classic? Can we have any in science fiction? I've suggested we can if we make a book, or a painting, or whatever may be s-f, which outlives its own time: in which merit appears even after times have changed, after the currents which may have buoyed up an artwork have passed.
The City and the Stars has been continuously in print for fifty years. The current Gollancz edition has 256 pages, a nice mathematical fillip. In a 2000 introduction Sir Arthur, as he that year became, called it his best-loved work.
It is a work of marvels great and small. As it opens, our hero Alvin is on a far future Earth; the city of Diaspar has been a billion years in the form we meet, a fraction of its age. This immortal city, so encompassing, so big, we rightly suspect is a fraction of this book. There are stars. The story is told so well in so few words as to be another marvel. Clarke never quotes Quantity of labor has nothing to do with art; he does quote No machine may have any moving parts.
Last Updated ( Friday, 29 April 2016 )
Herman Hesse, The Glass Bead Game (1943)
Reprinted from the amateur publication The Drink Tank; copyright remains with the author. Used by permission.
The Glass Bead Game (also published in English as Magister Ludi) is largely neglected among us. Yet it won its author Hermann Hesse a Nobel Prize; it is one of very few good s-f novels by an outside writer; indeed it is a masterwork.
Last Updated ( Friday, 17 June 2016 )
The End of Eternity
Isaac Asimov, The End of Eternity (1953)
Retrieved from the Internet Archive (originally at Collecting Science Fiction Books; copyright remains with the author). Used by permission.
Here is Margaux wine gleaming red through the glass, with the flavor you can’t decide whether to call strong or delicate and the breath of violets. Here is Japanese nigirimeshi, seaweed around a triangle of rice holding in its careful blandness a sharp center, perhaps a salted plum.
Asimov at Noreascon III, the 1989 World Science Fiction Convention in Boston, told us that while he had by then published 400 books, of which only 75 were s-f, he considered himself an s-f author. By his death in 1992 it was 500.
He is represented in each of the ten categories of a library’s Dewey Decimal System except philosophy. He used to say a good joke could do more to provoke thought than hours of philosophical discussion.
This book is dedicated to Galaxy editor Horace Gold, who rejecting it as a short story provoked its rewriting as a novel. It has been translated into Russian (1966), Hebrew (1979), Finnish (1987), and Spanish (2004).
Last Updated ( Monday, 11 April 2016 )
Three Days to Never
Tim Powers, Three Days to Never (2006)
Retrieved from the Internet Archive (originally at Emerald City; copyright remains with the author). Used by permission.
In the 17th Century we thought drama should be governed by three unities, of place, time, and action. A hundred years later we were already wondering how valid they were as laws, but as guides they could strengthen focus in the theater, a main virtue there.
The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet
Eleanor Cameron, The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet (1954)
Flight has been loved for decades. It is on dozens of children’s-book lists.
Upon publication The Atlantic (Dec 54, p. 98) called it “a perfectly made fantasy.... most realistic description of a trip that two boys make in their own space ship. I felt as if I were right there with them.” Four pages earlier the same reviewer praised Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who, and ten pages earlier her editors praised Ben Shahn’s Alphabet of Creation.
The New York Times Book Review (4 Nov 54, pt. 2 p. 30) said “scientific facts are emphasized in this well-built story. Since they are necessary to the development of the story the reader absorbs them naturally.” Just above was praise of Walter Brooks’ Freddy and the Men from Mars.
Coming from outside the s-f community this is high praise, and these reviewers show taste.
Hugo-winning editor Ellen Datlow has applauded Flight. So has novelist Walter Mosley. It has strangeness and charm.
Infinite Worlds
The Best from "Fantasy and Science Fiction", 13th Series
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
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Academies Need of the Hour to Lift Indian Football: Shyam Thapa
Football IANS| Jul 30, 2019 04:07 PM IST
Shyam Thapa. (Photo Credits: IANS)
New Delhi, July 30: Legendary India footballer and Chairman of All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Technical Committee Shyam Thapa feels having residential academies across the country is the need of the hour if the level of the game has to be improved in this country. Speaking to IANS, Thapa said that the AIFF must look at running academies beyond the one they have wherein there are only 50-60 boys. He feels that at present there is no sense of competition among the boys.
"If out of all our states even 15 states agree (to have an academy) then see how many boys we will have and we can also conduct competitive tournaments for them. We can bring up the boys this way. In these academies, the only thing these boys will dream about is football. If this is done, after four years coaches will find it difficult to pick players and that too in every group," he said. Goal-Keeper Subrata Pal Calls for an Indian Football League Consisting Twenty Teams.
Thapa laments the lack of any national level planning in improving the fortunes of the game. A sensation during his playing days, Thapa recalled that India was at one point one of the top teams in Asia, but now countries from West Asia have become regional champions. "They have developed football in their countries, the respective government has taken interest. Their federations were seriously interested in developing football in their countries," he said adding that when everyone else is running we are simply walking.
He said there was no dearth of talent but a proper grooming system is missing to make boys play international standard football. "I suggested to them (AIFF) that if every state government run football academy selects 60 boys in every state, 20 each in the age group of 13-14, second group of 15-16 and a third group of 17-19 and develop them in the residential academy of that state, it will at the best come to around Rs5 crore a year. I don't think for the sports department of a state this amount is too big," he said.
"There are so many ex-footballers who have taken coaching degrees, A-License, B-License, C-license. They are waiting to take up assignments. The states can utilize those coaches also. And once good footballers come out of a state residential academy and represents the national team, the state also gets a name. Just see the example of Bhaichung Bhutia, because of him people all over world know Sikkim." He said the clubs are bringing retired foreign players because we don't have a crop of our own.
"I told the AIFF people during the U-17 World Cup that let's take Bhaichung, I.M. Vijayan, Sunil Chettri with us and go to the Sports Minister and convince him as he himself was a sports person and knew the value of an Olympic or Asiad medal," he said, adding that nothing moved despite AIFF appreciating the plan.
AIFF All India Football Federation Indian Footballer Shyam Thapa
Year Ender 2019: Excitement, Hopes and Unfulfilled Promises, Tracking ‘Sleeping Giant’ Indian Football’s Progress This Season
Under-17 Women’s Football Tournament: India Crush Thailand 1–0 in Semi-Final, Set Up Finals Clash With Sweden (Watch Video)
Sunil Chhetri Criticizes Delhi’s Worsening Air Quality, Urges People to Come Together and Rectify the Problem
Know All Abut Mohammad Al Jariri, a Leading Entrepreneur About to Make His Mark in Indian Football
ISL 2019-20 Result: Sergio Castel’s Late Goal Helps Jamshedpur FC to Beat Odisha 2–1
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu & Men Sweat it Out Ahead of India vs Bangladesh, 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (See Pics)
FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Indian Footballers Keen on Excelling Under Coach Igor Stimac’s Guidance
Robin Dutt, Former Germany Sporting Director Open to Coach Footballers in India
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CV and upcoming shows
PARIS COLLAGES
Sabbatique
Game's End
Danse du Futur
TEARS OF DESPAIR
Individual Tears
Tears with Information
Selected Earlier Work
Chants and Dreams
Bitter Fruits
Interscape
Reflection and Passage
Laura McCallum | Artist
Game’s End is a series based on the blindfold, and everything it represents. In this age when the American president is more of a game player than a sage leader, the blindfold becomes a contemporary symbol. The blindfold is a familiar image from Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s celebrated Children’s Games and the games of courtship and seduction portrayed in the work of Jean-Honoré Fragonard and Antoine Watteau to more decadent S&M pictures captured in contemporary photography. The blindfold is used in games around the world, including countless forms of blind-man’s buff, blindfold chess in Russia, the blindfold for the Mexican piñata, and blindfold drawing. The blindfold is an attribute of Roman goddess Fortuna. But the blindfold has a more ominous side: the intangible self-imposed blindfold of ignorance, or the blindfold warn by a prisoner before execution. The title of the series, Game’s End, suggests the end of the game, the end of ignorance (and subsequent search for truth, liberty) and more.
Above image: Game's End 1 (Paris 13_3.18), 2018 (detail)
© COPYRIGHT LAURA McCALLUM, 2018. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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Employment and Recruitment Companies and Consultants in Greater London
1st Place Graduate Recruitment
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21st Century Recruit
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360 Leaders
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3d Personnel
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42nd Street Recruitment Services
Third Floor Linen Hall, 162-168 Regent Street, London, Greater London, W1B 5TD
4Acres Services London Ltd
Unit W40 560-568, High Road, London, Greater London, N17 9TA
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9th Floor Berkshire House 168-173, High Holborn, London, Greater London, WC1V 7AA
The Helicon, 1 South Place, London, Greater London, EC2M 2RB
Career Information Services
Recruitment (Armed Forces)
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CT English Student/Parent Handbook
After School Sports
Dances & Fun Nights
Lyon, Elizabeth
Siegrist, Juli
Arias, Tony
Burgess, Marilyn
Cohen, Randy
Denues, Kris
DePiazza, Elizabeth
Dudley, Melanie
Grant-Richards, Wendy
Hulewat, Holly
Lanovaz, Nancy
Nefian, Rodica
O'Dea, Helen
Thompson, Wayne
Return to Today's News!
NEWS from 2018 - 2019
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News from Sept. 13, 2017
News for Sept. 27, 2017
News from Jan. 24, 2018
News from April 4, 2018
Last Blast News from the 2016-17 School Year
News from August 26, 2015
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News from Jan.14, 2015
Dear Loma & CT Families,
Thoughts From Tuesday Night
Important Reminder – No School on Monday!
Monday, October 12th, is a non-student day! There is no school on Monday, as faculty will be working on both Math and Language Arts curriculum development topics for our Staff Development Day. We will see your kids on Tuesday, October 13th!
Well That Was Fun!
This year’s gala was one to remember! From the music, to the food, to the incredible venue that is Mason du Lac, all the details came together beautifully. Beyond the logistics of an event for 400 was the amazing heart of the parents and extended community that came together to celebrate our schools and put us on a path to recovery. For me, the night was a kaleidoscope of parents with whom I have joined for 10 Galas and those I was getting to know at their first. It was an evening of being reminded both of the incredible “grit” found in our parent community and the tenacity shared by the “founding” members of our community.
Milton Barber stole the show with his call to action as a grandparent and member of the team who helped raise the original funds for the gym/community center building. Christian Thomas’ multimedia presentation on the fire and call to action for the restoration was powerful and compelling. I forget that most people haven’t seen powerful images from the night of the fire. It is important to share those images with all of you. You can view the video by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6U4dMCFkT0
Thank you Alex Leman and the firefighters for having our back on August 30th and October 3rd. You are an amazing team.
Joni Thomas and the LPEF crew hosted an outstanding event that highlighted the best of our schools and our community. Your generosity as donors is unparalleled. Thank you all for an amazing night of celebration of our schools, our kids, and our mountain. Thank you Patti Hughes for being who you are – our rock. Your welcoming all of us into your home with graciousness and style raises the bar for all of us as we move about our mountain. (You don’t see me inviting 400 people over to my house! Yikes!)
To the Steam Punkers, Cartones, room parents, teachers, parents, grandparents, alumni parents and the legion of volunteers who make this annual celebration possible – thank you from the bottom of my heart. You care so much, work so hard, and give so generously in many ways so that our small school district may continue to produce big league results. Your dedication ensures that our kids grow and thrive here.
We Learn as We Go
Many of you have offered suggestions as to how to continue to improve our traffic flow in the “new normal” after the fire. Thank you to everyone who is using the north campus and pedestrian bridge during morning drop off and afternoon pick up. We are continuing to try and manage the reduced parking area and the traffic patterns particularly in the afternoons. In anticipation of additional changes to the blacktop area between the schools please look for the following changes beginning Tuesday, October 13th:
· No changes to the morning routine. Keep dropping off on the Loma side of the parking lot. Use of the pedestrian bridge is strongly encouraged. On the main campus, parents may park in any regular, available parking spot along the tree line or in the gravel lot. Staff parking only in the “bus zone.”
· In the afternoon – the far right lane coming up the driveway will be a shared Loma and CT pick up line. The far left lane will become a “through lane” with no stopping allowed. You may use this lane to proceed to parking in either the main or lower gravel lot.
· Loma pick up will proceed straight ahead in the right lane to the traditional parent pick up zone at the curb.
· CT pick up will proceed to the right into a newly designated loading zone at the front end of the bus loading area. No loading or unloading at the CT curb or between buses please.
Please consider having students in grades 4-8 meet you on the “gazebo side” of the Summit Road. All students walking across Summit must have a note on file and use the pedestrian bridge.
For Mature Audiences Only…It’s middle school so it’s awkward, but it’s important.
We are embarking on the season where many charities work to support the more vulnerable in our extended community. We appreciate that our students can help with food drives and other caring initiatives. The most overlooked products in all charity drives are diapers, feminine pads, and tampons.
· Food stamps cannot be used for these items;
· The demographic most affected by the lack of feminine hygiene available are low income middle school and high school girls;
· Many of these girls skip school every month because they don’t have these basic needs;
· Donations of pads, tampons, shampoo, soap, and diapers are all needed by every agency that works to tackle issues of poverty.
We have a donation box at CT English to collect donations for students at CT, Los Gatos High School, and the community beyond. We would love to have all kids – young women and young men – participate in this effort. If your family would like to participate, please stop in and donate to this important and often less visible need. Donations will be shared with local students and with other Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County agencies throughout the year. Thank you!
Corey Kidwell
Superintendent/Principal
Carino’s Top Ten Favorite Sights:
1. 1. Steampunk fashion makes a splash at the Gala and takes on a special mountain vibe … red plastic fire hats;
2. 2. The excitement of participating in an impromptu game of many red rubber balls with a small group of first and second graders that kept expanding as students in the group made room for more and more students to join. Ahh, the more the merrier;
3. 3. A labor of love that transforms a dinner party into one of the most amazing fundraising events under the stars. Thank you LPEF and all those who join with them to pull it all together;
4. 4. Awe-inspiring parents enjoying the thrill of competition as they generously bid in the spirit of supporting our schools and students. A truly heartwarming sight;
5. 5. A very cool sixth grade student who actually took a moment to show me the context of his electronic game. A rare moment;
6. 6. Eighth grade students enjoying their special lunch spot and not really minding that it is bordered by green fencing;
7. 7. Noticing that the two-year old group of ravens is finally getting bigger than the crows so that now I can id them more readily. I wonder if student lunches have to do with their growth;
8. 8. New braces. There are a number of students joining the new braces club. I love that colored rubber bands add ambiance and offset other, not so cool, elements of the experience;
9. 9. The refined sound of jungle rhythms floating through the Forum and the good news that Theatre in the Mountains has a venue for the Lyon King play - the Harbor High School Little Theatre. Show Dates are November 15-17;
10. 10. Bagged lunches assembled at the Summit Store arriving fresh, as I type, at Loma. Thanks Loma Home and School Club!
Common Core Math Summit
The Common Core Math Summit is an experience designed to give K-8 parents a ground floor perspective of the new Math standards and their implementation in the classroom. This evening is designed to help you:
Connect with other parents and experience first hand how the changes to the math standards are designed to translate into success for our students
Gain insight as to how math concepts build from one grade level to the next
Increase your awareness of how parents can partner with teachers to build solid math foundations for our students
Please use this URL to register: http://tiny.cc/ey9r3x
Please plan to join us on October 15th from 6:30 to 7:30 in the Loma Forum. This is an adult-focused event. No childcare is available. We hope you can attend.
CT Home and School Club News
It's that time of year again to dust off your scarfs or better yet purchase a Cheetah Spirit Scarf from the Home & School Club. CT HSC will be selling our "Go Cheetah" scarfs this Friday morning at drop off across the street at Building Blocks parking lot. Don't forget to stop by to purchase your scarf for $20.00 and support our Cheetah Booster Club, CT's athletic department.
The CT Snack Shack will now be open 5 days a week to sell lunch. Look on the CT HSC to see the current menu, lunches cost between $2-$4 and lunch cards may be purchased on the CT HSC website. This lunch service is for middle school students.
Wild Times @ CTE
Early Release EVERY Wednesday @ 1:30 pm
10/7/15 Cross Country home meet on the Loma Field 3:30-6pm
10/7/15 Meet & Eat at Willow St. & Main St. Fundraiser (see flyer)
10/12/15 Staff Development Day-NO SCHOOL
10/14/15 CT HSC Meeting Room 7 8:30 am
10/15/15 Common Core Math Summit (see flyer)
10/16/15 CT Fall Dance Loma Forum 7-9 pm
10/23/15 End of Quarter 1
10/30/15 Minimum Day both schools 12:30 dismissal
All other items, which were scheduled, are TBD because of community center/gym bld.
SportsNews oct62015.pdf 232.62 KB (Last Modified on October 7, 2015)
Loma Boo-Bash
BooBash2015.pdf 6.42 MB (Last Modified on October 7, 2015)
C. T. English Middle School • 23800 Summit Road Los Gatos, CA 95033 • Site Map
C. T. English Middle School • 23800 Summit Road Los Gatos, CA 95033 Site Map
C. T. English Middle School • 23800 Summit Road Los Gatos, CA 95033
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Full Service List
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Water Damage Restoration South Quay E14
Water Damage Restoration in South Quay E14
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Here is some local information relating to E14 South Quay:
The Isle of Dogs is a former island in the East End of London that is surrounded on three sides (east, south and west) by one of the largest meanders in the River Thames. To the north, are the West India Docks, and the only road access to the island is across the two bridges that cross the eastern and western entrances to the dock (...)
1996 Docklands bombing
The Docklands bombing (also known as the Canary Wharf bombing or South Quay bombing) on February 9, 1996, was one of the most significant Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) attacks during the 1990s, as it caused severe damage to a significant part of the East London Docklands financial development and brought an end to their ceasefire of the previous two years (...)
South Quay DLR station
South Quay is a Docklands Light Railway station on the Isle of Dogs, in London. It is between Crossharbour and Heron Quays stations and is in Travelcard Zone 2. South Quay station opened in 1987, and is a standard DLR phase 1 elevated station, subsequently extended to permit the use of 2 car trains (...)
10 Upper Bank Street
, Docklands, London. It was designed by the architectural firm of Kohn Pedersen Fox and built by Canary Wharf Contractors[http://www.cwcontractors.com/projectsBankStreet.asp Canary Wharf Contractors Website]. The 32 story building was completed in 2003 and is 151 metres tall. The majority of the building is occupied by Clifford Chance, the largest law firm in the world, but a few floors are (...)
West India Docks
(figures) from Rudolph Ackermann's ''Microcosm of London, or, London in Miniature'' (1808-11). The West India Docks are a series of three docks on the Isle of Dogs in London. (...)
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Recommend to the policyholder on what they can do to help reduce spreading water damage:
Water damages requires immediate attention to minimize further losses. In case a water damage occurs in your house or property try to locate the problem before the arrival of water damage specialists;
Remove as much water as possible by mopping the area or using a wet vacuum;
Remove any artwork and paintings from the walls if affected by the flood;
Place plastic or aluminium foil under any furniture legs that are not plastic to prevent discolouration or bleeding of you carpet or wooden floor affect from the water damage;
Windows to be opened if the weather is dry;
Damage Type: Water Damage Restoration Basement Drying Residential Flood Repair Dehumidifier Hire
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Is Macclesfield's Marks and Spencer going to close?
Marks and Spencer, which has a clothing store on Mill Street, has announced it will cut back on its clothing offer after years of efforts to turn around falling sales and instead focus on food.
Rhiannon McDowall
Marks & Spencer is preparing to shut around 30 stores and downsize another 45 to 'Simply Food' stores.
It’s not yet known if the Macclesfield branch on Mill Street will come under the axe, but the high street brand is expected to announce the plans next week.
Other nearby stores include a large shop at Handforth Dean.
The retailer said the closures come as part of an overhaul which will affect around 100 stores as it looks to cut back on clothing and home while boosting its Simply Food chain.
Details of the restructure came as it said underlying pre-tax profits fell 18.6 per cent to £231.3 million in the six months to October 1, while bottom-line profits crashed 88.4 per cent to £25.1 million.
Chief executive Steve Rowe also outlined plans to shut 53 stores across 10 international markets - including 10 in China and seven in France, while pulling out of Belgium, Estonia, Hungary and Lithuania - putting around 2,100 jobs at risk.
M&S said it will close around 30 of its 304 full-line stores - selling clothing and home as well as food - and downsize or replace around 45 shops to Simply Food outlets.
It will also relocate some other outlets, while opening other stores in so-called under-served areas.
The group remained tight-lipped on the number of UK staff impacted by the plans, but said that, where possible, it would keep "job continuity" for affected employees.
The group insisted it would have more stores overall after the revamp, with already-announced aims to open more than 200 Simply Food outlets by the end of the 2018/19 financial year.
MacclesfieldIn this week's Macclesfield ExpressFind out what else is in this week's edition of the Macclesfield Express ...
MacclesfieldBravery of Macclesfield's WW2 pilots revealed in new bookEric Bann and Dennis Armitage were Macclesfield’s unsung heroes in the Battle of Britain.
NewsSex offender Nicholas Henshall to spend Christmas behind barsTop judges decided his suspended sentence was too lenient
MacclesfieldRaising a glass for Macc's best pubsyour votes for town’s top ten boozers are in, writes alex hibbert
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MacroVoices Podcasts
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Jeffrey Christian: Secular Buy call on Gold
Please note this was transcribed to best of the ability of the transcriber and may have minor errors. Please refer to the podcast itself to clarify anything.
Erik: CPM Group founder Jeffrey Christian is back with us this week as our featured interview guest. Jeff, you are best known as a precious metals expert but I want to start today with the U.S. dollar because obviously, everything is priced in U.S. dollars.
Last time you were on this show most of our guests were just wildly bullish the U.S. dollar index, you had a different view you said you were biased to the upside but you thought more sideways was likely as opposed to a really big move up and you're definitely been proven right on that. So, where do you see it going from here?
Jeffrey: I guess I’m the comfortable slippers in the in the currency markets. I’m never exciting, sometimes I’m exciting but the last year or so we haven't really changed our view.
I still think that there is a little bit of upside on the dollar. It's interesting because a lot of people are talking about the dollar coming off and I don't see the dollar falling sharply because for the dollar to fall sharply you really have to have faith in Europe and faith in Europe is hard to come by.
Now it's all relative so with the Dutch election behind us, it's possible that you'll see a little bit more faith in Europe which could help bolster the euro a little bit more faith in the U.K. which seems unlikely because probably the Brexit talks are going to be extremely hostile and sloppy and they're not going to impress anybody with the intellectual quality of the conversation going on, on either side.
So, I think that that is actually supportive of the dollar so I don't necessarily see the dollar falling but by the flipside I don't necessarily see the dollar rising much more. So, we're still looking for it to move sideways with a slight upward bias but less dynamic than it was in 2015 or so. We sort of see the dollar relatively fairly valued about where it is right now.
Jonathan Tepper: The sea of excess liquidity which fueled the rally will soon dry up! - March 16, 2017
Please note: this was transcribed to best of the ability of the transcriber and may have minor errors. Please refer to the podcast itself to clarify anything.
Download the Full transcript: pdf 2017-03-16 - Transcript of the Podcast Interview between Erik Townsend and Jonathan Tepper (543 KB)
Erik: Joining me next on the program is Jonathan Tepper founder of Variant Perception. Jonathan for years now my thinking has been that this massive rally we've seen since 2009 is attributable primarily to excess liquidity that's generated by central bank policy.
You've done a huge amount of work on this subject and your conclusion has been that that excess liquidity may soon dry up and of course that would present a serious headwind for markets. So, please give us the whole back story here, where has all this liquidity been coming from for the last few years, why is it there and why do you think that that picture is about to change?
Jonathan: Sure, thank you, so basically, we've done quite a lot of work at Variant Perception. We build traditional leading economic indicators but we spend an enormous amount of time focusing on global liquidity indicators and economic indicators tend to lead things like industrial production for example and retail sales, whereas liquidity interestingly tends to lead acid prices a lot more than it leads the overall economy.
You were just mentioning excess liquidity which we would distinguish from a straightforward liquidity so for example if you think about liquidity a lot of that can drive the real economy so if money is growing you could end up with more industrial activity, retail sales and then you can end up with inflation and an increase in the C.P.I. level.
If you're pumping in more money than the economy actually needs or that in fact inflation is generated then all that excess liquidity sort of above and beyond needs of the economy tends to go into financial assets and that could be commodities, stocks and real estate.
So, one of the things that we do at Variant Perception to help our clients who are primarily hedge funds, family offices and endowments is to track these ups and downs of not only excess liquidity we look at the global shape of the yield curve.
Grant Williams: The Rise of Populism, Trump Rally, Gold & More March 2, 2017
Download the Full transcript: pdf 2017-03-02 - Transcript of the Podcast Interview between Erik Townsend and Grant Williams (574 KB)
Erik: Joining me next on the program is Grant Williams, Real Vision co-founder and of course author of the extremely popular, Things That Make You Go Hmmm newsletter.
Grant, your views on the global rise in populism have been among the most prescient of any guest who's appeared on this program. You predicted the Brexit outcome and you've described the rise of Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and various European politicians including Marine Le Pen, as all being part of a connected global trend.
Since our last interview many of your predictions have come true. So, bring us up to date on your outlook, what is driving the global rise in populism, what does it mean and what's coming next for Europe, the United States and the rest of the world?
Grant: Hi Eric, it’s great to be back on and good to speak to you again. The populism thing is so interesting and I think it's so important right now and I think, me predicting Brexit and Trump does not make me a great market seer, I think the beauty I had during those election campaigns was that I was in neither place so I could sit back from a distance and look at it objectively which I think both of those – the Brexit situation and the U.S. elections – was so just electrified with high feelings on both sides and it was really difficult if you were in the middle of that to be able to be objective about it.
Interview with Louis-Vincent Gave: Translating 2016 Events to 2017 Strategies - February 21, 2017
Download the Full transcript: pdf 2017-16-21 - Transcript of the Podcast Interview between Erik Townsend and Louis-Vincent Gave (700 KB)
Erik: Joining me next on the program is Louis Vincent Gave of course from a very famous institutional advisor firm Gavekal headquartered in Hong Kong. Louis thanks so much for joining us.
I want to start by talking about you being headquartered in Hong Kong there. This whole China reflation trade, a year ago, the buzz was, “hey 2016 is going to be the year where China is forced to devalue markedly and that will send a massive deflationary shockwave around the world.” Well it didn't happen in 2016, how do you see this, is that really a risk, is that the right story, what's going on with China?
Louis: To be honest, you're absolutely right, that’s been one of the biggest surprises of 2016. I think if you look back at the past year most people – and you talk about the surprises – most people talk about Trump and they talk about Brexit because this is what makes newspaper headlines. But you're absolutely right that a year ago, everyone thought China was going to implode.
Instead of imploding the government obviously re-stimulated the economy. You saw big spending from state owned enterprises, you saw oil imports go up 24% year on year in the first quarter, iron ore imports, copper imports everything goes through the roof in the first half of 2016 and instead of imploding China turned out to be reflationary force for the rest of the world to the point where actually today everybody talks about the Trump-flation and how the U.S. election has triggered a big reflationary trade for the world, for me it's not as much Trump and what's happening in the U.S. really as what occurred in China we had another round of fiscal stimulus just like we had in 2009,2010 and this led to rebound in commodities, rebound in Baltic Dry Index, rebound in steel prices.
Now interestingly I think if you project yourself forward to this summer – China basically stopped stimulating around the summer of 2016 and in fact starting in November, they started to tighten monetary policy, started to raise interest rates, started to lean on the banks to lend less – so if you project yourself to this summer the big risk for me is that perhaps – now there's reasons to think that reflation trade will continue and we can maybe go into that – but one of the risk is that as Chinese growth rolls over as the year on year comparisons for China get tougher what you will see in China is weaker growth starting this summer and that might start to curtail the reflation trade you're seeing on the markets today.
Interview with Jeffrey Snider: Understanding the Global U.S. Dollar Shortage February 16, 2017
Download the Full transcript: pdf 2017-16-09 - Transcript of the Podcast Interview between Erik Townsend and Jeffrey Snider (557 KB)
Erik: Jeffrey Snider from Alhambra Partners joins me now as this week's featured interview guest. Jeff put together a fantastic book of charts and graphs to support this interview and I strongly encourage you to download it so that you can refer to it while you're listening.
Registered users at macrovoices.com will find the download link in your research roundup email. If you're not yet registered Patrick told you earlier in the show how to get registered and get the download.
Jeff your last interview back in August was one of our most popular shows ever. But we also lost a few people because we dove straight into the intricacies of the Eurodollar futures market without stopping to first define what a Eurodollar is and why that's important.
So, to set the stage for this interview the term Eurodollar refers to time deposits at banks outside the United States which are denominated in U.S. dollars so in other words U.S. dollars on deposit outside of the United States. The term Eurodollar originally referred to bank deposits in Europe but in today's usage it really refers to any place in the world that U.S. dollars are on deposit in banks other than U.S. banks.
Now at first glance it might seem that the Eurodollar market would only be of interest to international corporations who need to hold dollar denominated deposits around the world. So, it's tempting to question why an investor located in the United States would even care about Eurodollars.
So, Jeff let's start by answering that question what signals can the Eurodollar market give us about the global economy. Why is it so important for an investor who seeks to understand the global economy to understand the Eurodollar market and the messages that it’s sending us?
Jeffrey: Well first of all Erik I want to thank you for having me back here I really appreciate the opportunity. I think you guys do a fantastic job with your podcast and I'm a big fan of it too. To answer your question, the Eurodollar is as you describe it. It's an offshore currency market of various forms and as it evolved in the last half century or so it's taken on far more proportions than just deposit accounts or vanilla currency transactions. In fact, it's become sort of ubiquitous. What I mean by that is that there's Eurodollars pretty much behind every facet of global finance and economy.
If you look back at 2008 for example, the panic in 2008 was actually a Eurodollar panic not specifically one of Wall Street but one of Lombard Street and you were correct to point out that the main Eurodollar is sort of a misnomer because it denotes any offshore currency transactions that happen all over the world. It just so happened that the earliest markets of these offshore dollar areas happen to be in Europe, London, Zurich, Frankfurt but there was Eurodollar markets all over the world. Montreal was one, Tokyo was another big one.
So, there's a global system that is a currency system, a reserve currency system, that really isn't currency though and it functions in a lot of ways that are to our first brush, kind of strange and unusual and maybe a little bit too unfamiliar to allow comfortable interpretation.
Have you considered making a donation? Every dollar we receive in donations goes towards MacroVoices production and website costs. And, donations of $50 or more entitle you to access all 6 MacroVoices Live Videos!
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MACRO VOICES is presented for informational and entertainment purposes only. The information presented in MACRO VOICES should NOT be construed as investment advice. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making important investment decisions. The opinions expressed on MACRO VOICES are those of the participants. MACRO VOICES, its producers, and hosts Erik Townsend and Patrick Ceresna shall NOT be liable for losses resulting from investment decisions based on information or viewpoints presented on MACRO VOICES.
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Chill Dance
Festival/One Off
Travel Camping
Travel + Camping
Spotlight: Must-Have iPhone Apps for Aspiring Musicians
These apps range from apps that can simply store your music to apps that can allow you to create your next hit song while you're waiting in a line.
Musicians are constantly on the move. Whether it’s going to band practice, performing live at local venues, touring the country for a summer, or hopping from one press junket to another, musical artists big and small are typically headed somewhere at any given moment.
In addition to keeping their devices safe on-the-go with iPhone cases, musicians also need to put their smartphones to good use for the sake of their music. Fortunately, there are several iPhone apps for aspiring musicians. These apps range from apps that can simply store your music to apps that can allow you to create your next hit song while you're waiting in a line.
GarageBand:
GarageBand is an app that is derived from the GarageBand software that is offered on Mac computers. The app is free for both iPhones and iPads that were developed after September 2014. On many newer Apple devices, GarageBand is already installed out of the box. GarageBand is one of the best music production apps on App Store and what makes it so great is its immense amount of capabilities. Musicians can create songs in GarageBand by using a variety of multi-touch instruments, such as drums and pianos. Once a song is developed, a user can then share the song across several platforms directly from the app.
Yousician:
Yousician is an app that allows aspiring musicians to teach themselves additional instruments while using their phone. Users can learn guitar, piano, ukulele, and bass through the app. Yousician has numerous capabilities but primarily offers missions that serve as music lessons. When a user decides to utilize a more hands-on experience, they can use the microphone function of Yousician to receive feedback on their songs. While the app is free on the App Store, the best parts of Yousician have to be accessed through their monthly subscription program
Tempo is a metronome app that allows musicians to stay on beat when needed. When compared to the many other metronome apps available on the App Store, Tempo is far more accurate and user-friendly. Users can save certain settings in Tempo to return to later, this avoids the hassle of needing to recreate a setting during every practice session. Tempo has numerous time signatures to choose from and can monitor tempos between the range of 10 to 800 bpm. There are both free and paid versions of Tempo.
ClearTune:
Every musician should always carry a tuner with them and what better place to have a tuner than on your phone? ClearTune is a chromatic tuner that simplifies the laborious tuning process that you need to do every time you take out your instrument. ClearTune is precise, accurate, quick, and efficient
Ultimate Guitar Tabs:
As implied by its name, Ultimate Guitar Tabs is the ultimate guitar app. The app offers guitarists a variety of guitar tabs from the palms of their hands. For beginner guitarists, the app offers lessons on chords and guitar patterns. There is an expansive library of music in the app that caters to guitarists of all skill levels. The app also has a built-in metronome and guitar tuner that can allow a guitarist to tune their guitar in a number of different tunings
Road Trip:
Road Trip is a valuable app for musicians who are continuously traveling. The app helps musicians budget their trips by tracking expenses and fuel consumption. Through its built-in GPS, the app can also determine the best route between tour locations. Additionally, Road Trip can provide mileage statistics to its users
DM1:
DM1 is an iPhone drum machine that can mobilize a large immobile drum set. Through its many percussive options and quick quantization, DM1 creates the perfect mobile drummer.
Most musicians are busy trying to practice, perform, and perfect their craft. This usually means a life on-the-go. Due to their inherent mobility and a vast range of uses, smartphones have become a critical resource for modern musicians living this life. Not only does this mean making sure the phone is well-protected against the drops and spills so often happening on the road, but making the most out of the music-focused apps available to download.
spotlightiPhone
Get Magnetic Ad-Free for 30 Days
Spotlight: Musicians Who Have Battled Addictions
By Magnetic
BeatdropBox Is the App Every Aspiring Producer Needs
DJ and Production Gear
Pioneer DJ Launches Their Popular WeDJ App for iPhone
© 2020 Magnetic Magazine
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https://www.mainememory.net/search/more?keywords=Slate&core_page=2&active_tab=exhibits
A Maine Historical
Society Website
Mystery Corner
Portland Tax Records
Keywords: Slate
Search within these results New Search
Historical Items (119)
Tax Records (1)
Site Pages (18)
My Maine Stories (1)
Your results include these online exhibits. You also can view all of the site's exhibits, view a timeline of selected events in Maine History, and learn how to create your own exhibit. See featured exhibits or create your own exhibit
Extracting Wealth
Maine's natural resources -- granite, limestone and slate in particular -- along with its excellent ports made it a leader in mining and production of the valuable building materials. Stone work also attracted numerous skilled immigrants.
Laboring in Maine
Workers in Maine have labored in factories, on farms, in the woods, on the water, among other locales. Many of Maine's occupations have been determined by the state's climate and geographical features.
The Waldo-Hancock Bridge
The Waldo-Hancock Bridge is in the process of being dismantled after over 70 years of service. The Maine State Archives has a number of records related to the history of this famous bridge that are presented in this exhibition.
John Bapst High School
John Bapst High School was dedicated in September 1928 to meet the expanding needs of Roman Catholic education in the Bangor area. The co-educational school operated until 1980, when the diocese closed it due to decreasing enrollment. Since then, it has been a private school known as John Bapst Memorial High School.
We Used to be "Normal": A History of F.S.N.S.
Farmington's Normal School -- a teacher-training facility -- opened in 1863 and, over the decades, offered academic programs that included such unique features as domestic and child-care training, and extra-curricular activities from athletics to music and theater.
1924 Portland Tax Records
Other MHS Websites
Many images on this website are for sale on VintageMaineImages.com.
Maine Memory Network is a project of the Maine Historical Society. Except for classroom educational use, images and content may not be reproduced without permission. See Terms of Use.
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MarketWatch First Take
Bring on the bargains
By MarketWatch
Published: Nov 2, 2010 12:23 p.m. ET
Commentary: Warmer weather slows retailers’ October momentum
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Warm weather for much of the month of October may lead to hotter discounts for shoppers in the coming months.
This past October was much warmer than last year, which ranked as the coldest in 33 years and the wettest on record, according to retail weather forecasting firm Planalytics Inc. While this makes for an enjoyable fall, there’s less incentive to hit stores and stock up on cold-weather gear.
“We believe October results will be disappointing relative to consensus expectations. Weather has been too warm, and last year October was quite cold,” said Liz Dunn, analyst at FBR Capital Markets.
“Thus, seasonal demand likely suffered. We also remain focused on what we are calling the new era of the skittish shopper. These shoppers are inconsistent from month to month.”
With most retailers set to report monthly sales results later this week, the International Council of Shopping Centers expects an overall increase between 2% and 2.5%.
While October is often a clearance month as retailers gear up for late fall and holiday displays, it’s likely there will be plenty more discounts to be had in the coming months.
Consumers have become trained to expect price cuts — and retailers are falling into line. A handful have rolled out Black Friday campaigns early instead of waiting until the traditional kickoff — just after Thanksgiving — to nab the dwindling supply of consumer dollars this year. This will likely pressure retailers who are also grappling with higher commodity costs.
There are high hopes that the election will bring some substantial change to the economy or at least perk up consumer sentiment, but with the jobs and the macro picture looking bleak there doesn’t seem to be any real stimulus on the horizon any time soon.
— Angela Moore, commentary editor
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NCR to add 800 Blockbuster kiosks at Food Lions
By Melissa Korn
Published: June 8, 2011 8:21 a.m. ET
MelissaKorn
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- NCR Corp. NCR, -1.71% is adding 800 Blockbuster Express locations to Food Lion stores in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern U.S. regions as the company continues to expand its footprint for the movie-rental machines.
NCR, best known for automated teller machines and cash registers, owns and operates more than 9,000 kiosks under the Blockbuster Express brand. The company is currently locked in a legal dispute over that trademark with Dish Network Corp. DISH, -0.11%, which bought Blockbuster out of bankruptcy in late April. Dish is attempting to strip NCR of the right to use the name, while NCR argues it is part of a trust not included in the bankruptcy case.
In addition to Food Lion, the kiosks will be placed in other Delhaize Group's (DEG, DELB.BT) Delhaize America supermarkets, including Bottom Dollar Food and Harveys.
In March, NCR announced it would place kiosks in 309 RaceTrac convenience stores throughout the southeastern U.S. It also has deals with outlets including Publix Super Markets Inc., Safeway Inc. (SWY) and Kwik Trip Inc.
NCR initially planned to install 11,000 machines by the end of last year, but has since scaled back those ambitions. The company now expects to hit 10,000 by the end of 2011. Its larger rival, Coinstar Inc.'s (CSTR) Redbox Automated Retail, operates more than 30,000 kiosks nationwide.
More from MarketWatch
European luxury stocks blasted over virus worries as UBS hit by lowered guidance
Netflix, Intel and IBM set to enter battle against the earnings recession
NCR Corp. U.S.: NYSE: NCR
P/E Ratio 126.14
Div Yield 0
DISH Network Corp. Cl A U.S.: Nasdaq: DISH
Market Cap 19.2B
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Home > Projects > Completed Projects
MCWA's Shoremont Water Treatment Plant can produce up to 140 million gallons a day.
2016 Structural Lining Program
Return to Projects List
The existing water mains on Allens Creek Road (between Clover Street and house #439), Whitney Road (between Oak Hill Terrace and house #430) and Scottsville Road (between the rail road tracks and Paul Road) will be cleaned and structurally lined by a contractor hired by the Water Authority.
MCWA is using a cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) lining product to rehabilitate the existing water main instead of replacing it. The CIPP liner is pulled into the existing pipe using a winch. Once installed, the lining is cured using warm water. When cured, the CIPP is considered equivalent to a replacement pipe and does not rely on the existing water main for strength. Along with reducing the possibility of future water main breaks, the smooth interior of the CIPP will improve water quality and enhance the ability to maintain pressures and flow for firefighting purposes.
A cleaning and lining project requires only small excavations to access the main at about 500 foot intervals and at locations where water mains intersect or there are valves or hydrant connections. Water services can be reinstated from within the water main by a remote controlled robot. Occasionally some services need to be dug up at the water main.
The first step of the contractor’s work is to lay temporary bypass piping. This temporary piping is chlorinated, flushed, and health sampled by the Department of Health. After the health samples are approved, each customer’s home is temporarily connected by a hose to the bypass system. Excavations are then made at selected locations, and the main is cut to allow access for preparation and lining work. After all preparation work is done, the main is flushed clean. The contractor then installs the CIPP lining system into the existing main. If conditions warrant, old fire hydrants and valves are replaced. After the lining cures, the lining is inspected with a video camera and then the main is pressure tested for leaks. Before customers are returned to the refurbished main, it is chlorinated, flushed, and tested by the Department of Health.
During final restoration, the temporary bypass system is removed and disturbed areas are restored to their preconstruction condition. Temporary asphalt is removed, and permanent asphalt is installed in paved areas. Lawn areas are graded and seeded, and the contractor is responsible for getting all seeded areas to grow properly.
The schedule depends on a number of factors, but we anticipate the work on Allens Creek Road beginning in early May and finishing in late June. The work on Whitney Road will begin in early June and finish in late July. The work on Scottsville Road will begin in mid-August and finish in late October.
You may contact our Customer Service department at (585) 442-7200 weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, or our Dispatcher at (585) 442-2009 weekdays before 8:30 and after 4:30 pm, and on weekends and holidays with questions or concerns. A Water Authority inspector will be onsite throughout construction. Our inspectors carry an ID card and drive a company vehicle with a Water Authority logo on it. They are happy to answer any questions you may have.
Project Bulletin
Click below for a project bulletin with further information on this project.
Project Bulletin - Allens Creek Road
Project Bulletin - Whitney Road
Project Bulletin - Scottsville Road
Q: What determines replacement, relocation or relining of water mains?
A: Evaluation is primarily based on pipe age, the occurrence of breaks and repairs, and future hydraulic considerations.
Q: Will our water services need to be repaired?
A: The Water Authority is typically responsible for the portion of each building's water service that is in the public right-of-way or water main easement, up to and including the curb stop. The Water Authority will replace its portion of your service line and the curb stop during the project if needed.
Q: Will I have water service during the project?
A: If the water main that serves your home is being replaced, you will be notified in advance of any non-emergency service outages. Service to homes is temporarily shut down during installation of new service connections to the curb stop and during tie-in connections at the end of the water main installation.
Q: What are the advantages of cleaning and lining water mains?
A: Along with improved water quality, the ability to maintain pressures and flow for firefighting purposes is enhanced by the smoother pipeline interior. Additionally, there is a significant cost advantage to cleaning and lining over replacing mains.
Q: If cleaning removes tuberculation and restores flow, why bother with lining?
A: Cleaning does not remove the causes of corrosion or tuberculation. In a pipeline that has been cleaned and returned to service, corrosive influences go to work immediately at an accelerated rate. Cleaning followed by the application of a cement-mortar protects against the recurrence of corrosion and tuberculation.
Q: How are sections of pipe removed and replaced?
A: Access excavations are made approximately every 500 feet and at locations of pipe intersections. Pipe sections are cut for removal utilizing pipe saws. The removed pipe sections are cleaned and lined above ground and re-installed.
Q: How soon after lining can the pipeline be put back in service?
A: Service can usually be restored within 48 hours at operating pressure.
Q: Will there be open trenches at night?
A: No. The site must be left in a safe condition by the contractor and trenches will be protected with orange construction fence.
Q: Is the contractor penalized if the project is not completed on time?
A: Yes, there are provisions in the contract to ensure the project is completed in a timely manner.
Q: Will damage to my lawn be repaired?
A: Yes, lawn areas are graded and seeded and the contractor is responsible for proper regrowth.
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MedGenMed Hematology-Oncology
Epigenetics Changes in Cancer Cells
Highlights of the American Association for Cancer Research Special Conference on Chromatin, Chromosomes, and Cancer Epigenetics; November 10-14, 2004; Waikoloa, Hawaii
Kris Novak, PhD
Genomewide Methylation Patterns
Although methylation changes in certain genes are associated with specific cancer types, little is known about the extent to which methylation changes occur in cancer cells: Do changes occur just in specific genes or throughout large regions of chromosomes? Susan Clark,[10] of the Sydney Cancer Center, Sydney, Australia, and colleagues are using a technique called amplification of intermethylated sites (AIMS) to study genomewide levels of methylation and gene silencing in different cell types. In analyzing methylated chromosome sequences in 98 human colorectal cancer samples, her group identified a locus at chromosome 2q14.2 that is hypomethylated in normal tissue samples but hypermethylated in tumor-cell samples.
In the cancer cells, such epigenetic alteration was not just restricted to CpG islands within that region. The increase in methylation spanned multiple and contiguous CpG islands in the chromosome, resulting in global silencing of the entire region. Because chromosome 2q14.2 is a gene-rich region (eg, containing genes, such as Engrailed, MARCO, SCTR, and INHBB), Clark[10] is trying to determine whether the specific silencing of 1 or more genes in this region is responsible for tumorigenesis.
She compared the expression of these genes, which cover a 4-megabase region, between tumor and normal cells and found that all genes at this locus -- regardless of whether they were specifically methylated or not -- were silenced in tumor cells. This means that not all genes have to be methylated to be silenced. If they lie in a region associated with chromatin alterations, that can be sufficient for their expression to be repressed. Treatment of the cancer cells with 5-azacytidine relieved this suppression, indicating that methylation mediated this silencing. Clark concluded that chromosome 2q14.2 is remodeled by methylation in colorectal cancer cells, and that this is the first example of epigenetic inactivation spanning large chromosomal regions.
Although there is much to learn about the mechanisms by which epigenetic alterations occur in cancer cells and the specific pathways by which these changes lead to tumorigenesis, this field has emerged as an important new area of cancer research. The development of therapeutics that reverse epigenetic alterations in cancer cells, along with prognostic and diagnostic assays based on gene-methylation patterns, are promising new avenues for future improvements in patient care.
© 2004 Medscape
Kris Novak, PhD, Senior Editor, Nature Reviews Cancer, London, United Kingdom
Disclosure: Kris Novak, PhD, has no significant financial interests or relationships to disclose.
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According to PHARMACISTS
Testosterone Replacement Therapy: Controversy and Recent Trends
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Pharmacy Education Needs to Address Diagnostic Safety
Fast Five Quiz: Generic Medications
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Lifeline: Help at home and on-the-go!
LifestyleHealth
By Susan Pascal |
PUBLISHED: April 9, 2015 at 12:00 am | UPDATED: September 11, 2018 at 12:00 am
FALLS AND MEDICATION ERRORS are two big problems many seniors living alone can face, and when those unwelcome incidents happen, they can be huge setbacks to independent living. Fortunately, a group of volunteers makes sure seniors have help at the push of a button.
Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System’s volunteer Service League, which includes many retired professionals, operates the only 24-hour personal emergency response service in Monterey County. It’s called Lifeline.
There are a number of services, each of which offers varying degrees of technology to help seniors stay safe. The standard Lifeline service empowers clients with a waterproof necklace or wrist medical alert button, and with a push of the button, help arrives within seconds.
For many, especially seniors, Lifeline not only supports independence, it increases confidence and gives families peace of mind. Lifeline also offers a medical alert button with built-in fall detection. If anyone wearing the device falls and is not able to push the button, the device detects the fall and automatically sends a signal to Lifeline to get help immediately.
The Service League also has Philips Lifeline’s newest innovation — a wearable pendant with built-in GPS and automatic fall detection. It is the most technically advanced Lifeline Service to date and gives active seniors the freedom to get help at the touch of a button even away from home.
The SVMHS Service League launched the Lifeline Program in 1989 and currently serves hundreds of clients. Financial assistance is also available for those individuals who cannot afford the standard monthly fee. In addition to the popular Lifeline pendant, the Service League offers the Philips medication dispenser to assist with managing daily medications. Medications are pre-loaded and dispensed at the times set by a caregiver. It helps eliminate concerns about taking the wrong medication at the wrong time or the wrong dosage.
Rosemary Tarp’s dedication as one of the Lifeline Liaisons in the Volunteer Services Office has personal roots. In the mid-’90s, her then-75-year-old mother took a fall and was on the ground for 24 hours.
“Right after that, I learned about Lifeline and signed her up,” she remembers.
Today, Tarp, Patricia Heyne and Monica Takashima work with a team of eight volunteers.
“We simply could not offer this service without our volunteers,” Tarp said. “They take the time to install the equipment, thoroughly explain the Lifeline service to every client and answer any questions. They are kind, caring and patient, true gentlemen.”
Terry Espinoza is one of those caring volunteers. After 36 years at Alisal High School as a teacher and coach, he decided to retire in 2006 and start a new career as a volunteer Lifeline installer. Once the system is up and running, Espinoza makes sure the person understands how to use it.
“I tell them I was a teacher before giving them a quiz,” he jokes. “I like new things, experiences and learning. And I love Lifeline.”
Hundreds of satisfied subscribers do too. One loyal subscriber says, “I can’t imagine why anyone who lives alone or has any medical condition wouldn’t have Lifeline!”
For more information, contact the Service League Lifeline Program at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, 450 East Romie Lane, Salinas — 831-755-0788. More information is also available online at svmh.com/lifelineservice.
Susan Pascal
More in Lifestyle
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Horoscopes: Jan. 19, 2020: Dolly Parton and Katey Sagal share advice
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Navigation MRI Home MCL Homepage Nanofab Homepage MCC Homepage 2DCC-MIP Homepage About MRI MRI Research Capabilities MRI Facilities and Centers Become a User For Industry Safety Info MRI News MRI Events Contact MRI Contact MCL Contact Nanofab Contact 2DCC
Fall 2016: The Water Issue
Water: Crucial for Our Existence
Polluted Fracking Water
Polymer Soaks Up Oil Spills
Membranes for Water Purification
Download Focus Issues
Humanitarian Materials Engineering
Moringa Seeds and “Sticky Killer Sand” Work Together to Clean Water
By Krista Weidner
Lack of access to clean drinking water is a serious health problem in many developing countries, and often, even when methods for removing disease-causing microbes and sediment from drinking water are available, they are too expensive to be practical.
One traditional method for cleaning water in equatorial regions involves using seeds from the Moringa oleifera tree as a natural antimicrobial: When crushed seeds from the Moringa tree are added to water, they remove microbes and make the water safe for drinking. While this is an easy and accessible technique, it’s not ideal because the water can become tainted again while in storage.
The Moringa seed cleans water by releasing a positively charged protein that dissolves in the water and removes pathogens. “The problem is the seed also contains oil and other organic matter that microorganisms in the water can use as food,” explains Stephanie Butler Velegol, instructor in civil and environmental engineering. “So after it’s been stored, water treated with Moringa seed is no longer safe to drink.”
Several years ago, Velegol and her colleagues found that when they add sand, which has a negative charge, to water, the positively charged Moringa protein binds to the sand. When the Moringa protein and the sand bind together, the surface charge of the sand reverses to positive. Bacteria and sediment then stick to this "f sand" (which stands for functionalized sand). "When we rinse the f sand, we are left with 'sticky killer sand' that we can use over and over again as a filter," Velegol says.
Now Velegol and her research group are taking their findings a step further, after receiving the Material Research Institute’s inaugural Humanitarian Materials Initiative Award. Created last fall, the award is part of an initiative to support ongoing research aimed at providing long-term and sustainable solutions to problems in under-resourced regions of the world.
The team of scientists is using the $15,000 prize to fund four students, undergraduate and graduate, to do research toward improving the Moringa-coated sand filter.
One student’s work in the lab resulted in making the sand/water/Moringa mixture more efficiently—reducing mix time from more than two hours to just ten minutes. “Our process for creating the sand filter involved mixing for two and a half hours, but that’s way too long for someone doing this on the ground,” Velegol says. “Knowing that we can reduce mix time to just ten minutes, and get the same result, is one important step toward making this technique much more practical.”
She also discovered a simple field test for the reliability of the sand filter: the “stick test.” When a Moringa mixture is put into a plastic water bottle and the bottle is turned sideways and rotated, if the sand sticks to the side of the bottle that means the filter is working. “The sand sticks because the plastic has a positive charge,” Velegol explains. “On the ground, the stick test is a quick way to confirm that a particular filter works. And in the lab, we confirmed that every time the sand has a positive charge, the stick test works.” Although the stick test shows promise, Velegol emphasizes that more research is needed to ensure that lab results continue to match field results.
Two students are working this summer on creating a mathematical model to predict the filter efficiency and longevity. This will allow the filter to be reproduced under different conditions (e.g. sand type and size, quality of water) around the world.
The research team also used award funding to travel to Rwanda this past spring to extend their Moringa research focus beyond drinking water. They are collaborating with Pivot Works (http://pivotworks.co), a company working in Rwanda that turns fecal sludge into fuel. This sustainable process currently uses a cationic polymer to flocculate the sludge. The team worked with Chief Technology Officer Andrew Maguire to explore the possibility of replacing the polymer with local Moringa seeds to create the fuel much less expensively.
In searching for local growers of Moringa trees, Maguire discovered Asili Natural Oils (http://asilioils.com/), a company that grows the trees and sells the seed oil to personal care companies. “Of course, this company didn’t want to compete with Pivot Works for Moringa seeds,” Velegol says. “But we realized that when you squeeze the seeds to get the oil out, you end up with a byproduct—a seed cake—which is what contains the Moringa protein we need. It was great news that Pivot Works only needs the seed cake for their process. So if Pivot Works can buy the byproduct from Asili Natural Oils, it’s a win all around. The students were so excited about this project and where it led us during our time in Rwanda.”
Velegol is optimistic about the future of research on the Moringa seed. “We are linking hardcore science with humanitarian work,” she says, “working on strengthening that link between lab research and people on the ground. So many of our undergraduate students have a passion for humanitarian work, and we need to get the message across that engineering helps make the world a better place. Our students want to make a difference—let’s show them how they can do that using good science.”
Stephanie Velegol’s research colleagues include Manish Kumar, assistant professor of chemical engineering, Michael Erdman, director of Engineering Leadership Development in the College of Engineering, and Bashir Yusuf of Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. The Humanitarian Materials Initiative awards are sponsored by Covestro LLC (formerly Bayer MaterialScience LLC) and the Materials Research Institute.
Contact Dr. Velegol at sbv1@psu.edu.
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O Gauge RailKing Auxiliary Water Tender (Die-Cast)
For availability see
'Find it locally' tab
Auxiliary Water Tender (Die-Cast) - Union Pacific
Car No.
ES 2017 Volume 1
Delivered Aug. 2017
Steam locomotives require water to operate - a lot of water. Holding tanks in large steam locomotive tenders sported reservoirs capable of holding 30,000 or more gallons of water, but often that wasn’t enough.
Railroads were forced to provide water access for the locomotives, typically via a large tank next to the track that a tender would align itself under. Such tanks required that the train stop, adding costly time to the railroad’s schedule. To avoid those delays, some railroads built in water troughs between the track rails that the tenders could “scoop” up on the fly via a water scoop located under the tender which literally forced the water into the tender’s holding tanks.
Later, railroads added an extra water tender behind the coal tender. Unlike coal or oil tenders, the water tenders only carried water, effectively doubling or tripling a steam locomotive’s range before more water was needed.
These high quality, all metal die-cast tenders are a perfect complement for RailKing O Gauge steam locomotives like the Union Pacific Challenger or Big Boy.
Separate Metal Handrails
Unit Measures: 9 7/8" x 2 9/16" x 3 9/16"
NICHOLAS SMITH BROOMALL PA 19008
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Football in brief: Stroll... Football in brief: Stroll for Arsenal as leaders forge ahead in Women’s Super League title race
Football in brief: Stroll for Arsenal as leaders forge ahead in Women’s Super League title race
by Metro Reporters Published January 12, 2020 Published Jan 12, 2020
ARSENAL moved three points clear at the top of Women’s Super League after cruising to a 4-0 victory at Brighton. Danielle van de Donk opened the scoring after four minutes and further goals followed from Jill Roord, Jordan Nobbs and substitute Beth Mead. The Gunners lead Manchester City by three points with Chelsea a further point back. The Blues marked manager Emma Hayes’ 200th game in charge with a 6-1 hammering of Bristol City. The visitors led early on but Beth England led the home side’s goal rush with a brace.
Carlo relishing getting stuck in as boss seeks ‘more continuity’
EVERTON manager Carlo Ancelotti is hoping another week of training will help him further implement his methods. A Richarlison goal was enough for a 1-0 win over Brighton, securing the Italian’s third win in four Premier League matches at the helm. The result helped to erase some of the memories of the previous week’s humiliation by Liverpool’s second string in the FA Cup. ‘I think this team can be competitive with more continuity and more intensity in the game and playing better,’ said Ancelotti. ‘The fact we don’t have a game during the week can help us to improve quickly.’
■ BRISTOL Rovers have granted manager Ben Garner a period of extended leave to deal with a private matter relating to the health of a close family member. The 39-year-old was appointed Gas boss last month, his first managerial job.
Luis is sidelined for four months
BARCELONA striker Luis Suarez is set to be sidelined for four months after having keyhole surgery on his right knee.
The 32-year-old Uruguay international went under the knife yesterday and is now facing a battle to play again this season. Barca are level with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga.
■ 4-1 — Penalty shoot-out win for Real Madrid over city rivals Atletico as they lifted the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Former Tottenham defender Kieran Trippier was Atletico’s only spot-kick scorer following a goalless draw after extra-time
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Lakeland: Life on the Inside
Once again, state Dems propose to eliminate the tampon tax
By Jodi Westrick • Feb 27, 2019
Credit Michigan Radio
Two bills proposing to exempt feminine hygiene products from sale and use tax, commonly known as the "tampon tax," were reintroduced in the state Senate Tuesday.
Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids), SB 123 and 124 co-sponsor, previously introduced similar bills in the House in 2017. Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak) is also a co-sponsor. Earlier this month, bills 4165 and 4166, which also seek to exempt feminine hygiene products from sale and use tax, were introduced in the House by State Reps. Brian K. Elder (D-Bay City) and Tenisha Yancey (D-Harper Woods).
“Feminine hygiene products are a necessity and to use them isn’t a choice,” Brinks said in a statement. “For some, the cost over the course of a year, or even a lifetime, is already difficult to bear before factoring taxes. We should treat these products like any other medical expense and create easier access for every woman in Michigan.”
According to the medical journal The Lancet, the average woman will experience roughly 450 periods before she hits menopause. In Michigan, the average cost of a box of tampons is $7, and at a 6 percent sales tax, would equate to about 42 cents added in tax. Over a lifetime, a woman would spend roughly $189 in taxes - if using a box of tampons per month.
Opponents of the exemption say that removing the tax costs the state roughly $5 million in potential tax revenue, leaving holes in the budget.
If passed, the bills would make Michigan the 12th state to eliminate the tax on feminine products.
michigan sales tax
Michigan lawmakers hope to eliminate the "tampon tax"
By Cheyna Roth • Feb 1, 2017
user m.p.3. / Flickr - http://j.mp/1SPGCl0
The so-called “tampon tax” has got to go. That’s the message of lawmakers in both chambers of the state Legislature.
Democrats and a couple Republicans are teaming up to get rid of Michigan’s use tax and sales tax on feminine hygiene products.
Michigan exempts food, medication and other necessities from taxes, and lawmakers argue feminine hygiene products are just as essential.
Bill wants free feminine products in public school bathrooms
By Virginia Gordan • Apr 6, 2016
Vinnie Lauria / flickr creative commons http://j.mp/1SPGCl0
Women's restrooms in Michigan's public schools and state-owned buildings should be stocked with free tampons and menstrual pads – the same as they are with toilet paper.
That's according to legislation introduced in the Michigan House.
State rep. Sarah Roberts, D-St.Clair Shores, said for women and girls, access to feminine hygiene products is a health care necessity.
Some people struggle to afford pads and tampons. This Grand Rapids nonprofit wants to help.
By Stateside Staff • Jul 30, 2018
Stateside's conversation with Christine Mwangi, founder of Be a Rose
People everywhere need access to pads, tampons, and other feminine hygiene products, but throughout Michigan, some women and people in the transgender community are forced to go without. It’s a global phenomenon known as “period poverty.”
Christine Mwangi is founder of Be a Rose, an organization working to fight period poverty in the Grand Rapids area. She joined Stateside to talk about her organization is expanding access to resources and information related to women’s health.
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Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior gets tax exemption in UP
Updated: Jan 14, 2020, 13:54 IST | IANS | Lucknow
Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior producer Ajay Devgn also took to his Twitter to thank Yogi Adityanath government.
The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has granted tax exemption to Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, a biographical period movie. The film is produced by Ajay Devgn who also plays the title role of Subedar Tanhaji Malusare.
"The film has been granted tax exemption in view of the story of the film that highlights the sacrifice and valour of Tanhaji and is an inspiration for the young generations," said the government spokesman.
He said that Ajay Devgn had requested the chief minister to grant tax exemption to the film. However, Meghna Gulzar's film on acid attack survivors 'Chhapaak', released simultaneously with 'Tanhaji', has not been given tax exemption despite requests from acid attack survivors.
Ajay Devgn also took to his Twitter to thank UP CM Yogi Adityanath and wrote, "Thank you Shri Yogi Adityanathji for making #TanhajiTheUnsungWarrior Tax-Free in Uttar Pradesh. I would also be delighted Sir if you watched our film @myogiadityanath #TanhajiUnitesIndia. [sic]"
Chhapaak, in which Deepika Padukone plays the lead role and is also the producer, has apparently fallen out of favour of the ruling BJP after Deepika Padukone visited the agitating students in JNU in Delhi last week.
Chhapaak has been granted tax exemption in Congress-ruled states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry.
Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
ajay devgnTanhajideepika padukoneChhapaakbollywood newsEntertainment News
Ajay Devgan's Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, enters the 100 crore club in less than a week!
RRR: Ajay Devgn joins SS Rajamouli's magnum opus and we cannot wait for the film!
Indra Kumar's next comic caper starring Ajay Devgn, Sidharth Malhotra to be a social comedy
Tanhaji box office collection: The period drama is on a roll; earns Rs 167 crore in 10 days
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Zayn Malik becomes an uncle as his 17-year-old sister gives birth
The former One Direction star's sister has welcomed a baby girl with her husband
Katie Fitzpatrick
Zayn Malik has become an uncle for the first time after his sister Safaa welcomed a baby girl.
Safaa, who married Martin Tiser last year three days after celebrating her 17th birthday, gave birth on Friday to baby Zaneyah, weighing 8lb 3oz.
A picture has been shared on social media of the baby with her name and weight.
The couple had a traditional Nikah ceremony, an Islamic wedding, in September which was attended by Safaa's sisters Doniya and Waliyha but there was no sign of singer Zayn at the ceremony.
The last time he tweeted was on New Year's Day in response to League Two football team Bradford City's 1-0 win over Morecambe.
(Image: Twitter)
Substitute Aramide Oteh, on loan from QPR, scored 10 minutes from time.
"Yess Oteh!!!" he cheered.
Zayn, 26, was born and raised in Bradford, west Yorkshire.
He auditioned as a solo contestant for The X Factor in 2010.
Zayn Malik (Image: Gary Louth)
After being eliminated from the reality TV music contest he was brought back into the competition to form the boy band that would become One Direction.
Zayn, who is now based in the US, left the group in 2015 and became the first British male artist to debut at number one in both the UK and US with his debut single Pillowtalk and debut album Mind of Mine, winning an American Music Award, Billboard Music Award and MTV Video Music Award.
In 2016 he filmed a gritty music video for BeFoUr on a housing estate in Miles Platting.
Hundreds of fans descended on Stalham Close to catch a glimpse of the heartthrob after word got out that he was in the area.
Cheryl says she's on the lookout for an 'out of town' sperm donor
The music video, which featured Zayn 'donuting' around a burning vehicle and spray painting a wall, was said to be based on his upbringing in the north.
Follow @MENNewsdesk
EmmerdaleGemma Atkinson is fuming over her daughter's first wordBaby Mia has said her first word and Gemma is not impressed
Greater Manchester PoliceMan dies and woman seriously hurt in horror crash on East Lancs Road...a HGV driver has been arrestedA 58-year-old man died at the scene
National newsMan 'disgusted' as Michelin star restaurant refuses to refund £660 reservation after his dad diesThe Michelin starred restaurant is refusing to move the booking
Manchester AirportThree new low-cost routes from Manchester Airport added for summer 2020Ryanair has launched an additional three cheap European routes to its summer 2020 schedule
Manchester and Salford magistrates courtTrainee nurse over the drink-drive limit was 'abusive' to police after skirt 'flew up' while she was arrestedNicola Daniels, 32, claims her skirt 'flew up' during her arrest which left her feeling 'exposed and suffering from indignity'
MacclesfieldMen in Range Rover rip £50k off cash machine - a chain attached to it then flew into an innocent bystanderThe group used a crowbar to prise open a cash machine inside Macclesfield station
HollyoaksHollyoaks fans distraught after popular character Jesse Donovan dies on his wedding dayFans have blasted the Channel Four soap for not giving Jesse and new wife Courtney a happy ending
Denton and AudenshawIt is the 'jewel in Denton's crown'...but vandals and arsonists are turning a family park into a 'no go area'Victoria Park has been plagued by a number of vandals and anti-social behaviour recently
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� Home 📚 Indie Microblogging About Archive Photos Podcasts 30 days Also on Micro.blog
On @coreint 404 we talk about whether Apple can do more to help the FBI unlock phones, dropping Blogger support, and how we recommend other blogging apps.
→ 8:43 PM, Jan 16
This week’s Core Intuition is all about Blogger, and the business value in supporting growing platforms instead of dying platforms.
For our first podcast episode of 2020, @danielpunkass and I talk about recent deadlines, setting goals, and look back at very old ambitions from 15 and 20 years ago.
→ 10:31 AM, Jan 6
On Core Int 401, I complain about the Mac Pro and @danielpunkass convinces me to delay my book ship date. It’s officially going to be late January now.
→ 6:25 PM, Dec 27
It was great having OisÃn Prendiville on the 400th episode of Core Intuition. We talked about Castro, podcasting, and more. Thanks for everyone’s support of the podcast all these years!
→ 11:07 AM, Dec 23
Episode 399 of Core Intuition (just about to hit 400!) covers @danielpunkass’s Black Ink 2 release, deadlines, marketing, my upcoming book, and more.
→ 1:59 PM, Dec 5
Today is the 2-year anniversary of Micro.blog’s public launch! I recorded a new episode of Timetable about the uncertainty of launching something new. Thanks everyone for giving us the confidence to do this.
→ 12:00 PM, Dec 3
I talk more about the Indie Microblogging book details on today’s Core Int. Then @danielpunkass and I review final Black Ink 2 plans and brainstorm podcast changes for episode 400 and beyond.
→ 10:57 AM, Nov 21
On Core Intuition 396, we react to the 16-inch MacBook Pro news, talk about @danielpunkass’s Black Ink 2 ship date, and I preview a decision on finishing the Indie Microblogging book.
→ 1:58 PM, Nov 14
Core Intuition 395
We are getting really close to episode 400. Feels like a big milestone to me, and I’ve been wondering if we should change anything with the podcast format when we roll over into the 400s. But in the meantime, here’s 395:
Daniel and Manton try to take stock of long-term personal goals, thinking of how they align with and overlap with money-making goals. Manton reports back after watching Matt Mullenweg’s “State of the Word� talk at WordCamp US. Manton reflects on the important of simplicity for Micro.blog in contrast to WordPress, while Daniel considers that MarsEdit also serves as a more complex interface to Micro.blog. Finally, they digest the latest Apple announcements, focusing on the merits of the new AirPods Pro, and whether Apple TV+ is a justifiable pursuit for the company.
Daniel has already given me a sneak peek of next week’s manager check-in and it’s a good one. I think that is going to become a regular segment.
→ 8:33 AM, Nov 9
Core Intuition episode 394 with @danielpunkass reporting on his first meeting “with his boss”, plus a discussion of Micro.blog’s new domain name registration.
→ 6:00 PM, Nov 2
For this week’s Core Intuition, we talk about @danielpunkass’s trip to Amsterdam and how to prioritize the right work with limited hours.
→ 8:40 PM, Oct 21
Klaus trailer
There’s a new trailer out for Klaus, which hits select theaters and then Netflix in November. Amid Amidi at Cartoon Brew writes about director Sergio Pablos:
His goal hasn’t been to simply bring back 2d animation, but to push the craft forward, and Klaus’s distinct look is achieved via an innovative lighting and rendering pipeline that is applied to the drawn animation.
I’m excited for any hand-drawn feature film, especially one that comes from Sergio Pablos. Over the last few years his team has posted some early concepts and tests to their blog. I also mentioned Sergio on an episode of my podcast Timetable in 2017.
→ 9:11 AM, Oct 8
Last week’s Core Intuition covered the Microsoft Surface event, App Store Search Ads, fixing old bugs, and responding to support emails. I’m making a renewed effort to at least not let my support email backlog get worse.
We posted episode 390 of Core Intuition. From the show notes:
Manton finds a workaround to his Sign in with Apple email problems! Daniel argues first that DTS should support pre-release software, and they discuss possible compromise approaches. Finally, they remark on Apple’s vigorous marketing push, and the thrill of promoting products we are proud of.
Only 10 more episodes to go before we hit 400!
→ 8:51 AM, Sep 27
Timetable episode 125! I talk about the Micro.blog update for iOS 13 today and what the focus should be for more web features this fall.
→ 4:55 PM, Sep 19
We posted this week’s Core Intuition today with more on iPhone 11 upgrades, getting ready for iOS 13, and Apple Arcade’s impact on game developers (and on our productivity).
On the latest Core Intuition, Daniel and I talk about this week’s Apple event, whether to get the iPhone 11, working around Apple bugs, and the upcoming Micro.blog update for iOS 13.
→ 12:08 PM, Sep 14
On the latest Core Int, we talk about Siri privacy and follow up on @danielpunkass’s Echo.
→ 9:24 AM, Sep 2
Slopes network effect
Curtis Herbert has a great blog post about starting an Android version of his app Slopes. Adding social features made it more compelling to support multiple platforms:
In any given group of friends the odds of a mix of both Android and iOS users is very high (not to mention Europe is a big potential market for me, and Android is much larger over there than in the states). If someone on iOS loves Slopes, but their friend group ends up using one of my competitors because it supports both platforms and therefore the entire group can join in on the in-app fun, that’s going to go poorly for Slopes.
What I find so interesting about this decision is that Curtis seems to be intentionally expanding the scope of Slopes. Everything he writes about with Android makes sense if you first assume that the social features will be an important selling point and grow the audience for the app. Other indie developers might instead choose to keep the app focused on iOS and solve a more narrow set of problems, and that’s fine too.
I’m thinking of my discussion with Daniel Jalkut on last week’s Core Intuition about whether we should try to change the world (which often means bigger apps and more platforms to reach the most people) or focus on just building an app that’s really good at what it does (but might not be revolutionary).
Micro.blog would benefit from an official Android version, so a lot of Curtis’s post resonated with me. Luckily the third-party app Dialog (and upcoming app Gluon) can help fill that void in Micro.blog in a way that isn’t possible with non-platform apps like Slopes.
→ 1:59 PM, Aug 30
Last night we posted episode 385 of Core Intuition. @danielpunkass and I talk about whether we should try to “revolutionize” our market, more on Tumblr’s future, and the ambition to compete with bigger companies.
→ 8:05 AM, Aug 24
The latest Core Intuition is all about Tumblr! @danielpunkass and I talk about what the acquisition by Automattic means for Micro.blog, MarsEdit, and general optimism for the open web.
→ 10:07 AM, Aug 15
We posted Core Intuition 383 this morning, following up on Black Ink 2 progress and the impact of recent Micro.blog sign-up changes.
→ 9:22 AM, Aug 9
We just posted Core Intuition episode 382, responding to feedback about Micro.blog’s new sign-up process, plus a discussion of what macOS notarization means for Apple’s control over app distribution.
→ 2:53 PM, Jul 31
On today’s episode of Core Intuition, @danielpunkass and I follow up about renaming my Twitter account and also discuss what impact an onboarding change in Micro.blog might have.
On Core Intuition 380, Daniel and I talk through how to reach more people and the role (if any) of social networks. This is the story of why I renamed my Twitter account today.
Getting back into the routine of recording Timetable. On today’s episode, I talk a little about last night’s server upgrade, the Indie Microblogging book, and Ghost import.
→ 1:51 PM, Jun 25
On the latest Core Intuition, @danielpunkass and I cover more of the WWDC announcements we skipped last week. We also talk about the new Micro Monday newsletter and sending email to customers.
WWDC 2019 wrap-up
Finally getting around to posting this. The last couple of weeks since WWDC have been busy. But as I usually do, I still want to capture a little of the week in San Jose. (Looking back on my old posts about WWDC from the 2000s is a great reminder of what the earlier conferences were like, and I wish I had more of those posts.)
Arriving Saturday evening in San Jose, I rented a car and checked into my Airbnb. This is the first time I’ve tried Airbnb for WWDC. Hotel prices are out of control and I thought it would be a good way to see a different part of the city. Daniel and I caught up over dinner.
Sunday morning I drove up to San Francisco. I’ve made it a tradition to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum every year, and moving the conference to San Jose hasn’t deterred that. I stopped at Blue Bottle Coffee in San Mateo on the way.
The special exhibit at the museum was Mickey Mouse drawings. It was an incredible collection. Afterward I had a bite to eat at the Presidio Picnic. Fog covered the Golden Gate Bridge.
I picked up Jon Hays from SFO on the way back, and we stopped at the new visitor center for Apple’s spaceship campus, then got coffee and lunch down the road at Chromatic Coffee. Also detoured slightly for a quick look at Winchester Mystery House. (Skipped the $39 tour. Ouch.)
I didn’t need the rental car anymore, so we dropped it back at the airport and took an Uber downtown, planning to go to sfMacIndie and watch game 2 of the NBA finals. That’s when the evening went completely off the rails. We were cruising down the highway and someone rear-ended our Uber so hard it felt like the car was standing still. Everyone was shaken up but okay.
The keynote was packed with new stuff. I knew this was going to be a big year, but I was expecting most of the news to be around Marzipan (Catalyst). That ended up being a small part of the morning. I watched the keynote from AltConf and worked on highlighting WWDC-related posts in our new Discover section for the conference.
I was feeling a little out of it most of the morning. As the day progressed and I saw friends or met new folks, I started to feel better. Brent Simmons held a NetNewsWire meetup in the afternoon.
Tuesday at lunch was our Micro.blog WWDC meetup. This is the 3rd year in a row we’ve held the meetup. It was great catching up with everyone. If you made it to the meetup, thank you! I sent an email to everyone who had RSVP-ed.
That night was The Talk Show Live with John Gruber and his guests Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak. Great show.
A side note about electric scooters. There was a bike lane all the way back to my Airbnb, so I tried to use scooters whenever possible. I had never seriously ridden one before. When they work, they're great, cutting a Lyft ride from $7 to $2.)
But I also had several scooter frustrations. Scooters that wouldn't unlock. Scooters that would stall, presumably because the GPS wasn't working well. Scooters that would just go slow for no reason. I got lost once because I didn't stop often enough to check a map, going way off course while the Bird clock ticked away.
My conclusion: scooters are fine when you're going about a mile and there's a bike lane. Less than that, you should walk. More than that, you should Lyft. Daniel and I talked about WWDC and scooters on Core Intuition 376.
Wednesday morning I stopped for coffee on 2nd street for a little work before walking over to AltConf. My flight was in a few hours so I had just enough time for one session:Â Leah Culver’s talk on making the podcast app Breaker as crash-free as possible. (Leah also co-founded Pownce back in 2006. I’m hoping to interview her for my book, Indie Microblogging.)
This was a bit of a strange year for me. While I’m sorry I missed some people and some events, I think it was good that I was back home early. I’m not going to make any other conferences this year. If you’re looking for places to go, I highly recommend IndieWeb Summit in Portland later this month, and Release Notes in Mexico in the fall.
Apple’s new stuff didn’t disappoint. I’m most excited for Catalyst and Sign In With Apple, which I blogged about here. These are both very practical solutions to real problems. The new iPadOS improvements are also welcome, and I’m looking forward to experimenting with SwiftUI. Overall, a great WWDC.
→ 7:43 AM, Jun 18
Just posted Core Intuition 376 with a discussion about San Jose, SwiftUI, and Catalyst.
We celebrate the 11th anniversary of Core Intuition on the latest episode, answering listener questions and looking forward to WWDC next week.
→ 2:53 PM, May 30
Say “yes” when The New Yorker wants to talk on the phone. That story and much more on the latest episode of Core Intuition.
The latest Core Intuition is all about MarsEdit in Setapp and related topics.
→ 7:52 AM, May 19
Saying goodbye to Tweet Marker
I introduced the Tweet Marker API in 2011. In the 8 years since, I’ve been lucky to have the support of some of my favorite apps like Twitterrific and Tweetbot, plus popular Android apps, with some developers paying a monthly subscription to help keep the service running. But while Tweet Marker hasn’t changed recently, the Twitter world has changed.
Twitter previewed the next version of their API this week. I don’t see anything so far to contradict what I wrote last year.
I believe strongly that URLs shouldn’t change, and that public APIs shouldn’t just disappear. Owning your content and having your own domain name are important parts of Micro.blog too. So I was committed to running Tweet Marker indefinitely, regardless of what Twitter might do.
But two other factors were nagging at me:
GDPR made me take a fresh look at some of the assumptions in the Tweet Marker API. Changes are overdue. They aren’t simple and would require coordination with client developers.
Twitter’s third-party ecosystem has changed a lot since Tweet Marker was created. Twitter apps have a very uncertain future. Timeline syncing is often handled without Tweet Marker, such as via iCloud.
Tweet Marker’s time has come and gone. I’ve notified developers using the Tweet Marker API that I plan to wind down the service by July 1st. I’ve also cancelled all the paid subscriptions. (Actually I haven’t billed anyone in over 6 months, so I’ve been running the service for free.)
Daniel Jalkut and I talked about this back in December on Core Intuition 353. I plan to work on Micro.blog for the next 20 years or more, so it needs all of my attention.
Over a million people have used Tweet Marker. I’m proud of that. If you’re one of those people, especially if you supported Tweet Marker as a developer or with a subscription, thank you.
→ 12:51 PM, May 15
We posted a new Core Intuition today: @danielpunkass uses his new Echo, and a listener question prompts an extended discussion about always being available for support questions.
→ 11:18 AM, May 11
Posted Core Int 371 with more pre-WWDC discussion of Marzipan, voice assistants, and more.
→ 10:49 PM, May 3
Working on something late tonight, I remembered this old Harry Potter-inspired episode of Timetable from a couple years ago. No one is coming to fix the problems we leave when we’re rushed and take shortcuts.
On the latest Core Intuition, @danielpunkass and I talk about making time to ship software updates, whether automation is important, and Micro.blog’s window resize UI.
→ 12:54 PM, Apr 26
For this week’s Core Intuition, @danielpunkass and I talk about the latest Marzipan rumors, and look at the state of Siri vs. Alexa and where it still needs to go.
→ 10:15 AM, Apr 19
Multiple windows on iOS
We all expected Dark Mode in iOS 13, but according to this rumor from 9to5Mac, the next major version of iOS is also going to feature some major changes to windows and detachable sheets:
There are many changes coming to iPad with iOS 13, including the ability for apps to have multiple windows. Each window will also be able to contain sheets that are initially attached to a portion of the screen, but can be detached with a drag gesture, becoming a card that can be moved around freely, similar to what an open-source project called “PanelKit” could do.
We also get an answer to one of the questions Brent Simmons asked about split views:
Split Views on Marzipan apps based on iPad designs that run on the Mac will get the ability to be resized by dragging the divider and have their position reset when double-clicking the divider, like existing Split View apps on the Mac.
I hope that support for multiple windows maps over to macOS with Marzipan. We’ve been saying on Core Intuition that this WWDC is going to be special. Marzipan is the biggest shake-up to the Mac since the Carbon to Cocoa transition.
→ 9:30 AM, Apr 15
This week’s Core Intuition is about traveling to Peers Conference, shipping the video feature in Micro.blog, Daniel balancing his time, blogging, Marzipan, and more.
I posted a new episode of my short-form podcast Timetable all about adding video support to Micro.blog.
→ 2:13 PM, Apr 9
Busy week! Now that I’m back in Austin, finally had a chance to finish editing and posting the new Core Intuition. AirPower, Theranos, and Micro.blog’s video support.
→ 11:10 AM, Apr 7
Connected quotes about Apple News
There’s no shortage of opinions about Apple’s services-related event this week! I’ve listened to a few podcast episodes, and of course I had my own thoughts on this week’s Core Intuition and a separate blog post about News+.
My favorite discussion about News+ so far has been the latest episode of Connected. They talk about the good things Apple brings to this, but also the downsides.
Federico:
I was asked by someone on Twitter, do you plan on putting Club MacStories on Apple News+? The answer is a huge no.
Myke:
Literally every single person who subscribes to Club MacStories would cancel because they’re all users of Apple products!
There’s always a cost to adopting a new platform. There’s a technological cost, and there’s an actual cost. And for me, it’s not worth it to rewrite my — what we do for Club MacStories for Apple News format — but it’s also not worth it to lose the money that I’m making from the service that I control.
Federico’s point here gets to the key issue with these aggregation platforms, whether it’s News+, Facebook, or the App Store. When you give up control over distribution, you also give up control over revenue. With publishing on the open web, there’s always an alternative: your own domain name and your own subscribers. (For the App Store, there’s no choice.)
Back to the episode…
I still don’t love how closed off News is. Like on the Mac, you just can’t get a URL to open it in a browser. You just can’t do it. You’ve got to send a text message to yourself or something. And on iOS, or really anywhere, sending content to things like Instapaper is very hit or miss. […] Apple News doesn’t play well with the web, and that’s very frustrating to me as a believer in the open web.
We’re all worried about Spotify walling off podcasts. Well, Apple’s trying to do that to news. […] It’s probably good for consumers, but is it good for the industry? We don’t know yet.
Great episode. You should listen to the whole thing, because as I said there are some points in favor of Apple News as well, and the other announcements. But the segment I’m quoting from above was particularly good.
→ 3:19 PM, Mar 28
On the latest Timetable I talk a little about today’s new Micro.blog features.
We re-posted yesterday’s episode of Core Intuition because of a feed issue, to make sure it shows up in your favorite podcast app. Enjoy! This one is all about Monday’s Apple event.
→ 8:41 AM, Mar 27
Just posted a new episode of Timetable, putting together a few quick thoughts on today: paying attention to Apple while getting some new features ready to ship.
In this week’s Core Intuition, @danielpunkass and I talk about recent updates to MarsEdit and Sunlit, old blogging APIs, and WWDC.
I just posted a new episode of Timetable. It has been a while. This one’s about the Kickstarter stickers and the upcoming Sunlit 2.4 release.
My response to Apple's response to Spotify
Apple responds to Spotify. Daniel Jalkut and I predicted most of this response on Core Intuition a couple days ago. I’m going to quote a few parts of Apple’s response and comment.
Eleven years ago, the App Store brought that same passion for creativity to mobile apps. In the decade since, the App Store has helped create many millions of jobs, generated more than $120 billion for developers and created new industries through businesses started and grown entirely in the App Store ecosystem.
Apple likes to brag about how much money they’ve paid to developers, but they leave out how much they’ve kept for themselves: about $50 billion. To Apple, they are doing us a big favor by letting us ship iOS apps.
We’ve approved and distributed nearly 200 app updates on Spotify’s behalf, resulting in over 300 million downloaded copies of the Spotify app. The only time we have requested adjustments is when Spotify has tried to sidestep the same rules that every other app follows.
It’s very important to remember that Apple’s rules are not laws. Apple’s rules have changed over the years, and especially around in-app purchase it often feels that they are applied inconsistently. Because Apple runs the platform, they can make any guidelines they wish, but there isn’t necessarily any inherent legal or moral justification in specific rules. We shouldn’t accept that all of Apple’s rules are fixed and cannot be improved.
When you get to the scale of the App Store, there are also new monopoly and anti-trust questions. For more about this, see Ben Thompson’s article on Stratechery.
Back to Apple:
A full 84 percent of the apps in the App Store pay nothing to Apple when you download or use the app. That’s not discrimination, as Spotify claims; it’s by design.
In 2011 I wrote a blog post with the premise that Apple made a mistake with how they handle free apps in the App Store, and what followed was years trying to make up for that mistake because of the burden of running the App Store. I think there was some truth to that, but now the business is very different. The App Store is a huge money-maker.
And we built a secure payment system — no small undertaking — which allows users to have faith in in-app transactions. Spotify is asking to keep all those benefits while also retaining 100 percent of the revenue.
And yet in the previous quote, Apple says that 84% of apps pay nothing and they are fine with that. Uber pays nothing to Apple. Games with ads pay nothing to Apple. Why is it wrong for Spotify to also want to limit how much they pay to Apple? The line Apple has drawn around in-app purchase is arbitrary. They could just have easily restricted Uber accepting payments, or banned third-party ads.
Just this week, Spotify sued music creators after a decision by the US Copyright Royalty Board required Spotify to increase its royalty payments. This isn’t just wrong, it represents a real, meaningful and damaging step backwards for the music industry.
This is irrelevant to Spotify’s complaints about the App Store. While I think Spotify’s argument would have been stronger if they had focused on a couple of their core complaints instead of mixing in issues such as Apple Watch development, Spotify didn’t bring up other concerns about Apple’s business that do not relate to the App Store. Apple trying to interject Spotify’s relationship with musicians is whataboutism.
Overall, Apple’s response isn’t very convincing to me. There are still 2 fundamental problems with the App Store: exclusive distribution and exclusive payment. In that post from 8 years ago, I concluded with:
Apple, want to charge 30%? Go for it. Want to make the submission rules more strict? Fine. Want to adjust how you run the App Store to reflect what’s happening in the market? No problem. Just give developers an out. We are going to be back here year after year with the latest controversy until exclusive app distribution is fixed.
I think I’ve been proven right about this. This issue will never go away until Apple allows side-loading or makes it easier to let customers pay outside the App Store. In the meantime, I’ve been arguing for a 15% cut instead of 30% for all paid downloads and in-app purchase, which would go a long way to making this easier for developers.
Today’s Core Intuition is up, with more about Daniel’s new job and our thoughts on Spotify’s “Time to Play Fair” campaign against how Apple runs the App Store.
We just posted Core Intuition 361. Looking forward to IndieWebCamp Austin and talking about whether new Marzipan rumors will influence our plans this year.
→ 2:12 PM, Feb 20
Just posted the new Core Intuition. More about WWDC travel, IndieWebCamp Austin, and Daniel considering dropping Blogger from MarsEdit.
Sorry @coreint was late this week! But there aren’t many tech podcasts on the weekend, so now there’s something to listen to. It’s a good one: Daniel’s trip to Paris, thinking about WWDC, Spotify acquisitions, podcasting, and crowded Apple Stores.
→ 12:45 PM, Feb 10
Posted the latest Core Intuition with a discussion of Dark Mode, maps in DuckDuckGo, and some optimism for Apple expanding their web services.
→ 10:57 AM, Jan 20
On today’s Core Intuition — the tech and business podcast pretending to be a developer podcast — @danielpunkass and I talk about whether Apple is leaving their core values behind as they grow into services and media, plus an update on Black Ink for iOS.
Some of y’all noticed that Micro.blog was slow or not responding this morning. Sorry! I explain why on today’s episode of Timetable.
Posted a new Timetable with a few updates on Sunlit, the updated help.micro.blog home page, and when to upgrade servers.
Posted episode 351 of Core Intuition. Make sure to listen through the second half, where @danielpunkass and I talk about the future of MarsEdit and what our software’s role is in a crowded blogging market.
How to support Micro.blog
I often say that Micro.blog is a success if more people blog. One of the most important goals is to encourage people to post at their own domain name. For more about why that matters and what I think Micro.blog’s role is among other social networks, see my post about the way out.
But we hear from a lot of people who want Micro.blog to succeed in more concrete terms as well. They want it to be a larger business that can hire more developers and curators. I want that too! Micro.blog is the most ambitious platform I’ve built and as it grows we will need more help scaling it.
If you believe in what we’re trying to do with Micro.blog, here are a few simple ways to support the platform:
Subscribe to one of the blog hosting plans. You get your own domain name, themes, photo or podcast hosting, the new Mastodon-compatible support, and much more. This is what I use to host my own blog and podcast.
Give a friend a blog subscription. If you already have a paid subscription yourself, click Plans → “Give Micro.blog” to invite someone to Micro.blog and pay for their first year of blog hosting at a discount.
Tell everyone what you like about Micro.blog. We don’t have any gimmicky viral features to spread the word automatically. For other people to find out about Micro.blog, you’ll have to post to your blog, tweet a link, or talk about it on your podcast.
We are approaching 2 important milestones: the 1-year anniversary of the public launch, and nearly 2 years since the Kickstarter. Micro.blog has improved significantly since then and it will continue to get better with your support. Thanks!
Feel like listening instead of reading? I expanded on today’s blog post in audio form for my Timetable podcast.
Core Intuition 350 and M.b follow-up
We start this week’s Core Intuition by following up on the Mastodon integration in Micro.blog. From the show notes:
Manton reports back to Daniel about the first week after adding Mastodon integration to Micro.blog. They talk about the merit and necessity of spending time marketing after all the coding work we do. Daniel talks about his recent struggle implementing support for Google’s OAuth2, and finally they talk about Apple’s new Hardened Runtime and the associated app notarization service Mac apps that are distributed outside the Mac App Store.
It’s nice to hit episode 350, but I was just listening to ATP’s 300th episode today and realized that they have reached their milestone in about half the number of years that it took me and Daniel. We didn’t record very often in the early years, and even now usually miss a couple weeks here and there, so I expect ATP will eventually pass us up in total episodes. 🙂
Recorded 3 podcasts today! Timetable, out now. Core Intuition, out tomorrow. And a special episode of Micro Monday with @macgenie, out on Monday.
Timetable migrated to Micro.blog
Earlier this year I migrated 15 years of posts on manton.org to Micro.blog blog hosting. Today I finished moving over 100 episodes of my podcast Timetable to Micro.blog podcast hosting. I had gotten out of the routine of recording Timetable, and I think moving it to Micro.blog will simplify the setup and make me publish the podcast more often.
Timetable had been hosted on WordPress using the Seriously Simple Podcasting plugin. There were at least a few ways I could’ve moved the episodes, but ultimately I decided on the following:
Downloaded all the MP3s to my Mac.
Adjusted the WordPress settings to show 120 recent posts in the feeds, then saved the resulting JSON Feed of all episodes. This let me parse the JSON much more easily than working with the WordPress API or XML.
Wrote a Ruby script that uses the Micropub API to upload each MP3, then create a new post with an audio tag, preserving the original post content and date.
Pointed timetable.manton.org to use Micro.blog.
Even if you don’t know Ruby, hopefully you can see in the script how easy is it to work with Micropub, which Micro.blog uses as its native interface to create posts and upload files. I just call out to the curl command-line tool to do the work.
If you’re new to Timetable, each episode is only about 5 minutes. Some of my recent favorites include episode 91 (Lose yourself), episode 92 (Good, better, best), and episode 100 (One year).
→ 9:40 AM, Nov 12
We posted a new Core Intuition today that spans multiple weeks and a couple of recordings: catching up on Daniel’s talk, the new Micro.blog support for ActivityPub, and Apple’s recent announcements.
Intro to M.b screencast video
A few months ago on Timetable, I talked about how Micro.blog needs the equivalent of a college orientation session to get new people used to how the platform works. I took some time this morning to record a quick intro screencast video. It’s a little rushed because I tried to fit it into 2 minutes, but I’m glad to finally have something. I’ll be working to update it soon.
I’m adding a link to the video at the top of the “welcome” email that new users get when they sign up. You can also watch it on the help site here.
WordPress's Gutenberg vs. Micro.blog
Project Gutenberg is the code name for a redesign of the WordPress post editor. It’s an ambitious change set to ship next month in WordPress 5.0. Taking inspiration from Medium and appealing to web authors who use WordPress more like a CMS than a blog, Gutenberg features a block-based design for visually laying out the text and elements of a web page.
As I test Gutenberg, I keep coming back to one question: is it good for blogging? The goal with Micro.blog is to make blogging easier so that more people will have their own site instead of delegating their web identity to a social network. Gutenberg is more flexible than today’s WordPress, but it’s also more complex for someone who just wants to type in a few sentences and hit publish.
I’ve been talking about this with Daniel on our podcast Core Intuition. Many WordPress users will love Gutenberg, but there will be a significant number who just want a simple posting interface for blogging. This is where a traditional native blogging app like MarsEdit or the focused UI around microblogging seem like much better fits.
Put another way, as WordPress matures I think it moves further away from the ideal blogging interface for someone who wants to write every day. Even as we add features to Micro.blog — domain names, themes, full-length posts, photos, podcasting — the core platform will always be rooted in the simple idea of a text box and a timeline.
Yesterday we posted Core Intuition 348, checking on Daniel’s talk for Swift by Northwest and a longer discussion on finding time and the consequences for mistakes.
→ 7:57 AM, Oct 20
New episode of Core Intuition on blogging, @danielpunkass’s series on Dark Mode, and preparing for conference talks.
Posted this week’s Core Intuition. Reflecting on what competes for my attention on Micro.blog, taking criticism, and then differing approaches to a privacy policy.
→ 8:38 PM, Oct 5
We posted the latest Core Intuition this weekend. It’s a 45-minute episode without sponsor breaks dedicated to the Mojave release and Mac App Store. More from the show notes:
macOS Mojave is out! Daniel and Manton talk about the ephemeral nature of App Store features, and the wisdom of not investing too much stock in being featured, or any other external recognition. They catch up on the state of the Mac App Store and wonder about the expected App Store versions of BBEdit and Transmit. Finally, they talk about their own continuing plans for supporting Mojave, particular with respect to Dark Mode.
As part of hopefully consolidating a couple of my servers, I’ve moved the MP3 hosting to Libsyn. We have 10 GB of previous episodes, so I’m still not entirely sure what the best long-term hosting solution is. We’ve changed our mind a few times over the podcast’s 10-year history.
On the latest Core Intuition, we follow up on the Apple Watch’s new ECG feature, hype from last week’s event, and our plans for iOS 12 and Mojave.
→ 11:53 AM, Sep 21
On the latest Core Intuition, Daniel and I react to this week’s Apple announcements — new iPhones and the Apple Watch Series 4 — then wrap-up with our goals for the upcoming OS releases.
We just posted the first Core Intuition episode in a while. @danielpunkass and I talk about the Sunlit 2.2 release, the App Store, Android development, and iPhone XS leaks.
→ 11:33 AM, Sep 7
The latest Core Intuition is out now, with @danielpunkass and I talking about the App Store, tracking sales, payment links for podcasts, and a wrap-up about Twitter.
Late but hopefully worth the wait, this week’s episode of Core Intuition starts with a discussion of sandboxing in Mojave, then we take the rest of the show to discuss Twitter, blogging, and the role of social networks.
On the new Timetable: an update on microcast improvements, plans for Sunlit, and more thoughts on recent articles about curation on the big social networks.
Microcast improvements
This week we rolled out a few improvements to podcast hosting on Micro.blog. I talked about some of it on yesterday’s episode of Timetable. Here are the changes:
Increased MP3 upload size to 35 MB. With the default setting in Wavelength for iPhone this is over half an hour per episode. At lower bitrates, it’s over 70 minutes.
