September 2018 in Summary: Super Mario Bros. Month is Complete!
September of 2018 ended up being quite a productive month for me. I managed to make up for that one week in which I didn't post any reviews (due to my piece on Breath of the Wild going on for over 10,000 words) by posting my reviews of Super Mario Bros. 2 and Super Mario Bros. 3 within the same week. Even better, thanks to having recently written two reviews rather quickly, I am now one week ahead. That is, during a given week, I will be working on next week's review. This is helpful because it means I won't feel the need to rush these reviews as long as I stay on schedule. I'm also proud to announce that I have now written over 200 posts on this site!
Well, we've all reached the year's halfway point. I'm proud to say that I've already written twenty-eight reviews so far. With me having taken down my review of BioShock: Infinite earlier this year, the current count is 127. My goal by the end of the year is to reach 150, which I'm feeling good about because I've been able to write at least one review per week so far in 2018.


Welcome folks, to my latest Six Degrees column!
Now, I wanted to mix it up a little bit for this one. In previous columns, I have written pieces about trends and patterns in communities and open source. This one is instead designed to provide some practical recommendations of tools you can use today as you build strong and empowered communities.
In recent years, we have seen tremendous growth in communities around the world. Software development, hardware engineering, social activism, crowdsourcing, makers, education—thousands of communities are springing up to get together, have fun, and make a difference. Creating a new community can be daunting, though, and while I obviously stoop to the lowest level of personal promotion by suggesting my book, The Art of Community, as a resource for building community, I want to discuss one particularly difficult component in getting a community up and running: infrastructure and services.
Collaborative communities often involve lots of moving parts. This can include websites, code hosting, bug tracking, communication channels, and more. Deciding which tools and services to use is an important consideration. If we don't have the tools to be successful, it is difficult to have an impact, yet if our tools are too complicated, fewer will be able to figure out how to get involved.
We need the right cocktail of tools and services served up in a simple and accessible way. This column is going to provide a whistlestop tour of community management tools and services that I recommend for open source projects to consider and explore.
Now, to be clear, this list is not designed to be gospel; every community is different and you may find options better suited to your particular communities. So, think of this list as one of recommendations you might begin considering. Also, in providing these recommendations I am presuming that you want to run as little infrastructure yourself as possible. Some communities may want to take the time to set up their own dedicated services and run and maintain them, but I am presuming here that you have little money to spend on infrastructure and would prefer to have it hosted elsewhere.
One final caveat before we get into the list (and some of you will get your knickers in a twist over this): not all of these recommendations are open source. Some folks for whom I have a great deal of respect believe that open source projects should be hosted on open source services. Some even go so far as to suggest that this is so important as to potentially compromise the ease of use or functionality of those tools in serving the community. While I believe software development tools should always be open source, I don't think services need to be. What is necessary, though, is ensuring that (a) the tools are free and available to use for your community members and (b) that you can get your data out of them if you need to, preferably in a format you could re-create elsewhere. This provides the peace of mind of future development if the service goes away. Now, I want to hear your thoughts, so be sure to either leave a comment or tweet at me to @jonobacon with your thoughts on these tools or better tools to suggest!
Step one in building community infrastructure is putting together a website. Typically you want to start simple and then expand as your community expands. WordPress provides a perfect solution here. Although WordPress is primarily designed as blogging software, you can create a normal, non-blog website with WordPress easily using WordPress pages, which are basically standard web pages. Here you can easily add content, structure your menus and navigation, support comments, create sidebars and layouts, and more.
What's more, there are hundreds of pre-built themes, both free and premium, that can make your site look great. One of the most fantastic elements of WordPress is the huge library of plugins that can provide anything from role management to e-commerce to ratings, and more. This provides extensibility for custom needs. If you don't want to host WordPress yourself, check out WordPress.com, and if you do want to host it, then I recommend you run the stable version out of Subversion. This makes keeping it up to date simple.
Most communities use a blogging software (such as WordPress), which is a critical piece of community infrastructure. A blog provides an place where you can disseminate news and information, keep your users up to date, and tend to questions and uncertainties your community may experience. An important part of a blog is the ability for your users to comment—it makes the blog feels more engaging and also keeps people coming back to the blog for more news and discussion.
While many default comment systems in content management systems (such as WordPress) are fine, the Disqus service takes comments to a much more engaging level. It makes having threaded conversations simple, complete with up/down voting, and full moderation tools. I have seen Disqus have a marked effect on the level of discussion (compared to bog standard commenting systems). Disqus has plugins for various content management systems that you can use, so setting it up is simple. Well recommended.
So you have your website and blog set up. You now need to get some communication channels up and running.
All communities need a primary area for the community to congregate, converse, debate, and discuss. Now, I could spent this entire article discussing the merits of mailing lists, forums, IRC, and more. I have found forums to be a good all-around solution, particularly for less technical contributors. While the forum software of choice used to be phpBB, we have a new king in town: Discourse.