Added custom email address to site settings. Google’s podcast directory apparently likes a contact email in your podcast feed, so this allows it. (But it’s blank by default in Micro.blog for privacy.)
Updated podcast feed to use your “about me” text as the podcast description.
Speaking of podcasts, check out the latest episode the Supertop podcast. In addition to updates about their podcast client Castro, they cover my blog post about Anchor and other thoughts on what impact Anchor might have on the podcast industry.
→ 4:27 PM, Aug 7
Posted a new episode of Timetable about podcasting improvements and follow-up discussion from the Supertop podcast.
We just posted Core Intuition 339: Apple services revenue, the App Store’s 30% cut, @danielpunkass getting back into iOS development, blogging features, and more.
Posted a new Timetable with a quick follow-up on the Facebook API and recapping last night’s Homebrew Website Club.
On my almost-daily podcast, Timetable, today I talk about rebuilding the Facebook integration in Micro.blog and getting organized.
It’s a little late this week, but we published Core Intuition 338 today. Thanks for listening!
→ 10:04 AM, Jul 28
You usually can’t control or predict what other companies do. On the latest Timetable, I talk about going ahead with an idea despite some competition. Plus basketball. ðŸ�€
Today’s Timetable covers microcasts, Facebook changes for Micro.blog, and Twitter’s API announcement this week. Just 7 minutes. Enjoy!
On today’s episode of Timetable, I go into more detail about the recent performance improvements, related glitches, and thoughts on podcast hosting business models.
→ 12:58 PM, Jul 23
Anchor on free podcasting
Nir Zicherman has a post on Medium about how podcast hosting should be free. Nir is the co-founder of Anchor, a company with $14 million in venture-capital funding. Nir writes:
Back in the day, you would have had to pay to store your photos online. But that outdated business model has virtually disappeared thanks to platforms like Google Photos, Instagram, Imgur, and others. At Anchor, we believe the notion of charging creators to host their content online is antiquated and unfair. And above all else, it serves as a barrier that prevents the podcasting ecosystem from growing and becoming more diverse, because it limits it to only those voices who can afford to pay.
I think Nir misses something important in his post. Many podcasts do not need to be directly monetized with ads, network memberships, or even listener donations. I never want ads on my short-form podcast Timetable, for example. I record Timetable because I enjoy it and because it helps people understand what we’re trying to do with Micro.blog, which in turn indirect benefits the platform. I want my own podcast at my own domain name so that I’m not dependent on a company that may or may not be around in a few years.
(Also, it’s misleading to say that it only costs Anchor $1/year to host a podcast. That might cover hosting, but it skips over all the other business costs including engineering, marketing, and support.)
Anchor seems to be going for the YouTube model. They want a huge number of people to use their platform. But the concentration of so much media in one place is one of the problems with today’s web. Massive social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have too much power over writers, photographers, and video creators. We do not want that for podcasts.
Micro.blog podcast hosting isn’t free. It’s $10/month. But for that price you get not just a podcast feed but also a full hosted blog with support for microblog posts or longer essays, photo blogging, custom themes and CSS, posting from a bunch of third-party apps and our iOS microcasting app Wavelength, and most importantly everything at your own domain name so you own the content. The competition for Micro.blog isn’t Anchor; it’s Squarespace and WordPress.
Some things are worth paying for. I share Nir’s goal that podcasting should be more accessible and more affordable to more people, but it’s dangerous to give one company too much control over podcasting. Anchor’s business model demands scale. It’s still unclear how that will play out.
This week’s Core Intuition covers rumors of the 1Password site-license to Apple, the business of scooter and bike sharing, and marketing ideas for the new version of Sunlit.
On Timetable this morning, I talk about a bug for new users on Micro.blog, and how I tried to work around it with an extra email.
→ 7:29 AM, Jul 16
Web rings are back
One reason that IndieWeb Summit was such a success was the range of projects to come out of the second day as attendees worked on their own projects. There were new tools and features of existing platforms, but also personal site updates and just fun stuff. And web rings are fun!
I know, I know… Is it 2018 or 1998? I’ve added a help page on Micro.blog for how to add a web ring to your blog using 🕸ï¸�ðŸ’�. One of the great things about microblogging at your own domain name is you can experiment with features like this.
Daniel and I talk a little more about this on the new episode of Core Intuition out today. Enjoy.
I posted a new Timetable this morning about learning from college’s 2-day freshman orientation events.
We posted a new episode of Core Intuition this week with a summary of my time at IndieWeb Summit and more.
→ 3:22 PM, Jul 6
After taking a month off from Timetable, I posted a new episode this morning with some thoughts from Portland and recent work on Micro.blog.
→ 11:29 AM, Jul 3
Posted this week’s Core Intuition about macOS dark mode, UIs that presume too much, and booting up a 2008 Mac Pro.
On this week’s Core Intuition, we talk about travel, Marzipan, and deprecating WebKit.
Posted Core Intuition 332. If you’re wondering why no one is talking about how post-WWDC Siri still can’t set multiple timers, this episode is for you.
→ 11:07 AM, Jun 15
Just posted this week’s episode of Core Intuition with our initial thoughts on WWDC 2018: UIKit on the Mac, Siri’s automation-based strategy, App Store trials, and more.
→ 5:19 PM, Jun 7
Core Intuition 330 and WWDC
We just posted our pre-WWDC podcast episode:
Manton and Daniel check in just before WWDC to talk about expectations from the conference, and strategies for saving money on the trip. They indulge in a bit more Siri criticism, hope that Apple will announce new MacBook Pros, and question whether Apple will dare to poke fun at Google’s Duplex technology during the keynote.
If you’ll be in San Jose, hope to see you at the Micro.blog lunch meetup on Tuesday. I’d love to talk to listeners about Micro.blog or Core Intuition, and we have a major update to Sunlit in beta that I’ll be showing off.
→ 8:02 AM, Jun 1
10 years ago today, @danielpunkass and I released the first episode of Core Intuition. It was right before WWDC when Apple introduced the App Store.
Posted a new Core Intuition about the Twitter API changes, Micro.blog, more on Ghost’s API, a technical diversion into Photos.app drag-and-drop, and some thoughts on the Developer’s Union.
Posted a new episode of @coreint with talk about GDPR, the podcasting world, NPR and non-profits, Ghost’s 5-year review, and more.
Just posted a new Core Intuition with a discussion about Google Duplex, App Store pricing, and Daniel’s rewrite of MarsEdit’s image handling code.
On the latest episode of Timetable, I talk about the upcoming Icro app for Micro.blog and what to do while waiting for the App Store.
On the latest episode of Core Int, @danielpunkass and I talk about my experience at Peers Conf, Apple frameworks, and more. Thanks for listening!
→ 1:36 PM, May 4
For the 100th episode of Timetable, I record a podcast while a thunderstorm rolls through Austin. The new Mac app, photo blogging, and some thoughts on a year of Micro.blog.
→ 10:06 AM, May 4
Posted episode 325 of Core Intuition. Daniel and I talk about the anticipation of Peers Conf, SmugMug buying Flickr, thoughts on Tumblr, and more.
→ 8:35 PM, Apr 26
Posted a new Timetable last night. New Core Int this morning. Wavelength 1.0.2 waiting for review today.
Core Intuition 323 is out. Daniel and I talk about the Black Ink beta and Wavelength for Micro.blog.
Just published episode 97 of my Timetable microcast. Wrapping up some recent improvements and anticipating what’s next.
→ 9:55 AM, Apr 9
Core Intuition 322 and the Mac Pro
We just posted Core Intuition 322. From the show notes:
Manton and Daniel react to Apple’s news release about expectations for the Mac Pro coming in 2019. They speculate about what could explain such a long delay, and Daniel devises a theory, or pipe dream, that the Mac Pro may be ARM-based. They also discuss Apple’s disclosure of a Pro Workflow Team comprised of creative professionals, and compare it to Apple’s apparent study of the needs of education professionals. Finally, an update from Daniel about MacBook Pro keyboard repairs, with a surprise twist!
Stephen Hackett also commented today on Matthew Panzarino’s visit to Apple Park to get a status update on the Mac Pro:
There’s also the increased rumors around ARM-powered Macs. Like with the Intel transition, Apple’s pro products will surely be the last to make this move. It may be that 2019-ish Mac Pro will be the Intel Mac’s swan song.
I think Stephen is right, but on Core Intuition today we explored the opposite: what if the 2019 Mac Pro is the first ARM-powered Mac? What it was like to be at WWDC when Apple announced the Intel transition, the value of third-party pro apps, and much more on this episode. Enjoy!
We start this week’s Core Intuition talking about the Apple education event in Chicago. More in the show notes:
Daniel and Manton talk about Apple’s Chicago education event, and Apple’s challenge in breaking into the education market so dominated by Google. They scrutinize whether the special event was “event-worthy� or not. Daniel talks about his motivation problems with shipping MarsEdit updates, and complains again about App Store Review uncertainty. Finally, they talk about the challenge of knowing whether a product with lackluster success is on the brink of something great, or should be moved on from.
Thanks for listening and subscribing to the show.
→ 12:51 PM, Mar 30
Posted episode 96 of Timetable with quick thoughts on Apple’s event and how difficult it is to name new apps.
Recorded an episode of Timetable this afternoon and finally getting around to posting it just now.
We posted this week’s Core Intuition. Some of my favorite episodes are when Daniel and I talk through an issue unplanned and reach some insight, which happened on this one. Hope you enjoy it!
Posted a new episode of Timetable with an update on some of the things I’m working on.
The latest Core Intuition is out. Daniel and I talk about WWDC and related topics for the full episode:
Daniel and Manton talk about Apple’s announcement that WWDC is officially happening in San Jose again. Daniel struggles to make a financial case for attending, while Manton continues to believe it’s essential to at least be in town for a few days. They talk about the possibility that other conferences would be a better use of time and money. Finally, they indulge a little speculation about WWDC and whether the promo art ever hints at any of the actual news to be announced.
Thanks for subscribing! Looking forward to seeing some Core Intuition listeners out in San Jose.
→ 11:14 AM, Mar 15
Core Intuition 318 and Sunlit
We just published this week’s episode of Core Intuition, talking about the new Sunlit release and other topics. From the show notes:
Manton and Daniel celebrate Sunlit 2.0’s release, and talk about the decision to make it a free app that supports the Micro.blog platform. Daniel admires Manton’s proclivity for shipping new things, and they both despair the difficulty of canceling existing projects. Daniel rants modestly about the difficulty of getting his MacBook Pro keyboard repaired, and finally, they discuss the App Stores and the ongoing disparities between Mac and iOS versions of them.
→ 2:48 PM, Mar 8
Posted Core Intuition 317 about SwiftNIO, Sunlit 2.0, compiler warnings, and messy desks.
Over a week ago @danielpunkass and I recorded a show about the HomePod. So busy, finally published it today. All about Daniel’s first impressions and in-depth on Siri vs. Alexa and the future of voice assistants.
Just posted Core Intuition 315, talking to @danielpunkass about microblogging, bug fixes, support email, and more.
→ 1:24 PM, Feb 8
For Core Int members, check your secret podcast feed for Extra Intuition 5. @danielpunkass and I talk about replacing cars with bicycles.
→ 8:05 AM, Jan 30
On the latest Core Int, @danielpunkass and I talk about how Sunlit fits with Micro.blog, and managing support email and software releases.
Core Int 313 and bonus episode
We posted Core Intuition episode 313:
Daniel and Manton talk about digging oneself out of customer support debt, and strategies for improving the efficiency of support mechanisms. They react to Apple’s disabling of free In-App-Purchases, and speculate about whether it was intentional or not. This leads them into a re-evaluation about the risks of selling on the App Stores, and the lure of selling directly to customers.
And just for subscribers, Extra Intuition episode 4, with Daniel and I talking about cryptocurrency and my experience trying to cash out.
Resuming the Timetable podcast for 2018! The new episode is about why I stopped but shouldn’t have.
New episode of Core Intuition is out. We talk about what’s new with Micro.blog, cryptocurrency, and more:
Manton talks to Daniel about just missing jury duty during a busy work week. They talk about the virtues of differentiating a product by both features and personality. Finally, they react to the Stellar cryptocurrency’s surprising value, and the potential for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to change the world.
→ 12:53 PM, Jan 12
Busy week. Finally got this week’s episode of Core Intuition out earlier today, with a discussion on the CPU security bug (before much was known), new people discovering Micro.blog, and more.
→ 10:50 PM, Jan 5
UIKit and Eminem
Another week, another set of new podcasts. Daniel and I talked on Core Intuition about opening up Micro.blog and speculated on UIKit for the Mac:
Manton and Daniel talk about the major update to Micro.blog, and how to cope with demand as it either meets or doesn’t meet daily limits. They opine about the virtue of having a baseline product on which to build future updates. They react to Mark Gurman’s report that Apple has a plan to make it easier to bring iOS apps to the Mac, and finally, they catch up on Daniel’s post-release MarsEdit activity.
I also posted episode 91 of Timetable. It’s about 3 minutes on Eminem lyrics and getting your one shot.
→ 9:31 AM, Dec 22
This week on Core Intuition, Daniel and I talk about how the MarsEdit 4 release is going:
Daniel and Manton catch up on MarsEdit 4’s progress a week after releasing. They talk about the anxiety and fear of making a huge mistake when releasing, and the relief of discovering you haven’t. They reflect on the effectiveness of direct email to inform existing customers of updates, and Manton looks forward to releasing Micro.blog to the public, and how much PR fanfare he should be looking to generate.
I’ve been working on several new features for Micro.blog this week. Consistent with Daniel’s advice on the show, I think we’re going to roll out new stuff for Micro.blog next week and start ramping up promotion. Really excited about the way things are coming together.
Two new podcast episodes today: Core Intuition 308 is a full hour about the MarsEdit 4 release. Timetable 90 is a full… 6 minutes about IndieWebCamp and my week.
Timetable on MarsEdit 4 and open APIs
Today I posted another episode of my daily podcast Timetable. It’s a short episode about the MarsEdit 4 release and why even competing apps should be compatible and embrace the open web. Here’s a transcript.
Today, MarsEdit 4 shipped. I posted to my blog with a link to the new version, and I included some comments in the blog post about using MarsEdit with Micro.blog.
Congrats to Daniel. This has been years in the making. It’s great to see it come out, and we’ll be talking more about this on my other podcast Core Intuition later this week.
Even if Daniel wasn’t my friend and co-host of Core Intuition, I’d still be excited about MarsEdit, because more blogging software is a good thing. The Mac version of Micro.blog kind of competes with MarsEdit, since you can use Micro.blog to post to WordPress, just like you can with MarsEdit. But it’s also a nice complement, because you can use MarsEdit to post to blogs that are hosted on Micro.blog. And MarsEdit is full-featured and has more features that you might want to upgrade to, even if you’re using Micro.blog.
And this is how I think software should work, and why the open web and open APIs are important. You should be able to switch between apps without changing everything.
You should be able to use MarsEdit to post to your blog. You should be able to use Micro.blog — the Mac app or the iOS app — to post to that same blog.
Imagine if you could use the official Twitter app to post to Facebook. You open Twitter, you click new tweet, and then you click in the destination (somewhere in the UI), and you select Facebook instead. And instead of going to Twitter, it goes to Facebook.
Sounds crazy. How could that possibly work? Why would Twitter or Facebook ever allow something like that?
But that’s how it should work. We are so used to these silos and these apps that are not compatible with anything, that we just accept it. But that’s how it should work.
You should be able to use multiple apps to post to different services. And that’s what’s happening with apps that are built with some compatibility in mind, especially on IndieWeb standards. That’s what’s happening with MarsEdit and Micro.blog, although on a much smaller scale.
I’ve been thinking about how much work we have to do to reach the audience of potential indie microbloggers. Last night, I attended AustinRB, a local meetup here in Austin for Ruby programmers. There was a great talk on metaprogramming — really enjoyed it. And as I mentioned yesterday, Tom Brown, who is also helping me out with IndieWebCamp planning… He gave a talk on the IndieWeb.
And listening to questions from the audience, it was just so obvious how far we have to go. Everyone is so used to Twitter and Facebook and Instagram, that in a way we have to outline the IndieWeb and services like Micro.blog in a way that mainstream users of other social networks can relate to.
It’s a big jump to go from only thinking about Twitter, to all of a sudden thinking about your own domain name, sending replies between independent web sites perhaps, to thinking about a timeline that is based on feeds from all over the web. It’s a big jump.
And in a way, it’s kind of discouraging when I think about making that case for how the web should work. It’s a massive task to explain the value of the open web and the danger of relying on 100% centralized networks.
But on the other hand, there are a lot of people in the world, a lot of people who want to write on the internet, who care about what they say and how they say it. WordPress powers 29% of the web.
The market is there. It’s just a matter of reaching everyone. And so that’s encouraging.
And it starts in communities like the IndieWeb. And hopefully in the community we’re trying to build on Micro.blog.
It’s not too late to register for IndieWebCamp. It’s this weekend in Austin. Go to IndieWeb.org. I hope you can join us. There’s a lot of work to do to build the web that we need. Thanks for listening today.
Back on track with Timetable. Four episodes this week and looks like I’ll hit 100 episodes before the end of the year. Today’s is about profile photos.
On this week’s Core Int, Daniel and I talk about Apple’s root user security bug, and final plans for shipping MarsEdit 4.0.
On this morning’s episode of my short-form podcast Timetable: plans for the week including IndieWebCamp promotion and the Micro.blog launch.
Posted a new episode of Extra Intuition, our members-only podcast for Core Intuition listeners.
Blog archive format
As I’ve been improving the import and export functionality in Micro.blog, I’ve done a lot of work with WordPress’s WXR format, which is based on RSS. While there’s nothing particularly wrong with WXR, it’s more complicated than it needs to be for non-WordPress sites, especially when you start to tackle image uploads that exist outside of the post text.
Micro.blog can also push an entire site’s Markdown, HTML, and images to GitHub, which is the most complete mirror and perfect for migrating to another Jekyll server. It introduces so many extra files, though, it’s not reasonable to expect that other blog platforms could support the same level of detail.
I’d be happy to ignore the WordPress-centric nature of WXR and use it as a common blog archive format if WXR provided a mechanism to store image uploads. Helping people migrate from WordPress to Micro.blog-hosted blogs has only emphasized to me that a better format is needed.
In chatting with the IndieWeb community, the idea was proposed that an HTML file using h-feed would provide portability and also an added bonus: it could be opened in any web browser to view your archived site. Images could be stored as files with relative references in the HTML file. (I’d throw in a JSON Feed file, too, so that importers could choose between using a Microformats parser or JSON parser.)
The files would look something like this:
feed.json
test.jpg
The basics from h-feed would follow this structure:
h-feed
h-entry
p-name
dt-published
u-url
Only index.html and feed.json would be required. Any other paths in the archive would be determined by the contents of the HTML. (I’m using “uploads” in this example, but it could just as easily be “archive”, “audio”, or any other set of folders.)
For large sites, the HTML could be split into multiple files with appropriate <link> tags in the header to page through the additional files. While it could contain CSS and your full blog’s design, I’m imagining that the HTML would be extremely lightweight: just enough to capture the posts, not a way to transfer templates and themes between blogs.
The whole folder is zipped and renamed with a .bar extension. Easy to move around and upload all at once. I’ve created an example file here (rename it .zip to open it).
I’d love to hear what you think. I talked about this on a recent episode of Timetable as well. Might be a nice topic to follow up on at IndieWebCamp Austin in 2 weeks.
Core Intuition 305 is out. We talk about potential MarsEdit and Micro.blog release dates, other commitments, App Camp, and more.
→ 12:26 PM, Nov 18
Posted a quick Timetable episode about how the Micro.blog photo challenge is going, and on finalizing the venue and plans for IndieWebCamp Austin.
It’s late this week, but Core Intuition 304 is out. We talk about the iPhone X, updating servers, and fear leading up to a software launch.
Core Int 303 and Timetable 77
We just published this week’s Core Intuition, talking about the latest iPhone X news:
Daniel and Manton recap their experience placing pre-orders for the iPhone X, discuss Apple’s unusual PR strategy for iPhone X reviews, and debate the appropriateness of Apple firing an engineer for letting his daughter film a YouTube video of his pre-release phone.
When you’re done listening to that, also check out Timetable 77. Still waiting for my iPhone X to arrive.
Micro.blog special pins
For the initial rollout of Micro.blog, we had a bunch of pins you can unlock, to encourage people to blog more. For example, pins that get unlocked after a certain number of blog posts, or when you upload a photo. We also added a couple of new time-based pins for special events, like mentioning “iPhone X” during the Apple event last month.
Today I added a Halloween pin. You can see some of the pins for my account in this screenshot:
I also talked about this on today’s Timetable. Happy blogging! 🎃
Today on my Timetable podcast I tell a story about coworking and how companies change.
iPhone 8 review, X pre-orders
Jason Snell mentioned on this week’s Upgrade that he had found a way to frame his iPhone 8 review, and today he posted it. Where most iPhone 8 reviews last month seemed overshadowed by the upcoming iPhone X, I think Jason’s review may have benefited from a little distance from the September Apple event.
It also reminded me about the missing headphone jack, which in the excitement of the pre-orders I had forgotten about. Sigh. From the review:
These upgraders also get to experience for the first time what the rest of us had to come to terms with a year ago: A one-way ticket to Dongletown, courtesy of a Lightning-to-headphone-jack adapter required by the removal of the headphone jack.
And on wireless charging, which I’m equally skeptical about:
Inductive charging is slower than USB charging, so if I’m trying to top up my battery before heading out, I’ll invariably prefer plugging in a Lightning cable. Dropping the phone on top of the small circle of the charging pad so that it’s properly aligned for the charge—the phone indicates that it’s charging and a small light appears on the charger base—is not really any less difficult in terms of mental focus than plugging in a Lightning cable.
As Daniel and I have discussed at several points on Core Intuition, I think Apple really gambled on splitting the product line between the 8 and X, and the pronunciation fumbles only add to the confusion and perception that the 8 isn’t a cutting-edge product. It’s at once the best phone in the world and old news.
It remains to be seen whether this split will impact sales. I’ll be watching for the quarterly results and Ben Thompson’s take.
Meanwhile, I’ve stuck to my first impression that it’s time for me to have a phone with the best cameras again. That means the iPhone X. I’ll miss the size of the iPhone SE, but now that my iPhone X pre-order is wrapped up, I’m looking forward to trying something new, and hoping that it captures a little of that first-generation iPhone feeling, when we knew we were holding a bit of the future.
On the latest Timetable, I talk about waking up at 2am and the redesigned Discover section in the Mac beta.
We posted episode 302 of Core Intuition today. From the show notes:
Manton and Daniel anticipate the night of iPhone X pre-orders, and the shame of waking in the middle of the night to order a phone. They catch up with their faltering ambitions to ship MarsEdit and Micro.blog, and acknowledge the merit of sharing ambitions with others to help motivate progress. Finally, they contemplate whether eliminating a feature altogether is preferable to shipping it with obvious deficiencies.
Good luck to everyone trying to pre-order an iPhone X tonight!
Extra Intuition 2 with Gus Mueller
Just posted episode 2 of our members-only podcast Extra Intuition, with special guest Gus Mueller! From the show notes:
Daniel and Manton are joined by Gus Mueller of Flying Meat. They talk about their early days in the indie Mac community, and Gus’s commitment to developing for the Mac. Along the way Gus let us know about a new Mac app he’s working on, and invited listeners to get in touch about beta testing it!
Gus announces a brand new Mac app he’s working on. Really exciting to see this when it ships. You can listen by becoming a member.
Posted this week’s Core Intuition, about Stripe, Mac dev, Release Notes, and Twitter.
→ 11:55 AM, Oct 20
New Timetable last night. Guaranteed the only 6-minute podcast that covers 1950s Disney and a quote from LaVar Ball.
Extra Intuition
Daniel and I wanted to do something special for our 300th episode, so we’ve launched a membership program for Core Intuition listeners. Included in the membership is access to a brand new podcast we call Extra Intuition, plus a private Slack channel for members to discuss the show and suggest future topics.
It’s been a fun journey over the last 9 years of recording Core Intuition, and the main podcast will stay as it has been, with new episodes for free every week. Extra Intuition is our chance to deviate a little from the formula and try something new.
Daniel has also posted about the membership and first episode:
Our first episode of Extra Intuition is already live, and it features a discussion about the early days of our friendship, and how we decided to start Core Intuition.
We’d love your support. Thanks for listening!
Timetable 66 and Release Notes
I posted a new Timetable today after listening to the Release Notes podcast where Charles and Joe discuss requiring in-app purchase subscriptions. As I talk about on Timetable, I’ve been working on the Mac version of Micro.blog, so it was a good opportunity to make a final decision on Mac App Store support.
Speaking of Release Notes, I’ll be out in Chicago for the conference next week. If you’re attending, hope to see you there. Ask me for a Micro.blog sticker.
One more week until our 300th episode! From the show notes for today’s episode:
Daniel and Manton talk about Daniel’s struggle to finish and release MarsEdit 4. They compare notes about using the WordPress API to import content, and Manton reveals he is working on a Mac app for Micro.blog. They check in about the impact that increasing competition, or perception of it, on their long-time friendship and collaboration.
We’re announcing something new next week. Hope you can tune in for it.
→ 11:26 AM, Oct 5
If you’re not convinced about 280 characters yet, listen to Core Int 298. We cover it extensively, both sides.
More on 280 characters
For this week’s Core Intuition, Daniel and I spend the whole show talking about Twitter’s 280-character change and related fallout. It makes a good complement to my initial blog post, as well as yesterday’s episode of Timetable.
And of course I liked this part of Colin Walker’s blog post:
Having gotten used to a 280 character limit on micro.blog I can honestly say it makes a world of difference.
Dave Winer wrote about the need for Twitter to take risks:
So if you think the 140-char limit is so great, why isn't Twitter making money for its shareholders? If you were management at Twitter would you be conservative or would you take risks? As a shareholder, I want them to take risks. Big ones. Why not? They don't really have anything to lose.
My daughter’s Twitter account has access to the new 280-character limit, so I’ve had a chance to see the new UI. Instead of counting down, it uses a circular progress bar until you get near the end of the limit. The UI is further proof that Twitter didn’t make this change on a whim. They plan to ship it.
Timetable 54
I posted a new episode of my Timetable microcast. Here’s a bit from today’s episode about blogging and tweeting:
My "blog first" strategy is actually really simple. I just follow the rule that I never post directly to Twitter unless I'm replying to a question. If I want to post something to Twitter, I fire up MarsEdit on my Mac, or I open the Micro.blog iOS app, and I post it there. Then of course Micro.blog sees that and sends it to Twitter for me.
I’m getting back into the groove of publishing these episodes. This was the third episode of Timetable this week.
Posted this week’s Core Int, following up on Apple pre-orders, why the X is poorly named, and more.
We posted a new Core Intuition, all about the iPhone X and other products from yesterday’s event. From the show notes:
Manton and Daniel react to the announcement at Apple’s annual iPhone event, comparing notes on the allure of the iPhone X, Apple Watch 3, and new Apple TV. They talk about the impressiveness of all the significant product updates being made in parallel, and lament the slightly confusing state it leaves the high end iPhone market in.
Approaching 300 episodes over 9 years. If you’re new to the podcast, consider subscribing in your favorite podcast app. Thanks!
Waiting for the iPhone X
Michael Gartenberg writing for Six Colors about the iPhone X:
It’s arguably the most beautiful product ever made by Apple and the jewel in Apple’s crown. The aesthetics must be seen to be appreciated. This is something Apple competitors aren’t even close to. If the iPhone 8 raises the bar, iPhone X raises the bar so high it can’t be seen. This is, quite simply, the best smartphone money can buy.
High praise. Apple had me at the cameras, but I’m relieved that the design of the phone itself is so great. On Core Intuition last week I had worried that if the design fell short (or Apple did something clunky like put a Touch ID sensor on the back) that I’d have second thoughts.
This is the first iPhone in years that many people are going to stand in line for. It might not be priced high enough.
I published a new Timetable episode after the Apple event. My first reaction, and an update on work today.
Posted a new episode of Timetable about sending out new invites and the features in version 1.1.
Slightly longer Core Intuition this week as we cover several topics. From the show notes:
Daniel and Manton follow up briefly on Manton’s backup strategy, and catch up with Daniel's progress with MarsEdit. They talk about the merits of using cryptographic signing for software licenses, and balance the risks and rewards of combatting piracy. Daniel talks about the recurring lure of taking a salaried job, and how the privileges of staying indie continue to win out. Finally, they look forward to next week's iPhone event and the expected hardware announcements from Apple.
I’m excited about the upcoming iPhone event on Tuesday. Seems like it’s set to be a big one.
On today’s Timetable: the IndieWeb and why we’re having a Homebrew Website Club meetup in Austin tonight.
→ 12:13 PM, Sep 6
We posted a new Core Intuition: Lattner to Google, the Apple car project, and CrashPlan’s subscription change.
Core Intuition 293 transcript
Daniel and I talked mostly about subscriptions on this week’s episode, and then closed with a wrap-up of our projects as summer winds down. Here’s a transcript of the first part of the show, lightly edited.
Manton:
Hi Daniel. You know a topic that we’ve had on the show a few times over this last year is subscriptions and pricing and revenue, especially in the context of Micro.blog and the new MarsEdit release. We’ve talked about in-app purchase and different revenue models for MarsEdit. And developers keep trying things. The big news in the last week was Ulysses has switched to a subscription model.
I find this interesting, and I know we chatted in the Core Intuition Slack a little bit about this as kind of a preview of the show. I’m not sure how to feel about this in general because Ulysses is the first app I’ve seen — the first big app — that is doing subscriptions without changing their app. What I mean is a lot of apps that do subscriptions, they have subscriptions because they’ve done something significant like add their own syncing backend, or publishing service, or there’s some service-oriented aspect to the app that justifies subscriptions. And Ulysses is just saying — they had a big post saying — “You know what? This business is going to work better for us. We think it’s going to be better for users too. We’re just switching; the app’s not changing. We’re just going to start charging per month.”
Right. And they have their typical making the case for it blog post: Ulysses switches to subscription. And as you said it’s very straightforward; they’re not doing this halfway. And their basic points are things we’ve heard from other developers and I think you and I, Manton, we appreciate this as well, even if we’re not convinced that subscriptions are the right choice necessarily for all of our products.
But you know there are some really compelling things. One of the things that rings truest for me is getting away from that whole major upgrade cycle. And especially when you’re looking at someone like me who has been now seven years since the last major update, whenever a developer makes that argument, “Oh, now I can just work on features and add them to the app and release them when I feel like it, or as soon as the feature’s done users can start benefiting from it.” All of that sounds so good to me.
There’re a lot of great arguments to be made. I don’t necessarily share your feeling that customers expect something service-oriented. I can definitely see that argument in it. I know it’s made often. But I am going to be watching Ulysses closely because I think a lot of customers are starting to understand that it’s sort of just like… Maintenance is a service. Maintenance of the software is a service and that’s something that a lot of people can justify paying for. You know especially with an app like this where it gets at sort of people’s… This is one of those part of people’s identity type of apps, where it’s like: you use this because you are a writer.
You can also say a big risk here is that there are a lot of different ways to write and there are a lot of different apps you can use. Somebody who uses Photoshop for a living… Historically it’s been harder to justify using other tools because it’s just such an industry standard, so I guess something like Ulysses is going to be like: is what they provide to people unique enough and something that people like enough and identify enough with that they’re willing to say, “Okay, part of my identity is I’m a writer with Ulysses and I’m going to pay $40 a year for that privilege?”
Yeah, I think there’re a couple of things to go through with this, and your comment on maintenance is a service… That’s true, but nothing has changed with software in that regard, right? Software has always been work: supporting customers, doing new versions doing bug fixes, having compatibility updates for new versions of the OS. The difference with software as a service like web apps and subscriptions is: there is a real cost. If you’re running Dropbox or something you can’t do that for free.
And users I think get that there is a hosting cost, there is a bigger cost to running those services, and that’s why they are charged by the month usually, because it’s not free to run them. Whereas an iPhone app that you ship, it’s not free to support, of course. And Ulysses has a medium-sized team. They have an actual team behind this, and they probably have potentially multiple engineers and multiple support people. That’s not free, but it’s different than thousands of dollars a month in hosting costs that have to be offset or there’s no business whatsoever.
That’s how I draw the line usually, where there are some types of businesses that they have to be charged per month. They cannot be done any other way. You could support them by ads, potentially, if you’re big like Facebook and Twitter, but otherwise you have to charge users per month because you just can’t run the service otherwise.
And apps aren’t like that. Apps, there’s choice. There’re different ways you can make a business out of selling an app.
It’s true, but I really don’t think most users think about it that much. People who click the button or tap the button in an iPhone game to get like 100 emeralds or whatever, they’re not thinking through, “Well it costs cost money to make virtual emeralds.”
That’s a unique case.
Well, it’s a unique case but it reflects the fact that I think in the vast majority of cases it’s far simpler: users recognize and accept that software is either available to them or not available to them based on whether they pay, and they choose whether to pay not based on some intricate analysis of the market viability or the business sustenance. They just think, “Do I want this, and am I willing to click this button to say yes, pay?”
That’s one thing. I do agree that there’s a challenge in marketing subscriptions in general. I just don’t think that you know the arguments about whether the developers need to pay for keeping servers running or not really comes into it as much. It’s more just about a pure value proposition to people.
I don’t think so, though. I really think users… They don’t think about it in the terms that I just outlined, but their gut feeling is, “I’m paying for this because this is the kind of service that needs to be paid per month.”
If you ask someone will they be shocked if they go to WordPress.com and it charges them per month, of course they won’t. Yes, it’s a web site hosting service, it charges per month. But then if you ask them if the text editor should charge per month. Most people will say no, it should be a one-time… And this is not because they know the business models perfectly, but it’s just this is the accepted way this software has been done. And software as a service — subscriptions, traditionally — it’s a mature market, 15, 20 years. People are used to subscribing to these things, and so they understand it. And a text editor is not the same thing. I think users get that.
I mean it’s still too early to know how well this is going to work. I have a feeling, since Ulysses is really well loved… (I use it. I use it on the Mac and on the iPhone. I love the app; it’s really well done.) I have a feeling it’ll work out fine. But you just take a quick look in the App Store and you see the reaction is not kind. One-star reviews. “Loved this app, now I hate it because it’s subscriptions.” So that reaction shouldn’t shock anyone, because this is kind of a big switch and people are not used to paying per month for this type of app.
It doesn’t shock me, the reaction, but I also think that this is a classic example where a very angry, loud minority, probably, is going to get the attention. They’re going to make a stink about it. We saw this happen with TextExpander a year ago when they switched to a subscription model. As far as I can tell, TextExpander is doing very well, and it’s because, again… I mean you can argue and probably will that they have a service component…
I will, yeah. [laughter]
But I honestly I don’t think that that plays into it. I don’t think typical users are thinking through the mechanics of how software works. I suppose at one point you know somebody could have made an argument that people aren’t going to pay money for software anymore because you don’t get a box and it doesn’t come with a CD-ROM and there’s no physical thing there. But we made that leap and we got to the point where it was like, okay, now people are paying $600 for an Adobe download.
This is always going to be changing. How software is marketed, how it’s priced, what people are willing to pay for it, how they get it. And I don’t think the technicalities of whether there’s a running server process on a web host somewhere has as much to do with it as you think it does. I think it’s just, point blank, does this do things I want and am I willing to pay for it.
You and I, we do customer support for our customers. A lot of them don’t understand the intricacies of how software is delivered and how it’s installed. They just know that it gets on their device somehow and then they use it. All of your arguments are totally valid about this sort of mindset of this classic traditional, savvy computer user. And I think we have to keep in mind, more and more, these ideas about how we think software is supposed to be sold and delivered. You know every year there’s a whole new class of adults who comes into purchasing power who has never known some of these old ways of selling software.
I think there’re problems with subscription pricing, but I don’t think if you took an average sampling of people, I don’t think that… I guess I have to admit I would be really curious to know what an average sampling of people would think about it. But I just don’t think that they would be going to the sophisticated analysis that you are, as much as you think.
I agree they wouldn’t have that analysis exactly, but again their instinct — their first reaction — would be this app is good for subscriptions and this app is not. Again, no one is shocked if they go to Spotify that it’s a subscription. No one would say this should be a flat one dollar forever charge. It’s just accepted that, yes, this type of app is a subscription product. And the opposite is true for a text editor. The default assumption for people is that it’s a one-time fee and maybe they have to pay again later at some point, but they get to keep using that app.
And that’s another distinction that’s worth pointing out: there’re a lot of different ways to do subscriptions. Right now we’re talking about automatically recurring subscriptions where you pay per month or per year and at the end of that period it renews and you can’t use the app after it expires. That’s what we’re talking about. There’re other kinds that people have experimented with too, though.
For example, Sketch — great vector drawing app that I love — that is kind of subscriptions, but not really. It’s more like a support contract where you pay for a year and you get updates. After that year, you don’t get updates anymore. But the app doesn’t stop working. You can still keep using it.
And that’s kind of a middle-ground that I know a couple developers have experimented with, and I think for certain types of apps that works really well. I think for Sketch that works really well, especially because their competition is in the fully recurring — you know I’m talking about Adobe — fully recurring, automatic renewal subscriptions. They are almost there but not quite. Their app is less expensive. It’s better for some people. And so I think that fits that market really well. But there’re a couple different ways to do this and traditionally the recurring subscriptions has not been used for apps like Ulysses. It’s just rare to see an app like that have that kind of business model.
Again, with TextExpander, like you hinted at, my argument there would be: first of all, they still have the standalone version that you can buy; and second of all, when they introduced subscriptions they have a team version that syncs your snippets to all your computers. Same thing for just you using it solo or with a couple of people. And so they introduced the business model change with the addition of new features that were enabled by subscriptions. And that’s the distinction of where I draw the line there.
Yeah. Obviously there’s been more apps doing this kind of subscription, or like you said with Sketch, kind of a semi-subscription approach. And I guess I’m just not going to be too surprised if after a few years, whatever this sort of hunch that you think people have that something is or isn’t suitable for subscriptions, that they’ll just kind of get over it. I guess that’s the bottom line. Does this reflect a sort of market necessity, or is it just kind of like a whim.
I guess we’ll be able to watch a dueling example of this playing out because one of the competitors to Ulysses is Scrivener. And as I was reading the responses to Ulysses going subscription, I saw at least one customer saying this kind of snarky comment like, “Thanks for making my decision to switch to Scrivener.” And in fact if you go to the Scrivener forums, one of their customers asks point blank, “Are you switching to…” Or they said, “Please don’t switch to a subscription model.” And the Scrivener developers, they answered very bluntly saying, “We don’t want to switch to a subscription model.” They put a flag in the ground for traditional purchase one version, pay for upgrades, etc… So I guess we’ll be able to see as time goes forward which one of these models works best, or if they both work, and how it affects customers’ happiness.
Right. And this is a really neat example that we have because there’s this contrast. Both those apps are different, certainly, but they both appeal to writers, and so there’s certainly overlap. Some people love both apps and use them for different purposes. The business model is now very different. And with Scrivener I think it’s $45 for the Mac version. Add on some more for the iOS version. But that’s a one-time fee. So if someone uses that app for five years, let’s say, they’re going to be paying much, much less than Ulysses. Probably roughly one-fifth the price.
Doesn’t matter in the short term so much. And subscriptions are also nice because you can start using an app with a very low investment of just the monthly fee. But in the long run if that continues, people will notice the price difference and they’ll think about it.
And the reason I’m coming from this side of things is that I am a little concerned that… This subscription fatigue thing. I really do think it’s real. I think people will be burned out on subscriptions if all apps are subscription-based. I think that will be a big problem for the market and just the industry in general. And as someone who is trying to build a business that can only work with subscriptions, I have no choice. It has to be subscription-based because of the hosting costs of running a social network and a blogging platform.
I’m a little concerned that people will be burned out and I don’t want them to drop my service. I want them to drop something else if they decide they have to cut their monthly expenses.
We’ll see how it plays out; it’s super early. I was just listening to the Accidental Tech Podcast, and they briefly addressed this in one of their Q&A episodes. The consensus on the show was the market will sort of out, don’t worry. If too many people charge for subscriptions and users are burned out, they’ll stop buying those apps and those apps will have to die or change their business model.
They weren’t worried. I am more worried than that. I think there is a concern. We’ll just have to see if that is valid. I know developers right now are looking at Ulysses, and if it works for them, they will copy it. That’s going to work for some people and not for others.
You know when it comes down to it, part of this subscription thing is developers, actually starting to demand payment for what they do.
[laughter] Yeah.
And you know, when you look at people like me… It’s funny, the Scrivener folks say in their post as well that it’s been seven years since they had a major upgrade. And I look at that and I think, Ulysses can switch to subscription pricing and they can charge $40 a year. If you compare that with Scrivener, they can have seven times fewer users and still make the same amount of money.
A lot of us who are amateur at business, we have this problem: we neglect to ask and demand payment for the true value of our work. Part of the problem when you go indie, and you go from having a well-paid job to maybe making half of that and hopefully trying to get back up to where you’re making the same amount of money you were for the big job. Part of that disparity of income is I think a failure to demand payment for what what your work is worth.
And so I think it may be an extreme that going to this $40 a year might be an extreme counterbalance to that, but I think it’s an example of pushing back in the other direction. I think it’s fair to say people who have been using Scrivener for seven years, having paid for it once for $40… Whatever that amount per year is is not a fair compensation for the work. So somewhere in the middle maybe. If it’s going to come down to a test of whether a business model that asks for $40 a year wins or a business model that asks $40 every seven years wins, the subscription pricing is going to win. That’s ultimately going to keep the product better maintained and better developed. It’s going to cause users to like it more.
And I don’t know the subscription fatigue thing, I agree, but most users don’t need like 20 apps — 20 paid apps, anyway. I have some subscription fatigue for things like Netflix. I only have Netflix and then I added HBO. And I have my Apple Music subscription. I’m not going to go subscribe to all of Apple Music and Spotify and whatever else — Tital or whatever else. But I am willing to add subscriptions for things that bring me new value that I can justify.
And I think that people are going to be the same way with with apps. Maybe there’s only five apps I want to subscribe and pay for, but I’m going to pay for those. If every user out there subscribed and paid for five apps at $40 a year we would be doing pretty well as a software industry.
So Daniel, you make some good points about subscriptions, and I also think that you’re right in a way that maybe subscriptions for these types of apps — that I personally think is pushing the limits — it is at one extreme, and maybe we’ll come back into the middle a little bit. Because of course I completely agree that apps should not go without revenue for seven years, and that’s not really the user’s fault, exactly. Developers should be more disciplined about… I’m trying to say that without insulting anyone, including my co-host.
Anyone on this show. [laughter]
But that’s too long, we can all agree. If your if your model is paid upgrades, maybe you can go that long if you have a successful app, but you shouldn’t. You should go at most two or three years before doing a paid upgrade. That’s a reasonable amount of time. Especially for Mac software, you’re not going to get any one-star reviews if you do a paid upgrade after three years. People understand that there’s going to be a paid upgrade at some point, most likely.
So maybe there’s a middle ground there. Maybe this is pushing the limits. As you were talking about you just want to pay for Netflix, but not Hulu and HBO and Apple Music and all these other things, I think there’s a parallel to the app world here as well, and it’s Setapp.
We’ve talked about this a little bit on the show, but Setapp is like the cable package for people who don’t want to buy one-off subscription services. We pay for Netflix, we pay for HBO, we pay for Hulu, we pay for Playstation Vue, we pay for all these things. And at some point you kind of want to consolidate that into a cable-like package where you’re paying one company and you’re getting a lot of things. And we don’t quite have that in the streaming world and we don’t certainly have that in the developer world, but Setapp is that model where it’s a subscription but you pay for many things at once, so that you’re not burned out on paying 20 different developers $4 a month.
Yeah, I think it’s a great argument if you say what if you had to pay for a subscription for each of the shows that you watch on TV. There’s a logical extreme where obviously it’s not going to work, and maybe that’s an example where the ATP argument that the market will figure it out comes into play. I mean there’s just no way I would pay… Imagining that scenario is a bad scene because I think in practice what would happen is that I would just stop watching TV. So it’s bad news for the TV makers if you follow that same argument. If I have to pay for each of the shows that I relatively religiously watch now then I would find a new hobby, I guess. And maybe software buyers would likewise… I don’t know what they’d do. Maybe they’d switched to writing with a typewriter or something.
It’s going to be interesting to see because I don’t know if Setapp is exactly the right solution. I really applaud them… They’ve really tackled this experiment with gusto, and it sort of seems like it’s working for them. It doesn’t seem like it’s working nearly as well as they had anticipated, from what I’ve picked up. I saw some links talking about how much they’ve sponsored and how many big events they’ve sponsored, and you sort of start doing the math on it and it doesn’t really sound like it’s… I wish I had it all at the tip of my fingers, but some other information came out where it showed I think that they had shared their subscription count and doing the math on it it sort of seemed like, well that sounds like not a great deal.
You actually saw some concrete evidence of how well they’re doing on Dan Counsell’s blog. It’s his Micro.blog-hosted blog as it happens, and he shared his numbers for RapidWeaver. Actually RapidWeaver and Squash, two of his apps, but I have to assume RapidWeaver is by far the greater revenue source in this case.
Both of them are in Setapp. We don’t know a ton about how Setapp developers are compensated except for it’s been shared that it’s sort of proportional to the price of the app standalone. RapidWeaver is not one of the lower-priced apps in Setapp, so I would have to assume Dan Counsell’s cut is higher than many participants in Setapp. So keep that in mind, but he shares his numbers and he points out that the numbers are actually going up. Fairly fairly quickly, really, over a few months. In May, he says he took $1446 from Setapp, and in August it’s up to $1913. Which is a great growth rate if you just look at it in isolation. However, I’m not sure that reflects a great overall business numbers from Setapp, if you consider that he’s probably being compensated better than many app developers in the program.
Let’s say generously that he can look forward to you know $30,000 a year in revenue from Setapp in the near future. And if that’s true, boy that’s really great if it’s extra money, if it’s not eating into his sales, etc. But this is being looked at as the future of software, it’s not great. $30,000 a year is not great for most developers in the U.S. at least trying to make a living off of software. And particularly for an app like RapidWeaver that I have to imagine — if not now then definitely in its heyday — was making way more than $30,000 a year. I imagine it still is making multiples of that per year.
So I don’t I don’t expect Setapp to be mature and to the point where it does fulfill this dream of keeping developers fully employed by participating in the program. But I do think this is evidence. This is middle evidence. This is evidence that there’s real money coming through Setapp, and it’s also evidence that it’s not a real great amount of money.
Right, and I haven’t seen too many real numbers, but this is consistent with what we’ve heard — even some people in the Core Intuition Slack, who are on Setapp, have said — which is it’s some extra money. It’s not, “I can’t shut down my direct sales or my Mac App Store sales and just use Setapp”, but it’s money coming in. It’s growing. And the consensus I hear is, “I’m willing to just let it grow and see what happens”, because it’s extra money.
You’re kind of hedging your bets by being in Setapp because whether you sell directly and have paid upgrades as RapidWeaver has had for quite some time — and I know they’ve had some big successful paid upgrades that they’ve blogged about — or whether you’re taking Ulysses’s approach or TextExpander or 1Password, those kind of approaches with subscriptions. In case your primary bet doesn’t work out, if Setapp grows, that’s extra revenue that will appeal to a different set of users. If someone is burned out on subscriptions or they’re tired of paying paid upgrades or they don’t want to pay $45 at once for the app, and they go to Setapp, they are still your customers, which is nice.
I feel like Setapp, in a lot of ways I think people have been a little too negative about it, and maybe the expectations at the beginning were just too great for it. But if Setapp sticks with it, and develops stick with it, and it keeps growing, I think there’s something there. It doesn’t need to take over the world, but it could still be a nice bit of extra revenue for developers that are there.
It’s interesting because one of the apps in Setapp is none other than Ulysses. So you get this interesting situation where if a few more of these Setapp apps start offering subscription pricing on their own, then you get to the situation where if you’ve got three $40 a year apps then you do start to face that point. If I were subscribing to Ulysses and let’s say RapidWeaver had its own subscription, and Screens is on here. If I was subscribing to each of those independently, I would be paying more at that point than the Setapp price.
Is the Setapp price $10 a month, or $20?
$10 a month.
So it would only take a couple subscriptions individually to say, “Well, maybe I’ll just use Setapp instead.”
If that happens, that’s going to be an interesting example of where developers might suffer. A lot of this hinges on the Setapp model not taking money away from the developers. So if you’re in a situation where you’ve got three people paying $40 a year each for three apps that are also Setapp, if that individual gives up those subscriptions in favor of Setapp then suddenly those three developers are making a ton less money.
At some point I don’t know whether this Setapp setup is going to be something these folks want to stay in. And I can see for example Ulysses being in Setapp as sort of a way to get some subscription money before they had chosen to go that route route.
I don’t know if we’ve seen an example yet — if we have, I don’t think it’s been highly publicized — but I don’t think we’ve seen an example yet of companies leaving Setapp. I wonder if some of them will be compelled to if doing the subscriptions themselves is a better deal.
Actually, Blogo is in here, which is one of my competitors, and it’s also I think exclusively a subscription app on its own. And they made the switch a year or two ago. But that’s another example where it’s like okay, get a few of these and if you’re paying for them separately of course you’re going to go switch to Setapp, save some money, but then I don’t know. There’s going to be some friction there if that happens.
And it’s complicated because you say of course you’re going to switch, but most people don’t know about Setapp. And I think most developers are not pushing it prominently even though there’s an advantage to pushing it a little bit because there’s some some complicated math there with referral numbers but RapidWeaver as an example, it’s a $90 app. I know they have regular paid upgrades that are probably half that or less. So, pretty expensive app. But I know they have tons of users that love the app, really well respected app. When you go to RapidWeaver — RealMacSoftware.com — you buy it directly or from the Mac App Store, it’s $90. It doesn’t say, huge button that says Setapp.
Actually if you scroll way down to the bottom there is a referral link to Setapp. Buried way, way at the bottom — in the footer of the page — but I think most people are going to buy direct from the developer or through the Mac App Store and Setapp is not going to hurt the general sales. If it does, it’ll be a real small percentage of people I think.
It gets complicated though. There’s certainly the thing that we’ve talked about before which is if your competitor is in Setapp, and a potential user knows about a Setapp, they may just use your competitor’s app because it’s Setapp without having to pay extra, versus going to your site. There’s a lot of ramifications for these different models competing.
I wonder if there’s a rule on being in Setapp if you have to link to them. I’m looking now on Edovia’s Screens for Mac, and it’s a similar type of deal. It says download trial, buy now, and then as part of the little text underneath it says Screens is also available on the Mac App Store and Setapp. Does the Ulysses app have a link?
That’s a good question. Let’s check. And even if it’s not a rule because of the referral money, there’s an incentive to just put a link anywhere, somewhere, even if it’s not super prominent.
Yeah. I don’t see anything about it on the Ulysses page, so maybe it’s not a requirement. Maybe it’s just a coincidence that both of those had it.
I think Setapp, back when they were first coming out, we had this discussion. I don’t think this is exactly the right solution what they have right now, but I think they are set up to be in a position to provide what could be the right solution. And I think it’s going to be when that friction — you know, let’s assume they get successful enough that that friction occurs, where enough people know about Setapp to know that they can go to Setapp and then that doesn’t work out as well for the developers. I think what Setapp could do is be in the business of providing basically the equivalent of cable mini-packages. If you could put together your a la carte list of apps and say, “Okay, I want these five apps let’s say, and I’m willing to pay for these five apps for $10 a month.” Obviously at that point it would have to be apps that are included in the main Setapp bundle. They would be in a really strong position then because they can capitalize on that problem we were talking about, hich is I don’t want to pay for each show separately. But at the same time they can also give their developers a more substantial cut because you’d be selling a smaller number of apps that it’s obvious the customer really wants those apps.
Right. I think you’re right that they’re well positioned to do something and to fill whatever this hole ends up looking like in the market. The key to me is they shouldn’t give up. Developers shouldn’t give up like just see this through. Even if a developer is not making very much money, it’s probably mostly free money. It’s probably not hurting your direct sales too much, so just see it through and then six months later, 12 months later, re-evaluate and we’ll re-evaluate on the show too how we think it’s going. But this feels like it’s something, but it needs time to develop and mature.
Yes, I think so. I think we’re going to see a lot of stuff happening over the next year, especially. Seems like the subscription idea is percolating. Setapp is there as an example of something different that somebody is trying. Maybe we’ll see something new yet still.
I kind of wish I wasn’t due for a major upgrade, because I wish I could sit back and watch and see what works. But I think I’m just going to have to push forward and get my get my app out. Probably sell it the old-fashioned way.
→ 12:30 PM, Aug 17
Posted Core Intuition 293, talking about Ulysses and subscription pricing.
We posted Core Intuition 292 today. Blog text editor modes, freelance, and more.
Recorded a new episode of Core Int from the road today. Travel, Micro.blog progress, and more.
Core Intuition Jobs shutting down
A few years ago, Daniel and I launched Core Intuition Jobs, a site for companies to post job listings for Mac and iOS developers. It was a really nice success. At one point I thought we might even focus more time on it, and expand it with a companion site of resources to help developers.
Fast forward a year or two, though, and it became clear that without that attention, the site couldn’t just coast along. New listings were becoming more infrequent. The site needed marketing and regular improvements, just like any product.
And worse, while the whole point was to build something just for Cocoa developers, the site would still sometimes receive job listings for Java or Python developers, for example, and we’d need to refund the listing and remove it from the site. It wasn’t a lot of maintenance, but it was enough that we had to decide whether to put more work into the site or focus on our main podcast and other projects.
This week we decided it was time to move on. Existing job listings will continue to run until they expire. No new jobs are being accepted.
Thanks to all the companies who used Core Intuition Jobs. Now when we are asked about other places to post jobs, we’re pointing people to the email newsletters iOS Dev Weekly and This Week in Swift, as well as Core Intuition podcast sponsorships. Good luck to everyone looking for a new job!
Posted episode 289 of Core Int. We talk more about the MarsEdit beta, next iPhone, and a listener question.
Posted Core Int 288, about the MarsEdit 4 beta and our thoughts from the iPhone release 10 years ago.
We just posted Core Intuition episode 287, following up on Chris Lattner, WWDC, and Uber. From the show notes:
Daniel and Manton react to Chris Lattner's early departure from Tesla, and segue into speculation about his job prospects, and the challenges of effective technical interviews. They talk about the new frameworks announced at WWDC, and overcoming fear of incompetence when learning new things. Finally, they react to Uber CEO Travis Kalanick's resignation, and think about what’s next for the company.
Thanks for listening. If you’re new to the show, you can subscribe in iTunes or Overcast.
We just posted a new episode of Core Intuition. From the show notes:
Manton and Daniel compare notes on recent MacBook Pro repairs and the relative merit of purchasing AppleCare. They react to Tim Cook’s admissions that an Apple “car� project exists and is still underway. Manton looks on the bright side of “Planet of the Apps,� and Daniel looks on the dark side. Finally, they talk briefly about the controversy around an excerpt from “One Device,� by Brian Merchant.
There’s still a lot to cover from WWDC. It’s a good time to be a Mac or iOS developer.
San Jose is less crowded
On Core Intuition last week, I said San Jose was “more confined” than San Francisco. I meant that mostly as a good thing, although I do miss the open spaces in San Francisco: the parks and incredible views near the water. Gus Mueller has a post about how San Jose felt closer together and less crowded:
In San Jose you had a clear view of the sidewalks and you generally knew who was a developer and who was a local. And because it wasn't so crowded, you ran into people all the time. You didn't have to organize meetups, you just kind of went out and you knew you'd run into someone to hang with.
Gus was also a guest with Marco Arment on The Run Loop podcast. They talked a lot about the different feel of WWDC in San Jose. Seems a universal opinion that San Jose is a good fit.
We posted a new Core Intuition this week about WWDC. From the show notes:
Daniel and Manton catch upon WWDC, and Manton’s ailing MacBook Pro. They talk about new hardware announcements and react to highlights from the Keynote. Manton laments Apple’s continued, slow progress with SiriKit, and Daniel is frustrated that HomePod is not a Wifi hub. Finally, they talk about iOS Drag and Drop and compare it with Apple’s traditional tendency to move slowly but surely into the future.
After we recorded, I watched the first episode of Planet of the Apps, and started to get into more of the conference session videos. We’ll be following up next week on more from WWDC.
Posted episode 284 of Core Intuition. We talk about WWDC and the return of Dash for iOS.
Podcasts about JSON Feed
We just posted episode 283 of Core Intuition, with thoughts on last week’s JSON Feed announcement and more. From the show notes:
Daniel and Manton discuss the new JSON Feed format and initial public reaction to it. They talk about Panic’s source code being stolen, and Daniel celebrates/laments his new MacBook Pro.
Brent Simmons was also interviewed on Collin Donnell’s new podcast, The Run Loop. Brent talks about some of his previous apps like NetNewsWire and Glassboard. Then they cover what JSON Feed is and where it could go.
On Core Intuition 282, we talk about potential Siri speakers and Amazon’s Echo Show, then follow up on a few topics.
We just posted this week’s Core Intuition. More on the Micro.blog rollout, Windows 10 S, and WWDC.
Still catching up on email. Took some time tonight to edit and post Core Intuition 280, though, which we recorded a few days ago.
New episode up for my almost-daily podcast Timetable. 4 minutes about Katy Perry and why it’s not an artist’s job to make everyone happy.
Also just out: Core Intuition episode 278. Daniel and I talk more about Clips, freemium for MarsEdit, and iTunes Connect. coreint.org/278
Timetable returns
After a couple months away from Timetable, because I’ve been focusing so much of my time working on Micro.blog, I’ve finally returned to the microcast for a sort of second season. Timetable will be published daily now, Monday through Friday, to chronicle the actual release of Micro.blog and the Indie Microblogging book.
Episodes 38 and 39 are out now. You can subscribe in Overcast or iTunes.
We published Core Int 277 today with thoughts on the Mac Pro and more. From the show notes:
Daniel and Manton react to Apple’s surprisingly transparent “roundtable� meeting with several members of the press, and celebrate the many positive signals coming out of the event. They engage in a friendly debate about the likelihood that Mac users will defect to Windows. Finally, they talk about the merits of professional software, and the negative impacts that a poor market for such software may be having on iOS as a platform.
As I say on the episode, I wouldn’t have been disappointed if Apple had officially discontinued the Mac Pro, as long as that meant a greater focus on other things for pro users. I’d like for Apple to have a Mac-based answer for Microsoft’s tablets and Surface Studio, for example.
On the latest Core Intuition we talk about WWDC events, a “Going Pro” mentality, and replying to App Store reviews. coreint.org/276
Last Friday we published Core Intuition 275. From the show notes:
Daniel and Manton talk about Manton’s decision to hire Jean MacDonald as Micro.blog’s Community Manager, and the psychological effects of transitioning from a single to multi-person company. They also react to this week’s Apple announcements, focusing mainly on Apple’s new Clips app and how it relates to Apple’s historic focus on facilitating user creativity.
This episode captures the biggest shift for my business since I left my regular job a couple years ago. I’m also hoping to resume my Timetable podcast soon, since there’s more I’d like to talk about that won’t always fit into Core Intuition.
Guiding the Micro.blog community
Earlier this month I flew up to Portland for a few days. It was a great trip. I posted about attending the Blazers game and meeting the IndieWeb group at the DreamHost office. I also sat down with Jean MacDonald to talk about what she has been up to and show her what I’ve been building for Micro.blog.
Today I sent an update to Kickstarter backers about the stretch goal promise I made to hire a community manager. I couldn’t be happier to announce that Jean MacDonald will be helping me in the next steps for Micro.blog.
It became clear as I’ve been talking with Jean that she will add so much to the project. Making the announcement today has inspired me even more to finish rolling out Micro.blog and to see where the community takes it.
On last week’s Core Intuition, I told Daniel that the approach for Micro.blog has to be different than for my previous apps. It’s such a big opportunity that if I don’t focus everything on it, then it will not work. I covered the same theme in a post last month:
I’ve realized as I work toward launching Micro.blog that this product is different. It has a much greater scope than anything I’ve built by myself. To be successful, it needs a team.
No single decision will guarantee success. But today’s announcement is a big milestone for Micro.blog because it’s more than a promise or hope for things to come. Jean’s experience will be essential to guiding the community and moving the platform forward.
We posted the latest Core Int yesterday, covering App Store policy and whether the label “entrepreneur” defines us. coreint.org/274
Posted this week’s Core intuition: WWDC bash follow-up, productivity, blogging habits, and more. coreint.org/273
New episode of Core Intuition is out! First half: coding progress, motivation. Second half: WWDC in San Jose. coreint.org/272
→ 9:49 AM, Feb 28
Swift 3 churn
Back in July, I posted this to my microblog, which was cross-posted to Twitter for some additional discussion:
Not shocked that Swift classes won’t be subclassable by default. But it underscores Swift’s priorities. And for that reason, I’m out.
The “I’m out” was meant as a Shark Tank reference, and not to be taken too seriously. But I was serious about taking a break from Swift until version 4, when it would at least be more stable. Daniel and I followed up that week with a more in-depth discussion on Core Intuition 242.
A few days ago Craig Hockenberry posted about how the rapid pace of improvements to Swift can get in the way of learning the language and using example code:
It’s gotten to the point where every time I come across some information written in Swift, especially on Stack Overflow, I cringe. I know that I’m going to have to not only figure out the code, but also which version was used for the answer.
I have absolutely no regrets sticking to Objective-C. As Swift 3 was wrapping up, it seemed that the churn around syntax changes was even worse than I feared. From an Apple dev forums thread at the time:
For the expected quality of software in a third-generation project in late Beta, Swift 3 has become a trainwreck of Microsoftian proportions--at least in terms of process and expectation. Many of us devs are spending 90% of our time not developing our app, but babysitting Swift and trying to understand so many unvetted changes.
That settled down with the final Swift 3 release, but I expect many developers won’t upgrade from Swift 2.3 until Xcode forces them to. There’s even a whole book by Erica Sadun on migrating code.
I still consider Swift a beta language. I just hope that the Swift team and community recognize that this level of instability isn’t acceptable forever. A programming language is not an iOS or macOS release. There shouldn’t be a new major version of Swift every year.
Published episode 270 of Core Int, talking about The Sweet Setup’s review of MarsEdit, working spaces, and more. coreint.org/270
→ 11:41 AM, Feb 10
I’m taking some time to resume Timetable recording. From the latest episode:
Now that the Kickstarter campaign has wrapped up, I move to the next phase of getting Micro.blog ready, planning for invites, and focusing on the Slack community.
I started Timetable over a year ago to document what it was like to build Micro.blog and figure out how to launch it. Each episode is about 4-5 minutes long. Reaching this point with the Kickstarter finished is a huge milestone, but there is plenty of work still to do and talk about.
→ 11:33 AM, Feb 7
We posted this week’s Core Intuition today, with the latest Apple developer news and a debate on Alexa vs. Siri:
Manton closes in on the last week of his Kickstarter, and Daniel catches up on his progress. They discuss new beta updates from Apple for both Mac and iOS. They react to Apple’s forthcoming review prompting system for iOS, and the ability for developers to respond to reviews on both Mac and iOS. Finally, they debate the merits of Siri vs. Alexa on grounds of reliability and viability as an international, long-term success.
I haven’t kept up with Timetable recordings lately, but hope to do another one before the Kickstarter campaign wraps up too. Thanks for listening.
This week on Core Intuition, Daniel and I talk about the halfway point to my Kickstarter campaign, running ads, and more:
Manton talks about marketing for the Kickstarter, how many people watch the video, and how to transition from marketing the passionate philosophical backers, to making a case for the sheer utility of the product. They talk about modern advertising technology that allows hyper-focused delivery, and follow up on Chris Lattner's departure from Apple, and the exciting opportunities he will likely have at Tesla.
The last segment of the show is about Chris Lattner going to Tesla. We recorded before we listened to the latest ATP, but our conversation still holds up as pretty relevant. Hope you enjoy it.
PodSearch
This isn’t the first time that David Smith has built something that I kind of wanted to build myself, too. Today he announced a cool side project for searching podcast audio:
You can easily search for a term or keyword and then play the actual audio back to find if it was the section you were thinking about. I even tag the sections with timecoded Overcast links for easy sharing.
I’d love to see David spin this into either a commercial product or set of free tools. He could host more shows, or let podcasters run their shows through PodSearch and export the results. For example, I’d want this for Core Intuition, along with edited transcripts eventually.
We posted Core Intuition 266 this morning: Chris Lattner from Apple to Tesla, Medium’s new focus, and blogging business models.
First day in a while with nothing on my calendar. Editing this week’s Core Int and then plan to catch up on code I need to write.
One year of Timetable
I started my microcast Timetable a little over one year ago. I’ve recorded 35 episodes, so fewer than 1 a week. My goal is still 2-3 a week, so hopefully I’ll work up to that for 2017.
This podcast is one of my favorite things to do right now. It’s so much easier to record and publish a 5-minute podcast than a 1-hour podcast. All I need is something to talk about.
Here are the feed descriptions for each episode over the last year, starting with the earliest. Reviewing these provides a neat snapshot into the journey of building Micro.blog. You can subscribe at timetable.fm.
1: On the first episode, I introduce the idea behind the show and the topics I hope to cover.
2: On this episode, I talk about trying tea instead of coffee, how I named this podcast, and my work schedule as I wrap up the week.
3: On this episode, I talk about finishing some work and the new iPhone microphone I bought.
4: This morning I was downtown to work at a coffee shop for a few hours before lunch. I talk about getting out of the house and last night’s icon sketches.
5: Today I stopped at the post office to pick up some stamps to mail stickers for the new microblogging app and platform I’m working on.
6: I start with some thoughts on basketball, my potential Kickstarter campaign, and whether it’s better to start strong or finish strong. (Go Spurs Go!)
7: This morning I was distracted a little with backups, ordering a new hard drive, and thinking about my iOS app, which was just rejected by Apple.
8: Recorded in 3 segments, I set my alarm early this morning to get some coding done before the day starts slipping away.
9: Today I mention the iPhone app rejection, talk about why the iPhone app itself is secondary to the web version, and reveal more about the Kickstarter.
10: I take the iPad Pro and my microphone out to the front porch, to think through what work I need to focus on for today.
11: Back from a sick day or two, I talk today about Twitter’s algorithmic timeline change and why it would be nice to launch a product when your competitor has some bad news.
12: Back from a quick trip to Portland, today I’m thinking about the music for my Kickstarter project.
13: I finally drop the stickers in the mailbox at our neighborhood post office. Thinking this episode about what it means to be lucky.
14: At my 10th new coffee shop in as many days, I write a few blog posts. And on this episode I talk about it.
15: I reflect on 6 months as an indie, think about stealing time for projects, and plan how I can use working from a coffee shop in the morning to provide a better structure to my day.
16: This week I’m thinking back on how Staple! Expo went over the weekend, and why it never helps to panic when something isn’t going perfectly to plan.
17: It’s spring break week, which means the kids are out of school and SXSW is taking over downtown.
18: I’m playing Nintendo’s new iPhone app Miitomo, watching my Mii character pace around the room as he (and I) wait for our iPhone SE delivery. Also talk about the library routine and Rails 5.
19: I finally record a video for my Kickstarter project. Now I just need to edit it and do everything else.
20: I talk about receiving the Loish art book and my current thoughts on Kickstarter goals and rewards.
21: Today I take stock of the last few weeks of client work and recovering from 2 months of focusing so heavily on my personal blog.
22: Last week was stressful. This episode is about being mad at nothing and everything, and why fireflies are magical.
23: I play a clip from the Upgrade podcast and then talk about my struggle to wind down a product correctly.
24: I summarize my week in San Francisco from the perspective of not just the WWDC technical news and events, but also of using the trip to refocus on my priorities for Riverfold Software.
25: Back after a summer break, on this episode I talk through what we can learn from Tim Duncan’s incredible 19-year career.
26: I talk about getting derailed with home repairs, the U.S. presidential election, and writing about the Dash controversy.
27: One week after the election, I react to Apple’s design book announcement and talk about why social networks may be broken.
28: Not enough sleep yet still focused on getting work done. I review today’s blog post and play a clip from the Moana soundtrack.
29: I got a new domain! I talk about the .blog registration process and my evolving plans.
30: From a listener question, IÂ talk about steps in November to wrap up old projects and finish new ones.
31: I try the new WeWork location at the Domain, listen to a singer at the car dealership, and remember that I need to get out to talk to real people about my work.
32: I share some thoughts on the first day of Super Mario Run and how my work week is wrapping up.
33: The morning after Christmas, I give a quick update on Micro.blog plans and Kickstarter’s Launch Now review feature.
34: Happy New Year! I talk about the first day of the year, and the final day to finish my Kickstarter project for Micro.blog.
35: A week after launching the Kickstarter, I talk about its success so far and why I believe I can build Micro.blog, with a clip about optimism from Gary Vaynerchuk.
We posted episode 265 of Core Intuition today, covering my Kickstarter launch. coreint.org/265
→ 6:18 PM, Jan 5
Kickstarter, day 1
Yesterday morning I woke up early, after not enough sleep, and flipped the switch to launch my Kickstarter project. I’ve been amazed at the response, seeing it funded on the first day. If you backed it or shared a link with friends, thank you. It meant a lot to see so many people embracing the idea.
I’ve backed 18 projects on Kickstarter but never created one myself, so I didn’t know what to expect. Was the funding goal too high? Too low? Even at the last minute I was noticing problems with the video and wished I had more time to improve it.
But I really wanted to launch something new at the beginning of 2017. I settled on January 2nd a couple of weeks ago and decided to stick with it. I announced the date on Core Intuition. I booked a sponsorship slot on 512 Pixels to lock myself into the date. I gave my mailing list an early heads-up that it was coming. I even set a promoted tweet to run, for some reason. (And I quietly deleted some other advertising ideas from my OmniFocus list, because I just ran out of time to pursue them.)
Today, I took a few minutes to re-listen to episode 34 of my short podcast Timetable, which I had published on Sunday, the day before launching on Kickstarter. It’s fascinating to me in the context of the success of the project so far, and in general people’s positive reaction to the video, because I think you can hear the doubt in my voice about it. I was not confident.
And I felt the same way yesterday morning, staring at the “0 backers” text on Kickstarter for a little while, wondering if maybe I had rushed it out without enough planning. That’s a really bizarre feeling. It’s much different than selling traditional Mac or iOS software.
Right now I’m feeling incredibly lucky to have the chance to launch this project — to see it spread and to hear everyone’s feedback and ideas. I have a bunch of work to do. And I have new features that I wanted to build for Micro.blog which I haven’t announced yet, which now it looks like I’ll be able to prioritize.
I’ll have more thoughts soon. In the meantime, I’ve been answering questions on Kickstarter and email, and I’ll be sending a project update later today to all backers with details on what comes next. Thanks again for your support!
Posted a new episode over at timetable.fm about current Micro.blog plans and Kickstarter’s Launch Now feature.
For the last Core Int episode of 2016, Daniel and I talk again about Setapp and plans for our 2017 software.
Posted episode 263 of Core Int, talking about Micro.blog launch plans, software release discipline, and 10.12.x issues.
Where I post everything
My content is all on this blog or linked from it, but if you’re following RSS feeds or Twitter it’s not as obvious where everything is posted. Here’s a summary to clear things up.
Microblog posts: Posted here and in a special RSS feed. Also automatically cross-posted to Twitter and App.net, with some occasional truncation.
Longer posts: Posted here and in the default RSS feed. Also automatically cross-posted to Twitter and App.net with the title and link. Twitter cross-posting is handled by my upcoming Micro.blog platform.
Photos: Posted to Instagram and then copied here using this workflow. They don’t show up in either of the RSS feeds above. They’re not cross-posted to Twitter.
Timetable: Posted to timetable.fm which has its own feed. Discoverable in your favorite podcast client.
Core Intuition: Posted to coreint.org. I’ll usually post a link here on the blog for each new episode.
All posts: Switching to WordPress brought a new global RSS feed, but I redirect it to the longer posts for now. There’s a new everything RSS feed which contains all posts: microblog, full posts, and photos. Enjoy!
We published episode 262 of Core Intuition today. It’s December already, so we’ve inevitably been thinking about unfinished projects as the year wraps up. From the show notes:
Daniel and Manton talk about coping with disappointment of failing to achieve goals in an expected length of time, recognize the differing demands of building software for different markets, and talk about tricks for managing lack of enthusiasm for finishing projects. Finally, they answer a listener question about how to get started with consulting, and planning for maintaining a suitable income when you “quit your day job.�
Thanks as always for listening to the show.
Refocusing around Micro.blog
As I talked about on Timetable, now that I have the micro.blog domain I get to figure out what to do with it. And what I’m hearing from friends and listeners is clear: throw out my jumble of Snippets-related names and use Micro.blog as the brand for the platform. It’s obvious now.
Renaming a product before its official launch may not seem like a big deal, but in this case it gives the app a new importance. Just by renaming it, the app feels more ambitious. It forces me to devote more attention to it, which means saying goodbye to some of my other web apps that I can no longer focus on.
I have a difficult time shutting down failing products. Over the weekend, I took some much-needed steps to finish winding down Watermark and Searchpath. I’ll be sending an email this week to everyone who has used Searchpath with the details.
For Searchpath, I had procrastinated making a decision because even simple steps like closing new account registrations requires actually writing code and deploying changes. The index on my Elasticsearch server had grown to 90 GB, including Watermark as well. I needed a clean way to reset it and migrate the small number of active paid accounts somewhere else, to give customers time to find a new solution.
I’ve tried a few technologies for search over the years. The first version of Watermark used Sphinx, which I loved but became a scaling issue with its default need to completely reindex MySQL data. Eventually I moved to self-hosted Elasticsearch, but I had to keep feeding it RAM as the index grew. It was never stable enough with my limited skills.
As I noted in my post about Talkshow.im, there’s no perfect way to admit defeat and clean up the mess left by a web app. It’s always a balance of responsibilities — to your own business and to your customers.
But again, the way forward is clear. I should put everything into launching and growing my new microblog platform. It’s too much to maintain other web apps at the same time.
This morning I posted a new episode of Timetable, about the .blog registration process and plans for my new domain. timetable.fm
Thanks to our Core Int listeners
Yesterday we published episode 260 of Core Intuition. From the show notes:
Daniel and Manton discuss Sal Soghoian’s sudden departure from Apple, and what it may mean for Apple’s future ambitions with automation. Then they react to Apple’s alleged decision to abandon their line of AirPort branded routers, and bemoan the loss of yet another “just buy the Apple one� peripheral option
I liked the topics for our show this week because it allowed us to not just talk about AppleScript as it exists today, but also to reflect on what life developing scriptable apps was like in the early days of AppleScript. It’s always fun to think back on 1990s Mac development.
Many of our listeners are celebrating Thanksgiving today. To all of our listeners, whether you’ve listened since the beginning in 2008 or just recently discovered the podcast, thank you so much for giving our show a chance and for being part of the community. Daniel and I still feel incredibly lucky that we get to chat every week about Apple news and our work as indie developers.
Daniel and I covered a few topics on Core Intuition 259 yesterday, but the closing segment about the Apple design book — and indirectly, the election — was particularly interesting to me. I decided to transcribe part of the conversation. Here it is, lightly edited.
Alright Manton, I know what a fan you are of lavish Apple products designed for the rich. [laughter] I know therefore you have probably already placed a pre-order for the Apple Book Edition.
Is the Edition the $300 one?
Yeah, the $300 one is the Edition. The $200 one is the Edition Lite. [more laughter]
So Apple announced this book yesterday, and I believe orders are being accepted today. It’s just this very beautiful, well-produced “we worked 8 years on this” book of essentially product photos.
And I think there’s an introduction with Jony Ive. There’s a video from him that is a classic Jony Ive video about a product.
I’ve blogged about this a little bit, and actually talked about this on my microcast, Timetable. Red flags are going off for me with this product for a few reasons.
The first is, we’re a week out from the election. A lot of us are bummed out and trying to make sense of the world, and Apple releases a book of product photos. It seems out of touch. I don’t understand why they did this right now.
And the other thing, I just hit on something that bothered me about this book. I have a lot of books in this house. Bookshelves and bookshelves full of books. My wife hates the fact that I have every book that I’ve ever bought. I have a lot of books and I have a lot of art books. In a previous life I wanted to an artist, an animator. I have a lot of art books.
And so this is right up my alley, right? I love old stuff. I love art books. Why don’t I want to buy this?
And I think the reason is, unlike most art books, which are about… They’re about the artist as much as the art. And this book is just photos of iMacs.
This isn’t about the designers. And maybe there’s something in the book that I’m missing. That when I hold it I’ll say, “Oh, this book is amazing.” But I feel like this book is not quite right. It’s not about the designers.
I want to know about the designers at Apple, and why they made their choices. I don’t need this well-lit photo of the inside of a Mac Mini. There’s something missing with what they’ve done here.
You know, I agree with you. What you said just now is interesting to me in a few different ways. One of them is — and I know people are going to think I’m crazy for even imagining that this could possibly happen in the wake of a U.S. presidential election — but one of my instincts the day after the election, believe it or not, was actually going to Apple.com to see if Apple had some kind of commemoration or acknowledgement.
And I realized… That’s my passionate, emotional side. Because Apple has been that company on so many issues of national or global importance.
And I get it. Even if I see it as a catastrophic thing for the country and for the world, I get it that it is seen as a partisan issue, and that a lot of people would agree it would be not only poor business, but maybe poor taste to take a stand on Apple.com.
But that’s the kind of feeling I’ve had from this company over the years. I wasn’t surprised not to see something there, but that sensitivity to the current state of affairs in the world, while maybe not driving them to put something on their home page overtly in support of one direction or another… I can see how they could maybe have made an effort to come up with something that somehow spoke to the issue without taking a side. They could have done that.
And I’m not faulting them for not doing that. But your comment about the possible poor timing of releasing this right after the election, it drives it home for me that doing something like that with the home page would have reflected a level of consciousness about what’s going on — their being sympathetic or even empathic to the situation.
Releasing a self-gratifying, expensive art book certainly does not speak to sensitivity about the national and global implications of the election. Nor should it have to. But by doing it the very week of the election, it does sort of tip the sales toward insensitivity.
Right. So we had the election. A lot of people are trying to make sense of it. Like you said, you went to Apple. “Is Apple going to say anything?” Reload, reload. No, they’re not going to say anything. “Is Apple going to say anything next week?”
The first thing they said, not about the election but the first thing they publicly said was, “We have this beautiful book.”
Yes, they didn’t mean it that way. They didn’t mean it as a reaction to the election. They’ve had this thing planned for years. But it doesn’t feel right.
I don’t want to take away anything from the designers at Apple and the people that worked on this book, because they do great work. The products in this book are amazing. They do deserve to be celebrated and talked about. But the timing does not feel right.
And like I said before, I think the substance of this book is also wrong. I want to be careful not to criticize too much, because I’m sensitive to this. I don’t want to just bash this book. It doesn’t feel like the book we need about design at Apple. Because there’s no text in it!
It celebrates objects and machines but it doesn’t celebrate people. The people are one of the most important things about design at Apple. It doesn’t seem right.
I had never thought after the election, “What would Apple say? Would they put something on their web site?” I hadn’t thought of that until you just mentioned it.
Tim Cook did send a letter to Apple employees, an email. It wasn’t really partisan, but it was kind of saying, “We know some of y’all are having trouble.”
I don’t know how he phrased it. But the sense of it was, “We’re moving forward together. We’re going to be together. That’s how we get through everything as a company.”
That was private to Apple employees. They didn’t say anything publicly. To say something publicly would have been difficult. This is kind of a cheat, but I’m just going to say it: it would have taken courage to say something about the election publicly. I’m using that word very deliberately.
Come on, Apple. Forget about the stupid headphone jack. If you want to be courageous, take a stand on something you believe in. Do it.
Just published Core Int 259 — ”Take A Stand On Something” — about Touché, Dash source, and the Apple design book.
Today I published a new episode of Timetable. It’s about Apple’s new design book but also about how social networks are broken, with a hint of what I think we can do about it. It’s just 3 and a half minutes long.
As I’ve written about before, Apple no longer needs us to defend the company. On the other hand, many good people work on Apple’s products and so criticizing the company can easily come across as criticizing those people. That’s not my intention, but I sometimes get that balance wrong.
I own dozens and dozens of art books, but I won’t be ordering this new Apple design book. It looks overconfident instead of nostalgic. It looks like it celebrates objects instead of people. It looks like a beautiful book for the wrong time.
Proud to have voted for Hillary
I couldn’t sleep. I woke up early the day after the election, thinking about my daughters, and cried. I had been so excited to celebrate our new president with them. I had been so excited to watch the returns with my kids, to share a moment of pride and optimism.
This wasn’t a normal election. This wasn’t just a debate over policy. It was much deeper. The world is already worse and darker for many people because of what happened.
There will be arguments over why the election went so wrong, but it’s more complicated than just one thing. There was the overplayed story about private emails. There was the FBI letter. There was the media treating Trump like a reality TV star instead of a threat.
Hillary did her job. She destroyed Trump in all 3 debates. She ran a solid campaign. But she has always been held to a different standard than everyone else. I’ll never get over that.
I’m proud to have voted for Hillary in the primary and in the general election, and I’d do both again. This election was very close. It was winnable. If we had ignored the polls and fought for every state, it was winnable.
Friday night, I went with a friend to see Trevor Noah’s standup show. It was great to laugh for a couple hours, about the election and everyday life. But then the night fades and we’re still in a nightmare.
After Hillary has had some time to rest, and reflect, and be her own person again, I hope she can find another cause worth fighting for. Let’s not forget that she did make history as the first woman to be nominated by a major party. She paved the way and reminded us how hard this is. That matters.
Daniel and I recorded an episode of Core Intuition the day after the election. We tried to capture that feeling of loss, and anger, but also of hope that we can have a renewed passion for our apps and ideas. Maybe some of our products have a place in the work to do before 2018.
Hillary said in her speech, the day after the election:
Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.
On this, I disagree with Hillary. Trump has already shown us who he is — someone who mistreats women, lashes out at his critics, and disrespects immigrants — and nothing he does in office will change that. The only thing we owe him is a short presidency.
A few days late, finally got Core Intuition edited and published. Episode 257 has more thoughts on the MacBook Pro, Touch Bar, struggling with consulting, indie projects, and more.
Posted episode 256 of Core Intuition, recorded yesterday after the Apple event. We talk about new MacBook Pros, the Touch Bar, Apple TV, and more.
I published a new episode of Timetable today, about recent distractions and what I’m trying to do to get back on track. Talking about this for 5 minutes actually helps.
Spent many hours last week completely derailed from normal work. Proud of the writing I did, so it was worth it. But now it’s Monday again, a natural reset. Ready to move on.
Core Intuition 254 and Kapeli wrap-up
On Friday, Daniel and I recorded and published episode 254 of Core Intuition:
Daniel and Manton dive into Apple’s controversial suspension of Dash developer Kapeli’s App Store account, and respond to listener Q&A about whether non-sandboxed apps are at risk of removal from the Mac App Store.
Covering sensitive subjects like Kapeli’a suspension is difficult in a podcast format where you can’t perfectly prepare your thoughts. Did I go too far defending Bogdan Popescu? Did I not go far enough?
Maybe we’ll know with some distance from this topic whether we reacted fairly. But I don’t think I overstated how important a moment this was for the App Store — both Apple’s influence over the narrative and as a test for their power in the store. Unfortunately the story still has a very unsatisfying ending.
Core Intuition 253 and Google
We posted Core Intuition episode 253 this morning. From the show notes:
Manton and Daniel discuss Manton's experience at the Release Notes conference, talk about the rationale for supporting what might be considered edge-case behaviors in apps, and dig deeper into questions of freemium pricing, reflecting on the Omni Group's pertinent announcements. Finally they talk briefly about Google's latest announcements and what their competition means to Apple.
Google must be doing something right with their announcements, because yesterday my son told me he wants to get a Pixel when it’s time to replace his iPhone 5S. And as much as I love our Amazon Echo, I can see Google Home taking off if it’s well-integrated with existing Google services.
Apple apologists
The hardest transition for fans of Apple Computer from the 1990s is realizing that Apple no longer needs us to defend the company. If I’m sometimes critical of Apple, both here and on Core Intuition, it’s because they’re the largest tech company in the world.
I will always hold Apple to a very high standard of excellence. They’ve earned it. When airline flight attendants tell passengers to turn their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones off along with the usual warnings about oxygen masks and life vests, we shrug and laugh because it’s Samsung. From Apple, we expect higher quality and attention to detail, not shortcuts.
Steve Jobs has been gone for 5 years, but the spirit of building insanely great products is well-rooted at Apple. Apple employees are doing incredible, passionate work.
And yet the company itself hardly resembles the struggling computer maker of 20 years ago. Apple is a giant corporation now. Unlike its employees, who have the best intentions, giant corporations are by default selfish, arrogant, and rarely courageous.
Apple does a lot of good for the world. I doubt there’s another company even approaching Apple’s size that does as much, from renewable energy to safer materials to workplace diversity. But that good doesn’t absolve them of criticism.
Real work on the iPad
I only took iOS devices with me to Indianapolis last week for Release Notes. My iPad Pro with smart keyboard, for writing and podcasting; an older iPad Mini, for reading on the plane; and of course my iPhone SE.
A couple of months ago, Dan Counsell wrote about the iPad as a poor choice for everyday work:
I know a lot of journalists use the iPad full time, and that's fine. The reason they can use it full time is that typing text has very low system requirements. However as soon as you need to move files from one app to another or unzip a document the iPad starts to make your life more complicated.
Part of the issue is that out of the box, the iPad can’t do everything that a Mac can do. The iPad needs apps. As Ben Brooks wrote about Dan’s ZIP file example:
It would be great if iOS expanded zip extraction as a built in tool, but it doesn’t, and yet a tool to do unzip is easily found, safe, and free.
iOS doesn’t have the Mac’s Finder. I could actually see a third-party iOS app centered on file management first, instead of just as an extra feature on top of text documents or photos — an app that blended a little of document providers, iCloud Drive, and app launching. Kind of in the spirit of the Finder-replacement PathFinder.
There are iOS apps to do pretty much anything. What often makes iOS slower to use is there’s less glue between apps and documents than on the Mac. No drag and drop between apps on iOS. Fewer keyboard shortcuts.
I love how Workflow sidestepped these issues with automation. I use a workflow for posting Instagram photos to my own blog. And Federico Viticci uses Workflow extensively. In a recent Club MacStories newsletter he shared how he used Scrivener and Workflow to write and prepare his iOS 10 review.
Another simple workflow I’ve used is to convert a podcast to MP3 from Ferrite. Every episode of Timetable was recorded on the iPhone or iPad. At WWDC, I edited Core Intuition on the iPad with the help of Ferrite and the web app Auphonic, which Jason Snell has also written about:
I was able to export and upload The Incomparable while sitting at a comfortable table in an Ashland pub, drinking their beer and using their free Wi-Fi. Auphonic did the rest, re-encoding the file as an MP3, tagging it properly, and uploading the result to both my Libsyn account and to The Incomparable’s FTP server.
When I was visiting a new coffee shop every day for 30 days, I loved taking the iPad with me because it was a lightweight, focused writing environment. With the right apps and workflows, it’s a fun computer to work on. I didn’t miss my Mac while traveling last week, and I expect iOS to serve me well on future trips.
Back home after a great week in Indianapolis for Release Notes. We published Core Intuition 252 this morning, talking about the conference, Twitter rumors, and whether subscriptions are right for MarsEdit.
A reminder for Mac and iOS folks in Austin: NSDrinking is on for tonight. 8pm at Ginger Man. Also published Core Intuition episode 251 today.
Just posted episode 250 of Core Intuition. Daniel and I talk about iPhone 7 buying decisions, whether products should ship with defects (jet black), iMessage in iOS 10, and old Mac OS X windows and controls.
Just posted episode 249 of Core Intuition with our reaction from today’s Apple event. Spoiler: I love Mario and hate Lightning headphones. We also discuss the upcoming App Store cleanup.
This week on Core Intuition, Daniel and I talked about recent Apple news:
Daniel and Manton react to the European Union’s €13B retroactive tax demand to Apple, talk about the impact of tax laws on indies and small companies, and weigh in on Apple’s purported AI and machine learning triumphs. Finally they catch up on their ambitions to be more productive as the busy summer transitions to fall.
I wondered whether Apple is so obsessed with privacy that they are blinded to what is possible with more computation and extensibility in the cloud. I judge their efforts not only by the remarkable work the Siri team has done, and by what Google and Amazon are building, but also by Apple’s own gold standard: the Knowledge Navigator video from 1987. That vision is too ambitious for one company to develop all the pieces for. We eventually need a more open Siri platform to get us there.
Supertop podcast
Everyone who builds blogging software should have a blog. Everyone who builds podcasting software should probably have a podcast, too. (And sometimes, like for Marco Arment, even a few podcasts.)
So I was happy to see Supertop start a podcast recently to talk about the Castro 2 launch and other thoughts on being a 2-person indie shop. Episode 3 features Brent Simmons:
Pádraig and OisÃn are joined by Brent Simmons to discuss indie app development in the wake of Vesper shutting down.
One subject I’m glad they touched on is the special challenge for a company that needs to support multiple salaries, but isn’t big enough yet to actually have significant revenue like a large company. Last week, Daniel and I talked about the balance of loving being independent but also knowing that one day you want to expand to support a small team. It’s not easy.
Core Intuition 247 covers so-called lifestyle businesses, extended vacations, and the challenge of making a living as an indie.
We published Core Intuition 246 tonight. Daniel and I talk about vacations and work in the summer, macOS Sierra betas, and why I’m redoing my Kickstarter project again.
Posted Core Intuition 244. Daniel and I talk this week about Twitter verification, content filtering on social networks, and a 10-year challenge to become a successful indie developer.
1 year indie
One year ago, I celebrated my first day without a boss. I had just written 2 weeks of daily blog posts about wrapping up work after 14 years at the same company. Today, I’m wearing the same Mac t-shirt and working from Whole Foods again to mark the anniversary.
So how has it gone, a full year as an independent developer? It depends who you ask. While I was leaving the best day job I’ll ever have, there’s still no substitute for the flexibility and freedom to work on my own projects. From that perspective, the last year has been amazing, with some great success on new revenue from Core Intuition and contracting too.
And I made a few decisions early on with how to manage the business that have proven useful to smooth over the bumps. For example, I pay myself a fixed salary on the 1st day of each month, and for 12 months straight I’ve always met that goal. This month, I gave myself a small raise.
On the other hand, I’m still bringing in less money than when I had a real job, and my wife might say that there’s a fine line between being self-employed and unemployed. We’ve let our credit card debt go unchecked. There’s been no slack in the high monthly expenses of the house, car payments, business costs like hosting, and everything else. My income from Riverfold has grown significantly, but not significantly enough.
Yet, I’m upbeat. I’m upbeat because of the potential for what I set out to do a year ago: ship Snippets.today and help revolutionize independent microblogging. That’s still the plan. That’s still why this experiment of working for myself is in its very early stages, even a year later.
→ 12:19 PM, Aug 1
Core Int 242, Swift, and verified Twitter
From the show notes for today’s episode:
Manton reacts to negatively to the Swift 3 decision to disallows subclassing by default, while Daniel tries to see the bright side. The two discuss Twitter’s new invitation to apply for @verified status, and Daniel’s attempt to do so. And they quickly touch base on the upcoming Apple-sponsored reality show, “Planet of the Apps.�
Believe it or not, I was kind of holding back a little in my Swift ranting. But it was the most critical I’ve been on the show. And it’s totally okay for you to disagree! Maybe even good for the platform if you do.
Twitter and .blog
Dave Winer has a good comment for anyone questioning the web:
So when they tell you they know for sure that the web is dead, or that everyone wants to host their blogs in locked-up silos, or that you can't build a great open social net on RSS, you might want to lower your glasses down your nose and look out over the top and ask Reallly? Are you sure?? ;-)
Nothing is certain in business. For every success, there are many “sure thing” failures.
I posed a question on this week’s Core Intuition as we were talking about Automattic’s upcoming .blog domain name registration. The gist of it was: what is more likely to survive for the next 50 years, Twitter or .blog? Twitter is huge, dominating the news and seemingly unstoppable, but social networks don’t have a great track record. I’d put my money on a new top-level domain, both because of the vision of empowering users to control their own content and also because domains were designed to last.
Companies aren’t exactly designed to fail. But that is their default outcome.
Pre-announcing Snippets.today
Earlier this week I sent an email to subscribers of the announce list for my microblogging project. These are people who signed up, wanting to hear more about what the project was and when the beta would be available.
I talked about this on Core Intuition 241 today. Some people signed up a year ago, and the longer I went without sending an email, the more nervous I became that I was missing an opportunity to sustain interest in the project. I was stuck on the idea that the first email to the list had to be when there was a product to either test or pay for.
These decisions of when to release a product, what to write about, how to communicate new ideas without overwhelming potential customers — they seem so monumental, but the truth is it just doesn’t matter that much. When the feedback started rolling in over email, I quickly realized that I was worried for nothing. People were excited and supportive.
I have a lot of work to do over the next couple of weeks before it’s ready to open up to real users. As I’ve talked about a few times on my Timetable podcast, I’m planning a Kickstarter project to complement the web app. I’ll be sharing more soon.
On the latest Core Int, we talk about Pokémon, building a brand, Mickey Mouse, pre-announcing my microblog product, the open web, and more.
Just published Core Intuition episode 240. We talk more about travel, taking a break from coding, marketing with Kickstarter, and the iOS 10 beta APIs.
→ 9:52 AM, Jul 7
Core Int 239 is out. We talk about Daniel’s trip, my server problems, iOS 10 betas, and the headphone jack.
Busy day. Finished editing Core Intuition this morning but forgot to post it! Episode 238 is out now. We talk about recording at WWDC, installing beta OS releases, and more about coworking.
Podcast thoughts on WWDC
I’m back from San Francisco, catching up on everything I missed while traveling. I recorded a few podcast episodes during WWDC week, both my own and an interview.
On Core Intuition, Daniel and I talked right after the keynote about the morning’s announcements. From the show notes:
Manton and Daniel react to the 2016 WWDC keynote. [...] iMessage and Siri extensibility, Continuity improvements, Apple Pay for the web, Apple’s keynote diversity, and more.
In the middle of the week, I talked with John Voorhees of MacStories about WWDC news but also a lot about microblogging. It may be the most I’ve shared about my latest project, all in one place.
Yesterday, I recorded a short episode of Timetable. I wanted to capture what the trip to San Francisco each year means to me, outside of the conference itself. I find the week a good opportunity to reset and think about where my focus should be across my projects.
Recording from San Francisco entirely on iOS didn’t go exactly according to plan, but we published episode 237 of Core Int. We’ll follow up next week on whatever we missed.
Core Intuition 236 and app subscriptions
We published Core Intuition episode 236 today, discussing the recent App Store announcements and a listener question about offices. We wrap up with plans for WWDC.
There has been a lot of great blog posts and podcast episodes already on the App Store subscription change. I listened to Under the Radar 31 and the Release Notes special edition today and recommend both. The most confusion seems to be around what kind of apps are appropriate for subscriptions, where by “appropriate� I mean “what Apple will approve�.
John Gruber also follows up at Daring Fireball on this question:
Professional apps that require “a lot of maintenance of new features and versions� don’t fit either of those categories. Would Twitter clients like Tweetbot and Twitterrific qualify for subscription pricing? After talking to Schiller yesterday, I thought so. Now, I don’t know.
As I mention on Core Intuition, apps that have a backend service with obvious hosting and maintenance costs — a music streaming service, an invoicing web app, or a blogging platform, for example — are easier for users to understand as needing to be subscriptions. Twitter apps are an interesting example because some are pure clients to Twitter’s backend, but many increasingly have their own app-specific services like timeline syncing or push notifications.
For years Apple has allowed apps to use auto-renewing subscriptions. I had an iPhone app and companion web service that was approved by Apple for auto-renewing subscriptions, after I made the case for the service as a “cloud� archive. From section 11.15 of the App Store review guidelines:
Apps may only use auto-renewing subscriptions for periodicals (newspapers, magazines), business Apps (enterprise, productivity, professional creative, cloud storage), and media Apps (video, audio, voice), or the App will be rejected
From my experience and listening to other developers, I’ve had the impression for a while that Apple would essentially reject most auto-renewing app submissions by default. While we still don’t know what “all categoriesâ€� means in the new announcement, I expect it means that there will no longer be a kind of blanket rejection. Apple will still reject many apps as poorly suited for subscriptions, though, and maybe that’s okay for now.
(I’m conflicted on this point. John Gruber’s suggestion to approve everything and let the market decide is compelling and fits better with my instinct that the control should be in developers’ hands.)
“Subscription fatigue� is a real thing that I’ll occasionally hear from customers about. No one wants to pay $1/month to 40 different apps and services; it feels like a burden in a way that paying the same total price to just two apps at $20/month does not. Nevertheless, subscriptions are very powerful. Everything I’ve done over the last few years is to position myself to eventually have a recurring-revenue success.
Just posted Core Intuition 235. I thought we’d skip talking about Swift this week, but we got into it anyway. Plus WWDC travel and predictions.
→ 10:40 AM, Jun 3
Core Intuition's 8 years and overselling WWDC
It’s 2 weeks before WWDC, which means it was also 8 years ago that we published the first episode of Core Intuition. At WWDC that year, Apple showed off iPhone OS 2.0, MobileMe, and the iPhone 3G. The yearly cycle of improvements to the OS and hardware don’t look much different today, but Apple keeps rolling, and so the total changes since 2008 are massive.
For as many years as I’ve been out to San Francisco for WWDC (and to San Jose before then), each year I have fewer expectations for the conference itself. Some years I don’t even bother guessing or dreaming about new features — I have no pressing needs, no critical missing APIs, no questions to ask Apple engineers in the labs — and I’m happily surprised by whatever Apple gives us.
This year is a little different. It’s the first year that I can remember since the Mac OS X 10.0 and 10.1 releases where an Apple platform needed significant performance improvements to be usable for anyone except early adopters. The first couple versions of Apple Watch were ambitious on features, but now it’s time to do the less glamorous work of making the platform fast. I hope watchOS 3.0 will be the same kind of milestone that Mac OS X 10.2 was in that regard. (And like Mac OS X, I hope it can be done mostly in new software.)
Back to WWDC the conference. I’m still thinking about the interesting venue change for Monday to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.
In the discussion on Core Intuition 229 last month, I kept coming back to the idea that this change has to be about growing the conference to allow more developers. Since more people show up on Monday (press and business folks, for example, who have less interest in the technical sessions or labs), you could have a bigger space on Monday and then oversell the conference as a whole, knowing that some ticket holders wouldn’t be around later in the week back at Moscone West.
Maybe that creates more problems than it solves because of packed rooms and long lines to get into sessions, though. Now that I’ve had a while to think about it, it seems unlikely that Apple would risk making the conference worse just to squeeze in another 500 developers.
Could there be some creative layouts in Moscone West that Apple hasn’t tried yet? There are so many downsides to changing the venue that I want to believe it’s part of addressing the biggest issue with the conference: most people don’t win the ticket lottery.
There’s still the problem of hotels. Linking to my post about not giving up on WWDC, John Gruber singled out Airbnb as a bad solution, since there just aren’t that many rooms available. That’s true. And even worse, potential last-minute cancellations make Airbnb less reliable. Where I said Airbnb, I should have just said “cheaper hotel�.
(Alex Cash also has tips for saving money at WWDC. Casey Liss has a good post about rising hotel prices.)
Nevertheless, I know some developers are using Airbnb this year, and I’d like to try it next year for a change of pace and scenery away from the conference. With the convenience of Uber, the risk of settling for a place farther away seems low.
And finally, I’ve enjoyed many recent podcasts about WWDC. Two highlights: Under the Radar episode 24, where Marco Arment and David Smith share their thoughts on whether to attend the conference; and Thoroughly Considered 12, about not just WWDC but the value of attending or exhibiting at conferences as a company.
Core Intuition 234 and Vapor
We published Core Intuition 234 today, with a follow-up discussion on Swift, working toward software releases, and more. From the show notes:
Daniel and Manton talk about the question of Swift’s dependence on Objective-C’s dynamism, how it should or will evolve, and their differences in philosophy about Swift and Objective-C. They also take stock of release discipline and managing customer disappointment with an app’s progress. Finally, they talk about the importance and difficulty of winding down old products.
One of the points I brought up on the show — and which I’ve hinted at here on the blog before — is that web developers will push Swift to become more dynamic. There’s a long history of building web server frameworks like Ruby on Rails that depend on dynamically routing requests to controllers and views, and flexible models that automatically adapt from your database schema. These features tend to get messy when faced with a more static, strongly-typed language.
There is good work being done in the Swift web community already, though. Today I spent some time building a sample app with Vapor, which is probably the closest I’ve seen someone get to the usability of existing web frameworks. I’m a little more optimistic now that we might eventually have a single language for server code and native apps.
Listening to Timetable
Because episodes of Timetable are short (usually just 5 minutes)Â and because they aren’t published on a consistent schedule (sometimes once a week, sometimes 3 times a week), I’ve wondered if it may be difficult for some people to fit the podcast into their routine of listening to longer, hour-long podcasts. If you only listen to podcasts while in the car, for example, a 5-minute show isn’t going to fill your commute.
Luckily there are easy solutions to this. The first is: they are so short, just listen whenever you want, while you’re at your desk or walking somewhere or having lunch. Another option: gather up a few episodes and listen altogether, as if it’s 3 parts of a 15-minute podcast.
If you’re an Overcast user, you can create a playlist that will play multiple Timetable episodes in sequence without requiring any tapping in the app to queue up the next one. Here are some screenshots showing one way to set this up after subscribing to Timetable in Overcast.
First, tap the new playlist button in Overcast. Then tap Add Podcasts and select Timetable.
The playlist should automatically show any unplayed episodes. Finally, tap the Playback button while an episode is playing and make sure to highlight Play Next for the When Episode Ends option. This will make sure that you have continuous playback from one episode to the next.
I’ve recorded 23 episodes of Timetable so far, equal to about 2 hours of audio. While consistency is the most important thing for my other podcasts, Core Intuition and Technical Foul, for Timetable I’ve liked the flexibility to experiment with different styles and show formats. Enjoy!
New Core Int, Technical Foul, and Timetable
I somehow recorded 4 podcast episodes this week. We just published episode 233 of Core Intuition, where Daniel Jalkut and I talk about the announcements from Google I/O and compare the latest Swift 3 news to our experience going through previous Apple transitions. From the show notes:
"Manton and Daniel react to Google’s I/O keynote, and weigh the threat of Allo to iMessage. They celebrate Apple’s WWDC promotion of 3rd party events, and the increasing speed of App Store reviews. Finally, they reflect on the announced delay in Swift 3’s planned ABI stability, and Daniel’s sudden FUD about embracing Swift."
It was a big week for the NBA, too, with the first couple games of the east and west conference finals. On the latest Technical Foul, Ben Thompson and I recap round 2, especially the Spurs loss in 6 games to the Thunder:
Ben and Manton are back geeking out about the NBA. This week we talk Manton through the Spurs loss, discuss OKC versus the Warriors, and whether the Cavs are good enough.
And finally, I published 2 episodes of my microcast Timetable earlier in the week. Episode 22 was about dealing with recent stress — trying to see the bigger picture and focus on the good things. Episode 23 was about how to tell when it’s time to move on from a failed product.
Apple's mindset on Swift dynamic features
I let myself go off into a bit of a Swift rant on the latest Core Intuition. I’ve been doing a lot of Swift development recently. The more I use it, the more conflicted I am. I really love some parts of the language, but it’s not what I would have asked for as a successor to Objective-C 2.0.
Remember when Steve Jobs came back to Apple and compared NeXTSTEP to constructing a building by starting out on the 20th floor, with so much of the foundation and common patterns already taken care of for you? Cocoa allowed apps to be built significantly faster than before. Steve said at Macworld Expo in 1997 that the goal was to “eliminate 80% of the code that every developer has to write for their app.”
Swift is not like that. Swift’s priorities are correctness and stability. These have more indirect benefits to developer productivity than we saw going from Carbon to Cocoa.
When Marco Arment wrote about Swift last month, he mentioned wanting a language designed for high-level apps:
Objective-C wasn’t much better for this, but I think we could’ve done better than Swift if the most important goal in Swift was maximizing real-world developer productivity when writing modern Mac and iOS apps. Swift does a little of that, but gives up a lot to also serve lower-level, more clever, language-geekier goals.
This weekend, Brent Simmons has a new post about the loss of dynamic features in “pure� Swift:
What makes me nervous is Swift’s emphasis on type safety and on compile-time resolution. As long as we also have what we need from Objective-C, then that’s fine — then we still get xibs and storyboards, the Responder Chain, and so on.
I hope Brent’s right that this will be a core part of Swift 4. Leaning on the Objective-C runtime feels like a temporary solution because it only exists on the Mac and iOS. Great web frameworks like Ruby on Rails, for example, can’t be built without relying on a more dynamic language. (And to me a great promise for Swift is being able to use it everywhere.)
Daniel Jalkut followed up with a more optimistic post. He thinks Apple is on top of this, even as he acknowledges the clash between existing frameworks and the new language:
Some major design priorities of the Swift language, namely type safety and compile time dependency binding, are at odds with the design priorities of 20 years of evolution in Apple’s frameworks. How and if that disparity will be reckoned by Apple remains to be seen.
I think it’s telling that the “dynamic� keyword isn’t even mentioned in the main language guide. Anything related to Objective-C is off in a separate set of documentation, which includes discouraging statements such as “Requiring dynamic dispatch is rarely necessary� and “use of the performSelector APIs is discouraged�. For Swift to thrive in the future, as a great language for newcomers and long-time Mac developers, Apple will have to compromise on that mindset.
Podcasting lock-in and the lesson from Penn Station
When my family was visiting New York City a couple of years ago, we took a train out of Pennsylvania Station on the way up to Montreal for the second half of our vacation. It was raining a little as we walked from the hotel, but I thought we’d still have no trouble finding the station. After a few minutes we gave up and had to ask someone where the entrance was.
We couldn’t find it because it looked like every other street corner in Manhattan. But it wasn’t always like that. It used to look like this:
In the 1960s, facing declining train usage and financial problems, the Pennsylvania Railroad sold the rights to everything above ground and the incredible station pictured above was demolished. It was only afterwards, when it actually happened, that everyone fully realized what they had lost. Determined to not let other beautiful architectural landmarks get destroyed, the city passed a law to restrict similar demolition. Grand Central Terminal was preserved because of the lesson learned from letting Pennsylvania Station go.
I was thinking about this story — failing to do the right thing, but applying that knowledge to the next thing — while re-reading Marco’s excellent post on the future of podcasting. In it, he lays out the technical details for how podcasting works today, and makes the case for leaving it alone. I especially like this part, on his determination to keep Overcast a sort of pure MP3 client:
By the way, while I often get pitched on garbage podcast-listening-behavioral-data integrations, I’m never adding such tracking to Overcast. Never. The biggest reason I made a free, mass-market podcast app was so I could take stands like this.
I should have realized it earlier, but I don’t think I really connected all of Marco’s goals with Overcast until Daniel Jalkut and I had him on Core Intuition episode 200. We talked about many of these same themes as Marco was finishing up Overcast 2.0.
There’s also a great discussion on Upgrade about this. It starts about halfway through.
In a response to Marco on MacStories, Federico Viticci writes about the parallel trend in the web industry toward centralized services like Facebook and Medium that allow “content professionals” to monetize their writing. In doing so, those writers give up many of the benefits of the open web:
But the great thing about the free and decentralized web is that the aforementioned web platforms are optional and they're alternatives to an existing open field where independent makers can do whatever they want. I can own my content, offer my RSS feed to anyone, and resist the temptation of slowing down my website with 10 different JavaScript plugins to monitor what my users do. No one is forcing me to agree to the terms of a platform.
While the open web still exists, we really dropped the ball protecting and strengthening it. Fewer people’s first choice for publishing is to start a web site hosted at their own domain. Like the destruction of Pennsylvania Station, sometimes you only know in hindsight that you’ve made a mistake. We were so caught up in Twitter and Facebook that we let the open web crumble. I’m not giving up — I think we can get people excited about blogging and owning their own content again — but it would have been easier if we had realized what we lost earlier.
Reading posts like Marco’s and Federico’s, and listening to Jason and Myke on Upgrade, I’m convinced that podcasting will remain open because we know better now. As a community we can learn from the mistakes with the web and the threats of closed platforms, making sure that podcasting is preserved as a simple technology that no one controls.
Client work and new podcasts
As I mentioned in my wrap-up post about working from libraries, spending so much time commuting all over the city (and outside the city) had really burned me out. Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve overcompensated a little and have been working from home almost exclusively. I’ve also been catching up on client work.
I recorded a new episode of Timetable this morning to try to capture this change in work focus. Talking into the microphone for 5 minutes actually helped me assess where I’m at with my projects, and what I need to adjust to continue to make this blog and my podcasts a priority.
And speaking of podcasts, Ben Thompson and I published episode 3 of Technical Foul last night. We talk a lot about the wild last minute of Spurs/Thunder game 2, which I’m still thinking about even a couple days later.
→ 8:59 AM, May 4
Siri and Core Intuition 228
We posted episode 228 of Core Intuition this week. From the show notes:
Daniel and Manton discuss the iPhone SE’s evident popularity, touch on the challenges of designing for extremes in screen size, and bemoan some of Siri’s shortcomings when compared to competitors. The two also discuss tax time as an indie software developer, weigh the merits of heading to SF for WWDC, and finally delve into some deep reflections about the psychology of not shipping in too long.
We talked a lot about Siri and the Amazon Echo — the problems with both and where voice software may be headed. After we recorded, Daniel wrote a great post with additional ideas for using Siri with distance-based reminders, for example the ability to ask Siri while driving “remind me in 15 miles to get gas”:
How would this be solved? By introducing a notion of distance-relative reminders in iOS and by extension in Siri. In the same way that Siri allows you set a reminder for a specific time or for a relative time from now, it should offer the same functionality for distance.
I hope you enjoy the podcast. I’ve been thinking lately that maybe the secret with Core Intuition is that it’s not actually a developer podcast. It’s a tech podcast with major tangents into software development and business.
Sorry it’s a few days late, but Core Intuition 227 is now out. We follow up on the iPhone SE and Typewriter Mode, then discuss hybrid native/HTML layout, producing screencast videos, and Kickstarter.
Timetable episodes 19 and 20
I published 2 new Timetable episodes this week, with a shared theme around Kickstarter projects. They’re both just 5-6 minutes long.
Episode 19 is about how I finally sat down to record a video for my upcoming Kickstarter project. I still have editing to do, but I’m already feeling a lot better about actually launching this.
Episode 20 continues the discussion of Kickstarter, starting with my reaction after receiving the art book from Loish yesterday. I was really impressed with how well it was produced. Anytime I see something of such high quality I’m inspired to do a better job with my own work.
Finally sat down yesterday to record a video for Kickstarter, which I had been putting off for months. You can listen to how it went over on episode 19 of my Timetable microcast.
Miitomo and Wii Transfer
On episode 18 of my Timetable podcast, which I just published this morning, I mention the new Nintendo game Miitomo. Federico Viticci also wrote about it today:
I’ve been keeping an eye on Miitomo – I still don't completely understand it, but I'm intrigued by the premise of a friend-based network with mini-games and the ability to collect coins. Those coins can then be used to claim rewards and redeem other Nintendo-related content such as games and customizations. I'm curious to see how Miitomo will perform outside of Japan.
For a several years between 2006 and 2010, I sold and actively worked on a little Mac app called Wii Transfer. It was the first time I realized that I could make a living selling Mac software, even though it didn’t always have great sales consistently by itself. To this day, one of the features I’m most proud to have ever written is the Mii export, which could sync Mii data over Bluetooth from the Wii remotes and render it to let you save your Miis as PNG files on your Mac.
I’ve often mused on Core Intuition that I stopped selling the app too soon. At one point I worked on a companion app to the Nintendo DS with similar themes, but didn’t ship it. And I considered building a version for iOS just with the Mii functionality.
From a blog post in 2012, announcing that Wii Transfer would no longer be available:
I’m retiring Wii Transfer to focus on my other apps. It’s not that it doesn’t sell; it still does. It’s just that it’s not an app I actually use anymore. By officially shelving the whole project, I hope to remove a psychological burden of sorts — to no longer worry that I’m ignoring an active product.
I’ll never know if it was a missed opportunity — a mistake for the direction of my indie business to stop selling something that people liked — or the right call to refocus around what I actually cared about. In any case, I’m glad Nintendo is doing something new with Miis. As I play with Miitomo, there’s a part of me that regrets not doing more with Nintendo-compatible software while I had a competitive head start.
Podcasts, showing up every week, and why 2.0 succeeds
When I went to Open Coffee Club during SXSW week, I met several company founders and investors in Austin, and one was also an iOS developer. I usually do a poor job of promoting my own work in person, but I somehow managed to plug my Core Intuition podcast.
He hadn’t heard of the show before, and when he pulled it up to subscribe his comment was something like: “wow, you’ve been doing this for a long time�. It’s true. Daniel and I started the podcast in 2008. We only have 225 episodes, because we published episodes less frequently back in the old days, but I’ve always been proud of our consistency with the show format going back to the very beginning.
And it made me wonder: is there another Mac or iOS developer-focused tech podcast that has such a long history? Or really, many tech podcasts at all? The ones that come to mind are The Talk Show, which started in 2007, and This Week in Tech, which started in 2005.
It’s another reminder to me that a big part of success is consistently showing up to work. If you’re always starting over, you can’t build on anything and take it further. The secret with the “version 2.0” of most apps isn’t that it has new features; it’s just that it exists at all.
In a couple months, just as WWDC is about to roll around, we’ll celebrate our 8th anniversary of recording Core Intuition. Our audience keeps growing, which is amazing, but there are still a lot of people who have never heard of the show. If you like what we’ve been doing, consider telling a friend, or posting a tweet or blog post about the show.
We expanded to 2 sponsors per episode this year because we wanted to grow the podcast — to commit more time and resources to both recording and to companion web sites like the jobs site. I think 2016 will be a great year and I’m happy that Core Intuition is a key part of helping me stay independent. Thanks for your support!
30 days of libraries, week 1
After wrapping up 30 days of new coffee shops, last week I started visiting a library every day to work. Libraries and coffee shops don’t have that much in common, but they do share a couple basic traits that are necessary for working on a laptop or iPad: wi-fi and tables. In fact, I’ve found that it’s even easier to find an open table or couch in a library than in a busy coffee shop.
So far, so good. In the first week, I’ve visited Cedar Park Public Library, Wells Branch Community Library, Little Walnut Creek Branch, North Village Branch, Old Quarry Branch, Howson Branch, Westbank Community Library, and Yarborough Branch.
I also heard from readers who wanted to see more than the text microblog posts I did for coffee shops, so I’ve been trying to take more photos. These photos are tagged with #newlibraries too, so they’ll show up together with the library text posts. (Photos can be browsed over the web, but they don’t show up in the default RSS feed. The microblog posts also have their own feed.)
As I mention on episode 15 of Timetable, working out of the house in the morning helped provide some structure to the work day. I’d use the morning for writing blog posts and catching up on email, and the afternoon to focus on code. For libraries, I’m going one step further and only bringing the iPad Pro with me. This means that I’m using a small range of apps — Editorial, Mail, Safari, Slack — and reinforces the idea that I’m supposed to be writing.
Episode 225 of Core Intuition is out now. We talk about the new iPhone and iPad news from Monday’s Apple event, plus Swift. From the show notes:
Manton orders his dream phone, the iPhone SE. Daniel reflects on the growing allure of Swift, and the two discuss the risks of either adopting new technologies too soon, or holding on to the past for too long.
Also there’s this line from Daniel in the podcast that I like:
We have to be tuned into the future and tuned into the past to really do great work.
We pull in some history from Daniel’s time at Apple, and from our experience building Mac apps in the 1990s and early 2000s, and how it relates to the current Swift transition. Hope you enjoy it.
"Manton and Daniel discuss Apple’s revelation that Cookie Monster uses an iPhone, consider the Amazon Echo as the next big technology platform, and catch up with Manton’s successful 30 days of Austin coffee challenge."
I like this episode because it touches a little on tech industry and business themes that we weren’t planning to talk about, so it captures whatever our gut feelings were on those topics. And as we talk about at the end of the show, I did end up wrapping up the coffee shop visits today. I’ve updated the coffee shop page on this site with the final list.
SXSW and designing for Apple Watch
As I mention on the latest episode of Timetable, I haven’t attended SXSW in several years. I still think it’s right for me to skip it, but then sometimes I’ll hear about UX and iOS panels going on at SXSW, and I’ll remember some of the great parts of the conference that I do miss.
Conrad Stoll spoke on a panel at SXSW this year about his experience building Apple Watch apps. He’s had a few great blog posts recently, about both Apple Watch user interface design and also one on designing in Swift. For planning what features to include in your watch app:
“When it's time to gather around a whiteboard and start designing your Apple Watch app, draw all of your features and start discussing some of your least obvious ones. It’s very likely that one of them represents a better use case for the watch. If you start with the secondary features you might realize that focusing there can actually improve the utility of your overall product.�
Blogs like Conrad’s are a great reason to keep using RSS. He’s not posting every day so you may forget to check the site, or miss the links on Twitter if they aren’t tweeted or retweeted when you happen to be paying attention. The best way to guarantee you won’t miss it is to subscribe in an RSS reader.
There’s a related side discussion on the Bill Simmons podcast about reading headlines instead of full articles. There’s too much information out there, and it moves too quickly, so we’ve trained ourselves to just scan headlines and comment on Twitter without going deep. That leads to increasingly ridiculous click-bait titles as publishers try to grab our attention. The only way to fight back against that trend is to slow down and read a few thoughtful essays in RSS, or work through the queue in Instapaper.
Two new episodes
"Daniel and Manton discuss strategies for filing and organizing bugs. They talk about the expected iPad and iPhone announcements at Apple’s March 21 event, and they follow up on discussion about apps that delight and take their own problem domains seriously."
I also posted episode 16 of Timetable. On this quick 3-minute show, I talk about trying not to panic when things go wrong, with a couple examples from this week.
On this week’s Core Int, we talk about the routine of coffee shops, productivity, @AppleSupport, and shipping your 1.0. coreint.org/222
Happy leap day! I just posted episode 15 of Timetable. On this episode, I focus on… well, focus. Specifically using the new routine of visiting coffee shops to provide more structure and productivity to my day.
Published episode 14 of Timetable today, about writing a few blog posts while out at the coffee shop today. Also hint at a brand new web site, and end the show with a quick wrap-up about sending out stickers.
Is this even possible?
When I tell people that I’ve started going to a new coffee shop every day for a month — and importantly, one which I’ve never been to before after living my whole life in Austin, with no duplicates or separate locations from a coffee chain — they usually ask: are you going to run out of places to go? At the beginning I didn’t know. And that has made it a particularly fun challenge, because doing something that you know is possible is boring.
I’ve never been interested in building an iOS app that someone else has already done. I’ve never been excited to write a blog post that is just a rephrasing of someone else’s idea. Starting a new project with a unique twist, even a minor one, is what makes our job as developers and writers fun.
And it’s easy to take a simple idea and build it into a more advanced project. On the latest Core Intuition, Daniel continues to suggest ways to add layers to my coffee trips, from adding photos, to publishing future locations ahead of time so that anyone can stop by and join me for a coffee. (I’m going to be doing this.)
Now at day 10, I can more easily answer the original question, though. I have 16 suggested coffee shops in the queue, so if I visit all of those, I’ll only need 4 more places to hit 30 new coffee shops in 30 days. A few of these might seem like borderline cheats — a donut shop, or a food truck to pick up a Thai iced coffee — but being exposed to new places I would never otherwise go is the whole point.
Still trying to get into a routine with my new podcast, Timetable. Today’s episode is just under 3 minutes, following up on sending out stickers with my microblogging app logo, and thinking about what it means to be lucky.
On this week’s Core Int:
"Daniel orders a Brother, Apple defies the FBI, Manton continues to struggle with his Kickstarter, and the two discuss using structure and constraints to encourage tackling new goals."
I like this episode because it has a mix of serious and fun topics. Toward the end of the episode we talk about my new goal of trying a new coffee shop once a day for a month.
New printers, Kickstarter, sticking to commitments, and having an authentic voice in tweets and blogs. Hope you enjoy Core Int 219.
iCloud is too opaque
Last night, Federico Viticci tweeted that he lost a draft blog post he was working on because of an iCloud problem:
"Just lost 1.5k words I had prepared for tomorrow because I wanted to try iCloud sync instead of Dropbox this week."
The story has a happy ending because he was able to manually recover the document from the app’s database, but that is well beyond the complexity that most users could handle. iCloud is usually so opaque that we just can’t see what is going on behind the scenes with our data.
Everything I write on this blog (and notes for all my projects) goes into simple text files on Dropbox. I can edit from multiple apps on different platforms, the files are synced everywhere, and Dropbox tracks the revisions of each file so that I can restore a previous version at any time. I could take the text file I’m currently typing in, drag it to the Finder’s trash and empty it, and restore from the web in 30 seconds even without any kind of traditional backup solution.
That’s why all my photos are on Dropbox too. Instead of being opaque like iCloud, with no easy way to troubleshoot or recover files when things go wrong, with Dropbox it’s all there in the local file system or over the web.
Dropbox has had a few side projects and distractions, but their foundation is obvious and accessible, so they can keep coming back to that. Here’s Stephen Hackett writing in December about documents and photos after Dropbox shut down Mailbox and Carousel:
"As much as these apps were loved by their users, it's clear that the company is moving in another direction. While things like Paper don't make much of a difference to me, knowing that Dropbox will reliably sync my files, be easy to use on iOS and continue to be around is important to me. If Mailbox and Carousel had to go to make that possible, then so be it."
I really like the clean UI in Dropbox’s Paper, but because it doesn’t yet sync with regular files like the rest of Dropbox, Paper isn’t building on Dropbox’s core strengths. Daniel and I use it for planning Core Intuition, but I wouldn’t use it for critical writing any more than I would use the new Apple Notes.
I hear that people love iCloud Photo Library and Notes, and that the quality of these apps and companion services has significantly improved. That’s great. (I also think that CloudKit is clearly the best thing Apple has built for syncing yet.)
But to me, it doesn’t matter if it’s reliable or fast, or even if it “alwaysâ€� works. It only matters if I trust it when something goes wrong. Conceptually I’m not sure iCloud will ever get there for me.
Feeling well enough to record a podcast, I published episode 11 of Timetable today. I talk about why I wish I could’ve launched my new platform on the same day as Twitter rolling out their algorithmic timeline.
Charles Perry's microblog
Charles Perry has started a microblog. On the balance of what he should post to Twitter and what he should post to his own site first, he writes:
"Most of the things I write on Twitter are snippets of conversations or other thoughts that I don’t necessarily want to preserve. Those will stay on Twitter. But some microposts—is that a thing?—I think are of interest on their own. These I plan to post to the DazeEnd.org microblog and mirror to Twitter. That should allow me to preserve and archive my thoughts on my own website and use Twitter just for distribution."
I was really happy to see these posts show up in my RSS reader. There’s some momentum around indie microblogging right now. You should start one too.
Here are some more of my posts on the topic:
How to start a microblog. Overview of the basics, with a few suggestions for where to start.
Microblogging with WordPress. Still mostly accurate, although I don't use IFTTT anymore. I've written my own cross-posting code and baked it into my new app.
Embrace cross-posting. My early thoughts on cross-posting. Also see the post about returning to Twitter.
RSS for microblogs. Suggestions for simplifying our RSS feeds, and a proposal for JSON.
Weblogs category from my blog. All the posts primarily about weblogs or microblogging.
Listeners of my new Timetable podcast also know that I’m writing a short book about independent microblogging. You can hear a little about this on episode 9.
I have years of journals in Day One, but it wasn’t in my routine lately. Back into it. As I said on Core Int, it’s the kind of app I wish I had written.
→ 9:51 AM, Feb 5
On this week’s Core Intuition:
“Manton and Daniel talk about Apple’s current and future stock price, and their potential to branch out into other technologies such as virtual reality. They discuss Facebook’s shuttering of Parse and the implications for iOS developers and Facebook’s PR. Finally, they respond to listener Q&A about getting up to speed on using and implementing your own web services.�
Toward the end of the show, I also discuss my approach to password-less accounts for Searchpath and my not-quite-released latest web app. While still far from perfect, I think getting away from passwords is an important next step for apps. Passwords are just too annoying for users to keep track of and enter, and a potential security issue and headache for system administrators.
Just published episode 9 of Timetable, following up on the iPhone app and what the Kickstarter is actually all about.
Core Intuition 217 is a big episode: releasing updates, App Store rejections, handling trials, and more. coreint.org/217
Apple says macOS
Nice observation by Jason Snell from the Apple quarterly report conference call:
“It probably means nothing, but when Maestri listed off Apple’s four major product platforms, he said this: ‘We’ve built a huge installed base around four platforms: iOS, Mac OS, watchOS, and tvOS.’�
Like Jason, I’ve long wanted a return to “Mac” as the most important part of the OS name, and have suggested it a couple times on Core Intuition. It was a missed opportunity to do this transition after 10.9, when it could have cleanly gone to Mac OS 11 without the .10 and .11 silliness.
The new tvOS and watchOS branding — combined with Apple’s quote above — makes an official rebranding to “macOSâ€� at WWDC this year seem almost likely. The next major version should be macOS 11, without the “Xâ€� and “10.xâ€�. That would still look a little wrong compared to simply “Mac OSâ€�, but it would be much better than “OS Xâ€�, and the lowercase would be consistent with the rest of the platforms.
Tried something new for episode 8 of my Timetable microcast this morning, recording in 3 quick segments: around 6am, 8am, and noon. Good reminder to myself how much I can get done in half a day if I start early.
We just posted episode 216 of Core Intuition: the Shush app rename, trademarks, business blogs, and the 5-year Twitter bet. coreint.org/216
iPad thoughts for 2016
Over the holidays, or while on any vacation, I usually use iOS more often than my Mac. It’s easier to quickly catch up on email or fun stuff like Instagram without getting too pulled away from what matters: spending time with family and friends. So as I use iOS, I’ve been thinking about what might make the iPad better.
Last year Jared Sinclair blogged about some of the problems with the iPad, with ideas for “saving” it. The most interesting of these was his suggestion of a “Gatekeeper for iOS”, where iOS apps could easily be side-loaded onto iOS without Apple’s approval:
“These apps would be just as secure as apps published on the App Store. I recommend that Gatekeeper iOS apps be subject to the same API restrictions, privacy permissions, and sandboxing as apps distributed on the iOS App Store�
Daniel and I discussed this on Core Intuition episode 207. We acknowledged that as great as it would be, this compromise of Gatekeeper apps being subject to API restrictions might not be possible. The whole point of Gatekeeper is to leave Apple out of the distribution process, so there would be no place to impose such restrictions except at the API level. Still, I’d welcome any kind of side-loading.
Most Mac developers have wanted a Gatekeeper-like solution for iOS since the very beginning of the iPhone. Back in 2011, I wrote a post about Apple’s 30% cut and the lack of side-loading for iOS:
"Apple’s tight control over iOS has always been troubling. If there’s no way to install an app on the device without Apple’s approval, then Apple can make or break any business that builds for the platform. It’s an added risk for the thousands of tiny development shops for which the iPhone and iPad are otherwise perfect."
But side-loading isn’t really holding back the iPad. What’s holding it back is the slow pace of progress in UI improvements. For example, the home screen remains virtually unchanged since iOS 3, and on the iPad Pro the classic grid of large app icons looks more like the Simple Finder than a way to manage and launch productivity apps.
More key areas of the UI need to take inspiration from iPad multitasking. While split-view and slide-over aren’t perfect, they’re something. Likewise for iOS extensions, which were such a step forward that we were willing to overlook the UI clunkiness. These new features helped Fraser Speirs switch to an iPad Pro full time:
"The introduction of multitasking in iOS 9 has made a significant difference to the way I work on iOS. I don’t need to rehearse the actual features here but suffice to say that I now find iOS extremely easy to get almost any task done."
I’d like to see Apple experiment more. To not be afraid to try something new with the UI and ship it, as long as they still follow up and refine it.
Here’s a great feature idea to take multitasking further, from Stephen Hackett’s iOS wishlist:
"I'd like Apple to work on some way to share text and images between apps that are side-by-side. If I'm working in a text editor, I'd like to send a selected portion right into Slack, without having to worry about a share extension or dropping back to copy and paste to get the job done."
Nilay Patel, in a 2015 wrap-up for The Verge, wrote that Apple has been setting the groundwork for new platforms, and that this year they will have to iterate and improve on what they’ve started. He sees the iPad Pro in particular as a step forward without a clear defining feature:
"There's a chance we'll all be using huge iPads as our primary computers one day, but to get there the iPad Pro has to do something so much better than a MacBook that all the things it does worse seem irrelevant. What is that thing?"
That missing “thing” is clear to me: the Apple Pencil is the best stylus that has ever been made for a device — tablet, desktop, or standalone display. It’s so good that I assumed I would sell my retina iPad Mini and use the iPad Pro exclusively.
That hasn’t happened. I realized when making the choice of which iPad to take downtown the other week that the Mini is still my favorite size. I hope as part of the next phase to Apple’s iPad platform that the Pencil makes it down to the rest of the iPads. It’s important that developers can count on the common availability of the stylus, just as we can count on multitasking and app extensions to set the pace of UI progress for the platform.
On this week’s Core Intuition, Daniel and I start with a recap of Daniel’s time at the tvOS Tech Talk in New York City. More from the show notes:
"Daniel and Manton reflect on their experience at the Apple TV tech talks, brainstorm app category ideas for Apple TV, and discuss the use of Twitter for customer support and how a 10K text limit might impact that. They also talk about Apple’s iOS 9.3 preview, rumors of a new iPhone 4-inch model, and speculate whether WWDC would ever move from Moscone in SF."
It’s not too early to start planning for WWDC. Hotel pricing is a major issue this year, and I have a feeling people will be more scattered around the city than usual.
Twitter and the cost of links
Federico Viticci covers the news that Twitter will expand from 140 characters to 10,000, nicknaming the feature Twitter Notes. His nickname is appropriate given this latest transformation to become more like Facebook, since Facebook’s Medium-like capability for long posts is also called Facebook Notes.
The tweets and blog commentary on this have really missed a key aspect and cause for concern, though. Many posts – including even my own first attempt – have focused on whether Twitter Notes would water down Twitter’s unique strength. They then conclude that it’s better to include a long-form text feature rather than the compromise hack of screenshot text and tweetstorms. Federico sums up this endorsement with the following:
“Unlike other recent additions to the service, I want to believe that third-party developers will be able to support the feature in their clients (Jack seems to suggest as much) and that the iPad won’t be left behind again. I may be disappointed when the day comes, but if done right (see Matthew’s points here) and as long as Twitter Notes are intended as attachments for regular tweets with real text, I don’t see why I would be against them.�
Here’s why this matters, and it gets back to my post last week about the hyperlink. Closed platforms want to trap all activity, not send it out. The danger in Twitter Notes isn’t that they will replace textshots, it’s that they will replace external blogs.
For all of Twitter’s problems, at least right now most of the good writing we see on Twitter is actually linked out to external blogs (and yes, increasingly Medium posts). To shift that to be stored more on Twitter itself would be a setback for the open web. It would slowly train a new generation of timeline surfers to prefer Twitter-hosted content instead of blogs.
I wrote the above in draft form, and then later saw Ben Thompson’s daily update about the Twitter news. His take is the first I had seen that directly covered the issues of linking, even suggesting that no one really clicks on links anymore. But while he’s worried about Twitter from a business standpoint, I’m more worried about the attack on the web.
Ben also mentioned the clever trick Jack Dorsey used in writing his response as a textshot. Daniel Jalkut pointed out the same thing in the latest Core Intuition. Jack could have posted it to a blog, or to Medium, but he deliberately picked the worst way to work around Twitter’s current 140-character limit, to underscore his point.
Now, Will Oremus writes for Slate about the potential new Twitter walled garden:
"What’s really changing here, then, is not the length of the tweet. It’s where that link at the bottom takes you when you click on it—or, rather, where it doesn’t take you. Instead of funneling traffic to blogs, news sites, and other sites around the Web, the 'read more' button will keep you playing in Twitter’s own garden."
I know we can’t rewind the clock to the heyday of the blogosphere. But we can still do more. More to encourage bloggers, more to spread awareness about how the web is supposed to work, and more to value open APIs. I think it starts with 2 things:
Build tools for independent microblogging, to make blogging just as easy as tweeting. I'm trying to do this.
Make the web faster, so the cost of clicking on a link goes down. Google's helping this with AMP.
I was encouraged when I saw that Known had added support for AMP. They have their doubts about AMP, but at least they were quick to try it. From the Known blog:
"We've shipped support for AMP because we see potential here, and recognize that something should be done to improve the experience of loading independently-published content on the web. But attempting to bake certain businesses into a web standard is a malformed idea that is doomed to fail. If this is not corrected in future versions of the specification, we will withdraw support."
Maybe AMP ends up being too ad-friendly to become a good standard. I don’t know. But if so, we’ll move to the next idea, because the web has to be faster. Slow pages are like a disease for links.
Anyone with a blog should be concerned about what could happen with Twitter’s 10,000-character push. We won’t feel the effects right away, but years from now it will matter. We should do more not just to promote blogs and writing on the open web, but to also make it easier for Twitter alternatives to exist through independent microblogging.
A8 or A9 for the iPhone 6C
I’ve talked about my hope for a new 4-inch iPhone several times on Core Intuition, and a few times on this weblog, like here and here. The rumors keep growing, and Stephen Hackett has written out his thoughts on a potential iPhone 6C:
“The easy assumption is that the 6C would replace the aging 5S as the free-or-very-cheap option, but the recurring rumor of the 6C being powered by the A9 makes me think this may slide in roughly where the iPhone 6/6 Plus currently sits in the lineup.�
I’d love to see an A9, but I’m not counting on it. I think an A8 is fine too, mostly matching the internals of the latest iPod Touch. This wouldn’t be competitive with the iPhone 6S but it would still be a great upgrade from the iPhone 5S, which is the primary phone for anyone (like me) who still clings to the 4-inch design.
The larger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch designs will remain the top of the line iPhones for years to come. The 6C doesn’t need to change that; it’s not a peer to the larger phones. It just needs to clean up all the money Apple’s left on the table from customers who want a smaller phone. I’ll buy one right away.
Timetable episode 5
I just published episode 5 of my new short-format podcast, Timetable. I’m having a lot of fun with this. Producing an episode that’s only 5 minutes long means I can experiment without investing too much time.
As I was listening to some other podcasts this week talk about the Twitter news, it occurred to me how important it is to have a good mix of podcasts, just as it is with blogging. Many of the most popular Apple-related podcasts hit the same news stories each week and have nearly the same opinion. Don’t get me wrong; I listen to a bunch of them and they’re great. But it’s a reminder to me that for Timetable, and especially for Core Intuition, not to be afraid of having a more contrarian role when it’s appropriate.
There’s nothing controversial in the latest episode of Timetable, though. Just me talking about getting some stamps to finally send out stickers.
Posted another episode of my new Timetable podcast. Realizing now that the short format will allow plenty of opportunities to experiment with how I record and edit the audio.
New podcast: Timetable
I’m launching a new podcast today. For a while I’ve felt like there could be something interesting in a very short podcast, where I talk a little about what I’m working on or thinking about throughout the week. Each episode is going to be just 3-5 minutes.
It’s called Timetable. I’ve published 3 episodes, and have a 4th that will go out later today. I think of it as a “microcast”, complementing the informal nature of my microblog posts. And just as I have longer essays on my weblog, of course I’ll continue to explore larger topics for indie Mac and iOS developers on Core Intuition with Daniel Jalkut.
If you check it out, let me know what you think at manton@manton.org. Thanks!
Core Intuition in 2016
The first Core Intuition episode of 2016 is out. We talk about Twitter’s potential 10k-character change and much more. From the show notes:
"Manton and Daniel react to Twitter’s rumored plan to support 10K of text in tweets, answer listener Q&A about product versioning and milestone strategies, and check with thoughts on Swift upon Daniel’s completion of 'reading the fine manual.'"
For 2016, we’ve decided to expand the length of the show a little. Most episodes will be around 45 minutes to an hour. This gives us more room for topics, and allows us to accommodate 2 sponsors per show.
I’ve also cleaned up the logo a little for the podcast feed, including adding the “Core Int” text to the graphic itself. It should look much better in your favorite podcast client. Thanks for listening!
Happy New Year! We just posted episode 213 of Core Intuition.
Just in time for the holidays, we posted Core Intuition 212. Daniel and I talk about the iTunes Connect shutdown, the Slack API and new fund, and web app pricing.
Core Intuition 211 and fallback plans
Today on Core Intuition, Daniel and I talk about my time at the tvOS Tech Talk and the recent executive changes at Apple. From the show notes:
"Manton and Daniel discuss Apple TV development challenges, Apple’s executive team shakeup and its impact on the App Stores, and keeping a good attitude about successes and shortcomings as an ambitious indie developer."
We wrap up the show with a conversation about taking risks and setting the right priorities for an indie business. Along the way I mention this tweet from Kazu Kibuishi, which I misquoted slightly. Here’s the actual text:
"A professor once told me that 'if you have a fallback, you will fall back.' I have found this to be true."
If you enjoy the show, consider letting a friend know about it, or leaving a mini review on Twitter or iTunes. Thanks!
Phil Schiller and the App Store
Apple announced some leadership changes today, including that Phil Schiller will now lead the App Store on Apple’s various platforms:
"With added responsibility for the App Store, Phil Schiller will focus on strategies to extend the ecosystem Apple customers have come to love when using their iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Phil now leads nearly all developer-related functions at Apple, in addition to his other marketing responsibilities including Worldwide Product Marketing, international marketing, education and business marketing."
You may remember that Phil Schiller has gotten involved in controversial App Store rejections in the past, going back to 2009. See this post from Daring Fireball about Ninjawords, and another article at Techcrunch by MG Siegler.
On recent episodes of Core Intuition, and in a blog post, I’ve argued that Apple can’t just make small improvements to the Mac App Store anymore. The time for slow iteration is over; now they have to make big changes to get developers back. I’d like to believe that putting Phil in charge is exactly that kind of first big step.
Update: Less optimistically, though, there was this post in 2012 from Rogue Amoeba.
On the latest Core Intuition, we talk about open source Swift, it’s potential for web server frameworks, and more about blogging tools. From the show notes:
"Daniel and Manton react to Swift’s open-sourcing, and the extent to which it adds momentum to the language and increases its appeal. They also discuss the open-sourcing of Microsoft’s MarsEdit-esque blog editor, Windows Live Writer."
There were also a few new jobs posted to jobs.coreint.org yesterday. Check them out if you’re considering a change for 2016, or just curious what is out there for Objective-C and Swift jobs.
Swift and Core Intuition 209
Like many developers, I’ve spent the morning looking over the Swift open source release. I continue to be intrigued and look forward to working Swift into more of my routine.
On today’s Core Intuition, Daniel and I talked about Swift for about half of the 50-minute episode. We recorded the episode yesterday afternoon, before the open source announcement, so we’ll be following up next week on everything that has changed. I bet there will be some more progress in Swift web server frameworks by then, too.
Too late to save the MAS?
You’ve probably heard the news about Sketch. I found this section of their announcement the most interesting, because it highlights that this isn’t just about technical and strategic problems with the Mac App Store, but also about having a direct relationship with the customer to provide the best experience:
"Over the last year, as we’ve made great progress with Sketch, the customer experience on the Mac App Store hasn’t evolved like its iOS counterpart. We want to continue to be a responsive, approachable, and easily-reached company, and selling Sketch directly allows us to give you a better experience."
Of course, Sketch joins a growing list of apps unavailable in the store. From John Gruber:
"Sketch isn’t the first big name professional app to be pulled from the Mac App Store (Bare Bones Software’s BBEdit, Panic’s Coda, Quicken, just to name a few). But Sketch is the poster child for Mac App Store era professional Mac software. It’s the sort of app Apple might demo in a keynote — and the winner of an Apple Design Award."
Federico Viticci writes that Apple has to do something:
"The simple reality is that, gradually, developers of the best apps for OS X are finding it increasingly hard to justify doing business on the Mac App Store. I hope Apple also sees this as a problem and starts doing something about it."
Daniel and I talked about this on Core Intuition recently. Developers have been complaining about the Mac App Store for years without seeing any progress. It was over 3 years ago that I pulled my app Clipstart from the Mac App Store to sell direct-only instead, because of my concerns about adapting to sandboxing.
All this time, Apple could have been iterating on the Mac App Store, improving sandboxing entitlements, improving review times, customer interaction, and more. Yet they have not. At this point, Apple can’t just do “something”. They can’t just improve the Mac App Store a little. They have to significantly improve it, addressing many issues at once. And even then, some of these great apps — Sketch, BBEdit, Coda, RapidWeaver — may not come back.
→ 10:41 AM, Dec 2
Apple Pencil, for real
As we talk about on Core Intuition episode 208, I finally got an Apple Pencil. It’s great. My experience matches Gus Mueller’s, about how good the Apple Pencil is after years of using Wacom tablets and third-party iOS styluses:
"I find that when using the HB Pencil in Procreate, I get something that is very, very close to what I feel when I'm drawing in my sketchbooks. But of course now I've got layers and many colors and a perfect eraser to work with. And endless pages. I love it."
On the question of whether it’s a “stylus”, Ben Brooks sums it up this way:
"That’s the question I get asked a lot from people — my wife especially. Apple will tell you it is not a stylus because it is so much better than any other stylus, it clearly is something else. So, instead, I’ll tell you that it is very much a stylus — it just so happens to be the best stylus I have ever encountered on any device."
I’ve also been improving the Apple Pencil support in an iPad app I’m working on. I haven’t completely finished reading Russ Bishop’s article on supporting the Apple Pencil, but looks like it has a bunch of additional tips in it that I’d benefit from. It covers not just the API changes to UITouch, but also gestures, coalescing, and predictive touches.
"Daniel returns from Amsterdam to find Mac App Store issues abound. Manton buys an iPad Pro but has to wait for the Pencil. The two discuss the Mac App Store’s 6-year failure to evolve substantially, and dig into the emotional highs and lows of enjoying and surviving Apple’s platform constraints."
I really love how this episode turned out. It hits on several themes that have run through our show since the very first episode: a little tech news, some high-level coding talk, a bit of business analysis, and wrapped up with just how we feel right now about being indie developers. I hope you enjoy it.
On today’s Core Intuition, Daniel and I talk about public speaking, being inspired by Mac apps, and our first thoughts on the new Apple TV.
A great developer can come from anywhere
It’s March 2009, the height of SXSW in Austin before the conference gets too big for itself. I’m hanging out downtown with tech folks from a blogging startup, having dinner and beers before we head to the party they’re putting on. The CTO, one of the first employees at the company, is talking about Memcache servers and MySQL scaling, and I’m hanging on every word. I love this stuff.
I’m a Mac and iOS developer, but I often take a break from native app development to work on server software. So I’m asking him about MySQL replication and what it’s like to run a schema migration without the database falling over. The conversation sometimes shifts back to Apple platforms, and he says he’s been thinking about going to WWDC. I had been attending WWDC for a while, so I say sure, it’s expensive but you should consider it. If you’re doing more web stuff, though, maybe it’s not as important that you attend.
We walk over to the party venue. It’s bigger and more crowded than he thought it would be. Their company has really taken off, growing well beyond the early days when it was just him and the founder trying to build something new. And it’s at this point that he turns to me and asks a question that brings us back to iOS development:
"So what do you think of my app, Instapaper?"
In answer to Marco Arment, at that time the CTO of Tumblr, I mutter something about liking it, but I haven’t really gotten it into my workflow yet. Hopefully whatever I said was encouraging. In subsequent years, of course, Instapaper would be one of my favorite apps.
Later, replaying these conversations, I realized that I asked the wrong questions and gave the wrong advice. About WWDC, I should have said “Yes, absolutely!” with an exclamation point. Buy a ticket. If you can’t afford it, go anyway because you need to be there.
But I didn’t say that because I wasn’t listening closely enough. I was so busy asking questions about Tumblr, that I wasn’t listening to the excitement in his voice about Instapaper. I was so busy thinking about server scaling and databases and all this other stuff that I could’ve learned from a book, that I didn’t hear what he was really saying.
I should have asked about iOS pricing, free versions, sales, UI design, who did the icon, what does the private API look like. But I didn’t ask those things because I missed the big picture, how dominant the App Store would become for distribution, and so I missed what mattered. I’d like to think that since then I’ve gotten better at listening.
Daniel Jalkut and I had Marco as a special guest on Core Intuition 200 not just because he’s a friend but also because he so well represents the goal that many of us have and our listeners have — to start our own company, to find success not just one time but again and again, and to have as thoughtful an approach as possible in the craft of software development.
This week I’m in Indianapolis for the Release Notes conference. While I will have some stickers for anyone interested in my new microblogging platform, and I’ll probably ramble about it at some length if asked, I’ll also be listening. I’ll be listening because you never know which random developer you just met will end up doing their best work in the years ahead, and you want to be as encouraging as possible, offer the right kind of feedback, and also learn from their perspective.
There’s a great line in the Pixar movie Ratatouille:
"Not everyone can become a great artist. But a great artist can come from anywhere."
I believe that’s equally true for developers. We often see someone go from nothing to a top app in the App Store. We often see someone start without an audience and then make friends on Twitter and blogs through the quality of their writing alone. And so we welcome new voices all the time if they’re respectful.
There’s been some debate about Overcast 2.0’s patronage model. Some of the discussion is healthy — how does a successful business model for one developer apply to other apps? — and some of the discussion is divisive. Instead of asking the right questions, it’s easy to jump straight to a conclusion with the dismissive statement: “that’s fine for Marco, but his approach would never work for other developers”.
The “that’s fine for Marco” attitude is poison for our community because it takes the opposite approach as that Ratatouille quote above. It implies that some developers have such an advantage that the rest of us shouldn’t even bother, because it’s not a level playing field. It’s true that some developers today have an advantage, whether through good timing or just a long history of shipping apps, but the lesson isn’t to give up; it’s to instead learn from it, and look at our own strengths. What small head start do we have that could grow into a great success tomorrow, too?
Rewind a handful of years, back to that day at SXSW when I could name plenty of developers who had more attention and success in our community than Marco Arment. You can be damn sure that didn’t discourage him from taking Instapaper from an “in my spare time” niche app to the top of the News section on the App Store.
I’ll never accept the implied negativity in the “that’s fine for Marco” argument. I’ll never accept that we should be jealous of another developer’s success instead of inspired by it to do our best work.
Core Intuition 202 and Thoroughly Considered (and stickers!)
We posted episode 202 of Core Intuition yesterday. This was a fun episode because we didn’t plan for it; we just started talking. From the show notes:
"Manton and Daniel discuss the paralysis of choosing what to work on as an indie, Manton’s mysterious Kickstarter campaign, and the allure of company stickers and other marketing stuff."
Make sure to listen through the end for why I ordered stickers for my new app. If you want one, you can email me or send us podcast feedback.
As I said on the show, I highly recommend checking out Thoroughly Considered, the companion podcast for Studio Neat’s Kickstarter project. While you’re there, also consider backing the project, at the podcast level or the full Obi product if you have a pet that would love it. Even if it doesn’t successfully fund, I really enjoyed the first couple episodes of their podcast and hope it continues.
Today we published episode 201 of Core Intuition. From the show notes:
"Daniel and Manton discuss Manton’s search for indie development contracts, the market in general for iOS and Mac contracts, and the range of options for obtaining free and low-cost SSL certificates."
And speaking of podcasts, congrats to Marco Arment on shipping Overcast 2.0. It’s a great update.
Core Int 200 with Marco
Last night we published our 200th episode of Core Intuition. To mark the milestone, Daniel and I welcomed special guest Marco Arment. We talked about the goals behind Overcast, his thoughts leading up to version 2.0, the podcast industry, and supporting our products, with a closing discussion about the new iPhones and proper use of 3D Touch.
Thanks everyone for your support of the show. I hope you enjoy this one.
This week’s Core Intuition is out with a discussion about new and old iPhones, the latest rumors about an Apple Car, and a follow-up on WebKit for Apple TV.
Core Intuition and ATP this week
On this week’s Core Intuition, Daniel and I spend the whole show talking about the Apple TV. The first half is about the Apple TV dev kit lottery, and the second half is about whether we need the web on our TVs.
There’s also a good discussion on the Accidental Tech Podcast about this. Here’s an Overcast link about halfway into the episode.
Every device needs the web
In a widely-linked post to Medium, Daniel Pasco writes about the problem of not having WebKit available on tvOS:
"Webviews are the duct tape of the mobile world. I’d estimate that 50% to 80% of the major apps out there use webviews somewhere within their apps. Apple’s Mail app uses webviews for your email messages, because webviews can style and render the content very efficiently. NetNewsWire uses them prolifically, particularly in a few features we haven’t enabled in the shipping version yet."
I’ve argued on Core Intuition that even with the Apple Watch — as silly as it might seem to want to browse the web on your wrist — there should still be some basic access to the web. If not a full browser, at least a webview so that developers can style short content.
Daniel Jalkut suggests a related compromise for the Apple TV:
"I propose that Apple could strike a compromise that would serve those ambitions while also supporting the tasteful handling of web content in apps. How? By forbidding network access to web content. Apps themselves could still access the network, but not from within their web views."
This is much better, but I think we should aim higher, since giving up on the web seems to admit early defeat to what Daniel acknowledges is probably WebKit’s politically-motivated omission. The web might not be the most usable medium on all devices, but it is arguably the most important one. Just because we all love native apps doesn’t mean we should trade in the significant value that the web provides, especially for independent writing and a permanence that can outlive silos and platforms.
Apple has 4 major platforms now: iOS, tvOS, watchOS, and the Mac. It’s a dangerous precedent for 2 out of those 4 to not have access to the open web. Web services are only part of the story; HTML and the hyperlink are also both fundamental components of web access. A platform is too shut off from the rest of the world without them.
Recorded right after yesterday’s Apple event, Core Intuition 197 is now out. Our reaction to tvOS, iPad Pro vs. the Mac, and more. coreint.org/197
Marco's mic review and the quality trade-off
Marco’s review of his favorite microphones is comprehensive. You can’t go wrong by following his advice. I recorded my first podcast 10 years ago, and Daniel and I are about to hit 200 episodes of Core Intuition, yet I still learned a few new things from reading Marco’s review.
As with most things, though, it’s a personal choice too. Take this part:
If you’re just getting started with podcasting, a USB mic is good enough. If you’re established and looking to upgrade your production quality, or if you just love gear like me, you’ll likely find the jump to XLR worthwhile.
I did the opposite of this. For years I used an XLR mic along with a chain of two additional audio devices: the M-Audio FireWire Solo for getting the audio into the Mac, and the PreSonus TubePRE preamp for boosting the signal. This produced a nice sound and gave me knobs to fiddle with, but the extra complexity was just not worth it. I now use a simple USB mic and prefer it. (It’s the Rode Podcaster, which gets a mediocre endorsement in Marco’s review.)
This kind of “downgrading” is a common pattern with me and computers. I used to run a Mac Pro with 2 external Cinema Displays. Now I exclusively use a 13-inch retina MacBook Pro without a monitor.
In both cases — Macs and microphones — I find the trade-off worth it. If I want to work from a coffee shop, it’s the same resolution display, so I don’t need to change how I use Xcode. If I travel and need to record a podcast, it’s the same as if I was home, so I don’t need to risk messing up my audio settings. You give up some performance and flexibility, but in exchange you get the simplicity of having the same setup no matter where you are. And best of all: no more cables all over my desk.
→ 2:48 PM, Sep 8
On the latest Core Intuition, we preview the September 9th Apple event with a discussion of new iPhones, the Apple TV platform, why I think a new 4-inch iPhone needs to happen eventually, and the iPad Pro stylus.
We’re nearing episode 200… New episode of Core Intuition out this week, talking about Twitter, the open web, and Apple’s new ATS requirements for SSL on iOS 9 and Mac OS X 10.11. coreint.org/195
On this week’s Core Intuition, we talk about my trip to Europe, working while on vacation, the App Store, and AppHub: http://coreint.org/194
Relay FM's first year
Casey Liss summarizes the excellent first year of new podcast network Relay FM:
"Last year, I was deeply honored to be invited to be part of the launch shows on Relay. This year, I’m deeply honored to be a part of a network that not only airs some of the best spoken word programming on the internet, but also cares so deeply about being more inclusive."
Congratulations to all the podcast hosts, and of course to Relay founders Myke Hurley and Stephen Hackett. Stephen posted about how his time as an indie is going:
"The hours break down about how I felt they would break down, with Relay FM taking up about half my time and everything else going down from there. I suspect that consulting number will shrink as I wrap up some stuff for my former employer, but for now, I think this balance works. It's a decent reflection of where my income is, which is encouraging."
Rewinding a few weeks, this is what he had to say about the shift to indie work:
"It’s profoundly surreal, but incredibly freeing, to be focused on my writing and podcasting full-time. There’s still lots to work out with budgets and time management and extra things I could take on, but it’s all under the category of my work. That’s what makes it so much fun, despite the unknowns."
It’s fun to watch the rise of podcast networks. It has now been a little over 5 years since I first wrote about the 5by5 launch. Daniel and I will probably keep Core Intuition independent forever, but I hope that the continued success of larger networks means that the overall podcast market is still growing.
“Am I always starting over In a brand new story? Am I always back at one After all I’ve done?” — Always Starting Over, from the broadway show If/Then
Daniel said on the latest Core Intuition that it’s important to celebrate major work milestones, like shipping a new app or quitting a job. I didn’t think I’d be celebrating right away, but as it turned out, my wife met me for lunch on Friday and we had a beer to mark the occasion. She snapped this photo:
Some things just work out. I couldn’t have picked a better t-shirt to wear if I had planned it.
When 5pm came around I made a final comment on Confluence, replied to a couple emails, and then signed out of HipChat. But I didn’t have time for much reflection. My son and I were busy packing up to head to a campout with Boy Scouts. Then as soon as we arrived back the next day, I turned around again to take my daughter to see Idina Menzel.
The concert was incredible, somehow including both Wicked’s “Defying Gratify” and Radiohead’s “Creep” — and yes, of course Frozen — to make a show with both the occasional explicit lyric and little kids pulled up from the audience to sing. It was only while driving home from the concert that I had a moment to think what I need to do next. Idina’s lines from If/Then at the beginning of this post kept coming back to me.
I’ve worked a long time on a few things, and they were pretty good, but now it’s time to start over. I turn 40 in a few months. It’s time to figure out what the next 10 years of my life should be about.
Two weeks notice: Core Int 192
Continuing from last week’s Core Intuition, today Daniel and I talk more about how things are going with the final days of my job winding down. We then take the second half of the show to catch up on recent news around Twitter’s leadership.
From the show notes:
“Daniel and Manton acknowledge celebration as a survival tactic, discuss the urgency of making ends meet as an indie, and examine changes underway at Twitter with interim CEO Jack Dorsey.�
You can listen or subscribe at the Core Intuition web site. Special thanks to returning sponsor CocoaConf. They’ve got conferences coming up in Boston and San Jose, and then Yosemite National Park next year.
We just published Core Intuition 191, the first episode recorded since I resigned from my regular job. In a way, it feels like this episode was 7 years in the making. Although I clearly wasn’t about to go indie that long ago, the topics that we’ve chosen to discuss on the podcast over the years have always followed that basic narrative: what can we do to improve our apps and business.
And as I hinted about earlier this week, this episode also features the return of our sponsor Twitter to promote their Fabric suite of tools for developers, including Crashlytics and Answers. Great to have them back.
“Manton and Daniel discuss Manton's big decision to quit his job and go full-time indie. They also discuss the challenges of freeing up one's mind to focus on work, the freedom of indie development, and the psychological benefits of a dedicated workplace.�
This is a milestone episode for me. I hope you enjoy it.
Two weeks notice: podcast revenue
In my first post I framed the situation as pinning my indie hopes on two things: my own apps and client work. But as Daniel points out, I’ve actually lucked into several distinct revenue sources. And one of the most promising continues to be our Core Intuition podcast sponsorships and the companion jobs site.
The podcast got some good news over the weekend as we’re adding another long-term sponsor. We’ve had this company as sponsors in the past, and I’m looking forward to having them back and talking about how I use their products.
Like software, revenue from Core Intuition comes in waves. Sometimes we’ll be booked up for months, other times there will be a drought of sponsors, so we’ll focus on pitching the jobs site instead. Sometimes we’ll get new job listings every day, other times a week will go by with nothing. Since we’re not actively marketing it as if it was a full-time business, we can’t count on any kind of consistency from it.
It’s funny how the podcast worked out, though. We started it just because we thought it would be neat — because we thought we had something to share with the community, back in 2008 when there were very few developer podcasts. We added sponsorships to help justify the time and keep us to a weekly schedule. And now, ironically, the podcast that was about running an indie business will actually help me do just that.
I’m so grateful to listeners new and old who have supported us. I received a bunch of nice “congrats!� emails and mentions on our Slack channels yesterday. We’re approaching 200 episodes now, over 7 years, and I hope we can continue to keep the podcast interesting for some time to come.
Two weeks notice: the first weekend
I have some big news to share, so obviously I’m going to write a bunch of blog posts about it. This is the first one.
For a while now I’ve been juggling working on my own projects, with my indie company Riverfold Software, and having a regular job at the education e-book software company VitalSource, where I’ve been for over 14 years. As much as I felt like this balance mostly worked, lately it has become clear that the “nights and weekends� approach to Riverfold just isn’t going to be enough time going forward. Last week I resigned from my job at VitalSource to focus on growing Riverfold and shipping new apps this year, some of the most ambitious products I’ve ever tackled.
I thought it would be fun to do a series of blog posts about the early part of this transition. For the next couple weeks, as I wind down one set of projects and ramp up new ones, I’m going to post here with the slightly-catchy title prefix “Two weeks notice�. It will be me thinking out loud about the transition, kind of in the informal spirit of Brent’s syncing diary, or like a more serialized version of the classic indie posts from Gus Mueller and Paul Kafasis.
But unlike the authors of those posts, I can’t claim to have found success yet. If you take Scotty’s definition from the iDeveloper podcast, in fact, I’m not “indie� at all; I expect some percentage of my time will have to be reserved for client projects to help pay the bills. While I used to find that idea distasteful — why give up a consistent salary if you’re not even going to call the shots? — I’ve come to realize that client work can be pretty interesting. The cycle of starting new projects and shipping them is a good way to learn new APIs and iterate on how to build an app from scratch.
While reading all these 2005-era indie blog posts, I was surprised to rediscover that Daniel Jalkut also mentioned mixing in consulting work:
"Consulting makes an excellent back-up plan. You’ve always got a job if you need it, and your destiny is very much in your own hands."
Of course he wanted more than that: to build a great company based around his own apps. I’m sure Daniel and I will be talking about this on Core Intuition later this week.
So it is a little in the vein of “leap and the net will appear� that I’m moving on from a stable job, where I worked with great developers and friends, to something new that is a lot less certain. I thought that would make for a stressful week, but so far, everything seems okay.
There’s paperwork to do and code to write. There’s health insurance to figure out. But there are also some things that have already been wrapped up. My projects at work are in a good place, hopefully not needing constant maintenance. We just refinanced our house, so that’s a monthly savings, and something that I’m told is difficult without a “real� job.
Friday night I started catching up on some late business taxes (whoops). Saturday I finished editing the podcast (which we recorded over a week ago). The rest of the weekend I tried to relax with family (but I worked anyway). It’s Monday now and there’s a busy week ahead. Let’s see how this goes.
For this week’s Core Int we spent the whole episode talking about customer support, sustainable pricing, and building a company that fits your values.
On the latest Core Int, Daniel and I talk about Safari, Apple’s priorities, and the slow pace of web standards, plus AVMovie and more from WWDC.
Core Int episode 188 is out. If you have off from work today, or have a weekend away from the computer planned, queue it up. We talk 10.10.4, Apple Music, and more.
→ 12:30 PM, Jul 3
Apple Music and free Beats 1
Apple Music launched today with iOS 8.4. Christina Warren has an early review for Mashable, in particular mentioning the value of For You:
“The real heart of Apple Music is the For You tab. This is basically your music homescreen. When you open the section for the first time, you're asked to go through a discovery exercise. This was lifted directly from Beats Music and it's one of the best discovery tools I've used over the years.�
If Apple Music can be thought of as Beats Music 2.0, then the Connect tab is probably a little like Ping 2.0, an update on Apple’s first attempt to build a music-only social network. As Daniel and I discussed on Core Intuition 187, any service that demonstrates a network effect — everything from eBay to Twitter — needs some critical mass of users to reach its potential. I was curious whether Apple could achieve this if the Connect feature was locked behind a paid subscription after the initial 3-month trial.
What I missed is that Connect and even Beats 1 will be free. From the Apple Music page:
“Even without a membership, you can listen to Beats 1 radio, see what artists are posting on Connect, and hear our ad‑supported stations.�
Beats 1 is one of the more interesting aspects of Apple Music to me. I just signed up for the trial and plan to continue at the $15/month family subscription.
On episode 187 of Core Intuition: thoughts from WWDC about watchOS 2.0, Ello and the challenge of new social networks, plus Daniel hints at a new product idea. http://coreint.org/187
We just published episode 186 of Core Intuition. This is our first recording after WWDC 2015, with talk of Swift 2.0, new Mac and iOS APIs, CloudKit, and SSL. http://coreint.org/186
Dan Moren wrote on Six Colors last month about the Amazon Echo. On the voice recognition working so well:
“The Echo’s hardware deserves a full share of that credit. The microphones on this device are impressive; even when I’m several rooms away, Alexa rarely mishears me. I’ve triggered it from my kitchen and from my hallway, the latter of which doesn’t even have line of sight to the Echo.�
I have one too. I pre-ordered it on a whim and then promptly forgot about it for 2 months. Then seemingly the next thing I knew it had showed up at my house. If I had remembered about the order, I might have cancelled it, but now I’m glad I didn’t. The Amazon Echo is great.
I remarked on Core Intuition that it’s like a task-specific Siri, with better accuracy because there are limited things you want to ask it. Play some music, set a timer, measurement conversions. It can’t do everything, but what it can do is particularly useful in the kitchen or living room. Plus it’s probably the best wireless speaker we’ve ever owned.
Because it’s so effortless to play music now, I’ve uploaded some tracks from iTunes to the Amazon cloud via their music uploader. (Remember when we wanted DRM-free music? This is a concrete reason why.) And since we have an Amazon Prime membership, I’ve discovered that we have a significant amount of good music in the cloud already.
I’m looking forward to Apple Music and will probably subscribe, but I’ve realized after having the Echo for a while that Amazon is quietly sitting on something pretty special. They should do more with music — I didn’t realize until now that they even had a dedicated iOS music app — and more to build and promote their service. Music is in their “DNA” just as much as it’s in Apple’s. After all, Amazon’s 2nd offering after books was music CDs.
The pre-WWDC episode of Core Intuition is ready. If you’ve never listened to the podcast before, I think this is a good one to start with. http://coreint.org/185
Listen to me talk about my new Apple Watch and what I think it means for developers. Core Intuition episode 181 is out now.
Core Int jobs testimonials
We’ve been lucky to see some great job listings appear on Core Intuition Jobs. Companies are getting good résumés and job applicants are finding the kind of job they’ve always wanted.
When we hear from companies who have hired someone, we like to include a brief testimonial on the sidebar of the site. We’re about to add this one from Ken Drew at iRobot:
“Our experience with the Core Intuition Jobs board went beyond our expectations. It provided higher caliber candidates for our recent iOS developer position. After doing code reviews for the candidate we eventually hired, we are more than pleased with who we found.�
Thank you to everyone who listens to the podcast or watches on Twitter for new job listings. The opportunities for iOS and Mac developers have never been better. Get the job you want or find the next great member of your team.
Core Int 180 and Slack
We posted this week’s Core Intuition late last night. This episode is all about WWDC tickets, our plan for San Francisco, and when we’re going to adopt Swift.
We’re also trying something new for listeners, or anyone who wants to talk about programming, WWDC, and other Mac and iOS topics. You can get an automatic invite to our Slack channels for the show by visiting chat.coreint.org. Feel free to join in! I’ve been impressed with how well Slack works for this, and the great discussion that’s already happening there.
This week for Core Intuition, we share our Apple Watch thoughts before pre-order day and discuss 10.10.3’s Photos app for Mac in the context of my app Clipstart.
→ 12:38 PM, Apr 9
On the latest Core Int: follow-up on NSBundle, Xcode quality, and a debate about unit testing. Sponsored by Screens.
Core Intuition episode 177: iPhone games, NSConference 7, NSBundle and old APIs, and more.
Short and sweet job posts
I’ve been very happy to see the variety and high quality of jobs listed on our Core Intuition Jobs site. Two in particular have recently caught my attention for being concise, as if they don’t want to waste a potential candidate’s time with too many bullet points.
First up is Betaworks, which you’ve heard of as the company that now develops apps like Instapaper and Digg. Here’s the listing in its entirety:
“We're working on a bunch of brand new products at betaworks and are looking for iOS contractors to help our existing engineers move faster. We're ready to start ASAP and this gig will go through June (with the option to stay on for longer if you'd like to). Email us for more info if you're interested!�
And here’s new startup Honest Dollar, where you’ll be working in downtown Austin with my friend Justin Youens and a team looking to reinvent retirement plans for small businesses. Again, the full text:
“We're a new startup in Austin and are looking for awesome people to help build our iOS apps! We have an amazing team in place, and are looking to extend it. “If you have at least a few years of impressive iOS experience, we'd love to talk. Relocation assistance available, but onsite desired. Full-time or contract.�
I bet both of these companies would be great places to work.
On today’s Core Intuition: Apple Watch prices, CIA hacking, Medium’s custom domains, blogging, and more.
Very busy (and the watch)
Yesterday this weblog turned 13 years old. I don’t usually miss the anniversary; it’s a nice time to reflect on what I’m writing about here. But I’ve been incredibly busy this year, working on a range of things from real work to side projects to family stuff.
Over the weekend I also helped out at the annual STAPLE! comics show in Austin. This is always a great time to check out what independent artists are up to, and as usual I came away inspired to get back into drawing.
I’ll have a longer write-up about yesterday’s Apple event soon. I have a very negative opinion about the $10k Apple Watch Edition — not because it’s expensive, but because of what focusing on the super rich says about Apple’s priorities. Daniel and I talked about this at length on Core Intuition episode 174 a couple weeks ago.
Overall the event was great, though. I’m looking forward to pre-ordering a watch and getting into development. Leaning toward the 42mm Sport, with blue band and an extra classic buckle.
We published episode 175 of Core Int late last night. This should’ve been last week’s episode, but luckily its lateness doesn’t obsolete it; we don’t talk about the Apple Watch. Topics: procrastination, NSConf, TestFlight, and more.
→ 8:15 AM, Mar 9
Apple car speculation, the upcoming Apple Watch launch, and the idea of overpaying by $10,000 for your next Apple gadget… Those topics and more on Core Intuition 173.
On the latest Core Intuition, we follow up on App Store rejections, react to Swift 1.2 and Tim Cook’s recent comments, and discuss new blogging systems.
On this week’s Core Intuition:
"Daniel and Manton touch again on the subject of killing off apps, assess the effectiveness of protest movements against the App Store, catch up on the state of the art for appealing App Store rejections, and acknowledge the coming end of NSConference."
In this episode we talked about how I was going to need to more formally appeal the Sunlit 1.3 rejection, not just comment in the Resolution Center. But shortly after we recorded, the app magically went live in the store anyway. I was very happy to avoid making further coding changes, though I expect I’ll have to revisit this if the app is ever rejected again.
On this week’s episode of Core Intuition, Daniel and I talk about some setbacks while trying to ship updates to our apps, sending users to Safari on iOS, and a listener question about promoting your app to the press.
Last night we published episode 169 of Core Intuition. As we’ve done on a couple recent episodes, we let this one run for an hour with a discussion of App Store revenue, sales charts, and progress on our own projects. Sunlit 1.3, the update I mention in the podcast, is complete now and submitted to Apple for review.
Tweet Library 2.7 and promising features
Last year I wrote that I would be removing Tweet Library from the App Store at the end of December, and later said on Core Int and in a tweet that there would be one last update before the app is gone. It’s well into January and the old version is still for sale. I’m over a month behind schedule but still plan to release the updated version and stop selling the app.
On the latest Release Notes podcast there was a great discussion about when to give up on an app that isn’t making money, including a mention of my plan with Tweet Library. Joe and Charles talked about why it’s usually such a bad idea to promise features before you ship, and whether there’s an obligation to give customers any updates at all.
I pretty much agree with everything they said, but the upcoming Tweet Library 2.7 “features” are different. My goal with this release is for the app to be functional and stable for as long possible. I think the app needs better syncing of tweet collections to help future-proof it, to make it easier for customers to move between iOS devices when they upgrade their iPhone or iPad a year from now. For an app that is going away, I should do everything I can to make sure that a customer’s data is accessible and that import and export are as robust as possible.
It’s a reasonable question to ask why I would spend so much time working on something that will essentially bring in no additional revenue. But while it won’t directly make any money, it probably helped convince some new customers to buy the app over the last month, and it will very likely reduce the support burden for the app over the following year.
I also view it as a sort of parting “thank you” to my customers. It’s just the right thing to do to wrap up the app. Panic did the same thing when they stopped selling Unison, releasing a major free update at the same time.
If you’re interested in picking up a copy of Tweet Library before it’s too late, you can buy it on the App Store for $4.99. The new version should ship in early February.
After a long holiday break, we posted episode 168 of Core Intuition over the weekend — a full hour on starting 2015, Apple software quality, and the unexpected state of the Mac App Store.
On the latest episode of Core Intuition we talk about Daniel’s Swift code, discuss Git vs. Mercurial and the significance of GitHub, and answer a listener question.
Core Int and Hour of Code
We were lagging a little after the Thanksgiving break, so we posted two episodes of Core Intuition last week. On the latest episode we talk about the Hour of Code and welcome new listeners who found our podcast from the App Store feature.
After we recorded, I helped out my son’s elementary school class with the Hour of Code tutorials. I learned a lot and came away even more impressed with the project. The reach is pretty incredible. Even if it only sways the interest of a couple kids here and there, but spread over classrooms all across the world, you can imagine how big a difference it might make.
So busy last week that we didn’t post Core Intuition 165 until yesterday. We talk about Daniel’s iOS extension development and Manton’s reactions to yet more Twitter news. We’re recording another episode for posting later this week!
→ 9:33 AM, Dec 9
Mailing list for new project
I’ve been working on something new around microblogging. Some people have guessed at what it is based on discussions Daniel and I have had on Core Intuition, but only a handful of people have seen it. Soon I want to open it up to more beta testers.
If you’re interested in the project, you can now sign up on the announcement mailing list for more information. I’ll send an email when the beta launches, as well as occasional updates for major new features. Hope you like it!
Core Intuition 164 went live today. WatchKit, conference presenting, why Slack is worth $1 billion and my apps aren’t, and more.
We posted Core Intuition episode 163 this weekend, with a discussion of Apple’s offices outside Cupertino, minimum viable products, and public speaking.
On this week’s Core Intuition, Daniel and I discuss celebrities in tech and the often slow progress on our own products.
Core Intuition with Brent Simmons
Daniel and I welcomed Brent Simmons on the Core Intuition podcast this week. Here’s Brent on writing and the web as a guarantee of free speech:
"The old web where I feel like more people saw the web as what I was talking about: as a unique and amazing invention in human history, a thing that can bring the 6 billion voices out into the open, to tell their stories and say what they're going to say. That this thing is really something special, and it shouldn't just be treated as a way for monetizing eyeballs and figuring out great new advances in interstitial ads. [...] We can't lose sight of the opportunity this is. And if the story really is that the web exploded in the mid 90s and became a wonderful thing, and then stopped being that wonderful thing a little more than 20 years later... Then I couldn't even bear that heartbreak."
Hope you all enjoy the episode. It was great to have Brent on the show.
Daniel and I just published Core Intuition 159. It’s an episode of endings: the last Çingleton, no more Macworld Expo, and shutting down Glassboard. Along the way we discuss indie development, making a decision in public, and the reward and challenge of taking on something truly big.
iPhone 6 Plus and iPod
Kirby Turner wrote about needing an iPhone 6 Plus as a developer but not really wanting one as a user:
"As a developer what I really want is an iPod touch Plus. If Apple were selling an iPod touch Plus that is the same as the iPhone 6 Plus minus the phone, then I would buy it in an instant. That way I could continue using my iPhone 5 as my primary phone device and the iPod touch Plus as a test device."
I’ve talked about skipping this phone generation on the podcast a few times. I already got out of the yearly updates when I kept the 4S forever and then got the 5C instead of the 5S. After seeing the 6 Plus in person at the Apple Store and with everyone who had one at Çingleton, I’m pretty comfortable with my decision. But I’d strongly consider replacing my iPad Mini with a 5.5-inch iPod Touch.
RSS reading and writing
I’ve received so much feedback about microblogging that I haven’t had a chance to reply or blog about each one yet. This post from Dave Peck is especially interesting:
"For some time now, I’ve wanted a new kind of RSS client: one that reads and writes. Today’s RSS apps artificially separate us from the content we read. If we want to reply — if we want to participate in the conversation — we’ve got to use an entirely unrelated set of tools."
MarsEdit of course was famously spun off from NetNewsWire. Early versions of NetNewsWire did three things: reading blogs, organizing ideas in a notepad outliner, and writing new blog posts. I think Brent was on to something with combining all these features, but I also totally understand wanting to simplify so that each component is as good as it can be. MarsEdit wouldn’t be as full-featured and polished today if it hadn’t been given that room to grow as its own app.
Also, don’t miss the last half of today’s Core Intuition. Daniel and I talk at length about microblogging and owning your own content.
Core Intuition episode 157 is now online. We talk about Brent going to Omni, trends in indie and full-time work, more on the iPhone 6, and App Store delays.
→ 12:11 PM, Oct 3
Episode 156 of Core Intuition is out. Daniel and I discuss the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and what they might mean for the future of the iPhone product line.
I’m now convinced that Apple will have something like a 6C next year to maintain the 4-inch design. It will never have the best camera or longest battery life — that will be reserved for the larger phones — but there will be 3 fully supported sizes with some core modern features like Touch ID and Apple Pay.
We also talk about updating your app for the new screen sizes and iOS 8. My update to Tweet Library is still waiting for review, but hopefully will be approved soon.
Core Intuition 155 and microblogging
This week on Core Intuition we follow up on Apple news, then discuss the sale of Unread and all the new activity around RSS apps and services. It makes a good complement to some of my recent posts on microblogging.
Still thinking about yesterday’s iPhone 6 and Apple Watch event. Daniel and I recorded our first thoughts on a special episode of Core Intuition yesterday.
Transmit for iOS 8
Federico Viticci has the exclusive on Transmit coming to iOS:
"Considering the old limitations of iOS for inter-app communication and file management, using the Transmit extension feels like a major breakthrough and exactly the kind of experience that the app was meant to be on an iPhone and iPad."
While traveling this summer, I used Panic’s Prompt to download and rename files on the Core Intuition web server. It’s going to be great to also have Transmit’s UI in my pocket.
We just posted episode 153 of Core Intuition, covering the upcoming Apple event and other important topics like paying extra for iced coffee.
We posted episode 152 of Core Intuition today, with discussion of iCloud Drive, iOS 8, and Yosemite, plus mini-rants about distributed version control, why Daniel uses Mercurial, and how I just switched everything to GitHub. I like how this episode turned out. As usual, it’s under 40 minutes, and not a bad place to start if you’re just subscribing for the first time.
The Core Intuition jobs site is still half off for a few more days. $100 to get your job in front of a bunch of great iOS and Mac developers.
(After a decade on Movable Type, I’m migrating this blog to a new system, so I fell into the trap of not posting much until that process is complete. I’ll have much more to write about this soon.)
The third era of WWDC
“This is it,� a friend said to me as we were walking up Market Street with other developers, late at night as WWDC was winding down several years ago. The iPhone had hit. The conference was getting bigger. Apple was on the verge of becoming a giant in the industry and you could feel it in the air — a coming change that was obvious only from a distance because it disappeared as you reached for it, like San Francisco fog rolling over the bay. “This is the height of the conference and it’s never going to be like this again.�
Looking back it perfectly captured what I think of as the second “era� of WWDC. It was a kind of golden age for Mac and iOS developers, with a new generation of successful Mac indies and before the iOS race to the bottom was much past the starting line.
From my perspective, learning Mac development in the mid 90s, there are three distinct eras of Apple’s WWDC. My first WWDCs were at the San Jose Convention Center. The developer base was small enough that you consistently ran into everyone, companies like Metrowerks and even Adobe seemed to have an influence on the conference, and Apple frequently showed off new APIs that might not actually ship soon or ever. It was an exciting time to be a Mac developer but the rest of the world didn’t care. This was the backdrop for the failed Copland project, for Steve Jobs coming back, for the clash between Carbon and Cocoa, and the acceptance of Mac OS X.
The next era was at the move to San Francisco. The conference was getting bigger but Apple attempted to keep the events and themes that made WWDC the same, even for a while busing attendees to the beer bash in Cupertino. This is the time when the iPhone SDK arrived and the conference exploded. I think most developers will always look back at this time as something amazing. It’s the backdrop for that walk up Market Street and a dozen similar conversations.
Now we’re in the third modern era of WWDC, with one undeniable characteristic: a small percentage of developers can get a ticket to the conference. The community, however, is as strong as ever, and there’s still a desire to have WWDC be that “one place� that developers can meet each year. It’s a need that smaller, regional conferences, no matter how important they are, just can’t fill.
I like this post from James Dempsey because it starts with the assumption that not getting a WWDC ticket is the new normal:
Once something changes from being dependably available to rarely available, you begin to form alternate plans and take alternate paths.
He’s right. Since it’s likely that Apple will continue to iterate slowly instead of making major changes to grow the conference, we’re better off adapting. By adapting we can focus on preserving the community aspects of WWDC that are arguably just as important as the technical tracks.
And change comes slowly to WWDC. I realized while watching video from the Tech Talks recently that Apple just doesn’t see a big problem. John Geleynse described a situation where only one person from a team is at WWDC; the rest of the company is back at the office watching videos and sending questions to their coworker at the conference to ask in the labs. Getting videos out the same day makes the conference more useful for both those without a ticket and actual attendees (and their team) too.
(I still have complaints about how WWDC tickets are distributed and why Apple doesn’t attempt to grow the conference a little more, but the lottery is an improvement over last year. See Core Intuition episodes 132 and 133 for a full discussion.)
I’ll be in San Francisco for a few days next week — at AltConf, at the Cartoon Art Museum fundraiser, catching up on session videos, waiting in line for coffee, hiding in my hotel room writing code, and getting some good food and drink with fellow developers. WWDC means something different now, but it matters just as much as it always has. Hope to see you there.
The last half of this week’s Core Intuition serves as a follow-up to my recent blog post on Twitter. Daniel tries to get at the business problems of not being active on Twitter. On the show I say:
“Me trying to make a statement, even if it’s insignificant, by not posting to Twitter... It wouldn’t mean anything if it didn’t cost me anything. If it didn’t have a cost, it would not matter.�
We also talk about Automattic raising money, blog software, and what that sandwich shop that Daniel avoids has to do with customer service.
135 episodes already? Hard to believe. But we’ve been pretty consistently putting out weekly shows for a while now. Funny thing about starting early and just sitting down to do work every day or week: eventually you end up with something big.
On this week’s show, Daniel and I talked about Apple’s stock, rumors of a search engine, and a follow-up on my Twitter ads experiment. I like how this episode turned out.
Podcast appearances and slides
I forgot to mention a few weeks back that I was a guest on the iPhreaks Show podcast. The format is a panel of regulars and usually one guest, making it feel more like a roundtable discussion. They had me on to talk about subscription pricing: charging every month for your app or service.
Some of what we talked about was covered in 2 talks I gave last year about subscriptions, at NSConference and CocoaConf Dallas. I’ve finally pulled together the slides from these talks and put the latest version from CocoaConf here as a PDF (17 MB). It’s different than the NSConference one, but I think works better standalone. You can still purchase the videos from NSConference 2013 to get my talk and many other great ones.
This week I was also on the Release Notes podcast with Joe Cieplinski and Charles Perry. They do a great job each episode focusing on something from the business side of running an indie software company, and they’ve had some excellent guests as well. From the show notes for episode 41:
“We talk about creating products vs. services, changing products from free to paid, and the advantages and challenges of subscription pricing. Manton also shares his experience in creating apps like Sunlit that build on top of other services like Twitter and App.net, his recent foray into freemium pricing, and the launch of the new Core Intuition Jobs Board.�
If you enjoy Core Intuition, I think you’ll really like Release Notes. Let me know if you have any feedback on the show.
Core Intuition Jobs
This week we launched the Core Intuition Jobs site on episode 125 of the podcast. The idea was to create a job board focused only around Mac and iOS developers. The 24 jobs already listed there all talk about Objective-C, Cocoa, ARC, or Xcode, so you don’t need to weed through a giant list of thousands of irrelevant jobs. There are some really great companies in the list.
We’ve also added an RSS feed, so you can see when new jobs are posted, and we’ll be rolling out @coreintjobs on Twitter and App.net soon. Even if you’re not actively looking for a new position, subscribing to the feed or following @coreintjobs is a great way to see some of the amazing work being done in the Cocoa community.
Flappy Bird on steroids
On this week’s Core Intuition, we talked a lot about Flappy Bird (and also Threes, and a few other things). One of the points I tried to make is that some of the negativity pointed toward the developer was totally uncalled for. Marco Arment says it well in his post on this topic:
“Flappy Bird’s success was hilarious, but it also appears to be completely earned. I’ve read the posts suggesting he cheated at the ranks or reviews, but I haven’t seen any that supported those claims enough.�
As I read Marco’s full post, and re-listened to what Daniel and I said on the podcast, I do wonder if developer Dong Nguyen had been so overwhelmed by the success that the line blurred for him between the death threats and the joke “this ruined my life� app reviews. You’d have to have a pretty thick skin to not let it get to you, even if I hope that most users had a good sense of humor about the whole thing. It’s true that the game is crazy addicting, but unlike some games — the worst of which are driven by consumable in-app purchases, gimmickly rigged to get users to feed money into the game — Flappy Bird is addicting in kind of the best way, because it’s something we’re all playing and can laugh about together.
And Nguyen cares about more than just money. He’s demonstrated an empathy for customers that seems to be lacking in many corners of the App Store. Where some developers said he was leaving money on the table by not having more ads, and other developers were quick to rush in with rip-offs of his app, Ngugen wasn’t afraid to admit it was out of control and pull the app from the store. Do you think any of the other developers who renamed their app to include the word “flappy� would have pulled their app? Not a chance.
I hope Nguyen can bounce back from this and ship more games. With so much attention now, it’ll be fascinating to see what they look like. Or if he’s stashed away some of that $50k/day and wants to just chill out for a while, that’s fine too.
5 years until automation
For over 5 years and 122 episodes, every time we released a new episode of Core Intuition, I manually added the episode to the RSS feed using BBEdit. There was enough tedious XML copy-and-pasting that it was silly not to automate this process, but we kept putting it off. Finally last week, we switched over to an RSS feed generated by WordPress.
What surprised me is that until it was automated, I didn’t realize how much time I had been wasting editing and uploading the file manually. It was a small but very noticeable win last week when I could just upload the MP3 and click Publish, and that was it.
I’m not sure what the lesson is here. I never automate a task too soon, but 5 years was a long time. Maybe it’s just this: it’s never too late to get a better workflow.
37signals rebrands to Basecamp
I first blogged about 37signals a couple times back in 2002, and I’ve been a fan ever since. They had a huge influence on the way I approach design and the way I like to build products, not to mention a big impact on a whole new class of “software as a service� web apps.
The decision last week to go all-in on Basecamp left me puzzled. Daniel and I discussed this at length on Core Intuition. It’s one thing to focus all your efforts on a single product, but seems quite another to rename the whole company around it. I still feel that once you make that choice, your hands are tied from ever thinking big again, from ever wanting to grow beyond the scope of a single product. It’s like saying “our best product ideas are behind us�, and I know that’s not true for 37signals.
On the other hand, I’m sure 37signals understands their business better than I do. And maybe even big decisions are temporary anyway. I’m excited to see how it plays out in another year or two.
You can listen to Core Intuition episode 123 and let us know if we’re off base or not. Last week’s show also has more about choosing a product lineup, managing time, and thoughts on App.net’s Backer. Thanks to Smile’s PDFpen for sponsoring the podcast.
If you’ve been reading my blog for a very long time, or listening to my podcast, you probably know that in addition to my business Riverfold Software, I also have a “regular� job at VitalSource. As that company has grown, I feel less comfortable blogging about my work there, since I can’t speak for the company or even the smaller group I directly work with.
But this month is my 13th anniversary (!) with VitalSource, so I thought it would be interesting to look back on the times I’ve blogged about my work there, and highlight some of things I’ve helped build.
One of the earlier posts, back in 2005, was about our new store, where I linked to blog posts from James Duncan Davidson, Mike Clark, and Ryan Irelan about the project. But nearly a decade of migrating between blog systems has taken its toll; my post is still there, but the other links are all 404 not found.
Then from 2007, I wrote about syncing highlights and notes in e-books:
“The architecture is based on the Simple Sharing Extensions (SSE) for RSS and OPML. On top of that we have added a VitalSource namespace and a few extra XML elements and attributes to keep track of Bookshelf-specific data, such as highlighter color and selected text within a book. The goal is to keep it as open as possible, so that in the future we can both consume other sources of user notes, and allow third-parties to also hook into the data in interesting ways.�
We recently updated the API to use a new, faster sync architecture, but the web app is still in use today. I’ve been updating it for Rails 4, a tedious process because of the Rails community’s fascination with deprecation.
Again in 2007, I mentioned updates to two of my favorite apps, MarsEdit 1.2 and NetNewsWire 3.0, along with VitalSource Bookshelf 4.6:
“At VitalSource we also just released Bookshelf 4.6 today, which lays the foundation for media-rich textbooks and adds a highlighter rating UI for any subscribed highlighters you have. This data will bubble up in a few places in the future to allow you to discover people and books, although for now it’s one-way.�
It’s neat looking back on this post because it includes a short screencast of the app from 2007, presumably running on Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. The promise of this highlighter ratings feature never really materialized, though.
In 2010, I thought about the iPad right before its release:
“I’m working on 2 apps for the iPad. The first is just a minor iPad refresh of an existing iPhone app at VitalSource called Bookshelf Noteview (iTunes link). It’s for reading notes and highlights synced from our e-book platform.�
Noteview was eventually removed from sale. The other app I hinted at would become Tweet Library.
Around the same time, I blogged about Mac OS X as a server platform:
“At VitalSource we now have a dozen Xserves running Ruby on Rails and a couple others running MySQL. While it’s mostly stable now, over the years there have been several mystery show-stopper problems that no one seems to have on other platforms.�
Obviously Apple no longer sells the Xserve. At VitalSource all our best new servers run Linux.
Also in 2010, I reflected on how a team grows:
“If you’re working by yourself and add another person to the project, a funny thing happens: you become a manager. Before, you could spend 100% of your time on the work. Now you can allocate 50-75%, because you’re getting the new programmer up to speed, answering questions, and setting priorities. If you’re lucky (and I usually am), the person you added is contributing so much that it easily makes up for your loss in productivity, and then some.�
Later in 2010, I described how we shipped Bookshelf for iPhone:
“At its core the app is 3 parts: a large C++ codebase, brand new Objective-C UI code, and a bunch of clever WebKit and JavaScript work. In many ways it’s a more difficult project than my other iPad app (still in development), but some great coders contributed to different parts of the architecture, before and after I joined the project.�
There are other posts, but I think these hit some of the more interesting milestones in the last 13 years. I also have an archive of earlier, company-internal blog posts, starting in 2001, that I hope to look into and publish pieces from one day.
On the latest episode of Core Intuition, we talk about how the Sunlit launch is going, expanding on my post about Sunlit and Storehouse. We also follow up with some comments from the Glassboard on privacy policies and the App Store review guidelines.
This week’s show was sponsored by CocoaConf. They have 5 cities planned for the next few months: Chicago, Washington DC, Austin, San Jose, and Raleigh. I’ll be speaking at the stop here in Austin. If you’re in the area and attending, hope to see you there!
200 MB free
I wrote a draft of this post a couple weeks ago while on the road, then gave a summary on Core Intuition 115. But I still wanted to publish it and give a little more detail about my experience with cellular on the iPad.
I ordered my retina iPad Mini with T-Mobile, hoping to take advantage of their free 200 MB of data per month. Since most of the time I’m at home on wi-fi, I figured the savings for all the months that I don’t need even 200 MB would more than offset the extra $130 cost of buying the cellular version of iPad.
I had three primary use cases in mind: the occasional commute on the train to work at coffee shops downtown, when it’s nice to be connected but the train wi-fi doesn’t cut it; swim meets and other kid activities with very long downtime, again without need for a laptop but it might be nice to catch up on some writing or RSS feeds; and road trips, lonely stretches of the highway where I’m technically on vacation but still need to check in on email, chat, or App.net.
I got home from the Apple Store, excitedly opened the box, restored my iPad from iCloud, tapped to set up a new T-Mobile plan, and… immediately wished I had chosen Verizon instead. Because the first thing I saw was an error that the web site wasn’t working. T-Mobile is smallest of the big carriers, and the error made me doubt that T-Mobile had the coverage or competence to make this work.
I followed up the poor first impression by searching the internet for similar problems that other T-Mobile customers might have run into. Sure enough, it was common weeks earlier during the iPad Air rollout, and T-Mobile still hadn’t fixed it. The workaround was simply to disable wi-fi during setup, forcing the connection to go through T-Mobile’s network.
A week later I gave the network its first real test on the road. Checking email, looking up maps and directions, writing, even a little streaming video for the kids.
The coverage between major cities wasn’t good. The iPad Mini was often on Edge where my iPhone 4S on AT&T had 4G. It worked, but would frequently drop and reconnect. Sometimes I’d get lucky and find a spot of LTE for a little while, and it was a beautiful thing, while it lasted. Other times it was all but unusable.
The good news is that “200 MB free� is not a marketing gimmick. No strings attached, no credit card required, and no phone plan needed; it really is free cell data. The cost is dealing with a company that wants desperately to “get� iOS but isn’t quite there, and poor connectivity between cities compared to AT&T. But after a rough start, I have no regrets. I’m typing this on my iPad along I-10 somewhere between Austin and Orlando, and that’s priceless indeed.
Found via Shawn Blanc, CJ Chilvers writes about the reputation of photographers:
“I look at their blogs and the consideration given to advertisers over readers. I look at their Twitter feeds that have become broadcasts, rather than conversations. I look at their Instagram feeds and see a stream of consciousness, instead of considered examples of the work that makes them proud.�
It reminds me of one of my favorite parts of Christina Warren’s talk at this year’s Çingleton, where she told the story of turning down work she wouldn’t be proud of, even though she was still struggling as a professional writer. That your reputation will outlast your current job or project:
“If I give up my name — which I’m starting to build and people are starting to respect — by doing stuff like this, what does that mean? I can’t ever live this down. All I have is my name.�
Daniel Jalkut and I talked more about the general themes of Çingleton a couple months ago, on Core Intuition episode 110.
David Smith’s apps at 5 years
David Smith wrote last week on the 5-year anniversary of shipping his first iPhone app. I started following David’s work in the middle this story — after he had started the Developing Perspective podcast, but before he created Check the Weather and Feed Wrangler — so it’s especially great to see such a nice, reflective post that fills in the earlier apps. On launching and scaling Feed Wrangler:
“In retrospect, it was one of the toughest challenges and most trying times of my career. The relentless dual-pronged attack of late nights and urgent work made it crushing physically and psychologically. Now that things have settled down, I can look back and be glad that I went through it. The kind of things you learn in that kind of crucible can’t be easily recreated.�
I could read these kind of posts every day. Also last week, when Gus Mueller announced that he was selling VoodooPad, I remembered as I was talking with Daniel on Core Intuition 112 that Gus’s similar blog post from 2005 is still interesting and relevant today.
Announcing the Tweet Marker developer plan
I’m launching a new paid developer plan for Tweet Marker today. It’s $75/month and includes a new admin dashboard with stats on active users, hits, and more. I’ve also expanded the API to support syncing which direct messages have been read.
Why charge developers now, after keeping the service free for 2 years? In part it’s because of something I learned from publishing the Core Intuition podcast with Daniel Jalkut. Because for the first few years of Core Intuition, Daniel and I had trouble getting episodes out very regularly; there was always something more important to work on. Adding sponsors pushed us to stick to a weekly schedule, and it’s worked out even better than I expected.
I hope the same thing will happen for Tweet Marker. Although I’ve put countless hours into maintaining Tweet Marker (and plenty of money on hosting), I couldn’t justify the effort to create new APIs because it wasn’t a revenue-generating product. Now I can dedicate more time to it, even with a modest level of support from developers.
Of course, I’m sensitive to the difficulty of transitioning from a free to paid product. That’s why I’m doing two things to make it easier for everyone.
First, I won’t be turning off any existing developers’ access to the service. The last thing I’d want is to break third-party Twitter apps currently in use. But I do strongly encourage commercial app developers to subscribe if they have the means to.
Second, I’ve created a referral program for app developers to let their customers know about the $1/month user subscription. This is a great way for developers to show their support even if they can’t subscribe to the developer plan. But even better, for developers who do subscribe, their account will be credited for each paid user they refer. This can effectively make the new developer plan free or significantly discounted.
This is a big change for Tweet Marker, but an important one to make Tweet Marker strong. I’m excited to keep working on it, so that Twitter apps can work even better together. Sign in here to learn more about it.
Twitter's modern architecture
I love this detailed write-up of the Twitter backend as it exists today. Sending a tweet to your followers uses a massive Redis cluster with a couple terabytes of RAM:
“Let’s say you tweet and you have 20K followers. What the fanout daemon will do is look up the location of all 20K users inside the Redis cluster. Then it will start inserting the Tweet ID of the tweet into all those lists throughout the Redis cluster. So for every write of a tweet as many as 20K inserts are occurring across the Redis cluster.�
A listener of Core Intuition asked me today if I had second thoughts about no longer using Twitter, especially since I still maintain a Twitter app. We’ll discuss this on a future episode, but the short answer is: no, I don’t regret it. I have a huge amount of respect for what Twitter has built at a technical level, and for the opportunities it gives people to communicate. I just don’t like their attitude toward developers.
5 years of Core Int
Today is the 5th anniversary of Core Intuition. I’m really proud of what Daniel and I have been able to do with it. In our first episode, we set up a basic structure for the show — the length, segments, and theme music — and we’ve stuck to it for 91 episodes.
About the only significant change was when we added sponsors last year, allowing us to take the podcast weekly. Since then we’ve actually recorded the bulk of the episodes. Sponsorships pretty easily exceeded my expectations, and I’m very thankful to all the small and large companies alike who have helped support the show.
Today’s episode covers my recent server move to Linode, which I’ll write more about here later, and a question about the mix of developers at WWDC. Maybe it’s fitting that our first episode was also about WWDC. I like that every year, when the podcast gets a little older, the timing works out such that we’ll likely be revisiting similar, pre-conference topics. Because these couple weeks, leading up to and including WWDC, really define the best part of being a Mac or iOS developer.
Approaching a year with App.net
App.net started 10 months ago as a blog post. I thought it would be interesting to look back on a few things I’ve written on my blog about the service as it has grown.
August 12, 2012, on the potential:
“In less than a month, they went from a mission statement video that seemed just a step away from vaporware, to following through on an API spec and then alpha version web site. They delivered.�
August 28, 2012, when IÂ launched Watermark with App.net support:
“You can now add an App.net account and it will download any posts from your friends, making them available for search. Watermark is already storing tens of millions of tweets, and I’m excited to start adding App.net posts to that archive as well.�
January 11, 2013, with how and why I stopped posting to Twitter:
“Over three months ago I stopped using Twitter. I wanted to make a statement — perhaps in an overly-dramatic way — that the developer-hostile environment that Twitter had evolved into wasn’t something I could support anymore.�
January 21, 2013, reacting to one use of the global feed:
“And that’s the really good news: if what makes ADN special is the people, then it’s because all of the people have something in common. They didn’t chose ADN by accident, or because it was the default choice. They chose it because they wanted something better.�
March 25, 2013, where I review 3 iPhone apps:
“In this post I’m going to briefly review 3 of the most popular iPhone clients: Netbot, Felix, and Riposte. You can’t really go wrong with any of these three apps.�
March 28, 2013, about adopting the file storage API:
“There’s a lot of activity around App.net file storage right now. I think we’re going to see some great things built with this.�
And of course I’ve said much more about this on the Core Intuition podcast. Episodes 50, 65 and 82 are probably good places to start.
If you’ve been thinking about giving App.net a try, you can use this invite link to sign up for free. There’s also a great new iOS app that lets discover apps and sign up directly on the iPhone.
Tweet Library 2.3
Tweet Library 2.3 shipped last week, and I just submitted an update last night to fix a few crashing bugs and other minor problems with the release. I’m pretty happy with this version. In addition to finally switching to Twitter’s v1.1 API — easier said than done; I used several API calls that were changed or completely went away — this release added better gestures, a month filter to the iPhone version, and an updated UI with a lighter, clearer design.
You can see the full changes in the release notes, or listen to episode 88 of Core Intuition. Daniel and I discussed the expedited review process and new versions. Tweet Library 2.3 is available in the App Store for $7.99 as a universal app for both iPhone and iPad.
CocoaConf and Core Intuition 83
We just posted episode 83 of Core Intuition, with a preview of my trip up to Dallas for CocoaConf this weekend, and a discussion of Safari extensions, WWDC videos, Michael Jurewitz’s blog posts, his return to Apple, and more.
It looks like you can still attend CocoaConf if you grab a ticket today before they close registration. Check out the web site for details on the Dallas event.
Climber for ADN
Toward the end of this week’s Core Intuition, we talked a little about the App.net file storage API and mentioned the new iPhone app Climber. The developer, Rob Brambley, [has posted a nice write-up](blog.alwaysallthetime.com/climber-f…
) of how the app was built and shipped in less than a month:
“All Climber posts are more or less like any other post to App.net, but with a link to our website where the video can be watched. Our video pages simply rely on App.net post data to retrieve links to video files contained in personal App.net file storage. If a user chooses to delete their App.net post, or even just delete the video file in their file storage, then it can no longer be viewed on our website.�
This separation between the app and the hosting is a great advantage over services like Vine or Instagram. If the Climber app goes away or their web site is down, the videos are just .mp4 files on App.net. You can download them to your computer with any App.net file browsing client.
There’s a lot of activity around App.net file storage right now. I think we’re going to see some great things built with this.
Bitsplitting podcast
My friend Daniel Jalkut has launched his new podcast, Bitsplitting. The first episode is an interview with Guy English, and future episodes will follow a similar interview format with other developers and tech folks. I especially love that it’s an interview show because Daniel and I were never able to coordinate having regular guests on Core Intuition. I think it makes a great complement to our show or one of your other favorite podcasts.
And it’s a great time for developer podcasts! Some of my other recent favorites include Debug, Identical Cousins, and the new show from Marco Arment, Casey Liss, and John Siracusa, Accidental Tech Podcast. Plus old favorites like Developing Perspective, NSBrief, iDeveloper Live, The Talk Show, and another half dozen I subscribe to.
I talked to a few people at NSConference last week who couldn’t get podcasts worked into their routine. If that’s you, consider that you may actually be missing out on some great content now. Even if you don’t have a commute to listen during, try picking up the earbuds next time you go for a walk or work outside or do the dishes or whatever else away from the computer. Those are the perfect times to listen to a good show, and Daniel’s is a great one to start with.
Making time for marketing
Like many programmers, I’m often fooled into thinking that it’s enough to build a good product — that people will find it on their own, instantly recognize its value, and pay for it. It’s easy to forget that even great products need marketing to succeed. For a one-man shop it’s important to take a break from writing code and work on how the app is sold.
Building a business is hard. I started Riverfold Software 6 years ago and in many ways it has fallen short. And for some of the past year, I’ve squandered the success of Tweet Marker, failing to practice and experiment with how to make money from it.
Jason Fried of 37signals wrote for Inc Magazine last year about how making money takes practice:
“One thing I do know is that making money is not the same as starting a business. For entrepreneurs, this is an important thing to understand. Most of us identify with the products we create or services we provide. I make software. He is a headhunter. She builds computer networks. But the fact is, all of us must master one skill that supersedes the others: making money. You can be the most creative software designer in the world. But if you don’t know how to make money, you’re never going to have much of a business or a whole lot of autonomy.�
In the last week I’ve taken a couple steps in the right direction. I’ve finally redesigned the Watermark home page around a simpler marketing statement of what the app is about. And as discussed on the recent Core Intuition, I switched from PayPal to Stripe in an effort to make payment smoother and subscriptions easier to track. There’s still a lot to do, but I hope to make even more time for marketing before the year is up.
→ 11:27 AM, Nov 9
From John Gruber’s iPad Mini review:
“If the Mini had a retina display, I’d switch from the iPad 3 in a heartbeat. As it stands, I’m going to switch anyway. Going non-retina is a particularly bitter pill for me, but I like the iPad Mini’s size and weight so much that I’m going to swallow it.�
As I said on the last Core Intuition, it’s even more of an easy switch for me since I never upgraded to the iPad 3. The iPad Mini has essentially been my only iPad for the last week. I’m using it more, and taking it places that I would’ve have bothered with before. My new favorite Apple device.
App.net's great start
Today, App.net passed its $500,000 funding goal. A few weeks ago when I signed up with my $50, I didn’t think they could do it. And Daniel and I were both pessimistic about their chances when we talked about it on Core Intuition 50.
In less than a month, they went from a mission statement video that seemed just a step away from vaporware, to following through on an API spec and then alpha version web site. They delivered. The momentum of shipping something real brought in new users and drove them to the finish.
What I love most about App.net is the transparency. Founder Dalton Caldwell is a blogger, like one of us. Where we only hear from Twitter’s CEO, Dick Costolo, through big news publications or at conference keynotes, for Dalton we hear it directly from his own blog posts, the way a small company should communicate. Being on the ground in posts and tweets is a perfect complement to his goal of treating users and developers as real customers.
App.net will never overtake Twitter. Look no further than hashtags all over the Olympics as proof of that. But App.net can put pressure on Twitter to respect third-party developers, and with thousands of paying customers, all with a vested interest in making App.net something worthwhile, App.net has already surpassed every other Twitter clone that has tried and failed to build a community.
From Paul Graham’s essay on ambitious startup ideas:
"The way to win here is to build the search engine all the hackers use. A search engine whose users consisted of the top 10,000 hackers and no one else would be in a very powerful position despite its small size, just as Google was when it was that search engine. […] "Don't worry if something you want to do will constrain you in the long term, because if you don't get that initial core of users, there won't be a long term. If you can just build something that you and your friends genuinely prefer to Google, you're already about 10% of the way to an IPO, just as Facebook was (though they probably didn't realize it) when they got all the Harvard undergrads."
He’s talking about search engines, but it could be anything. Get those 10,000 passionate users and you have a chance to take on the giants in the industry. As of this writing, App.net has 8000 paying customers. And 25% of them signed up at the developer tier. I’m sure every developer with a popular Twitter app has already looked at the App.net API documentation.
As John Siracusa tweeted after App.net successfully funded: “Now comes the hard part.” Totally true, but just reaching this point was difficult — a perfect mix of great timing and even better execution. In the first 30 days, we saw a team that knows how to win. Let’s see what they can do next.
Writing for fun and profit
Marco Arment has a strong post on how sponsorships won’t change his writing:
“If a sponsor ever has a problem with something I write, and that affects pending or future sponsorship buys, that’s fine with me. I can find other sponsors. And if I can’t, I’ll write for free, like I did for years.�
This was part of a theme on today’s Core Intuition episode as well, not just sponsorships but also whether having an audience changes how we write tweets and blog posts. Daniel Jalkut and I have been very lucky with Core Intuition so far to have great sponsors: apps and events we already love like Marco’s own Instapaper, Smile’s TextExpander, CocoaConf, iDeveloper TV, NSConference, and Glassboard. Eventually we’ll be approached by more apps and services that we don’t have as much experience with, but as long as we keep our voice and honesty, I’m not too worried.
Growing list of apps leaving MAS
TextExpander 4 shipped this week, and with the update it breaks from the Mac App Store and instead requires customers to buy directly. TextExpander is the first popular app I’ve seen to do it.
Moom is another one that actively encourages users to move away from the store. Recently on launch Moom displayed a news window that included this:
"Apple has activated sandboxing on the Mac App Store; under the sandboxing rules, we can no longer add new features to the App Store version of Moom (we can only fix bugs). However, we have a method by which you can migrate (at no cost) to our direct sales version of Moom, which has no such limitations. For details on how sandboxing affects our apps, and how to migrate to the direct sales version, please read this article on our blog."
Even Panic – frustrated with the long approval times for Coda 2.0.1 – is experimenting with how best to let Mac App Store customers migrate to the direct version. See this tweet and screenshot from Cabel Sasser.
This has been a theme on the last couple episodes of Core Intuition. Daniel Jalkut and I talked about how we feel about sandboxing after WWDC, and more on my decision to migrate Clipstart out of the store. Things are getting better in Mountain Lion, and I’ll revisit my decision next year, but for now I think I made the right call to focus on work outside the Mac App Store.
(And if you haven’t listened to the podcast recently, check out the new episodes and subscribe. We’re now a weekly podcast!)
Acorn 3
On a “recent Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org/2011/03/e… Daniel and I talked about version numbers and the message you send by going to 2.0 or 3.0. The version is as much about marketing as it is about technically tracking the release.
I can think of no better example of this than “Acorn 3”:flyingmeat.com/acorn/. The app started simply enough — first as just a new FlySketch, then as a simple image editor, then becoming more advanced with each iteration — but it has really hit its stride with 3.0. The landmark feature, layer styles, alone warrants the bump to 3.0.
Combine with the overall maturity of the app and you get a blockbuster release. Acorn made the top grossing list and was outselling all other non-Apple software. My Twitter stream lit up with good things about the app.
The version number is a part of that. This isn’t a 2.5. The 3.0 is saying: this is big news, and anyone who has maybe heard of Acorn but never tried it needs to give this version a shot.
I’m particularly happy for Gus because he’s earned this success over years. From the archives in 2005, “Gus’s post on being an indie”:gusmueller.com/blog/arch…
"Just plan, set realistic goals, meet those goals, diversify, save up, add four cups of patience, and have fun. And most importantly- work your ass off. It's not difficult, it's just not easy. It takes time and patience and hard work."
One of the first great blog posts about working for yourself writing Mac software.
360iDev Austin (in tweets)
On “episode 35 of Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org/2010/11/e… I mentioned attending the 360iDev conference, and we brought it up again on the next show while plugging 360MacDev. I had a great time at the conference and hope to attend another one in the future.
The best part was meeting all the iPhone developers who I’ve never crossed paths with, and catching up with others I’d only met briefly before. iPhone developers come from a mix of places, from old Mac developers to web developers to traditional mobile or game developers. While there’s a risk that having so many small regional conferences will fragment the community, this concentrated group of mostly iPhone-only developers made for a great few days of sessions and discussion.
And my main concern leading into the conference — that the hotel location would make it difficult for people to head downtown or see other parts of Austin — turned out to be mostly a non-issue. I had a great time hanging out with everyone in the evening, and hope some of you will be back for SXSW.
I used Tweet Library to “collect about 120 tweets from attendees”:www.tweetlibrary.com/manton/36… at the conference: reaction to sessions, quotes, speaker slide URLs, dinner out, and more. Capturing an event like this is why I built the app. What you had for dinner isn’t interesting by itself, but in context it is powerful because it tells a story.
$1 apps won't dominate the Mac App Store
“Marco Arment wrote an interesting piece”:www.marco.org/143215691… on the Mac App Store shortly after it was announced. I was nodding my head in agreement for much of it, until I got to this part:
"And if the Mac App Store is only populated by a subset of today's Mac software, a few key points (such as 'Inexpensive') still won't be true. This is why I believe that the Mac App Store will be dominated by (and become known for) apps that don't exist on the Mac today."
He makes great points, and I think his assumptions about Apple’s rules are correct. But newcomers dominating the store? And $1 apps as the second most popular price point on the Mac? I’m not convinced.
Many iPhone app hits lend themselves to a mobile environment, but the Mac is different because people usually buy computers to get work done. You don’t have your MacBook Pro with you while you’re waiting in line at the grocery store. You don’t have it at a party when your friend tells you about the latest game. You don’t hand your computer to your kids when they’re bored in the car and want to play Angry Birds.
If $1 apps will be so common on the Mac App Store, why aren’t they common on the iPad? In the iPad top 10 right now there are only two 99-cent apps. Prices around $2.99 or $4.99 are much more common, and there are plenty of $10 apps as well in the top paid and especially top grossing lists. The iPad app making the most money right now is a $20 music app called “djay”.
I think $10-$20 will be pretty common on the Mac App Store, but not $1, and not even $2 or $3. Something that’s priced so cheap sends a clear message on the Mac: this app is useless and should have been free.
As I said recently on “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org/, I absolutely wish all the best of luck to iOS developers and designers moving to the Mac. I had a great time hanging out with a mostly iOS group at 360iDev last month; these guys are ambitious and smart and bring innovation to the platform because they don’t have the baggage that the rest of us have. 2011 will be a fantastic year for new Mac software and for indie developers!
But take a good look at some of your favorite apps for iPhone and iPad and you’ll see that for the most part they lack the depth to compete with established Mac software. The workhorses on your Mac — text editors, image editors, file transfer apps, version control clients, web site tools — won’t be knocked off by new competition easily.
Maybe 10.7 Lion will be a revolution, but when the Mac App Store first launches on 10.6 it’s going to contain familiar software at familiar prices.
I like this paragraph from a “long post by Mike Lee”:le.mu.rs/motherfuc…
"On any project, whether it's a band performance or a team shipping, there's a time to curse, and a time to praise. Someone who gets those in the right order is an inspiring leader. Someone who gets them backwards is just an asshole."
As I mentioned on a recent “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org/2010/06/e… episode, I have a really hard time remembering who I meet unless I read their blog, or follow them on Twitter, or have heard about their reputation. None of these were true when I first met Mike Lee, walking to pizza one night at C4[1]. I didn’t even know at the time that he worked at Delicious Monster. But it didn’t matter because he essentially opened with: “I was hit by a car last week.”
Bam! World’s toughest programmer indeed, and now I’ll never forget his face or the conversation. We can’t all be as relentlessly passionate and memorable as Mike, but there is a lesson here in personal brand: finding what sets us apart from every other programmer and letting that shape our voice and the projects we work on.
$10 iPad apps
I’m fascinated with App Store pricing. There’s just so much interesting stuff going on:
99-cent apps and the race to the bottom.
Users expecting apps to be cheaper because the device is smaller.
The high-end successes like OmniGraffle.
Sales and pricing gimmicks.
Whether apps can compete outside of the top 100.
So when 37signals launched their first iPad app — Draft, for sketching mockups and quickly uploading them to Campfire — the first thing I wondered was: “how much?” The comments on their “launch blog post”:37signals.com/svn/posts… are a hilarious and sad mix of the usual cheapskates balanced with 37signals defenders. But the most amusing part is that at only $10, Draft is a bargain compared to Campfire itself, which has an entry-level paid plan of nearly $150/year.
(I’m a big Campfire fan, actually. The best iPhone client for Campfire, Ember, has a permanent spot on “my home screen”:www.firstand20.com/homescree…)
My first indie iPad app, a 3-4 week project that has stretched to 3-4 months, will also be $10. At that price it will be twice as expensive as its competition. I’m pricing it that way for three main reasons:
It's worth the price of two trips to Starbucks, because it takes the category in a new direction with features no one else is doing.
It's designed for people who are serious about this stuff, not an impulse buy, not for everyone.
It's a standalone app but includes an optional web complement, offered for free, but which will incur "real hosting costs":[www.heroku.com/.](http://www.heroku.com/.)
Daniel Jalkut and I talked about this a bit on “Core Intuition 28”:www.coreint.org/2010/04/e… — that it might be okay to overcharge a little for 1.0 rather than raise the price later, and that it should be possible to build a business on the iPad the same way many developers have on the Mac: not by looking for the big overnight hit but by steadily selling some number of copies every day and letting it spread by word of mouth.
Marco Arment wrote about this as “App Store B”:www.marco.org/208454730 in October last year:
"More of their customers notice and demand great design and polish. More sales come from people who have heard of your product first and seek it out by name. Many of these apps are priced above $0.99. These are unlikely to have giant bursts of sales, and hardly any will come close to matching the revenue of the high-profile success stories, but they have a much greater chance of building sustained, long-term income."
We’re three months into the iPad, just passed 3 million devices sold, and not every app has dropped to near-free. I think $10 iPad apps in particular are going to remain pretty common.
→ 11:39 PM, Jun 23
My quote from “Cult of Mac”:www.cultofmac.com/i-have-be… sums up my feelings about the iPad from a business perspective:
"I was so annoyed with the closed nature of the App Store that I stopped developing for the iPhone. The iPad will still have those frustrations, but the large screen opens up a whole new class of applications. It's impossible to resist."
Will there be a “Clipstart”:www.riverfold.com/software/… for iPad? I hope so. This platform will be the future for plenty of customers. Apple lived up to the hype not because of the hardware or distribution or anything entirely revolutionary, but because of the software. Splitviews and popovers. Keynote and Pages. These apps are just as competent as their desktop versions.
Daniel and I talked about the iPad for most of “Core Intuition 26”:www.coreint.org/2010/02/e…
Indie Relief
It was “just last week”:www.coreint.org/2010/01/e… that we mentioned “Today 2.0”:www.secondgearsoftware.com/today/ from Second Gear on the Core Intuition podcast, and now Justin Williams at Second Gear is making news again by organizing Mac developers to donate to charity in the wake of the Haiti earthquake.
I’m happy to announce that Riverfold is participating. Since my wife and I already gave to the Red Cross, I decided to donate my sales to “Save the Children”:www.savethechildren.net/, an international organization working in Haiti now. It’s amazing how many Mac and iPhone developers have come together for Indie Relief, and great that we are able to do something that reaches more charities and has a bigger impact than if we were all just making individual contributions.
So if you’ve been on the fence about whether you need Wii Transfer or Clipstart, “buy a copy today”:www.riverfold.com/. Thanks!
The only 2 fixes for the iPhone platform
I let my iPhone developer account expire last week. Even though I had already stopped development on my iPhone projects, officially letting go of even the temptation to build for the iPhone platform has really helped me focus.
The Rogue Amoeba rejection for Airfoil Speakers Touch has been covered on Twitter and at Daring Fireball, but I think it’s easy to get distracted by legal technicalities and not the heart of the matter: as long as Apple is the gatekeeper, there will be bad decisions and apps that deserve to be approved will be rejected instead. For this reason the App Store cannot be fixed with incremental improvements.
There are only two possible solutions:
Accept all applications. Joe Hewitt, the developer of the Facebook application who this week also quit the App Store, has written well on this solution.
Allow applications to be installed on the phone without being listed in the App Store. Both Android and the Palm Pre support this model.
There is no third or fourth solution. There is no compromise or small improvement to the review process. Better transparency or tiered support options won’t help either. Without either of the above two changes, rejections will continue because in a subjective review process there will always be bad judgement calls. Some percentage of indie developers will abandon the iPhone either because the risk is too great or based on principle alone.
Let me take the second one (allow applications to be installed without being listed) because it plays directly to this Rogue Amoeba rejection. Rogue Amoeba is one of my favorite Mac companies, and Daniel Jalkut and I record Core Intuition using their Audio Hijack Pro app. It’s universally regarded as great software.
It might surprise you to find out that Audio Hijack Pro is not listed in the Apple Downloads site, though other Rogue Amoeba products such as Fission, Nicecast, and Airfoil are. I’m not sure Rogue Amoeba has ever spoken on the record about this, but Apple apparently doesn’t like the app and won’t list it. Maybe because you can use it to record copyrighted music? Who knows.
But it doesn’t matter because being rejected from Apple Downloads doesn’t mean you can’t make Mac software! It just means you have to market the software yourself. Rogue Amoeba has to work extra hard to get the word out about the app, but their business won’t fail just because Apple doesn’t give it their blessing.
This is so important for a small company. I want my software to fail because it sucks, or is buggy, or doesn’t have the right features, not because Apple can shut me down over a minor difference of opinion.
There are a lot of well-intentioned suggestions for improving the App Store, but the result will always be the same until we acknowledge the root problem. The only fix is for Apple to remove itself as gatekeeper, or let us route around them.
It's okay to ignore the iPhone
I talked in “Core Intuition episode 22”:www.coreint.org/2009/08/e… about how I’ve stopped working on my indie iPhone apps. Mike Ash is also done with it. “He writes”:www.mikeash.com
"I have abandoned the platform. Apple's nonsense is just too much for me. There's no joy in iPhone development, and an enormous amount of frustration."
Reading through the comments got me thinking. I’m not abandoning the iPhone just because the App Store is such a frustrating environment to run a business in, or that I have a bunch of real work I could be doing instead of playing games with Apple. It’s also because most of the apps I would write have already been done, and in some cases done very well.
I love having a small computer in my pocket and mine is full of third-party apps. I’m thankful for the developers who are coming from other platforms and focusing all of their attention on the phone. And they are thrilled to be an a platform that is such a step up from traditional mobile development. The financial success stories of developers hitting on a great idea and it just taking off in the App Store are real and inspiring.
But the iPhone doesn’t need me.
As a user there’s no way I’ll give up the phone, but as a developer I can focus my time on “things that I have control over”:www.riverfold.com/, and add value to places where no one else has a good solution. Perceived gold rush or not, stretching myself too thin with both iPhone and Mac development is a great way to fail at both.
Imagine for a moment that “Yellow Box for Windows”:www.cocoadev.com/index.pl wasn’t killed off — that we could build Windows apps using Cocoa. Should I make my apps cross-platform just because it’s Objective-C? No. Writing software for a platform I don’t use would be like still supporting Mac OS X 10.2; there’s no way I’m going to boot into that thing to test and fix my app.
If you’re a Mac developer, my message to you is the same: just because the iPhone is awesome and runs on Objective-C does not mean you are required to build software for it. Maybe your time would be better spent refining old apps or building new ones on the Mac. Maybe… the iPhone doesn’t need you, either.
Image Capture API
In “episode 21 of Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org/2009/07/e… I called the Image Capture API “quirky”. What did I mean by that? A few things.
Refcon. This should be familiar to anyone who has built Mac OS 9 or Carbon apps. I’ve certainly written plenty of code that stuffed a pointer to an object in the refcon field of a structure or passed to a callback method. It’s an essential pattern for being able to integrate C++ or Objective-C objects with a C-based API.
For Image Capture, the code might look like this:
ICAGetDeviceListPB pb = {};
pb.header.refcon = (unsigned long)self;
OSErr err = ICAGetDeviceList (&pb, YourDeviceListCallbackHere);
Then in the callback you cast the refcon back to your controller object and go about calling methods and accessing member variables.
void YourDeviceListCallbackHere (ICAHeader* pbHeader)
YourController* ic = (YourController *)pbHeader->refcon;
[ic doSomethingUseful:pbHeader];
Works fine, but what about 64-bit? The reason I noted this part of the API to blog about was because the first version of my code accidentally cast my pointer to a UInt32. Luckily for us, the refcon is actually declared as an unsigned long instead, so it should share the same pointer size in 64-bit land, where long and void* are both 8 bytes. Other data types in Image Capture, such as ICAObject, are declared to be UInt32.
(What would we do if the refcon was UInt32? The solution is not terribly difficult: use a simple lookup table that maps a random ID or incrementing number stored in the refcon to your 64-bit compatible pointer. But this just doesn’t seem to be necessary very often.)
No delete function. I found this one strange, and had to dig in example code to find the solution. There is no first-class function in Image Capture for deleting objects off of a camera. Apparently this isn’t a feature that is supported by all devices, but nevertheless it seems common enough that it deserves something more than an enum constant hidden in a secondary header file.
Here’s how you go about deleting a video off of the iPhone:
ICAObjectSendMessagePB pb = {};
pb.header.refcon = 0;
pb.object = (ICAObject)your_movie_id_here;
pb.message.messageType = kICAMessageCameraDeleteOne;
OSErr err = ICAObjectSendMessage (&pb, NULL);
Bad delete on success design. Related to the above, Image Capture has this trick that seems clever at first but which I don’t think could be used for most applications. You can set a flag to tell Image Capture to delete a video after it imports. Maybe this also explains why there’s no standalone delete function, but the design feels dangerous to me; if an import fails halfway through importing 10 videos, the first 5 will still be deleted. I much prefer to examine the imported files to make sure they were saved correctly, and then after everything was successful go back and delete the imported objects.
It’s been a couple months since we recorded Core Intuition 21, but there are some other segments worth noting. Daniel and I talked about the WWDC 2009 session videos, a plug for “rooSwitch”:www.roobasoft.com/rooswitch… beta testing MarsEdit 3, and a listener question about working for non-developer managers. Listen at coreint.org or “subscribe in iTunes”:phobos.apple.com/WebObject…
Crippled iPhone LGPL
I mentioned on the “latest Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org/2009/08/e… that I no longer have any plans to release my own iPhone software. While that decision is mostly based on my unwillingness to give Apple so much control over my business, and frustrations with the App Store process in particular, there are a handful of technical reasons why iPhone development is not a good fit for me. Here’s one: open source.
“Daniel Jalkut’s essay on the GPL”:www.red-sweater.com/blog/825/… hits all the points about how the GPL can hurt developers by discouraging commercial participation. I’ve used LGPL projects in both “Clipstart”:www.riverfold.com/software/… and “Wii Transfer”:www.riverfold.com/software/… and I am careful to use them correctly. But iPhone development presents an interesting problem.
Can’t run command line tools. Separating the GPL code into a command line tool that is inside your application bundle is a common way to get around licensing issues. This is not allowed in the iPhone SDK.
Can’t replace dynamic libraries. The LGPL says that you can also link to libraries at runtime, but the catch is that the user must be able to replace an LGPL library with a newer version of their choosing. There is no way for normal users to do this on the iPhone.
Can’t use private frameworks. Oh, that point above about dynamic libraries? Actually it’s a moot point because Apple requires everything to be statically linked anyway. So you are blocked at every pass; you can’t ship an app that loads code dynamically even if the user could touch it.
The only solution I’ve seen so far is to release a special version of your Xcode project, with most of your application split into compiled libraries instead of source code, and allow developers with the iPhone SDK to relink your application with a different copy of whatever LGPL code you used. I stopped researching this when I put my own iPhone projects on hold, though. It’s just another example of how the closed nature of the platform creates an unnecessary burden in the software development process.
Open source regression
On a previous episode of “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org/, number 14, Daniel and I talked about open source. One LGPL tool I use in Wii Transfer is called FFmpeg, a very popular video conversion project that forms the base of many video web sites, as well as the Mac QuickTime component, Perian.
In the latest Wii Transfer I updated to a new version of FFmpeg, which it turns out had a major bug: “broken audio for 8-bit input sources”:roundup.mplayerhq.hu/roundup/f… Of course I am including the fix in a bug fix update to Wii Transfer (still “beta in the forums”:www.riverfold.com/forums/), but not before many customers were hit by the problem.
Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but it reminds me of one annoyance with FFmpeg: no releases. You basically just follow trunk, and if there’s a bug, sorry. This is understandable. It’s open source, after all, and the developers don’t owe you anything. But at the same time, it’s one of the reasons I’ve moved to Perian-only in my new app, and left the FFmpeg trunk and other similar open source command line tool projects behind. With Perian I can track specific major releases and know that someone has tested them. QTKit is good enough now on Leopard that I feel comfortable basing on app on it.
Daniel also mentioned in passing that violators of open source licenses are likely to get away with it. I think that’s largely true, but I found that the FFmpeg developer base has a pretty keen eye to this issue. If they notice that commercial software is using FFmpeg or MEncoder or other portions inappropriately, they will list the software in their “hall of shame”:www.ffmpeg.org/shame.htm…
Brent Simmons on Git, plus blog anniversary
“Brent Simmons is still looking”:inessential.com/2009/03/0… for the perfect version control system:
"People talk about how wonderful are features like re-writing history — and I read that stuff and think, 'Wow, Git's really cool and powerful.' But then I know it could suck me in and take away time from _real_ work. It's _already_ more work — _for me_ — than when using Subversion."
I haven’t used Git much since Daniel and I discussed it on an early “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org episode. Like Brent I just don’t see a big win for single-person projects, although it’s fascinating to watch how open source projects are using “Github”:github.com/.
I like what Brent did a few months ago with his blog redesign, how both inessential.com and ranchero.com complement each other. He also wrote “more about his publishing system”:inessential.com/2009/01/3… including a bit in passing about the tool I used to start my blog, Radio Userland.
I mention it because this blog is 7 years old today. Happy birthday to manton.org.
Five stages of podcasting
“Daniel”:www.red-sweater.com/blog/ and I have now recorded 13 episodes of Core Intuition. Each time I go through these stages of denial and acceptance:
During recording. Great! This will be our best show yet.
Hours later. I wish I had said "X" instead of "Y".
The next day. Disappointed. Maybe I won't even bother to edit it.
Listening. Hey, this isn't bad stuff.
Editing. Pretty good! We made some good points, had a few laughs. Success!
Our latest episode is out now on the “Core Intuition web site”:www.coreint.org/. We talk about getting started, making mistakes, business, pushing to 1.0, and the upcoming “NSConference”:www.nsconference.com/.
A special thank you to our listeners. The feedback is very encouraging.
Core Intuition 12: Macworld
“Daniel Jalkut”:www.red-sweater.com/blog/ and I have wrapped up episode 12 of Core Intuition, available now on the “Core Intuition web site”:www.coreint.org/. If you are a Mac or iPhone developer, or even if you are just interested in what two developers think about current Mac news, please subscribe and give it a listen.
This time we talk about Macworld 2009, including announcements in the keynote, third-party developers “Fraser Speirs”:speirs.org and “BusyMac”:www.busymac.com/, future iPhone devices, and the Macworld user conference. Plus: I spill more details on my new indie app and Daniel shares a tip for refactoring NIBs.
Got feedback? We’ve love to hear from you at “feedback@coreint.org”:mailto:feedback@coreint.org.
Small icons
I mentioned on “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org episode 11 that I’ve been having fun making small icons for my new app. Here are a few partial screenshots:
Some of these are just pixel-by-pixel drawings, with slight gradients in places. For other parts of the user interface I used vectors in Photoshop, which gives a nice anti-aliased look that is important for some types of shapes, but for really small icons and widgets it’s pretty satisfying to just poke at things “fat bits”:www.google.com/search style.
“Gus Mueller”:gusmueller.com/blog/ pointed out that I should be using PDFs or drawing them in code to be ready for resolution independence. He’s right of course. Maybe Apple will announce a device at Macworld that will make that task seem more practical.
Last month, on the 7th episode of Core Intuition, we talked about promotion. In particular I had good things to say about Campaign Monitor, and the folks who built it heard the episode and wanted to ask a set of follow-up questions to use on their own blog. “That mini-interview with me”:www.campaignmonitor.com/blog/arch… about how I used the service is now online.
In closing out that blog post, Mathew Patterson of Freshview suggests a couple things I agree with, including sending a newsletter more frequently than once a year. In fact I would love to send another one soon, to link up a survey to get some more information about why customers are purchasing Wii Transfer.
Unfortunately my hands are tied with yearly. When I put together the Wii giveaway promotion, I specifically told users opting in that it would be about once a year. I did this to encourage people to sign up without wondering if they would be spammed all the time. And also, I doubted that I would have the time to send a newsletter much more often than every year. So it’s not ideal, but there it is.
Since then we’ve recorded 2 more shows. The latest “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org hits the lifting of the NDA, the iPhone Tech Talk Tour, and Apple’s stock price.
→ 10:54 PM, Oct 15
Cuts in Core Intuition
When producing “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org we generally record more than we need, giving us flexibility to cut out the rambling tangents, technical errors, and frequent “uhms” that threaten to destroy any kind of pacing or interest in the show. The decision of what to leave out is just as important as the original source work — being able to recognize the best parts that add value vs. the fluff that can be dropped to make the whole thing stronger. It’s that way with any product, not just podcasts.
For episode 8, posted this morning, we ended up recording even more than usual, so we cut a batch of insignificant things but also a few good points in an effort to bring the podcast down to something closer to 30 minutes. I wanted to gather a few of those lost topics here.
Politics. We recorded the show Friday before the first presidential debate, so it only made sense to discuss the campaign. Core Intuition started before the Democratic primaries were officially over, during which time Daniel and I were quite vocal on Twitter and blogs about the election. It still surprises me that we haven’t let politics get into the show. Probably for the best.
SXSW. I talked more about the SXSW Interactive festival, from its beginnings in the 1990s as a multimedia show to the current mix of web, social media, and design. Some of the most interesting talks in the last couple of years trended away away from “5 experts on a panel” sessions to more formal talks, by speakers who love SXSW and don’t want to see it fall into mediocrity. While it’s not a developer conference, there has been a steady attendance increase from web application developers and even Mac developers.
TED. Daniel commented on the 20-minute sessions at “TED”:www.ted.com/, and how any conference would benefit from this focused approach. Imagine how much more useful sessions at WWDC would be if the speakers cruised through their technical slides in 20 minutes and then left much more time for Q&A.
So those were a few of the segments we left out. The final show included a wrap-up of the C4 conference, insight from Daniel’s “Shush” iPhone app, and rants on Google Android and user experience. “Check it out”:www.coreint.org.
C4[2]
There will be many C4 wrap-up blog posts, but “Fraser Speirs hit the spirit of the conference”:speirs.org/2008/09/0… very well:
“I thought C4 was incredibly reflective. If you imagine it as a smaller WWDC, it's really nothing like that. The amount of code shown on-screen is really quite small, and the conversation is really about the art, craft, business, science and lifestyle of Mac development.”
I had a great time at C4. As always I met a bunch of new folks and caught up with everyone I hadn’t seen since WWDC or the previous C4. It was especially wonderful to hear the positive feedback about “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org in person. Thanks!
I also participated from the stage, as Wolf called me up to be on Saturday night’s panel literally minutes before it started. I have a feeling I came off as a bit of an oddball — I managed to shrug off software pirates, decry moving away from Subversion, suggest a “crap” label for the App Store, and actually recommend Dreamhost — but I hope there was value in it for attendees, even if it was less exciting than last year’s panel. Wil Shipley did a great job guiding questions for the panel.
For a view into what the conference was like, “check out the C4 Flickr pool”:www.flickr.com/groups/c4…
Promoting Core Intuition 7
The latest episode of “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org is up. Daniel and I focus on promotion and marketing in this show — releasing a new version, sending email newsletters to customers, and promoting your brand on a blog. We also hear from Daniel about development life with the new baby and talk up C4, which starts tomorrow in Chicago.
The web site now includes links for products and topics mentioned in the podcast. We’ll be transitioning the site to a full blog with listener comments soon. In the meantime, send an email to “feedback@coreint.org”:mailto:feedback@coreint.org with thoughts about the latest episode or suggestions for future topics. Thanks for listening!
Wii Transfer 2.6 and August
As I mention on the next “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org/, which I’m currently finishing editing and should be out tomorrow, “Wii Transfer 2.6”:www.riverfold.com/software/… was very well received. I put out a 2.6.1 tonight to address Mii problems for some customers, and with new encoding settings that improve movie streaming quality significantly.
The following chart shows the spike in sales for August along with every month of 2008 and 2007. This isn’t revenue but total units sold for the month.
While I don’t expect nearly this level for September, I am nevertheless interested in how far it will drop. Maybe I’ll post an updated chart at the end of the year.
For the extra curious, the jumps in September and October of last year were when I released version 2.5 and when I did the MacZOT promotion. December was MacSanta, and somewhere in the middle of there I did the Nintendo Wii giveaway.
Core Intuition 6
I’ve really been neglecting this blog. I’m not sure what it is — I have plenty of posts in draft form and it’s not particularly hard to hit the “Send to Weblog” button.
Speaking of people who wrote MarsEdit, our sixth episode of “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org is out. Daniel and I spend a good chunk of the show on bug tracking, thoughts on running a software business while preparing for a new baby, staying inspired and getting distracted, and a bunch more. Plus we put out a call for good artists to contact us.
We had a lot of fun with the show and I hope you enjoy listening to it. If you have feedback, send an email or “post a comment on Daniel’s blog”:www.red-sweater.com/blog/544/…
Second episode
“Daniel Jalkut”:www.red-sweater.com/blog/504/… and I just posted the 2nd episode of “Core Intuition”:www.coreint.org/. I’m not sure which is a bigger milestone: starting the podcast to begin with or sticking with it for at least two shows. I think the podcast is coming together well and the feedback we’ve received so far backs that up.
This episode feels a bit more content heavy than the previous one. We talked about what it’s like to work while traveling, tech books and some thoughts on the 3rd edition of Cocoa Programming by Aaron Hillegass, and then dedicated most of the last half to distributed version control systems such as Git. Even though it is just days before WWDC, we only touched on WWDC indirectly. I expect there will be enough to talk about after next week to fill more than a few shows.
Editing the show continues to be a challenge but it’s so rewarding, just being able to slowly craft the episode from the recordings. You tell a little lie every time you tweak the original source audio, but hopefully the end product feels more authentic or at least fresh. It makes me appreciate even more the work Ryan does on “The Talk Show”:www.thetalkshow.net/. Our goal is to improve the quality each episode until we reach a point we are happy with, so if you have any feedback I’d love to hear it. After WWDC I’m going to invest in some real headphones. I was shocked how different the show sounds between my speakers, cheap headphones, and iPhone.
If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can now find the “listing on iTunes”:phobos.apple.com/WebObject… and get it synced to your iPod or iPhone in just a few clicks. Enjoy!
Core Intuition
Like many new tech endeavors for 2008, it was announced first on Twitter. Core Intuition is a new podcast from Daniel Jalkut and me, with a focus on the daily life of a Mac developer and whatever related subjects are going through our heads. There was so little time between the “let’s do it” idea to recording and edit and web site and Twitter account that I might not have believed it actually happened if I had blinked, but here it is. Expect the traditional iTunes page, blog, and other formalities to follow soon.
Daniel’s blog post has more on the announcement. He also has comments enabled, so feel free to jump over there and post feedback, unless it’s the angry, negative kind of feedback in which case please send a private email to feedback@coreint.org. :-)
Thanks for listening. We’ll be doing these regularly so please subscribe in iTunes if you want to catch the next episodes.
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Nissan Kicks News
2018+ Nissan Kicks News
Nissan Kicks May Be USA Bound
Nissan’s Kicks crossover concept was first introduced at the Sao Paulo Motor Show and its production form debuted in Brazil last year. Now the automaker is thinking of adding it to their U.S. lineup, but no official decision has been made yet.
In an interview with WardsAuto, Michael Bunce (Vice President for Product Planning) said that he sees a future for the Kicks outside of Latin America.
"Certainly we see the opportunity for more mainstream crossovers that are less niche, and we see Honda and others in that space and are taking it very seriously", said Bunce.
If the Kicks does go on sale in the U.S., it’ll most likely be less powerful than the outgoing Juke B-CUV but more affordable compared to its sibling’s $20,250 price tag. That would put it in competition with the Honda HR-V, Chevy Trax and other models in the booming Small SUV segment.
Another unknown is if the Rio de Janeiro built CUV will outright replace the Juke or join Nissan’s U.S. lineup as a separate model. Nissan may still be studying if the Juke “remains in the (U.S.) market or not.”
When Nissan is ready, the Kicks nameplate will be waiting for them as the automaker has filed a trademark for it with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office back in 2014.
Style wise, the Nissan Kicks could stand toe-to-toe with the Honda HR-V is the production model looks like the concept. But we could be waiting fro a while even with the trademark filed since those last a good 10 years before Nissan needs to renew it.
I can't see Nissan replacing the Juke with the Kicks, that model is just so iconic of the brand in NA.
I see a lot of back and forth on that online about if it will or if it won't. The Kicks does make more sense as it's more practical, lighter, etc. etc. we haven't even started on the looks department yet lol.
But I think it's a possibility. Why have two in the same segment?
The Juke is definitely a big staple for Nissan but I feel like it may have served a long enough stay. It definitely is a really awkward looking vehicle and it's for a very niche market. The Kicks looks much more mainstream in the sense and will appeal to a broader market.
KickBacks said:
It has and lucky for them they already established the fact they can create a great CUV. If the Kicks replaces the Juke, Kicks will get all the potential Juke buyers. All they won't get is some funky styling, but that funky styling only appealed to a small number of folks.
Nissan is setting them selves up right this time around
And then this thread pops up that says from sources familiar with Nissan's future product that the Juke will be getting killed off for the Kicks in North America after it's 2017 or 2018 model year
Nissan Will Kill Off Juke in North America, Get Its Kicks Elsewhere
Carpscoops is saying something similar, that the Juke will be phased out and get replaced by the Kicks, that means we won't see anymore after this year. Makes sense of they only sold 986 units in the United States last month. Good for anyone who was eyeing a Juke as I assume they'll be discounted.
Iconic or not, it has to make way for profitable models like the new Kicks.
It was easy to see that from the start. Doesn't make sense to have two models that do the same thing especially when one is well overdue for a change. Juke couldn't go on any longer and I bet sales numbers show this. Better they kill it off now than later.
#10 • Jun 3, 2017
But I thought that was a rumor and the sources aren't from Nissan themselves so I won't put too much thought into it.
According to two independent sources familiar with Nissan’s future product plans who spoke with TTAC
Nissan Kicks Lands on 'Best Cars for Teens' List
The Nissan Kicks has been featured on AutoGuide.com's 'Top 10 Best Cars for Teens' list. Check out the video:
Autoguide.com · updated 9 months ago
Individualize The 2018 Nissan Kicks With Endless Color Options
What better way to personalize a vehicle than with a unique paint combination? Fans of the 2018 Nissan Kicks will have the opportunity to customized their dream vehicle via the automaker’s Kicks Color Studio. Similar to what Nissan offered with the Juke and Versa Note, the studio allows...
Nissan Kicks News · updated Jun 6, 2018
Canada Spec 2018 Nissan Kicks Pricing Released
Set to appear in Canadian dealerships this spring, pricing for the new 2018 Kicks has been released and Nissan is not pulling any punches. Aggressively priced, the Japanese automaker’s new compact utility vehicle has a base price of just $19,793, including shipping. That’s low enough to...
Nissan Kicks News · updated May 13, 2018
Nissan Kicks Coming To U.S. In June
Already on sale in various markets worldwide, the Nissan Kicks should start appearing on U.S. showroom floors this June. Only coming with one engine option, every Kicks will be packing a 1.6-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder unit with Continuous Variable Valve Timing Control System. A...
Nissan Kicks News · updated Feb 12, 2018
Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi Alliance Pushes For Electrification
Sitting at the top of electric vehicles sales is Nissan and Renault, neither of which are willing to step down, thus their push for even more electric vehicles along with Mitsubishi. According to Bloomberg, the trio plans to introduce 12 new full-electric vehicles by 2022 and they plan to...
Nissan Kicks News · updated Sep 25, 2017
Kicker Jun 3, 2017
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Record Collector: Joe Guilfoy, aka lard_of_this_world
By Carlos Ramirez | @MusicQuizKing | 12.14.2017
Joe Guilfoy lives in Whitman, MA with his wife and dog. He works for the local electric company in substation maintenance, and he's also the bassist in the bands Medjugorje and Branch Davidian. If that weren't already enough for him to chew on, Joe is also the guy behind Suburbistan Records. I'm tired from just typing that!
In addition to all of that, Joe is also now part of the Record Collector club.
How long have you been collecting records?
I've been collecting records for about three or four years. My best friend, Nick, has been collecting for a long time and kept trying to get me into it. I started getting into it slowly and then I'd say in the past year and a half I've gotten the bulk of my collection.
Forgot I got this #entombed #vinyljunkie
A post shared by Joe Guilfoy (@lard_of_this_world) on Oct 2, 2017 at 4:02pm PDT
Where/how do you usually find your records these days?
A lot of my purchases offline just because I work a lot, so Discogs and eBay for online through pre-orders or distros like Stateline Records or State of Mind Records. Mars Records in Plymouth is my go to brick and mortar. Tim who owns the shop is always a pleasure to talk to, a wealth of knowledge and only stocks the best. I've also recently made my first of many trips to Purchase St Records in New Bedford, Rodger has a great shop and was very welcoming to a first timer, looking forward to my next trip. When I have the time to go up to the city I go to Armageddon Records in Cambridge.
I also was lucky enough to get two collections that added some great titles to my collection. One was my friend's uncle who had a lot of classic records from the '70s and '80s. The other was my friend Sean's collection from when he worked at a local college in the '90s, so I got a lot of cool promo stuff from him.
#corrosionofcomformity
A post shared by Joe Guilfoy (@lard_of_this_world) on Nov 19, 2017 at 8:08pm PST
What is the most you paid for a single record, where/how did you obtain it, and what was it?
I am pretty cheap when it comes to buying records. I believe the most I spent is $45 on my Ramones' Pleasant Dreams first press. It's my favorite record from them, and I also realized I probably over paid for it afterward, but winning the bid on it was more satisfying.
A post shared by Joe Guilfoy (@lard_of_this_world) on Nov 3, 2017 at 2:53pm PDT
If you to pick one record label you feel had/has the best track record of quality releases, who would that be and what are some key titles you love?
I don't think I can pick one because there are so many good ones. Gun to my head, it would have to be Relapse Records. They just put out so many great bands and they do a great job with any reissue they do. But I would also have a hard time not naming Rucktion Records from the UK who just continue putting out solid hardcore releases, Bridge Nine Records who just have put so many classic records, and Fast Break! Records who I have not heard one bad release from. There are other amazing record labels but those come to mind first.
A post shared by Joe Guilfoy (@lard_of_this_world) on Oct 20, 2017 at 7:11pm PDT
Of everything in your current collection, what is your most prized record and why?
I don't really have one prized record because of the record itself. A lot of the records I have may be more important to me one day to the next depending on the mood I'm in. But recently it would have to be my copy of Sheer Terror's Love Songs for the Unloved. That band is just the perfect hardcore band, in my opinion. Paul Bearer is one of the greatest frontmen of any genre, from lyrics to stage banter, he is unmatched.
Is there anything that frustrates you about the current record collecting scene?
Collecting records is pretty new to me, so a lot of the price stuff doesn't really bother me because I don't remember it not being there. If it was anything probably the fact that a lot of people only consider you a collector if you own every variant or bootleg or whatever. The point is cool, I guess, but I like way too many records and am way to cheap to try and get everything.
On the flip side, the cool thing is how the Internet gives a platform for it. I see a lot of people complain about before the Internet and all that but I wouldn't know about most of this stuff with out it. Watching people like Brandon and Jason Hook talk about their collections and have both as well as others showed me a lot of cool records I wouldn't have known about otherwise.
A post shared by Joe Guilfoy (@lard_of_this_world) on Nov 7, 2017 at 2:27pm PST
Which records are still on your want list that you've had a tough time tracking down through the years?
Currently, the only record I'm really wanting to get is Sheer Terror's Just Can't Hate Enough, any variation of the first pressing, doesn't matter. Recently, I've been debating with going with the represses I keep seeing pop up on Discogs but something about the placement of the live tracks in between songs on side A and B won't let me. Other than that it's just adding to my collection. I'm not picky about first presses, test presses, and specific variants they're cool but any quality repress is just as good to me.
Follow Joe's personal page on Instagram, as well as the one for Suburbistan Records.
Tagged: record collector
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Record Collector: Jo Hjermstad, aka vinyldaddy_
SUMAC, Love In Shadow (Thrill Jockey, 2018)
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Magic Circle, Departed Souls (20 Buck Spin, 2019)
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Record Collector: Rene Fernandez, aka mycoldwar
Levi Watson (Fall Silent)
Integrity, Howling, For the Nightmare Shall Consume (Relapse Records, 2017)
Record Collector: Roman Meier, aka shallbejudged
Westpoint, Westpoint (Triple-B Records, 2016)
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Multiple DUIs in Springfield, IL
Repeat drunk driving offenders face harsh penalties if convicted. There are minimum jail sentences which have been imposed and you could lose your driver’s license for 3 years.
The Drunk Driving Defense Lawyers at the Noll Law Office in Springfield, Illinois have handled both misdemeanor Driving Under the Influence cases and Felony Driving Under the Influence cases for years. We are trained in challenging breathalyzer results and fighting field sobriety tests. If you or your loved one is facing another Driving Under the Influence charge, contact one of our Driving Under the Influence attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation at (217) 414-8889. Our attorneys can explain your options to you and discuss how the facts of your case can relate the ultimate outcome of your case.
What Are The Penalties for More Than One DUI?
2nd (Second) Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Arrest:
Mandatory minimum five days in jail, or
240 hours of community service
Court supervision is not given
3rd (Third) Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Arrest:
Felony Offense
Minimum 10-year loss of full driving privileges
Breath Alcohol Interlock Ignition Device required for restricted driving privileges
3 – 7 years in Illinois Deparment of Corrections.
4th (Fourth) Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Arrest:
Your driver’s license will be revoked for life with no restricted driving privileges
3 – 7 years in Illinois Department of Corrections
5th (Fifth) Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Arrest:
Class 1 felony
Punishable by 4 -15 years in Illinois Department of Corrections
6th (Sixth) or subsequent offense:
Class X felony (aggravated DUI)
Punishable by 6 – 30 years in Illinois Department of Corrections
If you or your loved one is charged with another DUI, contact our Driving Under the Influence Defense Lawyers for a free initial consultation.
Do You Think The Police Officer Did Not Properly Administer the Standard Field Sobriety Tests?
If you think that the officer did not properly administer the field sobriety tests to you, contact one of our Aggravated DUI defense lawyers for a free initial consultation.
See our Field Sobriety Page for more information about the administration of field sobriety tests and how they can affect your case.
Did the Officer Have Probable Cause to Pull Your Vehicle Over?
One of the major issues in an Aggravated Driving Under the Influence case is why the officer pulled the vehicle over. Often times, the officer stops a vehicle because of an equipment violation such as a broken tail light. Our DUI Defense Attorneys are well versed in Aggravated (Felony) Driving Under the Influence cases and understand how police officers operate. We have successfully argued for our clients that there was no probable cause for the officer to pull the vehicle over and that there was no reason for the officer to reasonably believe that our client was under the influence.
Contact our Driving Under the Influence Lawyers in Springfield, Illinois
Contact our Driving Under the Influence (DUI) attorneys today for a free initial consultation to discuss your case. Weekend and after hours appointments are available.
Noll Law Office Results:
People v. K.T. (2015)
K.T. was charged with Driving on a Revoked License and his Fourth DUI. K.T. had three prior DUIS within the past 3 years. Our DUI Defense Attorney, Daniel Noll, was able to prevent a felony from being filed and was able to get the jail time substantially reduced (with work release) so that he can continue working.
People v. M.E. (2015)
M.E. was charged with his second DUI. It was alleged that he was asleep behind the wheel. M.E. blew above a .10 on the breathalyzer. M.E. was facing a three year statutory summary suspension and jail time. Daniel Noll was able to get the statutory summary suspension rescinded and the charge reduced to Reckless Driving. M.E. never lost his driving privileges.
People v. J.F. (2015)
J.F. was charged with her second DUI. It was alleged that she was in a one car accident. Our DUI defense attorney, Daniel Noll, was able to get her 3 year statutory summary suspension rescinded and she plead guilty to Reckless Driving. She never lost her driving privileges.
People v. C.D. (2014)
C.D. was charged with DUI. It was his second offense. He blew a .11 and performed all field sobriety tests. The officer claimed that C.D. failed all of the tests. Our client was extremely upset because if he lost his license, he would be unable to maintain his family business. Our office was able to successfully negotiate a rescission of C.D.’s drivers license and an amended charge of reckless driving so he can continue driving.
People v. N.M. (2012)
N.M. was charged with Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. It was his second offense so he was looking at a 3 year suspension of his driver’s license and jail time. Our office forced the state to concede that there was no reasonable articulable suspicion to believe that N.M. was under the influence of alcohol. The case was dismissed and he kept his driving privileges.
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Chances Are . . .: A novel (Large Print / Paperback)
By Richard Russo
August 2019 Indie Next List
“This book reads like a literary mystery. Forty years ago, a woman disappeared while at a get-together at Martha’s Vineyard. Now, the four friends who were with her have returned to the scene, still driven by a need to know what happened. This latest story by Richard Russo has all the elements that make him one of the most popular authors today: characters we can relate to, settings that we see in our dreams, and a story both perplexing and satisfying. Fans and new readers alike will enjoy diving in.”
— Linda Bond, Auntie's Bookstore, Spokane, WA
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls comes a new revelation: a riveting story about the abiding yet complex power of friendship.
One beautiful September day, three sixty-seven-year old men convene on Martha's Vineyard, friends ever since meeting in college circa the sixties. They couldn't have been more different then, or even today--Lincoln's a commercial real estate broker, Teddy a tiny-press publisher, and Mickey a musician beyond his rockin' age. But each man holds his own secrets, in addition to the monumental mystery that none of them has ever stopped puzzling over since a Memorial Day weekend right here on the Vineyard in 1971. Now, forty-five years later, as this new long weekend unfolds, three lives and that of a significant other are displayed in their entirety while the distant past confounds the present like a relentless squall of surprise and discovery. Shot through with Russo's trademark comedy and humanity, Chances Are . . . also introduces a new level of suspense and menace that will quicken the reader's heartbeat throughout this absorbing saga of how friendship's bonds are every bit as constricting and rewarding as those of family or any other community.
For both longtime fans and lucky newcomers, Chances Are . . . is a stunning demonstration of a highly acclaimed author deepening and expanding his remarkable achievement.
Richard Russo is the author of eight novels, most recently Everybody’s Fool and That Old Cape Magic; two collections of stories; and the memoir Elsewhere. In 2002 he received the Pulitzer Prize for Empire Falls, which like Nobody’s Fool was adapted to film, in a multiple-award-winning HBO miniseries; in 2016 he was given the Indie Champion Award by the American Booksellers Association; and in 2017 he received France’s Grand Prix de Littérature Américaine. He lives in Portland, Maine.
“[Russo’s] first novel in ten years hits the ball out of the park . . . Along with his wry eye for irony and regret, [Russo] offers up a compelling mystery . . . When the denouement comes, it’s a stunner. Nevertheless, all bombshells feel earned. If you’re on a hammock in the Vineyard or under a tent in Acadia, or slumped over the fire escape of your hot city apartment, chances are your chances are awfully good that you’ll lap up this gripping, wise, and wonderful summer treat.”— Mameve Medwed, The Boston Globe
“A cascade of charm . . . Each [character is] so appealing that you hate to let him go, though you’ll quickly feel just as fond of the next one . . . One of the great pleasures of Chances Are... stems from how gracefully Russo moves the story along two time frames, creating that uncanny sense of memories that feel simultaneously near and remote . . . Russo is an undeniably endearing writer, and chances are this story will draw you back to the most consequential moments in your own life.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post
"Chances Are... is, at heart, less a mystery than an evocation of what happens when [its characters] discover that 'the membrane separating sympathy from pity could be paper thin' . . . . The cloud of remorse that hangs over [the novel] can be affecting precisely because these old friends have so much difficulty articulating their emotions. Will they be able to open up to whatever the future holds?" —Alida Becker, The New York Times Book Review
"Irresistible . . . with the complexities of human relationships, from first love to parenthood to aging [and] rich with humor." —Colette Bancroft, Tampa Bay Times
“No one understands men better than Russo, and no one is more eloquent in explaining how they think, suffer, and love. At a rough time for masculinity, Russo’s flawed but always decent characters are repositories of the classic virtues of their gender. . . . [Chances Are...] blends everything we love about this author with something new. Yes, this is a novel about male friendship, fathers and sons, small-town class issues, and lifelong crushes, and it provides the familiar pleasure of immersion in the author’s distinctive, richly observed world and his inimitable ironic voice. But this is also a mystery about a 1971 cold case.”—Kirkus (starred)
“For his first stand-alone novel in 10 years, Russo has written a bewitching tale of male friendship with thriller elements . . . This is vintage Russo with a cunning twist.”—Carol Haggas, Booklist (starred)
"A surprising work that is as much a mystery as a meditation on secrets and friendship . . . a moving portrait of aging men who discover the world's worst-kept secret: You may not know the people you thought you were closest to." —Michael Magras, BookPage
“Russo’s first standalone novel in a decade mixes his signature themes—father-and-son relationships, unrequited love, New England small-town living, and the hiccups of aging—with stealthy clue-dropping in a slow-to-build mystery . . . In the final stretch, surprising, long-kept secrets are revealed. This is vintage Russo.”—Publishers Weekly
Large Print: Yes
Publisher: Random House Large Print
Publication Date: July 30th, 2019
Fiction / Friendship
Digital Audiobook (My Must Reads)
Kobo eBook (July 30th, 2019): $13.99
Hardcover (July 30th, 2019): $26.95
CD-Audio (July 30th, 2019): $40.00
Paperback (July 7th, 2020): $16.00
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Home›Latest›Windmark Records Holds Special Immersive Workshop
Windmark Records Holds Special Immersive Workshop
Latest, Music News
Windmark Records presented a special immersive workshop titled “The Anatomy of Immersive & Surround Sound Audio,” featuring the music of A Bad Think as well as select tracks from the Universal Music Group’s catalog at the PMC studio located within LemonTree Studios in Highland Park, Los Angeles on the evening of Dec. 11. An invited audience of producers, engineers, composers, musicians and mixers that included Al Schmitt, Vance Powell, JJ Blair, Joe Barresi, David Reitzas, Rafa Sardina, Brent Fischer and others was treated to playback of several tracks in 5.1-surround from The Savior by A Bad Think, a one-man project led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Marquart, interspersed with a panel discussion featuring Marquart and his production collaborators. The Savior is currently nominated for a GRAMMY® Award in the Best Immersive Audio Album category.
The panel, moderated by engineer and producer Niko Bolas (Neil Young, Prince, The Mavericks), also included GRAMMY-winning engineer Dave Way (Fiona Apple, Echo In The Canyon, Ringo Starr, Michael Jackson, Macy Gray), who co-produced the project with Marquart, and multi-platinum award-winning producer/engineer Bob Clearmountain (Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Bryan Adams, The Cure, INXS), who mixed the double-album project in both stereo and 5.1 surround. Marquart recounted the first time he heard Clearmountain’s 5.1 mixes: “I said, it should only be listened to in this kind of environment.” For his part, Clearmountain explained his approach to mixing each track in stereo then 5.1 and offered insights into his use of processing, particularly reverbs, delays and harmonizers, to create an atmosphere appropriate to each song’s character.
Later in the evening’s program, three-time Oscar-winning film dialog re-recording mixer Chris Jenkins, who is also Executive VP, Digital Studio at Universal Music Group, talked about mixing the music in Dolby Atmos® on Ron Howard's new documentary Pavarotti. “I just want to be able to tell stories and get the shortest distance between the voice of the person who creates it and the listener,” he said of his approach to Dolby Atmos Music mixes. Jenkins then went on to play and deconstruct several tracks in Dolby Atmos and discussed the importance of giving credit to the mix engineer who created the original tracks, a topic that was embraced by the attendees.
For more information on A Bad Think, please visit abadthink.com.
TagsA Bad Thinkbob clearmountaindave wayimmersive workshopmichael marquartPavarottiThe Saviorwindmark records
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Malaysian online video streaming company Dimsum heads to Singapore
Malaysian video-on-demand (VoD) company, Dimsum is all set to launch in Singapore. Partnered with Singaporean cable provider and Telco Starhub, Dimsum focuses on shows and drama series from around the East Asia region. As part of the deal, anime series will be added to Dimsum.
Justin Ang, Head of Product, StarHub quoted, “Dimsum will expand the breadth and depth of our StarHub Go offering. In addition to new Thai dramas, StarHub Go Select customers can look forward to hours of programming from China, Japan, and Korea at no additional cost.”
Dimsum currently offers a slimmed down version, focused on content from China, Thailand, Japan, and Korea. The Malaysian SVOD company is entering an extremely competitive streaming market, with multinational players Netflix and Amazon Prime Video and local OTT companies such as iflix, HOOQ, Viu, and Catchplay already operational in the region.
OTT VoD Video-on-demand SVoD online video streaming service online video streaming amazon prime video
Poland named the top OTT TV market in Europe
4KUniverse to launch an SVOD service on Amazon Fire TV
Kocowa launched in US
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Fact Check: Mueller Probe Doesn’t Totally Exonerate Trump
"While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him," said Mueller in the report, as quoted by the attorney general
By Hope Yen • Published at 4:09 am on March 25, 2019
Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images, File
President Donald Trump on Sunday celebrated a "total exoneration" that special counsel Robert Mueller explicitly did not provide in his report on the Russia investigation.
Attorney General William Barr quotes Mueller saying his report "does not exonerate" Trump.
TRUMP: "No Collusion, No Obstruction, Complete and Total EXONERATION." — tweet Sunday after Barr gave Congress his summary of Mueller's findings.
impeachment 1 min ago
TRUMP: "There was no obstruction, and none what so ever, and it was a complete and total exoneration." — remarks to reporters Sunday after Barry's summary came out.
SARAH SANDERS, White House press secretary: "The Special Counsel did not find any collusion and did not find any obstruction. AG Barr and DAG (Deputy Attorney general Rod) Rosenstein further determined there was no obstruction. The findings of the Department of Justice are a total and complete exoneration." — tweet Sunday.
THE FACTS: It was not a total vindication. Mueller's exact words in the report, as quoted by the attorney general, say otherwise: "While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him."
The summary by Barr notes Mueller did not "draw a conclusion — one way or the other — as to whether the examined conduct constituted obstruction," but rather set out evidence for both sides, leaving the question unanswered. Barr wrote in the summary that ultimately he decided as attorney general that the evidence developed by Mueller was "not sufficient" to establish, for the purposes of prosecution, that Trump committed obstruction of justice
Barr's summary also notes that Mueller did not find that the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with Russia. To prove a crime, Mueller must generally meet a standard of proving an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. The summary did not clear the president of improper behavior regarding Russia but did not establish that "he was involved in an underlying crime related to Russian election interference," Mueller said in a passage from the report quoted by Barr.
The four-page summary signed by Barr gave the bottom line only as he and Rosenstein saw it. Mueller's detailed findings remain confidential at least for now.
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Trump urges Roy Moore not to run for Senate again despite having 'nothing against' him
Moore tweeted Tuesday that he "will beat" Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, who defeated the former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice in a 2017 special election.
Roy Moore, on election night, Dec. 12, 2017, was the GOP Senate nominee in Alabama. He lost the special election to Doug Jones, a Democrat who is up for re-election next year.Joe Raedle / Getty Images file
By Allan Smith
President Donald Trump made clear Wednesday morning he does not want Roy Moore, a former Alabama state Supreme Court chief justice, to make another Senate run.
"Republicans cannot allow themselves to again lose the Senate seat in the Great State of Alabama," Trump tweeted Wednesday. "This time it will be for Six Years, not just Two. I have NOTHING against Roy Moore, and unlike many other Republican leaders, wanted him to win. But he didn’t, and probably won’t."
"If Alabama does not elect a Republican to the Senate in 2020, many of the incredible gains that we have made during my Presidency may be lost, including our Pro-Life victories," Trump continued. "Roy Moore cannot win, and the consequences will be devastating. ... Judges and Supreme Court Justices!"
Trump's tweet followed Moore's comments Tuesday hinting that he might make another run for Senate.
“He knows that if I run I will beat Doug Jones,” Moore tweeted after Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Ala,, warned voters against backing Moore as the Republican nominee to take on Jones, a Democrat who beat Moore in 2017. Byrne is running in the GOP primary to challenge Jones.
Moore told The Associated Press that he Trump's comments will not influence whether he runs in 2020, adding that he will make an announcement on that decision next month.
"I think the president is coming under pressure from people in Washington, scared that I will run for the Senate, scared I will win and know I can win," Moore, 72, said.
"Everybody knows I can win and that's what's worrying in Washington," he said.
Moore lost to Jones in a special election to fill then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions' seat after multiple women accused Moore of sexual misconduct when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s. He denied the allegations.
While other Republicans distanced themselves from Moore after those women came forward, Trump stood by Moore in light of the allegations.
Following Trump's tweet, Moore tweeted: "Ever wonder why the mere mention of my name scares the 'hell' out of the Washington DC establishment, liberals, and LGBT? Like Pres Trump I want to see America great again, but that is a job only God can do!"
On Tuesday, Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., responded to Moore's comment signaling a possible bid for the seat, blasting the former judge for contemplating a run.
"You’re literally the only candidate who could lose a GOP seat in pro-Trump, pro-USA ALABAMA," Trump Jr. tweeted, adding, "If you actually care about #MAGA more than your own ego, it's time to ride off into the sunset, Judge."
Speaking with NBC News, Perry Hooper Jr., a Republican fundraiser and former state representative, said the president seemed interested in Tommy Tuberville, a former Auburn University head football coach, in the GOP primary. Hooper said Trump asked him specifically about Tuberville during a meeting at the White House this month.
Alabama's Republican Senate primary takes place next March.
Allan Smith
Allan Smith is a political reporter for NBC News.
Vaughn Hillyard and Associated Press contributed.
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Appeasement of Terrorists Happening in Country, Says Nitin Gadkari
HomeAll IndiaAppeasement of Terrorists Happening in Country, Says Nitin Gadkari
All IndiaIndo-Asian News ServiceUpdated: December 01, 2015 16:21 IST
Nitin Gadkari's comments came a day after the BJP tore into the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool government, accusing it of turning the state into a 'safe haven for terrorists'.
Kolkata: Amid allegations that three suspected ISI agents arrested from Kolkata had allegiance to the Trinamool Congress, Union Minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, without taking names, claimed today that appeasement of terrorists had been taking place in the country.
"National security is not a question of politics and it should never be politicised. But unfortunately, the situation in the country is such that for vote-bank, appeasement of terrorists and terror organisations also happens," Mr Gadkari, who is the minister for road transport, highways and shipping, said on the sidelines of an event in Kolkata.
Mr Gadkari made the remarks while commenting on the arrest of three suspected ISI agents, one of whom was allegedly a member of the students' wing of the Trinamool Congress while another was a union leader owing allegiance to West Bengal's ruling party.
Mr Gadkari's comments came a day after the BJP tore into the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool government, accusing it of turning the state into a 'safe haven for terrorists'.
The union minister, however, praised the Banerjee government for its commitment to the Rs 12,000 crore Sagardwip sea port project in the Bay of Bengal.
"The Bengal government's support towards the Sagar project has been good and Mamata Banerjee has shown a keen interest. We are confident that together we will get the project started soon," he said.
Blaming Pakistan for resorting to a proxy war against India, Mr Gadkari stressed on the need for fighting collectively against terrorism.
"Pakistan knows it cannot win against India in a war, so it has been indulging in proxy wars and trying to break India's communal harmony.
"It is also not true that people from a particular religion or belief are involved in (terrorism). We all need to collectively battle terrorism. Across the globe, nations including Muslim counties have agreed to fight against terrorism," he said.
Nitin GadkariTrinamool CongressTerroristsAppeasement of terroristsISI agentsMamata Banerjee
"We Could Be Next": Christian Priests Protest Citizenship Act In Kolkata
Trinamool To Bring Anti-CAA Resolution In Bengal Assembly On January 27
Police Officer, Soldier Killed In J&K's Pulwama In Terrorist Encounter: Cops
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Proposed school bond measure stirs civic rift…
Proposed school bond measure stirs civic rift in South County
Rancho Santa Margarita Mayor Tony Beall also played a role.
Mission Viejo City Council candidate Frank Ury
By Nathan Percy | Orange County Register
The Capistrano Unified School District may initiate a lawsuit against two city mayors and ask the Orange County district attorney and the California attorney general to investigate whether they used public money to influence an election.
The initiation of both is still pending, as the district’s board did not take any action in closed session at Wednesday’s meeting.
Board President Amy Hanacek announced the board’s intentions after a closed session Aug. 10 before the board voted 6-1 to put an $889 million bond measure on the November ballot.
Board members said they felt bullied by city leaders in the weeks ahead of the meeting and that the two mayors’ actions may have an impact on voters.
Mayors Frank Ury of Mission Viejo and Tony Beall of Rancho Santa Margarita orchestrated a July 28 letter of opposition to the district’s proposed bond measure and circulated it among five other city mayors, three state officials and a county official.
The letter gained signatures from all city mayors within the district boundaries, except Dana Point Mayor John Tomlinson. Councilmember Joe Muller signed in his place.
The announcement came as a surprise to both mayors. Ury, who had been attending some of the meetings leading up to the vote, said the board gave no forewarning of a potential lawsuit.
“We’ve been doing what we could to dialogue” with the district, Ury said. “We’ve been asking very pertinent questions for our constituents. How that pivoted into a lawsuit I don’t know.”
Beall said the allegations made by the board are baseless.
“It’s designed to do two things,” Beall added. “One, deflect attention away from their own wrongdoing and the other is to intimidate their critics to silence.”
Conversations between city officials and CUSD board members were contentious Aug. 10, as city leaders voiced concerns about a lack of communication from district officials about the bond measure. Board members responded that the matter is strictly a school board function and doesn’t need to involve city leaders.
“Our focus is students, and you can always make the right decision when you have that in your heart and your mind,” Trustee Lynn Hatton-Hodson said. “Having good education will ensure our economic future, so we should be in partnership, but instead we’re being bullied.”
City leaders contend that they are looking out for the taxpayers. Should the bond measure pass, parcels in the district, with the exception of Rancho Mission Viejo, would pay an estimated $43 per $100,000 of assessed value over a 35-year period to pay off an estimated $1.8 billion when factoring in state matching money, interest and fees.
“Our residents are already overtaxed and overburdened financially,” Pam Patterson, San Juan Capistrano’s mayor, told the board Aug. 10. “We don’t believe you are taking that into consideration and in many cases, people are being triple-taxed with respect to what is being proposed.”
Aliso Viejo Mayor Mike Munzing said creating separate facilities improvement districts “would have been appropriate because each city could then raise their own funds.”
Laguna Niguel Mayor Laurie Davies said that of the about $50 million that will be paid by Laguna Niguel residents, only 74 percent of it will be returned to schools in the city.
“We know what’s best and what’s needed here,” Davies said, “but when you bundle this together, it takes all local control away from each city.”
But Trustee Gila Jones pointed out that because CUSD is an open-enrollment district, families have the ability to pick which schools students attend as long as they live within district boundaries. She said both options had advantages and disadvantages.
“If we did six (separate facilities improvement districts) and one didn’t pass, parents will now want their kids to go to all the fixed-up schools,” Jones said.
Voters have the final say in November. The measure needs 55 percent of votes to pass.
Contact the writer: npercy@scng.com
Nathan Percy
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Violence at Hong Kong protests turns ugly
By Jay Jackson, Oklahoma City Sun
19 Nov 2019, 21:42 GMT+10
A number of protesters in Hong Kong have accidently caught fire after throwing petrol bombs and molotov cocktails at police and security forces.
Terrible scenes have been captured on video and mobile phones of demonstrators engulfed in flames, with other protesters desperately trying to extinguish the flames and help their fello ...
There has been increasing concern at the tactics adoption by some protesters, particularlty those form student bodies, that have become increasingly violent.
HONG KONG - A number of protesters in Hong Kong have accidently caught fire after throwing petrol bombs and molotov cocktails at police and security forces.
Terrible scenes have been captured on video and mobile phones of demonstrators engulfed in flames, with other protesters desperately trying to extinguish the flames and help their fellow protesters.
There has been increasing concern at the tactics adopted by some protesters, particularly those from student bodies, that have become increasingly violent.
On Tuesday the scenes became chaotic as some protesters fell victim to their own violence.
"One video appears to show a protester enveloped in flames, after a petrol bomb misfired," RT reported. "The activist falls to the ground as bystanders scream. Protesters rush to his aid as they try to put out the flames using umbrellas."
"Another graphic video shows a demonstrator throwing a petrol bomb at a building, only for the flames to fall on a fellow activist standing nearby. Covered in flames, the activist runs away as umbrella-wielding comrades scramble to help him."
"A similar mishap involving Molotov cocktails was captured on video during a standoff between protesters and police. Manning an improvised barricade, the clip appears to show flames from a petrol bomb landing directly on a group of demonstrators. Several people are seen trying to escape the flames as the group abandon their post and flee the scene," the RT report said.
The city is reeling from increasingly violent anti-China protests that began six months ago. Hong Kong's chief executive Carrie Lam has condemned the demonstrators as "the people's enemy" who are "relentlessly destroying society." A days-long clash between activists and police at the Polytechnic University ended on Tuesday with more than 400 arrests.
(Photo credit: Felix Wong / South China Morning Post).
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Oncogen
Independent Peer-Reviewed Cancer Journal
Past Issues 2019: Volume 2, Issue 2
DOI : https://doi.org/10.35702/onc.10008
Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes Expression in Stage IIIc/IV of High-grade Serous Ovarian Cancer: Variation with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Prognostic Value
K Rojas*1, G Prado-Vazquez2, C Barcena3, L Trilla-Fuertes2, A Gamez-Pozo 2,4, A Zapater-Moros4, M Ferrer-Gomez 4, L Lema1, R Garcia-Martin3, A Maroto3, J L Rodriguez3, C Mendiola1, J A Fresno Vara4, L Paz-Ares1
1Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
2Biomedica Molecular Medicine SL, Madrid, Spain
3Department of Pathology, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
4Molecular Oncology & Pathology Lab, Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics-INGEMM, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain
Corresponding author: Dr. Katerin Rojas Laimito, Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Av. Cordoba, s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain
Received: January 23, 2019
Background: Ovarian cancer is a malignancy with a complex immune suppressive microenvironment mediated by the recruitment or induction of cluster differentiation factor 4+ (CD4+) regulatory T cells. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) on immune activation in stage IIIc/IV of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Carcinoma (HGSC), and its relationship to treatment response.
Patients and Methods: We retrospectively identified 33 patients diagnosed with HGSC and treated with neoadjuvant platinum-paclitaxel from 2005-2014. Pre- and post-neoadjuvant treatment tissue samples were submitted to immunohistochemical analyses with anti-CD3, CD4 and CD8 antibodies for the identification of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). The staining results were analyzed and were blindly evaluated with respect to clinical features. Pathological response classification to NACT was made according to Steffen Bohm.
Results: The mean age of patients was 63.44 years (46.53-84.14). Germline BRCA1/2-mutation status was negative in 58.82% of patients (10/17); BRCA1/2-mutation was positive in 11.76 %( 2/17); and a variant of uncertain significance was found in 29.41 %( 5/17). The majority of patients (78.8%) were stage IIIc. The area under the ROC curve of post-surgery TILs for complete pathological response was: CD4 (epithelial): [0.73(0.5; 0.97), p: 0.084]; CD4 (stromal): [0.74(0.51; 0.97), p: 0.077] and CD8 (epithelial): [0.81(0.63; 1.0), p: 0.02]. The expression of epithelial CD4 TILs in pre-surgery samples (≤ 0.5[OR: 0.7(0.01; 0.86), p: 0.038]) and epithelial CD8 TILs in post-surgery samples (≤ 5.4[OR: 0.1(0.01; 1.19, p: 0.06]) proved to be a marker of good prognosis for pathological response. Survival analysis demonstrated that the expression of epithelial CD3 ≤ 4, 3 in pre-surgery samples is a marker of poor prognosis.
Conclusion: The high number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in post-surgery samples was significantly associated with higher rates of complete pathological response and better prognosis. It is convenient to carry out further and multicentric studies to validate these results.
Keywords: tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, ovarian cancer, neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecological tumor. Ovarian cancer (OC) is the fifth most common type cause of cancer in women [1] and the fourth most common cause of cancer death in women [2]. High-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) comprises approximately 70% of all EOC and accounts for the majority of deaths. HGSC is an aggressive neoplasms, presents in advanced stages (III-IV) and has a high frequency of TP53 mutations [3, 4]. This suggests that there may be other tumor microenvironment or host characteristics with a dominant role in survival.
To date, the standard therapy for advanced ovarian cancer is cytoreductive surgery or debulking surgery, followed by chemotherapy with the combination of carboplatin (area under the curve (AUC), 5.0-7.5) and paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, for 6 cycles)[5] or three cycles of platinum-based neoadjuvant (NACT), followed by interval debulking surgery, and then at least three more cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy[6].
In recent years, there has been interest in understanding the role of immune response. Ovarian cancer is an immune reactive malignancy with a complex immune suppressive network that blunts successful immune eradication. This suppressive microenvironment may be mediated by recruitment or induction of CD4+ regulatory T cell (Tregs)[7].
A number of studies have demonstrated that the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in surgically resected tumor tissue correlates with a favorable prognosis, especially in HGSC. Landmark study by Coukos et al. , retrospective analysis of 186 stage III-IV EOC patients revealed that the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 38% for patients with CD3+ TIL-positive tumors, compared with only 4.5% for CD3+ TIL-negative tumors[8,9]. Other studies revealed that the CD8+ subset of TIL correlates more strongly with survival [10—13].
Tregs are a heterogeneous CD4+ T cell subpopulation whose primary function is to immunoregulate by blocking the function of activated T cells. CD4+ Tregs can be divided into two main subsets: naturally occurring Tregs with a CD4+CD25+ forkhead box P3 (FOXP3)+ phenotype and induced Tregs with a variable CD25 expression [14]. Curiel et al. initially showed a strong association of CD4+CD25+ T cell with poor survival [15].
The expression of PD-L1 in a range of malignancies including renal, esophageal and colorectal cancers, suggesting that some tumors have evolved high levels of expression of this molecule, possibly suppressing anti-tumor T cell responses[16,17]. As a result, PD-L1 offers potential as a prognostic marker as well as being a target for therapy.
Hamanishi et al. studied expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 on ovarian tumors of different grades and found a significantly worse overall survival in patients whose tumor expressed one or both of these ligands. They also showed an inverse correlation between PD-L1 expression and intraepithelial CD8 count, a known prognostic marker[18-20].
The discovery of the importance of the immune system in the development of cancer can help us in the determination of new diagnostic and prognostic parameters and the possibility of using serum markers instead of biopsies. This evades the possibility of non-representative biopsies, intermetastases-heterogeneity and might be able to avoid invasive diagnostic techniques[21,22].
The purpose of this study was to assess the variation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes expression in stage IIIc/IV of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma, and prognostic value.
Materials and Methods:
Patients and samples
The person directing the project identified those patients whose diagnosis was proven to be HGSC, stage III-IV (FIGO), underwent primary debulking surgery (PDS) and post-chemotherapy residual disease and requested them to participate in the study.
The study design will be Descriptive Observational: Population - correlational (relationship between CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T Cells on the tumor tissue obtained from a diagnostic laparoscopy or diagnostic core biopsy and post-chemotherapy residual disease in HGSC. Patients were treated at Hospital 12 de Octubre (Madrid-Spain) between 2005 and 2014.
Pathological response classification to NACT was made according to Steffen Bohm (JCO 2015). Score response system (CRS) was explicitly defined (CRS-1; No or minimal tumor response, CRS-2; Appreciable tumor response amid viable tumor that is readily identifiable, CRS-3; Complete or near-complete response).
The selected tumor samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue (FFPE), were retrieved from the archive of the Hospital 12 de Octubre -Pathology Department. The cases were selected based on the histological type, stage and follow-up.
The study was approved by the ethical committee of our institution. All patients included in the study gave written informed consent for research use of tissue specimens.
Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tumor biopsies
Pre-treatment omental or peritoneal biopsies were obtained at diagnostic laparoscopy or diagnostic core biopsy. Sections of 4-um thickness were mounted on glass slides. Blocks of omentum removed at interval debulking surgery (IDS) after NACT, were reviewed by a pathologist according to the Recommendations from the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR guidelines). Sections of samples that representing the area of the tumor with worst response were selected.
Fresh tumor biopsies
Omental biopsies were collected in the operating room from untreated patients undergoing PDS or diagnostic laparoscopy and from patients undergoing IDS after NACT and fresh-frozen samples were histologically matched to FFPE specimens of the same patient by hematoxylin and eosin review.
Immunohistochemistry was performed on 4 μm-thick sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples using anti-CD3 (LN10, Leica), CD4 (4B12, Leica), CD8 (C8/144B, Dako). Immunostaining was performed on a Leica Bond-III stainer (Leica Biosystem, Newcastle, UK) for anti-CD3 staining (1/150 dilution). Immunostaining was also performed on Dako stainer for anti-CD4 (1/10 dilution) and anti-CD8 (1/10 dilution).
The staining results were analyzed by one pathologist and were blindly evaluated with respect to clinical features. The slides were scored as positive for strong and weak staining intensity, negative in the absence of staining or not applicable (NA) to indicate insufficient material for analysis.
Mann-Whithney tests were done to compare the percentage of infiltrated lymphocytes between the sample before and the sample after chemotherapy. Analyses were done using GraphPad Prism. We make response prediction models with infiltration percentages but no significant results have been obtained.
Values of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ TL as general predictors of pathological response (pCR) were performed using an ROC curve and the confidence interval (95% CI) of the area under the curve; in the case that was significant an approximate cutoff point was made.
The risk estimate for complete pathological response of TILs was calculated using the Odds-ratio (OR) and for the overall survival (OS), the estimated Hazard Ratios (HR) with their 95% CIs were estimated. In all cases a type I error of 0.05% is considered.
Patient’s characteristics
We retrospectively identified 33 patients diagnosed with HGSC and treated with neoadjuvant platinum-paclitaxel from 2005 – 2014.
The mean age of patients was 63.44 years (46.53-84.14). Germline BRCA 1/2 - mutation status was negative in 58.82% of patients (10/17); BRCA 1/2 - mutation was positive in 11.76 %( 2/17); and variant of uncertain significance was found in 29.41 %( 5/17). The majority of patients (78.8%) were stage IIIc (Table 1).
Table 1: Clinic, histology and genomic characteristics.
Histological type
High-grade serous carcinoma
FIGO stage:
IIIc
26/33 (78.8%)
7/33 (21.2%)
Germline BRCA 1/2:
Uncertain significance
10/17 (58.82%)
2/17 (11.76%)
The area under the ROC curve of post-surgery TILs for complete pathological response were: CD4 (epithelial): [0.73(0.5; 0.97), p: 0.084]; CD4 (stromal): [0.74(0.51; 0.97), p: 0.077] and CD8 (epithelial): [0.81(0.63; 1.0), p: 0.02]. The expression of epithelial CD4 TILs in pre-surgery samples (≤ 0.5[OR: 0.7(0.01; 0.86), p: 0.038]) and epithelial CD8 TILs in post-surgery samples (≤ 5.4[OR: 0.1(0.01; 1.19, p: 0.06]) proved to be a marker of good prognosis for pathological response. Survival analysis demonstrated that the expression of epithelial CD3 ≤ 4, 3 in pre-surgery samples is a marker of poor prognosis. Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 1: CD3+ TILs increased significantly post-NACT.
Mann-Whitney test was done to compare the percentage of infiltrated lymphocytes in the samples before and after receiving the neoadjuvant chemotherapy. There were significant differences between the percentage of both epithelial and stromal CD8 and in the percentage of epithelial CD3 (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Percentage of lymphocyte infiltration in the pre and the post chemotherapy samples. (p= sample after neoadjuvant treatment)
The tumor biology, inflammatory cells, including lymphocytes, extracellular matrix and a rich cytokine environment contribute in concert to a microenvironment, that fosters inflammation, which paradoxically drives tumor growth, angiogenesis and promotes tumor infiltration and metastasis, while simultaneously inhibiting anti-tumor immunity.
A spontaneous antitumor immune response has been convincingly demonstrated in some patients with ovarian cancer. Tumor-reactive T cells and antibodies have been detected in peripheral blood, tumors or ascites of patients with advanced stage disease at diagnosis. Importantly, the detection of antitumor immune response in the form of intraepithelial (also called intratumoral) tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs; i.e. T cells infiltrating tumor islets) predicts significantly longer survival in ovarian cancer[23-25].
We demonstrate that the effect of NACT on a human metastatic tumor microenvironment induces activation of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. Importantly, even those patients who had a poor response to three cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy had a high number of CD8+ T cells. Our findings are supported by a previous study reporting an association of CD8+ T cells and tumor eradication and concurrent activation CD4+ T cells is required to support potent cytotoxic T lymphocytes[26-31]. A high number of tumor infiltrating cytotoxic T lymphocytes was associated with a better overall survival, presumably due to the stronger effect in non-optimally debulked patients[32].
Zhang et al. recently showed that, in epithelial ovarian cancer, the presence of intratumoral CD3+ T cells was associated with improved survival. Other study executed by Curiel et al., reported that tumor infiltration by a subpopulation of CD3+ CD4+ T cells with immunosuppressive properties predicted reduced survival in EOC[8,10,15].
Despite the existence of controversial published data, the results are in favor of the fact that the increase in the T lymphocyte population is associated with greater survival.
The impact of intraepithelial CD3+ or CD8+ T cells was confirmed by multiple independent studies on ethnically and geographically diverse populations. Intraepithelial T cells were more prevalent in tumors with increased proliferation, indicating that the improved outcome is not due to indolent tumor cell behavior [33].
The low neoantigen load, HR-proficient tumors exhibited significantly lower numbers of CD3+ and CD8+ TILs, as well as lower expression of the inhibitory immune checkpoint modulators, PD-1 and PD-L1, compared to BRCA1/2-mutated tumors. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that an elevated neoantigen load leads to an increased number of TILs that are counterbalanced by overexpression of immune checkpoint modulators [34].
The relative contribution of platinum versus taxane to the immunostimulatory effects seen in our study is an open question because nearly all patients received the combination therapy. Experimental studies suggest that cisplatin does not induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) but carboplatin and docetaxel produce partial features of ICD. Chemotherapy can also activate the host immune system by several other mechanisms such as increased presentation of neoantigens. The association of antitumor immune response (intraepithelial T cells) with prolonged survival, and viceversa the association of immune escape mechanisms with poor survival, suggest that ovarian cancers are intrinsically immunogenic [35].
The presence or absence of T cells in solid tumors is a key limiting factor for cancer immunotherapy [23] and the presence of CD8+ T cells at the invasive margin was predictive of response.
The high number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in post-surgery samples was significantly associated with higher rates of complete pathological response and better prognosis. So, the incorporation of immunotherapies to postchemotherapy treatment options could be of benefit for prolonged disease control in patients with advanced HGSC. It is convenient to carry out further and multicentric studies to validate these results.
Conflict of Interest: JAFV and AG-P are shareholders in Biomedica Molecular Medicine SL. LT-F and GP-V are employees of Biomedica Molecular Medicine SL. The other authors declare no competing interests.
NACT: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy; HGSC: High-grade serous ovarian carcinoma; TILs: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes; EOC: Epithelial ovarian cancer; OC: Ovarian cancer; AUC: Area under the curve; Tregs: Regulatory T cell; OS: Overall survival; FIGO: International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians; Interval debulking surgery (IDS): PDS: Primary debulking surgery; CRS: Score response system; FFPE: Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded; ICCR: International collaboration on cancer reporting; NA: Not applicable; pCR: pathological complete response; OR: Odds ratio; HR: Hazard ratio; ICD: Immunogenic cell death. FOXP3: Forkhead box P3, CD4: Cluster differentiation factor 4
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Copyright: ©2019 Rojas K, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Rojas K (2019). Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes expression in stage IIIc/IV of high-grade serous ovarian cancer: Variation with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and prognostic value. Oncogen 2(2): 8.
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Presque Isle County, MI utilizes mobile application for severe weather alerting
County uses remote mobile application to trigger notifications during dangerous winter storm in the CodeRED from OnSolve mass notification solution.
Keeping residents aware of severe winter storm threat
Presque Isle County, Michigan experienced several inches of snow and whiteout conditions on February 29, 2016 causing traffic issues and dangerous driving conditions. The County’s Office of Emergency Management wanted some way to reach the public and request they stay off the roads and remain safe during this winter weather.
At the direction of the Sheriff, a notification was sent using the OnSolve Launcher app to notify the public that they needed to stay off the roads until further notice and to dial 911 for any emergencies.
Over the course of three hours, the weather became slightly better and people were beginning to call in inquiring about picking their children up from school while being advised to stay off the roads. The office then sent out another notification informing the public that the roads had been re-opened, but to drive with extreme caution.
The following day, the Sheriff’s Office received several phone calls from residents thanking them for alerting them to the winter weather dangers in the area and inquiring further about CodeRED notifications. “Prior to signing on with the CodeRED system, I did exhaustive work to review other alert systems.
By far, CodeRED has proven on multiple occasions to be exceptional. From the sales staff to the team that was assigned to us for training and support, we could not be more pleased. I would highly recommend the CodeRED system to any agency that values the safety and security of its citizens.”
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5 Ethical Cocoa Brands That Don't Rely on Child Labor
Choose your chocolate wisely.
Emily Monaco
iStock/magnez2
Calling chocolate a guilty pleasure is so 2010… unless your chocolate isn’t fair sourced. The health benefits of dark chocolate have certainly been proven, ranging from anti-inflammatory benefits to improved memory. But where you get your chocolate is of utmost importance too – not just for your health, but for the health and wellbeing of the people producing it.
About 70 percent of the world's cacao comes from Western Africa, where many larger companies rely on child labor – and, in some cases, on slavery – to bring less expensive chocolate to the masses. According to a 2015 U.S. Labor Department report, more than 2 million children were engaged in dangerous labor in cocoa-growing regions: children as young as five handle dangerous tools like machetes and are in contact with chemical herbicides and pesticides without protective clothing.
Newspapers including the Washington Post have been working diligently to expose this human rights crisis.
“The world’s chocolate companies have missed deadlines to uproot child labor from their cocoa supply chains in 2005, 2008 and 2010,” reports the outlet. “As a result, the odds are substantial that a chocolate bar bought in the United States is the product of child labor.”
Organizations like Fairtrade, Utz and Rainforest Alliance work hard to certify chocolate companies who are doing things right, though these systems remain imperfect, and the Post reports that even farms employing children could ostensibly pass inspection.
But as consumers, we have a say in how our chocolate is produced. As representatives from large brands like Hershey, Mars, and Nestlé continue to refuse to guarantee that their chocolate is made without child labor, it’s important to turn to trustworthy brands that are transparent about their methods. Here are five we love.
1. Alter Eco
Alter Eco chocolate bars and truffles are made with cacao sourced from South America where, according to Food is Power, it is less likely that cacao is farmed using child labor. Alter Eco goes several steps further, not just paying Fair Trade premiums, but also committing to providing targeted assistance to local partners to help improve the quality of life in the regions where this chocolate is produced.
“Fostering a full-circle sustainability model guarantees that children in farming communities are in school where they belong, and not working in the fields,” Mathieu Senard, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Alter Eco Americas, PBC, tells Conscious Company Media. “It also means respecting the health of farmers and consumers by exclusively using organic crops and refusing the use of chemicals. Finally, it is an opportunity to promote agroforestry, which produces the best cacao beans while replanting trees and combating deforestation.”
Alter Eco sports a panoply of certifications, from Fair Trade to USDA organic to B Corp. The company is constantly seeking out new ways to offset the effects of its production, including planting trees in Peru as part of a carbon offset program and sponsoring employee benefits like paid public transportation.
Alter Eco's organic bittersweet bar is perfect for fans of seriously dark, intense chocolate, with 85 percent cacao blended with cocoa butter, raw cane sugar, and a touch of vanilla. You can buy it on Amazon.
2. Divine
This brand is the only one that’s co-owned by the 85,000 members of the Ghanaian cooperative that produces the delicious cacao that goes into these bars. Farmers earn part of the profit – and have a stronger voice in how the company is managed.
Divine is particularly committed to providing opportunities for women to gain independence and thrive, including literacy programs, numeracy programs, and training and facilitation for women in careers as elected buying clerks.
In addition to the fair trade cacao that is at the core of these bars, Divine relies on other fair trade ingredients like mango, almonds, and coconut, to add flavor to its chocolate. Its new organic line features four 85 percent cocoa bars that are also USDA certified organic, vegan, and devoid of palm oil and soy, with flavors like ginger-turmeric or blueberry-quinoa.
3. Endangered Species
The dual mission of Endangered Species is evident from the company’s name: not only is this chocolate produced using fair methods, but it’s also made with the goal of protecting wildlife diversity. Ten percent of the company’s net profits are donated to partner organizations protecting species and habitat conservation.
The cacao itself is sourced from Rainforest Alliance-certified cacao farms in West Africa, with the goal of promoting the development of health centers and schools in the region. As the first chocolate company to source all of its cocoa from West Africa through Fairtrade, Endangered Species is 100 percent committed to improving the livelihoods of these farmers.
Each Endangered Species bar is named for a different endangered animal or ecosystem, like 82 percent dark Panther or minty Rainforest both available on Amazon.
4. Theo
In partnership with organizations like the Eastern Congo Initiative, the Jane Goodall Institute, and the World Bicycle Relief, Theo is dedicated to the production of ethical, sustainable, artisan chocolate.
"Theo’s model is based on a core idea," writes the company. "Chocolate can be made in a way that allows everyone in the bean to bar process to thrive."
Theo is the first company to own and manage its own fair trade bean-to-bar chocolate factory, allowing the company to pay above-market prices to farmers in Peru and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and control the quality of its product from beginning to end.
"We want to pay farmers enough money that they can invest in sending their children to school and on-farm investments," writes the company. "This type of change is long lasting and systemic."
Theo's unique flavors like turmeric spice and salted toffee are innovative and delicious.
5. Madécasse
This Madagascar-made chocolate has a keen focus on developing the local economy in the African nation. These chocolate bars are produced and hand-wrapped in Madagascar, an initiative that has enabled Madécasse to create 200 jobs on the ground.
“Madécasse is the only chocolate available in the US that’s actually made in Africa, while nearly 70 percent of the chocolate in the US market is made with cocoa from Africa,” a company rep tells Conscious Company Media. “We’re proud to be among the very few companies worldwide who have even attempted chocolate-making in Africa, and we’re empowering Africans in the process, economically and socially.”
Madécasse is made with heirloom criollo cacao and is perfect for lovers of pure, dark chocolate and is available on Amazon.
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*Note! This article contains affiliate links that are independently sourced and vetted by our editorial team which we may earn a commission on. This helps us reduce the number of ads we serve on Organic Authority and help deliver you a better user experience. We are here to help you navigate the overwhelming world of consumer products to source and uncover thoughtfully made, conscious clean products for you and your family.
fair tradechocolate
Emily Monaco is a food and culture writer based in Paris.
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Crazy coastal rental prices ‘a shocking sign of the times’
SHOCKING: Byron Bay resident Sky De'Ville is angry at the skyrocketing prices of rentals in the Byron Shire, which he says is forcing long-term locals out of town.
Francis Witsenhuysen
Francis Witsenhuysen I became a journalist to share in the wealth of information life offers and to hopefully make some sort of positive impact to readers' lives. I am a lover of the written word, photography, especially when it makes you feel something - which is what i endeavour to do with my stories.
BYRON Bay resident Skye De'ville almost fell off his chair when he stumbled upon a rental listing for $4250 near Wategos Beach.
Located near the top of Brownell Drive, near the Byron Bay Lighthouse, the Realestate.com listing for "the ultimate luxury lifestyle property" at Wategos was described as "a spectacular, two-storey architect designed beach house with framed ocean views, featuring four bedrooms, three bathrooms, brand-new, finished with swimming pool and double carport".
But Mr De'ville wasn't buying it.
"How is this over $4000 a week?" he said.
"It doesn't even have special features … how are the people of Byron standing there and accepting this crazy pricing.
"It's bloody ridiculous - this alternative culture coastal town well-known for its vegan foods, hippies, surfers and backpackers has turned into the new coastal Sydney - I'm ashamed to say I live in Byron."
The disability worker said the real issue was that many locals were being forced to leave town as rental prices continued to skyrocket.
"Goodbye to the good local people who were born here, raised here," she said.
"People who knew Byron since the 70s, are being forced out of their town … this influx of Sydney folk is driving the rental market crazy and are driving us out at a fast pace.
"I've seen locals in tears as they pack their cars to move two hours away, while the new owner of the house from Sydney decides to Airbnb it out and live luxurious lifestyles off the proceedings.
"They don't work, they don't contribute, they just ask crazy prices. It's time for the people to stand up against this, no more Airbnb."
Another "boutique" three-bedroom property for rent in Newrybar in the Ballina Shire, currently listed on Realestate.com, is fetching a rental price of $1800 per week.
CoreLogic's head of Australian research Eliza Owen said high-end property owners were "taking advantage" and "getting away" with the asking exorbitant prices because the demand for lifestyle properties in the Ballina, Byron areas was among the strongest in the state.
"I think these prices are shocking, personally," Ms Owen said.
"They appeal to high-earning tenants who may find it more convenient to rent a property than to buy at the time.
"The actual rental prices is a reflection of what someone is willing to pay to rent a property in a point in time. We've seen that in the likes of holiday celebrities who holiday and live in the areas, who also drive even more demand through their cultural influence."
With annualised growth in rental costs for the Richmond-Tweed coastal areas steadily rising over the past five years, Ms Owen said the growing trend of boutique properties in Ballina and Byron Bay was clearly reflected in the rental growth of the area.
"That growth rate has been 2.3 per cent, which is really strong," she said.
"To put that in perspective, the annualised growth across regional New South Wales is about 1.9 per cent and in Sydney its 0.5 of a per cent.
"The Ballina-Byron region is in really strong demand and we've seen property owners take advantage of that in terms of upgrading property and utilising that as an opportunity to target the high end of the rental market. That's spills into the Airbnb market too."
She said the increase in rental prices were a reflection in a change of demographic to the area.
"It's not shocking for locals any more, but I think it would be disappointing to locals who have lived in the area prior to that demographic shift," she said.
"A market like Byron, and parts of Ballina, may also see the supply of rentals crowded out by short term accommodation from holiday makers, which could stir the upward pressure on rental prices because you have a limited supply of longer term rentals."
She said population growth as well as return on investment on a rental would also be putting upward pressure on rental prices.
"These high-end properties are targeted at a niche group of people on high incomes that can service these kinds of high rents."
She said rental estimates for the high-end of the market in the Richmond-Tweed coastal areas were sitting up at around $925, meaning rent prices like $1800 would be "close to the top of the market".
"Our median sales value for houses in the Byron Bay area, is about $1.3 million - which in terms of making that an investment - illuminates why rents are so high because investors are looking for a return on those prices."
The rental data for Richmond-Tweed Coastal houses are as follows:
● Median estimated rent value for houses: $629 per week
● Change in price (5 years): 21%, or 3.8% a year
● Change in price (10 years): 58%, or 4.7% a year
● Median asking rent for houses in Newrybar, is $850.
core logic
high end properties
ballina byron bay core logic high end properties rental prices
News A burst water main is causing emergency roadworks on a major Gold Coast road.
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Implementing Mobile and e-learning in Health and Social Care
As part of a submission for the IMS Global Award, this film discusses the outputs of the ALPS CETL and demonstrates the impact that they have had on learning and assessment in practice settings, particularly focussing on the development of competency maps, 360degree multiprofessional asessment tools and the use of mobile technology to deliver these innovative assessment processes to the Health and Social Care students on placement.
Author(s): Jill Taylor,Catherine Coates,Trudie Roberts,Chris
A stand-alone computer receives data from a user by means of input devices. The two most commonly used input devices are the keyboard and the mouse. A computer sends data to a user by means of output devices. Data may be output via devices such as a screen or a printer.
There are many different ways of getting data into a computer. For example, a scanner converts images and texts into a format that can be processed by the computer and displayed on screen. Devices such as t
2013 Phases of the Moon Animation
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Learn People - People At Home
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GA5077: Seminario integrador
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Author(s): Dr. Daniel Maranto Vargas
Thais to ponder election under martial law as way out of crisis
Subscribe: http://smarturl.it/reuterssubscribe May.21 - Thailand's Election Commission considers the caretaker government's proposal for an Aug. 3 election, as doubts grew that polls could be held smoothly despite the imposition of martial law to calm street violence. Sarah Toms reports. Subscribe: http://smarturl.it/reuterssubscribe More Breaking News: http://smarturl.it/BreakingNews Reuters tells the world's stories like no one else. As the largest international multimedia news provider, Re
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1.5.3 Looking forward: implications and possible consequences
But what are the implications of these developments and trends? Clearly the emergence of a strong east-Asian bond market could threaten both the US dollar and the Euro markets, but this development is still in its infancy, and there are significant political and economic differences of interest amongst the possible east-Asian participants in such a market. So for the time being it will be the Euro and the US dollar that hold centre stage. But in as much as the Euro becomes a stronger currency
If you want to improve your computing skills or knowledge, there are plenty of resources available to help you. This section aims to get your search started by providing you with some useful websites.
Procedimentos metodol?gicos para simula??o computacional de ambientes hist?ricos [Methodological pro
This study aims to present a classification of methodological procedures for using computer programmes to simulate architectural historical heritage. Produced for a Master?s Degree dissertation in Architecture, the methodology was developed based on several analyses of applications, possibilities and restrictions, with the assistance of photogrammetric reconstruction and several computer-graphics programmes. The files generated enable production of animations recording the changes experienced by
Author(s): Antoniazzi, Asdrubal; Airton Cattani; Jaqueline Vi
How Nigeria stopped Ebola
Software design of maintainable knowledge-based systems for building design
Identifying and establishing a basic structure for knowledge representation is one of the keys to successful design of knowledge-based computer systems. In Building Design and Construction, this initial knowledge structure can be achieved by utilizing a query driven approach to software engineering. As (user) queries reflect the user's demand for in/output, it is natural to link the overall user dialogue with key elements in the knowledge base direct connections between user screen and objects i
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Carnage in Nigeria
March 14 - At least 40 people are killed and scores wounded by gunmen in a series of attacks in the northern Nigerian state of Katsina Thursday. Deborah Lutterbeck reports. Subscribe: http://smarturl.it/reuterssubscribe More Breaking News: http://smarturl.it/BreakingNews Reuters tells the world's stories like no one else. As the largest international multimedia news provider, Reuters provides coverage around the globe and across topics including business, financial, national, and international
7.013 Introductory Biology (MIT)
The MIT Biology Department core courses, 7.012, 7.013, and 7.014, all cover the same core material, which includes the fundamental principles of biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, and cell biology. Biological function at the molecular level is particularly emphasized and covers the structure and regulation of genes, as well as, the structure and synthesis of proteins, how these molecules are integrated into cells, and how these cells are integrated into multicellular systems and organism
Author(s): Sive, Hazel,Jacks, Tyler
Content within individual OCW courses is (c) by the individual authors unless otherwise noted. MIT OpenCourseWare materials are licensed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under a Creative C
2.1 Before the recording
Now you have the opportunity to listen to the recordings of Sorley MacLean. I hope you will find that it brings to life the poetry that you have looked at on the page, and that it helps you to grasp some of the differences between Gaelic and English that affect MacLean's translation of his own work, as well as elucidating particular references that may have puzzled you. Perhaps the best plan, if you have time, will be to listen to each section once, and then go through them again, stopping an
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No Disease Too Small - Fact Sheet
What is Systemic Mastocytosis (SM)?
Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a group of rare blood diseases, where too many abnormal mast cells, which are specialized immune cells, grow and accumulate in the body1,2.
Organs affected by mast cell buildup may include the skin, liver, spleen, bone marrow, and organs of the gastrointestinal tract1,3.
Mast cells are produced in the bone marrow and found in connective tissues all over the body. They release multiple chemical mediators, such as histamine, tryptase, heparin and other inflammatory substances. These mediators are released as part of allergic and inflammatory reactions4,5.
In healthy people, mast cells help protect the body from infection and defend it from other harmful substances2.
The accumulation of abnormal mast cells seen in SM leads to the release of higher levels of mast cell mediators and generalized inflammation in the body, causing a range of symptoms. These can include flushing of the skin, headaches, digestive problems, extreme allergic reactions, bone pain, and fatigue2,3.
Very serious cases of SM can lead to organ damage or even organ failure3.
Early identification of the disease by a health care provider can be critical as there are several different subtypes of SM and each varies in severity and life expectancy3,6,7,8. It is important for patients to work closely with a health care provider to develop a treatment plan.
What is No Disease Too Small?
Systemic mastocytosis (SM) affects between 1 in 20,000 and 1 in 40,000 people worldwide1. No Disease Too Small offers guidance for patients, their loved ones and physicians as they search for answers about symptoms and the disease. The program also provides tools to support the SM community and drive broader awareness of the complexities of this disease. Visit the No Disease Too Small site for more information.
www.nodiseasetoosmall.com
Do I Have SM?
You may have SM if you have a history of persisting symptoms that remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, including itching, abdominal pain, anemia, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction. A confirmed diagnosis of SM can only be verified by a bone marrow biopsy and a blood test3,9.
SM is a difficult disease to identify because its symptoms can be confused with those related to other diseases that health care professionals see more regularly10. Many people do not receive a proper diagnosis for 2 to 10 years after they first see symptoms6.
People with SM are frequently underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome or malabsorption syndrome8. Also, those diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukemia could also have a mast cell disorder11.
Before they are correctly diagnosed, people with SM are likely to be referred to several different health care professionals, including dermatologists, allergists, hematologists gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, internal medicine specialists, rheumatologists, cardiologists, and neurologists12.
SM can impact a person’s mental health. People with SM are at risk for depression, anxiety, poor motivation, or increased stress13. Anyone experiencing mental health problems should seek support and counseling from a health care professional.
If the presence of SM is suspected, talk to a health care provider about SM testing early to confirm a diagnosis. Treatment may be needed once a diagnosis is confirmed, and a comprehensive care plan with follow-up can ease the physical and emotional impact of living with the disease.
Testing for SM
If SM is suspected, patients should talk to a health care provider about tests that may help identify the disease3. As SM is an extremely rare disease, physicians may not be familiar with testing or diagnosing it1,6. Diagnosis can only be confirmed by the following tests:
Blood tests, which identify abnormalities in the blood, help physicians diagnose SM:
Blood serum tryptase test: Serum tryptase is an enzyme, or chemical, released by mast cells4. Testing for elevated serum tryptase can help diagnose the disease, because a person who has SM is likely to have significantly higher levels of this enzyme3.
Blood serum albumin test: A serum albumin test is a blood test that measures the amount of albumin in the patient’s blood. Low levels of albumin are often associated with inflammation in the liver and malnutrition14.
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test: The test measures the amount of ALP enzyme in the bloodstream. If ALP levels are elevated, it indicates a problem with the liver or bones15.
Hemoglobin test: Anemia, a condition in which the blood has fewer red blood cells than normal, can be a sign of SM3,16. A hemoglobin test is used to check for anemia17.
Complete Blood Count (CBC): Low blood platelet count (thrombocytopenia), and high white blood cell count (leukocytosis) can be signs of advanced variants of SM3,18. CBC tests measure many different parts of the blood, including the overall number of white blood cells and platelets17.
Genetic mutation testing: Learning if a genetic mutation is present can help physicians diagnose SM3. A mutation is a change in a gene’s structure3. Mutations in a gene known as KIT often cause uncontrolled growth of mast cells19. KIT D816V is the most common KIT mutation, occurring in approximately 9 out of 10 SM patients, which makes it a key tool for diagnosis3,20.
CT Scanning and other imaging: Infiltration of abdominal organs and lymph nodes can best be seen by a variety of CT and other scans22.
Biopsies: Procedures performed using a biopsy needle, to extract samples of the organ for evaluation21. They are vital in diagnosing SM3,22:
Bone marrow biopsy: To confirm the overproduction of mast cells in bone marrow or other organs, a physician can test a patient’s bone marrow to see if it contains too many mast cells. This test can also give information about the SM subtype3.
Download the fact sheet (PDF 0.6 MB)
A Closer Look at the Five Types of SM7
Type of SM
Percentage of SM Cases
Indolent SM (ISM) ISM is the most common and mild form of SM3. Symptoms may include itching skin, fainting, headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea2,3. Those with ISM have a low risk of progression to a more advanced form5.
Smoldering SM (SSM) SSM usually is characterized by an accumulation of mast cells in the bone marrow. Patients with SSM may have a higher likelihood of progressing to an advanced disease category5.
SM with an associated hematologic neoplasm (SM-AHN) SM-AHN is a form of SM with the presence of an additional blood disorder, often myeloproliferative disorders or a myelodysplastic syndrome5.
Aggressive SM (ASM) ASM is a severe form of SM associated with widespread infiltration of mast cells in various organs leading to organ damage or failure3.
approx. 5-10%
Mast cell leukemia (MCL) MCL is a rare and serious form of SM, characterized by a much higher circulation of mast cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. Prognosis is typically poor with a short survival time5.
approx. 1%
SM-AHN, ASM, and MCL are all defined as Advanced SM and have lower survival rates when compared to ISM and SSM8,18.
For more information and resources, visit No Disease Too Small (www.nodiseasetoosmall.com)
The Mastocytosis Society* may be another source of information for you: www.tmsforacure.org
*The Mastocytosis Society is a not-for-profit group, independent from Novartis. Novartis has no financial interest in this organization, but has provided occasional funding support. Novartis is not responsible for the organization’s information or actions.
1. Systemic mastocytosis. Orpha.net. 2018.
2. Mastocytosis. GARD (Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center, NIH). 2018. https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/6987/mastocytosis
3. Systemic mastocytosis. GARD. 2018.
4. Krystel-Whittemore M, et al. Frontiers in Immunology. 2015;6:620.
5. Bundra K, et al. Mastocytosis. NORD. 2018.
6. Sev’er A, et al. Women’s Health & Urban Life. 2009; 8(2):84-112.
7. Valent P, et al. Blood. 2016;129(11):1420-1427.
8. Lim K-H, et al. Blood. 2009;113(23):5727-5736.
9. Allergic reactions. MedlinePlus. 2018.
10. Krishnan K, et al. Systemic Mastocytosis. Medscape. 2018.
11. Deslypere G, et al. Belg J Hematol. 2013;4(3):85-89.
12. Russell N, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. August 2018.
13. Moura D, et al. PLoS One. 2011; 6(10): e26375.
14. Albumin Blood Test. MedlinePlus. 2018.
15. ALP - blood test. MedlinePlus. 2018.
16. Anemia of Inflammation or Chronic Disease. NIDDK 2018.
17. Blood Tests. NHLBI. 2018.
18. Thrombocytopenia. NHLBI. 2018.
19. Pardanani A. Am J Hematol. 2016;91(11):1146-1159.
20. Garcia-Montero AC, et al. Blood. 2006; 108(7):2366-2372.
21. Bone marrow biopsy. MedlinePlus. 2018.
22. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Systemic Mastocytosis, V.2.2019 ©National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc., 2019. All rights reserved. Accessed Feb. 7, 2019. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.
Advanced Systemic Mastocytosis
Our Focus ›
Cancer ›
Supporting people affected by Systemic Mastocytosis
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Nogales Unified School District #1 » Website Accessibility
Nogales Unified School District, in its goals to ensure every student is provided with clear instruction and that families and community are engaged as partners, is committed to making the information on its website accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities, and in ensuring its website complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, by using World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 and Policy IJNDBA Website Accessibility.
Website Accessibility Complaint Form
Filing a complaint or grievance regarding the accessibility of the Nogales Unified School District
Who may complain?
A student, parent, staff member, or member of the public may file a complaint.
How is a complaint submitted?
The individual may complain directly to a school administrator or to the school or District webmaster. Complaints may also be submitted verbally, by email, in writing or by completing the form provided by the district. All such communications will be forwarded to a staff member or consultant designated by the Superintendent.
Written Complaint forms should be emailed to webmaster@nusd.k12.az.us or sent via US mail to: 310 W. Plum St., Nogales, AZ 85621. Contact person, Lorenia Tamayo or Mary Lopez.
Oral complaints may be made by calling 520-397-7940 or 520-397-7917 or visiting the District’s administrative office during business hours.
What information should be included in a written complaint?
A complaint regarding the inaccessibility of the District’s public website content should contain the following information:
Your contact information (email and telephone number)
The date of the complaint
A description of the problem encountered
The URL (web address) or location of the problem page
This is the web address of the page with problem content. Example: http://www.nusd.k12.az.us/newsroom
Detailed description of solution desired
Let us know how can we fix the problem or provide you with information in a different format.
Click to download IJNDBA-E Website Accessibility Complaint Form
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Bentleys Brisbane Chooses Nutanix For Its Desktop Virtualisation Backbone
Sees “Greatly Reduced Cost” and Replacement of SAN as “A Giant Leap Forward”
Brisbane, Australia, October 21, 2013 – Bentleys Brisbane, a leading independent accountancy, has selected Nutanix, the leading provider of hyper-efficient, massively scalable and elegantly simple data centre infrastructure solutions, to provide its platform for the firm’s move into desktop virtualisation.
“We knew that virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) would save time and make desktop management much easier, but, frankly, buying additional Storage Area Network (SAN) for infrastructure was daunting and expensive. We were determined to find another way,” said Garry Patmore, Bentleys Network Administrator. “Fortunately, we have an excellent partner in Nathan Woods at Aliva. Nathan told us that we didn’t need a SAN to achieve what we wanted. Nutanix was a disruptive technology that had superior performance. It had much more functionality than the legacy technology of a SAN, but was much less expensive and much simpler to deploy and manage.”
The decision was a major one for Bentleys for a number of reasons. It was critical that the transition to desktop virtualisation for its 150 staff, many of whom serve the firm’s large rural client base, be seamless. The choice of Nutanix also needed to pass Patmore’s cost benefit analysis, fit the directors’ budget and deliver a VDI solution Bentleys could have confidence in from day one.
“When we buy IT solutions, we buy them all at once, so I knew that when it came to VDI we were facing a potentially onerous transition,” Patmore said. “The fact that Nutanix partners with VMWare was a significant factor for us.”
The power and scalability of Nutanix’s appliance technology were also critical factors.
“The tiering of Flash, SSD and HDD gave us the IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) we needed. In fact other alternatives couldn’t offer comparable IOPS even when flash was added to the legacy SAN solutions,” Patmore said.
“Since we are making this move with future growth in mind, Nutanix’s scalability was also critical. If you need more compute and storage, you simply add another node. Not only that, we have basically taken out 24 RUs (Rack Units) and replaced them with two Nutanix RUs. Replacing SAN is the key. It is without a doubt the way forward for infrastructure – actually it’s a giant leap forward. It’s too early to tell, but we obviously also expect to realise power and cooling gains from choosing Nutanix.”
Wayne Neich, Nutanix’s MD for A/NZ, echoed Patmore’s observations.
“We are very happy to be working with Bentleys. It’s especially gratifying to hear the reasons they chose Nutanix. It’s not about being the latest “hot” technology, it’s all about a better way to build IT infrastructure. Organisations no longer have to subscribe to the ‘We need to build a SAN’ approach, because they can get the same benefits and more power with Nutanix – not only that but they can start small and expand as their needs change,” Neich said. “You enable growth, you can scale to growth, and you never need to be hobbled by an unforgiving, inelastic IT infrastructure again.”
About Bentleys Brisbane
Bentleys Queensland is a full-service firm with specialist expertise in accounting, business and specialist advisory, taxation, self-managed super fund management, corporate recovery and audit services. The team of 16 Directors and 130 staff have a 65+ year track record of THINKING AHEAD to deliver creative, practical solutions to more than 2000 client groups. This is called The Bentleys Experience.
Originally established in the central Queensland region in 1948, Bentleys Queensland is aligned to many fields and offers specialist expertise and focus in six key industry pillars: Agricultural and Regional Businesses; Property and Construction; Aged Care and Health Services; Government, Public Sector and Education; Family Owned Businesses and SMEs; and Financial Institutions and Corporate Market.
For further information, please visit www.bentleys.com.au
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About the Neville Public Museum
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Why Was Ebenezer Childs Left Out of Green Bay History?
Last month in Part I of this blog we introduced the colorful character of Ebenezer Childs. Early in our research for Life and Death at Fort Howard we encountered this larger-than-life figure who was apparently involved in many of the “firsts” in Green Bay’s history. Childs’ memoirs have been used as a source by countless researchers studying this time period, but no one has taken the time to learn more about Childs himself. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Childs is unknown in Green Bay today and very little was written about him by the people that worked and lived with him .
One of the unfortunate truths about working on exhibits like Life and Death at Fort Howard is that, eventually, you have to stop researching and start actually building the exhibit. Our team had moved on to researching other aspects of the Fort Howard story when our Research Technician, James, made an unexpected discovery about Childs.
This discovery was a letter written by Childs which was sent to Morgan L. Martin, his attorney. (Read the letter here) In the letter we learned that Childs had married into the prominent Grignon family and that his wife had recently given birth; however, Childs alleges that he is not the father of his wife Margaret’s child. He names a man who he believes to be the father, and reveals that “one thing is certain… I can never live with my wife anymore.” This revelation was shocking, as Childs had never mentioned a family in his memoirs. We later found a reference to the Childs’ wedding in another source, but otherwise this letter was the sole indication that Childs had ever been married.
Recently we had a chance continue researching more about Childs and his life after Green Bay. We utilized the Area Research Center at UW-Green Bay and were able to find marriage and birth certificates that back up the contents of this letter, along with a Childs v. Childs divorce file. During the divorce Margaret Childs wrote a scathing and lengthy statement alleging that her husband was often intoxicated and “neglectful”.
This letter may explain why we know so little of Childs; we can only assume that the divorce was an embarrassment to all involved, and after Childs left Green Bay it is reasonable to assume that it was not a topic of polite conversation. Perhaps the residents of Green Bay avoided speaking of Childs, and that is why his name has not made it into the history books until now. It is also quite possible that he was intentionally omitted from the record, essentially “erasing” him from history.
The thing that attracted me to Childs in the beginning was the sheer outrageousness of his claims mixed with an element of mystery. As we continued to uncover his story, however, I began to think; Is it really my place to expose this incident in the life of a man who lived 150 years ago that he himself would have preferred to stay secret? As a historian I try to use the stories of the past to make sense of the present. Ebenezer Childs was truly a “founding father” of Green Bay, and he deserves to be remembered as such. Understanding this chapter of his life not only explains why he hasn’t been viewed in this light until now, but explains the decisions he made after his time in Green Bay. It also reminds us that there are always two sides to every story and that as historians all we have to work with is what has been left behind.
Ryan Swadley
*Within two years of his divorce Ebenezer had left Green Bay, served as a state legislator, and spent his final days in La Crosse. Further research will need to be done regarding Margaret and Louis, but it appears Margaret never remarried and lived near Kaukauna for the rest of her life. We have not yet found any records of Louis.
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Intro to Ice Climbing
Ice climbing isn’t just for expert athletes
Brion O’Connor,
Photo courtesy of Jamie Leahy
I was curious when my brother Sean, a Concord surgeon, started ice climbing. Here was a man with a crazy busy life at the time — a high-pressure medical practice that often required weekend shifts in the emergency room, plus a growing family with three children under his roof, which meant a dedication to the clan’s first winter love, skiing.
“So why add ice climbing to the mix?” I asked.
“Because when I’m on the ice, I’m not thinking about anything else,” Sean replied with a grin. “Every single thought is totally about the next move.”
That, in a nutshell, is the allure of this sublime, sub-freezing pastime. It requires total concentration and total absorption with each movement and each “thunk!” of an ice ax or crampon. And one happy byproduct is that life’s pressures tend to melt away.
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“All climbing is more of a mental game than a physical one, but ice climbing is the most cerebral of them all,” says Keith Moon, climbing school manager for Eastern Mountain Sports in North Conway. “We’re climbing frozen waterfalls that in a few months — maybe even days — will turn back into a running waterfall. It is an interesting feeling climbing something so ephemeral. You need to be 100 percent focused on what you’re doing.”
Granite Staters have a well-earned reputation for embracing winter, which is another reason why ice climbing is a great fit. Being outdoors in spectacular locations — places like North End Cathedral outside North Conway, The Flume in Franconia Notch, Frankenstein Cliffs and Mount Willard in Crawford Notch, Champney Falls off the Kancamagus Highway and Huntington Ravine on Mount Washington — can energize us during winter’s short, cold days. But the sport is also a tremendous way to keep fit.
“Ice climbing is the perfect complementary activity for folks around the Northeast in the winter,” says Moon. “Sometimes we have booming snowfall, and other times hardly any. I love to ski as well as climb. Thankfully, around here, the conditions choose what I should do. If we get a big snowfall, we grab our skis. If it hasn’t snowed in a bit, the ice is probably ripe for climbing. If you haven’t tried it, you’re definitely missing out.”
A common misconception, says Moon, is that ice climbing is tantamount to doing a series of pull-ups. Instead, it’s more of a complete body workout.
“People think you need to have a strong upper body to climb,” he says. “Having strong legs and core is a much better attribute. Your legs are what propel you upward, while your arms act as balance. Folks of average fitness are more than capable of trying and enjoying the sport.
“Ice climbing is a good way to keep up your ‘global strength’ throughout the winter,” he adds. “It’s more of a strength activity than an aerobic one. Swinging ice tools, kicking in your crampons and using your core to hold yourself in combine to make a surprising, fun workout.”
Another bonus is the variety that ice climbing delivers, and the resulting puzzle that climbers must decipher. Conditions can change dramatically depending on just how far the mercury has fallen, and the transitory nature of ice makes for a constantly shifting landscape. In short, routes are rarely the same from climb to climb.
“The ice is always changing,” says Jamie Leahy, owner and lead guide of North Ridge Mountain Guides in Bethlehem. “How cold was it yesterday? How much snow have we gotten lately? How popular is this climb? All of these things — and more — affect the conditions. A route that is climbed often can become ‘hooked out,’ where the ice has almost a set of steps in it. That condition is much easier to climb than fresh, untouched ice.”
Brad White, co-owner of the International Mountain Climbing School in North Conway, says the ice becomes more brittle the colder it gets, and can shatter below 20 degrees.
“Above 20 degrees till about 40ish, the ice becomes softer and is actually easier to climb until it hits a mush and fall-down point,” he says. “The amount of minerals in the ice can also affect the solid nature of the climbing.”
To the uninitiated, ice climbing, with its ropes, crampons, axes and myriad screws, bolts and carabiners (known as “pro,” for protection) can look incredibly intimidating. In reality, it’s a sport that can be learned incrementally, allowing participants to build on the skills they develop with each session.
“We at IMCS are able to take people of all abilities climbing both on rock and ice,” says White. “The steeper the ice, the more upper body fitness is required, but everybody can climb something and be challenged.”
Beyond regular exercising, you can also hone some ice-climbing skills at home — or maybe more accurately in the garage. “The way to practice your [ax] swing is to attempt to drive a nail into a board with both hands, left and right,” he says. “Then you’re ready to hit the ice.”
Leahy agrees, saying: “Ice climbing can have many different levels of difficulty, and we always make sure that we pick appropriate climbs so we can be successful. We start off on some easier climbs to learn the fundamentals, and then work our way up if we need or want to.”
Most experts agree that ice climbing, unlike rock climbing or bouldering, is best suited for climbers who are at least in their teens, due to the strength and coordination required to confidently wield an ice ax. However, there doesn’t appear to be an upper end of the age scale.
“One of the things I really like about ice climbing is how wide the range of climbers is,” says Leahy. “I’ve had folks from 14 to 70 on the ice, and at all levels of fitness. Not all ice climbs are 500 feet of vertical. There are plenty of lower-angle climbs that are much more doable for a wide range of people.”
If you’re just starting out, don’t worry about the equipment required. Instead, sign up for some lessons with a reputable climbing outfit, which will supply not only the guides, but the necessary gear as well.
“Double boots, crampons, harness, helmet, ice tools and all technical gear needed are included in course cost,” says White. “If properly clothed, most people stay warm and comfortable. We also rent clothing. We always work with people with individual needs and make sure they have a great day.”
Categories: Outsider, Winter Sports
The Explorers' Mount Wonalancet Winter Hike
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Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
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US Domestic Issues
Sinning: Weakness or Malice?
Hinduism in America, Part 2
Bono on the Psalms
In This Episode << SLIDE LEFT TO SEE ADDITIONAL SEGMENTS
MARY ALICE WILLIAMS: Seldom has sin made bigger headlines than it did the past week. Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a widely publicized article for the stylish new TALK magazine, stated that, “In Christian theology, there are sins of weakness and sins of malice,” adding that her husband’s adultery was a sin of weakness. Is there a hierarchy of sin? Are we using the insights of modern psychotherapy to excuse bad behavior instead of merely explain it? Does this foreshadow a kind of no-fault morality in America?
Joining us are Reverend Dr. Cornelius Plantinga Jr., dean of the chapel at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a theologian in the Christian Reform Church. He is author of the book NOT THE WAY IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE: A BREVIARY OF SIN. And in Oakland, California, Catholic theologian and prolific writer Jane Redmont, whose new book, WHEN IN DOUBT, SING: PRAYER IN DAILY LIFE, has just been published.
Thank you both for being with us. Neil, weakness versus malice: Is there a hierarchy of sin?
Reverend Dr. CORNELIUS PLANTINGA Jr. (Author, NOT THE WAY IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE): The Christian church has always seen a hierarchy of sin, Catholics as well as Protestants. The Catholic tradition between mortal and venial sins is better known. The Protestants, too, have thought that some sins are more serious than others. The first lady’s distinction between sins of weakness and sins of malice is not a classical theological distinction.
WILLIAMS: Jane, what goes into making a sin?
Ms. JANE REDMONT (Author, WHEN IN DOUBT, SING): That’s the $60,000 question. I think it’s difficult for us to talk about sin outside of the context of biblical categories — it is a biblical category — and outside of the notion of relationship with God. Sin classically has to do with breaking or violating relationship with God and relationship with neighbor, which in the biblical traditions, Jewish and Christian, are understood as being one and the same.
WILLIAMS: Intentionally, with full knowledge and consent?
Ms. REDMONT: That is a traditional Catholic way of talking about mortal sin. And, yes, I think that the question that Ms. Rodham Clinton raised of the distinction between malice and weakness, while not a classical category, raises the question of intention. Was full human freedom, was the will completely involved in a particular sin?
WILLIAMS: Neil, have our notions of sin changed over time?
Dr. PLANTINGA: They certainly have. We traditionally have talked of the seven deadly sins where pride was the first. More recently, pride has actually made a real comeback in contemporary life. In fact, some folks think of self-esteem as the solution to all our problems. On the other hand, we’ve gotten more sensitive to certain sins, for example, to sins of disrespect against others.
WILLIAMS: Like bigotry?
Dr. PLANTINGA: Bigotry, racism, and sins against the whole creation, ecological sins.
Ms. REDMONT: I would add also that, in my own tradition, in the Catholic tradition, we have a renewed emphasis on the notion of social sin, so that people, in asking about sin, might well ask in, for instance, President Clinton’s welfare reform bill, which took food out of the mouths of children, was that a sin of weakness or a sin of malice, this kind of structural or social sin?
WILLIAMS: How has psychotherapy and the psychotherapeutic community changed our notions of what a sin is?
Ms. REDMONT: I think the classic example is the example of alcoholism, which, 100 years ago, we understood under the category of sin. And now, understanding physiologically and psychologically what goes into alcoholism, we know that although there may be sinful actions that come out of the condition of being addicted to alcohol, alcoholism itself is not a sin.
And so now with the field of trauma studies within clinical psychology, we’re understanding that there may be factors in people’s childhood that may not mitigate, but certainly don’t constitute in themselves a sin and may predispose people in certain directions.
WILLIAMS: Neil, does understanding the effect of, for instance, childhood trauma on adult behavior automatically absolve grownups from sin?
Dr. PLANTINGA: It can’t. We have to treat grownups as grownups, and a lot of the time when we think about how childhood events may influence grownup behavior, we’re engaged in amateur psychological speculation. At the same time, we all know that having a rocky childhood does influence how we live as adults. I think it’s instructive to notice that AA does hold alcoholics fully responsible even for managing what is, in fact, a disease.
WILLIAMS: In other words, it is, in the end, personal responsibility?
Dr. PLANTINGA: We all have it, we know it, and we try very much to keep it, but it’s one of the great human mysteries why we actually sin against the purpose of our own existence.
WILLIAMS: All right. Thank you so much, both of you, for being with us, Reverend Dr. Cornelius Plantinga Jr. and theologian Jane Redmont. Thanks.
Ms. REDMONT: Thank you.
Rabbi Shira Stutman Extended Interview
A Holocaust Survivor Returns to Poland
Judaism and Feeding the Homeless
Tags: Christian, Jewish, President Bill Clinton, psychology, sin, theology
Funding for RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY is provided by Lilly Endowment. Additional funding is provided by individual supporters and Mutual of America Life Insurance Company.
Produced by THIRTEEN ©2015 WNET. All rights reserved.
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The 10 biggest snubs in the 2016 Oscar nominations
With so many good films released in the past 12 months, some were obviously going to have to be left off the Oscars nominations list, otherwise each category would be about 50 entries long.
Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins, Finding Dory, Tom Hanks, Martin Scorcese, Silence, Deadpool, Nocturnal Animals, Amy Adams, Arrival
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It's been 23 years since Trainspotting was released, which means it's been over two decades since the heroin-fuelled misadventures of Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie and the rest of the gang hit out cinemas.
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January always brings a fresh breath of excitement for the upcoming films of the year, and 2017 boast blockbuster releases such as Guardians Of The Galaxy 2, Justice League and Blade Runner 2049.
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In the year of 2016, we've seen some good films and we've seen some bad films. We've seen some films that we thought were going to be good, but turned out not to be.
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Pearl & Dean's early Oscar 2017 predictions: Best Actor
Over the coming weeks, we will be looking into our crystal ball to predict who will be taking home little gold statuettes when the 2017 Oscars come to town.
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7 sequels that started out as completely different movies
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Pearl & Dean's early Oscar 2017 predictions: Best Film
Starting off with 'the big one' - Best Picture, here are six films that we will be in the reckoning come awards night.
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Hibiscus Syriacus Lavender Chiffon
Hibiscus Syriacus Lavender Chiffon flowers
Hibiscus Syriacus Lavender Chiffon Rose of Sharon
The Hibiscus Syriacus Lavender Chiffon is also commonly called the Lavender Chiffon Rose of Sharon. It produces large lilac-pink flowers that measure 10 centimeters in diameter. The flowers start to appear in mid-summer and persist throughout the autumn months. Although each bloom only lasts a single day, the shrub produces a non-stop riot of flowers. Each blossom stands out in stark contrast against the ovate foliage. They attract a wide assortment of butterflies and other pollinators to the garden. It is an exceptionally useful shrub for the back of the border because of its height. The Lavender Chiffon Rose of Sharon grows with a rounded habit to a height of 240 to 360 cm with a width of 120 to 180 cm. Its abundant growth makes it a wonderful privacy screen.
Hibiscus Syriacus Lavender Chiffon belongs in the Chiffon series of Hibiscus. It was first developed by Dr. Roderick Woods, an amateur breeder from Cambridgeshire. His goal was to cultivate a truly outstanding pink flower, but he instead developed the double, anemone style Chiffon series of plants. Lavender Chiffon Rose of Sharon has lilac pink flowers.Other shrubs in the collection include Hibiscus Syriacus China Chiffon and Hibiscus Syriacus White Chiffon. Unlike many hibiscus cultivars, the Chiffon cultivars tolerate cold weather.
Plant Lavender Chiffon Rose of Sharon in full sun for the best blooms and plant growth. It prefers well-draining soil that is organically rich. The soil should be kept moderately moist to encourage the shrub to develop a dense root system. Unlike many flowering shrubs, it can tolerate poor soil, drought, humidity, excessive heat, and even salt spray. It is also highly deer resistant which makes it a favourite shrub for woodland gardens.
Prune Hibiscus Syriacus Lavender Chiffon in the early spring. It can be pruned back to the first three or four buds in the autumn to encourage larger and more robust flower production the following year.
The Lavender Chiffon Rose of Sharon should be a treasured addition to anyone’s garden. It won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticulture Society. There is little doubt that it will become a much admired show-stopping addition to your landscape.
Hibiscus Syriacus Marina
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Hibiscus Syriacus Duc De Brabant
Rhododendron Albert Schweitzer
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Grand Theft Jesus
The Hijacking of Religion in America
By Robert S. McElvaine
Category: Religion | Politics
Mar 25, 2008 | ISBN 9780307409706
About Grand Theft Jesus
“Jesus never wrote a book, but I recognize his handwriting in Grand Theft Jesus. Like Jesus, McElvaine uses lively illustrations and a serious sense of humor to cleanse the temple of exclusive and exploitative religion.”
–The Reverend Alan Storey,Calvary Methodist Church, South Africa
“We’re mad as Heaven, and we’re not going to take it anymore!” declares historian Robert McElvaine in this passionate and often hilarious rallying cry for sincere Jesus Followers. He lets the rest of society know that the extreme right wing won’t be allowed to speak for all Christians any longer. His whip-smart, take-no-prisoners polemic lays bare the Christian Right’s “Easy Jesus” creed, in which people who claim to accept Jesus get a free pass to lie in his name. Grand Theft Jesus exposes the televangelists and the leaders of megachurches as the people Jesus warned us about–the wolves in sheep’s clothing of our day.
The religion that McElvaine calls ChristianityLite resembles schemes that promise “Lose weight without diet or exercise!” Its leaders say, “Be saved without sacrifice or good works!” Run by a crew of politicians, megachurch preachers, televangelists, hypocrites, and snake-oil salesmen, it has hijacked true Christianity and distorted it into something Jesus wouldn’t recognize. Its leaders have taken the generous and loving ideals of Christ and twisted them into a religion that advocates war and intolerance, values money above charity, preaches hatred instead of brotherhood, and promises “true” believers the keys to the gates of the kingdom of God–and to the bank vault.
Jesus’ radical message of love and peace has been drowned out by the bluster, the hate, and the selfishness that often passes for Christianity in America. McElvaine names names in his list of “Leading Lites” who have earned spots on Jesus’ Ten Most Unwanted List and exposes the hypocritical (Ted Haggard), the disgraceful (Pat Robertson), and the shocking (Ann Coulter). Grand Theft Jesus blends outrage and humor in a compelling argument that will help to resurrect the real Jesus, who has been crucified and interred by the “Right Reverends” who recite the Apostles’ Greed, are pro-choice on wars of choice, and preach the Greater Gory of Christ.
Also by Robert S. McElvaine
See all books by Robert S. McElvaine
About Robert S. McElvaine
ROBERT S. McELVAINE is Elizabeth Chisholm Professor of Arts and Letters and chair of the Department of History at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. He is the author of nine previous books and dozens of articles in such publications as… More about Robert S. McElvaine
Published by Crown
Mar 25, 2008 | 336 Pages | ISBN 9780307409706
“If Robert McElvaine had been Jesus’s lawyer, Pontius Pilate would have released him on his own recognizance.”
“Grand Theft Jesus will annoy a lot of the sanctimonious neo-Puritans of the Religious Right–and that’s good! For everyone else, especially those seeking a full-throttled Christianity that actually reflects what Jesus taught, Robert McElvaine offers one heck of a ride.”
—The Reverend Barry W. Lynn, executive director, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and author of Piety and Politics
“Robert McElvaine reveals with startling clarity that much of the religious establishment in America has become like the religious establishment that betrayed Jesus: lusting for dollars and fame, obsessed with dubious doctrines and emotional slogans, all the while showing little of the concern for the poor or the oppressed that Jesus commanded. He powerfully argues that Christians must reverse the decline of their faith by re-embracing the biblical witness of Jesus in the gospels and actively rejecting the cheap grace being peddled in his name. Grand Theft Jesus is at times funny, at times infuriating, but always on target. It should be read by everyone who proclaims the name of Jesus.”
—Dr. Obery M. Hendricks, Jr., author of The Politics of Jesus
“Jesus never wrote a book, but I recognize his hand writing in Grand Theft Jesus. Like Jesus, McElvaine uses lively illustrations and a serious sense of humor to cleanse the temple of exclusive and exploitative religion.”
—The Reverend Alan Storey, Calvary Methodist Church, South Africa
“Where there is hypocrisy, McElvaine calls it hypocrisy, and where the self-advertised speakers for God are ‘ungodly,’ they get unmasked. And he does this with memorable turns of phrase, no little wit, and seriousness of purpose.”
—Martin E. Marty, author of Pilgrims in their Own Land
“Grand Theft Jesus vigorously and passionately attacks the pseudo-Christianity so prevalent today, but does so from a Christian perspective. It makes its powerful case with humor as well as serious argument.”
—Harvey Cox, author of The Secular City and When Jesus Came to Harvard
“Grand Theft Jesus is one of those rare books that might just make a huge difference in the world! It manages to combine a hilarious satiric voice with passionate, no-nonsense clarity about the lost gospels–of the actual Christian bible! There are few people on the planet who can mobilize such a voice of Christian conviction against right wing Christianity.”
—Catherine Keller, Professor of Theology, Drew University
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By Plum Staff | | November 12th, 2015
Adam Hsu Interview, Part 5
This session concentrates on “the Kung Fu Instructor,” and spreading the word. Adam Hsu gives a little insight into his many decades struggle with practitioners and agencies to promote authentic Kung Fu. Want to watch ALL (Parts 1-8) on youtube? Want to watch Part 1 on this site? Want to watch Part 2 on this […]
In Part 4 of our interview, Adam Hsu makes some critical comments on what he sees in Kung Fu usage and applications. He speaks further of the goals and methods for Kung Fu training. Want to watch ALL (Parts 1-8) on youtube? Want to watch Part 1 on this site? Want to watch Part 2 […]
By Plum Staff | | October 18th, 2015
Continuing our discussion on weapon’s practice, the interview moves to the topics of Kung Fu forms, and where they fit into the curriculum. Want to watch ALL (Parts 1-8) on youtube? Want to watch Part 1 on this site? Want to watch Part 2 on this site? Want to watch Part 4 on this site? […]
Learning “true basics” is at the core of Kung Fu. In this session, Part 2 of our interview, Adam Hsu talks about communicating and the practice of Kung Fu Weaponry. Want to watch All (Parts 1-8) on youtube? Want to watch Part 1 on this site? Want to watch Part 3 on this site? Want […]
In Part 1, our interview starts with a question about Kung Fu’s true DNA. Discussion follows, on the Kung Fu experience, and what that means, and what makes Kung Fu absolutely unique as a martial art. Part 2 (on this site) Part 3 (on this site) Part 4 (on this site) Part 5 (on this […]
DVDs, On Weapons, Teachers, Weapons Work By Ted Mancuso | | March 18th, 2014
My Experience with the San Cai Sword (and How it Failed Me)
I can’t tell you how delighted I am to see that the San Cai Sword is available in this new set of DVDs by Adam Hsu. It is truly a great sword set and worth the time to master it. First, of course, is the fact that the single person performance set is almost exactly […]
By Plum Staff | | March 10th, 2014
The Mystery of Bagua
Ba Pan Zhang Walking the Circle Takes a Different Turn Bagua is one of the youngest Kung Fu styles, becoming popular as recently as the turn of the century. But in spite of its youth it has one thing in common with almost all other Kung Fu styles: its history is a mystery. The Chinese […]
By Plum Staff | | March 2nd, 2014
About Adam Hsu
Rarely has an instructor in a field like Chinese Martial Arts (CMA) had such a wide influence. Adam Hsu, within the first year of coming to the West, was singularly honored by being voted Instructor fo the Year simultaneously in the two major martial magazines, competitors at that, Black Belt and Inside Kung Fu. This […]
Exclusive Interview: Adam Hsu
Interview with Shifu Adam Hsu on his book: Lone Sword Against a Cold Cold Sky Q: How do you see the place of reading in the study of Kung Fu? A: Reading is important, as in any other body of discipline. Initially you can go to a lot of different sources: study directly from […]
Article, Teachers, Technique, Training By Ted Mancuso | | April 1st, 2012
The Southern Art of Ten•Wood•Rice
Southern Kung Fu styles turn, dodge and side step quickly with “rat steps.” At the same time hands flop out and haul in forming themselves into a menagerie of claws, paws, wings and edges.
Article, BaGua Zhang, Teachers By Plum Staff | | March 30th, 2012
New View: China’s Living , Surveys
Vincent Lynch has been assembling this series, with the invaluable help of George Xu, for years. Here is a selection of videos from One Hand Videos well-known series “China’s Living Treaures” which, as far as martial arts goes, lives up to its name. In this presentation we concentrte on CLT’s demonstrations of top instructors and […]
Article, DVDs, Teachers By Plum Staff | | March 25th, 2012
Demonstration by Master Liou Wan Fu
A demonstration by the man (72 years old) who taught George Xu the Dragon Bagua and the Double Sabers…
Article, Some Thoughts, Teachers By Ted Mancuso | | February 5th, 2012
Why Are the Forms on Your DVDs different …
At Plum we get this question all the time. On one level the answer is obvious as a spinning heel hook; different people teach differently. But that is not the whole story.
Article, Teachers By Ted Mancuso | | July 4th, 2011
The Passing of Robert Smith
July 1st, Robert Smith passed away. Someone in the martial arts field once called him “the Grand-daddy of us all.”
Article, Biographies, Teachers By Plum Staff | | June 5th, 2011
Chu GuiTing: fighter and teacher
Not only did he become one of Yang’s top ten disciples but, later in life, he stood as Yang’s chosen fighter to take on challenges to the school.
Biographies, Sha Style, Styles, Teachers By Plum Staff | | February 27th, 2011
Sha Guo Zhen and Sha Style
From his childhood he studied numerous styles of Kung Fu. Early on his acquired the technique of the Six Harmony Spear (Liu He Jiang) which he continued to refine his entire life.
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Star is acquired by Uniphar Group plc
Uniphar's input and investment will power the scale, depth and breadth of Star's portfolio of outsourced services while retaining what's best about Star - great people and customer experience.
Star is a full service outsourcing and resourcing company that delivers sales, marketing, medical and clinical people for Pharma, Medical Devices & Technology, Clinical Research and Healthcare Communications businesses; Star’s tailored services include dedicated teams, vacancy management, direct to headcount recruitment, consultancy and master vendor.
Uniphar Group plc ('Uniphar') is a leading pre-wholesaler, wholesaler and provider of services in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector in the Republic of Ireland. Uniphar has a diverse customer base and an annual turnover in excess of €1bn. Star will operate as an independent company within Uniphar’s Manufacturer Services division.
“Our partnership with Uniphar will enable us to fill the gap in the market for a provider of quality outsourced solutions delivered with exceptional customer service,” explains Lucy O’Neill, Star’s General Manager. "We’ll continue to listen to our customers’ needs, tailor our solutions and deliver the best talent and commercial outcomes using a bigger, broader portfolio of outsourced services, to include syndicated teams, sales force effectiveness, and outsourced call centre, nursing and commercial/CCG teams.” Star’s Chief Operating Officer Tim Webster continues: “Leveraging the strengths of both companies will help us achieve our shared vision, to become the UK and Ireland’s market leader in healthcare outsourcing.”
Padraic Dempsey, Managing Director of Uniphar’s Manufacturer Services division: “We needed a partner with proven Contract Sales Organisation expertise and access to the best sales, marketing, medical and clinical people to help us deliver best in class outsourced solutions. Our research found that Star has a 13 year heritage in the UK’s CSO market and a reputation for finding top quality people that other providers couldn’t reach. Uniphar’s strategy is to partner with entrepreneurial business leaders who foster a culture of creative problem solving and progress through innovation, as Uniphar does. We found this at Star.”
Contact Lucy O’Neill on 01628 581 240 or lucy.oneill@starmedical.co.uk to discuss how Star’s broader portfolio of services can help your business.
Star House
4 Kelso Place
Upper Bristol Road
BA1 3AU
Star Europe kicks off 2019 in style
Star Europe is very proud to have received fantastic feedback in the Netherlands since opening its Amsterdam office in November. With a glowing testimonial from a client on their first experience of hiring with Star, 2019 has begun in the best way for the European arm of the company.
Shionogi Ltd. appoints Star for UK launch
Star is delighted to be partnering with specialist research-driven Japanese pharma company, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. (hereafter “Shionogi”), as they launch a new product into the UK market.
Star continues European expansion
Star is following its 16th birthday celebrations with another important milestone – continuing its European expansion programme by opening an office in Amsterdam.
Is being easily influenced really that bad?
We invest a significant amount of time and money learning in leadership and how to influence others, but rarely do we teach leaders how to be influenced by others. Why is this? Of Harvard Business Review’s 10 Must Reads on Leadership, none focus on being influenced…..
Star announce PharmaDoctor partnership
PharmaDoctor (owned by Escripts Marketing Ltd), and Star (part of the Uniphar Group), are pleased to announce a strategic partnership between the two companies to drive and support the development of a wide range of patient centric Pharmacy Clinical Services in the UK.
Sweet 16: Star celebrates an important milestone
This September Star celebrate their 16th birthday and are looking back over an exciting and successful year so far.
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Small ship polar adventures since 1999 +46 31 333 17 30 info@polar-quest.com
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The Norwegian coast & Lofoten Islands
Along the rocky shores of Karl XII Island and Storøya
Below you can read about an exciting Zodiac adventure along the rocky shores of Storøya and Karl XII Island during the trip Expedition Svalbard with Sea Endurance 12 - 22 July.
16th of July 2018
Already before breakfast can we see the spectacular shape of Karl XII Island appear through the mist. As we set anchor a few hundred meters from the shore line there are two polar bears walking along the shore, apparently just as excited about us as we were about them. After breakfast, we put our Zodiacs into the water but because of the polar bears without any landing as earlier planned. At the very start of our Zodiac cruise we spot a group of walruses in the water as well. The mist vanishes and reappears, but we manage to circumnavigate the island. We see more walruses and altogether four polar bears along the rocky shoreline.
After lunch, we head east towards Storøya, which despite its name is quite small. As we approach the island we once again spot polar bears on the shore, and our landing once again must be cancelled. Instead we go for a Zodiac cruise along the coast to watch a couple of walruses and a beautiful red phalarope.
The Arctic Bug
In August, Roxana Cremer, a PhD Student in Atmospheric Science at Stockholm University, travelled with us on board M/S Quest. Once back on Stockholm’s busy streets in front of an empty page, thinking about what she actually would like to tell about her trip to the Arctic this last summer, she wrote this text for our blog. Please read it below!
The words that most sum up my feelings and experiences are by Birgit Lutz, a German polar adventurer (freely translated from her book: Eine Frau erobert die Arktis):
Who only sees the cold dessert in the ArcticiIce, to whom this world will never open up.
It is so true, who only thinks about the cold, the polar bears and the ice will miss a lot up in the far North of our planet. But when you get bitten by the Arctic bug you see the most beautiful nature you can ever imagen and this far distant place will become a second home for you.
When I went to Svalbard this year in the early morning of August a new Arctic world just opened up for me; before Svalbard was a place to work, doing research, but never for holidays. On first sight, everything was weird. All the mountains, I only knew in white, were in a brownish colour. The feeling vanished quickly during our visit to Barentsburg the first evening, this Russian coal mining town with its special character, I fell in love again with this other face of the Arctic: A darker one, colour wise, but the beauty was just as astonishing as in its white winter dress.
Our first morning was spend in rainy weather at Recherchefjord with a Zodiac lesson, a little cruising along the glacier front and later that day we landed at Bamsebu. The old whaling town is already gone and just left behind hills of bones and a trapper hut. This winter, two women are staying there recording data for science and reaching out globally from a very special place of to classrooms to communicate climate. The whole project is called Hearts in the ice.
Normally wake up time was around 8 am with a great breakfast, but sometimes it could happen that you got a call a little Earlier. That one morning it was 5 am, message: Whale! More precisely Bowhead whale. I jumped out of the bed, grabbed my cloth pulled them on, grabbed my camera, got in my shoes and ran upstairs and outside. That sounds like it is done in a minute, and sure it was Arctic summer but standing on deck is still cold and windy. The putting your cloth on quickly in the Arctic takes a little longer then normally, you got at least two layers under your jacket and then you look and move more like a barrel than someone who wants to run upstairs for whale watching and the whole time you hope to be quick enough. I was and so I saw my first whale in an Arctic sunrise.
The excitement for that day was far from over, I went back to bed for another hour of sleep and after the breakfast we went for a walk at Kap Lee with walruses, kittiwakes and reindeers. After lunch we headed out in the Zodiacs because of a polar bear spotting. It was the third bear on our trip but the first one we came really close to. He was sitting at the beach looking at us. After some time, he left the beach to continue his travel. We headed to the other side of the fjord because there was another polar bear sighting: a mother with two cubs. Cubs isn’t really painting the right picture; teenagers fit a little better. It was their last summer with their mother and they just had a feast. At the beach was a massive walrus cadaver, on top of the cliff the three bears took a little after lunch nap. Down on the beach the walrus left-overs were eaten by some foxes and one gull. I cannot remember how much time we spent there going back and forth to see the bears and the foxes. At one point one of the teenager bears came down the cliff, scared away the foxes and checked out the food again, only to climb up a few minutes later. The commitment to slide down the cliff was such a clumsy and cute move and you could really see how well fed they were from the walrus they had shared. Back on top of the cliff the mother bear slowly begun to make its way and the three left to the inland.
I will leave it here, dreaming back to my vacation while going through a few more of my photos and leaving you with another quote from the book:
In moments like this one lays the answer.
Text & photos: Roxana Cremer
Marco Polo described Sri Lanka as one of the most beautiful islands in the world and we agree! This tropical island is known for its varied, beautiful scenery which includes lush mountain slopes, tea plantations, deep blue seas with vast beaches as well as national parks that host exciting wildlife. Read about our guests' experiences in one of the parks below!
We left a cold Sweden behind and were welcomed by Sri Lanka's greenery and warmth. It is a nice contrast to stay a few days in the wilderness camp at Wilpattu National Park - crickets play while the frogs quiver calmly outside the tent during the evenings. Today's jeep tour offered many exotic birds: blue-tailed bee-eaters, painted stork, white-bellied sea eagle, Indian crested hawk-eagle and Sri Lankan junglefowl, which is also Sri Lanka's national bird.
In addition to the endemic toque macaque, which curiously peeked back at us, we also saw grey languras, crocodiles, trionychidae and a number of different deer. All guests had fantastic meetings with two different leopards and several in the group also saw a lip bear strolling around the vegetation. Tomorrow, the journey continues towards Sigiriya and UNESCO's World Heritage site, the impressive "Lion Cliff".
Adrian Nordenborg
MacQuaire Island
The spectacular, isolated and rarely visited sub-Antarctic islands south of New Zealand and Australia are recognised as some of the world’s great “biodiversity hotspots” and enlisted as a World Heritage Sites. Here, almost half of all the world's penguin and albatross species nest and it is a real oasis for anyone interested in wildlife and wildlife. Below you can read about our travellers' visits to MacQuarie Island.
Today we made a landing in Australian territory, on the most remote island imaginable. At the very bottom right corner of the world map you can see a small line sticking out of the depth of the sea - MacQuarie Island. This is home to about 80,000 elephant seals and hundreds of thousands of penguins and other seabirds.
The most special is the royal penguin which nests only on this remote island. In other words, you have to visit Macquarie Island if you want to have seen every penguin species in the world. When you are here you can also take the opportunity to tick off three other species: king penguin, gentoo penguin and rockhopper penguin. And we didn't have to search very long to find the animals. At the ascent of Sandy Bay, it was rather difficult to find a vacancy on the beach to go ashore. The elephant seals were literally in piles and between the piles of blubber, the penguins tried to get up to reach their nesting sites higher up.
We gently wandered between seals and penguins who barely took any notice of the two-legged visitors, and it was difficult to know where to look and photograph. The animals' daily lives took place before our eyes and everything happened at the same time. Few places on the planet can exhibit such a concentration of wildlife, where one can also be in the midst of them.
This was truly a day to remember.
Text & photo:
Adam Rheborg
Guide & Expedition Leader
South Georgia - a wildlife haven
Heidi Lätheenmäki Sander remembers a crispier November morning on South Georgia in a blog post she wrote on a grey day at home in Gothenburg. Read it and dream yourself away too!
It is barely 5:00 AM, but I am already up, awake and fully dressed. Two pairs of socks, three pairs of trousers and three layers of sweaters. It's for best when a chilly adventure in South Georgia is what awaits!
Moving smooth and freely is not the easiest, but one by one we descend into the inflatable Zodiac that will take us all the way ashore. Our Zodiac makes a so-called surf-landing, which means the guides stand and receive us at the beach while the waves roll in. With waterproof clothing from top to toe, it is really fun to have to put your feet in the water before you can step up on the beach.
The sound of the waves drowns in the humming of the elephant seals, the delightful whine of the king penguins and the groaning of the fur seals - it is a way for them to show where the boundary of their territory goes. Once the ears get used to all the sounds, the eyes start to work too. Wherever I look, there are hundreds of king penguins standing in large clusters or strolling around. The elephant seals are like little lumps everywhere and are looking for eye contact with their big, round eyes. Suddenly we hear a thundering noise and the ground vibrates slightly. Right next to us are two elephant seals who are about to challenge each other in a harem fight!
I look out over this gigantic sea of fantastic animals, and there I stand, trying to capture everything from the surroundings - what a fantastic way start to the day!
Heidi Lähteenmäki Sander
Expedition planner & Travel consultant heidi@polarquest.se
Expedition Antarctica - the Great Penguin Adventure 2020
Ocean Nova Maximum 78 passengers
21 days 19 nights on ship USD 12 990
Departure: November 2020
A life changing experience
Halfway between mainland Norway and the North Pole lies Svalbard – one of the world’s most magnificent wildernesses. From the airplane windows you get a first glimpse of the Arctic landscapes, but the real adventure starts when we leave the civilisation behind with one of our small expedition ships. We set out into the untamed wilderness, surrounded by ice blue glaciers, dramatic mountains and mirror-like fjords. No two days are alike - sometimes you might be woken up in the middle of the bright night if a polar bear has been spotted on the ice. In this short film some of fantastic travellers and guides tell us about their great experiences in the Arctic wilderness.
Film and production: Mika Aberra
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Home » 1965 Candy Apple Red Fender Jazz Bass
more... Vintage Vault
1965 Candy Apple Red Fender Jazz Bass
Dave Rogers and Tim Mullally
In the middle of 1951, Leo Fender decided that it was time to get upright bass players out of the shadows and closer to the audience. He began experimenting with designs based around his first design, the Telecaster. After tinkering with scale length and pickup placement, Fender decided that the 34” scale length was sufficient to produce the low-end that was required to rival the upright bass. It seemed that the new Precision Bass (named because of the addition of frets, which created a perfect note) was set to send the big “doghouse bass” back to the dogs.
Unfortunately, when the new Precision Bass was introduced, it was not very well received. Many players could not get used to the feel of the new instrument; Bill Black, who played with Elvis Presley, even threw his new P-Bass across the floor out of frustration during a recording session. It wasn’t until the early work of Monk Montgomery and Lionel Hampton that the P-Bass started to carve out a niche in the early 1950s.
While the P-Bass was updated many times over the next several years, Fender realized it was time to add a new model of electric bass to the world. The first prototype of the new, “sophisticated” bass for the “more advanced” jazz players was slightly different than what was introduced in early 1960. The Jazz Bass prototype actually had two Jazzmaster-style pickups – there was a 5-polepiece pickup in the neck position and one 4-polepiece pickup in the bridge position. This pickup configuration was later changed to the 8-polepiece pickup that we see today. The prototype also featured a Volume, Volume and Tone knob layout; this was eventually changed when production began.
Jazz Basses built from 1960 until late 1962 had what are now referred to as “concentric” pots and four individual string mutes under the bridge cover to help emulate the sound of an upright bass. The nut width of the Jazz Bass was 1 7/16”, as opposed to 1 3/4” on the P-Bass. The narrower nut width was a hit with many players, especially among guitar players who doubled on electric bass. Joe Osborn fell in love with his 1960 Jazz Bass when he first received it and put it to good use on his early Ricky Nelson work.
By early 1963, the concentric pots, the four foam mutes and the ground strip that ran from the bridge to the bridge pickup were gone. The three-knob layout was back and the Jazz Bass was very much in full swing. The “custom color” 1965 Candy Apple Red Jazz Bass shown here is a perfect example of what Fender was offering at the time.
For more information about Fender basses, please check The Fender Bass Book, available through Hal Leonard, and How the Fender Bass Changed the World by Jim Roberts.
Dave''s Guitar Shop
Daves Roger’s Collection Is tended to by Laun Braithwaite & Tim Mullally
All photos credit Tim Mullally
Dave’s Collection is on dispay at:
1227 Third Street South
davesguitar.com
Dave Rogers' collection is tended by Laun Braithwaite and Tim Mullally and is on display at:
Recent Articles by Dave Rogers
When Gibson Put the ES-350 on a Diet
Vintage Vault: 1956 Gibson Les Paul
Vintage Vault: 1961 Fender Stratocaster
Vintage Vault: 1962 Gretsch Princess
Vintage Vault: 1967 Gibson ES-330TD
1966 Fender Telecaster: Custom Candy Apple Red
Scorpions' Matthias Jabs Candy Apple Red Fenders
Summer NAMM '13 - BearFoot FX Model G Distortion, Mystery Fuzz, & Candy Apple Red Fuzz
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Allowing hemp flower, leaf sales welcome change
Nov 30, 2017 News
NAFTA talks have U.S. farmers on pins and needles
Nov 30, 2017 NAFTA
Salinity solutions begin with water management
World’s farmland total bigger than expected
Ferdinand bad example of acceptable bull
Nov 30, 2017 Cattle Call
By Robert Arnason
Health Canada currently prohibits growers from selling the leaves and flowers of hemp plants. Those parts of the plant can be used to make cannabinoids (CBD), compounds that provide pain relief and have anti-inflammatory properties. On Nov. 21, Health Canada announced that it plans to reverse that rule. | File photo
Hemp growers in Canada may soon be able to sell the whole plant.
Health Canada currently prohibits growers from selling the leaves and flowers of hemp plants. Those parts of the plant can be used to make cannabinoids (CBD), compounds that provide pain relief and have anti-inflammatory properties.
On Nov. 21, Health Canada announced that it plans to reverse that rule.
“It is proposed that industrial hemp licences would authorize the intra-industry sale of leaves, flowers and branches (or the whole plant),” Health Canada said in a document that details the federal government’s proposed approach to the regulation of cannabis.
In April, the feds introduced Bill C-45, the Cannabis Act, that permits the production and use of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes.
On Nov. 21, Health Canada launched a public consultation period to gather feedback on its proposed approach to cannabis regulations.
Production, processing and use of industrial hemp, cannabis plants that contain less than 0.3 percent THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, is included in the regulations.
“The whole Controlled Substance Act and Health Canada Act has sort of been pushed aside. Hemp (is) now proposed to be handled under this new cannabis legislation,” said Russ Crawford, president of the Canadian Hemp Trade Association, which represents companies and growers in the hemp business.
Crawford is pleased that Canadian growers and hemp processors may soon be allowed to use the whole plant. Industry leaders have been asking Health Canada to change the rule for a while because medical products like CBD may become a big business.
“My gut tells me there’s going to be more value coming out of industrial hemp from the cannabinoids than the food and the fibre combined,” Crawford said in 2016. “There is a medicinal application for this that could be global in nature.”
The proposal around whole plant use was greeted warmly by the hemp industry, but other parts of the proposed regulations for cannabis cooled off some of the enthusiasm.
Health Canada will continue to regulate the production of industrial hemp, and growers will still have to apply for a licence to grow the crop.
As well, industrial hemp producers are still required to go through a criminal background check.
The CHTA and other players in the trade say it’s time to move away from such regulatory nuisances.
Industrial hemp should be treated like other crops, where it’s under the purview of Agriculture Canada.
“I don’t think we’ve quite been given the latitude that we’d like,” Crawford said. “Why not let it stand on its own, as an agricultural crop?”
The public and industry groups have until Jan. 20 to comment on the proposed regulations. The CHTA plans to make a submission, asking for changes to the regulations for industrial hemp.
Robert Arnason's recent articles
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The science of glyphosate 5 days ago
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News, hemp
A 'bigger pie' for hemp as industry evolves in Canada
Cannabis cousin hemp entering new age, too
Hemp makes concrete stronger
Allowing hemp flower, leaf sales a welcome change for growers
Grower fired up over hemp despite U.S. regulations
Hemp project includes marketing
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Leon Cameron
Leon's Website Facebook Twitter
Leon Cameron is a suit and tie attorney by day, cloak and dagger novelist by night. His first work, THE GREATEST HUMANS, is built on the premise that saving the world is full of unintended consequences.
Raised on the mean streets of suburban Connecticut, Leon was fed a steady diet of superheroes and baseball that helped to develop his imaginative inclinations at an early age.
Follow him on the web at: http://leoncameron.com
and on Twitter @LCameronBooks
Free Book Giveaways
The Greatest Humans
Greg Vance is a hapless millennial, deep in college debt and with no job to his name. When he discovers how to earn a fortune with gambling on baseball, Greg finds himself gaining the attention of the FBI. He and his friends are put to work and roped into taking down a mob leader in Rome.
Greg’s team later discovers The Conglomerate, a shadowy clique where high finance meets artificial intelligence. He must make a choice between keeping the status quo or poking the hornet’s nest of the planet’s most powerful club.
If you’re looking for a commercial pop thriller that doesn’t take itself too seriously, includes cameo appearances from public figures, and delivers on action and laughs- THE GREATEST HUMANS should be next on your reading list queue.
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More Culture:
Bud Light 'Philly Philly' commemorative packs on sale today
Eight packs contain two tickets to the Eagles' season opener
By Jenny DeHuff
Food and Drink Beer
Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and "The Town Crier," hold Bud Light Super Bowl LII "Philly Philly" glasses and a card signifying this pack is #99 out of 20,418 that will be distributed. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is the 99th mayor of Philadelphia.
Bud Light’s long-awaited special edition “Philly Philly” commemorative packs are available for purchase to the common man as early as 4 p.m. this day forth.
To celebrate, Bud Light sent its “Town Crier” to City Hall’s second floor, upon where Mayor Jim Kenney awaited him and received a special missive, some of which was:
RELATED: Tradesman's is new beer, barbecue, whiskey spot in Midtown Village
“Fans of yon Eagles, as a token of my lasting favor toward thine city, I have crafted something special for you,
The Philly Philly commemorative pack – I trust you will find it a worthy, limited edition laurel of your victory and the play that made it possible…”
“The Town Crier”, played by actor Christopher Kind, gives a medieval-themed speech before presenting Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney a Bud Light Super Bowl LII “Philly Philly” Commemorative pack.
Kenney received the 99th pack as the 99th mayor of Philadelphia. Bud Light created exactly 20,418 commemorative packs in recognition of Feb. 4, 2018 – the day the Eagles won the Super Bowl.
“We’re going to do our best to repeat this,” Kenney said.
“I want to thank the team and Coach Pederson, and the ownership – Jeffrey Lurie – in bringing us something very special, and I appreciate you bringing us something very special, so, thanks.”
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and “The Town Crier,” pose with a Bud Light Super Bowl LII “Philly Philly” Commemorative pack.
Miles Ritenour, communications manager for Bud Light, said that the first handful of packs were given out to “influencer-types.” These include people like the Eagles' Lane Johnson, who jumpstarted the city’s cool relationship with Bud Light when he made a friendly wager with them during last year’s preseason, offering to buy beer for the entire city if the team won the Super Bowl.
“At the time, I don’t think we expected them to win the Super Bowl, but we showed up pretty big when they actually did, at the parade, and gave out some celebratory Bud Lights here in Philadelphia,” said Ritenour.
A Penn Beer Distributors truck with decals of Bud Light's Super Bowl LII “Philly Philly” Commemorative packs and Philadelphia Eagles-themed wings near Philadelphia City Hall, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018.
“We’re continuing that now with this ‘Philly Philly’ pack.”
Packs will be available at retailers throughout the city at 4 p.m. today, but Ritenour wouldn’t say where. Each pack is selling for a suggested retail price of $29.99. Eight packs out there have a golden ticket in them. If you’re lucky enough to open a pack that has one, you win two tickets to the NFL kickoff game with the Eagles.
According to Ritenour, this is the first time Bud Light has ever done anything like this before with a football team, and a portion of proceeds from these packs will be donated to the School District of Philadelphia.
He said, “Obviously, Bud Light has a long history with the Eagles…I think this is a great way to give back to a loyal fan base who’s stuck by their team for a long time and was finally rewarded with a championship last season.”
Follow Jenny & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @RuffTuffDH | @thePhillyVoice
Add Jenny's RSS feed to your feed reader.
Jenny DeHuff
Read more Food and Drink Beer Philadelphia Odd News Specials Drinking Bud Light Championships Eagles Jim F. Kenney
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choose a month January 2020February 2020March 2020April 2020May 2020June 2020July 2020August 2020September 2020October 2020
Hannibal Healing Tones
7:30 PM, Verizon Hall
Yannick Nézet-Séguin - Conductor
Karen Slack - Soprano (Eternal Mother)
Funmike Lagoke - Mezzo-soprano(The Everlasting)
Rodrick Dixon - Tenor (Shaman)
Morgan State University Choir
Eric Conway - Director
Philadelphia Heritage Chorale
J. Donald Dumpson - Artistic Director
Hannibal - Healing Tones
Sibelius - Symphony No. 2
Hannibal completes his tenure as composer-in-residence with the world premiere of Healing Tones, a hymn for the City of Brotherly Love. He's spent the past two years immersing himself in Philadelphia, collecting inspiration, texts, and music from all walks of life. Given his past triumphs here (including One Land, One River, One People), Hannibal's new piece is sure to enthrall. Yannick continues his complete cycle of the Sibelius symphonies with the Second.
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Date (field_concert_date)
Haydn and Beethoven
An acclaimed contralto turned conductor, Nathalie Stutzmann wowed the audience at her 2016 debut conducting Messiah. She returns to make her subscription debut with a program featuring Benjamin Grosvenor in Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1. A Gramophone “Young Artist Award” winner, Grosvenor has established himself as one of today's finest pianists. Beethoven's Fourth Symphony, and the ever-surprising Symphony No. 94 by Haydn (Beethoven's teacher), are sublime musical companions.
Sound All Around: Percussion
10:00 am Academy of Music Ballroom
Almost anything in the world can become a percussion instrument if you use your imagination! Percussion instruments are the oldest and largest instrument family, and their sound is created by striking or shaking the instrument. This family includes the xylophone, glockenspiel, chimes, cymbals, and drums. Philadelphia Orchestra percussionist, Angela Zator Nelson, will guide you through these big and small, loud and soft instruments. We'll clap our hands and stomp our feet through this performance!
All-Philadelphia High School Music Festival
The Philadelphia Orchestra presents the All City Festival Concert on Wednesday, March 6, at 7:00 PM at the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall. The All City Band, Choir, and Orchestra will perform led by ensemble conductors Joseph Conyers, Dorina Morrow, and Dr. Deborah A. Confredo. Join us as we welcome Yannick Nézet-Séguin to conduct the finale.
The concert is free but tickets are required. Seating will be general admission and is first come, first served
Mendelssohn and Schubert
A piano prodigy returns! Jan Lisiecki may be young, but he's already a seasoned master at the keyboard (and a regular with the Orchestra—he made his debut at age 18). He'll shine in Mendelssohn's innovative Piano Concerto No. 1. Yannick also brings us Haydn's stirring Overture to the opera L'isola disabitata, part of his focus on that composer's music, as well as Schubert's Symphony in C major, his final completed symphony, and absolutely deserving of its less formal title: the “Great.”
Yannick Conducts Tchaikovsky
Soloist James McVinnie cut his teeth in the great British cathedrals (he played for William and Kate's wedding at Westminster Abbey) and consistently wows the critics (“musically and technically immaculate”—Los Angeles Times). He joins the Orchestra in the East Coast premiere of Nico Muhly's Organ Concerto, a co-commission with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In McVinnie's hands, hear the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ in all its glory.
Chamber Orchestra Benefit Concert
7:00 pm Keswick Theatre
Arts Montco and the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board are proud to present Members of The Philadelphia Orchestra at the historic Keswick Theatre for a community concert showcasing Montco's vibrant arts scene and providing funding for arts education in Montgomery County public schools.
The Philadelphia Orchestra Featuring Ben Folds
The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ben Folds team up for a benefit concert during "We're HEAR Week." The benefit concert will feature orchestral arrangements of Ben Folds' hit songs, solo performances, and orchestra-only pieces, with all proceeds benefitting the Orchestra's education programs.
A singer-songwriter and champion of music education, Ben Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation.
Free Neighborhood Concert
3:00 pm NovaCare Complex
The Philadelphia Orchestra invites you to a Free Neighborhood Concert which introduces the music and musicians of the Orchestra to new audiences and venues outside of Verizon Hall.
This concert will be sensory-friendly at the Philadelphia Eagles' NovaCare Complex featuring the full orchestra and will be welcoming, inclusive, and comfortable for children and families with sensory sensitivities and cognitive and learning differences, as well as anyone who would benefit from a more relaxed environment.
This concert is FREE, but RSVP's are encouraged.
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The Best Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Weekend
The Best Things to Do in Metro Phoenix This Week
Remembering Phoenix Theater Writer Kyle Lawson
Robrt L. Pela
Phoenix theater writer Kyle Lawson died on Thursday, February 1.
Markus Pfaf/Shutterstock
Robrt L. Pela | February 2, 2018 | 5:00am
One afternoon about 25 years ago, Kyle Lawson took me to lunch at the Compass Room. My old friend, then the lead theater writer at the Arizona Republic, was worried about me.
“You’re going to the theater too much,” he said. “Four times a week! You’ll wear yourself out, and your fatigue will affect your opinion of what you’re seeing.”
“Oh, please, Burns Mantle,” I replied, because Kyle let me call him that sometimes. “Seeing everything I can gives me a better idea of who’s doing what. Besides, my quota is huge.”
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Thrilled to be spending the Republic’s money, I ordered another martini. “Anyway, I’m single. What the hell else do I have to do with my evenings?”
Kyle, who died on Thursday morning from congestive heart failure, liked looking after people. He wanted to play big brother to me, and I teased him mercilessly about it. “I’ve already got three big brothers,” I told him once while we waited on line at the Herberger. “They barely know I exist. How about you try that for a while?”
And then we both laughed.
That was our shtick: He’d be concerned, kind, and loving, and I’d roll my eyes and say something tart, and we’d both stand there, giggling and snorting. We were the Wheeler and Woolsey of theater criticism, playing the same arch scene, over and over, for one another’s benefit.
Kyle’s other gambit with me was to ignore my snotty comments. “Oh, God, Kyle,” I whined once during a Gammage intermission. “Please tell me we didn’t both drive across town to witness a bus-and-truck Mamma Mia!”
“Tell me your favorite ABBA song,” Kyle replied, pretending he hadn’t heard. “Mine is ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme A Man After Midnight.’”
The theater community loved Kyle, and will no doubt be lining up for weeks to pay tribute to his large heart, which finally failed him. They’ll recall his positive words and his more-than-fair approach to theater reviewing.
(Kyle hated being called a “critic,” and told me often he couldn’t bear to lean too heavily on any production or performance, because he’d once been an actor himself. It was another thing we bickered politely about. “Have an opinion!” I’d yell, and Kyle would change the subject.)
Friends will recall Kyle’s love for his dog, Bailey, about whom he wrote imagined conversations he posted on Facebook, and his wonderful relationship with his wife, Pat, who became Kyle’s full-time advocate when his health began to decline.
I’ll remember Kyle’s longstanding loyalty. He defended me tirelessly to theater folk who thought I was “mean” in print. (“Leave them alone and let them hate me!” I’d plead, but Kyle always refused.)
He wrote long posts and even longer emails, lauding my writing career, my devotion to my husband, my decision to care for my elderly mother rather than place her in a facility. He’d end every note with a sly reference to our disparate approach to criticism (“I’ve got this play I’d like you to read,” he wrote in one of his last emails to me. “Try to be kind.”).
And always, always, there was some oblique and warmhearted reference to our “brotherhood.”
Robrt L. Pela has been a weekly contributor to Phoenix New Times since 1991, primarily as a cultural critic. His radio essays air on National Public Radio affiliate KJZZ's Morning Edition.
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KingsIsle EntertainmentWizard101
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Message Boards Home >The Tavern
Roleplay Armada Fort Raid
Justin299oo
Rank: Petty Officer
Here is my first real roleplay! To kick things off, wouldn't it be nice if the moderators got in on the fun? Anyway,
Returning back to a secluded island not to far from Scrimshaw (Justin's main place for work), He had obtained a letter from the governor of Port Regal. He had asked if he could lead a raid on a nearby armada stronghold where the guns were threatening the safety of the citizens. Justin gasped and read the request again. Not only was Port Regal home to some of the most interesting line of work was (his favorite), A hefty fee was being rewarded to anyone who participated, and Justin would gladly give the lion's share to one of his mentors. He had a plan after acquiring a map of the fort by an inside man. With there newly acquired vessel, an Aquilian Galleon at an auction, the Cunning Titan, he would distract the main force at the West side, since that was where the main guns were located. while a smaller force docked at the opposite side and locate the core of the fortress. Also, he would take down any armada grunt or general that got in there way. He picked Wing Chun (His #1 friend in the spiral), Rooster Cogburn, the sheriff of Cooper's Roost, Scorpius, and his black storm shaman Star Runner to lead the march. After making the arrangements, he posted a notice at the Hole in The Wall tavern saying:
To any pirate who would like to blow off some steam:
I had recently gotten a job to blow an armada stronghold to bits. Any pirate who participates will receive an percentage of the 25,000 gold offered. Once again, I'll need all the help I can get.
-Justin Moone, leader of the Colonial Mercenaries
He smirked, and went up to the bartender and asked for a bottle of Yum. He gave the gold, and went to Port Regal, and waited for a force to arrive.
Note: You CAN use my pirate in your posts. Just don't come up with things I'll say, unless I said it in the previous post. You can join at any time, deadline optionally being Monday.
Scarlet Freeman
Rank: Lieutenant
Re: Roleplay Armada Fort Raid
(Giving this a shot!)
Scarlet strode into the Hole in the Wall tavern, her crew eagerly following her into the small room. "Remember, only a couple glasses of yum. I don't want another round of Ninety-nine Bottles of Yum On the Wall." she said, waving her crew off.
Several of them went to order some yum, while others stood back and talked to each other, trying to enjoy the peace, as it was, before the first companions came back.
Scarlet wandered around the room, looking for anything she could do. After she had finished all the promises she had made to people all around the Spiral, she was getting bored. Spending all day on a Marleybonian galleon just wasn't much fun.
After several paces she saw a notice on the wall. "Hmmm... Raiding an Armada fortress. Sounds like fun." she muttered aloud. She quickly turned around to face her crew. "Change of plans. We're going to raid an Armada fortress ladies and gentlemen! But first we have to find Justin Moone. He's the one in charge of this operation, I think."
A few murmurs of approval were heard. "I guess that means ask away." Scarlet said, turning around to look at the other people in the Tavern. Not many of them looked like a Justin Moone, but it couldn't hurt to ask around.
Scarlet walked up to the bartender. "Have you seen a Justin Moone lately?" she asked.
"Lots o' people come through here Missy, you think I could name 'em all?" he replied. Scarlet frowned, but nodded a quick thanks.
After another quick look around the tavern, Scarlet and her crew exited the tavern. "Where do we go from here, Captain?" Bonnie Anne asked.
"Good question. I guess it wouldn't hurt to spread the news of wanting to participate around several of the nearby towns. Ratbeard, Sarah, Subodai, you stay here. Monkey King, Hawkules, Shiruku Neku, you go to Puerto Mico. I'll go to Port Regal with Bonnie Anne and El Toro. The rest can go to Skull Island, Flotsam or stay with one group, but we'll all meet in Port Regal, understood?"
"Understood."
GBalance101
Rank: Gunner's Mate
George Xiriga and his brother George Gordon walked into the tavern. "What would you pirates like?" Said the barkeep. "Yum for the both of us." said the charmed George Gordon. He had been tricked into letting himself be charmed by the young witch doctor for the price of 100 gold. "Comin' right up. You know, there's a good payin' job- some thin' bout blasting the Armada to bits." said the barkeeper. "Oh really? I'm sure my brother here would allow me to also accept it. Mm, that yum is good. No wonder why Gunn is so famous." George Xiriga, or Fearless, whispered some magical chants into his brother's ear. "Yes, we'll take the job." said Fearless. " This should be real fun. I'll even call my other brothers and tell them... not!" said the witch doctor, rubbing his hands together.
Kai Alcott
Rank: First Mate
Justin suddenly felt like someone was watching him.
As he continued what he was doing, Kai Alcott steps out of the shadow.
"I'll join this mission. Seems interes-"
"WHAT'RE YOU DOIN' IN PORT REGAL?"
"YOU ALCOTTS GET OUT!"
"That... would be the guards." Kai mutters, stepping back into the shadow and disappearing.
Justin headed off to the docks and found Kai hiding in the shadows. "Kai, I know you're there, maybe we should have met somewhere else." The Alcott showed himself, but warily. Justin turned around and saw two other vessels coming his way. "Great. It seems everyone is here." Scarlet and George introduced themselves, and Justin began the briefing. "Here is what I've summoned you here for today. After I returned from a rescue mission, I was given a job by the governor of Port Regal. He informed me that a armada stronghold not too far from here is threatening the safety of the citizens. Our goal is to find a way to destroy the fortress and take with us as many armada troops we can handle. Also, another request, is to rescue a girl by the name of Amelia Everhart. A purse of 25,000 gold is being offered by the governor himself, and asked me to share it, with any participant. Now, the plan. All of you will come with me on my Monquistador Skiff while the Aquilian Galleon you see, is a distraction. Once we enter the stronghold, find Amelia, destroy the core, and smash as many clockworks, as humanly possible. Any questions?" No questions needed to be answered, and the party boarded the skiff, while the rest of the mercenaries of Justin's crew boarded the galleon, and they headed off for the mission, 'The Dreadnaught Score'.
(Author's Note: Now I will explain why I brought Midget along, for two reasons. One, to break open Amelia's door, since the lock was hidden, and two, to take electricity from their ranged units. Being a ground type, Midget naturally takes no damage from the spark-throwers. And lastly, Kai, why are you and your clan not welcome in Port Regal? Just curious as to why.)
Justin299oo on Jan 28, 2014 wrote:
Scarlet had boarded Justin's ship and was amazed at how well-kept and orderly it appeared, at least in her eyes. "If only I could get my ships to be something like this one." she muttered aloud as she gazed around the ship.
For its size, it seemed pretty sturdy. It almost made Scarlet regret selling her own Monquistan Skiff. Almost. Her own skiff had been tiny as a result of previously being owned by Monquistans and Scarlet kept remembering all the times she or one of the taller crew members had forgotten to bend over when standing up. Those memories brought to mind headaches and visions of stars.
Scarlet grinned a little before venturing to the ship's prow to get a general idea of where they were headed. In the distance stood an Armada fortress. Upon spotting it, Scarlet's earlier grin transformed into a frown. This lasted only a moment before she turned around and walked back to the main deck to see if there was anything she could help with.
OOC: This is looking good! Just a role play note, if you want to not talk through your character, but to the other role players, just put OOC. This means out of character, in case you didn't know.
Sitting on a Monquistan Skiff wasn't the most exciting thing in the world. Fearless had tried to convince Justin to let him use his own skiff, but to no avail. The worst part was, he had to ask his brother for a ride here! Kan Po walked up to him and said "Tell me, dragonfly. What is wrong?" Milo said, "Hey, leave the captain alone. He probably wants some excitement. Heck, this thing is on autopilot!" "Thanks for your support guys. The thing is, that girl we're supposed to rescue, Amelia Everhart, her name sounds a lot like a famous woman from Earth. One day, she suddenly disappeared. I think that might be her!" said Fearless. After that, he went below decks to catch up on some things Vadima gave him to do while he was gone. He hit the trigger on his spark shooter and accidently shot open a door leading to the witchdoctor's dream. And there were other doors like that, each with a class symbol on it.
OOC: To Justin: Who's Midget? Can you please explain to me?
George Gordon had been charmed by Fearless again, this time to 'help' him on the mission. Fearless had alerted Justin that someone would be coming to help. He took off in his Royal Navy skiff, but since his crew noticed he was dazed a bit (they always have a laugh about it. They could make him do stuff too!), Ratbeard and Bonnie volunteered to steer the ship, with the directions they had been provided with. "Turn left at Tradewinds Skyway near Puerto Mico, then head to Port Regal. Once there, head straight to the nearest Armada fortress." "I got it, ye big oaf!" Bonnie and Ratbeard were fighting again!
Kai thinks for a moment, then makes his decision.
"No. I think I can handle this. My brother and I will sneak in, and disable the defenses. Once the gates are open, you charge in. We'll have a Plan B in case anything goes wrong. We can free Amelia from the cell on our way, too. If you don't like my plan, too bad, I'm starting now!" and disappears in a flash of smoke.
OOC: GBalance, this is a crossover of Pokemon and Pirate101. Midget is my Seismitoad, and he is smaller than a normal one. I thought it would be a good thing to have some extra muscle along, and a walking shield to defend us from spark throwers, since he is immune to electricity. Kai, you'll might get real bad hurt, but whatever, we will meet you in the jail cells, since there is no prize for finishing first. Anyway, Back to adventure!
Arriving at the fort, he once again listed 4 objectives to do:
1. Rescue Amelia Everhart and anyone related to you or know
2. Disable as many clockworks as possible
3. Blow the roof off this joint!
4. Take anything that might be worth anything, it will add to your portion of the score
As soon as the goals were set, Justin and his companions charged ahead, having Midget fire large masses of mud at the marines and taking electricity from the spark throwers, rendering them useless, all the while Scorpius and Star Runner charged at the musketeers, destroying them, and the rest followed suit.
Author's note: It's now your turn to vent some frustration! Beat down as many clockworks as you can, and get to the prison cells!
(OOC Is there a way to delete posts? I only posted this after nothing showed up for a while.)
George Xiriga couldn't take it anymore. He unbottled his ship and hopped aboard. George Gordon's ship pulled up soon after. As Gordon was boarding Fearless's ship, Fearless said some magic words and lifted the charm from Gordon. "Hey bro, glad you could come." "Yeah, I had this sudden urge to come here and... he...let you... become... my captain..." George Gordon had been charmed once more. "Yes, and I'll lift the charm when we fight. Now, once more into the breach my friends, once more!" The sound of metal ringing was paused by George Gordon as he gave in to the Armada troops and let them drag him away. Fearless tried to charm him into resisting, but he was too far away to hear.
Meanwhile, George Gordon was presented to Deacon as a prize of this battle. "Oh, please Rooke, let me work under you! Make me a clockwork and have me serve you and Kane!" George Gordon was carried away to the clockwork chamber and became the first ever half-human, half-clockwork. He had the body of himself, but the mind of a clockwork and had his soul taken away from him. " I... live... to...serve...Rooke...and...Kane..." that was George Gordon, or Custos Gordonos, in his second time as a clockwork.
"Let's get going everyone!" Justin signaled for the teams to head out to the fortress and the Cunning Titan took it's position and began bombarding the west guns. Justin and his crew that sneaked in on the west side charged on ahead and immediately, his Seismitoad, Midget, began firing off masses of mud to disable the armada marines and had Star Runner and Scorpius finish them off. The musketeers attention was mainly focused on Midget, but the spark throwers had no effect on him. Midget responded by not firing mud, but a large wave of water had crashed down on the opposing force, leaving an opening down to the hold of the fortress. He had seen Scarlet and the two George's and they all headed down into the prison.
OOC: Thanks for the compliment about the Azul Angela, Scarlet! I had it specially made to fit tall people like myself. This was what we called a skiff, the Monkeys call it a war galleon! Also, I would like to tell you this now. If you see anyone related to you, free them from there cell by blowing it off. I plan on busting open the doors with Midget. Now we know the reason why I needed a little extra muscle on this raid.
Melody the Swift
Rank: Ensign
(5 minutes before Justin stormed the fortress....)
Melody was sailing the skies in her Monquistan Skiff. As she steered her ship to park at a large fortress, she saw the colors of a crew that was advertising a Armada Fortress raid. "Hey you guys!" she called. The captain of the other ship looked over at her. "Yeah?" "I saw that sign you put up on the Tavern wall, can I join ye?" "Sure!" said the captain. Melody pulled up at the side of the ship, leapt on, then bottled her own. "Ay, Sarah, Bonnie and Subodai! Get over here!" They walked up to her. "Yes Captain?" They chorused. "You guys come with me, tell the others to wait until I get back from this quest." "Aye." Melody strided up to the captain of the ship. "Soo... what are we going ta do now?" "Storm the fortress." He gave Melody the 4 objectives. "Mhm...." she muttered. She thought, is this such a good idea? She turned. Justin was already running of to the fortress.
Scarlet jumped down to the ground, landing neatly on her feet. After a moment she regained her balance and started walking casually up to the Armada Marines.
She stopped just a few feet in front of them, gave a smile and a wink, and threw down the smoke bombs that she always kept with her. The Marines appeared puzzled for a minute and turned around to find nothing but the empty air.
A sharp CLANG! broke through the silence as one of the marines fell down, a throwing knife protruding from his mask. The clockworks looked to where the knife had come from to find Scarlet just standing there, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she now had a lot of clockworks aiming at her.
"Now where were we?" she asked, glancing up before skipping to the side to avoid an oncoming burst of electricity. "Oh right." She said, drawing her twin blades and entering the fight for real this time.
Most shots missed her, although every so often she'd get a minor cut from being too reckless. Scarlet smiled, this time a grim mirror of her casual smile and began to cut down the clockworks before her.
As everyone boarded their ships, a loud explosion shakes the docks. They see a small bit of the prison, top floor, collapsed.
"C'mon!" A boy, remarkably similar in appearance to Kai, yells.
He then collapses, as Kai himself runs in.
"Oh, no."
A large group/a small army of clockworks run into the destroyed corridor. They begins shooting as they approach, driving Kai, Felix, and a girl against a wall.
"Processing... KAI ALCOTT, FELIX ALCOTT and AMELIA EVERHART, you are under ar-"
The clockworks in the front row begin melting.
"Plan C." Kai announces with a grin.
More clockworks walk forward, again cornering him.
"Plan D?" Felix smiles weakly.
Kai nods, then looks up to the sky. He also pulls a wand and a card. He sends up a flare, putting his wizard gear back on his belt.
A small team of assassins, marked as 'High Ranking' by their distinctive golden marks on the hood, jump down.
They pick off some clockworks, then, on Kai's instruction, started place detonators around the prison. They handed Kai the remote.
"I will send up a flare when it is complete." One says.
Kai and Felix quickly get an opening, then begin the fight now that they have an opening.
Kai Alcott on Jan 30, 2014 wrote:
(OOC again. I've decided that I hate posting stuff from an iPad. :/ I'd take computers any day. Lol)
Scarlet looked over her shoulder, kicking the nearest clockwork back a couple of steps to gain time to look back. "Need help Kai?" she shouted over the din of steel upon steel and the BANGS! emitted by the sparkshooters.
A little pain in her wrist alerted her to the fact that there was, indeed, a battle going on in front of her at the moment. She dodged a blow from the Armada marine in front of her and disposed of him with a bit of adroit footwork and an (admittedly lucky) strike between his armor plates.
Once down in the prison cells, Justin had pulled out a different gun after holstering his spark throwers. Instead of electricity, this weapon fired dubstep music that seemed to have the same lethal power as regular guns in the spiral. He ran on to a prison cell where he saw Amelia in. Or was in, seeing that the door was cut open. He saw Kai and some other man wielding a light saber. He would know, he's seen Star Wars. Justin had asked Midget to use Poison Jab to thin the clockwork crowds. A purple flim covered the Seismitoad's arms as he began punching his way through the crowd. Justin and Wing followed close behind, while Scorpius, Rooster Cogburn, and Star Runner were protecting the rear. One prison cell peaked his interest. It was his long-lost brother, under the alias as Leo Blake. Justin was elated that he had found his brother. He had called Midget over and told him to rip off the door. The creature did so, and when reinforcements arrived, Midget had used the door to smack the marines around. Justin took this time to head over to the commander's office to look for anything valuable, when a marine had smacked Justin with his halberd, as the captain knees buckled from the attack. Just as it seemed it was over for him, Leo had ran a lance through the clockwork, and supported Justin as they searched for any battle plans.
OOC: Surprised by the turn of events? Kai, why of all people did you have to bring FELIX into this? Also, Melody, anyone can join in here! This is the armada we are talking about, of course.
Frozenmuskets
Bonnie: "Look Captain! A mysterious poster. It says, 'Hands needed to blow up Armada Station'... what do you think of it?" Fiona: "Hmm... should we go for it Bonnie? It would help the war effort in Marleybone..." Ratbeard: "Arr! I say we blow it to bits!" Subodai: "Only the Captain says the orders you dirty rat! What do you think mistress Fiona?" Fiona: "Hmm.... alright, we'll help, but be secretive about this. If the Armada finds out we did it... -shudders- I don't want to think about it. You all know what happened before...." Bonnie: "We won't say a word Captain." Fiona: "Good. Now lets be off. To Port Regal!"
That's all I got for now.
Silver Fiona
OOC: Muskets, you're a bit late to the party. We've got Pokemon, a dubstep gun, and a crazy guy with a lightsaber, so were good, but we could use some evac. Scarlet, the armada means to have your head, not just your hand! And remember that Yum bottle I bought in Scrimshaw? Well, I've got an unoriginal use for it. Back to adventure!
After the feeling returned to the mercenary's legs, he grabbed an important looking document, humorously titled 'Armada eyes only' but Justin didn't care. He discovered that the armada was planning on destroying Port Regal in 3 weeks time! He's glad he got here in time. He pocketed the plans in his bottomless coat pockets, and began to head for the core of the stronghold with everyone in tow. As soon as they reached the core's room, no clockworks were present. But then, the door, or should I say the WALL fell down and a large clockwork with a ridiculous Mardi Gras mask, with a literal cannon for a hand and a poleaxe in another hand. Justin used his glasses to analyze the enemy. Tatl, his glasses-codex told him the following information:
Enemy name: Custos Rampagus
Enemy type: Armada Juggernaut
Description: A giant armada clockwork that went berserk and destroys everything in sight, including the armada. Even experienced veterans should avoid at all cost.
Weak point: It seems Justin's dubstep music should be most effective on this enemy. Attack Rampagus at a distance. CQC (Close Quarters Combat) is equal to throwing your life away.
Encounter Rate: Boss. Must defeat to progress.
OOC: Alrightguys! Drop everything! It's time for a group boss fight! Our goal, defeat Custos Rampagus. If one of us goes down, we all have to help our fallen comrade. Remember what Tatl said. Close Quarters won't be any help, so focus on gunslinging and magic for this baddie. Good luck everyone!
Justin299oo on Feb 2, 2014 wrote:
George Xiriga bashed through everything. He had to find his brother. "You're free, brother!!" "Oh, goodie! Let's go!" They stopped at where everyone was fighting Custos Rampagus. Since George Gordon was a buccaneer, he had limited options: buff, heal, or attack. Fearless had a better time since he was a witchdoctor. He could attack and buff and heal himself, while also being able to teleport if required. Fearless struck with powerful curses and spells, and buffed his team with those chickens every once in a while. George Gordon made a decision. He called upon the might of the sharks and the coils of the kraken to help him. Then, he he asked the sea spirits to protect him, along with raising up the armor of valor. Finally, he struck with the most vicious, brutal, and mighty charges he could, and backstabbed his opponent as hard as he could. He fell to the ground, as he could no longer fight the battle. The Armada Juggernaut prepared to deliver a blow and then....
OOC: Hey, Tatl didn't list the epics, so here they are: Relentless 2, Repel Boarders, Vengance Strike 2, and Riposite 1. Couldn't have Witch Hunter. See what I did with the power names? Anyway, finish the story! Did he get hit or did someone save him?
(OOC: Scarlet knows that well. *Long story short, her mission to destroy Beachhead in Marleybone went awry. Very awry. It's a good thing she knows where her map pieces to El Dorado are. This makes very good bargaining material when trying to negotiate with the Armada for your life.*)
Scarlet gasped as she saw the large clockwork approach. She frowned, recalling her battle with Rooke. If this was anything like Rooke, she wouldn't be able to get near the boss.
She quickly darted in front of the clockwork to grab a fallen Armada Marksman's gun before running away. If I have any luck, I should be able to hit the clockwork at least one in every three shots. she thought, readying the gun and aiming for the clockwork.
"Over here ugly!" she said, her originality just gushing out (OOC: I love sarcasm.) as she pulled the trigger. A blast of electricity burst out of the gun and Scarlet fumbled as the gun recoiled in her hands. She regained control fairly easily though and continued with her ritual of insulting the big bad boss before shooting at him. "I'll bet I could tell you who your mother was. A pile of spare gears and parts. No intelligence about her. Seems to be a family trait." Scarlet shouted as she ran from one spot to another.
Thunder Hawk
OOC: Ooh, I'm gonna continue this with my character I threw in from Roleplay; In prison, again. He's currently got a Zoroark named Shadow. So yay, Raiden can use illusions now! And the power of illusions is much more than meets the eye. You can fool armies with them, and the Armada is no exception. Unless of course they can see through illusions.
Raiden stood in the entrance to Port Regal, noting the approach of another ship. He gripped his red and white pokeball tightly, ready to meet up with the others. When no one came but Fiona and her companions, Raiden look out to the side. He grinned, seeing a small assault on the Armada fortress. He quickly got back onto his ship, and sent out Shadow. The Zoroark ruffled her black fur, and stared at Raiden with trusting eyes.
"All right Shadow, your time to shine! Let's make some illusions!" Raiden called out, grinning. He rode his simple Marleybonian skiff alone(but possibly with Fiona), but Shadow made it seem as if a whole Marleybone fleet was behind him. Shadow made it seem as if they were all sending out cannonballs, while Raiden gripped his knifes hard, hoping to see the Armada flee. Raiden rode to the Armada fortress, and he and Shadow jumped into action.
OOC: Hey Justin, what's Midget's move set? Shadow's is as follows: Night Daze, Shadow Claw, Flamethrower, and Aerial Ace. Yep, Zoroarks can learn those moves.
totallyawesomepira...
OOC: Hello all! Just so Amelia doesn't end up in two places at once, I'll be posting what she does here too. Right now, she's currently hiding in the prison hallway, and did not escape with Felix and Kai. Why not? You'll find that out. Why is she hiding? You'll find that out too. But anyway! Here's the dialogue and description from the other roleplay. (Note: you might want to read the other roleplay too. Also, I'm adding a crossover of my own)
Amelia had dropped the halberd Felix had given her, and was halfway to the bed when she saw the walls start cracking. She spun around to see Felix doing these strange motions with his arms, had soon all the color had drained from her face.
"Impossible..." Amelia whispered to herself, and dove against the wall to avoid being crushed by a falling piece if ceiling. She closed her eyes and remembered gravity field that kept ships and islands floating, and also was a barrier, no one could get in or out. Amelia breathed a sigh of relief. No, She thought. he must be some sort of strange witchdoctor. He couldn't have gotten across the field, he couldn't be an....
But, Amelia! Argued one side of her brain. You know that isn't witchdoctor magic! You know it isn't wizard magic!
It has to be. Resumed the other side. There's no other explanation.
Yes, there is! C'mon, all you have to do is reach into your pocket...
But I haven't talked to him in so long!
True. But you know you want to.
Amelia, well, Amelia couldn't argue with that. She reached into her pocket and pulled a, what was it called again? A foon, that was it! A few years ago, while she was..... gone, a girl had given Amelia it for a few gold coins. Apparently it was waaaaaay out of style. It actually had a top and hinges so you needed to flip it open to get inside, and there wasn't this thing called a 'touch screen' so you had to press buttons to do what you wanted; so the girl had hated it.
Amelia couldn't fight with it, so usually it was in her pocket, forgotten, useless.
But now, it served a purpose.
Amelia pressed a few buttons and held it to her ear as it began ringing. Amelia peered around her prison wall. That was odd. She thought. The person in the cell next to her was gone, and so was Felix! She saw several pairs of footprints leading up upstairs, including several small ones. Amelia furrowed her brow and was about to follow the footprints when the ringing stopped.
"Doctor? Hi, it's me, Amelia Everhart. No, not the pilot, Earhart's my aunt, she brought me to the Spiral, remember?" Amelia rolled her eyes. "Now you remember? Good. Anyway, I think you might want to come over here, I've found some Pokemon-13947520 footprints, and a Force-sensitizer."
Amelia paused for a moment, unsure if the next words she wanted to say would be betrayal. The Alcotts were kind of known throughout the Spiral, maybe even universe wide? She didn't want to land them in any trouble with the Judoon.
Amelia took a deep breath.
"The Force-sensitizer is Felix Alcott."
OOC: Felix actually could beat him at close combat, I bet. Uses the Force to shield himself from this 'thing's' sensors, then cut it in half.
Felix suddenly appears next to Justin, lightsaber in hand. He flicks his wrist, sending a small piece of debris flying at Custos.
He breaks it with his poleaxe.
Felix puts both hands up, as if surrendering. Then he begins slowly lowering them.
The roof above the Armada Juggernaut collapses. He charges.
Felix ducks to the side, then cuts each arm off.
He cuts the head off, then sits down. He disassembles the clockwork using the Force, and does the same with his lightsabers. He mixes up the pieces, until he stands up with two working lightsabers and a now-repaired clockwork juggernaut.
"Standard reboot process beginning. Say 1 to continue. Say 2 to modify programming.."
A control panel comes out, along with a small viewscreen. Felix quickly types, then yells "Finished!".
The robot says "My name is Custos. Yours?" "Felix Alcott, of the Galactic Empire. You will make a fine addition to my army, once I overthrow the emperor."
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Demonstrators brave the cold to protest de Blasio’s homeless policy outside town hall meeting
By: Mario Diaz
HARLEM, Manhattan – On the coldest night of the season thus far, hot tempers flared in Harlem.
"I cannot take this any longer. I am so tired of the system," said one homeless woman standing with men as well as little ones from Picture the Homeless.
They stood together prior to a mayoral town hall at a school at 102nd Street and Amsterdam to demonstrate against Mayor Bill de Blasio's shelter system that as of Wednesday has a homeless population of 66,662. The protestors also pointed out the shelter system has seen various violent deaths inside of shelters this year.
Inside, the mayor faced various questions on affordable housing from the crowd.
"Something has to be done about this" asked one man about foreclosure in his neighborhood.
The primary focus of the evening was city residents and their living situations, from those losing their homes due to rising costs to those plagued by NYCHA. Through it all, the mayor got an earful.
While some got to express their voices, Thomas Lopez-Pierre, standing by members of the NYPD when PIX11 first met him, said he was confirmed for the town hall. Once city officials found out he was running against the co-host of the event city council member Mark Levine, he says he was denied access.
A spokesperson for the city said Upper West Side residents come to town halls to engage in meaningful dialogue. They are asked to follow guidelines like waiting in line and checking in.
However, when PIX11 left, Lopez-Pierre was still outside in temperatures well below freezing, standing right beside the NYPD who had no issues with him. In fact he was joking with them, but they did not allow him to go inside.
The mayor's press secretary, Rosemary Boeglin, sent PIX11 News a statement regarding Lopez-Pierre being denied access to the town hall:
"The individual skipped the line for entry in order to cause a scene. He requested to be arrested, which our officers declined to do."
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Back Ashok Nagar (ASKN) Railway Station
TAMBARAM - BHAGAT KI KOTHI Humsafar Express (14816) 03:20 03:22 2 mins N N N N N N Y
DEHRADUN - UJJAIN Ujjaini Express (14310) 02:47 02:49 2 mins N N Y Y N N N
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AJMER - BHAGALPUR Express (13424) 17:32 17:34 2 mins N N N N N Y N
BHAGALPUR - AJMER Express (13423) 11:30 11:32 2 mins N N N N Y N N
BHOPAL - GWALIOR InterCity SF Express (12197) 18:36 18:38 2 mins Y Y N Y Y Y N
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BINA - GUNA Passenger (UnReserved) (51607) 07:55 07:57 2 mins Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
GUNA - BINA Passenger (UnReserved) (51608) 10:37 10:39 2 mins Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
GUNA - BINA Passenger (51610) 19:47 19:49 2 mins Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
KOTA - BINA Passenger (UnReserved) (51611) 14:08 14:10 2 mins Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
BINA - KOTA Passenger (UnReserved) (51612) 11:38 11:40 2 mins Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
GWALIOR - BINA Passenger (via Guna) (51884) 15:20 15:22 2 mins Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
BINA - GWALIOR Passenger (51883) 13:44 13:46 2 mins Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
BINA - NAGDA Passenger (59342) 05:41 05:43 2 mins Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
NAGDA - BINA Passenger (59341) 20:39 20:41 2 mins Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
MADAR - KOLKATA Weekly Express (19608) 06:45 06:47 2 mins N Y N N N N N
SANTRAGACHI - AJMER Weekly Express (18009) 16:58 17:00 2 mins N N N N N Y N
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KOLKATA - MADAR Weekly Express (19607) 16:58 17:00 2 mins N N N N Y N N
MUZAFFARPUR - SURAT Express (19054) 02:47 02:49 2 mins N Y N N N N N
DARBHANGA - AHMEDABAD Sabarmati Express (19166) 10:39 10:41 2 mins N Y N Y N N Y
AHMEDABAD - DARBHANGA Sabarmati Express (19165) 11:55 11:57 2 mins Y N N Y N Y N
AHMEDABAD - VARANASI Sabarmati Express (19167) 11:55 11:57 2 mins N Y Y N Y N Y
VARANASI - AHMEDABAD Sabarmati Express (19168) 10:39 10:41 2 mins Y N Y N Y Y N
GORAKHPUR - OKHA Express (15045) 02:47 02:49 2 mins N N N N Y N N
OKHA - GORAKHPUR Express (15046) 21:08 21:10 2 mins Y N N N N N N
BHAGAT KI KOTHI - TAMBARAM Humsafar Express (14815) 06:09 06:11 2 mins N N N Y N N N
BILASPUR - BIKANER Weekly Antyodaya Express (14720) 23:27 23:27 - N N N N Y N N
BIKANER - BILASPUR Weekly Antyodaya Express (14719) 08:36 08:36 - N N N Y N N N
JABALPUR - AJMER Dayodaya SF Express (12181) 03:11 03:13 2 mins Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
AJMER - JABALPUR Dayodaya SF Express (12182) 01:25 01:27 2 mins Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
BIKANER - PURI Express (14709) 08:05 08:07 2 mins Y N N N N N N
PURI - BIKANER Express (14710) 06:13 06:15 2 mins N N N Y N N N
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To honor my late husband, John, our family created the John August Dietrich Memorial Award to be presented at the Annual Oil Painters of America National Exhibition. Raymar is proud to award a $1,000 cash prize every year to each OPA figurative award of excellence winner. We hope our memorial award may make a difference in the life and career of each artist recipient.
Our first award was presented at the 20th Annual OPA Exhibition in 2011 and was awarded to Glenn F. Harrington for his painting, “The Breakfast Table."
When I learned of Glenn’s painting, I smiled as the title brought back some of my fondest memories of John. Early each morning at the breakfast table, we wrote in our journals and talked about personal discoveries, new Raymar product ideas and how we could positively impact the art world.
So in the spirit of John’s desire to make a difference, I applaud every artist who takes creative risks. One of you will be our next award recipient.
Catherine Dietrich
About John...
Born in Detroit in 1930 at the height of the depression, John’s entrepreneurial and creative sprit appeared early. At age 5, he collected and sold gallon glass jugs for 5 cents to help his family. When he was 13 he became his piano teacher’s protégé and she planned to prepare him for the classical concert stage. Instead family and teachers encouraged him to enter Sacred Heart Seminary and John become a Maryknoll missionary priest.
Ordained at 27, his strong background of philosophy, psychology and theology prepared him for life’s challenges. For his first mission, John was sent to the Amazon jungle. Without funding, John created a self sufficient town in Bolivia where the indigenous people processed rubber, exported Brazil nuts to New York and London and formed a community corporation. To speed up production John invented a nut processing machine. The American broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow visited John’s "Blanca Flor" project and did a special report on John, “the jungle priest” who completely changed the socioeconomic climate of the region.
John’s philosophy was “If you can think it, you can do it.” In 1966 Pope Paul VI granted John’s dispensation to follow his dream to become an entrepreneur. John A. Dietrich & Associates blended his experience and sense of humor to teach project management seminars to the top 500 corporations. Later with XPM Inc., employing a NASA prototype, he directed programmers to develop software for scheduled maintenance on the FedEx and Continental airline fleets. Raymar was John’s third business and my daughter Emily and I remain inspired to carry on his entrepreneurial legacy.
Memorial Winners
1st Annual Winner
20th OPA National Exhibition, 2011
At the Breakfast Table, 18 x 24"
Artist: Glenn F. Harrington
2nd Annual Winner
21st OPA National Exhibition, 2012
Gentleness, 12 x 9"
Artist: Melissa Gann
3rd Annual Winner
22nd OPA National Exhibition, 2013
Majesty Rising, 36 x 30"
Artist: Charles Young Walls
4th Annual Winner
23rd OPA National Exhibition, 2014
Market Day, 30 x 22"
Artist: Christopher Z. Zhang
Looking Back, 16 x 12"
Artist: Sue Foell
Portrait of Paris, 36 x 24"
Artist: David Gray
A Storm is Coming, 24 x 18"
Artist: Meadow R. Gist
Deep in the Night, 20 x 16"
Artist: Bryce Cameron Liston
Holding on to a Dream, 30 x 24"
Artist: Robin G. Williamson
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Apple To Launch Upgraded MacBook Air & Mac Mini | Viral Tech
By Tech News On Aug 22, 2018
We all know very well that it is certain that the tech giant Apple this year plans to renew much of its supply of computers. This move has already begun with the arrival of the new MacBook Pro, but there is still a lot to be introduced. Hence, now according to the latest reports, the tech giant Apple to launch upgraded MacBook Air and Mac mini.
Apple To Launch Upgraded MacBook Air & Mac Mini
Although not yet official, it is certain that the tech giant Apple this year plans to renew much of its supply of computers. This move has already begun with the arrival of the new MacBook Pro, but there is still a lot to be introduced.
The MacBook Pros are gaining a hardware upgrade as we told earlier, yes, recently, the tech giant Apple just unveiled the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models that come with the eighth generation of Intel Core processors, increased RAM and storage capacities, plus a new keyboard, which promises to be quieter.
The updated models have Touch Bar, Touch ID fingerprint reader and new Intel Core processors, including a six-core option in the 15-inch MacBook Pro, which promises up to 70% more performance over the previous generation. In addition, with the hardware upgrade, the 13-inch models are gaining quad-core processors, Which offer up to twice the performance.
They have True Tone screen, which identifies the temperature of the light to make the reading more pleasant; and a “third-generation enhanced keyboard for quieter typing”. MacBooks with a butterfly keyboard, released in 2015, filed a lawsuit against Apple for failing over time and prompted the company to announce a repair program; we expect the next generation to be more reliable.
Also Read: SIM Cards in 29 Countries Vulnerable to Remote Simjacker Attacks
Rumors have come up steadily and account for the expected news. The latest one speaks, with great certainty, of the arrival of a revamped Mac mini, aimed at professional users. The idea of a new MacBook Air was also reinforced.
Mac mini, a computer that the tech giant Apple sells without a monitor, keyboard or mouse, dedicated to professionals and even capable of replacing true servers in data centers, could soon be the target of great news.
Renewed Mac mini will emerge
From what is being advanced, this update will focus on creating an offer dedicated to the most intensive and demanding users, thus creating a more needs-focused offer.
It is speculated that there will be a complete renovation on the available hardware, with the necessary update to be made on the main components, and especially on the supply of storage.
Cheaper MacBook Air with new lines
Rumors about the renewal of MacBook Air have been constant phenomena in recent time. This idea again emerges as a certainty, focusing on the crux of price, which is expected to be reduced.
Of course, it will have an even smaller frame on the screen, still holding the 13-inches, but, this time finally it will come with a Retina display, something that has been an option of Apple to reduce costs.
Shortly the presentation of many of these news that are being talked about could happen in reality, and it is hoped that in the annual event of presentation of the new iPhones will appear most of the new versions and the improvements of this devices.
So, what do you think about this? Simply share all your views and thoughts in the comment section below.
AirappleLaunchMacmacbookMiniProsyscom Viraltech
Review: Control Multiple Smart Devices With a Push of The Button | Social
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Greg Gutfeld Summarizes Democrat Debate In One Viral Tweet
Hacker Who Tried to Blackmail Apple for $100,000 Sentenced in London
TikTok suspended a teen who posted a viral takedown of China disguised
Facebook’s statement on Sacha Baron Cohen’s viral speech totally misses the point
Apple removes Like Patrol’s Instagram ‘stalking app’ from the App Store
Democrats lobby Facebook, others, to stop fake 2020 news before viral
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THINKSOUND releases their first made in the USA headphone.
THINKSOUND™ announces the release of the new USP1 monitor series in-ear headphones that are made in the USA from domestic and imported parts and eliminates throw-away packaging from their earbuds.
Somersworth, NH -- The all-new USP1 in-ear monitors is the first headphone for the brand that is made in the USA. The USP1 features an 8mm dynamic speaker driver and a hand-poured pewter housing. The pewter housing is a departure from their usual wood headphones. The USP1 features upgraded acoustics for more accurate sound reproduction and a wider sound-stage; consistent with the other headphones in the monitor series line. The result is a clear, detailed sound with tight bass; while not being fatiguing after long listening periods. Perfect for use while on the go or just to relax and unwind.
“The USP1 is a headphone that I am extremely proud of and we worked a long time to find the right sources for the materials,” says Aaron Fournier, President and CEO of THINKSOUND. “The USP1 is a unique headphone with a hand-poured pewter housing that allows us to dial in the sound curve to be very consistent. It’s something that we’ve wanted to explore for a while. It gives us greater quality control with the manufacturing process being done here in the USA and the new housing gives us the ability to fine tune each piece. The result is a more desirable listening experience.”
The USP1 monitor series in-ear headphones will be available in a single finish – a black aluminum baffle mated to a hand-poured pewter housing. Included are four different-sized silicon earbuds to ensure a comfortable fit, carrying pouch for the headphones and accessories, and a steel hard case.
“Over the past couple of years, we have been trying to incorporate more and more parts that are made locally to help local businesses and significantly reduce our carbon footprint. These sources are allowing us to be a lot more consistent in production and reducing our defect rate and material waste too.” says Fournier. “Moving part of our production to the USA was always something I wanted to do. We worked hard trying to figure out the right process and identify the right partners to create a product I am really proud of.” says Fournier.
THINKSOUND offers several in-ear headphone models, an award-winning on-ear monitor and a growing line of accessories.
About THINKSOUND:
THINKSOUND began with a simple goal; to create incredible sounding headphones with the smallest eco-footprint possible.
We take our environmental impact as seriously as we do our audio products. All packaging is crafted from recycled materials, with minimal plastic components. Our headphones feature PVC-free cables and wood from renewable sources. The result is great sound that you can feel good about.
THINKSOUND was founded by audio and consumer electronics industry leaders with over 25 years experience bringing exceptional audio products to market. We invite you try our headphones to experience the difference that quality craftsmanship and attention to detail make.
THINKSOUND is owned and operated by TIMBRE SOUND LLC. For additional information please contact hello thinksound.com or visit www.thinksound.com.
thinksound
350 rt 108
Somersworth, NH USA 03878
Website: http://www.thinksound.com
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Contemporary Issues in Depressive Disorders
Psychiatry Investig. 2019;16(9):633-635
Psychiatry InvestigJournal ArchivePsychiatry Investig. 2019;16(9)
Publication date (electronic) : 2019 September 23
Seon-Cheol Park1 , Yong-Ku Kim2
1Department of Psychiatry, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea
2Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Depression involves a wide range of symptoms affecting mood, cognition, and motor function domains [1]. Since depression can be a cause for disability associated with mental health, treating it is regarded as a main source of medical expenditure [2]. About 30% of all depressed patients cannot achieve remission despite being fully treated with two or more antidepressants [3]. Moreover, the great unmet need in the realm of psychopharmacological treatment for depression has been identified by the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study [4]. This special issue aims to comprehensively review the contemporary research approaches for 1) diagnostic issues [5], 2) pharmacogenetics [6], 3) epigenetics [7], and 4) potential neuroimaging biomarkers [8] in depressive disorders.
The fourth edition (DSM-IV) to DSM-5, revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders places greater emphasis on the dimensional versus the categorical approach, in defining the symptoms criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD). Thus, the dichotomization of mood disorders into bipolar affective disorder and unipolar depressive disorder, application of trans-diagnostic specifiers including “with psychotic features,” “with mixed features,” and “with anxious features,” addition of “hopelessness” as the descriptor of a depressive mood, and elimination of “bereavement exclusion” are newly applied to define MDD in the DSM-5 [5]. Furthermore, because the operational criteria for MDD consist of nine symptoms in the DSM-5, the heterogeneity of the depressive syndrome can inevitably be invoked and criticized from the viewpoint of Wittgenstein’s “games” analogy [1,9,10]. However, network analysis of symptoms in MDD patients may provide new insight regarding the definition of MDD [11]. Additionally, the node and edge statistics of MDD symptoms may be supported by neurobiological underpinnings in future studies.
Gene variants coding for cytochromes that are involved in antidepressant metabolism (CYP2D6 and CYP2C19), are considered promising biomarkers based on considerable evidence from pharmacogenetic studies, although clinical applications are inconclusive in terms of cost-effectiveness [6]. Despite the identification of these candidate genes, no consistent genetic variants have been confirmed by the genomewide association studies (GWAS), and meta-analyses of GWAS for antidepressant response [12]. Studies utilizing whole exome sequencing reported that the rs41271330 A allele in bone morphogenetic protein (BMP5), was associated a with a poorer outcome after a 12 week treatment with selective serotoinin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), in patients with major depression [13]. However, the comprehensive factors predicting an antidepressant response have not been identified by GWAS, since GWAS cannot provide a realistic model for the polygenic nature of the antidepressant response [6]. The polygenic risk score (PRS), a method for estimating an individual’s propensity for a specific phenotype, has been proposed as a realistic model for the polygenic nature of the antidepressant response. Nevertheless, the studies using PRS have not yet identified a reliable predictive factor for the antidepressant response, mainly due to underpowered sample size [14]. Recently, machine learning has been suggested as a promising method for disentangling the complex and non-linear interactions between the gene variants involved in the antidepressant response [6].
An increasing number of genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with depression have been identified in GWAS and meta-analysis GWAS studies, and epigenetic and environmental mechanisms have been proposed as a substantial contributing factor in the pathogenesis of depression. Thus, epigenetic factors are regarded as the bridging factor between genetic and environmental mechanisms [15]. The results, (which have been reproduced), demonstrated that the gene-environment (GxE) interactions in depression are linked to loci such as CRHR1, FKBP5, HTR2A, and a serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR), in the SLC6A4 (serotonin neurotransmitter transporter) gene [16]. However, in recent meta-analyses, the overall effects of GxE interactions and 5-HTTLPR in the development of depression were not confirmed [17-19]. An association between depression and the epigenetic mechanism of DNA methylation in the BDNF, NR3C1, OXTR, and SCL6A4 genes was proposed by recent studies [7]. Additionally, a long-term adaptive role of histone acetylation with respect to stress and the antidepressant response, has been suggested [11]. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are also considered promising methods to validate and replicate the results from epigenetic and GxE interactions in the prediction of the antidepressant response and the diagnosis of depressive disorder [7].
Neuroimaging studies (that have been replicated), demonstrated that the fronto-limbic network is associated with a promising neuroimaging biomarker of depression [5]. In particular, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data revealed that the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), could be the contributing regions related to the inhibition of emotional response and memory, through cognitive control. Emotional response and memory are also associated with the limbic area, including the amygdala and hippocampus [8]. Thus, the structure and function of the ACC, DLPFC, OFC, amygdala, and hippocampus have been indicated as predictive factors for an antidepressant response in patients with major depression. Also, a study utilizing magnetoencephalography (MEG) reported that MDD symptoms were associated with enhanced bottom-up signals from the amygdala-ACC and ACC-DLPFC, followed by the DLPFC’s inability to inhibit the excitatory signals of the amygdala [20]. Despite the methodological limitations of electroencephalography (EEG), the θ density, θ cordance, α rhythm asymmetry, δ rhythm asymmetry, and characteristic sleep EEG pattern have also been proposed as biomarkers for MDD patients and for the prediction of treatment response in MDD [5]. Moreover, positron emission tomography (PET) studies showed that the ACC and other prefrontal regions may be regarded as biomarkers of major depression in validation of the neuroinflammatory theory, treatment response to deep brain stimulation, antidepressants, psychotherapy, seasonal effects, and postpartum effects [5].
Although, in terms of pharmacogenetics, epigenetics, and neuroimaging (the state of the art methods generally applied), the collective research on the definition of MDD and prediction of treatment response in depressed patients is still inconclusive and inconsistent. In particular, the heterogeneity of the depressive syndrome may contribute to the irreproducible outcomes from neurobiological studies regarding the diagnosis of major depression and prediction of the antidepressant response. We speculate that network analysis results supported by neurobiological underpinnings may enable the establishment of promising biomarkers of the depressive syndrome in terms of “seeking a brain-based classification of mental illness.” [21]
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (2019R1A2C1090146).
1. Østergaard SD, Jensen SOW, Bech P. The heterogeneity of the depressive syndrome: when numbers get serious. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2011;124:495–496.
2. Hockenberry JM, Joski P, Yarbrough C, Druss BG. Trends in treatment and spending for patients receiving outpatient treatment of depression in the United States, 1998-2015. JAMA Psychiatry 2019;76:810–817.
3. Sackeim HA. The definition and meaning of treatment-resistant depression. J Clin Psychiatry 2001;62(Suppl 16):10–17.
4. Deakin J, O’Loughlin C. STAR*D: a summary and UK perspective. J Psychopharmacol 2009;23:605–612.
5. Park SC, Kim YK. Diagnostic issues of depressive disorders from Kraepelinian dualism to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition. Psychiatry Investig 2019;16:636–644.
6. Corponi F, Fabbri C, Serretti A. Pharmacogenetics and depression: a critical perspective. Psychiatry Investig 2019;16:645–653.
7. Tsai JS, Lin E. Epigenetics and depression: an update. Psychiatry Investig 2019;16:654–661.
8. Lai CH. Promising neuroimaging biomarker in depression. Psychiatry Investig 2019;16:662–670.
9. Zimmerman M, Galione JN, Chelminski I, McGlinchery JB, Young D, Dalrymple K, et al. A simpler definition of major depressive disorder. Psychol Med 2010;40:451–457.
10. Rosenman S, Nasti J. Psychiatric diagnoses are not mental processes: Wittgenstein on conceptual confusion. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2012;46:1046–1052.
11. Fried EI, Epskamp S, Nesse RM, Tuerlinckx F, Borsboom D. What are ‘good’ depressive symptoms? Comping to the development of depression. Mol Psychiatry 2018;23:133–142.
12. GENDEP Investigators, MARS Investigators, STAR*D Investigators. Common genetic variation and antidepressant efficacy in major depressive disorder: a meta-analysis of three genome-wide pharmacogenetic studies. Am J Psychiatry 2013;170:207–217.
13. Tammiste A, Jiang T, Fischer K, Magi R, Krjutskov K, Pettai K, et al. Whole-exome sequencing identifies a polymorphism in the BMP5 gene associated with SSRI treatment response in major depression. J Psychopharmacol 2013;27:915–920.
14. Shi J, Park JH, Duan J, Berndt ST, Moy W, Yu K, et al. Winner’s curse correction and variable thresholding improve performance of polygenic risk modeling based on genome-wide association study summary-level data. PLoS Genet 2016;12e1006493.
15. Howard DM, Adams MJ, Clarke TK, Hafferty JD, Gibson J, Shirali M, et al. Genome-wide meta-analysis of depression identifies 102 independent variants and highlights the importance of the prefrontal brain regions. Nature Neurosci 2019;22:343–352.
16. Sharma S, Powers A, Bradley B, Ressler KJ. Gene x environment determinants of stress and anxiety-related disorders. Ann Rev Psychol 2016;67:239–261.
17. Culverhouse RC, Saccone NL, Horton AC, Ma Y, Anstey KJ, Banaschewski T, et al. Collaborative meta-analysis finds no evidence of a strong interaction between stress and 5-HTTLPR genotype contributing to the development of depression. Mol Psychiatry 2018;23:133–142.
18. Heim C, Binder EB. Current research trends in early life stress and depression: Review of human studies on sensitive periods, gene-environment interactions, and epigenetics. Exp Neurol 2012;233:102–111.
19. Covington III HE, Vialou VF, LaPlant Q, Ohnishi YN, Nestler EJ. Hippocampal-dependent antidepressant-like activity of histone deacetylase inhibition. Neurosci Lett 2011;493:122–126.
20. Lu Q, Li H, Luo G, Wang Y, Tang H, Han L, et al. Impaired prefrontal-amygdala effective connectivity is responsible for the dysfunction of emotion process in major depressive disorder: a dynamic causal modeling study on MEG. Neurosci Lett 2012;523:125–130.
21. Miller G. Beyond DSM: seeking a brain-based classification of mental illness. Science 2010;327:1427.
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10 Times J Lawr Fought Her Own Hunger Games
Story from Entertainment News
How The Red Carpet Is Jennifer Lawrence’s Real Hunger Game
Hayden Manders
There are but a few things in life that really drive a (wo)man: love, fear, and hunger. Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence knows this to be true. Her character in that little franchise you may have heard of called The Hunger Games is driven by all of those things — though her hunger is more of a thirst to overthrow The Capitol.
Ironically, though, actual hunger doesn't play a major role in the Hunger Games story. Jennifer Lawrence does play her own version of it in real life; on more than one occasion Lawrence has admitted to being "starving" and outwardly asking whether there will be food at swanky Tinseltown events. It's charming, really, her outspoken real-life hungry games struggle. It makes her celebrity status a little bit more human (and our regular lives a little more like J Lawr's).
Ahead, 10 times the odds were not in favor of our real-life Mockingjay's cravings.
Jennifer Lawrence Red Carpet Munchies - Funny Celebrity
Entertainment News • Entertainment • The Latest • Jennifer Lawrence
written by Hayden Manders
Illustrated by Mary Galloway
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Vanessa Morgan and MLB star Michael Kopech have tied the knot. Morgan, who plays Toni Topaz on the hit CW show Riverdale, and Kopech, a pitcher for the Chi
by Alejandra Salazar
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Driver causes passenger injury to leg, Abilene police say
A woman seeking medical attention for an injury to her leg told Abilene police Thursday her boyfriend was the culprit thanks to a fight in a vehicle.
Driver causes passenger injury to leg, Abilene police say A woman seeking medical attention for an injury to her leg told Abilene police Thursday her boyfriend was the culprit thanks to a fight in a vehicle. Check out this story on reporternews.com: https://www.reporternews.com/story/news/crime/2019/01/25/crime-blotter-driver-causes-passenger-injury-leg-abilene-police-say/2678502002/
Timothy Chipp, Abilene Reporter-News Published 2:45 p.m. CT Jan. 25, 2019
A woman seeking medical attention for an injury to her leg told Abilene police Thursday her boyfriend was the culprit.
According to police, the woman said she was in a vehicle parked in an alley arguing with her boyfriend with the door propped open with her foot. He then became angry and started driving. The door struck a garbage can, which caused the door to also strike the woman's leg.
The victim then was dropped off in front of a residence in the 4700 block of South Sixth Street before she went to hospital for treatment, police said.
Other reports released Friday include:
Violation of a protective order, 100 block of College Drive, Thursday
Police said a man was arrested after repeatedly banging on the door of a woman who had sought protection from him. The victim said he was scaring her.
Trespass, resist arrest, 1500 block of South 16th Street, Thursday
After being evicted, police said, a woman was unwilling to leave a residence. Police said she was arrested, but resisted her removal.
Public intoxication, 2400 block of South First Street, Thursday
Police said a man was arrested after he was unable to stand on his own while at a business. Police said a woman attempted to help him walk down the street but was unable to keep him from falling. He smelled of alcohol, police said.
Trespass, 5600 block of South First Street, Thursday
A man told police a woman refused to get out of his vehicle after he dropped her off at a motel. Police said the woman had been warned of trespass at the motel and was not supposed to be on the property. She was arrested, police said.
More: Abilene police arrest woman after 3-year-old injured in vehicle crash
More: Abilene police arrest woman for causing a scene at a local hospital
More: Police: Two Abilene drivers report their gas tanks were damaged
Read or Share this story: https://www.reporternews.com/story/news/crime/2019/01/25/crime-blotter-driver-causes-passenger-injury-leg-abilene-police-say/2678502002/
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IT services >
Scisys >
Solid order book growth and pipeline strong
Scisys | SSY | 0 0 0.0% | Mkt Cap: 75.1m
Richard Jeans
In an in line update, SCISYS reports that its order book grew by 4% over Q1, while net debt fell by £2.4m as at end-April. Cash flow was boosted by the receipt of overdue payments from the MOD and a tax credit from HMRC that were deferred from 2016. All business units have been performing well and we note that this year is likely to be more H2 weighted than is typical due to the acquired ANNOVA. Noting management’s goal to achieve £60m in revenues and double-digit operating margins within three to five years, we believe the stock looks attractive on c 9x our maintained FY18e EPS.
SCISYS says that FY17 “revenues and profits are comfortably on track to meet current guidance.” The order book has grown from £64.6m as at end December to £67.1m at end-March. £37.8m is deliverable after FY17 – this predominantly relates to the long-term BBC contract of ANNOVA, which was acquired at the end of FY16. In February, the Space division won €5.6m of contracts to deliver mission management and control software for two European space programmes. SCISYS is confident that it will be able to extend its footprint in the Galileo satellite navigation programme in spite of media speculation over the impact of Brexit. Media & Broadcast has won a new £1.1m contract for BBC Wales and signed up its first French customer, RTL, which is an existing customer of ANNOVA. In April, the ESD division secured a place on the Metropolitan Police Solution Provider Framework, giving it access to contracts worth c £30m pa over four years. We note that framework contracts are not included in the group’s order book.
ANNOVA, which supplies software-based editorial solutions to the television, radio and online markets is “progressing steadily”. A key milestone for the BBC contract is due later this year, which will reflect the completion of the pilot stage of the project and also will determine the size of an earnout payment. After this milestone is met, the revenue model will switch to recurring support and maintenance, although there will be a ramp up as the solution is rolled out across the BBC. Since its acquisition, ANNOVA has added a significant new commercial broadcaster in the UK, together with new customers in the Czech Republic, Austria and Canada.
The stock trades on c 0.81x our FY18e revenues and c 7.4x EBITDA, which is attractive if SCISYS can continue the momentum. Our DCF model – which is based on a weighted average cost of capital of 10% and a 10.7% long-term margin target – values the stock at 149p (previously 145p), 39% above the current level.
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Home » Events » RCSA Industry Awards » Awards Night
If you can read this then the inline styles aren't working... and they are a little bit important.
Join us for a night of fun and celebration...
This year the who's who of Recruitment will gather in Melbourne and Auckland to witness the prestigious RCSA Industry Awards Nights.
Join us in recognising the standout achievers of the Recruitment Industry at Peninsula Melbourne on June 14 in Australia and The Hilton Auckland on July 5 in New Zealand.
Fine food, wine and entertainment from our hilarious MC's Dave Hughes (AUS) and Mike McRoberts (NZ) will provide the backdrop for attendees to mingle with industry peers in a relaxed and elegant setting.
So dust off that dinner suit, or pick out your best gown, and get your team together for the Recruitment Industries night of nights.
TICKETS / AWARDS / HOME
RCSA Principal Partner
RCSA Video Partner
About the RCSA Awards
The prestigious RCSA Industry Awards provide the opportunity to recognise the best of best in the recruitment and staffing sector. These awards are the most coveted in the industry. This year there are more opportunities across a wider field of categories so that all areas of a recruitment business can be acknowledged. Also for the first time there is a very special award that will shine a spotlight on an individual who has made a significant contribution to the industry.
This year the RCSA will hand out awards in the following categories:
- Recruiter of the Year
- RCSA Rising Star
- CSR Excellence Award
- Excellence in Safety & Risk Management
- Client Service Award
- Candidate Care Award - NZ Sponsor Trade Me Jobs
- Operational Excellence Award
- Marketing Campaign of the Year
- Tech Innovation of the Year
- RCSA Outstanding Contribution Award
Why apply for an RCSA Award?
Winning an RCSA Award provides unrivalled recognition of an individual's or organisation's professional success. Winners will also have the opportunity to share their story nationally through RCSA publications and the broader media. You also have the exclusive use of finalist and winner logos for building and promoting your brand.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE AWARDS & APPLICATIONS
2018 Australian MC - Dave Hughes
As one of the biggest names in Australian Comedy, Dave Hughes is undoubtedly a mastermind when it comes to his delivery and performance. Both entertaining and charming on stage, Dave is also a hit on radio and television.
Natural and unmistakably Australian, Hughsey’s laconic style thinly disguises one of this country's fastest comedic minds. Turning everyday foibles into rich and hilarious routines has made Hughesy the biggest name in Australian comedy. For 12 years Hughesy made up one half of Melbourne's Nova breakfast team and for 5 years he co-hosted Network Ten’s The Project, not to mention 11 years on Ten’s AFL show Before the Game.
While he never left stand-up behind, in late 2013 Dave shocked Australia by announcing that he would be giving up his radio and television jobs to go back to his roots touring a brand new stand up show for an entire year.
In 2015 Dave returned to the airwaves with long time co-host Kate Langbroek joining the team at KIIS and Mix FM in a national drive radio program and he joined the team at Channel 9's The Footy Show.
2018 New Zealand MC - Mike McRoberts
One of New Zealand’s most recognisable faces, Mike McRoberts graces TV screens weekday evenings bringing the six o’clock news bulletin with co-anchor Hillary Barry. The former 60 Minutes current affairs host whose reporting career spans more than 20 years, is perhaps best known for his journalism work in some of the world’s most dangerous places, covering conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, East Timor and the Solomon Islands. Mike has also covered some of the world’s biggest natural disasters in China, Haiti, Pakistan and South East Asia and of course the Christchurch Earthquake.
Beginning his career in 1984 as a cadet at Radio New Zealand, Mike then furthered his journalism career when he accepted a role with TVNZ in 1995 as a sports reporter. It is after this role that he moved to TV3 and progressively took up a position which saw him reporting for the current affairs programme 60 Minutes.
Being booked as both an MC and to speak, word is definitely out about McRoberts. Combining his journalism skills with extraordinary anecdotes, Mike gives insight into his career and gives his audience an idea of what happened in some of those sticky situations before the camera started rolling... what it takes to get the real story. Mike has won numerous journalism awards, including journalist of the year in 2006.
RCSA Member Rates
Early Bird Tickets (Book before May 31)
$175.00 + GST
Individual Tickets (After May 31)
Non-Member and Supporter Rate
Table of 10 Bookings receive a 10% discount
Click here to book your tickets for the Australia RCSA Industry Awards Night
Click here to book tickets for the New Zealand RCSA Industry Awards Night
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Saving Costs Is the New Revenue Stream
Why lean tech is your ticket to monetization.
The concept of content distribution has done a few somersaults since the start of 2018. Facebook's family and friends algorithm shift in January put publishers in a panic about how to maintain visibility in the News Feed. Just a little over a month later, the popular new media company LittleThings shuttered its digital doors, citing a dramatic loss of its audience thanks to the algorithm change.
The closure of LittleThings was a manifestation of publishers' worst nightmare, particularly for those dependent on Facebook's audiences to drive revenue both on and off social. Also in February, Google Chrome's much-anticipated ad-blocking plugin launched, extending a long rollout of an ad-free internet. Between the new Chrome and Facebook's algorithm juggling, a resurgence in search has been sparked. But publishers' woes don't end there as Google continues to refine its own algorithm amid the chaos. The search engine's updates so far this year are complicating strategies for everyone still scraping to win back referrals lost following Facebook's dramatic shift in priorities.
The twists and turns taking place within the first nine weeks of 2018 mean it's time for publishers to rethink how they're building audiences and generating revenue. Your natural inclination may be to start doubling down on dev teams who can try to build a unique experience to help you stand out above the noise. But it's actually the opposite: Lean tech is the way to cut through content saturation, and saving costs is the new revenue stream. We've boiled it down into two steps:
Invest in Good Writers: Brands must completely re-evaluate their budgets so more cash is devoted to content creators instead of tech. Quality writers and social curators can put the right amount of focus on content creation that sparks engagement. It's time for brands and publishers to build experiences that captivate attention spans in place of simply peddling streams of "shiny objects" in front of audiences.
Invest in Platform Diversification: Once you have the right people in place, conversation-starting content can then be used to diversify and create multiple streams of social revenue. Diversifying across platforms begins with adjusting both your organic and paid strategies so they speak to each social outlet's strength. Playing each platform's game is a way for publishers to create multiple opportunities to acquire new audiences and build a strong foundation for organic loyalty.
Diversification is particularly important for big brands who have relied on Facebook's algorithm to maintain reach in the past. Brands, along with publishers and influencers, can no longer take the easy way out. Good content and platform diversification are the only ways to win in today's social climate.
Let's check in on some of the major platforms and review their current monetization opportunities that you should be taking advantage of:
Recent Updates: Just when you thought Twitter was dead in the water, the internet's doorstep for everyone's opinions has made a comeback. After Facebook's big algorithm update at the beginning of the year, engagement became the metric to watch — and Twitter gets plenty of it. The platform saw double-digit engagement growth and a 14% increase in daily users by the end of 2017. Twitter's video ad program, Amplify, also grew 60% last year.
Publishers are feeling the impact of Twitter's increase in daily users and engagement, with some brands seeing their video views increasing fivefold. While Twitter may not have the same kind of referral numbers as Facebook and Google, publishers on the platform are not slaves to a puzzling algorithm that can often feel impossible to keep up with, let alone beat. Investing organically and experimenting with Twitter's own ad experience could be what your brand needs to move the needle on social ROI.
Monetization Focus: Experiment with video. Discover targeted audiences organically and via promoted tweets.
Recent Updates: YouTube has already established its place in the social ecosystem just as video-streaming services are becoming the default way to consume entertainment. Before its shutdown, LittleThings was obtaining 75% of its views from Facebook Live. But just because the algorithm changed, doesn't mean there's an adequate audience for Live video. And that's why YouTube is a great pivot. The platform has recently made changes and enhancements to its live streaming services, including live chat, location tags, and captions, which all make it easy to optimize the format.
The streaming platform has also recently updated its monetization policies, and is now enforcing stricter rules on the benchmarks users have to meet to make money off of their videos. While this was a blow to smaller channels, it's good news for advertisers who were getting burned from having their ads show up before inappropriate videos.
Monetization Focus: Video advertising, and relatable, engagement-worthy live content.
Recent Updates: Following the Facebook algorithm update in January, the shift of advertising dollars to Instagram is expected to be in the multimillion-dollar range. This is great news for publishers seeking to rev up their monetization opportunities on the platform, especially since Instagram gets more user engagement than both Twitter and Facebook. And as mentioned earlier, engagement is the metric to watch.
Instagram recently announced plans to add carousel-type ads to Instagram Stories, which topped 300 million daily users at the end of 2017. While the platform's growth has been exponential, it's still nowhere near as saturated as Facebook, which leaves room for publishers and advertisers alike to achieve unobstructed visibility in front of active audiences.
Monetization Focus: Instagram Stories, niche audience discovery, and thoughtful influencer marketing.
Recent Updates: Many publishers might consider the algorithm update to be doomsday for ROI on Facebook. But the reality is, it's a shift to focus on quality content. And that might mean a major shift in strategy for a lot of publishers. The platform made personalization and customer experience its primary concern after the fake news fallout of 2016. That's when Facebook began a rollout of quality control updates, including de-prioritizing third-party links featuring annoying ads that slowed down site speed. The latest major algorithm change is only a continuation of that experience prioritization, and it's the number one reason why this dramatic shift will be good for the digital ad industry over the long haul.
Leveraging content that sparks conversation is the number one way to win back eyes in the News Feed and start seeing returns. While platform diversification is key moving forward, it's still important to play Facebook's game. Utilizing Instant Articles can help bring in revenue with every publish. Also, it's important to note that the algorithm change had no impact on Facebook's Ads Manager. Still, publishers should focus on quality writers and perfecting user experience to win on the platform.
Monetization Focus: Instant Articles, Live video, and conversational content.
RebelMouse is a media-minded agency that offers a powerful CMS built on lean tech. We can overhaul your entire digital strategy so that your content is supported by innovative technology set up for successful monetization on each platform. Request a proposal today to get started.
6 Alternative Revenue Streams for Publishers – AdTechMedia Blog ›
Top publishers discuss new revenue streams at DMS 17 - What's ... ›
Newsonomics: Can startup Invisibly be the new revenue stream ... ›
Diversifying revenue streams – essential for publishers today – Fiare ›
How 4 newspaper organizations created new revenue streams ... ›
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Red and White Kop Liverpool FC Forum
Red and White Kop Liverpool FC Forum »
The Liverpool FC Forum »
Ticket Exchanges and Travel Information incl. European Trips »
The Away Ground Guide (Moderator: Frank.) »
Topic: Swansea City
Author Topic: Swansea City (Read 19045 times)
Barney_Rubble
« on: June 9, 2011, 12:28:01 PM »
Official Web Site: www.swanseacity.net
Unofficial Web Sites:Planet Swans & Vital Swansea
Address: Morfa, Swansea, SA1 2FA
Telephone No: 01792 616 600
Ticket Office: 08700 400 004
Away end: 2,000
Fixtures[/center]
For a street map of the area & the ground CLICK HERE
Leave the M4 at Junction 45 and take the A4067 towards the City Centre (sign posted A4067 South). Stay on the A4067 for around two and half miles and you will reach the stadium on your left. Car parking at the stadium is for permit holders only and most of the immediate residential areas around the stadium now have 'residents only' parking schemes in place. However away mini buses and coaches can park behind the North Stand in a fenced compound, at a cost of £20 per coach and £10 per minibus.
Away supporters are being encouraged to use the Park & Ride facility located at Swansea Vale, which is signposted off the A4067, shortly after leaving the M4. The cost of parking there including transport by bus to and from the stadium is £5 per car (away coaches and mini buses are parked at the stadium itself at a cost of £10 per vehicle). Away supporters have their own separate buses to and from the stadium, with the buses waiting outside the away stand at the end of the game to take supporters back to the car park. Don't be tempted to park on the nearby Retail Park as you may well end up with a ticket, or worse still, clamped for your trouble!
There is also some street parking to be had. If coming from the M4, you pass the stadium on your left and continue straight on towards Swansea, then after going under a bridge, then there are a number of roads on the right, where on street parking is available. It is then around a 10-15 minute walk to the stadium.
Swansea High Street Station is on the main line route from London Paddington. It is about two miles from the stadium. Regular local bus services (every ten minutes: routes 4, 4a, 120, 122, 125, 132) and taxis (around £3.50) are available from the train station to the stadium. Otherwise if you have time on your hands and wish to embark on the 25-30 minute walk, then as you come out of the station turn right and go up the High Street. At the traffic lights turn right into Neath Road. Proceed straight along Neath Road and you will eventually reach the stadium on your right.
Away fans are housed in the North Stand at one end of the stadium, where up to 2,000 fans can be accommodated. This is increased to 2,500 for Cup games. The views of the playing action from this area are excellent as there is a good height between rows and the leg room is probably the most generous of any stadium that I have visited. The concourses are spacious, with food and beverage outlets, plus a number of television sets, for pre-match and half time entertainment. As you would expect from a new stadium the facilities are good. Away fans are separated from home fans by black netting spread over a few rows of seats to either side of the away section, with a line of stewards and Police also in attendance. Interestingly, the main singing contingent of home fans, have, in the traditions of the Vetch Field, situated themselves along one side of the pitch in the East Stand, rather than at the South end of the stadium. Tickets will not be sold to away supporters by Swansea City on the day of the match, so do not travel unless you already have a ticket from your own Club.
Pub Guide and extras
Nearly all the pubs near to the stadium are for home fans only, so it is either drink on the way to Swansea, go into the city centre or drink inside the stadium. Merv Williams informs me; 'There are a number of pubs on Wind (pronounced as winding a watch) Street in the centre of town, such as Yates, the Bank Statement and the No Sign Bar (the latter being listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide). Ask for Castle Gardens, and you'll see Wind Street'. Mick Clarkson a visiting Preston North End fan adds; 'After leaving the train station we proceeded up the High Street and went into the Full Moon public house. The locals both young and old were very friendly and we had a good laugh with all in there both before and after the game. Basic pub with pool table and Sky Sports and a Leeds fan for a landlord and excellent cheap beer'.
Alcohol in the form of Carling (£3.20 a pint) and Worthington (£3.20 a pint) are served within the stadium. The Club open the turnstiles one hour before kick off, so that fans have the option to eat & drink within the stadium itself.
« Last Edit: December 6, 2012, 02:02:16 AM by Frank. »
Juan Loco
down in Acapulco. LIkes 'em salty and succulent, the wee lambies!
We've got our valuation and we're sticking to it
Re: Swansea City
Just a bit of advice - I wouldn't go in the Full Moon. The Preston fans might have had a decent time but generally speaking the place has got a bit of a rep as being best avoided. Same thing applies for most of the pubs to your right right as you turn out of the train station. The Full Moon and the Old Duke in particular are best avoided - Although I'd be surprised if most people got in to the Old Duke, if it's sunny there'll usually be a few less than pleasent characters on the step outside with a dog.
Turn to your left as you leave the train station and it's a 5-10 minute walk til you're on Wind Street. It's difficult to avoid off the main road. You'll walk past the shite ruins of a castle on your left and the fountain and concrete square on your right. No Sign is a decent pub, the rest are your usual fare, but it's as good a place as any for a few drinks before the match. There's also a taxi rank at the top of wind street by Castle Gardens (the concrete square with a foutain). Unless they're especially generous on match days I think you'll be lucky to get a taxi from town to the stadium for £3.50.
If you're taking a bus then I'd advise turning up for the bus before the one you intend on getting. Not sure what the bus services around Morriston are like (you'll get the Bendy Buses - enjoy!) but the rest of Swansea is fucking terrible, and the times, during the day at least, change on a whim. I wouldn't trust what's written up on a board.
"It's the football philosophy that counts, not the system."
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LFC is my religion
Not a bad destination for a night is Swansea, may have try and get to this game
Main Stander
Any idea when the tickets come for sale? Gonna have to book flights soon.
Anny Roader
Quote from: Beige on November 25, 2011, 05:24:56 AM
Prob 2-3 weeks before the game mate.
Thanks for the reply. Gonna take a chance on the Chelsea match then. At least I get to visit Liverpool again if I don't get a ticket, and the flights are half the price.
Been watching reds down here last 5 seasons.dont think I'll be there next season unfortunately
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On problems, LaMalfa blames feds, Reed blames LaMalfa
First Congressional district candidates differed on the root of the district's problems at a forum Monday night in Anderson.
On problems, LaMalfa blames feds, Reed blames LaMalfa First Congressional district candidates differed on the root of the district's problems at a forum Monday night in Anderson. Check out this story on redding.com: http://reddingne.ws/2fTJXlv
Redding Record Searchlight Published 7:28 p.m. PT Oct. 3, 2016
Alayna Shulman/Record SearchlightU.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa, left, and Democratic challenger Jim Reed face off in a forum for candidates for the 1st Congressional District on Monday in Anderson.
At a political forum Monday night in Anderson, First Congressional District incumbent Doug LaMalfa blamed most of the area's woes on the federal government —'that big blob' that neglects the rural way of life — while challenger Jim Reed blamed his opponent's hand in congressional gridlock for many of the problems facing the district.
The League of Women Voters forum at Anderson High School saw LaMalfa, R-Richvale, square off against the Red Bluff democrat yet again after the 2012 race that saw the republican incumbent beat Reed.
The audience of about 20 people submitted questions to the pair ranging from climate change to homelessness to the role of guns on campuses. In answer to many of them, Reed said LaMalfa's role as a politician who refused to pass a budget in time to stop government cuts — also known as the partisan-fueled 'sequester' — is to blame.
He also made a subtle reference to that belief in his opening remarks, saying partisan politics are to blame for the area's woes.
Reed went on to call it 'just wrong' for LaMalfa to reportedly say he wouldn't do anything to stop congressional gridlock until a republican president is elected, then brought up the issue again to explain what he believes is wrong with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
'I blame (delays in appointments) on the sequester,' Reed said. 'Our Congress has got to get with it.'
LaMalfa's role in the sequester also came up during Reed's closing remarks, when he said the chief difference between him and LaMalfa is that the republican 'actually wants the federal government to fail.'
LaMalfa's chief gripe, on the other hand, was federal legislation that he believes harms the economy.
That included opening remarks that touted the 'big opportunities' of timber and biomass jobs if more of them were available to locals, and the need for a president who will fight 'a lot of corruption' that's rife in the veterans affairs department.
LaMalfa then went on to criticize laws based on the 'hysteria' that's 'way beyond reasonable' around global warming and, in turn, harm the economy.
He also said the country's 'unfair' tax rate needs to change because it makes businesses move off-shore, and that 'class-envy' can't be part of the equation.
LaMalfa's disenchantment with 'that big blob' also popped up when someone asked about homelessenss, which he partially blamed on strict rules for nonprofits that he said force them to limit services.
Reed, on the other hand, blamed homelessness on Ronald Reagan's time as California governor and root issues of substance abuse and mental illness going unaddressed.
Some other ways the candidates differed include:
— LaMalfa believes in 'peace through strength,' noting a large military can be a deterrent to those who want to harm the country, while Reed said the military could stand to be downsized.
— Reed wants to change the 'tax loopholes' that allow companies to pay less in taxes than citizens, while LaMalfa complained how current rates are unfair to businesses.
— Reed said he's for a $15 minimum wage because most of the wealth in the country is held by only a few, while LaMalfa said that wage 'takes the entry-level job and makes it disappear,' which then 'takes away opportunity.'
— Reed disputed LaMalfa's repeated complaint that a greener California will cost jobs.
— Reed said guns should 'absolutely not' be allowed at schools, while LaMalfa said gun-free zones tend to be 'safety-free, too.'
— LaMalfa said more students should be encouraged to attend community college instead of four-year schools until tuition goes down, while Reed said the answer to high college costs is not taxing students who also work.
The election for the First Congressional District is November 8.
Read or Share this story: http://reddingne.ws/2fTJXlv
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The storylines of ESL One Cologne 2019
Luci Kelemen
Writes about way too many things. Has way too many opinions. Wants to tell all the interesting stories in the world.
Liquid are gunning for a Grand Slam as Astralis must adapt to a new reality: celebrations in the Cathedral of Counter-Strike were always a huge event, but the peculiarities of this year made ESL One Cologne by far the biggest non-major LAN event of 2019. A strong format with strong sides and pristine production, the showdowns in the Lanxess-Arena will likely answer most of the lingering questions about the real power levels of the various elite teams.
Can Liquid bulldoze their way to the Intel Grand Slam?
While many were quietly debating whether Liquid were “true” number ones, the North American side quickly picked up three events in the Intel Grand Slam circuit. Now they have a chance to do one better than Astralis by taking down the Season 2 title in just five events, potentially winning every single one since the major. No one could have envisioned this at the start of the year and pulling this off would truly cement Liquid as one of the all-time best squads of the game.
Re-jigged rosters with a lot to live up to
In the end, daps’ farewell tour at the ESL One Pro League Season 9 Finals turned out to be a much stronger showing than anyone would have expected from NRG, putting a lot of pressure on stanislaw to hit the ground running after a contentious takeover in the IGL role. Similarly, Na’Vi face a lot of questions and high expectations, returning to Cologne as the title holders off the back of a long-overdue roster move. Shipping out Edward was a must for a team harboring elite aspirations, and s1mple always has that impeccable carry potential, but a lot will depend on how well Boombl4 will be able to adapt to his new surroundings at their first LAN event together if they want to even come close to defending their crown. MiBR also have a lot of question marks circling around them, and this event will show whether the addition of LUCAS1 is good enough by itself to revitalize their setup.
Bet on ESL One Cologne 2019 - your first bet is on the house!
A reality check for FURIA and mouz
Is the hype real for these two sides? The young Brazilians gained a lot of fans and plaudits with their fearless style of Counter-Strike, but their surprisingly smooth rise in 2019 hit its first snag at Moche XL Esports 2019 after an unexpected loss to Team GamerLegion. Their opponents now have specific demos to study and it remains to be seen how much of their success was due to a combination of an unfamiliar style and being underestimated by the big boys. ENCE and Vitality cemented their status off the back of strong tactical play: it remains to be seen whether the same works for an ultra-aggressive approach as well.
Read more: It’s been a long time coming, but CS:GO’s generational change is now in full swing
As for mousesports, they go from strength to strength under karrigan, posting strong wins against lower-rated sides like HellRaisers and Luminosity while also managing a clean takedown of FaZe Clan. They’ve also put up a decent fight against Liquid, though it was clear they’re still underdogs against the true elite sides. The young core of the side means this project is pretty much future-proofed, and they can be considered dark horses for ESL One Cologne 2019.
FaZe and Fnatic are stuck in limbo
The temporary nature of NEO’s addition makes any discussion about FaZe Clan somewhat meaningless. They are doing okay, no more, no less, treading water with various playoff showings before getting swiftly dispatched at the business end of tournaments. For a team comprised of elite individuals, this cannot be considered good enough – problem is, many fans and seemingly some of the players seem to think it actually is.
Meanwhile, Fnatic’s back-to-back LAN finals are looking more and more like a false dawn with each passing event: the beginning of the year already saw them miss out on the major’s main stage and suffering an embarrassing 16-0 loss on Inferno at the WESG 2018 Finals, and it seems like the same concerns are rearing their ugly head once again. Whether it’s Xizt’s leadership, worse individual performances or simply a lack of depth, there’s little to suggest that this lineup can find any sort of consistency this far into their life cycle.
Read more: Why are Fnatic so maddeningly inconsistent?
A new landscape
Looking back at 2018’s Cologne event throws the staggering changes that took place since into sharp relief. BIG went from finalists at a prestigious LAN to confused also-rans. Renegades had a brief flirtation with the top five but were swiftly rejected for better-looking boys. The tournament will also bookend an important chapter for ENCE who put in their first breakout performance at Cologne last year. For Vitality, a team that didn’t even exist at the time of our last visit to the Cathedral of Counter-Strike, this is their big chance to truly cement themselves as an elite side, capping off an impressive streak of lower-tier wins at Charleroi Esports and cs_summit 4 plus a more prestigious win at the ECS Season 7 finals. Perhaps most importantly, Astralis are no longer atop the world, having to adapt to a new reality where they are very much mortal – we’re past the point where a single tournament win would instantly restore them to “best team” status, no matter how dominant it may be, and if they continue to play at the level they’ve showed at Montpellier, even a playoff finish is a dicey proposition.
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The word “midwife” originates from the phrase “with woman,” and we believe that perfectly summarizes the role that our midwives play in the care of their patients.
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Rochester Area Midwives
Khadra Abdi, MSN, CNM
Seeing Patients At: Midwifery Group at Bay Creek and The Women’s Center at Rochester General Hospital
• BS, Nursing, Otterbein University
• MS, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Ohio State University
• Post-Masters Certificate, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Ohio State University
I’m originally from Somalia but have lived in the United States most of my life. I worked at Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a patient care technician while earning my Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Otterbein University, and then worked as a registered nurse at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and cared for acute brain and spinal cord injury patients. I moved to Rochester in April of 2019. I love working with women and helping care for women in every aspect of health. I’m a strong believer in helping women become advocates for their health. I’m passionate about missionary work and love to help underserved communities. I traveled to Honduras for missionary trips during my graduate midwifery studies and helped care for women in need of healthcare services including gynecological care.
Danielle Assibu-Gilmore, MSN, CNM
• BS, Nursing, SUNY Brockport
• MBA, Simon School of Business, University of Rochester
• MS, Nursing, Frontier Nursing University
As a 17-year-old young woman, I had the privilege of being cared for by a women’s health nurse practitioner. This interaction set a course for the rest of my life and inspired me to pursue nursing. It was during my time in nursing school when I was educated and mentored by professors who were also midwives that exposed me to the influence of midwifery. The first delivery I ever witnessed with a midwife was at Rochester General Hospital, and I’ve been hooked ever since! As midwives, we are privileged to work with women when some may feel they are at their most vulnerable. I love to work every day to protect and restore as much power and autonomy to the women we serve. Women who feel empowered, supported, and strong can do anything. It is my true belief that midwifery care can help women not only survive but also thrive!
Davya Brody, MSN, CNM
Seeing Patients At: Anthony Jordan Health Center and Bay Creek Midwifery
• BS, Nursing University of Rochester
• MS, Adult Nurse Practitioner specializing in Women’s Health, University of Rochester
• MS, Midwifery, Jefferson University
I am a Midwife with over 14 years of experience in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. I am passionate about the value of making a patient / provider connection, patient advocacy, working as a team with my highly skilled nurse and physician colleagues, and providing group prenatal care. I believe women and in women. I believe that the people I serve know their bodies and that it is my privilege as their provider to help them on their path to maximum wellness. I believe that prevention is the best medicine, that patient education is as valuable as provider listening, and that pregnancy is, most often, a state of wellness. I believe that vaginal birth is normal and healthy and that my expertise in normal is what I can best offer to help my patients achieve that goal.
Catherine Burke, MSN, CNM
Seeing Patients At: Bay Creek Midwifery and the Anthony Jordan Health Center
• BS, Nursing,Boston College
• MSN, Pace University
• Midwifery Certification, University of Southern California
I have been a midwife for 26 years and am still in awe of the miracle of pregnancy and birth. I am passionate about educating women about their bodies and empowering them to live healthier and more balanced lives. My goal is a holistic integration of the body, mind, and spirit. During prenatal care I seek to develop a relationship with pregnant women and their families in order to help them tailor the birth experience to meet their individual needs and desires, while at the same time acknowledging that birth is dynamic and there are many factors which are beyond our control.
I lived and worked in Latin America for 6 years and am fluent in Spanish. I joined Rochester Regional Health in 2017 and am thrilled to be a part of the Midwifery Group at Bay Creek and the Ob/Gyn team at Anthony Jordan Health Center. I especially enjoy working with teens and immigrant families.
Bethany Fjeldheim, MSN, CNM, FNP
Seeing Patients At: Bay Creek Midwifery and The Women’s Center at Clinton
• BS, Biology, Loyola University
• MSN, Midwifery and Family Nurse Practitioner, Vanderbilt University
Originally from Illinois, I worked as an Emergency Medical Technician in Chicago while earning my Bachelor’s degree in Biology. I then went on to specialize in Nurse-Midwifery and earned my Masters as a Family Nurse Practitioner before becoming the co-director of the Shade Tree Early Pregnancy Program in Nashville, where I worked to provide initial prenatal visits for uninsured or underinsured women throughout Middle Tennessee. During pregnancy and birth, I believe in empowering and educating women to be advocates for their health, as well as the health of their families and communities. As a midwife, my philosophy of care is true to the definition of midwifery: to be with women. I feel it is a true honor to participate in and partner with women to provide excellent care across their lifespan.
Assanatu Iddrissu, MSN, CNM
Seeing Patients At: Bay Creek Midwifery and The Women’s Center at Alexander Park
• BA, Nursing, University of Ghana
• MSN, Midwifery, Ohio State University
• MSN, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Ohio State University
I was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa. I moved to the United States in December of 2003 and in 2007, started working as a registered nurse in the areas of long term care, home care, and labor and delivery. In 2015, I went back to school and earned my midwifery and women’s health nurse practitioner degrees. I moved to Rochester in 2017 and am married with three beautiful children. I am outgoing and always excited to meet my patients. I believe that a good healthy state is fundamental to every woman’s dreams and aspirations. My goal is to keep women healthy, to support them, and help them make healthy decisions throughout their lifespan.
Rosemary Janofsky, MSN, CNM
Seeing Patients At: Rochester General Hospital, Labor and Delivery
• BS, Nursing, D’Youville College, NY
• MSN, Midwifery, Meharry Medical College, TN
Rosemary joined Rochester General Hospital in 2002 as a midwife working both in labor and delivery as well as The Women’s Center. She believes strongly in midwifery as a positive option for families, and educates patients to maintain healthy behavior and lifestyle both before and during pregnancy. She is excited to be offering nurse-midwifery services at Rochester General Hospital.
Robin MacIntyre, MSN, CNM
Seeing Patients At: Bay Creek Midwifery and The Women’s Center at Victor
• BS, Nursing, Daemen College, NY
• Certificate of Midwifery, Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing, KY
• MSN, Nursing, Case Western University, OH
My goal is to provide safe, satisfying and cost-effective healthcare to women from puberty to postmenopause within the Midwifery scope of practice, and to consult and collaborate with physicians and providers to facilitate healthcare for women whose needs excel the Midwifery scope of practice. I believe in partnering with women and their families to better the health of whole communities.
Eastern Region Midwives
Marilyn Brooks, CNM, MSN
Seeing Patients At: The Women’s Center at Newark
• MSN, Women’s Health and Midwifery, University of Rochester
With over 38 years of experience, I practice full scope midwifery, including well woman care, health screenings, contraceptive care, STD screenings, newborn care, and prenatal care, including labor and delivery. I encourage a normal birth with my patients and work to decrease the overall cesarean rate. I believe the health of mothers and newborns is paramount, so encouraging breastfeeding is a big part of my practice. CenteringPregnancy is one approach to achieve this, as it creates a group environment that emphasizes learning and empowerment for women while helping them to make healthy choices. I also work to incorporate CenteringPregnancy into prenatal visits with patients.
Kathleen Hausman, CNM, MSN
Seeing Patients At: Bay Creek Midwifery, The Women’s Center at Newark, The Women's Health Center at Clifton Springs
• BS, Nursing, Regents College, NY
• MSN, Midwifery, Stony Brook University, NY
After several years of being a labor and delivery nurse, I went back to school to become a midwife, as I wanted to be able to make a difference in their experience before they came into labor and delivery. My focus is on education and supporting women throughout their lifetime in relation to their health. I’ve been working in the fields of nursing and midwifery for over 30 years, and I believe it is a privilege to be present as women give birth. I am motivated to help women through education and advocacy to allow them to be the healthiest they can be.
Sara Schlageter, CNM, MSN
Seeing Patients At: The Women’s Center at Newark, The Women's Health Center at Clifton Springs
• BS, Nursing, Elmira College
• MSN, Midwifery, Frontier Nursing University
I was born at home into the hands of a midwife, so midwifery has been a part of my life from the very beginning. I was born and raised in the Finger Lakes and knew that I wanted to be a midwife while still in high school. After attending Elmira College, I worked at Geneva General Hospital in Medical Surgery before moving to Richmond, VA for a decade, where I worked in case management and attended Frontier Nursing University. I am so happy to be back in Upstate New York and feel honored and privileged to be providing care to women and their families throughout their lifetimes, including that special time of pregnancy and birth.
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Sting, John Mayer & Robert Plant to Headline Bourbon & Beyond Festival
By Travis Failey on April 16, 2018
Bourbon & Beyond Announces Extraordinary Music Lineup
For World’s Largest Bourbon Festival
Sting, John Mayer, Robert Plant And The Sensational Space Shifters,
Lenny Kravitz, Counting Crows, And David Byrne
Top The Bill For Second Annual Bourbon, Food & Music Festival
At Champions Park In Louisville, KY
Saturday, September 22 And Sunday, September 23
Festival Offers Bourbon And Culinary Experiences
Featuring Master Distillers And Celebrity Chefs During
Bourbon Heritage Month
Tickets Go On Sale Friday, April 20 At 12:00 PM EDT
The second annual Bourbon & Beyond festival makes its much-anticipated return to Champions Park in Louisville, KY, Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23 with the perfect blend of bourbon, food & music not found anywhere else in the world. Festival producers Danny Wimmer Presents, culinary curator Edward Lee (The Mind of A Chef) and bourbon curator Fred Minnick have put together another incredible bourbon, music, and culinary lineup for the weekend. World-renowned musicians including Sting and Robert Plant And The Sensational Space Shifters, as well as superstars John Mayer, Lenny Kravitz, Counting Crows and David Byrne, lead the music lineup of more than 30 artists. Tom Colicchio, Stephanie Izard, Aarón Sánchez and Ray Garcia lead the culinary lineup of more than 20 chefs.
See the official bourbon announcement video here: http://bit.ly/BBBVideo18
The world’s largest bourbon festival, Bourbon & Beyond is an annual celebration of the craftsmanship behind award-winning bourbons, master distillers, legendary musicians, world-class chefs, and an unforgettable showcase of the soul and spirit of Louisville, held during Bourbon Heritage Month. In its inaugural year in 2017, the festival attracted 50,000 people from all over the country, offering a series of onsite experiences, including bourbon and culinary workshops.
The festival’s centerpiece, the Big Bourbon Bar presented by Louisville Courier Journal, will feature more than two dozen bourbons selected by best-selling author and renowned bourbon authority Fred Minnick, Bourbon & Beyond’s official bourbon curator. Acclaimed Louisville whiskey bar The Silver Dollar will operate The Hunter’s Club, where attendees can find vintage bourbons dating as far back as the 1930s, as well as contemporary collectibles — which last year included more than 50 rarities. The festival also announces the return of Fred Minnick’s Mini Bar presented by The Bourbon Women Association, which will showcase this year’s craft bourbon selections: Hartfield & Co., MB Roland, Old Pogue, Wadelyn Ranch and Wilderness Trail.
Bourbon & Beyond exclusive VIP packages, General Admission tickets, camping and hotel packages, as well as special event tickets go on sale Friday, April 20 at 12:00 PM EDT. Visit www.BourbonandBeyond.com for more details.
The current music lineup includes: Sting, John Mayer, Robert Plant And The Sensational Space Shifters, Lenny Kravitz, Counting Crows, David Byrne, Sheryl Crow, Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot!, Kaleo, Gov’t Mule, Keb’ Mo’, Blackberry Smoke, JJ Grey & Mofro, Don Felder, The Record Company, Del McCoury Band, Joseph, Magpie Salute, Mindi Abair And The Boneshakers, Larkin Poe, The Last Bandoleros and Swimming With Bears.
Along with world-class musical performances happening throughout the weekend on the two main music stages, The Big Bourbon Bar will feature a bluegrass stage curated by the genre’s leading authority, The Bluegrass Situation, all weekend long. Artists performing include: The Travelin’ McCourys, Billy Strings, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Ben Sollee, River Whyless, and Lindsay Lou.
Louisville has a thriving food scene as recognized by Top Chef, which will be filming their upcoming 16th season in the city. Bourbon & Beyond’s culinary celebration will highlight top talent including:
● Tom Colicchio (Top Chef head judge; Crafted Hospitality founder)
● Edward Lee (Executive Chef for 610 Magnolia, MilkWood, and Whiskey Dry in Louisville, KY; Culinary Director for Succotash in National Harbor, MD and Washington, DC)
● Stephanie Izard (Chef/Partner at Girl & the Goat, Little Goat Diner, and Duck Duck Goat in Chicago, IL; Iron Chef Gauntlet winner)
● Aarón Sánchez (Chef/Owner at Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans, LA; MasterChef judge)
● Ray Garcia (Chef/Owner at Broken Spanish and BS Taqueria in Los Angeles, CA)
● Damaris Phillips (Louisville, KY native, Food Network host, cookbook author)
● Akhtar Nawab (Louisville, KY native, Chef/Owner at Alta Calidad in New York City, Fero in Birmingham, AL and Prather’s on the Alley in Washington, DC)
● Alex Thomopoulos (Chef, blogger, Bravo.com’s Going Off The Menu)
● Jose Salazar (Chef/Owner at Mita and Salazar in Cincinnati, OH; 2018 James Beard Foundation nominee)
● Anthony Lamas (Chef/Owner at Seviche, a Latin Restaurant in Louisville, KY)
● Annie Pettry (Chef/Owner at Decca in Louisville, KY)
● Ryan Rogers (Owner of Feast BBQ, Royals Hot Chicken and bar Vetti in Louisville, KY)
Look for more food experience details to be announced soon.
“The underlying theme of Bourbon & Beyond is a celebration of craftsmanship. I’ve asked our team to approach every aspect of this festival with the same handcrafted spirit that is used by all of the participating artisans. Each and every one of these distilleries, master distillers, musicians, and chefs have spent years mastering their craft. I am honored and humbled that they have agreed to participate in our second year,” says Danny Wimmer, founder of Danny Wimmer Presents.
Bourbon & Beyond has also announced its first official pre-show activities on Friday, September 21, including a Supper Club hosted by Tom Colicchio and Edward Lee, events at the Muhammad Ali Center, an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at local distilleries from Mint Julep Experiences, and bourbon educational sessions from Stave & Thief. Adds Wimmer, “Our plan is to continue to involve more and more of the community, in both Louisville and greater Kentucky. This state has so many treasures and my goal is to showcase them all. This year’s Friday night lineup is just a hint of what is to come.”
Bourbon Experiences available onsite include:
● Tiki Barrel Bar presented by Jim Beam
● Lock & Key Pizza Parlor presented by Larceny
● Southern Soul BBQ presented by Maker’s Mark
● Sip & Grill presented by Southern Comfort
● Down The Rabbit Hole Speakeasy presented by Rabbit Hole
● Stave & Thief Society: Exploring Bourbon Workshops sponsored by The Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Tours
● Boone County Distilling Back Porch
● Whiskey Row Cigar Lounge presented by Diesel Cigars
● And more culinary demos and bourbon workshops
Bourbon Headliners include: 1792, Angel’s Envy, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Barrell Bourbon, Basil Hayden’s, Blade and Bow, Blanton’s, Bloody Butcher’s Creed, Booker’s, Boone County, Bowman Brothers, Buffalo Trace, Bulleit, Contradiction, Coopers’ Craft, Eagle Rare, E.H. Taylor, Elijah Craig, Elmer T. Lee, Evan Williams, Four Roses, Jefferson’s, Jim Beam, Jim Beam Black, Kentucky Owl, Knob Creek, Larceny, Maker’s 46, Maker’s Mark, Michter’s, O.K.I., Old Forester, Pappy Van Winkle, Peerless, Rabbit Hole, Rebel Yell, Rock Hill Farms, Stagg Jr., Stone Hammer, Wild Turkey, Willett, W.L. Weller and Woodford Reserve, with more to be announced soon.
Bourbon Master Distillers, Blenders and Experts include: Fred Minnick, best-selling author and renowned bourbon authority; Andrea Wilson, master of maturation at Michter’s; Bernie Lubbers, founder of Heaven Hill; Beth Burrows, Kentucky Bourbon Ambassador for Beam Suntory; Blake Riber, founder of Bourbonr.com; Brian Haara, author of Bourbon Justice; Carla Carlton, founder of TheBourbonBabe.com; Chris Morris, master distiller of Woodford Reserve; Chuck Cowdery, author of Bourbon, Straight; Corky Taylor, founder of Peerless; Denny Potter, master distiller for Heaven Hill; Drew Kulsveen, master distiller of Willett; Eddie Russell, master distiller of Wild Turkey; Fred Noe, master distiller of Jim Beam; Freddie Johnson, Sazerac; Greg Davis, master distiller of Maker’s Mark; Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace; Jane Bowie, maturation specialist for Maker’s Mark; Jim Rutledge, Bourbon Hall of Fame distilling consultant; Jimmy Russell, master distiller of Wild Turkey; John Little, head distiller for Smooth Ambler; Julian Van Winkle, president of Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery; Kaveh Zamanian, founder of Rabbit Hole; Larry Rice, founder of The Silver Dollar; Marianne Barnes, master distiller of Castle & Key; Molly Wellmann, founder of Japp’s Since 1879; Peggy Noe Stevens, founder of Bourbon Women; Sara Barnes, marketing and events at Boone County; Trey Zoeller, master blender of Jefferson’s; Tripp Stimson, master distiller at Barrell; Wes Henderson, chief innovation officer of Angel’s Envy, and many more.
Bourbon & Beyond also offers a unique series of over 30 bourbon and food-focused seminars at the festival, including a first-ever discussion between Jack Daniel’s master distiller Jeff Arnett and Jim Beam’s master distiller Fred Noe.
“Bourbon & Beyond makes history with our Jack & Jim seminar, which will showcase the world’s two best-selling American whiskeys and dissect an often polarizing subject. We want to entertain and educate, but this seminar is taking whiskey discussions to another level and is akin to the Beatles and Rolling Stones sharing the stage,” says Fred Minnick. “This is a rare opportunity to witness a live bourbon event that will never be duplicated.”
Other bourbon and food-focused onsite seminars at the festival will include:
● Family Affair: The Van Winkles—The Van Winkle family will have a few stories to tell, such as when nobody wanted their bourbon.
● My Daddy Was A Moonshiner—Hear how Thomas Wade Daniels decided to break his family nighttime distilling practices and make legitimate whiskey.
● The Audacity Of Sourced Whiskey—Panelists discuss one of the most controversial whiskey topics of the past decade.
● We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Master Distiller—In an industry that covets its master distillers, the truth is, it’s a team effort.
● Rarest Whiskey In The World—Hidden in local bars and liquor stores are the rarest bourbons in the world. Learn how to spot them.
● The Joy Of Vintage Whiskey—In basements, at garage sales and even antique shops are old whiskey bottles collecting dust. Hear the story of America’s underground whiskey culture.
● The Nearest Green Story—Nearest Green was the distiller the world never knew. Until now. Featuring Fawn Weaver, founder of Uncle Nearest Whiskey.
● Food Pairings: Bird And Bourbon—America’s spirit pairs with more birds than the chicken.
● Local Grains, Big Fame—Many distilleries have farmer relationships spanning several generations. In fact, some grow their own grains.
● Bourbon Mixology: Slushie Time—Who knew that bourbon slushies would become all the rage?
Initial ticket prices for Bourbon & Beyond will be as follows:
● 2-Day Weekend General Admission: starting at $129.50 + fees
● 2-Day Weekend VIP: starting at $439.50 + fees
● 2-Day Beyond VIP: $999.50
● Single Day General Admission: starting at $80.00 + fees
● Single Day VIP: starting at $229.50 + fees
Bourbon & Beyond is part of DWP‘s previously announced 10-year plan to grow bourbon-related entertainment in Louisville, which includes Louder Than Life, a future country music festival and a spirits conference to be launched in 2020.
Bourbon & Beyond again welcomes The Daily Beast as the festival’s official media partner. Noah Rothbaum, the editor of the Daily Beast’s “Half Full” section and co-host of its podcast Life Behind Bars, will be onsite at the festival capturing exclusive content throughout the weekend.
Bourbon & Beyond sponsors include: Angry Orchard, Bourbon Barrel Foods, Bourbon Women Association, Black Box Wines, Cooper & Thief, Fxck Cancer, GE Appliances, Glencairn, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Kelvin Cooperage, Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, Kentucky Lottery, Kentucky Straight Ice, Lagunitas, Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau, Louisville Water Company, MillerCoors, Mint Julep Experiences, Stave & Thief Society, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Southern Comfort, SWFTCharge, Take Me Home, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, The Music Experience, and Uncle Nearest Whiskey, with more to be announced soon.
For more information on Bourbon & Beyond please visit:
Website: BourbonAndBeyond.com
Facebook: @bourbonandbeyond
Instagram: @bourbonandbeyond
Twitter: @bourbonNbeyond
Hashtag: #BourbonAndBeyond
We believe in quality before quantity. Please drink responsibly.
Categories: Entertainment, Featured, Music
Tags: 1792, and Lindsay Lou., Angels Envy, Bardstown Bourbon Company, Barrell Bourbon, Basil Hayden’s, Ben Sollee, Billy Strings, Blackberry Smoke, Blade and Bow, Blanton's, Bloody Butcher's Creed, Booker's, Boone County, Bourbon & Beyond, Bowman Brothers, Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot!, Buffalo Trace, Bulleit, Champions Park, Contradiction, Coopers' Craft, Counting Crows, Danny Wimmer Presents, David Byrne, Del McCoury Band, Don Felder, E.H. Taylor, Eagle Rare, Elijah Craig, Elmer T. Lee, Evan Williams, Four Roses, Gov’t Mule, Jefferson's, Jim Beam, Jim Beam Black, JJ Grey & Mofro, John Mayer, Joseph, kaleo, Keb’ Mo’, Kentucky Owl, Knob Creek, Larceny, Larkin Poe, Lenny Kravitz, Magpie Salute, Maker's 46, Maker’s Mark, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Michter’s, Mindi Abair And The Boneshakers, O.K.I., Old Forester, Pappy Van Winkle, Peerless, Rabbit Hole, Rebel Yell, River Whyless, Robert Plant And The Sensational Space Shifters, Rock Hill Farms, Sheryl Crow, Stagg Jr., Sting, Stone Hammer, The Last Bandoleros and Swimming With Bears., The Record Company, The Travelin’ McCourys, W.L. Weller, Wild Turkey, Willett
Louder Than Life Returns and It’s Bigger Than Ever
Hometown Rising Country Music & Bourbon Festival
BOURBON WORLD PRESENTED BY THE LOUISVILLE COURIER-JOURNAL
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Avenged Sevenfold, Limp Bizkit and Papa Roach To Headline Rock Allegiance
Danny Wimmer Presents Announces the New Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival
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Monster Energy’s Welcome to Rockville and Fort Rock Festival Lineups Announced
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Gentlemen Broncos (2009)
Michael Angarano as Benjamin
Jennifer Coolidge as Judith
Halley Feiffer as Tabatha
Hector Jimenez as Lonnie
Sam Rockwell as Bronco/Brutus
Jemaine Clement as Dr. Chevalier
Jared Hess
Jerusha Hess
Action, Comedy, Indie, Thriller
Rated PG-13 for some crude humor
As an amateur collector of the titles of fictional novels in movies, I propose that this one has the worst of all time: Yeast Lords: The Bronco Years. You say you smiled? Me, too, and there are precious few smiles and laughs in "Gentlemen Broncos," which is not a very good movie title, either, although it might work for an X-rated film. The author of Yeast Lords is a teenager named Benjamin, who writes science fiction and idolizes a famous sci-fi novelist named Dr. Ronald Chevalier as much as I once, and still do, admire the Good Doctor Asimov.
Benjamin Purvis (Michael Angarano), the sci-fi obsessed teen, lives in a Buckydome house with his mother, Judith (Jennifer Coolidge), and let's pause right here to observe that Jennifer Coolidge, here and in Werner Herzog's forthcoming "Bad Lieutenant," possesses what I like to think of as the Walken Factor.
That is, Jennifer Coolidge's appearance in any scene immediately inspires our particular interest, because we sense something unexpected and amusing is about to happen. So it was with her iconic appearance as Stifler's Mom in "American Pie" (1999), in which she had the rare honor of inspiring the Internet acronym "MILF." If you doubt me, look it up in Wiktionary. Hard as it is to believe, "MILF" was not used until Stifler's Mom appeared on the scene.
Here she is Purvis' Mom and encourages his budding writing skills by allowing him attend the Cletus Fest, a teenage authors' event, which offers the awesome presence of Dr. Ronald Chevalier (Jemaine Clement). He's a science-fiction author with writer's block, and when Benjamin presses a copy of Yeast Lords: The Bronco Years into his hands, in a moment of desperation, he snatches it up, makes some changes and submits it as his own work.
That sounds, I suppose, as if "Gentlemen Broncos" might tell a good story. Perhaps the Hollywood gurus who advise "story, story story" might add: "But don't stop there." The director, Jared Hess, who made "Napoleon Dynamite," a film I admit I didn't get, has made a film I don't even begin to get. Hess invents good characters: Purvis, Purvis' Mom, Dr. Ronald Chevalier and Tabatha (Halley Feiffer, daughter of the immortal Jules), who is a wannabe romance novelist, as are we all. Mike White turns up toward the end, providing another Walken Factor moment. But then Hess loses them in a jumbled plot that sometimes seems to mystify the characters. A character-driven plot, if it isn't "The Big Lebowski," involves people who know what they want and when they want it.
Benjamin sells the film rights to his work to Tabatha and her friend Lonnie (Hector Jimenez), who is the Masha to her Rupert Pupkin. They plan a production that promises to be a mumblecore version of "Star Wars," and of course there are problems with Dr. Ronald Chevalier.
This film, Benjamin's novel and the doctor's rewrite inspire different versions of the fictional hero under various names, and these fantasy sequences are sometimes amusing, but they seem free-standing and a little forlorn. They do suggest, however, that the worst movie title in history would be Yeast Lords: The Bronco Years: The IMAX Experience.
by Matt Zoller Seitz
Don Verdean
by Susan Wloszczyna
Meet the Writers: Nick Allen
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Dentons campaigns for kids to switch gender without parental approval
Children should be allowed to change their legal gender without the involvement of medical professionals or parents, says Dentons, and the state should take "action" against parents who attempt to intervene.
The recommendations are contained in a report produced by the firm which its authors describe as a "powerful tool for activists".
"Only adults? Good practices in legal gender recognition for youth" advises campaigners to be secretive about the changes they are lobbying to put into law.
The document was written by staff from the firm in conjunction with Thomson Reuters Foundation and LGBT pressure group IGLYO. Its authors include several Dentons trainees and Lamin Khadar, the firm's Pro Bono Manager. A disclaimer states that it "does not necessarily reflect the personal views of any of the lawyers, staff or clients of Dentons".
Mosaic, an LGBT youth group, contributed to the UK portion of the report, as did an unidentified NGO which "wished to remain anonymous".
The report takes as its basis the assumption that everyone has a 'gender identity', which is defined by LGBT charity Stonewall as a person's "innate sense of their own gender, whether male, female or something else, which may or may not correspond to the sex assigned at birth".
Critics say gender identity does not exist other than as a theory. They argue that the concept reinforces male and female stereotypes, because the only way a person can conclude that they have a gender identity which doesn't correspond to their sex is by reference to external gender norms.
Dentons' report states that every child has an accurate conception of their own gender identity which they should be entitled to affirm in law without impediment. "The right to legal gender recognition is crucial for young trans persons to secure all other rights", it states, advising that the UK should "eliminate the minimum age requirement" at which children can change their legal gender "on their own volition, without the need for medical diagnoses or court determination". The document emphasises that there should be "no eligibility criteria, such as medical or psychological interventions".
And UK authorities should “take action” against parents "who are obstructing the free development of a young trans person’s identity in refusing to give parental authorization when required".
Opponents claim that this radical 'affirmation' approach increases the likelihood of sending confused children on a life-changing medical pathway of puberty blockers and irreversible surgery, which they may come to regret.
Dentons' report states that it is "crucial" that there are "no limitations" to "gender confirmation treatment", including “no requirement to be diagnosed with gender dysphoria”.
At the same time, in a section on tactics, the report advises activists to "de-medicalise" their campaigns "so that legal gender recognition can be seen in the eyes of the public as distinct from gender confirmation treatments". It explains that this is because one of the reasons opponents often cite for “denying such access to minors” is the view that “young people should not have irreversible surgeries until they are of the age of maturity".
Campaigners are also warned to "avoid excessive press coverage and exposure", because the "general public is not well informed about trans issues, and therefore misinterpretation can arise". It describes how activists in Ireland "have directly lobbied individual politicians and tried to keep press coverage to a minimum in order to avoid this issue”. Chances of success are increased if activists “target youth politicians" who in successful campaigns elsewhere in Europe 'brought up the issue at every meeting of any sort - even ones which were not directly relevant, to ensure the issue was at the forefront of everyone’s minds."
The report describes how sterilisation of trans people was once a concern in Norway, and that Norwegian campaigners gained traction by arguing that the human rights of trans people were therefore being breached. Although sterilisation is not an issue in the UK, the report advises activists to nonetheless "use human rights as a campaign point" because of the "political stigma of a human rights violation".
Critics of gender self-ID have warned that it will adversely impact women and children in many areas, including rape crisis centres, single-sex hospital wards, women’s sport and identification of discrimination. Dentons' 65-page report characterises their position in two sentences, as concerns which "normally come from women’s groups" about "female prisoners and female public toilets".
Dentons' report also describes critics of gender self-ID as 'TERFs', which began as an acronym for "trans-exclusionary radical feminists" and is understood by many of its targets as a misogynist slur.
When it was asked to comment on aspects of its report, Dentons initially offered up Atanas Politov, its Director for Pro Bono, for an interview. Then it asked for written questions in advance. When these were provided, the world's largest firm by headcount was unable to find anyone prepared to answer them, and gave a general statement instead.
“This report was prepared on a pro bono basis", said Dentons, for which it "offered an analysis of current legal frameworks which regulate gender recognition in several European jurisdictions". Dentons said "the rest of the report was prepared based on interviews with nine different LGBT+ advocacy groups across Europe, who shared their experience in supporting transgender youth and campaigning for LGBT+ rights. These groups provided all opinions on good practices and advocacy, which are contained in the report. Dentons is proud of its work for this and other pro bono clients.”
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Orwell 29 November 19 08:43
I realise lawyers think they know everything about everything, but since when has Dentons become experts on the physiology, psychology and sociology behind sex and gender?
a perfectly normal human being 29 November 19 08:52
Good work Dentons. Good to see law firms picking up the baton of trans rights, an important issue.
GC 29 November 19 09:05
Given their history of sex discrimination it’s pretty clear that Denton’s has problems with women. That they would put their name to this muddle headed but of woke nonsense is further proof of that as well as their general lack of good judgement.
They won’t be getting any instructions or referrals from me.
GC, I bet they’re gutted
Dentons is being very smart:
Step 1: Get law changed to increase number of confused adolescents having surgery
Step 2: wait for class actions as kids realise they were just confused adolescents and why the hell didn’t any adults stop them?
Step 3: profit
mada 29 November 19 09:21
I used to think I would have no issue at all if my young daughter subverted gender norms. I thought I would be delighted. But to my disgust at myself, I am increasingly relieved that she is (so far) adhering to society’s stereotype of what it means to be a girl, because I would now be so worried that she might start thinking she can’t really be a girl if she likes trousers, trucks, short hair and, god forbid, other girls. I am sickened this debate has forced me to that place.
Curiously, 'Anatas Politov' is an anagram of 'Satan, I plot ova'.
It all looks very right-on from a distance. If you don’t read it.
Elsevier 29 November 19 09:50
Good to see a law firm standing up for an unpopular but important cause. Are we really saying that as a 12 or 13 year old, you should not be able to change your legal gender if you want to? Why are we so threatened by that? The fears around this issue seem to be wildly overblown.
What history of sex discrimination GC?
How does the story here prove that they have 'a problem with women?'. It isn't clear from your comment that they do.
Relatively well balanced article given RoFs transphobic bias however it still refers unquestioningly to claims by anti- trans activists that are not supported by the organisations concerned and/ or have been shown by those organisations to be false.
The notion that all parents have their child’s interests at heart is absurd. LGBT kids in particular are frequent victims of parental rejection and abuse.
New slogan: Dentons Is Amazing
Innate knowledge of gender identity my arse. I’ve convinced my son a fat man flies to our house and squeezes down the chimney every year. I’m positive I could convince him he’s a girl inside.
This is a manifesto of faux-progressive ideas lifted straight from tumblr. Where are the grown-ups?
"Step 1: Get law changed to increase number of confused adolescents having surgery"
If you would've actually read the article, you'd know that the report states it sees gender identity as separate from medical treatment and it does not advise any treatment or surgery without permission and/or diagnosis.
Read before you make these sorts of accusations. It's pretty simple.
Let me decide for myself 29 November 19 11:24
Link to report please?
It'd be great if RoF could publish an article about trans people and trans rights without revealing themselves to be raging TERFs but they can't. Oh, sorry, was that a misogynistic slur?
Article refers without context to claims by anti- trans activists that have been proven to false. This is harmful.
Well done Dentons for being a strong supporter of LGBT rights and human rights, as every law firm should be. This article is poorly written and deliberately misleading. People should read the legal report for themselves and not assume that this blogger has understood it or the issues.
Neutral Bystander 29 November 19 11:54
How is the story deliberately misleading anonymous 11.43? I have now read the report and can’t see anything that isn’t taken directly from it.
@11:27 - Yep, that's a misogynstic slur. Hopey helpy.
To 1) Elsevier and to 2) Anonymous at 10.38, 29 who said: '1)Are we really saying that as a 12 or 13 year old, you should not be able to change your legal gender if you want to?' and 2)'The notion that all parents have their child’s interests at heart is absurd. LGBT kids in particular are frequent victims of parental rejection and abuse.'
1) It may be that for some OLDER children, changing their legal gender could be the right step. 2)Parents are sometimes unsupportive of LGBT kids - this is sadly true. However, neither of your two points are relevant to the issue here.
The issue is that they want to take away parental/adult oversight when a child wants to change gender, regardless of their age, parental and expert opinion or other possible issues causing this desire. The report is based on two huge assumptions that (a) Children know for sure what their gender-ID is at a young age and this is unchanging and (b) affirming a child's gender-ID is the best treatment for a child confused about gender and/or suffering from gender dysphoria.
As for (a); lots of children suffer gender dysphoria temporarily, resolving their issues by puberty/after puberty etc. As for (b); many experts argue that this should not be the only option and a non-affirmation wait and watch model of response is safer when dealing with highly impressionable and vulnerable children. Aside from the fact the child may change their mind, they also believe other issues re sexuality, mental health and other co-morbidities should be examined as they are often very relevant.
A legal change is one of the ultimate ways to 'affirm' that child's new gender. I think you fail to understand that the ramifications of a gender-confused/dysphoric child having their gender ID simply affirmed without waiting or looking at other issues first. The point is that this path may well fail to give due consideration to mental health and social issues, and can ultimately lead to puberty blockers (long-term effects unknown), hormone therapy which is taken for the rest of that person's life (again long terms effects not fully known but include sterility, bone density issues etc).
I cannot think of another area where such an important issue that has potentially far-reaching medical and psychological consequences is left up to the child alone, without input from the parents or medical professionals.
BobsUrUncle 29 November 19 12:55
Uhmmm...foot note number 1 in the report: "In this report, by “minors” we generally, but not exclusively, refer to persons between the ages of 16 and 18, as generally legal gender recognition provisions for minors under 18 are limited to minors between 16 and 18. We also refer to “young trans persons” and trans “minors” interchangeably." Title of this article: "Dentons campaigns for kids to switch gender without parental approval" ......
Lik 29 November 19 13:07
Eat bugs, live in pods, and cut your willies off, bigots!
End the Insanity 29 November 19 13:08
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/images/2017/07/James-Woods-tweet-650x782.jpg
So there. 29 November 19 17:59
I didn't read the article but I'm outraged about something.
I don't know what I want but I want it NOW.
Fantastic achievement by a transwoman disowned by her family as a teenager and made homeless as a result. Like so many others all victims of transphobic bigotry.
https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/11/26/rhodes-scholar-trans-woman-transgender-scholarship-university-oxford-migration-tennessee-hera-jay-brown/
Slow-hand clap for 12.15. Congratulations on your role in perpetuating the abuse of LGBT children. You must feel so proud of yourself when you see results like this.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/06/transgender-and-homeless-the-young-people-who-cant-get-the-support-they-need
And for anyone on this board who isn't a titanic bigot and wants to do something to actually help young people who are the victims of parental abuse and rejection here is practical way you can help.
https://www.akt.org.uk/
Gertie 29 November 19 22:08
Dear Bobsuncle. The report does define minors as 16-18 year olds. You are entirely correct.
Well almost. Actually it defines them as follows (emphasis mine):
“1 In this report, by “minors” we generally, but not exclusively, refer to persons between the ages of 16 and 18, as generally legal gender recognition provisions for minors under 18 are limited to minors between 16 and 18.”
So minors doesn’t necessarily mean people as old as 16. And the definition explicitly states that that age bracket is used because it is the basis of existing laws relating to legal gender recognition, not because the report thinks that age bracket is appropriate for legal gender recognition.
But, more importantly, the report does not limit its recommendations to minors (16-18). I quote [emphasis mine]:
(This one is pretty much at the top of the report - surprised you missed it, bud!):
“GOOD PRACTICES IN INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS
2. Eliminate the minimum age requirement.”
Yup. Get rid of it. Says it right there...get rid of age requirements for gender self-ID. In the report. Why would you try to obfuscate this? If you think it’s ok, stand by it. Be you, dude. But don’t say it’s not in the report. It’s the freaking title of a section. It’s right there. ELIMINATE THE MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT.
And just in case, this is from a bit later:
“1. Quick and affordable access to legal gender recognition based on the model of self- determination
...it is generally recognised that minors need additional support and care when going through such processes.31
31 TGEU suggests that there is no explicit age restriction for minors for changing their legal gender only when there are no other abusive requirements such as sterilisation, GID /medical diagnosis or surgical/medical intervention. TGEU does not consider parental consent to be such an abusive requirement.”
Translation: ideally, kids of any age should be able to change legal gender without parental consent.
Please don’t mistake this audience for non-lawyers. We’re bright, we are anal, we see what you’re doing.
‘Eliminate the minimum age requirement’ is pretty clear. They are right to say ‘kids’, in that case? Unless I’m misreading the report? Happy to be corrected.
19:11 did you read 12:15’s comment?
Where does the comment say LGBT kids should have less support. In fact the comment says kids with gender dysphoria need a wider variety and more in depth support eg looking at the child holistically, looking at mental health and so on, giving a choice of treatment, listening to the child to examine other potential causes, any related issues...
Why cast a baseless aspersion without saying what you disagree with about the comment or the article - it helps no one and doesn’t add to the discussion.
Bobsuncle 29 November 19 22:59
Working pretty hard to make that point aren’t you? What is the more obvious way to read the meaning of the report?
Sharpie 29 November 19 23:17
How exactly would you define “youth”? In the bloody title of the report. And then this article refers to “children”? Ughh. If that’s not intentionally misleading I don’t know what is. Scaremongering. Plain and simple.
Dear boburuncle
I mean. WHAT
its the title of the blooming chapter
if you think kids of any age should be able to change their legal gender, cool. Fine.
If you think they need to be 16+, awesome.
But why are you trying to argue that the report says they have to be 16+?
it literally says ELIMINATE THE MINIMUM AGE REQUIREMENT.
It’s such a weird position to take, to say the report doesn’t say what it clearly says.
Why defend the report? Just say what you believe .
Also, i’m really not working hard to prove it. I mean, I guess I took the time to correct you. But to suggest that that makes my point invalid is
weak.
sauce.
Just ban Mumsnet now 30 November 19 06:29
TERF is not a misogynist slur, and if you "understand" it that way then you "understand" it wrong and should make more effort to "understand" words properly. TERFs are exactly what the term suggests and they represent a fringe agenda comparable in its aggressive reactionary fervour to the incels. Goodness knows why ROF has decided to take their side (for the record, this article was anything but "balanced").
https://terfisaslur.com/
It does seem to be a slur? You prove it yourself by comparing terfs to incels.
Btw, ordering women to ‘understand’ offensive words as acceptable is classic gaslighting coercive behaviour.
“Eliminate the minimum age limit” translates into “children changing gender against parents will” (as implied by the picture in the article) only for the most paranoid of mind....
Yes indeed, 'incel' is a misandrist slur.
Anonymous 02 December 19 07:10
Anon 15:03 incel is a label people apply to themselves. It's not a slur.
Not always anon 07.10, it is often used as name-calling. It is a slur.
Why does the report advise smuggling through the law changes without public scrutiny or debate? That appears very anti-democratic to me and begs the question why.
The figleaf of ‘it’s too complicated for the plebs’ is outrageous and, dare I say, rather authoritarian. Which is odd considering this is touted as being a woke and progressive agenda.
You could make the argument that a law firm advocating changing the law behind a ‘veil of secrecy’ brings the profession into disrepute and should be prosecuted by the SRA.
Unfortunately the SRA is advised by Stonewall and promoted Mermaids, so I am not confident they have the independence necessary to properly judge whether to bring such a case. What do you do if the regulator is compromised like this?
Jacob Rees-Mugg 03 December 19 23:15
Wot about are sovringty?
okay 04 December 19 07:11
Anonymous @ 15:33 - what do you think the public affairs practice groups of law firms are doing for their corporate clients? In Brussels, London and DC? Do you have the faintest idea what corporate lobbying looks like? How it works in practice? Wake up and smell the coffee sweetie. Study the role of law firms in the tobacco industry or banking or tech. Why shouldn’t NGOs take a leaf out of the only playbook that actually works.
21.58 an authoritarian streak in the woke and progressive agenda? Colour me shocked
Dearie 05 December 19 10:16
What on earth is going on with the voting/like buttons? Clicked the article and nearly all posts had automatically been up or down voted.
My only 2p on this debate is that gender 'fluidity' (or whatever the acceptable name is) relies upon reinforcing old fashioned gender stereotypes: kid A born a girl likes trucks, fighting and doesn't like pink things etc and likes being 'a boy' doesn't mean kid A wants to identify as a boy - it just means kid A is not confined by typical female gender stereotypes.
Matt Osborne 05 December 19 19:39
So basically, the gender police want to shove kids down the medicalization pathway while simultaneously removing medicalization requirements for adults. So if you make a grown-ass man take T-blockers in order to compete in women's sports, it's inhumane, but if you gie those same drugs to a 9 year-old without even telling their parents first, it's stunning and woke and brave.
This is a disaster in the making. Progressive politics will be set back a century for having endorsed this and reactionary elements will exploit the damage for decades.
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New Sea-Doo platform brings the rider onboard experience to the next level
Added comfort, integrated audio and smarter storage on select models
New hull sets the industry benchmark for stability at rest and at speed
Sea-Doo SPARK TRIXX 3-UP added to playful Rec Lite family
Dallas, Texas, Sept. 20, 2017 – BRP (TSX:DOO) announces an entirely new platform for select models in its 2018 Sea-Doo lineup of personal watercraft. With BRP’s obsession to provide the best consumer experience possible, this innovative platform transforms the onboard experience and extends the possibilities of activities riders can do with a Sea-Doo personal watercraft. The new platform, which sets the industry benchmark for its stability and control, is available on seven models across the Sea-Doo GTX, RXT and WAKE PRO families.
To ensure consumers maximum comfort, the new personal watercraft has a smart reconfigurable rear seat that transforms the watercraft into an onboard living room. It changes quickly from a 3-seat configuration to a flat lounge area, where two people can face each other for a picnic lunch. When removed, the larger, flatter rear deck makes reboarding easier and more stable. Now people can enjoy more time on the water to relax and soak in the surroundings.
Adding to the onboard experience is the industry’s first manufacturer-installed, truly waterproof, Bluetooth audio system. With a simple swipe of a finger, riders can now enjoy their favorite playlists on this powerful stereo while relaxing on their PWC rear deck, for a full experience. There is also improved storage to allow people to enjoy longer-period on the water and have a full day of fun. The storage includes a waterproof, shockproof compartment for a phone with USB charger, as well as direct-access front storage with no standing required.
“This new Sea-Doo platform brings the personal watercraft to the next level,” said Bernard Guy, SVP Global Product Strategy at BRP. “Everything was ingeniously designed and built to enhance the consumer experience on water. Riding a Sea-Doo watercraft is fun, with this new platform, we extend the exhilaration.”
The platform stability and control
The new platform’s stability and control starts with a lower center of gravity, which provides more confidence in rough water, at high speeds, and with three passengers*. It is also wider for easier reboarding and movement around the watercraft. Combine those with a new, deep-V hull that increases performance in rough water and provides better control while cornering, and you’ve got the best of all worlds.
In addition to the new platform, BRP also unveiled a Sea-Doo SPARK TRIXX 3-UP with extended seat and rear platform. It maintains the same level of fun as the hugely-successful 2-UP model launched last year, but with an additional passenger and tow sports capability. Pulling off tricks is so easy and so much fun across the entire lineup, you’ll never want the day to end. Simply put, it’s the most versatile entry-level watercraft ever built.
There are additional enhancements across the entire 2018 Sea-Doo family, including Performance, Luxury, Tow Sports, and Recreation segments. Find out more about the complete 2018 lineup, including product specs and additional technical information, at www.seadoo.com.
With the widest selection of models in the industry, BRP offers the right Sea-Doo to fit any adventure, at a price that makes it possible**.
Follow Sea-Doo and the #SEADOOLIFE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/seadoo and on Instagram and Twitter @brpseadoo.
*Based on BRP internal testing
**Based on information found on manufacturers websites
BRP (TSX:DOO) is a global leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of powersports vehicles and propulsion systems. Its portfolio includes Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft, Can-Am off-road and Spyder vehicles, Evinrude and Rotax marine propulsion systems as well as Rotax engines for karts, motorcycles and recreational aircraft. BRP supports its line of products with a dedicated parts, accessories and clothing business. With annual sales of CA$4.2 billion from over 100 countries, the Company employs approximately 8,700 people worldwide.
www.brp.com
@BRPNews
Ski-Doo, Lynx, Sea-Doo, Evinrude, Rotax, Can-Am, Spyder, GTX, RXT, WAKE PRO, SPARK, TRIXX and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
+43 7246 / 601 2202 andrea.veitschegger@brp.com
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Intoxicating Behaviors: 300 Vaginas = A Lot of Dopamine
Why Are Porn and Junk Food So Tempting?
Almost monthly, new research confirms that food can cause drug-like brain changes. Food and sex are known as "natural reinforcers." That is, they aren't drugs, but our brains light up for them so we reach for more without thinking.
Still, the concept that "food can cause obesity because it is like a drug" is perplexing. After all, our rather buff ancestors ate a lot, and quite evidently were enthusiastic about sex. Yet becoming dangerously hooked didn't seem to be much of a risk. Didn't their brains light up for food and sex? Yes, of course. The difference is that they weren't surrounded by superstimulating, synthetic versions of food and sex. We are, and it is a relatively recent hazard.
Think about it. How many of your ancestors had easy access to tasty munchies that were ready-to-eat, available cheaply in endless variety, and carefully laced with fat, sugar and salt to keep them coming back for more? How many had computers on which they could click to an unending stream of hyper-stimulating erotic videos, featuring real, novel mates, writhing with desire (perceived by a primitive part of the brain as genetic opportunities)—and, when appetite flagged, a cornucopia of ever kinkier videos?
Pornography? It's a new synaptic pathway. You wake up in the morning, open a thumbnail page, and it leads to a Pandora's box of visuals. There have probably been days when I saw 300 vaginas before I got out of bed.—John Mayer, musician
The extreme stimulation of today's enticements can hijack our brains. There's no way John Mayer would view the same vagina 300 times before rising if, say, he only had a porn magazine, or even a woman. Constant novelty-plus-erotica is riveting. His brain releases more dopamine with each new image, even as it shuts down key nerve cell receptors (to drive him to binge). He is tricked into valuing his pussy panorama even above 3-D stimuli.
PLAYBOY: You'd rather jerk off to an ex-girlfriend than meet someone new?
MAYER: Yeah.... Internet pornography has absolutely changed my generation's expectations. How could you be constantly synthesizing an orgasm based on dozens of shots? You're looking for the one ... out of 100 you swear is going to be the one you finish to, and you still don't finish. Twenty seconds ago you thought that photo was the hottest thing you ever saw, but you throw it back and continue your shot hunt and continue to make yourself late for work. How does that not affect the psychology of having a relationship with somebody? It's got to.
This is how food and sex, which throughout evolution have generally contributed to our well-being and led naturally to warm feelings of satiety, morph into drug-like and addictive superstimuli that don't. When we plunge in, we fall for enticements that are not especially valuable, and sometimes risky. Not only can they steal our attention from soothing connections with real people (and nutritional food), they can actually hook us.
Who's at risk for addiction to natural reinforcers?
Most addiction research focuses on substance abuse, not addiction to natural reinforcers. It reveals that only a minority of us ("novelty-seekers" and "impulsives") are genetically susceptible to substance abuse, due to low dopamine receptors in different regions of the brain's reward circuitry. (Dopamine is the "Gotta get it!" neurochemical, and the reward circuitry is the brain pathway that drives all appetites and motivation.)
So, are the rest of us safe from addiction? When it comes to substance abuse, perhaps yes. Yet when it comes to unrestricted access to superstimulating natural reinforcers, the answer may be no, although certainly not everyone gets hooked. The reason hyper-stimulating versions of food and sex can hook us—even if we're not otherwise susceptible to addiction—is that our reward circuitry evolved to drive us toward food and sex, not drugs.
Take food. If you binge on hyper-stimulating foods (say, concentrated fat and refined sugar) it can cause changes that resemble the brain changes seen in substance abusers. This happens in rats, too, and not just in the novelty-seeking, impulsive minority. Nearly all the animals that were offered unrestricted access to goodies like bacon, sausage, cheesecake, pound cake, Ding Dongs and frosting couldn't stop binging and became obese.
Almost immediately, dopamine receptors dropped in their brains, which drove the rats to binge, and ensured they would later experience less stimulation from normal chow. Other changes, such as a numbed pleasure response, worsened over time. Two weeks after scientists returned them to rat chow, the rats' brains still hadn't recovered. In fact, when confronted with a diet of normal chow, they chose to starve for a time rather than eat it. (Full study)
It makes sense for mammals to have a built-in mechanism that can override feelings of satiety. They must "get it while the getting is good": storing calories when fruit is ripe, gorging before hibernation, swallowing a kill before the competition shows up, and so forth.
"Not found in nature"
The binge-to-obesity phenomenon, however, doesn't show up unless mammals, including humans, shift to diets that don't exist in nature: unrestricted starches and sugars.
Although obesity has been increasing among all Americans in recent decades, it has skyrocketed on Indian reservations since the 1960's. The [starchy] commodity and fast food diet is the opposite of what Indians ate until recent generations: ... [In contrast,] high protein and saturated fat food [bison, elk, antelope, deer, with some berries, nuts and roots] seemed to serve the tribe well.
Native Americans aren't the only ones bulging, however. Nearly two-thirds of most Westerners are overweight, and 30+ percent of Americans obese. This is especially telling because, unlike rats, we care about our waistlines, which keeps some of us in check even in the face of severe temptation.
The regions of the brain that change in response to superstimulating food also govern sexual appetite. So, are today's sexual superstimuli, like today's junk food, causing drug-like changes in the brain's reward circuitry? They certainly constitute a sexual diet not found in nature. So far, no one seems to be able to do the necessary research. However, the symptoms heavy porn users complain of could logically be explained by the same brain changes observed in rats with unrestricted access to super-goodies. (Incidentally, rats and humans are distant relatives, and share the same primitive brain mechanisms for appetite and addiction.)
Just as rats binge on exciting food, porn users often binge on porn. Many users report that they are unable to stop or control their viewing, not unlike Sooty the guinea pig, who "got it while the getting was good" when he broke into a cage full of females.
Users also frequently notice numbed sensitivity to pleasure (probably from lower dopamine receptors), which shows up as skyrocketing libido, that is, a need for more frequent stimulation (more dopamine) to self-medicate restlessness or anxiety. Often they require more extreme material to achieve climax, develop erectile dysfunction, or discover that sex with a willing partner doesn't satisfy them (leading back to supplemental, or perhaps exclusive) porn use.
Heavy users also sometimes report obsessive-compulsive behaviors, depression, severe stress at the thought of socializing, and concentration problems. And users who try to stop viewing porn report lingering withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, insomnia, mood swings, splitting headaches, anxiety, depression, lethargy, foggy thinking, stomach pains, disturbing dreams, flu-like symptoms, and a strong desire to strangle someone. These symptoms suggest that their brains are indeed struggling with brain changes common to addiction. Porn recovery sites are springing up all over the Web.
Here's the key point: Most people don't abuse substances because they haven't tried them, don't get much of a buzz, or find the effects aversive. But who doesn't like sweets or sexual arousal? And who doesn't like an especially tempting treat or hyper-arousing visual—especially if his brain's pleasure response is numb from over-stimulation? Our brains are more vulnerable than we currently believe.
When does a stimulus put us at risk for slipping into excess?
Danger lurks when something:
registers as an unnaturally "valuable" version of a thing that our ancestors (and we) evolved to find irresistible,
is available conveniently in limitless supply (not found in nature),
comes in lots of varieties (novelty), and
we binge without realizing it is triggering brain changes.
As we've seen, junk food fits this model. So does free Internet porn. Yet porn poses unique risks. Food sets limits on consumption: stomach capacity and the natural aversion that kicks when we can't face one more bite of something. But there are no physical limits on Internet porn consumption, other than the need for sleep and bathroom breaks. One can "edge" to porn for hours without climaxing and without aversion kicking in...hours of supranormal neurochemical stimulation of the appetite mechanisms of the brain. Each click to a novel video "violates our expectations" with something new and exciting, releasing more and more dopamine into the brain.
Intense arousal produces a more exciting buzz of neurochemicals than cheesecake—one which is therefore more reinforcing. That is, the brain more thoroughly wires together all associated cues, making repetition of the experience in the future more automatic. Moreover, heavy porn use sometimes discourages the user's pursuit of friendly interaction with others, which would help regulate the brain naturally. Also absent are factors that once protected our ancestors against over-stimulation. There are no jealous mates, wise elders, or social taboos, and often no sexual partners with their own ideas. Porn use seems risk-free because it's private and virtual.
Alas, not only are most of us unaware that today's hyper-stimulating sexual goodies can put our brains at risk for the changes associated with addiction, we're also up against a powerful meme in today's culture. It proclaims that, "Any kind of orgasm-promoting behavior is inherently so healthy that we must vigorously deny the growing evidence of the risks inherent in unlimited access to today's sexual superstimuli."
Is this sound thinking? If our brains have evolved to drive us toward food and sex, shouldn't we be a bit more cautious about inundating ourselves with hyper-stimulating versions of them? Already, about 17% of individuals who view porn on the Internet meet criteria for sexual compulsivity. That translates to a lot of people, given that about 12% of all the Internet traffic is porn and nearly 90% of the young male population (about 30% of the young female population) view pornography," says Professor Steven C. Hayes.
‹ Human Brains Are Built to Fall in Love up Masturbation, Fantasy and Captivity ›
Submitted by DeanTM on Fri, 2010-11-26 04:22
The last quote, by Professor S C Hayes... where does it start? it ends after "...view pornography".
That's the end
of this post. Kind of abrupt, eh?
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December 6, 2019 / 11:06 AM / a month ago
White House tells Democrats it will not participate in Trump impeachment hearing
Steve Holland, David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday it would refuse to take part in hearings in the U.S. House of Representatives set for next week that will consider what articles of impeachment to bring against President Donald Trump.
In a letter to Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, White House counsel Pat Cipollone called the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry “completely baseless” and said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had ordered Democrats to proceed with articles of impeachment “before your committee has heard a single shred of evidence.”
“We don’t see any reason to participate because the process is unfair,” said a senior administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We haven’t been given any fair opportunity to participate. The speaker has already announced the predetermined result and they will not give us the ability to call any witnesses.”
Nadler rejected that criticism and expressed disappointment, saying in a statement: “The American people deserve answers from President Trump.”
Pelosi on Thursday asked the Judiciary Committee to draw up articles of impeachment - formal charges - against the Republican president. The committee could draft and recommend the articles by next Thursday and the full Democratic-led House could vote on them by Christmas, imperiling Trump’s presidency as his 2020 re-election campaign looms.
Pelosi in September launched the impeachment inquiry into Trump’s request that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face the president in the 2020 U.S. election.
Republicans want Hunter Biden, Rep. Schiff and whistleblower to testify on impeachment
White House tells Congress it will refuse to participate in impeachment hearings
“House Democrats have wasted enough of America’s time with this charade,” Cipollone’s letter said. “You should end this inquiry now and not waste even more time with additional hearings.”
He quoted Trump as saying, “If you are going to impeach me, do it now, fast, so we can have a fair trial in the Senate, and so that our country can get back to business.”
Trump has made clear his lawyers will present a defense in the Republican-controlled Senate, where he believes he will receive fair treatment.
Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee, who had also faced a Friday deadline to identify witnesses they want to call before the panel, submitted a list of eight, including Biden’s son, Hunter, the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment inquiry and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who led the Ukraine probe.
House Republicans had already sought testimony before the Intelligence Committee from three people on the list - the whistleblower, Hunter Biden and Biden’s former business associate Devon Archer. But they were turned down by Schiff and will likely receive the same response from Nadler, a Democrat.
Though Nadler did not immediately respond to the Republican witness requests, he said of Trump’s refusal to participate: “Having declined this opportunity, he cannot claim that the process is unfair. The President’s failure will not prevent us from carrying out our solemn constitutional duty.”
President Donald Trump listens while participating in a "roundtable on small business and red tape reduction accomplishments" in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington, U.S. December 6, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
TRUMP MEETS FRIDAY DEADLINE
Nadler had given Trump until 5 p.m. on Friday to decide whether he or his legal counsel would participate in upcoming committee proceedings.
Trump, who denied any wrongdoing, thus far has refused to cooperate with the inquiry and ordered current and former administration officials not to testify or provide documents.
Nadler has scheduled a committee hearing for Monday. His committee is responsible for drafting articles of impeachment and would have to approve them before sending them to the full House for a vote.
Passage of formal charges would lead to a trial in the Republican-led Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. Senate Republicans have given little indication they would support Trump’s removal.
Pelosi accused Trump of abusing his power by asking a foreign government to interfere in an American election for his own political benefit at the expense of U.S. national security. The articles of impeachment could include abuse of power, bribery, obstruction of Congress and obstruction of justice.
Republicans accuse Democrats of conducting a politically motivated witch hunt aimed at ousting Trump using an unfair impeachment process.
The probe is focusing on a July 25 telephone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter, and into a discredited theory promoted by Trump and his allies that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 U.S. election.
Hunter Biden joined the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma while his father was vice president. Trump has accused the Bidens of corruption. They have denied wrongdoing and the allegations have not been substantiated.
Democrats also have accused Trump of abusing his power by withholding $391 million in congressionally approved security aid to Ukraine - a vulnerable U.S. ally facing Russian aggression - and holding back a coveted White House meeting with Zelenskiy as leverage to pressure Kiev into investigating the Bidens.
Trump is the fourth U.S. president to face impeachment proceedings. None were removed from office, although Richard Nixon resigned as he faced almost certain impeachment in 1974 over the Watergate scandal.
Reporting by Steve Holland, Susan Cornwell and David Morgan, Additional reporting by Doina Chicu and Patricia Zengerle; Writing by Will Dunham, Steve Holland and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Bill Berkrot and Cynthia Osterman
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The volunteers
Imperial War Museum, London
Tameside Local Studies Centre
Richard Baxell
Historian, lecturer, author
Aragon & the Ebro 2015
Aragon, 2014
Aye Write!
London Welsh Centre
Guernica 75
On Channel 4
Review of James Matthews’ Reluctant Warriors
Within Britain, popular knowledge of the Spanish civil war usually centres on the internationalisation of the conflict; the support of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy for General Franco and the involvement of the volunteers of the International Brigades in support of the Spanish Republic. However, it should be remembered that foreigners only ever made up a small proportion of those fighting in Spain; most were Spaniards and a huge number were conscripts. Therefore the publication of Reluctant Warriors, James Matthews’ examination of the experiences of these ordinary Spaniards drafted into the armies of both sides, is to be thoroughly welcomed.
For the full review, please see the English Historical Review 2014, issue 129, pp. 761–763.
rbaxell
Return to the Ebro battlefields
In July 1938 the Spanish Republican Army confounded many around the world – not least those in Franco’s Spain – who considered it a spent force, by launching a huge and ambitious attack back across the River Ebro. Fighting alongside the Spanish soldiers of the 80 000 strong Republican Army of the Ebro were a number of English-speaking volunteers, within the 15 International Brigade. Drawn mainly from Britain, the USA and Canada, the brigade also included volunteers from Ireland, Australia and from a number of other countries around the world.
British officers at Hill 481 in July-August 1938. Photograph © Stefany Tomalin.
Fighting in the full, glaring heat of the Spanish summer, lacking food and water and severely outgunned and outnumbered, the members of the British Battalion of the 15 International Brigade fought in a number of vicious battles between July and September 1938. On Hill 481 near Gandesa, on Hill 666 in the Sierra Pandols and Hill 356 in the Sierra Caballs, the British were bombed, shelled and attacked remorselessly by Franco’s forces and his German and Italian allies. On 23 September 1938 on the battalion’s final action on the road just north of the village of Corbera d’Ebre, the last remaining members of the battalion were virtually overrun.
At 1 a.m. the following morning the order finally arrived withdrawing the foreign volunteers of the International Brigades from the line. In its final forty-eight hours’ fighting, some two hundred members of the British Battalion were killed, wounded or missing. It was a tragic and heart-breaking end to their time in Spain, though, in many ways, a fitting final act. Despite their unquestionable bravery, the men in the British Battalion were simply outnumbered and outgunned. Raw courage and a belief in the essential ‘rightness’ of their cause ‘could not overcome inexperience, poor coordination and superior military force’.
Map of British involvement in the Ebro offensive, 25 July to 23 September 1938
The tough Scottish political commissar Peter Kerrigan later described his shock at this terrible outcome of the last action:
“I could give dozens of individual acts of heroism but what is the use. The list of citations which I enclose, tells in brief official terms of the acts of deathless glory which were played out against a background of the cutting to pieces of our very bravest. I saw what No. 1 Coy. came through at Córdoba and I will never forget when I was told what our casualties were in those first 3 days at Jarama. But nothing can compare with the end of our battalion.”
In September 2013 a group of friends and families of the International Brigades returned to Catalonia to remember the sacrifices made all those years ago. The trip was organised by Duncan Longstaff, a trustee of the International Brigades Memorial Trust assisted by Almudena Cros, Severiano Montero and Vicente González of AABI, the Spanish Friends of the International Brigades. While IBMT members from the UK made up the majority of the group, there were also participants from Ireland, the United States, Australia, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Besides visiting battle sites of particular significance to the English-speaking 15 International Brigade, the trip to Catalonia also included the unveiling of two memorials to the volunteers and the laying of flowers and a wreath at the site of the British Battalion’s final action in Spain.
Representatives of the IBMT with past and present mayors of La Bisbal de Falset in front of the new plaque
The first memorial to be unveiled was a new plaque dedicated to the British members of the medical services who worked in the former cave hospital in La Bisbal de Falset during the summer of 1938. Here, British members of the Republican medical services struggled in almost impossible conditions to treat those wounded in the bitter fighting. During the Ebro offensive everything had to be carried across pontoon bridges by lorry, or ferried across in boats during the night, so the facilities were necessarily limited. Serious casualties had to be taken back across the river to the improvised cave hospital set up by Dr. Len Crome, the commander of the medical services for the Republican 35 Division, in Falset. British doctors and nurses, such as Len Saxton and Patience Darton, worked around the clock, with the desperate shortages of materials forcing them to improvise and develop innovative treatments. Allied soldiers fighting in the Second World War would benefit greatly from lessons learned in Spain in areas such as casualty management, blood transfusions and the treatment of fractures.
View looking into the church in Corbera d’Ebre. Note the installation in the foreground and the IBMT’s exhibition behind. Photo © Jim Jump 2013.
The plaque at Corbera d’Ebre
The second unveiling was of a new memorial dedicated to those killed in the final last action of the British Battalion in Spain. The plaque is situated in the old village of Corbera d’Ebre, which remains virtually in the condition it was at the end of the civil war. In amongst the ruins lies the village’s former church, now converted into a dramatic space for gatherings, exhibitions and commemorations. At the time of the ceremony held on 24 September 2013, the former church was hosting a strikingly poignant art installation comprised of suspended roof tiles, caught as if at the moment of an explosion. Behind the artwork, further within the building, lay the IBMT Antifascistas exhibition, shown for the first time in Spain. The exhibition will remain in the church until November 2013.
After a ceremony held within the church came the final event of the day and, for many, of the trip itself, with the laying of flowers and wreath at the position of the battalion’s final stand, some 4 kilometres north of Corbera.
Memorial wreaths and flowers laid at the site of the 15 International Brigade’s last action in Spain on 23 September 1938
There are more photographs of the 2013 visit to the Ebro here. There is also a great slideshow of Jim Jump’s photographs of the event in Corbera on Andrew Wiard’s website. More information about the Corbera monument itself and the dedication ceremony can be found on the IBMT’s blog.
Unless otherwise stated, all photographs are © Richard Baxell 2013.
Remembering Harold Bernard Collins
Review of Graham Davies’ ‘You Are Legend’
Charlie Hutchison: the only black Briton in the International Brigades
Review of Enrique Moradiellos’s Franco: Anatomy of a Dictator
Geoffrey Servante – the gambling gunner
Erek T Sanchez on Review of Enrique Moradiellos’s Franco: Anatomy of a Dictator
rbaxell on The Malcolm Dunbar papers
LS on The Malcolm Dunbar papers
Abraham Lincoln Battalion Albacete Angela Jackson Antifascistas Barcelona British Anti-Tank Battery British Battalion British volunteers Brunete Communist Party Daniel Gray Ebro Ernest Hemingway For Whom The Bell Tolls Franco George Orwell Gerda Taro Guernica Helen Graham Homage to Catalonia Hywel Francis IBA IBMT International Brigades Irish volunteers Jarama Jim Jump John Cornford La Pasionaria Len Crome London Lydia Syson Madrid Manchester Marx Memorial Library Paul Preston Peter Carroll POUM Second World War Spanish Civil War Spanish Holocaust Syria The Guardian Tom Buchanan Unlikely Warriors
Biographies & obituaries (21)
@RichardBaxell
@RichardBaxell 15 January, 2020
Everybody knows a guy like this. twitter.com/ImogenWK/statu…
Neither of which you can ever be accused of. twitter.com/BorisJohnson/s…
The Dambusters and the 1966 World Cup final playing back to back on the big screen. twitter.com/snowcarillon/s…
And so they bloody well should. theguardian.com/environment/20…
Anyone know a classical radio station that's somewhere between Radio 3 (Wagner's Ring Cycle for breakfast) and Clas… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Sunday 8 March 2020, 1900-22.30, Oxford. 'Comrades Come Rally': A celebration in words and music of the Oxfordshire… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Please somebody, make him stop. twitter.com/BorisJohnson_M…
British & the Spanish Civil War: full bibliography
List of talks and lectures
The Imperial War Museum’s Spanish Civil War Collection
The Manchester Studies interviews at Tameside Local Studies Centre
© Copyright Richard Baxell 2012-2014
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The Richardson School
The Richardson School is an option for school, in your local community, that works to not only stabilize your child’s behavior in a therapeutic setting, but also help them thrive academically. Our goal is simple; provide students the skills they need to function effectively and return to their home environment.
An Effective, Positive Educational Alternative
If your child is struggling within his or her current school or educational environment, The Richardson School may be the answer. The Richardson School is a therapeutic day school located in your community that specializes in working with children, adolescents and young adults who have diagnoses of developmental/neurological disabilities, and behavioral and emotional issues.
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We at The Richardson School believe that a normal school setting is vital to the learning process, which is why our school offers all the amenities of a traditional school, but with specialized educational, behavioral, and social supports.
Located in 4 Wisconsin communities, Beloit, Brookfield, Madison and West Allis, our schools feature amenities that include large classrooms, sensory rooms, student fitness areas, outdoor playgrounds, gymnasiums, cafeterias and a mix of both traditional textbook curriculum and cutting-edge technology such as in classroom computer instruction, iPads, student laptops and smart boards in every class.
Our goal is simple: To provide students the skills they need to function effectively and successfully, and return to their home school environment as soon as possible.
Download school calendar – PDF Format Download
Bobcat Camp
The Richardson School is proud to offer Bobcat Camp, a summer recreation program which stresses learning opportunities and community-integration experiences.
Download Current Issue of Bobcat Beat Newsletter
Bobcat Beat Newsletter Past Issues
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Heart of Italy in 9 Days Tour 2020
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Optional Single Supplement $575
Tight on time? This tour is Rick's personal "best of" distillation of our Best of Italy tour. Beginning with the "must-see" sights of the Eternal City of Rome, your Rick Steves guide will help you experience the very heart of this remarkable country: the Tuscan hill-town ambience of Volterra, the pedestrian-friendly streets of Lucca, harbor-hugging villages of the Cinque Terre, and the amazing art of Renaissance Florence. Along the way, you'll enjoy Italy's distinctive culture, wine, and cuisine. Join us for the Heart of Italy in 9 Days!
Mar 8–Mar 16 (Su–Mo)
$2,395 + Air
Mar 22–Mar 30 (Su–Mo)
Apr 1–Apr 9 (We–Th)
Apr 17–Apr 25 (Fr–Sa)
Apr 19–Apr 27 (Su–Mo)
Apr 22–Apr 30 (We–Th)
Apr 26–May 4 (Su–Mo)
May 3–May 11 (Su–Mo)
May 8–May 16 (Fr–Sa)
May 10–May 18 (Su–Mo)
May 13–May 21 (We–Th)
May 15–May 23 (Fr–Sa)
May 24–Jun 1 (Su–Mo)
May 29–Jun 6 (Fr–Sa)
Jun 3–Jun 11 (We–Th)
Jun 7–Jun 15 (Su–Mo)
Jun 12–Jun 20 (Fr–Sa)
Jun 14–Jun 22 (Su–Mo)
Jun 26–Jul 4 (Fr–Sa)
Jul 5–Jul 13 (Su–Mo)
Jul 10–Jul 18 (Fr–Sa)
Jul 12–Jul 20 (Su–Mo)
Aug 16–Aug 24 (Su–Mo)
Sep 2–Sep 10 (We–Th)
Sep 6–Sep 14 (Su–Mo)
Sep 13–Sep 21 (Su–Mo)
Sep 18–Sep 26 (Fr–Sa)
Sep 23–Oct 1 (We–Th)
Sep 25–Oct 3 (Fr–Sa)
Sep 27–Oct 5 (Su–Mo)
Oct 4–Oct 12 (Su–Mo)
Oct 11–Oct 19 (Su–Mo)
Oct 23–Oct 31 (Fr–Sa)
A small, friendly group of 24–28 people — half the size of most tour groups
Full-time services of a professional Rick Steves guide and local experts who will make the fascinating history, art, and culture of Italy come alive for you
All tours and admissions — at no extra cost — covering at least 15 group sightseeing events • Ancient Rome walking tour • Colosseum • Roman Forum • Pantheon • Evening walk through Rome including Trevi Fountain • Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel • Volterra walking tour • Guarnacci Etruscan Museum • Alabaster workshop • Wine tasting • Lucca walking tour • Orientation for "vacation" day in the Cinque Terre • Renaissance Florence walking tour • Florence's Accademia (Michelangelo's David) • Uffizi Gallery…and more
All group transportation from Rome to Florence
8 nights' accommodations in memorable, centrally located hotels
All breakfasts and half your dinners
All tips for guides and driver
A tour kit including a guidebook (or books) and a moneybelt
Guaranteed tour price, locked in the moment you make your deposit
Optional single supplements — this tour has a limited number of private rooms for solo travelers for an additional fee
Tour alum discount of $50 for each tour you've taken prior to 2020
50% discount on a consulting appointment with our in-house experts to assist with your pre- or post-tour travel plans
Flexibility should you need to transfer or cancel your tour
Fine print: You are responsible for the cost of your drinks and free-time sightseeing. See our Tour Conditions for important details regarding everything listed above.
Daily Activity Key
Light = 2–4 miles of mostly level walking throughout the day.
Moderate = 2–6 miles walking throughout the day with some hills and stairs.
Strenuous = 2–8 miles walking throughout the day with lots of hills, stairs, and uneven terrain.
Day 1: Welcome to Italy
We'll have a get-acquainted meeting at 3 p.m. at our hotel in Rome. After an orientation walk through our neighborhood, we'll learn about the city's transportation system. Then we'll enjoy a fountain-splashing, dolce vita trek through the heart of Rome, soaking up the city's evening ambience at the classy Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, and the remarkably preserved, 2,000-year-old Pantheon before enjoying our first Italian dinner together at a favorite restaurant. Sleep in Rome (2 nights). No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 2: The Vatican Museums
Today we'll focus on Renaissance (Catholic) Rome. With your smart-phone in hand and the Rick Steves Audio Europe™ app, Rick’s voice will guide you through the treasures of the Vatican Museums to the stunning grand finale: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. You'll have the rest of your day free to continue your modern-day pilgrimage at the greatest church in Christendom: the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica, home to Michelangelo's sublime Pietà. Wander through this immense church and explore more of the Eternal City on your own. No bus. Walking: strenuous.
Day 3: Ancient Rome and the Heart of Tuscany
We'll do some time-traveling this morning, as a local guide takes us on a walking tour through the ancient heart of Rome, telling us vivid tales of the larger-than-life Colosseum and the birthplace of Rome: the Forum. Then we'll leave the city and drive to Tuscany, ending our day in the hill town of Volterra, enjoying a Tuscan feast together at a favorite local restaurant. Sleep in Volterra (2 nights). Bus: 5 hours. Walking: strenuous.
Day 4: All Day in the Hill Town of Volterra
This morning we'll take a walking tour with a local guide who will make Volterra's traditions and history come alive. We'll also visit an alabaster workshop and tour the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, one of Italy's best places to learn about this mysterious pre-Roman civilization. Then you'll have time to poke around the ancient lanes on your own. We'll regroup later this afternoon to learn about and taste some of the region's famous wines, followed by dinner on your own. No bus. Walking: moderate.
Day 5: Lucca and the Italian Riviera
Today we'll head west, stopping in the charming and prosperous town of Lucca, hometown of Puccini. We'll take a walking tour of Lucca's elegant pedestrian streets with free time to explore its impressive outer walls on foot or by bike. Later this afternoon we'll complete our drive to our seaside getaway, nestled along the harbor-hugging villages of the Italian Riviera. You'll have plenty of free time to explore before we gather this evening for dinner at a local family restaurant. Sleep in or near the Cinque Terre (2 nights; may be split between two hotels). Train: ¼ hour. Bus: 4 hours. Walking: moderate.
Day 6: Exploring the Cinque Terre
You'll take a "vacation from your vacation" today in our Mediterranean getaway. You may choose to hike the famous cliffside paths, taking in lots of fresh air and panoramic views between Cinque Terre villages. Or pick a village where you can spend your day exploring the stairways and alleyways, sunning yourself on the rocks, or sipping cappuccino or vino while catching up on your journal at an outdoor café. No bus. Walking: light to strenuous (your choice).
Day 7: Florence and David
Today we'll drive straight to Florence and take a Renaissance walking tour of the city's historic center. We'll see and learn about Brunelleschi's magnificent cathedral dome, Ghiberti's Baptistery doors, and other creations that helped define this world-changing era. We'll end our tour at the Accademia Gallery to marvel at works of sculptural genius: Michelangelo's rough-hewn Prisoners and his greatest masterpiece, David. Then you'll be free to find a special trattoria for dinner on your own. Sleep in Florence (2 nights). Train: ¼ hour. Bus: 4 hours. Walking: moderate.
Day 8: The Uffizi Gallery
This morning we'll devote our time to the breathtaking Renaissance art of the Uffizi — home to the finest collection of Italian paintings anywhere — including masterpieces by Leonardo, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and more. The afternoon is yours to visit more of the city's art-filled churches and museums, or browse the colorful markets. As it's our final night together, we'll have a grand dinner to share travel memories and toast new friends. Salute! No bus. Walking: moderate.
Day 9: Tour Over After Breakfast
Breakfast is provided, but there are no group activities today. It's a breeze to reach Florence's airport by taxi or shuttle bus. Your guide will help you with any post-tour planning, leaving you well prepared for the road ahead. Grazie e ciao!
Itinerary specifics subject to change.
Our tours are physically active! It's an essential part of the Rick Steves tour experience. On our Heart of Italy in 9 Days tour — among other things — you'll need to happily…
Carry/roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel, then up several flights of stairs to reach your room.
Be on your feet, walking and standing, for up to four hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.
Sleep with street noise and no (or weak) air conditioning.
After orientation and transportation lessons, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.
Albion, MI
Tour: 10/20/19
Overall rating: rating 5 of 5
Experience was far beyond expectations in all respects. Andrea is an amazing individual and guide. She is knowledgeable, personable and enthusiastic topped off with a right mix of history and humor. Local guides were all excellent.
Favorite "WOW" moment
"Touring the sites within Vatican City."
Our guide, Andrea, was wonderful. She was very enthusiastic and a wealth of knowledge about Italy. The local guides were fantastic additions, augmenting Andrea's knowledge. I was original hesitant about touring with a group because my wife and I both do not like being on someone else's schedule but I quickly saw the benefits in it. Having someone to handle all the logistics (hotel and bus reservations and getting into the venues) was a welcomed change from our other travels.
"It is extremely difficult to pick just one so I will pick two: Seeing Michelangelo's David and the views of the Cinque Terre villages from the hill tops."
Andover, MN
This was the first time I have traveled with a group tour. It was great! I was traveling with 3 friends. I thought it was the perfect balance of tour time and our own time. I liked the smaller size of our group-26 people. Our Guide was fantastic. I have been to Europe before but not to Italy. I found a greater appreciation for the places we saw having the back ground information our guides provided. I found all our guides to be interesting, engaging, easy to understand.
"The city of Volterra. The whole city, the tour, and the wine tasting!"
Elk River, MN
This was my first time taking a tour and I couldn't have been more pleased. Our tour guide Andrea was not only knowledgeable but lots of fun!
"I really enjoyed Volterra!"
Greencastle, IN
My overall experience with the tour was very good. The instructions and information that we were given were excellent. Heart of Italy was more than I expected. I learned so very much. All of Italy was interesting.
"To pick one amongst many;. The view of Florence from the Medici gardens."
my overall experience was great. We were a family group of 7 on our first trip to Italy together. Our tour was a perfect introduction to Italy and our Guide, Dimitri, could not have been a better guide.
"In Volterrra our guide, Annie (I think) took us to see the Roman Amphitheater and when we rounded the corner and looked down to see it everyone around me, including me, gasped..freat moment. I loved Volterra."
Loved the itinerary and the diverse areas we visited. Very impressed with the major historical sites such as Vatican, Basilica, Colliseum, Trevi Fountain. We have nothing like these architectural/artful giants in the USA. Just the right amount of formal tour vs on-our-own time.
"The beautiful Cinque Terra."
Everything about this tour was wonderful. From the itinerary, to our guide (Dimitri), to the rest of the people on our tour, to the food, to the transportation and drivers - I was very impressed with the whole Rick Steves'tour operation and approach. It was an extremely well-run, organized and comprehensive tour (even if it was my first real tour!). Rick really leaves no stone unturned.
"There really are too many to list. Standouts include the Colosseum & Forum with Francesca as our guide in Rome,St. Peter's, the Pieta, Volterra, the unscheduled stop at the WWII American Cemetery in Florence (you really should include that in this tour),the Uffizi with our most passionate & instructive guide - seeing The Birth of Venus and David.... day and night tours of the cities, local guides -( I wasn't expecting them!)- & extra activities (wine tasting, alabaster workshop, pesto demo)WOW!"
Wonderful tour guide and wonderful local guides who knew the important memorable places in the city. Excellent knowledge of history and dates Good group management. Buddy system Works well. Fellow travelers were delightful Buses from town to town were comfortable We liked having flexible free time for ourselves Food was outstanding Weather was perfect.
"The little flowered back alleyways in Cinque Terra"
This was my first tour and chose it to have guides and ready access to the important museums. Our guides were outstanding and our entry into the museums was very quick and easy. The tour had a wonderful blend of city strolling and country leisure. The fellow travelers in our group were good companions, and there was plenty of free time to explore on our own.
"I have been to Italy before but St Peter's Basilica is always overwhelmingly breathtaking. The work of the craftsmen and artisans is fantastic. Amazing to learn that so much of the marble was taken from the Forum."
The places, the people and the guide were all incredible. The trip went by way too quickly and I did not want to leave. So, I stayed! I am writing this review from Italy now!
"There were really two inspiring moments: Seeing the David again after 41 years and experiencing Volterra and the beauty and peace of the Tuscan hills. Big "wows" but in different ways - man made vs. nature."
State Center, IA
What an amazing tour! We arrived 3 days early and using the guidebook were able to tour Rome comfortably. Every suggestion in the book was spot on! I was so impressed with the knowledgeable local tour guides who helped us truly see the art and history of each place we visited. The tour has a great balance of 'together time' and 'on your own time'. A poor quality sound system was replaced on the second day! Thanks!
"Dimitry invited us to get up early the first day and go to St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican before the crowds - amazing to walk through that space without a crowd! In Florence we were walking down a quiet small street and entered the plaza with the Duoma covered in green, pink, and white marble and covered with statues and carvings - AMAZING!"
It couldn't have gone better. Great people on the tour and great tour guides who were very informative.
"Enjoyed seeing the US WW2 memorial outside of Florence. Very humbling and got a lot out of it."
North Pekin, IL
Everywhere you turn it looks like a movie set. Every bite you eat is delectable. Everyone in our group was cheerful and interested in getting to know others. The tour guides and local guides were so informed that I learned way more than I planned.
"My favorite wow moments were turning the corner and seeing St. Peter's square in Rome, riding the boat on a sunny day of 70 degrees to view all five Cinque Terre villages from the water, and the dome of the Pantheon. But the non-wow moments were just as special: ciacoloto forte at every gelato stop, pasta alla Gricia our new favorite meal, enjoying the rest areas on the highway in Italy."
I travel under the name Henrietta, but I'm known as Minette, much to Jesse's chagrin as my husband also travelled under a different name, Bill. We absolutely loved our tour and will do another again!! We signed up for an active tour and we got it for sure as we used our free time to the max! (See bottom box) We loved having the transportation and hotel rooms and the food arranged for us! The guiding was spectacular, touching on some major parts of the area we were visiting.
"Oh boy that is hard to say! Every new location was so splendid, fascinating and enjoyable! The tour was set up like a candy store, there is always something new and exciting to see and explore!"
My wife and I had a tremendous experience on our very first trip to Europe, Italy, to be specific. I truly enjoyed the participation and the minor planning or decision making we embraced each day. From my perspective this trip in Italy offered history, architecture, art, culture and of course, great food and wine. The October timing allowed us to enjoy the cooler weather and smaller crowds. I really liked the other tour members, friendships and sharing experiences with our new friends.
"I think there were a few, the one stands out would be viewing the Sistine Chapel. It was truly a spiritual experience, beautiful and timeless."
The tour was great for us. We were with a group of travelers who were good natured and friendly and who were excited as we were about all aspects of the trip.
"Many wow moments happened. Overall the artwork that we viewed was my wow experience (with the exception of the Vatican museum). The Pantheon was number one for the history that unfolded and the beauty of the structure and artwork. Next was the Uffizi with its works from the great renaissance masters. The Florence Baptistry and Dome round out the wow list."
Rvrything exceeded my expectations...the food, the guides, the accommodations. Everything was top notch. Our guides provided us with a few very special moments like a tour of an alabaster workshop, meeting the mayor of Luca and the visit to the Florence/ United States cemetery.
"Looking out over the ruins in Volterra."
The overall tour experience was outstanding. There were many eye-opening sites visited from the Sistine Chapel to the Pantheon. We learned many facts that were unknown before. The beauty of the Tuscany region and the stunning view at night from the top of our hotel in Florence. It was a most satisfying experience especially with all the knowledge gained about the early Roman Empire.
"We did not just have one "wow" moment, we had three. The first was Tapestry in the Sistine Chapel. Absolutely amazing that tapestry like that was made that early in history. The second was ruins of Piazza Del Popolo. The third was the Pantheon. The dome and architecture going back 2000 years was amazing."
Terrific tour experience. 28 people in the group is perfect. Large comfortable bus with good drivers Including tips is wonderful - we don't have to worry with it!! Nice amount of free and structured time. The wine tasting in Volterra presented by a sommelier was over the top! BTW, the Brunello was outstanding!!
The tour provided a great value for the money and I would not have seen and experienced all the places and locations that were visited on our trip. All the guides were outstanding with a shout out to Jesse and Sally. They provided a wealth of experience and experiences. The accommodations were perfect for what our trip offered with a local flair at every stop. Thanks again for making this an experience of a life time.
"I would say stopping at the US Memorial on the way to Florence and the galleries in Florence."
I fell in love with Italy AND our tour leader Ferdi plus all those in our tour group. Every hotel was wonderful and diverse. The meals were amazing and unique. I highly recommend this tour.
"Cinque Terra made me speechless with the color of the Sea and the quaintness of Montessoro which is where we stayed. Walking around during free time was lovely. However each new day in Italy brought another mind blowing view and experience. This is a must take tour!!"
This being my first Rick Steve's tour, I have been telling my friends how much more I got out of the trip than traveling on my own. The guides were very knowledgeable and informative.
"For me, it was the opportunity to see the Parthenon in Rome, a structure I learned about many years ago in Architecture class, followed closely by Michelangelo's David."
It was better than I expected it to be. Most importantly, all of the tour guides were great. Our tour manager Ferdi was at once highly organized and laid back, and the combo kept our group in good spirits throughout the trip. The mix of scheduled time and time on our own was just right. The busses were really comfortable, and WiFi was an unexpected bonus. Lastly, the group of folks on our tour were well matched and pleasant to spend 1.5 weeks with.
"I didn't have a single wow moment - there were multiple, and I can't single out a single favorite moment or spot. Perhaps the whole tour was the "wow" moment."
Marshallville, OH
Awesome! The is an overused word, but not in this case. It was everything I had hoped for and more. Our tour guide, Ferdi, always made sure that I was served gluten-free food at our wonderful group meals (I am gluten intolerant); I am very grateful for that! All the local tour guides were superb, especially Francesca at the Colosseum and the Forum in Rome. The hotels were all lovely, the bus very comfortable. It was super to have all the reservations and the "must-see" sights arranged.
"The entire trip was "wow", but seeing Michelangelo's David was amazing."
Our tour was excellent. The itinerary was very well-paced, with the right amount of group scheduled activities, plus plenty of time for us to explore on our own. I also appreciated the variety of types of places we visited and activities (i.e. museums, historical sites, towns, wine tasting, beach, etc.). The group dinners were fun and it was also nice to be able to make our own restaurant selections at other times. The tour guides were all excellent! Highly recommended!
"Since the entire tour was a treat, it is hard to pick a "wow" moment. But, it was perhaps viewing a Leonardo DaVinci painting in the Uffuzi museum in Florence and seeing how the perspective changed from different angles. Totally amazing and I would have missed it if it had not been for our amazing local guide, Ricardo."
I loved the people in our tour group, our fearless leader Trish, the hotel employees and owners. The excellent food and of course gelato. Loved the walled villages and of course Cinque Terre. Rome and Florence and all the art and history.
"Cinque Terre"
Buda, TX
Our tour was fabulous. It was a great group of people, with the best tour guide, Trish. She told us so much about each place that we visited and took us to all the good gelato places.
"If I had to choose one (which is difficult because it was all enjoyable)it would be the meal that Carlo from the Primavera fixed for us in Levanto. That buffet was spectacular and it was also a birthday celebration for one of the travelers which made it more fun. A close toss up would be the impromptu visit to the American Service Members memorial and cemetery. That was very emotional and special."
Outstanding local tour guides throughout trip, good balance between group activities and on your own time, right amount of time spent in each city.
"The hiking in Cinque Terre"
The tour was wonderful This was my first time to visit Italy and it was so interesting. The tour guide, Trish, was perfect. So were the hotels and the other tour guides in the cities. The dinners were so good. I'm glad I took a Rick Steves tour.
"I think my favorite moment was seeing the Michelangelo, "David"."
Trish was an awesome host for us! She kept the tour flowing smoothly and kept it fun too. Assisting guides provided wonderful historical information on locations visited.
"That's a very difficult question as I had numerous "wow" moments ... even when we visited the American National Cemetery outside of Florence. From old towns, to art work, to old Cathedrals ... so many "wow" moments."
It was wonderful! It felt like I was on a tour that was the product of many hours and many miles of footwork to sculpt the most seamless presentation of the best of Italy, including all the must-sees of the big cities, with a nice break in between of smaller towns and less chaos. I like to do a lot and the pace was right for me, although I know for some others in the group it felt like a lot. It seemed like there was space to accommodate this with optional activities.
"So many to choose from, but probably the Sistene Chapel. Also, anytime I put real Italian gelato in my mouth"
This was our first time traveling with a group and guide. Loved it especially for our guide and local guides that brought history to life for us. We found the schedule and mix of "free time" perfect. Wan't sure we'd like the bus, but found that a great way to get to and from places. Also, glad we packed light as the RS suitcases [rolling backpack] worked great.
"Driving up to Volterra. We were very tired of the big city [Rome] but I don't think we realized it until going to Volterra. Also, arriving in the Cinque Terre and seeing the Mediterranean for the first time!"
I loved every minute of the trip. It was very well organized. Our guide Colleen was as sweet as can be, wonderfully knowledgeable, helpful, and in every instant gave clear direction, numerous time for those os us who missed it the first time. She was so patient as well.Her talks on the bus gave us a betterunderstanding of what was coming next. The balance of free time and schedule time was perfect for us. The local guides were beyond exceptional andI learned so very much. Thanks! Eexcellent!
"I am not sure I can say I had one favorite, but here are. few: Trevi fountain at night, Parthenon at night and day, Voltarra, and all it's Tuscan beauty, Lucca, especially the guide, Cinque Terre, and the suggested walk which my husband and I did! Loved it. David and other works of art in Florence."
Our overall tour experience was quite good. We are new to the tour form of international travel and were leery of the large/commercial operations that were very expensive. We also like the ideas that come from Rick's personal experiences shared in travel log form both in print as well as the PBS series. Practical, down to earth methods for everyday topics were most useful.
"When we arrived in Monterosso and realized we were in the Mediterranean! Equally inspiring was the walled town of Volterra."
We had an amazing trip. Not only did we enjoy all the beautiful cities, churches, artwork, and food, we made many new friends. Each day of the tour seemed to get better and better. All the locations were carefully chosen with the travelers' needs in mind. It was nice to have so many details taken care of by the tour, so we could focus our energy on the wonders of Italy and not the logistics. Thank you for the careful thought and preparation that was put into planning such a great trip!
"Volterra was a "wow" moment for me. The town was charming and took me back in time. I loved being perched on top of the hill and seeing the beautiful Tuscany country all around me. Our local guide, the wine tasting experience, and the overall town atmosphere made me feel welcome and a part of the community. I thought the Vatican would be my wow moment, but the huge crowds affected my impressions. It was beautiful and magnificent but a different experience than what I imagined."
Our tour was amazing. Loved the family feel of group. All the hotels were great and the food was incredible. The small towns and their guides were so knowledgeable. Enjoyed the free time and pace of tour.
"My favorite wow moment was visiting Cinque Terre. The pesto demonstration was incredible."
Garberville, CA
the tour is a great way to get to know another country. sometimes it can be intimidating your first time out. Our tour helped us get our "feet wet" visiting Europe.
"The architecture in all of the towns we visited was amazing. So much history."
Great guides, great people, great places. What else could you ask of from a tour.
"Our stop in Voltera was simply perfect. Every aspect beyond our expectations. This is not to denigrate the rest of the tour, but Voltera was something extra special."
Overall, the experience was great. The only negative was our trip to the Vatican. Our time of 1 pm was really in prime time, which in my experience is not a Rick Steves thing. I was very disappointed. It was so crowded you couldn't stop to look at anything without getting pushed along with the masses. The mix of guided tour and free time was just right. We had a wonderful group of travelers on our tour.
Hummelstown, PA
Tour experience was phenomenal and my top #1-6 #1 would be our tour guide, Rozanne, who was exceptional, well-educated and kept everything moving smoothly #2 guides in each location were also excellent and very personable #3 meeting the fellow travelers in our group #4 spiked my interest in the history and culture of the different regions #5 planned events whether lunch, dinner, cultural experiences, wine tasting - all fun and glorious #6 having free time was the right amount
"#1 Wow moment - seeing David in Florence #2 Cinque Terra beauty #3 Volterro was a delightful town #4 Rome was awesome yet overwhelming #5 how everyone in the group was so positive and simply fun (some I will see again and invited them to Hershey, PA) #6 Florence was exquisite #7 Great food - excellent breakfasts every day #8 Architectural wonders #9 Museums, Basilicas, Cathedrals, etc. - pretickets and easy access #10 Mountain biking through the Florence countryside was superb"
Outstanding tour!! Our group of 28 became one big happy family. Our Rick Steves guide, Rozanne was fantastic, everything we could have hoped for in a guide. She was knowledgeable, friendly, extremely organized. Each day was packed with activities and yet we had some down time in between activities. I was concerned that this tour might be too strenuous, given that I am 72 yrs old. But I managed just fine and wouldn't have wanted to miss a single activity.
"David has to be right up there as a "wow" moment. But, my favorite day was spent in Volterra. Loved the ancient history presented by our excellent local guide, Annie. Strolling the ancient, cobblestone streets was like stepping back two thousand years. Shopping in the market square and small shops was such fun. Our wine tasting experience was delightful."
Overall, wonderful experience. Our favorite part was the middle of the tour. While we loved the history and art in Rome and Florence, the seaside, Cinque Terre and Volterra were more relaxing and intimate. Rozeanne is an absolutely fabulous guide!
"The Cinque Terre hike between Monterosso and Vernazza! It was invigoration with gorgeous views. Loved exploring those tow villages!"
Our experience exceeded expectations! All of our guides were professionals and brought history to life. We wanted to really experience the Italian culture and food. Our hotels were located in the historical areas. The group meals were delicious and authentic Italian cuisine. Our itinerary was full, but we still had free time to explore on our own. We experienced so much more by taking this tour than we could have by doing the trip completely on our own. Everything was so well planned!
"There were so many wow moments! Historically, while visiting the ruins of the Roman Forum seeing the artist's rendition of how the city appeared centuries ago was breathtaking. Seeing the vivid colors of the Sistine Chapel was also amazing. We enjoyed the museums of Rome and Florence and walking the narrow streets in the hill towns. The churches, even the small ones, were magnificent."
South Jacksonville, IL
Overall, Rick Steve's tours are above average. I have taken other organized tours, and Rick Steves was far superior in accommodations and meals. The coaches were comfortable and the drivers were very good. My husband and I had an enjoyable tour. We will book a Rick Steve's tour in the future.
"Our "wow" moment was viewing the Duomo as we emerged from a side street. The church is stunning in its scope and scale. It is breathtaking. We are in awe of the skills of the 13th through 15th century engineers and stone masons who built this marvelous structure."
The tour was fantastic! We experienced Italy first hand. The guides were excellent, both informative, knowledgeable, and personable. We loved them all, they made the cities real for us. Thank you
"There were many! Rome was fabulous! Volterra, Lucca, Cinque Terre, and Florence were all breath taking! I think the sequence was essential! Thank you!"
My overall tour experience was fabulous. Everything is so well organized that you can sit back and relax knowing that you will get where you need to be, when you need to be. This was our first trip overseas and it was wonderful to put the details into the hands of such a competent company. All the arrangements were top notch, hotels, restaurants, transportation and especially the tour guides were excellent.
"There were so many, the realization that you were walking somewhere that people had walked for generations was amazing. The art through out the country was unbelievable. I truly enjoyed getting out of the city and into the beautiful countryside. The vineyards and olive groves are something to behold and Cinque Terre was gorgeous."
What a wonderful tour this was! Great itinerary to see as much as possible in 9 days, and truly 'through the back door' as was advertised. Our guide Rozanne was really great and very attentive to everyone's specific needs and desires in each location. The pace was steady and yet we had plenty of time to ourselves to either rest or explore more on our own. This was our first Rick Steve's tour and after doing it I really know that Rick is 'the real deal'.
"There were almost too many to pick just one. I think after the hectic, crowded scene in Rome, the arrival in Volterra was the highlight to me. But how do you not include seeing The David in Florence or The Pieta in St. Peters?"
The tour lived up to what I had hoped for and more. We had an outstanding tour guide and the members all got along and enjoyed each other's company although most of us were strangers before the tour. I experienced new sights, taste, knowledge and interactions, all accompanied by useful and interesting commentaries from the guides. I will have long lingering pleasant memories of this tour.
"The hike up the vineyards on the slopes above Manarola and watching the sun set over the Ligurian Sea."
Paonia, CO
The tour was just the right balance of group activities and on-your-own time. I appreciated that I was able to maximize my experience by depending on Rick Steves Europe to handle the logistics, which led to a stress-free travel experience. Our tour guide was wonderful, as were the local guides, and the information provided in the Rick Steves Audio Europe app was helpful when we couldn't have a tour guide.
"All of the tour was a "wow" moment for me, as I have not traveled abroad since I was a teenager. I enjoyed spending time in every place we visited, and each place really had its own feel and character, which was great to experience. I have always wanted to see St. Peter's Baldacchin by Bernini (in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome) and it was truly breathtaking. It was also so amazing to be able to step into many of the churches in Rome to take in the gorgeous paintings, sculptures and architecture."
The tour was amazing! It was so special to have Francesco as our leader, as he was able to give us so much insight into Italian culture. He was kind, informative, and very entertaining. It was also fun getting to know everyone else in our tour group, and Francesco helped us to bond quickly.
"The cappuccino at an amazing bakery in Volterra! Touring Volterra was my favorite part of the trip, as it was Francesco's hometown, and the depth of historical knowledge that his wife Annie shared with us was also incredible. The town offered so much to see and do, and the crowds were far less than in the other areas we toured."
Tour was so much fun! Met great people and learned so much. Hotels and meals were all excellent.Local guides very knowledgeable and interesting and our Rick Steves guide, Francesco did a great job of shepherding us from place to place on time without losing his sense of humour .
"We visited some places, notably Volterra and Lucca that we may not have seen on our own and enjoyed them very much. The views of the Tuscan landscape from Volterra were beautiful!"
We thoroughly enjoyed our Heart of Italy tour. We loved the itinerary and balance of scheduled vs. free time. The tour was very well organized and worked like clockwork. We also really enjoyed meeting everyone on our tour and sharing experiences and meals daily. Our guide Francesco was excellent and all the local guides were phenomenal. We feel we experienced the top highlights of Italy and learned so much about the history, culture and food. We would highly recommend this tour to anyone.
"This is hard to say because it was all so good. We really enjoyed Rome, the Vatican museums, fountains and the Colosseum. It was all awe inspiring. Cinque Terre was beautiful, especially hiking from Corneglia to Vernazza. Volterra with the Etruscan gates, walls, and alabaster workshop was also wonderful. And seeing Michelangelo's masterpieces in Florence was amazing."
The Heart of Italy tour is terrific. This was a special trip, as it was our 10 yr anniversary, and the tour made it that much more special. I can't imagine now doing it on our own as our guides and the guests themselves, made this trip so much more fun. We made friends and had great experiences with them. The trip was very well organized from the sites to the restaurants and the wine chosen.
"Drank espresso at our first group dinner and couldn't sleep (plus excited). So I took a cab to San Giovanni in Laterno. Saw the Scala Sancta with the nuns climbing on their knees and I watched a group of monks singing their morning lauds. I was the only lay tourist there so perhaps not many witness this. We also attended an unscheduled mass with Pope Francis, of which he decided last minute to celebrate. St. Cecilia sculpture/ruins, Pieta, David and view from Vatican dome."
This was our first organized tour. My husband spent hundreds of hours comparing companies and tour options and together we decided on the "Heart of Italy in 9 Days Tour". While everything was clearly laid out, we weren't sure how we would like a group tour or if it would be active enough for our style of vacationing. We are SO happy with our decision! I wouldn't change a thing.
"To be honest, we weren't all that excited to see Rome. We had heard that it was big, busy, stinky and over-rated. Yet, it was probably one of my top places that we visited and I'd like to go back and spend more time. The city, its history, the ongoing excavations were incredible. I really appreciated being toured with such a knowledgable guide. If we had toured this alone, I think we would have missed out on so much information."
We really enjoyed our first trip together to Europe. Wanted a low stress but cultural, people focused tour. A friend recommended RS tour and we found just what we wanted - a low stress, fulfilling experience! We knew what was happening when and small group was helpful in connecting with our tour mates!! Best of all were the local tour guides who really shared their love of their towns, culture and history with us. This was the key..and Francesco was the ultimate leader!!!
"How can I say there was one...Loved Volterra, immersing in the town and culture with Francesco and Annie. The art was amazing!!! This was one of our prime goals.. to see the art and learn more about the history (as well as explore local food and wine. Having quick access to the museums, guides and Ricks Podcasts added to the enjoyment. Cinque Terra was amazing to hike as well. Francesco's connection with the restaurateurs and his knowledge of wine made the experience even better!!"
As advertised, there was a lot of walking, which was not a problem but there was a little more standing which was a bit uncomfortable after awhile. I think that our tour guide Lisa, did an excellent job! The one negative, tour guide in Rome became repetitive making for too much standing. Other than that, a very good experience.
"The Cinque Terre! All that I expected and more! Kudos to the VERY professional bus driver who took us up the narrow and winding road to Cinque Terre and was able to expertly back down the hill quite a distance I might add, to let another bus get by and down the hill. It was an exciting and slightly frightening experience, but again...driver was supurb!"
I enjoyed just about everything. The places visited, the hotels, the meals, the group (as an introvert I've never wanted to do a group tour but I survived!), the transportation, and especially our guide.
"Volterra and Cinque Terre were my favorites! Can't single out anything, I loved it all."
Overall, this was a great experience - lots of history explained by folks who mostly knew a great deal. People on the tour with us were friendly. Food was very good; special meals were exceptional (Voltare, Cinque Terre, & Florence). There was a lot of walking and climbing (hills and stairs), which was more than we realized, but doable. I'm glad we went! I thought Lisa, our tour guide, was intuitive, knowledgeable (without being overbearing) and flexible. She was really skilled at this work
"Wow - inside the Colosseum; views around Voltare; the entire Cinque Terre."
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour. It was just the right mix of escorted and free time. We enjoyed the camaraderie of the people we toured with, but appreciated the time to explore or relax on our own. I liked that we had the tours in the morning and were free to do what we wanted in the afternoon, because in some cases we just wanted to take a nap. Having a "vacation from your vacation" at Cinque Terre was just great! The timing was perfect to not get overwhelmed with info. We learned so much!
"Seeing the beautiful art in Rome and Florence!"
Our trip to Italy was fantastic! We saw so many things, discovered so many different towns, and really felt like we really learned a lot about each city's personality. Lisa was an outstanding guide and the guides she has to help her were outstanding as well. The food was incredible, the sites were amazing and our experience felt like a once-in-a-lifetime event. We felt so blessed to have gone on this tour.
"There were so many, but two of them were our dinners together. The first one was when we had dinner in Cinque Terre with Felicita and her husband Angelo. What a wonderful couple they were! It was such a beautiful place to stay and our dinner was fabulous. The other one was our last dinner together in Florence. The food was amazing and our hosts were wonderful. It was a bittersweet, but very incredible evening together. Plus visiting all of the famous buildings and artwork was amazing, too"
Our wonderful tour guide, Lisa, was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. The tour group connected well with her and each other. The tour itself was very well organized from the hotels arranged, tours booked and wonderful group meals planned. The individual city tour guides we had were wonderful as well. The 9 day tour ran smoothly and we were well informed for each day. I expected good things from the tour and my expectations were exceeded. Great value and money well spent.
"Lisa was able to arrange a special dinner for our group at the Hotel Pasquale in Monterosso on the Cinque Terre. This hotel is not generally open to the 'public' but only hotel guests. The restaurant staff were friendly and the food was amazing! It was the most memorable night in an amazing place that I have wanted to visit for years!! Loved our experience in the Cinque Terre and the VIEW!!"
Overall was excellent! I would not recommend touring the Vatican. Extremely crowded. Not a pleasant experience.
"Cinque Terre, Volterra and Florence were exceptional."
Great tour with interesting fun people - very well planned with knowledgeable tour guides. Would have like more time, but only 9 days.
"Volterra was our WOW moment. The tour guide was amazing. The history of this small Italian hill town was mind blowing- from Romans to the Florentine attack to the Germans in WW2."
This was our first travel on a tour and we were not sure how traveling with a group would work for us. Any apprehension we had going in quickly went away after meeting our tour leader, Lisa. Her organization, planning and thoughtfulness aloud us to get so much more out of our trip than we could have on our own.
"I'm not a big city or museum guy so Volterra and Cinque Terre were the wow moments for me. Definitely could have spent much more time in both."
the good: tour guides were great! Love the info they provide. Really enjoyed the group dinners and getting to meet the other folks in the group. Never had to wait in the really loooong lines to the big exhibits. Easy entries to places like the Vatican, coliseum. The guide was always available and did a great job keeping things moving along.
"By far the Roman ruins. While I was impressed with Cinque Terrie the crowd of tourist (which I was one) was almost overwhelming. While it was very crowded in the tourist areas in Rome, at least, there was room to move."
Bloomingdale, IL
Very happy with all the tour guides, the pace, and the other participants.
"Volterra was beautiful and unexpected"
The tour was everything that the literature represented it would be. I will say that I found myself regretting choosing a tour during which we were changing hotels every two days. Of course that was necessary given the itinerary. This was more a learning experience for me about my preferred travel style. I would just caution potential travelers who may prefer choosing a destination and staying in that locale for a longer period of time.
"Although I recently spent time in Tuscany, it never fails to wow me with its beautiful rolling hills. I would say that the Tuscany portion of the tour was my favorite, and that Volterra is a place to which I would love to return!"
Very good. Just the right amount of information. We were very hesitant to do a tour but we are looking at another Rick Steves tour soon
"The location of our hotel after visiting the Vatican amazing location for our too tired bodies"
Mccordsville, IN
Great experience. Colleen was an excellent guide. Our group was great too. On time, got along well. We felt at home in each city/town when on our own time as we would inevitably run into someone from our group. This made the experience special
"The Colosseum in Rome and David In Florence were the WOW moments."
I loved almost every part of the Italy tour. The hotels were superb, the main tour guide (Colleen) was excellent, each city or town was unique, I learned a lot about the history of Italy, and I was able to see some of the greatest artwork in human history.
"I have to list three: 1) The story of how the Etruscans threw the Medici representatives out the window of a building we stood outside of in Volterra...it just felt like we were there in the Middle Ages. 2) I hate to be trite, but seeing David, after all the buildup, was better than I had imagined. I'd been reading the Agony and the Ecstasy, knew how Michelangelo loved marble and carving. Colleen's introductory talk added some perspectives, things to think about. It was very moving. 3) see #16"
It was a wonderful trip. I enjoyed it so much that I was "home sick" for Italy when I got back home. The places we visited were the right mix of big city and small town. Our fellow travelers were a great bunch of people from all over the U.S. Our tour guide was the best. The hotels were really nice and in great locations for our tour and sightseeing. This tour is truly the Heart of Italy.
"Volterra in the Tuscan hills."
We had a fabulous time.
"Touring the Coliseum."
Giok
Love the small group and enjoyed our friendly fellow travelers. Love the joy of having travel logistics taken care of that we can focused on just being present and enjoyed the experience. Love the strategically located hotels that are small and not overcrowded. The 2 nights stay at each location makes for the no rush feel to enjoy each location.
"The dinner experiences with family run restaurants! Love, Love them! The intimate group dinners provided good opportunities to visit and get to know different members of the group."
We loved our trip. Our guide, Jesse, was great. We enjoyed the change from big city, to small Tuscan city, to beach town, then back to a big city. The diversity was just what we wanted. Our group was great. From the onset we looked out for each other and everyone was open to getting to know new people. The trip is for the basically fit person. I'm over 50 and walk a lot at home so the walking was a good fit for me. It was a great adventure.
"My favorite city was Volterra. It is perfect. I dream of going back and staying for an extended time."
Fayetteville, NY
This was the perfect tour for us. I was reluctant to do a tour, but chose Rick Steve's because it included plenty of time away from the group to explore. It was the perfect mix of having all the logistics taken care of (transport between cities, hotels, guides in museums, entrance to museums and historic sites) and autonomy. The hotels were all terrific! Small, well located, comfortable and friendly. Our guide Jesse was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, responsible and affable. No negatives!
"The incredible depth of the history in this part of the world."
The tour was outstanding.......history of the areas........hotels and the meals all were outstanding
"The Italian Riviera and the American cemetery in Florence."
This trip was fast paced, compact and a thrilling ride because of the outstanding leaders we had throughout Italy. Our main guide Jesse was a terrific guide who kept us informed about each part of Italy. As we embarked through each designated stop, a local Guide would take us through the history of each town. The local guides were equally as knowledgeable, passionate and filled with love for their community. I would highly recommend this trip!
"There were so many wow moments. Jesse, our incredible guide deviated from the tour and took us to the memorial for the U.S soldiers killed in WWII. There were hundreds and hundreds of white crosses, some with names and some unknown. I can still visualize the hillside of those lives lost in the war."
Brier, WA
The tour was an outstanding experience. The choices of hotels and their locations in each city, transportation between stops, group admissions to sites, the group dinners, local guides and most important, the guides that were with the group all worked seamlessly.
"How can I choose one "wow" moment? One that was one of my favorites was the pesto making demonstration at the restaurant in Monterosso was memorable."
The tour was very organized and I really enjoyed the people in our group. I liked how we skipped the line to get into museums, etc. without having to manage that part myself. The guides were experienced and knowledgeable and the places we stayed were central and characterful.
"I loved the shared, organized meals in each city but especially enjoyed the one in Monterosso where our restaurant hostess showed us how to make pesto and then we enjoyed it in our meal. These types of experiences are ones that we would never have traveling on our own."
"As a kid growing up in the rural Midwest, I have a particular fondness for the simple, stoic beauty of farmland. I was stunned by the Italian countryside, and not just Tuscany, but everywhere we traveled. Before civilization learned to write, it learned to farm. And that simple concept is still evidenced by the visual beauty of Italy's agriculture. There's so much more to admire in addition to acres of rolling grapevines. Another unexpectedhighlight was the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence."
The tour was wonderful. The guides, tour members, and sights were great. The group tour activities and free time was just the right balance. Having delicious group meals and a very spacious bus helped make the whole experience very enjoyable.
"Favorite "wow" moment were the Cinque Terre towns. Just a beautiful area."
It was a great tour. Loved the local tour guide portion.
"The history behind things like Volterra. St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel."
This was our first tour and also our first trip to Europe. The reason we chose a Rick Steve's tour was the ability to have a guided tour as well as individual time in each city. This was something that was not evident with other tour companies. We greatly enjoyed both Italy and the tour and would do another Rick Steve's tour.
"Cinque Terre was our favorite area overall. The pictures we took look like postcards and we got to dip our toes in the ocean."
We have wanted to experience Italy, its history and culture for many years. This tour hits the mark. We feel the Heart of Italy tour provides an opportunity to see Rome and Florence and yet still get a sense of Tuscany and the deep history of the country. I certainly came away with a deeper appreciate for Italy and a desire to see more of the country. The tour guides selected by Rick Steves were amazing. The stories, and their deep knowledge of the regions made them come alive.
"For me it was seeing David in Florence. Before we saw David we discussed (Lisa) the history of the stature and the background. The size, the magnitude, and the ability to get up close was so memorable."
Our tour guide, Lisa, was great. Very knowledgeable and fun!! All of the local guides we had were also very good. You can tell they all love their jobs and their respective cities! I learned a lot from all of the guides whether it was about the history of the city or about art. This tour is quite active with a lot of walking. Glad we did a lot of walking though since we also ate a lot of pasta, pizza, and gelato!
"I enjoyed the Cinque Terre the most. I like places next to water, and it was beautiful. Glad we had a whole day to explore the area! Would love to return and do some hiking!"
Typical positive RS experience (3rd trip for us) The individual audio receivers were highly appreciated - a few times the reception would get scratchy or intermittent. I think it is valuable to have the free time in the schedule to allow members to seek out personal interests after a morning tour. It might have been a bit more helpful to some to have some suggested free-time options printed in advance. The entire group was very adaptable, supportive and welcoming to each other.
"The most memorable structures on this tour for me were of course the Colosseum, Pantheon and St Peters in Rome. The towns in the Tuscany and Cinque Terre were extremely fascinating as one could imagine living on those ancient streets and buildings."
Kenwood, CA
Unfortunately I was ill during parts of the trip but I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and all the beautiful sights to see in Italy. Our guide was fantastic but it was a bonus that local guides were hired to give the best possible info on specific places. The hotels were in great locations that allowed more exploration on our own when time allowed.
"My "wow" moment was when I realized the quality of the food just even at Italian "rest stops" along the freeway exceeded the quality of some restaurants back home! I had no idea how much I would enjoy the food and this was consistent everywhere we went. Definitly plan on eating extra servings of gelato, pizza, etc! Also, silly me, I didn't know that the Pantheon had anything inside it that was preserved. Nothing could be farther from the truth! It was surprisingly beautiful."
I must say that it not only met, but exceeded my high expectations. Everything was so well organized. The hotels were clean and comfortable. And we had a great group of fellow travelers. Loved the "Buddy" system!
"Hard to say, because there were so many. The Cinque Terre was like living on a movie set - towns were so picturesque. The other "wow" moment was the Basilica in Florence. And, of course, St. Peter's."
Great first visit to Italy/Europe. We were a little apprehensive about traveling on our own for our first trip to Italy. Going with a small group and letting Rick Steve' Tours handle the details - hotels, travel between cities, dinners, museum passes, and local guides allowed us to really enjoy our time in Italy. It also helped us develop the confidence that we could negotiate Italy in the future on our own, although the benefits of traveling with a Rick Steve's tour group is still appealing.
"Hard to say. It was all wonderful. My wife and I really loved Volterra, but everything we saw on the entire tour was worthwhile. We really appreciated how our visit to one city was tied to other cities. For example, seeing the Pantheon in Rome set the stage for seeing and appreciating Brunelleschi's Dome in Florence."
This was our first experience with a tour company and the first time traveling in Italy. You exceeded our expectations and provided us with an unforgettable experience. Lisa was tremendous in keeping us informed and did it with a great attitude. Our local guides (Ariela, Annie, Gabrial) did not just recite facts but provided us a real experience of what it was like to live in ancient Rome, Volttera and Lucca. Cindy did a great job when we were at the Uffizi as well.
"Rome - the Pantheon and Ancient Rome. We also did a walk around Trastevere at night (on our own time). Volterra - The 400BC arch and the vista of the valley below. The alabaster demonstration, Lucca - the walled city walkway and the explanation of the park like setting because of Napoleon's sister. Cinque Terra - we did Rick's walking tour in Manarola and Riomaggiore. Florence - David and the Uffizi gallery, also the view of Florence from the Piazzle Michelangelo (which we did on our own time)."
The Heart of Italy excursion was exactly what we were looking for. The tour is structured in order to provide some time in both the larger Italian cities of Rome and Florence, but also in the smaller towns of Volterra, Lucca, and Cinque Terre. We enjoyed the mix of time spent with our group, and ample time to explore on our own. The hotels tended to be smaller, family-run boutique hotels which we enjoyed. The tour requires a good level of stamina and fitness to enjoy all of the sights.
"The views on the drive to and from Volterra were spectacular."
Best vacay ever! I plan to do more tours in the future. I am surprised how many people do not know RS does tours. As far as I am concerned, it is the only way to go for value, convenience, expertise and ease of planning. I would like to see one more night added to Cinque Terre. I missed staying there overnight for an early am without tourists, but I did enjoy not having to schlep my luggage there.
"#1. Having Lisa as our tour guide. Hands down, she made the tour from the first day handing out tissues, just in case for bathrooms in Rome to handling many things behind the scenes. Calm and never appearing flustered, Lisa kept the tour and everyone on it living a "glass half full" philosophy. #2.Turning the corner and seeing "David". It reminded me of the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower."
Colleen was so full of energy and knowledgeable as well. She even helped me plan my side trip to Venice, including assistance getting a fast speed train. Loved Tuscany and especially Cinque Terra. Even though I was a solo traveler, I never felt lonely. This was a "bucket list" trip for me.
"Hiking the hillside of the Cinque Terra which included a boat ride back to our hotel"
We were a family group of 8 and were unsure of doing a tour but we ended up having a wonderful time! Our tour guide, Colleen, was knowledgable, funny and just a pleasure. The other people on the tour were easy to get along with and we found out we had a lot in common with most. We especially enjoyed all the walking and hiking we did. Ive been on a tour before where we sat on the bus most of the day looking out the window. I would highly recommend a Rick Steves Tour to anyone!
"The Vatican, the Statue of David and the the beautiful seaside towns of Cinque Terre!"
It was better than we could have imagined. Colleen was our amazing tour guide. We loved the hotels and restaurants she chose for our group. The bus transportation was comfortable and convenient also. The outside guides that were selected were all wonderful too.
"My favorite "wow" moment was the the beautiful Cinque Terre villages. I loved the hike and the coastal beauty of the small villages."
It was a trip of a lifetime and far exceeded my expectations. There were some very pleasant surprises and extras that I appreciated. After a very busy first night, vans picked us up that morning and brought us to our walking tour! Also the baggage carriers in Monterosa. I celebrated my birthday on the tour and what could be more special than the group singing Happy Birthday in Italian and Collleen treating everyone to gelato! I loved the wine tasting, pesto and alabaster demonstrations.
"There were a few"wow" moments for me, but a stand out was hiring a small boat in Cinque Terre and seeing the fishing villages from the sea. It was a perfect, "pinch me is this real" kind of day! I felt so fortunate to be on the boat with some of my favorite people on the tour and the bonus was Colleen. Toasting with Proseco...seeing the clear beautiful water, it does not get much better"
Nathania
My overall tour experience is without complaint as I feel all ran smoothly mainly because of great organization and planning, I would not change a thing. I throughly enjoyed every community we visited for each was it's own individual experience. Italy has such an amazing and rich history with all its layers of civilizations. With this in mind it had a huge impact on me coming from the centre of Canada where I feel we have little such history in comparison. The tour delivered in every way!
""Wow" moments were many which related to how far back the history goes in Italy. What we can see for ourselves overpowers anything you see on the screen. The amazing structures that still stand and have survived time. Evidence of this throughout the tour."
This was our second Rick Steves' tour. Our first one was two years ago; a family tour with our daughter, son- in- law and four granddaughters...from London to Florence. Our tour guide, Francesco, was very good and very personable. He took good care of us! All the tour guides at the different cities we toured were excellent. It was one of the most strenuous tours and I was a little concerned about that, but although it was tough; I made it!
"There were many "wow" moments on this tour. Learning about the vast history of Rome, enjoying the small hill town of Volterra through the eyes of Francesco; the beauty of Cinque Terre, seeing the city of Florence from the rooftop of our hotel and the wine tasting."
This is my second Rick Steves' tour and it was fantastic. All accommodations were excellent and every group dinner was great. Francesco did an excellent job of managing the group and making sure that all our requirements were handled.
"Too many 'wow' moments to single one out; the Roman ruins, the Forum, the Coliseum, David, the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and the statue of David. All were fantastic. The town of Volterra was pretty cool as well."
Chadds Ford, PA
I loved all the tour guides. They are great story tellers, kept your interest, made history and art come alive. I enjoyed seeing Florence and Rome, Tuscany: Volterra and Lucca, and Cinque Terre was unique and beautiful also. I felt that I had seen small snippets of Italy, enough to get a feel for the people, culture and countryside. It has sparked my curiosity to return. My first time to Europe...trip of a lifetime!
"The town of Volterra and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence were two of my favorite "wow" moments. I have to admit the whole tour was a "wow" because of all the varied experiences and sights. Our first night walking back to hotel after dinner with all the lights of Rome and the fountains..magical."
My senses are still overwhelmed after this amazing tour! The guides, hotels, special tours, food and bus/train travel all excellent and well planned. Good timing for "on your own time". Great information before the tour plus Francesco answered our questions, was patient with us, gave great suggestions for activities and restaurants when on our own. Loved the roof top terraces and their views from the hotels. Proximity of hotels to museums and activities was excellent!
"Volterra will always be a special place, history, sights, engaging with people who live there and exploring the town on my own. The annual festival was happening when we were there -wonderful to enjoy the local food, see and hear townfolks, children, families."
Francesco was an excellent guide, humorous, easy going, and insightful plus the local guides were very knowledgeable and delightful! Everything went very smoothly! The sights we visited as a group were well organized. I liked the mix of guided tours and some free time. The trip was everything we had hoped for!!
"Pantheon, David statue, loved Volterra such a quaint village. Seeing the Coliseum and the Forum. Walking the streets of Rome at night! Loved it all!"
Tour was well organized. Francesco did a great job of setting up the day by his overview and logistics. The Tour Guides were first class. All provided a context and connected the dots. I learned a lot. Food, wine, and fellowship added greatly to our experience. I believe we were the oldest on the Trip at 73; the walking at times was a challenge but we soldiered on. It was well worth the effort.
"I had many including: the wine tasting in Volterra with Johnny and Francesco, and all of our local guides."
We knew a 9 day tour would be fast paced, yet this allowed ample time for individual exploration of the cities we visited and their amenities. The main tour guide and the individual city guides added insight and depth to what we saw and did. Hotels really were located right in the middle of things in every city! Transportation to each city was in a plush comfortable uncrowded bus. Our group became 'tour friends' and exchanged emails at the end. A splendid time to be had by all!
"In Volterra there is an underground Roman Cistern, and on our 'free afternoon' (with Volterra City pass provided by the tour) we seemed to be the only people who went down a spiral stairway into the ground to a 100' x 100' by 50' chamber which was built in 100-200 AD to provide water to town fountains and was fed by town gutters. Being all alone in this plain, yet astonishing feat of Roman engineering (and cool on a hot day) was a favorite wow moment and contrast to the very crowded sites."
To begin, Italy is fantastic! The tour was perfectly structured to provide us with a great taste and overview of Italy. We feel like we saw a lot in a realtively short period of time and didn't have any time wasted. Our guide Francesco was truly fabulous and created a very fun experience as he took care of the details day after day. The local guides were also excellent. We enjoyed every person in our group even though we were from a variety of backgrounds and experience in travel.
"Impossible to name a single wow moment. Tops are walking the quiet backstreets of Rome after dark, the Pantheon, The Forum, Volterra, David, and The Uffizi. On our own, we climbed both the St. Peter's dome and the Duomo dome in Florence and really enjoyed both of these. We love the coffee bars and gelato."
The tour was an amazing experience. It was the perfect mix of group time and time on our own. We learned so much and saw so many incredible sites in a country filled with them.
"The entire trip was a "wow" moment, but if I had to pick just one, it was as the local guide in Rome made the Forum come to life for us."
Kingston, WA
Action packed whirlwind tour. The time flew by so quickly because we were ALWAYS busy doing something fun. I can hardly believe how many sites and museums were packed into this tour
"For me it was when I climbed the steps in the Colosseum and walked out to see the entire structure exposed, knowing just how old it really was. This experience was just breath taking."
I thought the tour was extremely well balanced between time with the tour and some free time to make our own choices. I was expecting the food to be good but not great because we had a group of 28 at the restaurants, but I was wrong! The food was amazing! I enjoyed the time with the other tour participants, saw amazing museums, historic sites, scenery and of course ate a lot of gelato! I highly recommend this tour.
"My favorite "wow" of the tour was the Uffizi Gallery. Our local tour guide was amazing and helped me understand the context of the art as well as to be able to read a painting."
Yacolt, WA
Tour was extremely organized, the hotels and restaurants were great. The transportation was well organized and very comfortable. Great blend of participants in the tour group.
"No single "wow" moment all of it was wonderful. We really enjoyed the mix of big cities and then small towns."
A wonderful well paced, well organized trip!
"No favorite just overall great experience. The group meals were a great plus!"
Great tour. Great guides, knowledgeable. Reid was terrific. Everything I expected and then some. Hotels were nice, comfortable with all amenities. Food, wine excellent. Tour mates were fun. Itinerary gave a great overview of Italy. I highly recommend this tour.
"I can't think of only one Wow moment. There were several. Seeing St Peters Basilica bathed in golden early morning sunlight without tourists per Reid's recommendation. The Roman Forum was spectacular. I had been to Rome before, and did not appreciate its beauty then due to the crowds and traffic. However, this time I fell in love with it. Beautiful statues, domes around every corner. Another wow moment was the view of Tuscan countryside from our villa in Volterra."
Forest Lake, MN
We loved all of it - the great hotels, the wonderful group meals, the skip-the-line tours and the balance of scheduled and unscheduled time. We wanted lots of activity and enjoyed all of the walking. I really liked the walking tours the first day/evening in each city which helped get our bearings for exploring on our own. Reid was a great guide - entertaining and passionate about art and history. Our group was fantastic - wonderful people.
"Seeing the Pantheon, the Colosseum and Forum were very interesting. To think about the detail in the buildings vs. the tools available at the time was amazing!"
It was wonderful ... a terrific introduction to Italy, a great group of travelling companions and really strong tour leadership.
"Hard to pick just one, but real stand-outs were Annie's tour of Volterra, along with the beautiful view of Tuscany from there ... lunch at the Lovers' Table at Belforte in Vernazza, with our waiter, Andrea ... David ... the view of St. Peter's at night ... the view of Florence from the Piazzale Michelangelo. Trastevere and Santa Croce were special favorites, too."
Loved every moment. The mix of tour and free time to explore on our own was the perfect blend.
"So many amazing mental pictures in my head that it is hard to just one moment. The countryside views from the arch in Volterra, seeing Vernazza spread below from the hiking path, and seeing the Duomo from the hotel rooftop tower. All moments I'll never forget."
Our guide Patricia was outstanding! We learned, explored, ate, and laughed our way through Italy. I very much enjoyed getting to know the other travelers in our group - we all got along so well. There was a good amount of group time and free time in each destination. Hotels were nice. I had plenty of clothes in the single carry-on. Rick is right! The Heart of Italy tour can be quite strenuous, so be fit ready to go. Andiamo!
"Stepping off the train at Monterosso, viewing the vibrant blue of the sparkling Lingurian Sea and the narrow buildings in shades of peach, apricot, butter, and salmon that line up like pastels in a terrace-shaped crayon box. Vibrant beach umbrellas inviting us down cobblestone streets. A glass of wine enjoyed with new friends on a hotel rooftop terrace and the ancient clock striking 6. The promise of pesto pasta and a favorite focaccia. Hiking to Vernazza and Corniglia's La Posada. Ah, life!"
North Salt Lake, UT
3rd trip with RS. Best group of people so far. Group Meals were not as good as other tours, or as good as we expected for Italy.
"Dessert the 1st night in Rome! Gelato ball rolled in Chocolate. Best ever!"
Nestleton, ON
Our tour was everything we'd hoped it to be. We wanted to experience Italy and I feel we did just that.
"Volterre. The old walled town with its narrow streets and charm really captured Italy at its best."
The tour was a great experience! It was well organized and our guide, Patricia did a great job. She is very positive and knowledgeable, handled the logistics with ease and made it very easy for us. She patiently answered all group questions and had limitless information to provide us as needed.
"For me it was probably hiking between towns in Cinque Terra. The perfect weather didn't hurt but what a beautiful area!"
We had a fabulous time! Our guide, Patricia, made the trip fantastic. Her knowledge, her humour, her friendliness greatly contributed to the success of the experience because she brought the group together. We became a family. She was helped along by Lisa who was also wonderful. Bargain - two for the price of one! The local tour guides were also excellent. We had fabulous weather, great history lessons and made new friends. Volterre was our favourite place!
"I only need two words - Cinque Terre!"
Where do I begin? The tour, the guides, the food were all fantastic, but the fellowship was THE BEST!Patricia made us all feel like family.
"Volterra was my favorite part of the entire tour. It is a quaint, little village tucked in the hills of Tuscany. We had left the hustle and bustle of Rome and got to experience the quiet of Volterra. I will treasure the memory of that village for the rest of my life."
"Everything about the town of Volterra...the people, the history, the food, the walkability, the beauty, the spectacular views...everything!!"
Golden Valley, MN
This was my husband's introduction to Europe and we couldn't have asked for better. Better tour, better group, better guide, better experience - you could 't do it any better! We didn't love the radios with earpieces at first (especially walking the streets of Rome - TOURIST!) but quickly saw their use and value. My previous tour of London didn't use them however and hearing/staying with the guide was not a problem.
"Riding bikes on the ancient walls of Lucca was an unexpected and fabulous time - I was absolutely giddy. Coming into Volterra and being rendered speechless by the scenery. Same experience from our Cinque Terre hotel rooftop overlooking the town, hills, and sea."
This was an amazing trip. I did my research on what my ideal first trip to Italy would be and the Heart of Italy had everything I wanted (except Venice, which we added on the end - on our own). And it did not disappoint. Rome, because you must. Volterra, the absolute delight of the trip. An afternoon in Lucca, charming. The Cinque Terre, it's magical. Florence was awe inspiring. And our guide, Patricia, made it perfect!
"We're on our on in the Cinque Terre. We did the boat tour along the coast. We decided to have lunch in Vernazza. We thought we were walking up stairs into the town, but found ourselves in a restaurant where we got the "Lovers Table", on a ledge all by itself, looking out over the Ligurian Sea. Our server, Andrea, gave us the most unforgettable experience. Sharing stories of our lives, bringing us food to try - some that we didn't order - much to our delight. I'll never forget it!"
Great experience overall. Have been on Rick Steves' tours to Spain and Ireland. The trip to Italy was every bit as good. Our guide Andy was great. The people on the tour were fun people. I cannot imagine a better tour
"The whole trip was a wow moment. Our stay in Volterra with the history dating back to the Etruscans through the Romans to the Floretines to the Germans was brought to life by the town and our local guide Annie. the experience was punctuated by being next to the bell in the town hall bell tower when it rang at 230 pm. WOW."
I felt the tour was very well planned and included only the most important things to learn about and see. The optional sites were well explained and adequate time was allowed for things to be viewed and enjoyed.
"There were many...at least one each day! I had long looked forward to seeing Michelangelo's "David" so this stands out among the many memorable moments of the trip. My second place "wow" might be the Pantheon as I did not expect it too be so well preserved or so elaborate...a lovely surprise."
My husband & I were first time tour participants. Upon our return home he pulled out your most recent brochure & said let's pick our next trip. We had the most lovely time! We so enjoyed the small group of people with whom we traveled. We loved our well-traveled & knowledgeable guide, Andy. Speaking of Andy, he's quite a guy. Completely competent & comfortable handling our group, Andy was a joy. The local guides were terrific. We especially appreciated Paul's tour of the Uffitzi.
"We were wowed by the tour of the Uffitzi Gallery with Paul. This was not our first visit to the gallery & thought about skipping it. So glad we didn't b/c we will never look at art w/o thinking of Paul. He changed art appreciation for us forever! Everyone should experience the gallery with Paul."
Martnez, CA
My wife and I enjoyed the tour immensely. Having personal tour guides and our own tour Host made the history and the culture much more personalized; and brought every rich bit of history to life. Walking through history and getting a feel for the culture is so much more dynamic, than sitting on a bus and visiting from a distance.
"One of the most memorable and romantic moments was being on the Rooftop Bar at our hotel in Florence. Looking out over the city's beautiful nighttime skyline, sipping wine with good friends from the tour. Then as if by magic, classical music began being played on the Arno river, floating up through the antiquities, just melting everyone's heart. Absolutely Unforgettable!"
I can't say enough good things about this trip! Everything was so organized and went so smoothly. Each town we visited was made even more special by the local guides, charming hotels, and fantastic group dinners. Andy was an amazing guide who enhanced our experience with his knowledge, personality, and good humor. I would take another Rick Steves Tour in a heartbeat!
"I loved every minute of this trip, but some of my favorite moments were seeing the Colosseum, the Pantheon, going to a wine tasting,seeing the David and hiking in the Cinque Terre from Monterosso to Vernazza! It was a very challenging hike, but the views were spectacular! It was also special celebrating my 60th birthday with our group as we had a welcome drink on the rooftop garden overlooking the Mediterranean Sea! Andy even had the group sing Happy Birthday to me in Italian! What a memory!"
As a first time traveler to Italy I appreciated everything about the culture, food, architecture,friendly and hospitable people. The tour went beyond my expectations of what I thought about tours. I loved all the places we visited and each place had its own charm and character. The number of people on our tour was good, not too overwhelming.
"It's very difficult to choose one "wow" moment because I think I was using that word a lot. The statue of David, Sistine Chapel,Colleseum,St Peters Basilica, and Cinque Terrence on the Mediterranean were all wow moments!"
This was my first Rick Steve's tour and i was amazed how organised and seamless the tour was.Andy did a remarkable job guiding our group.He really made our trip enjoyable and educational.Andy spent time getting to know each one of us,and joked with all of us.Andy made us feel welcome.Andy was very knowledgeable and informative.Andy did a great job,and he also arranged the best local tour guides to make our trip even more exceptional.I would definitely request Andy on any future Rick Steve tours.
"There were many wow moments but the Roman Colosseum, and the Pantheon were my favorites.The art work,the statues, and the beautiful Churches amazed me."
This was my once in a lifetime trip to Italy. Our guide Andy Steves was awesome. He was so knowledgeable. He was so kind, yet kept us on track. I especially loved exploring the Cinque Terra and the town of Volterra. In Rome, I especially liked the hotel we stayed, because it was so close to the Vatican! And we ate at a wonderful restaurant, our choice, late in the evening, when the residents of the area would be there. It was a delightful experience! Ciao!
"My "wow" moment was being able to wade in the Mediterranean Sea!"
I had high expectations and this tour exceeded those expectations! Andy helped our group to meld well, offered great tips and insights, and provided a tour with a great combination of fun and professionalism. Our local guides were fantastic...very passionate about sharing the history of the places we were in. The food was wonderful and the hotels were great!
"The Colosseum was my definite "wow" moment. I can't even put it into words."
It was really great. We couldn't be happier. First time in Italy and the tour indeed gave as the big taste of Italy we were looking for. Now we will return in the future on our own and feel confident in planning to see other wonderful places.
"So many to choose from probably the first glimpse of the Mediterranean in Cinque Terre."
This was my 16th Rick Steves tour. I have always enjoyed them immensely. And that's why I keep coming back!
"It was the town of Volterra. So rich in Etruscan history which was made even more compelling by our local guide Annie. This town seems to be delightfully frozen in time. Just charming!"
This was our first Rick Steves tour or any organized tour. To say it exceeded my expectations is a bit of an understatement! We had a lovely group of travelers and our tour guide Reid was exceptional. You hit the ground running so I would suggest arriving at least a day early as suggested in the Rick Steves book. It's a perfect blend of group time and free time. The group time is VERY educational with local experts joining our group in each place visited.
"Too many to be limited to one. Just to be in Rome was a wow moment. I loved our tour with our guide Ilaria, her stories of Ancient Rome and also the tour of Colosseum/Forum...WOW!! Our hotel in Florence with the viewing tower was priceless. Private Happy Hour at the top of Florence...WOW!!!"
Moneta, VA
Heart of Italy in 9 Days Tour Our tour was my first time to Italy and I (we) enjoyed it very much. Having served in the USA for over 23 years I like to see countries where I have never been. I also like history, old ruins and existing ancient temples, churches, etc. of interest and the culture of the country, and this tour hit all of them. Our tour guide was very good but I thought it was a special touch to bring in local experts to tell us about their "home town".
"There were many wonderful sights along the way but probably the Uffizi Gallery in Florence was the cherry on the top of the cake. The local lady that talked to my group was amazing with her knowledge of the paintings and of course the art work was outstanding."
Overall, the tour was very good. However, it was not as Outstanding as the Best of Paris tour we took last year.
"Difficult to choose one. I had been to Rome and Florence once before, 20 years ago. For this trip, I really enjoyed our local tour guide (Hilaria) showing us the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Seeing Monterossa, Cinque Terre and going into the Mediterranean Sea were some of the highlights for me."
Well-organized, great local guides, friendly small group.
"Driving through Tuscany, ending up at beautiful Volterra. Most favorite spot on the tour"
We enjoyed the various activities organized in the multiple locations we visited. The organization and leadership of the tour made it easy for us to get comfortable quickly and become independent travelers. The local guides provided invaluable content and guidance. The accommodations and meals were most enjoyable. Overall, we greatly enjoyed our tour and are Rick Steves' fans.
"Stepping back in time to towns that were 500 to 2,000 years old. Experiencing history by being part of it. Seeing so many iconic locations. Being in Rome and visiting the Vatican, places I have seen on TV, movies, etc. many times. Nothing like the hands-on, personal experiences."
North Bend, WA
Fabulous tour! this was my first RS tour and it couldn't have been better.. would highly recommend. The guides/hotels/food exceeded by expectations ..Very busy tour and I was really pleased that all the members were able to keep up with the pace. Very nice mix of time with group and on our own time.
"So hard to say because so much of Italy was a "wow" beings our first time.. although I must say Tuscany was very high on the list. Loved all the food and wines - wines tastings and local tour guides were fabulous. Cinneque terra was amazing.."
This was my first group tour. I have been an independent international traveler since I was 20 years old, and I was a bit concerned that being on a tour would feel restrictive or too lockstep. All my fears were unfounded. The schedule was busy but still provided lots of time for personal exploration and downtime. I loved having some meals with the group, and some with my travel partner (my mom). I felt the tips our guide provided helped us access the best of the local flavor!
"Volterra far and away. It's a place I never would have gotten to if I'd been traveling on my own. The town was absolutely charming, and full of amazing restaurants, artisans, and history. We met locals who showed us the authentic side of Tuscany. The views were astounding and our hotel so comfortable and centrally located. I loved every minute of it!"
The tour was great. All of the local guides were excellent
Well guided, good pace, hit the high spots .
"Roof of hotel in Florence"
The tour was terrific. We saw everything we wanted to see. We loved the itinerary and the diversity of activities. The trip met our needs and made seeing spectacular places so easy. It really was fun!
"Rome was amazing. Francesca blew our minds. Swimming in the Mediterranean at Levanto with a group of us under the stars, hiking the two high trails at Cinque Terre where we did actually say "wow". Cycling in Lucca. The lights at night in Florence. Seeing a real da Vinci at the Uffuzi. The Vatican"
Loved the guides! Everything ran smoothly. Hotel accommodations were good for the most part. Hauling luggage over cobbled streets inthe heat was sometimes a challenge.
"Seeing the Sistine Chapel and David."
3 of the 4 of us had not been on a RS' tour. Our tour guides, hotels, meals, transportation were excellent. Our days were well organized with plenty of time on our own to explore each city. It was exceedingly hot in Rome for late September and I did not pack accordingly.
"Our guides in Rome (intro to city-Francesca and the colosseum/forum-Paolo), Volterra (Annie), Lucca (Elena) were knowledgeable and well spoken. However, our guide, Paolo, in the Uffizi museum was the best-so passionate. I learned so much having not studied art history previously."
"Spending time one evening at the tower rooftop bar at our Firenze hotel. Attentive service and spectacular view!"
Expectations were exceeded at every turn. Our tour guides were personable and knowledgeable. I felt secure and relaxed under their leadership. There was an excellent blend of structure and free time. The local guides were passionate and loved sharing their expertise with us. The dinners were outstanding and the hotel accommodations were surprisingly comfortable. Even the breakfasts were much better than anticipated. This tour is filled with wonders and leaves you wanting more.
"Local guide Francesca took us to the Pantheon and other marvels of modern/ancient Rome. Her perspective on the unity of past, present, and future was nothing short of mesmerizing. She gently coaxed us to put down our cameras and put away our check lists and just experience this magestic place which belongs to all of humanity. Of everything I saw in Italy, what I most wanted to bring home with me was Francesca!"
West Lake Hills, TX
This was our first time in Italy and a first on a RS tour. It was wonderful. Ferdi and Sally had everything running to a T and were just fantastic hosts/guides. All the city guides were outstanding as well and brought so much passion into the tour and were extremely knowledgeable. Food was wonderful everywhere especially in Levanto at the Primavera Hotel. Looking forward to our next adventure with RS.
"The WOW moment for me was coming face to face with the 2000 years old structures in Rome and trying to wrap my head around the shear genius of how they were able to build such monuments and that they are still standing today."
St Charles, MO
The trip was wonderful, how could it not be-we were in Italy?! The organized tours ere very informative and interesting, the guides very passionate and fun. It is a very busy tour, not a lot of down time. The places visited very great. Hotels mostly had good locations but were kind of marginal, especially the hotel in Rome and Levanto. Both of these had very small rooms.
"We had lunch in Manarola at a restaurant high above the town. From there we could see the town carved into the mountain, with the sea in front of us. It was definitely a "wow" moment."
Loved Italy. Blown away by the GENIUS Engineering & Architecture (Structural & Psychological). Have to see it all to believe it. Franchesca & guide for the Colosseum were great. All the guides were good. LOVED Ferdi & Sally.
"The immense size & beauty of the VaticanMuseum & StPetersBasilica & ThePantheon. How was this able to be built back then? Still in disbelief."
This tour was everything I hoped it would be, and more. Everything was well organized and efficient so we could pack a lot of fun into each day. It was nice to have the planning and logistics taken care of. There was a great mix of structured time and free time to explore. I loved all the cities we visited. I came home with a sense of cultural enrichment that far surpassed the many independent trips my husband and I have taken. This is thanks to all the wonderful guides we had. Great memories!!
"I can't say enough good things about Francesca, our local guide in Rome. She was warm, energetic, and fun to listen to. I loved her explanation that Rome can't be understood chronologically. The old and the new are intertwined. My wow moment was her tour of the Pantheon. She made all the years of history come alive. Her beautiful stories almost brought tears to my eyes. It is a moment I will always cherish."
The tour was very well organized. The tour guide Ferdi did an excellent job of outlining each days activities as well as keeping us on schedule. The local guides were incredibly knowledgeable and excellent at conveying their message. The accommodations were charming and well located. The included meals were culinary delights.
"The tour of Roma with guide Francesca was beyond description. Her incredible knowledge coupled with her insightful and passionate presentation brought Roma to life for me!"
Elida, OH
This was our first Rick Steeves tour and we were amazed. From the outstanding tour guides, to the tour and the pace of the tour itself, the hotels and the food. Everything was just perfect. This was a well planned tour and we would highly recommend it for anyone.
"I believe being able to actually see in person and walk on the paths of places that are so old was my favorite "wow" moment. The history lessons we had on the tour were the best."
As usual, our Rick Steves trip was well thought out, planned and executed. Our guides were great, very knowledgeable and helpful. Gave us great information and tips. The dining was exceptional and with a few exceptions the hotels were fine as well. The tour met all my expectations and we'll be back soon!
"Cinque Terre was simply stunning. My favorite part of the trip by far. Also, really enjoyed Volterra. Both locations were out of the hussle and bussle and allowed relaxed touring and sightseeing. Could have used another half day in Cinque Terre. Wow moment was looking down on the Village of Vernazza from the church above the town. Stunningly beautiful."
The tour was great, Stephanie & Tim, were awesome guides and super helpful. The heart of Italy tour accomplished everything it set out too for us. We'll definitely find our way back to Italy. It gave us a great introduction to a good chunk of Italy, the culture, and the history.
"Hiking up to the half way point between Vernazza and Corniglia and looking down on the whole Cinque Terre was definitely one of my "wow" moments. It was 90+ degrees, with 80% humidity and we had completed sweated through our clothes but it was incredible. My other moment was St Peter's Basilica. Nothing can prepare you for its size and grandness. The Sistine Chapel was incredible as expected, but St Peter's can't be explained. You have to stand in it."
I wasn't sure how I was going to feel doing a tour with a group, but because we had no experience with traveling to another country, we thought this would be the safest way to dip our toes in the traveling water. It was magnificent and our group was amazing. We had incredible guides in all our cities, getting us in to visit local artists, alabaster workshops, private wine tasting, and family restaurants. That is all special treats on top of the #1 treatment and Entrances to the sites.
"I had so many that it was beyond words. I was deathly afraid to travel and of heights. I cried thinking about flying so far, but once I was there, I conquered so many fears. I walked sometimes alone in the villages/cities without fear, I climbed to the very top of St Peters Basilica and several bell towers and roof tops, feeling empowered. I actually saw Madonna and Child, The Birth of Venus, and David. I swam in the Mediterranean and I hadn't even been in a swim suit for about 18 years. Amazing"
Overall, absolutely amazing experience! First trip with Rick Steves. The entire trip was everything that we dreamed it would be. Stephanie and Tim were a great team and added a lot to the experience. Our specialty guides in each town were also exceptional. Physically demanding but we were warned. Saw and learned so much!
"I was amazed, walking through Rome neighborhoods and all of a sudden some amazing historical monument is right in front of you."
Everything about this trip was memorable. We had a wonderful time. It was everything we had hoped for.
"The tour of Levanto. The Etruscan influence on future civilizations"
The Heart of Italy Tour totally exceeded expectations! First time to Europe and truly believe the RS tour experience is the best way to make the most of your time, while still allowing individual time so that you can create your own unique experiences and memories.
"There are many "wow" moments when you're in Italy! However what stood out to me was the little extra "wows" that our tour guides provided - the unexpected bread snack when we were tired and hot from walking; the gelato treat in Florence; teaching us how to request our hotel room key in Italian - the attention to making the experience memorable and immersed in the culture."
We truly had such a wonderful group - I'm not sure if it was Italy or the people that made this such an enjoyable trip! As happens, not everything went right, the heat and humidity was a double-whammy: & I loved every minute of it. The tour guides and our city guides were great: knowledgeable and kind, the family dinner well-chosen and special, and the sights, obviously incredible. Favorite stops: Volterra and Cinque Terre/Levanto
"I would say the hiking between Corniglia and Vernazza - and then swimming in the Mediterranean afterwards."
My husband and I travel several times a year on trips that we arrange and go by ourselves. This was our first vacation going on group tour. I was a bit apprehensive because I was concerned that it would be too confining, restrictive, slow moving, etc. Nothing was further from the truth. Sarah was an amazing guide! She made our trip seem seamless and effortless, which are signs of an experienced, professional guide. Our group got along extremely well. Overall experience was an A+ !
"Hmmm... so many! Going on tours with Francesca and staying in Voltera (such a magical place)."
This was our first time to Europe and Italy proved to be a great choice. We spent more for the Rick Steve' tour but the benefits were well worth the additional cost. The logistics were smooth and the guides bridged the rare communication gap allowing for a more enjoyable trip. The invaluable insight, stories, and history our guide and local experts provided was outstanding, their enthusiasm contagious! The selection of destinations was a good sampling and maximized the time available.
"The entire experience was a incredible! Every day was filled with architecture, art, and food, impossible to take it all in, the volume and scale impressive , history was leaping off pages being brought to life by proximity and the excellent knowledge of our guides."
This was my first time traveling with a group tour and I was worried about it being too touristy and regimented. Also traveling alone was a concern. To my delight the tour was outstanding in every way. The knowledge of your guides along with the guides on site in every city made the trip an absolute joy. I have been to Rome on my own and did not scratch the surface on the sights that I saw on this tour. Sarah and Marianna were terrific as guides and always made me feel part of the group.
"The sights in Florence were breathtaking. I look forward to returning in the future to see more"
During our Heart of Italy tour my fiance commented, "I didn't know that I didn't know" how important Italy was in the advance of civilization. While visiting iconic historical sites, we both discovered the tremendous travel advantage of a well educated, locally savvy, engaging tour guide. Sarah Corfield and Francesca (our guide in Rome) were superb hosts! I am a seasoned traveler who believed the cost and confines of traveling on a group tour were unnecessary impediments. Boy was I wrong!
"Francesca encouraged us to embrace emotion and allow ourselves to truly relate to the art, architecture, culture, and history of Italy. Enriched by an understanding of Michaelangelo's deep personal and physical suffering as he labored to finish his masterpiece at the Sistine Chapel, I was deeply moved to view the scenes with my own eyes."
Absolutely amazing! Sarah and Marianna didn't miss a step. They were both so friendly, available, and knowledgeable. Having tour guides from each city we visited was invaluable. The love and passion they showed brought everything to life and gave me a true appreciation. Especially Francesca in Rome! I had to hug her because she was just so amazing. The hotels we stayed at were great as well. Loved the locations and the people as they were very friendly and helpful.
"Walking into St. Ignatius church was definitely a wow moment. My friends and I teared up instantly and Francesca told us to just go with our emotions."
This was probably the best trip I've ever been on! From the first day orientation meeting to the final dinner, everything was well organized and well run. Great hotels, food, activities. I appreciated that everything I'd read in the RS tour books and seen on his shows was really utilized by the tour staff and with our daily activities.
"Touring the Rome with our local guide Francesca, especially the Forum. She has such a passion for her city and it's history that really comes thru in her descriptions of the sites we visited. She has a way of making the places come alive so that you can actually see Caesar walking the crowded streets on the fateful Ides of March!"
Great people, great sights, great accommodations, and a beautiful part of the world.
"Volterra was breathtaking, gorgeous vistas, small streets, family friendly, tasty restaurants."
Jackson, AL
The tour was fantastic. It was even better than I expected going in. Our guide was awesome!!! There was a perfect mix of organized, guided tours and free time to explore on our own. The hotels and meals provided were perfect and we feel like we experienced the "real Italy". I learned a tremendous amount of history that I never knew. Everything about the tour was perfect!
"Volterra and the Cinqua Terra."
Christina was simply outstanding in every way....precise, pleasant, game day problem solving, and constantly engaging. The local tour guides were excellent also. I loved the balancing of organized tours and free time. The busses were comfortable and efficient.
"Although Florence was my favorite city, the Colloseum was my Wow moment. To see what has become the continuing model for modern stadiums in person was amazing! I loved the other aspects of Ancient Rome as well."
Carlsbad, NM
Great tour guides, especially Christina. The pace was just right with plenty of free time to explore.
"Volterra."
My husband and I enjoyed our tour experience immensely! It was absolutely perfect for us!!! All the guides were excellent--they communicated clearly and made it fun and interesting by telling personal stories etc. We would not have been able to appreciate what we saw nearly as much without our wonderful guides making history come to life! We also enjoyed the many times that we were given free time to explore on our own. We thought the tour contained the perfect balance of structure and free time!
"I think there were many "wow" moments, but I especially enjoyed the Tuscany region, with its quaint villages nestled in the hills. Volterra and Lucca were both very beautiful and relaxing, after a busy time in Rome. I also loved the gorgeous views during our hike at the Cinque Terre. I honestly felt like I was in a picture book, and what I was seeing wasn't even real! Loved the local flair of all restaurants and hotels!"
I found out about Rick Steves one week after booking a tour with another company in 2016. Everything Rick says about other tour groups...we experienced. We paid additional for excursions, tipped guides, servers, bus drivers, we stayed outside of towns so it was difficult to venture out on our own, etc. Finally we went on a Rick Steves tour and I was so impressed! The tour was exactly what I expected and more! Thank you!
"Volterra and the Cinque Terre. Travelling to both places allowed us to see the Italian countryside away from the big cities. Volterra was charming and I felt like local visiting their markets and dining at their family restaurants. Staying in Levanto was perfect. We were able to visit 3 of the 5 Cinque Terre towns and get back to the beach for a late afternoon swim and sunset."
Our Heart of Italy tour guide Francesco was fabulous, and he really made our vacation very special and memorable. We had so many fun and interesting activities planned every day, and we ate the most delicious foods. I can't wait to go back.
"There were so many wow moments, too many to count ! In Rome, it was the magnificent Sistene Chapel. In Volterra Tuscany it was the breathtaking view of the town from our hotel. In Cinque Terre, the wow moment was watching the lovely sunset from the beach. And Florence was full of wow moments: the cathedrals, the shopping, Michaelangelo's David."
Mahtomedi, MN
It was a great mix of time together and time on our own. The tour guides were all outstanding and helpful. Suggestions: skip Lucca and let us check the Leaning Tower of Pisa off our bucket list and grab lunch. Lucca was interesting, but Volterra (because of our tour guides) was equally or moreso, and Lucca felt like a shopping mall with all the stores. Also, please consider making that Italy guidebook digital! I would pay money to have it on my phone-- it was too heavy to carry around.
"The tour of the forum in Rome."
Winooski, VT
Enjoyed changing pace of trip. Loved Volterra and our pool at hotel. Rooftop bar at hotel in Florence was great. Loved bringing up trip to Cinque Terre with stop in Lucca. At wine tasting,would have appreciated water being offered . I cannot drink alcohol due to heart murmur but wanted to tag along with husband but felt a bit awkward when no beverage for me. Of course I know it was a wine tasting.
"Honestly lounging by pool at hotel overlooking Tuscany area with many of our tour group lounging with us. Appreciate the relaxing time."
I very much enjoyed the tour. The itinerary was spot on in terms of seeing great sights and spending an adequate amount of time in each place. Francesco did a great job, particularly in setting up dinners in Volterra & Levanto and the wine tasting in Volterra!
"It is hard to pick out a "wow" moment because I enjoyed so much. But seeing the towns of the Cinque Terra by sea was a highlight. Of course so were the attractions of Rome & Florence, visiting Lucca and our stay in Volterra."
Anna as well as all of the tour guides in each city helped to bring the culture and history in Italy alive during the 9 days we were together. Anna was constantly engaged with all of us and would not only ensure every day was interesting and organized beautifully, but looked to each of us to learn how we spent our free time and make personalized suggestions. Her care made this tour a special time in our lives.
"Most days there were several 'wow' moments. One of my favorite "wow" moments was looking to the mountains and it looked as though they were covered in snow- and being told that it was marble dust from the quarries being cut out over hundreds of years- with no snow at all...."
Absolutely thrilled with the quality of the trip tour guide and the local tour guides. Their ability to bring alive the historical environment was amazing, engaging, and inspiring. The logistics support from the company before, during, and after the trip was so helpful. It really let us be free to enjoy the pleasures of food, new friends, and new experiences. This was my first Rick Steve,s tour. Thank you so much!
"The parade of the crosses, the buddy system routine, the Alabastor workshop demonstration, and the mountain"snow" that was really Carrera marble dust. sorry, I could not pick just one."
well done. professional, courteous, well organized. good sequence and reasonable expectations. Really nice group of well educated kind people on the tour. Very nice exposure to each area which is what we hoped would happen.
It was an amazing experience. We learned so much in such a short time -- well worth doing!
"Too many to count! Probably the tour given by Francesca in Rome -- she really painted a picture of how the Coliseum and Forum looked back when they were first used. Loved that!"
It was the perfect blend of learning about the history of Italy and experiencing it as a country. We had a great tour group that was a blend of young and old. Everyone was very respectful of time, and we never had to wait for anyone. We got so much in during the tour, but we also felt like we had plenty of time to do things on our own.
"Seeing how safe it was, and how easy it was to get around."
Since this was our first tour in Europe, it was great to have someone knowledgeable handle all the travel arrangements - bus and hotel reservations, and show us how to ride the trains at the Chinque Terra. There was a good balance of types of activities and free time. Our tour guide was very consciencious and made sure that things went smoothly.
"- Jumping into the Ligurian Sea at Manarola on a hot day - we avoided the crowds and beat the heat - rounding the corner and seeing the (Michelangelo's)David and other outside statues in Florence in the piazza"
Seamless, amazing, educational, cultural, breathtaking, and absolutely memorable (for the rest of my life).
"Having Francesca (local Rome guide) take us through the pantheon, roman forum, and Colosseum. She had an indescribable way of making you connect to the city and its history that I will never forget."
Winthrop, WA
I liked the hotels in which we stayed. The bus rides were good-and air conditioned! The intermediate stops were well timed. I was a bit disappointed to be staying in Levanto instead of a Cinque Terra town but when I got there I realized it was a perfect choice. I wouldn't have wanted to be in one of them. I loved seeing the art and architecture. The local guides were informative and easy to understand.
"I really like Volterra. I liked the small size, the alabaster workshop experience, the Etruscan history and museum and the ability to walk all around the town. I didn't expect to enjoy this town at all. Of course seeing David, The Vatican, the Colosseum, the forum and all the other sights were so special."
Mission Hills, KS
The guides on the tour were amazing. Truly passionate about their cities and really seemed to enjoy sharing their knowledge. I felt like I learned what it was like to live in those places. Our guide/coordinator was also first rate. She was incredibly informative the entire trip and did a wonderful job keeping us organized. Andrea is a very good fit for her position. The tour was well worth it and delivered everything I expected (except the hotels - discussed below).
"Lucca and the Cinque Terre were the wow moments for me. Both were unlike anything I had ever seen and both will leave lasting memories. I wish we had more time in Lucca."
I loved our Rick Steve's Heart of Italy Tour! We met wonderful people, saw many beautiful sites, ate delicious food, learned fascinating history and saw places in Italy we never would have dared to venture to on our own. Andrea was fabulous - she kept 27 people on schedule and happy! Our fellow travelers were great - it was fun to share the experience with so many new friends. The tour was the perfect balance of structured/planned events with lots of free time to explore on our own.
"There were many "wow" moments, but if I have to narrow it down it would be hiking the cinque terre. When we came to the point where we could see Corniglia in the distance it took my breath away. I am not a "hiker" and that trail was pretty challenging for me, but it was absolutely worth it for the beautiful views and the sense of accomplishment."
It was fantastic and far exceeded my expectations.The hotels were great- their location was key to the overall experience . The people running them were great and made us feel so welcome. The dinners were perfect and the quality of the food great. I liked the fact that we were not dining as a group every night.. we had time to ourselves so it wasn't overload. The tour guide (Andrea Wolf) was also key to our experience. She was so knowledgeable about everything (history, local customs)!
"Was hiking from Vernazza to Monterossa in the Cinque Terre and climbing up an exceptionally challenging portion of the trail to arrive at the top and see the most awesome scenery of the sea and the beautiful mountains and pastel colored buildings. That was my favorite Wow moment! also, turning the corner into the Academia and seeing the David in Florence as well as the Duomo. In Rome, being part of the crowd being blessed by the Pope in St Peters Square. The beauty of St Peters at sunset."
My daughter and I really enjoyed our tour. Andrea was a fabulous tour guide, she was a big part of making the tour special for us. We enjoyed the activities, most of the hotels that we stayed in & the local tour guides that were hired. We had a nice group of people from all areas of the United States that we enjoyed getting to know.
"Our favorite "wow" moment was seeing the fabulous S. Peter's Basilica in Rome, no words can describe it! Other moments were walking amongst the Roman Forum and seeing the Cinque Terre for the first time from a boat ride."
Minoa, NY
We really made the right decision to do a Rick Steves' tour. From start to finish we were so pleased and thrilled with every experience. Our guide was fabulous, the people in our group were so friendly and each hotel had it's own charm and was a wonderful place to recharge and cool off after a busy and hot day. It took us years to make the decision to take this trip and now we want to do another :)
"I'm really not sure how people can list one "wow" moment as it all was "wow". But I would say seeing the Pantheon in Rome left me speechless. To think about how well preserved it is and how it was constructed is a marvel. Also our vineyard walk in the hillside above Manarola in the Cinque Terre was truly a highlight for my family. The views were absolutely stunning."
The tour was fantastic and seemed to have a healthy balance of scheduled and unscheduled activities.
"Probably the city of Florence. There was so much to see and culture to absorb."
"Being treated like family in Volterra. Francesco treated us to an amazing al fresco garden group dinner. It started with bubbly and ended with homemade limoncello and the most lovely delicious dinner in between. You can tell he loves his hometown and loves to share all his favorite restaurants and must sees."
Everything about this tour was prefect from the sites to the tour guide to the other travelers!
"Volterra"
The overall experience was excellent. I thought Francesco was an excellent and engaging guide who combined the expected knowledge for the tour with his own personal insights and experience. The tour had a good balance between intensity, activity, and cultural sites in the two major cities, with more relaxed stops in Volterra and the Cinque Terre. The group was excellent and everyone got along well and seemed to gel by the time we stopped in Volterra.
"Probably the group dinner Francesco arranged in Volterra. While that would be the wow moment if I had to pick one, I would say the stop in Volterra and the events Francesco arranged there were the best part of the tour."
This trip - from beginning planning stages to end - was beyond our wildest expectations and dreams! Rick Steves company was recommended to us by many people, several who have gone on multiple trips, so we had set the bar pretty high from the beginning. Every detail was well thought out, and our guides had answers to questions even before we asked them. Excellent accommodations, superb tours and guides, an unforgettable experience! We will definitely return. Thank you!
"Volterra, for sure. Driving into the Tuscan region after several days in busy Rome was a refreshing change with its hilly, green landscapes, steeped in history, and the slower, lovely pace of a backyard outdoor farm to table fresh dinner and wine pairings among new friends. By far, this was the highlight as it was unexpected and perfect."
We absolutely *loved* the Heart of Italy. Not just the venues, but the guides were great and we really had a great time traveling with our group, many of whom we will continue to stay in touch with. The agenda was very well designed and organized. We loved how it began and ended in busy cities with more rural locations in the middle of the tour. It was the perfect mix of group time and on-your own time. I could not have asked for a better way to experience Europe on my first visit there.
"We had a fantastic backyard cookout with some of Francesco's friends in Volterra. The relaxation of that night contrasted with the hustle and bustle of Rome was a particularly satisfying evening."
As a family of four, the balance of structure and freedom was perfect. It kept us on schedule but allowed for private time to rest (it was hot!) as well as see additional sites. We were happy with the accommodations and restaurant selections.
"For me, the unexpected stop at the U.S. military cemetery outside Florence was an eye-opening "wow" moment. Also on the list of wow moments: 1. Floor entrance to Colosseum. 2. Wine tasting in Volterra 3. The hike in Cinque Terre"
Our family of 5 had a wonderful tour with Sarah. Having 3 teenagers on the tour, my biggest concern was them being bombarded with too many museums, architecture, and history talks. This tour provided an nice balance of touching on the "must do's" in each area and also having plenty of "on our own" time to relax and explore. Sarah was a perfect tour guide-informed, funny, and super personable! Italy is very crowded in July and having that back door entry into all of our sites was priceless.
"So many "wow" moments on this trip. I was really wowed by Rome in general. Francesca was, in my opinion, the best tour guide I have ever experienced. The Colosseum in Rome was amazing. Also, at Sarah's recommendation, our family decided to see the Basilica di Santa Croce instead of waiting in line for the Duomo and church in Florence - another "wow" moment. Another would be our group dinners. I appreciated eating at family owned restaurants off the beaten path. We were treated so well!"
Great Trip! We decided on a Rick Steve's Tour as we were traveling with our 3 teenage children and wanted to have a defined plan to keep everyone motivated not debating "where we go next"! Sarah was a wonderful guide and was incredibly helpful, energetic, and made the trip amazing. It was also nice to get to know other folks who joined the tour as well.
"Sorry, I'm going to pick 2. Climbing to the top of St. Peter's at the Vatican and seeing the amazing views of Rome from this vantage point. Also, exploring Volterra in Tuscany. It was a nice, off the beating path, hilltop town. Very quaint, welcoming, and relaxing."
Our tour exceeded all of our expectations in terms of both the sights, museums, and everyone in the group! The schedule was the perfect balance of group tours, activities, and time to explore on our own. There are too many highlights to list, but being able to walk with the tour guides and Sarah added so much to the trip and brought a beautiful depth of insight that was personal and made us feel so connected to a place that we had never been.
"Experiencing the immensity of the sights such as the Pantheon and the Duomo was something that pictures cannot prepare you for. Awestruck is how I would describe it. Also, we made an unexpected stop to the US WWII Memorial outside of Florence that moved me to tears. Coming from the US, WWII seems distant, but standing in the Memorial bridged the divide between the historical and the personal. Connectivity was the theme of the entire tour for us."
really enjoyed the resident tour guides. Our favorite was Francesca in Rome, but the guides in Lucca and Florence were outstanding as well. the planned activities and dinners made the experience very enjoyable
"Volterra was our "wow" moment - Tuscany was the highlight but Volterra was just so quaint and full of history"
We arrived a few days early to get over the jet lag which turned out to be a very good idea. Our tour of the west coast of Italy was very well organized, allowed us to see all the big sights on our wish list, gave us plenty of time to explore on our own, and took us to some small villages that were interesting and enjoyable.
"Seeing the inside of the St Peters Basilica in Vatican City."
We had always used the Rick Steves tour books to chart our eight European vacations, but this was the first time we actually signed up for a guided tour. I was very impressed at the organization, attention to detail, and choice of locations.
"St. Peter's Basilica-- There were no words to describe the emotion and connection that I felt as I toured it."
Cedar Grove, NJ
This was my first trip to Italy, Rick Steves was recommended to me by members of a Facebook group I'm in. The Heart of Italy in 9 Days Tour fit our time frame and did not disappoint. I feel we were able to see all the spots we wanted to and had some down time too.Our guide Marijan was awesome as were the local guides in each town. The hotels, all different, were in great locations and had wonderful breakfasts each day. The group dinners were delicious and fun. We had great group to top it off.
"So many wow moments but my first was when we had our first group meet and greet on the rooftop terrace of our hotel and realized we were starring at the Vatican, we were so close it was unbelievable."
This was our first visit to Italy. We went during the heat wave of upper 90's to 100's in temperature. In spite of the unbearable heat, we enjoyed our tour. It was a bit more strenuous in terms of walking around than I expected, but the sites were amazing and the various local guides were very good.
"The Colosseum and the Forum were really special (Francesca is an excellent guide and she really brought the story to life). The Vatican was OK (crowded and very hot) but St. Peter's was wonderful--the choir was practicing and it was moving to hear the music in that space. David--oh my, my,my he is gorgeous. Tuscany is lovely and Cinque Terra was really restful amid all the heat."
Amazing, experience tour guides were awesome, loved the hotels. I would do it again in a second.!!
"The amount of knowledge and thoughtfulness of Marian our guide...He made it a memorable experience"
I love having transportation and hotels all taken care of for us. The guides are always first-rate on a Rick Steves tour, so we get much more understanding of what we are visiting as opposed to just reading a guide book. I enjoy the culture and history of places I visit, and this is the best possible way to find out about it. I bring my (adult) daughters when I travel, because I feel it is the best way to learn about the world--first-hand experience.
"Every time I walked into one of the beautiful cathedrals and looked up!"
Laura, OH
Our first time in Italy and we couldn't have asked for a better experience! Our guide, Marijan, was friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating, and overall exceptional! Everywhere we went we also had local guides who were extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the area and it's history. The tour was a good mix of planned activities and free time.
"Can't narrow this down to just one. Walking through the entrance to the city of Volterra was amazing. We also loved seeing the towns in the surrounding hillsides in Cinque Terre from the boat."
Rome is layered with history and Italian food can't go wrong anywhere in Italy so this trip is idea for those who love both! Also as expected RickSteves tours' guides all exceptional, they make or break a travel experiences! All in all it is a positive experience, except very hot weather (very unusual in June) and over crowded with tourists (summer high season),
"For me still the Patheon, built two thousand years ago still standing with it's simplicity, yet unardored beauty! It's technology and architectural design influences eons builders and engineers!"
I loved our Italy Tour! We were with a group of people that were absolutely wonderful. Molly was our main tour guide and she was fantastic. She was so knowledgable of our area and offered so many hints for us to do on our "own" time. The local guides that knew their area well and were passionate about their areas. I learned so much! The dinners we had together were a wonderful taste of the area!
"I really enjoyed the Pantheon. The building with its circular oculus and it rained while we were there. To see the sarcophagus of Raphel and the two kings with their guards was a highlight for me."
Shena
The Heart of Italy Tour was a great experience. I appreciated the thought and planning that went into the itinerary and logistics of leading nearly 30 people around Italy. The meals and hotels were great and the tour guides were top notch.
"Hiking Cinque Terre from Monterosso to Vernazza. The hike was tough, but we got out early to beat the heat. The views made it all worthwhile."
Tour was great. The guides were well versed in the subjects they covered, the itinerary was evenly paced and the sights and meals that were included were worth the value. If I were to do another tour, a RS tour would be top on the list.
"There were lots of WOW moments for me on this tour, but the experience of walking through the Forum in Rome, where Emperors had tread the same stones, looking at the remnants of a once great society, was very awe inspiring."
The tour was well organized and provided a good balance of necessary tour guide presentations with freedom to explore on one;s own. The careful planning and implementation of schedules by the tour people allowed us to have an action-packed adventure in a relaxed time frame.
"Volterra was a welcome stop, especially after the hustle and bustle of Rome. This medieval city is remarkable and a place we would like to visit again. Florence and the museums ranks right up there as well."
This trip was the perfect length to give a brief introduction to Italy and its vast history. We saw ancient ruins, ancient artifacts, historical and religious art, experienced wine tasting, ate delicious food, and spent time at the beach.
"I loved the walled town of Volterra. I found it hard to grasp how long ago the walled city was built, only to discover that people lived there mush longer ago than the age of the oldest walls. They are still discovering ancient ruins, and I'm sure Volterra's story will be more fascinating as the years go by."
Is there a better choice than outstanding????? I would choose it! This was a trip of a lifetime. So well put together, and quite a few great surprises along the way, like our stop in lucca, like GELATO! As much as I try I cannot seem to come up with a favorite location...........all of them were wonderful.................the itinerary was perfecto, truly, the heart of Italy!
"As much as i try i cannot come up with a favorite wow moment...........there were too many wows...................cinque terre, wow...................tuscany...................wow, Rome was so crowded, it is loved to death but our fearless leader led us through the masses with such an upbeatness, ( is there such a word)...........Just incredible, the moves she had to make to get through zillions of rome lovers."
Summerville, SC
I was so impressed with our guide, Patricia, and all of the local guides that we had on this tour. Their knowledge of the area and presentation of information was superb. The hotels were very comfortable and had all the amenities I would expect but the charm of a local, smaller hotel. Bus transportation was also fabulous as the bus was brand new and was even more comfortable than the plane we flew to Italy on! I also loved that the group size was relatively small.
"It is difficult to choose just one! Francesca, our local guide in Rome, was amazing and had me close to tears at times with her eloquent descriptions of architecture and art in Rome. Also, I loved that we made a quick "side trip" to the American Cemetery on our way to Florence. It was very moving to read the names on the wall and see all of the crosses in the cemetery."
I was expose to the crazy chaos of Rome along with the fascination of it's ancient history. I loved the quietness, history and beautiful views in Volterra. Lucca was an interesting community and the Cinque Terre was so beautiful. I had the best steak ever in Florence!
"The fact that 80% - 90% of the ancient history in Italy has still not been discovered because it is below the surface of the ground. Also the contrast of the ancient Romans: great architects/builders but so brutal to anyone who disagreed with them."
This was our second Rick Steves' Tour and it was more than we hoped! Our tour guide, Patricia Fannon Avolio was not just humorous, friendly, and knowledgeable, but was extremely compassionate to one of our tour members who had some special needs and very understanding about dietary needs. The members of our tour were wonderful. My husband and I went on a Viking river cruise after Italy; it was great, but didn't compare to the culture, knowledge, and experiences we gained with this tour!
"Francesca made me reevaluate some of my thinking of history and ancient Rome. The fact that 80-90% is still unknown and changing with discoveries was one wow moment, but the views in the Volterra, the Cinque Terre, and Florence were spectacular!"
This tour made it easy and fun to enjoy one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations in summer.I want to come back to Italy as explore more. We are really into Art and Rome and Florence pack a lot into very walkable parameters. The food- we started a gelato chronicle. An appreciation for Tuscan wine. Heart shaped pizza hot out of the oven in Florence.People watching in the Piazzas while sipping bellini's or expresso.
"I have two. Francesca set the scene at the Colosseum of the sights and sounds the gladiators would have experienced and then we entered through the tunnel to the platform in the middle. She turned to us and said- "can you hear the roar of the crowd?' Then our last night in Florence, heading back to our hotel walking into the Piazza Della signoria, a string orchestra had just started a concert, playing in one of the arched alcoves amid the statues. Both gave me goosebumps."
My mother and I had a wonderful trip which went way beyond our expectations. Each day was well organised yet full of art and history. Our guides were excellent, knowledgable and very funny. I especially enjoyed that we walked to most places in each town making every day worth try new delicious italian dishes as well as any gelato imaginable. Our group was so well picked and that we all got along swell everyday. This trip filled my creative bank account and has inspired me to sculpt even larger.
"As a sculptor myself, I especially enjoyed Bernini's Baldacchino in St. Peter's Basilica. One night we walked to Bernini's Fontana Dei Quattro Fiumi which was beautifully illuminated. Walking through the gladiators exit at the Colosseum was a breath taking moment. Our guide got us into the perfect lower level of the arena. Cinque Terre was beautiful with a winding foot trail that had a breath taking view from every vantage. Our wine tasting with our Sommelie was truly illuminating."
Columbia, VA
1st class tour with excellent guide and extremely knowledgeable and friendly local guides in each place visited
"The overwhelming history, architecture, paintings and sculptures in each place as well as the beautiful countryside of Tuscany."
I was nervous to go on an "organized tour" with my mom for her 70th birthday. I thought we'd be stuck in a bus looking at things rather than experiencing them. This was NOTHING like our tour! We were out walking with local guides, had free time in every city to see what we wanted, and had delicious meals in local restaurants. I feel like I got to see Italy in an authentic way. Our guide, Patricia, was funny and informative. The group I was with was fun, adventurous, and interesting.It was great!
"I loved the tour with Francesca in the Colosseum and Roman Forum. History usually isn't my thing, but she brought the past to life with her storytelling. I also loved hiking in Cinque Terra, stopping for coffee and food in between strenuous hikes."
Johnson Creek, WI
This was our first time in Italy AND our first Rick Steves tour. We watched many Rick Steves tv programs so the bar was set pretty high. Once we started to tour, we were very happy that we made the decision. Our tour guide Patricia was outstanding. Patricia (and the county of Italy) made our tour something to remember.
"In college (a while back) I achieved an art history minor. Learning about the art and architecture from different time periods was fun and relatable. My first "WOW" moment was walking around in Rome and seeing the Pantheon for the first time. Was I really here? Awesome!"
Highland, UT
Wonderful. I feel like I just came home from a study abroad, the educational content was superb.The tour guides were so informative and entertaining. Having breakfast included was so convenient. Not having to worry about planning hotels and transfers between cities took out a lot of stress, and going to the front of the line as a group was so nice. Some of the towns we visited were remote and hard to get to so it was nice to have a reliable driver to get us there. The Cinque Terre was magical.
"Coming home from the restaurant in Florence on the final night and encountering a string quintet performing on the street. Phenomenal performance, and so unexpected. The entire ambiance was magical. So moving to experience this with this group of people we came to know and love over the previous week."
It was a great tour. We covered SO much in 8 days!
"My wow moment was in Volterra, the beauty of this ancient town was beautiful????"
Jenks, OK
I loved the Tour of Italy! I loved the beauty, the history, the art, the food and the people. Each city offering a different highlight and a different view of Italian culture. The hotels were very nice and in a central location. The transportation was comfortable, and the guides were top notch. There was plenty of time to explore on our own, and the group tours were very informative.
"There were so many "wow" moments on this Tour. Rome wowed me with its history and the "layers like lasagna" that are everywhere. Volterra wowed me with the beauty and serenity of the Tuscan hills and the charming, relaxing atmosphere of the small town. Cinque Terre was definitely a highlight with the beautiful coastline contrasting with the colorful villages in the cliffs. Florence was the "cherry on top" with overwhelming beauty everywhere. I would not be able to pick one above another."
This was my first guided tour experience and found it to be everything as promised. We loved our guide, the tour group, and the places we visited. I hope to take another Rick Steve's tour in the future!
"There were so many moments that left me in awe that it is difficult to narrow it down to one "wow" moment. If I had to choose one, it would probably be the beauty of The Cinque Terre. I truly loved the beauty of the blue waters, the beaches, and the colorful villages. Taking a boat tour of the coastal villages and swimming in the Ligurian Sea were a highlight for sure!"
Ruth Pamela
Great tour, you have this down pat, from hotels, to itinerary, to local guides and tour guide. Well done. Would definitely do another tour and recommend Rick Steves to others!
"too many to have a favorite!"
It was a wonderful trip, filled with beautiful sights, fascinating information, great company, delicious food, and memorable experiences.
"Rainer arranged for us to enter the Colosseum in Rome via the "gladiator" entrance, putting us at the arena level. It was thrilling walking through the tunnel and then seeing the expanse of the Colosseum seats, imagining what it may have been like with the cheering crowds and excitement in ancient times. I have been to the Colosseum before, but this experience was the most memorable. Well done!"
Rainer was a very good tour guide. He does know the areas and very glad we had him on the tour. I would go on another tour with Rainer.
Passionate, interesting tour guides across the board. Great historical story-telling! They seem to love what they do and I learned so much - quickly! Overall trip was extremely well-organized, efficient use of time; very little waiting in line; ample time to see the sites plus plenty of time to be on your own or interact with others in the group. Bus was a great way to travel between cities as opposed to train - it was just our group - relatively quite, fun time with no stress.
"I'm Catholic so big take away for me was in Rome... hearing how the Catholic church in the olden days just slapped a cross on the top of buildings to claim them. And the opulence of the Vatican. Let's sell some of this stuff for social service projects!!!"
We loved the Heart of Italy tour! It was a very active tour, packed with wonderful experiences! We saw such a diversity of towns and cites to get a sampling of the diverse culture and country of Italy. Our tour guide was so professional and gracious, making her very detailed and demanding job look effortless. We also met incredibly nice people in our tour group and really felt bonded to them as well as our guide by the end of the tour.
"My favorite "wow" moments were seeing The Pieta in St. Peter's Basilica (very moving!) and the beautiful Tuscan towns of Volterra and sea side towns of Cinque Terre and Venice. Volterra was charming and beautiful. I took many pictures of doors and windows! Cinque Terre was so picturesque and rugged, by the sea. Venice was so unique. I tired to imagine what it must be like to live in these towns, but really can't imagine it."
The tour was well organized. Our tour guide, Anna, was excellent.
"St. Peter's Basilica"
Well planned, our main guide Anna was spectacular, she is truly committed to being the best she can be, knowledgable and a people person. The guides for specific sites were wonderful. All in all as a customer I could really feel the passion they had for their role in the trip.
"My wife and I celebrating our 27th anniversary were walking thru Florence after a late dinner, came upon a classical quartet playing Cannon in D, which was the song my wife walked up the ailse on her dads arm on our wedding 27 years earlier. A magic moment indeed."
Fantastic, fun, educational, interesting, enjoyable company
"Too many "wows" to pick just one. It was all good."
Our first time to Europe and it was all I hoped it would be. Great balance of scheduled activities & free time. All of the guides were so knowledgeable, the the accommodations were great in every city. No major surprises, a few that were outside of the tour guides control, but she warned us on day 1 that in Italy, things just happen. That helped us to roll with it when the train set for 20 minutes, and when we got rerouted by security on our tour of the Sistine Chapel. GREAT TIME!
"The views! Advice: take advantage of the opportunities to take your tour to the next level. Top of St Peter's Basillica & Bell Tower in Volterra...wow the views were breathtaking."
A lot of great moments -interesting and informative guides, awesome tours, amazing breakfasts, singer for Italy group dinner-so much fun, great group. Voltare, Lucca, Cinque Terre delightful. Loved the free day in Cinque Terre. Rome was a beat down - the bathroom situation when not at our hotel was generally disgusting, strong odors from the dumpsters lining the streets unpleasant. The overly crowded, hot, humid Vatican tour cancelled the beauty of any experience we were suppose to enjoy.
"Loved the roof top breakfasts in Rome and roof top drinks in Florence. Loved the quaintness of Volterra. Loved the history and bike riding in Lucca. All tour guides were great, but my favorite was the tour guide for the Uffizi."
Janean
Anna was excellent as a group leader and resource about Italy. She had the right balance of information, keeping things on track and making the experience fun. Overall we saw and did a lot but had enough time to relax and enjoy the country. This was a great way to see Italy and get to know the people.
"Rome and Florence were amazing. But the smaller sites such as Volterra and Lucca were so much fun. However, Cinque Terra really stood out for the beauty, small village life, nature and a welcome rest from our experiences."
The itinerary was flawless. Loved the tour group and we both enjoyed ourselves tremendously.
"Portovenere, (Cinque Terre, and the Islands) .. just beautiful. Tour guide gave a great recommendation for this."
Ferdi was superb, ensuring all logistical obstacles were handled and smooth. His recommendations for eating were great, every time, never even a so-so meal experience. The local guides were outstanding; providing so much depth of history and interesting tidbits. The timing of the tour seemed to be just right in the amount of scheduled tour and free time. It was just an awesome experience throughout all aspects.
"Volterra was probably the top of the'wow' moments"
This was our first tour and first time in Italy. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I absolutely love the whole thing. We had a great time getting to know our guide and tour group. The local guides were excellent and brought history to life to make everything we were seeing more memorable. The trip was very time efficient and great mix of group activities and free time.
"I loved Volterra. It was an amazing drive and fun experience to walk on the quiet streets after the hustle and bustle in Rome."
This tour was absolutely amazing, between Ferdi our guide and the overall attitude of the group we had an absolute blast. Everybody was friends by the end of the trip and our guide was very knowledgeable of every area for food recommendations and exciting things to do in our free time. I definitely recommend doing a Rick Steve Tour.
"I absolutely loved the town of Volterra. I was stunned by the views of the little town in the hills and the overall culture surrounding it was an awesome experience. It was here that I really connected with some other members of the group as well and started to make friends."
The tour was planned to a "t" with a great itinerary. Our tour guide was fabulous and most knowledgeable about all sites. I am ready to "go again"!
"It is hard to narrow this to one event because each place was a great moment. I really did enjoy Voltaire is I had to choose."
Hot Springs, AR
Our guide, Ferdi, was very good! I was happy to have the whisperers so that we could hear everything the guides were saying. Overall, I would do a Rick Steve,s tour again. But I developed bronchitis and with the heat, did not enjoy it as much as I would have liked to. Not your fault, just put a damper on my trip. Most vendors and shop owners were friendly, but some were not. The tour guides, including Ferdi, really knew their history!!!! Our accommodations and meals were great!
"I was wowed with the Coliseum and the architecture. Hard to believe that it is still standing even after it was torn apart plus the earthquake. Also the building, The Temple of Mars Avenger, with the pillars, that noone can get it torn down because it was built so strong. Amazing!!!!!"
My wife and I had a wonderful experience on our 9 day Italy tour. The Rome, Volterra, Luca, Cinque Terra and Florence stops had just the right amount of time in town exploring the local history and taking in its unique ambience and culinary. Our guide was the best and the local hired guides truly gave authentic realism to that locales character. And the highway breaks had some of the best cappuccinos and tiramisu as well! Alla prosimma!
"The wow factor for me was witnessing the Sistine Chapel and the many churches and museums with all the enormous paintings and architecture involved in producing such biblical history and each artist's own personal ideology."
Overall it was a very good first Rick Steve's tour experience. We had great group comeraderie. Having all the tour skip the line tickets taken care of along with transportation and lodging was wonderful. We think the addition of local guides added a huge depth to the tours. The dinners were wonderful too. If I had a grip it would be the accommodations. Leaky tiny showers were not pleasant.
"The beauty of Volterra/Tuscany. Also being on the floor of the Colliseum."
It was wonderful. Our tour guide had encyclopedic knowledge and great passion for history, art and architecture. Everything was well coordinated and everyone in our group got along splendidly. Our group dinners were in wonderful little restaurants where the chef/owner and staff proudly served Balfour meals. The tour provide a very appropriate amount of free time and our guide provided good suggestions on how to spend it.
"St Peter's Basilica in Rome"
Lakeport, CA
While I have never had the desire to go to Italy, my wife has wanted to go for many years. We booked the trip and I was thinking, here we go, another boring tour. Boy was I wrong. Graeme did a fantastic job explaining EVERYTHING. It was truly the best guided tour experience I have ever had.
"Between the history of Rome, the beauty of Volterra and, and the art in Florence........I'm not sure how to choose."
When To Go & Weather
Any time between March and October is a good time to take a Heart of Italy tour. However, the months of April, May, September, and October are best for combining the convenience of peak season with the most pleasant weather. Visiting in March, offers the benefits of missing out on the sweat, stress, and crowds of the tourist season, along with cool and crisp weather.
Italy / Florence
Italy / Rome
Tour Hotels
In case you wish to book pre- or post-tour hotel accommodations, the contact information for the tour's first and last hotels is included in your tour confirmation email as well as in the Itinerary section of your online customer account. One month prior to the tour departure, you'll find the directions to your first tour hotel and a complete list of hotels where we'll be staying while on tour in the Documents section of your customer account.
Our tours don't include airfare, so your flight arrangements and transfers are completely up to you.
Most tour members arrange to fly into Rome (FCO) and out of Florence (FLR) — choose "multicity" on flight-booking websites. Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Italy.
We suggest arriving a day or two before your tour begins to allow ample time to get over jet lag and be well-rested for the first few days of your tour. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves Italy guidebook.
Rome to Florence
Activity Level
This is one of our most active tours! Most days are strenuously paced with 2–8 miles of walking, including hilly terrain and lots of stairs.
Take a virtual tour!
Great Guides Video
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What we learned when we got social ... talking all things social media
23 Apr 2019 10:39 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
What the social media pros had to say at the SCBWN Social Media Cocktail Evening.
Bronte Cresswell, Brooke Styles, Liv Blondeau and Dr Karen Sutherland graced us with their wisdom last week at the SCBWN Social Media Cocktail Evening. Here’s a snapshot of what they had to say and the wisdom we took away.
Where and How to start
Content creator Liv Blondeau laid the social media foundations and told us where to start when it comes to social media.
“Start back to basics, really knowing and understanding your business and knowing who your audience is,” says Liv.
Bronte Cresswell, the director of Dash of Milk, delved deeper and highlighted the importance of knowing the audience’s wants, where they’re headed and what their struggles are.
The importance of the audience was highlighted throughout the night and at all stages of the social media process, from choosing the platform, what to post and when to post it.
Which Social Media platform
According to the 2018 Yellow Social Media Report 88% of online consumers are on social media. The importance of social media is clear, but what social media platform should your business be on?
“Wherever your audience is,” says social media educator, researcher and consultant, Dr Karen Sutherland.
According to last year’s Yellow Social Media Report, Facebook is used by 91% of social media users, followed by YouTube at 53%, Instagram at 39%, Snapchat with 23%, and LinkedIn and Pinterest at 22%.
The report goes on to list more social media platforms and goes into further detail of the age, gender and even geographic location of who’s using what platform says Dr Sutherland.
There’s a multitude of social media platforms out there and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and pressured to tackle them all but Dr Sutherland advises people to stick to just a few.
“It’s best to pick maybe one or two platforms and do those really well than trying to spread yourself across too many and not being able to function,” says Dr Sutherland.
The panel touched on a few social media platforms throughout the night, Instagram influencer, Brook Styles highlighted the power of Instagram and social media influencers like herself. With over 119K in followers, and a portfolio with brands like City Beach, Colette and Big W, the reach Instagram influencers provide is clear.
Dr Sutherland talked about the power of LinkedIn, a platform where you can build proper connections, network and more.
“They’ve changed the algorithm, they’ve added video, now they’re actually trialling live video and so there’s so much more you can do on it,” she says.
What to post and when
Once you know what social media platform you should use, you can begin to create an objective “from that objective you should film, capture or write your content,” says Liv.
The content creating machine is a keen planner and urges people to plan their content two weeks or even a month in advance, but when and how often should you plan to post?
“Three posts a week, at your prime times, and keep it consistent,” She says.
Liv stresses the importance of objectives but also notes the importance of content that means more than reaching your business goals.
“Make content that’s meaningful … content that people can actually use,” says Liv.
Bronte confirmed this to be a quality of effective social media use, a process of not only posting specials and key messages but also listening to the audience.
It’s not only important to listen to your audience but you need to engage them.
Engaging with the audience
The content you post also needs to be content people want to engage with “content that actually solves people’s problems, you’re there to actually help them,” says Dr Sutherland.
Reply to comments, answer messages and remember Dr Sutherland’s wise words “if you want engagement you have to engage”.
We enjoyed taking with these amazing women about all things social media and we’re looking forward to incorporating social media into our upcoming events.
By Tia Somerville.
We invite you to join a dynamic & vibrant network of business partners, sponsors and members.
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Harlem Online Courses
THE TRUTH ABOUT DRUGS BOOKLET
Drugs have been part of our culture since the middle of the last century. Popularized in the 1960s by music and mass media they invade all aspects of society. You probably know someone who has been affected by drugs, directly or indirectly. Or maybe you have experienced their effects yourself.
People take drugs because they want to change something about their lives. They think drugs are a solution. But eventually, the drugs become the problem. What should YOU know about drugs to keep yourself and the ones you know off of them?
Find out how drugs work and how they affect the body and mind, why people take them, and the effects of the most abused substances.
Request your FREE copy of the booklet, The Truth About Drugs.
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Free The Truth About Drugs Booklet
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Paul Krugman (Reuters/Chip East)
Krugman on the post-Cantor GOP: "An ugly political scene is about to get even uglier"
"Lip service to extremism isn’t enough." The GOP faithful "needs to believe that you really mean it"
Katie McDonough
Eric Cantor is out and "movement conservatism" is dying, writes Paul Krugman in his Friday column for the New York Times. Krugman defines movement conservatism as "an interlocking set of institutions and alliances that won elections by stoking cultural and racial anxiety but used these victories mainly to push an elitist economic agenda, meanwhile providing a support network for political and ideological loyalists," and argues that conservative voters have gotten wise to the game. The lesson of Cantor's ouster is that the political bait and switch -- Republicans mobilizing their base with red meat social issues like LGBTQ rights and abortion but pivoting post-election to serving the interests of the 1 percent -- no longer works. As Krugman points out, "Lip service to extremism isn't enough; the base needs to believe that you really mean it."
Cantor fell because his base didn't believe that he really meant it:
I’ve never heard [Cantor] described as inspiring. His political rhetoric was nasty but low-energy, and often amazingly tone-deaf. You may recall, for example, that in 2012 he chose to celebrate Labor Day with a Twitter post honoring business owners. But he was evidently very good at playing the inside game.
It turns out, however, that this is no longer enough. We don’t know exactly why he lost his primary, but it seems clear that Republican base voters didn’t trust him to serve their priorities as opposed to those of corporate interests (and they were probably right). And the specific issue that loomed largest, immigration, also happens to be one on which the divergence between the base and the party elite is wide. It’s not just that the elite believes that it must find a way to reach Hispanics, whom the base loathes. There’s also an inherent conflict between the base’s nativism and the corporate desire for abundant, cheap labor.
And while Mr. Cantor won’t go hungry — he’ll surely find a comfortable niche on K Street — the humiliation of his fall is a warning that becoming a conservative apparatchik isn’t the safe career choice it once seemed.
The GOP is taking an extreme turn (or a more extreme turn than its regular interval of extreme turns), according to Krugman. Even so-called establishment Republicans who won their primaries had to up the extremity of their positions and rhetoric in order to do so. This trend will probably hurt Republicans come 2016, according to Krugman. The GOP is lurching ever rightward on social issues at a time when the nation seems to be embracing marriage equality among other issues. But in the meantime, hold on to your hats: We're embarking on a moment when Congress is about to get more extreme -- and less interested in participating in normal governance. Krugman warns, "An ugly political scene is about to get even uglier."
Katie McDonough is Salon's politics writer, focusing on gender, sexuality and reproductive justice. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com.
MORE FROM Katie McDonough • FOLLOW kmcdonovgh
Aol_on Eric Cantor Extremists Gop New York Times Paul Krugman Republican Party Rightwing Extremists Tea Party
Check out this article! https://www.salon.com2014/06/13/an_ugly_political_scene_is_about_to_get_even_uglier_krugman_on_the_gop_after_cantors_demise/
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At the Movies, GETTING OUT
At the Movies: Revisiting ‘Close Encounters’ 40 Years Later
On September 8, 2017 September 8, 2017
Photo: Courtesy of Sony Pictures
By Megan Bianco
Steven Spielberg’s first science-fiction feature Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) is both a product of its time and has aged incredibly well.
The film was the hit-maker’s follow-up to Jaws (1975) and reunited him with Richard Dreyfuss to equal success. Even though it came out the same year as the mega-blockbuster Star Wars: A New Hope, Close Encounters still was a big winner with audiences and critics.
Forty years later, we still follow Roy Neary (Dreyfuss) and Jillian Guiler (Melinda Dillon) on their obsessive dedication to discover why they feel a psychological connection to an extraterrestrial sighting. Roy becomes so obsessed that he begins to neglect his family, while
Jillian wants to find a way to get her son Barry (Cary Guffey) back who has been abducted. Meanwhile, scientist Claude Lacombe (François Truffaut) is ahead of the curve on knowing what’s to behold with the UFOs.
Teri Garr, Bob Balaban and Lance Henriksen make famous early appearances, and John Williams’ iconic five-note motif throughout the score is still an earworm. Close Encounters’ new re-release to theaters is a reminder of just how breathtaking a film shot on traditional film projected onto the big screen is. The special effects, cinematography and location landmarks all look great, and Dreyfuss, Garr and Dillon give some of their most impressive performances. Close Encounters doesn’t just make us wonder if alien life is near us, but also looks back at how dysfunctional family life could be in the mid-20th century.
Close EncountersEntertainmentMelinda DillonMoviesOrange CountyRichard DreyfussSan Clemente
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Editor’s Pick: Open Casa: ‘Terra Flamma’
Editor’s Pick: Women’s Surf Film Festival
Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, proposed his second annual budget of $222 billion earlier this month. If passed, it… https://t.co/r2K7LSEc7m 2 days ago
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Awards and Ratings
Share Our Message
Sandy Hook Promise
Sandy Hook Promised Partnered Schools are Presented with Los Angeles Unified School District the Human Relations Award for Creating a Safer School Environment
Los Angeles Unified School District’s Commission on Human Relations, Diversity, and Equality Recognizes Student Groups That Support Inclusive and Affirming School Campuses
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) praises the 11 Los Angeles Unified School District high schools that were presented with the 2018/19 Human Relations Award for making positive contributions toward creating safer, respectful, and healthy learning environments. These schools are being recognized by Los Angeles Unified for “being the change we wish to see.”
Seven of the schools being recognized also partnered with Sandy Hook Promise to adopt SAVE Promise Clubs within their school communities to help foster more supportive learning environments:
· Eagle Rock Junior and Senior High School
· Marshall High School
· Monroe High School
· San Fernando High School
· San Pedro High School
· University High School
· Van Nuys High School
“It is so encouraging to see that within a year of starting their SAVE Promise Clubs, students are embodying the key takeaways from the Say Something and Start with Hello programs and infusing them throughout school culture, promoting a more supportive and connected learning environment,” said Mark Barden, co-founder and managing director of Sandy Hook Promise and father of Daniel who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. “Every student should be in a school environment that is positive, inclusive, and safe and these student leaders are kickstarting a cultural shift that can impact the next generations.”
SHP’s SAVE Promise Clubs are youth-led clubs that encourage and empower student leaders to organize activities that reinforce Sandy Hook Promise’s Know the Signs program curriculum. The clubs recognize the unique role that young people can have in making their school and communities safer and provides them with the tools to create a culture of looking out for one another, being “upstanders,” and preventing violence before it happens.
To date, more than 7.5 million people nationwide have been trained in Sandy Hook Promise’s proven Know the Signs programs that focus on prevention to help end the epidemic of gun violence by training youth and adults how to identify at-risk behavior and intervene to get help before a tragedy can occur. Through these no-cost programs, Sandy Hook Promise has averted multiple school shooting plots, as well as countless teen suicides and other acts of violence.
About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. SHP’s mission is to prevent gun violence (and other forms of violence and victimization) BEFORE it can happen by educating and mobilizing youth and adults to identify, intervene, and get help for at-risk individuals. SHP is a moderate, above-the-politics organization that supports sensible program and policy solutions that address the “human side” of gun violence by preventing individuals from ever getting to the point of picking up a firearm to hurt themselves or others. Our words, actions, and impact nationwide are intended to honor all victims of gun violence by turning our tragedy into a moment of transformation. For more information, visit www.sandyhookpromise.org or call 203-304-9780.
Dini von Mueffling Communications | Stephanie Morris stephanie@dvmcpr.com | 646-650-5005
SHP Action Fund
© Sandy Hook Promise 2019
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Learning and Exploring Autism
Engaging with research and sharing autism knowledge is a vital part of our approach to the delivery of high quality services.
Home > About Autism > Research and Training
We seek not only to ensure that our practice is informed and improved by autism research, but also to generate new evidence for effective support strategies.
Since 2011 Scottish Autism has been operating an innovative knowledge management strategy. The aim of this is to capture and disseminate autism knowledge internally and externally. Our approach to knowledge management is underpinned by our continuous commitment to quality improvement and the use of research in doing so. The strategy has led to the establishment of a knowledge-management forum, an annual staff conference, and the following initiatives:
Our Knowledge Share seminars take place across Scotland and disseminate the autism knowledge of our experienced practitioners to parents, educators and other professionals. Recent events have focused on 'Developing Personal Coping Skills and Strategies' and 'Understanding Relationships and Sexual Health'. Right Click, our online support programme also provides vital information on autism and practical advice for parents and carers.
Practitioner Research Programme
Our own programme of research gathers evidence for effective practice from within our services. A team of practitioner researchers draw on the experiences of our staff, the individuals we support and their families to generate evidence-informed resources for the improvement of practice. Current topics include Voice, Communication and User-Participation in Autism Services and Friendships, Relationships and Sexuality among people with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Through collaborative projects with partner organisations, research institutions and the Scottish government we are working to gather wide-ranging and robust evidence for economic strategies, interventions, and support practices that will improve the lives of autistic people across Scotland and beyond. Examples of this work are listed below.
Government-supported Projects
Scottish Autism has received funding from the Scottish Government to undertake two major research projects - the Microsegmentation Project and the Screening/Database Project. These projects are in support of the Scottish Strategy for Autism and represent vital building blocks for the understanding of the demographics of autism and have the potential to make Scotland a world leader in this field.
Microsegmentation
The Microsegmentation Project was funded by the Scottish Government through Scottish Autism to take forward key recommendations of the Scottish Strategy for Autism (Scottish Government, 2011). The core research team consisted of: Professor Tommy MacKay, Professor Martin Knapp, Professor Jim Boyle and Michael Connolly. The primary purpose of the project was to provide a reliable foundation for identifying those costs of autism which may be ‘escapable’, that is, those which would not be incurred with appropriate interventions for individuals on the spectrum. This was taken forward by carrying out a ‘microsegmentation’ of the autism spectrum, its co-occurring conditions and its associated problems, so that a conceptual map of the spectrum might be constructed. Read the report in full at www.gov.scot/publications/2018/03/3640. You can read the Service Provider’s Response to the Microsegmentation report here.
Screening/Database
The aim of this study is to undertake a systematic review of the published work on optimal methods for early screening and identification of autism spectrum disorders. The core research team consists of Dr Kenneth Aitken and Dr Felix Agakov.
Action on Autism Seminar Series
This seminar series, running from 2013-14, is bringing world-leading researchers on autism to Scotland to consider collectively the ways in which we join up research, policy and practice. The series is jointly funded by Scottish Autism together with the Scottish Government and Research Autism. It is coordinated by the Autism Network Scotland at the University of Strathclyde.
Autism and Sight Loss Project with RNIB and Napier University
Funded by the Scottish Government, this project seeks to evaluate and improve awareness of sight loss among autism support practitioners. Within our organisation vision champions will be recruited and trained by the RNIB in identifying the symptoms of sight loss. We aim to ensure that the needs of the individuals we support are identified and met and the associated research team will measure the impact of this strategy on vision awareness and diagnosis within our services.
University of Glasgow Chancellor’s Studentships
Under the above scheme two psychology undergraduate students received funding to undertake literature review projects, producing reports for the use of our practitioners. The reports focussed on computer mediated communications and the use of social networking sites by autistic people.
Knowledge Management programme
Our Knowledge Management programme is led by Deputy CEO, Charlene Tait, with research collaboration and practitioner research coordinated by Research Manager, Dr Joseph Long. Scottish Autism has a number of links with the academic community including strong associations with The National Centre for Autism Studies based at the University of Strathclyde. As an organisation we are open to potential research collaborations with partners that share our interests and values, please email research@scottishautism.org
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End nears for artist collaboration exhibit in Little Falls
Exhibit for Jeri Olson-McCoy and RC McCoy comes to a close Sept. 27
End nears for artist collaboration exhibit in Little Falls Exhibit for Jeri Olson-McCoy and RC McCoy comes to a close Sept. 27 Check out this story on sctimes.com: http://www.sctimes.com/story/entertainment/arts/2014/09/17/end-nears-artist-collaboration-exhibit-little-falls/15797093/
STC Published 5:19 p.m. CT Sept. 17, 2014
Here is an example of the collaboration between Jeri Olson-McCoy and RC McCoy at the Great River Arts Center in Little Falls. (Photo: Great River Arts Center )
This is the last call to see the collaborative works of artists Jeri Olson-McCoy and RC McCoy at the Great River Arts Center in Little Falls.
The artist duo is exhibiting a collection of 45 pieces — both abstract paintings and fiber arts.
“It’s a really great example of how two very different media can come together to create something visually interesting,” said the art center’s Sam Bruno.
Though each artist is presenting some individual works, they’ve also partnered to create some inspired works with RC McCoy creating the painting and Jeri Olson-McCoy translating the painting into her contemporary tapestry or fiber work.
“It’s very interesting, I’ve never seen an exhibit like this before, and everyone is very excited about it,” Bruno said.
The work will be on display until Sept. 27 at the Great River Arts Center, 122 First St. SE, Little Falls.
To submit fine arts information, email Sarah Colburn at fineartsstcloud@gmail.com or kkompas@stcloudtimes.com.
Read or Share this story: http://www.sctimes.com/story/entertainment/arts/2014/09/17/end-nears-artist-collaboration-exhibit-little-falls/15797093/
Hops and History pairs trivia with local brews
Five Things To Do in St. Cloud, Jan. 20-24
Minnesota Dance Ensemble's 'Snow Maiden' features opera singers and live musicians
Nightlife, Jan. 16-22
Beer pick: George Hunter Stout, Castle Danger Brewing Company
Local CD Pick: 'MMXX,' Sons Of Apollo
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Greater Chicago Area
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Office Spaces for Rent in the West Chesterfield Area
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Lake Park Avenue, Chicago, 60615
Our Hyde Park office space gives you workspace in Chicago’s South Side. Hyde Park is one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods and is now considered a chic location because of all the dev...
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Ideally situated for business in the dynamic South Loop neighborhood, this business center offers a range of serviced offices in Chicago suitable for businesses and entrepreneurs alike. This...
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Grant Park is ideally located in the East Loop adjacent to Chicago's central business district with unobstructed views overlooking its namesake park and Lake Michigan, in addition to being j...
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We offer a professional office space in the South Loop with spectacular views of Lake Michigan, Millennium Park, and Grant Park. Our space is newly constructed with a variety of office sizes...
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Strategically located in the Chicago Loop, the West Jackson business center is in a highly accessible position in this historic sought-after commercial and financial area. Its downtown setti...
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Situated within one of Chicago’s most recognisable landmarks, this business center comprises office space in Illinois, perfect for any growing business, or established companies looking for ...
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Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, The Loop is Chicago’s central commercial district—the second largest in the country. Filled with skyscrapers and stately department stores and lots of...
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Our premium workspace in the center of Chicago gives you instant access to public transportation, top hotels, and five-star dining options. This professional and productive space — with pano...
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Chicago’s most desirable, up-and-coming neighborhood Your destination for modern restaurants, art galleries, shops, and redeveloped park space. Ideally located in the hub of culture and cre...
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Phone Booths
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Raised Floors
Nearest locations to West Chesterfield
Offices in Lilydale 0.6 miles
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Search Office Space SOS North America, Inc 750 Lexington Avenue, 9th Floor New York, NY 10022
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Welcome to the Official Destination Website for the Seychelles Islands
Official Tourism Destination Website
#SeychellesIslands
Seychelles Map
Foreign offices
The Seychelles' 115 granite and coral islands extend from between 4 and 10 degrees south of the equator and lie between 480km and 1,600km from the east coast of Africa in the western Indian Ocean.
The Seychelles' climate is one which is always warm and does not reach extremes of heat or cold. The temperature rarely drops below 24°C or rises above 32°C.
Seychelles is a comparatively young nation which can trace its first settlement back to 1770 when the islands were first settled by the French, leading a small party of whites, Indians and Africans.
Seychelles' 115 islands fall under two distinct groups. The tall granite, Inner Islands cluster mainly within the relatively shallow Seychelles' plateau, 4° south of the equator and roughly 1800 km. distant from the east coast of Africa while the low-lying coralline cays, atolls and reef islands of the Outer Islands lie mainly beyond the plateau up to 10° south of the equator.
In the evolution of its society, Seychelles has remained faithful to its multi-ethnic roots. For over two centuries, the islands have remained a melting pot of different races, traditions and religions from the four corners of the earth.
The cosmopolitan Seychellois are a colourful blend of peoples of different races, cultures and religions.
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You are here: Home >> Platte
Island Group : Southern Coral Group
Population : 3
Distance from Mahé: 140km
Area : 0.54 sq.km
Platte Island, 140km due south of Mahé, is low and flat with an encircling reef containing a lagoon. Known for its rich fish life, Platte has an airstrip and is occasionally serviced by Island Development Company (IDC) aircraft from Mahé.
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All rights reserved. © 2018 The Seychelles Islands
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Our Catalog Blues Modern Blues
Modern Blues - 44 - Page 3
Save on Modern Blues at Silent Rider Music, Page 3. Top brands include Alligator, SANCTUARY, King, B.B., Delmark (Label), Winter, Johnny, Northern Blues, Atco, GUY/WELLS, Mercury, Hip-O, Premier Artists, Sony Legacy, Rhino / Wea, Silvertone, Imperial, Edsel Records UK, DVD International, Underworld (Burnside, & Mother Should Know. Hurry! Limited time offers. Offers valid only while supplies last.
By Alligator
NEW Combo BLUWAVS CD and FLAC FILE Soul Fixin' Man was the first Luther Allison album recorded on American soil in 18 years, and it reminded the stateside blues community why this Paris-based expatriate was once considered one of the very best of Chicago's second blues generation. He builds upon that reputation with Blue Streak, a follow-up which is even bluesier and more guitar-oriented than its predecessor. If the previous disc emphasized Allison's Wilson Pickett-like singing, this new one
Poor Boy - The Deram Years 1972-1974 - Chicken Shack Feat. Stan Webb
By SANCTUARY
Poor Boy: The Deram Years 1972 - 1974 (+1 Bonus Track).
Live at the Regal [Vinyl]
By King, B.B.
Repressing. UK edition of this live album from the Blues and Rock guitar legend. Live at the Regal is considered to be the greatest live Blues LP ever recorded. B.B. King has played more live shows than any other performer in his 50 years on the boards. Ace..
All Your Love I Miss Loving: Live at The Wise Fools Pub Chicago [Live]
By Delmark (Label)
mpn: CDDE781, ean: 0038153078126,
Wise Fools was Rush's hometown club of choice when this smokin' 1976 set was recorded for WXRT radio. This, here, is gritty blues greatness: All Your Love (I Miss Loving); It Takes Time; Sweet Little Angel; Feel So Bad; Please Love Me; Mean Old World; Woke Up This Morning; High Society , and more!Shrink-wrapped.
Alligator Records 30th Anniversary Collection
mpn: CDAL112/3, ean: 0014551121329,
The great contemporary blues label celebrates its 30th anniversary. One disc is studio, the other live, and the live disc not only includes five unreleased tracks but also a special CD-ROM track with the only known video of Alligator's first artist, Hound Dog Taylor, performing live at the 1973 Ann Arbor Blues Festival. 31 songs, over 145 minutes of music! Three decades ago Bruce Iglauer founded Alligator Records, selling his hero Hound Dog Taylor's records out of his car trunk. Since then,
Second Winter
By Winter, Johnny
Legacy Edition reissue of the legendary bluesman's sophomore album for Columbia Records, originally issued in 1969, includes a bonus disc..
By Northern Blues
mpn: 2, ean: 0809509000227,
The heart of blues folklore lies in the music of Otis Taylor, long-established as the voice of American blues history. His intensity is matched only by his superb songwriting and mastery of guitar and banjo. Taylor's topical songs are rooted in the African-American past but are universal stories; they speak of poverty, pride, love and the struggle for justice..
Delaney & Bonnie On Tour With Eric Clapton
By Atco
mpn: AS, ean: 0791687851060,
Out-of-print in the US! On Tour with Eric Clapton is the third album by Delaney & Bonnie Bramlett, and their first on the Atco/Atlantic label (catalog no. SD 33-326). Released in June 1970, this album features Delaney and Bonnie's best-known touring band, including Eric Clapton, Jim Gordon, Carl Radle, Bobby Whitlock, Leon Russell, Dave Mason, and George Harrison (under his pseudonym ''L'Angelo Misterioso''). Many of the players on this album would later go on to work with Clapton on his solo
Play the Blues
By GUY/WELLS
By all accounts, the greatest album ever cut by Chicago electric blues legend Buddy Guy and his studio and stage cohort Junior Wells. Features Eric Clapton, Dr. John, and members of the J. Geils Band!.
Strong Persuader
By Mercury
1986 breakthrough album from smooth US bluesman featuring 'Smoking Gun', 'Right Next Door' & 'I Wonder'. Stinging urban blues by way of Texas and Memphis distinguish Robert Cray's major-label debut, which followed three strong independent releases. Here he fleshes out his sound with bursts of brassy Southern soul courtesy of the Memphis Horns, but keeps his pungent, steely guitar solos out front in an engaging dialogue with his plaintive vocals. Released in 1986, Strong Persuader signaled that
By Hip-O
NEW Combo BLUWAVS CD and FLAC FILEShrink-wrapped.
Blues Deluxe
By Premier Artists
JOE BONAMASSA - BLUES DELUXE - CD New York guitar phenom walks tall in the blues tradition with this third album, jettisoning fiery riffs inspired by John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Elmore James, and Albert Collins into the future with furious playing, a hard-rock sensibility, and a grizzled voice that owes a debt to Gregg Allman. Equally inspired by the Delta blues and the mid-'60s British blues boom, the young firebrand--who titled this CD after a Rod Stewart song penned while in the Jeff Beck
Trouble [Vinyl]
By Sony Legacy
Ray LaMontagne emerged in 2004 from a secluded family life in Maine seemingly fully formed as a singer, songwriter and performer. His 2004 debut, Trouble, became one of that year's most acclaimed debuts, spawning an instant classic single in the album's title track.Shrink-wrapped.
The Best of the Blues Project
Tellin' Stories
By Silvertone
Walter Trout Band - Tellin' Stories - Cd.
The Progressive Blues Experiment
By Imperial
Lovin in the Valley of the Moon / Desert Horizons
By Edsel Records UK
Two LPs on 1 CD - Lovin' In The Valley Of The Moon & Desert Horizons from Steve Miller's harmonica player. Clover provide the backing, along with Mickey Hart..
The Jeff Healey Band - See the Light: Live from London
By DVD International
This 1988 sold out live show from London features smash tracks plus 3 bonus music videos..
Swingin in the Underworld
By Underworld (Burnside
King Johnson
By Mother Should Know
View more products in Blues.
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True Evil
The Lincolns: Portrait of a Marriage
by Daniel Mark Epstein
" If you wanted to kill your spouse and get away with it, you had to do something truly ingenious: something that wouldn t even be perceived as murder. And that was the service that Andrew Rusk had found a way to provide. Like any quality product, it did not come cheap. Nor did it come quickly. And perhaps most important of all, it was not for those with weak constitutions. Demand was high, of course, but few people were truly suitable clients. It took a deep-rooted hatred to watch your spouse die in agony, knowing that you had brought about that pain. But on the other hand, some people bore up remarkably well. "
With these words, "New York Times" bestselling author Greg Iles returns to his trademark Southern milieu in this terrifying thriller, an unnerving tale of evil lurking beneath the veneer of idyllic suburban life. Brimming with the masterful suspense and intense psychological drama that made "Turning Angel," "Blood Memory," and "The Quiet Game" bestsellers, "True Evil" tells the chilling story of a divorce attorney who may be orchestrating the deaths of his clients spouses, bringing new meaning to the phrase til death do us part.
Dr. Chris Shepard is thirty-six years old, newly married, and well on his way to a perfect life. Or so he believes. But that future is forever cast into doubt the day Special Agent Alexandra Morse walks into his office and drops a bombshell: Dr. Shepard s beautiful new wife is plotting his murder. Shepard is so shocked that he almost throws Agent Morse out of his office. Yet once he is alone, doubt begins to gnaw at him. Paranoia magnifies the small cracks in his marital relationship, and soon he can have no peace unless he knows the truth. When Agent Morse reappears, Chris agrees to act as bait to help her unravel the divorce lawyer s scheme, which may already have cost nine unsuspecting spouses their lives.
At the center of the mystery lies a maddeningly simple question: If these people really were murdered, why can t the FBI prove it? Rigorous autopsies have uncovered no forensic evidence of foul play, and the police believe no crimes have occurred. As Dr. Shepard and Agent Morse struggle against an invisible adversary, Shepard realizes that he s working with a desperate woman. The reason: the killer s last known victim was Alex Morse s sister, who from her deathbed accused her husband of murder and extracted a vow that Alex save her ten-year-old nephew from his father. This has driven Alex to risk both her life and her career to fulfill that vow. But Chris Shepard soon feels desperation of his own. As he probes his wife s hidden past, he is confronted by the probability that the woman he loves wants him dead.
He has adopted her son and given her everything he has to give, and yet somewhere out there, a killer with the brilliance to outwit the top forensic scientists in the world is closing in on him.
Who is this merciless assassin? Why is murder an art form for him? And what clues could exist to lead them to a man of such twisted talents? Not even the clients who hire him know his identity, and the lawyer who works with him fears him above all else. Most terrifying, those who choose murder over divorce soon learn a terrible truth: once set in motion, the instrument of their anger cannot be stopped."
Selected Reviews
by R Michael Koehler
Return to Form
by Tom
Read All 3
Written by R Michael Koehler on September 2nd, 2015
The Narrator, Dick Hill of True Evil by Greg Iles made this book difficult to listen to. He would end many passages using a soft voice or as a wisper. He also has a srange habit of pausing and then stressing certain words in a sentence which never made sence rather than just speaking what was written.
Written by Tom from Lafayette, IN on August 25th, 2008
Greg Iles is one great author however I have been disappointed in some of his latest offereings. This book however has him back in form. He is truly in Grisham's league.
Written by Lynn S on March 12th, 2008
I was on the edge of my seat for the whole book. When I saw it was 15 CD's I thought it wouldn't hold my interest for that long, but by the time I got to the last CD, I almost panicked knowing the book was almost over. Loved all the characters.
Greg Iles was born in Germany in 1960, where his father ran the US Embassy Medical Clinic during the height of the Cold War. He spent his youth in Natchez, Mississippi, and graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1983.
Greg founded the band "Frankly Scarlet" and spent several years playing music for a living. The year after he was married, he gigged on the road for 50 weeks out of 52, and realized that this lifestyle was simply not sustainable with a family. He quit the band and began working eighteen hours a day on his first novel, Spandau Phoenix, a thriller about Nazi war criminal Rudolf Hess. When Greg sold this manuscript, he left the music business to complete the book.
Over the course of his next few books, Greg broke the formula adhered to by most commercial novelists and wrote in a variety of genres. Surprisingly, each found a place on the bestseller list, and today readers look forward to discovering what new subject Greg has explored in his latest novel.
Greg's novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages and published in more than twenty countries worldwide.
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Andy has spent nearly all his working life in the ski trade starting in 1980 at Europa Sport in Kendal where he served his apprenticeship before moving on to become workshop manager and technical back up for all winter products.
He set up Anything Technical in 1998, initially as an importer for Wintersteiger ski service machinery and workshop equipment. The company has grown from strength to strength in the last 20 years and a lot can be put down to his astute and intuitive business brain.
Never one for standing on his laurels, he is always trying to stay one step ahead and look at any other niche in the snowsports industry world that can be tapped into.
Andy’s sporting background is very impressive. He was a junior fell running champion before moving on to represent GB in athletics on the road, track and cross country in his 20’s
After over a decade building up his business he is now back on the sporting trail and is a mad keen road biker. Chris Froome beware!
Pete joined Andy at the very start of Anything Technical and brought with him a wealth of technical expertise across a wide range of different disciplines. He has also worked in the industry for over 30 years with the bulk of that time spent running the warranty and repair department at Europa Sports.
He has made skis at Vielhaber in Aviemore, worked as a head ski tech in the Alps and served his time as a ski instructor. His knowledge on technical issues regarding ski construction, repairs and binding mounting is excellent.
Chris Speight
Chris joined in 2004 when the business was fully established and growing fast. His background is predominantly automotive and he started off as a humble motor mechanic working with his father in Leeds.
He has a wide range of skills having worked his way through Technical support, Customer service, Marketing and Sales at tools manufacturer Sykes Pickavant. His range of responsibilities include running a warranty service for Nordica and Tecnica, maintaining the website, ski boots repairs and doing pretty much anything that comes his way.
Callum Highet
Callum has been involved in the business for over 10 years and is almost part of the woodwork. He pestered us for a full time job and about 5 years ago we gave in. Callum is an ex-British ski racer and brings with him all his accumulated knowledge from those days.
He has a degree in Business Management and an easy going attitude which makes him a hit with our customers, either face-to-face or on the phone. He runs our Amazon and E-Bay operations and also keeps us in touch with the social media side of the business.
Claire Florentine Taylor
Claire is Andy’s wife and has been a salesperson all her working life and believe me when I say “She CAN sell snow to the Eskimos”
She worked a 3 day week for us last season as she also had another part time job but is now employed full time by Anything Technical.
Having a women in the team is like a breath of fresh air and it make it a more relaxing experience for customers when visiting the shop to purchase clothing and accessories.
She went on her first ski holiday just this last season and absolutely loved it. This has helped to enhance her understanding of ski products that we sell, and she can now join in with more confidence on the ski holiday conversations that generally break out during a visit to the shop.
Don’t try and beat Claire. she’s the most competitive person I’ve ever known.
Greg is Andy’s son and brings youth and enthusiasm to the team. He has also helped bring the average age of the staff down by a decade or two!
He is very clued up on the modern era of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube and is working hard to bring Anything Technical into the modern world of social media.
He spent the last season working in the retail shop as well as picking and packing mail order sales.
His knowledge of the ski industry is growing by the week and although he is leaving us to go to university to study a sports business and marketing course, he will still be working for us via the internet whilst in Manchester or in the shop when he’s back for the weekend.
If Greg makes a mistake on his computer, it’s obvious why. He can barely see his screen for the tomato ketchup bottles on his desk!
Paul Hargreaves
Paul’s knowledge on anything outdoors is very impressive. Passionate skier, walker, cyclist, climber, canoeist… there isn’t much he can’t do.
Paul works 6 months in the winter for Anything Technical and 6 months in the summer as a freelance outdoor instructor. He has a direct but efficient sales technique but will go the extra mile to ensure that the equipment is fitted correctly and fit for purpose.
Although he is now clean shaven he is affectionately known as Tash as he sported a bushy moustache when he first joined us.
Although we make mistakes… amazingly Paul never does. Funny that! (but we know different) # it wasn’t me!!!
Ski Trade
We originally started trading 1998 as a distributor for Wintersteiger ski service machinery and ski workshop products and in recent years added Fritschi Diamir Ski touring bindings, Colltex ski touring skins and Holmenkol ski waxes and repair tools to our product portfolio. Dealing with the vast majority of snowsports distributors in the UK we are recognised as being experts in our field.
We also have the North of England’s most reputable ski shop in our fantastic premises in Kendal. We sell a full range of ski equipment including hardware, clothing and accessories. We have a state of the art boot fitting department, utilising the latest equipment and techniques.
Custom Footbeds and Insoles
Anything Technical Ltd. is recognised as having one of the best boot and footwear fitting departments in the country, with people travelling from all over the UK for footwear, insoles and ski boots. The key to good fitting footwear is a correctly made customised insole which provides support and stability, therefore improving comfort, reducing fatigue and helping to alleviate painful conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis, Mortons Neuroma etc… Our staff has over 50 years combined experience of dealing with foot related problems which means our footwear fitting skills are second to none. We also stock a wide range of “Off The Peg” insoles from Sidas Conform’able, namely the Custom Comfort and Custom Comfort 1/2 amongst others
Ski Touring and Backcountry Skiing are becoming increasingly popular with British skiers trying to escape the crowds. At Anything Technical we stock Garmont Ski Touring and Freeride boots and are one of the few shops in the UK with the equipment, skills and expertise to fit them properly. Fritschi Diamir Touring and Freeride bindings and Colltex climbing skins complement these boots perfectly. We also stock a wide range of Touring, Backcountry and off piste skis by Scott, Salomon, Head and Movement, plus the usual range of accessories, shovels, probes etc.
Repair Equipment
Ski maintenance is always high on the skiers’ agenda so with this in mind we stock the largest range of waxes, files, edge tuners and other repair equipment in the UK.
Our Wintersteiger workshop is one of the most comprehensive ski and board workshops in the UK and we enjoy a technical reputation within the snowsports industry that is second to none.
Add to all this our training courses for workshop technicians and boot fitters, which have been running for 20 years and you have a company that is unique in its field.
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