I am a tremendous fan of Discourse. It takes a lean, elegant, and informed approach to forums. It features a simple user interface, theming, gamification, email response, support for rich content, personalized accounts, categories for splitting your forum up into pieces, private groups, invitation support, and more. The Discourse team does a wonderful job, and I have deployed Discourse in multiple communities with great results. If you want a hosted service, check out Discourse.org (who build Discourse) or DiscourseHosting.com.
Don't want to use a forum and prefer mailing lists? If you need something simple, use a Google Group. If you want to go a step deeper, set up a Mailman server, the gold standard for mailing lists.
I don't want to be rude to people who build wikis, but I must say that wikis seem to be some of the most confusing tools in the world for such a seemingly simple task: editing a web page. I have tried many different wikis in search of the magical combination of power and ease of use.
Finding these solutions has not been easy, so I am hoping this will save you some work. By far the simplest wiki I have found is a service called WikiSpaces, which started out life providing wikis for educational establishments. They have built a really nice service that is simple to use, powerful, has template support, analytics, and more. In particular, their Private Label service is excellent and also allows you to create multiple segmented wikis.
If you don't want to go for a service and prefer to run your own, I have found the best open source wiki tool to be DokuWiki. Initially, I was a big fan of MediaWiki from the good folks in the Wikipedia community, but I feel DokuWiki now has the edge.
At this point, you have most of your infrastructure up and running. Now you want to provide tools for managing ways your community will write some rockin' code.
This is where I recommend Trello. Trello is basically a service that follows the kanban approach to project management. Essentially you create different lanes that represent different statuses and you add a series of cards that represent tasks to these different lanes. Multiple people can add cards, edit them, add further data, and collaborate in how the work items move through the development process. You can also tie the cards to calendars and deadlines. It provides a simple, effective, and powerful approach to managing projects, and I have used it for a number of projects in the past. Well recommended.
Social media is an important tool for engaging with your audience as well as disseminating news and information in your community. However, it brings challenges.
There are multiple networks, and each network has different norms regarding which materials gets better results. For example, you can post frequently on Twitter and get good clickthrough and impressions, whereas on Facebook things are a little more conservative.
One thing is clear though: it is important to have a regular stream of material to keep your audience engaged. To help with this you should pre-schedule content to post at the most effective times. This means you schedule your content, and at all times your next week of social media should be in the can, ready to go. You can do this manually using many of the social media networks, but it is a bit of a pain and very repetitive when using multiple networks.
This is where Buffer comes in. Essentially, you set a schedule for how often you want to post to each network, and then you fill Buffer with a big bucket of material to be posted and it posts it for you at the scheduled times you specified for each network. This means you can schedule a week's worth of material once and Buffer takes care of the rest. Oh, and it provides analytics too. This is a great tool for building your audience and keeping people engaged.
Code hosting is a tricky one. There are lots of different options, both in terms of version control systems as well as different platforms, for managing that code. When assessing tools, I try to determine which will open a community to the greatest number of quality developers.
With this in mind, I recommend you use GitHub. While I have traditionally used Bazaar and Launchpad for development (and Subversion and Trac before that), Git has become the standard version control system that most developers seem to be using for managing code. GitHub has also become the home that most people seem to use for putting their branches somewhere other people can access them and contribute to them.
GitHub provides most of what you need: code hosting, issue tracking, and managing merges and contributions. While not as expansive in terms of release management as Launchpad, GitHub focuses on what it does best: making it simple to find, improve, and contribute great code. And it has a huge community of developers who use it every day.
This next category is an interesting mishmash of two technologies.
In most communities, you should have two types of online events. Firstly, you should have meetings to bring the team together to discuss ideas, status, and more. Secondly, I recommend you have public broadcasts where you share updates, news, and other juicy nuggets of information with the wider world.
Google Hangouts has revolutionized video conferencing and provides a useful tool for both of these types of events. The Google Hangouts interface, though, is ... well, a little clunky at times. So I recommend a simple solution to make participation and interaction easier for people.
Put simply, when you set up a Google Hangout On Air, grab the embed code for the hangout and put it on a normal webpage. If your hangout is scheduled, the embedded video will just show a countdown until the broadcast begins. Now, use Kiwi IRC, a web-based IRC client, to display a Freenode IRC channel underneath the hangout. This provides viewers with a means to watch a live video feed and chat with other users who are watching the session.
While this approach is useful for the broadcast events, you can also use it for meetings. The benefit of this is that some of your meeting participants may not want to join a video call, so they can instead watch the hangout and participate in the chat. The only extra step needed here is to put a link to the hangout window on the webpage so people can join the main hangout if they want to.
Many communities also like to form local groups. Local groups are a great way to grow your open source community around the world. This then raises the question of which tool one should use to schedule meetings and keep local communities engaged.
I have assessed a large number of options here, and meetup.com is by far the best solution I have found. Firstly, meetup allows you to create a group in a matter of minutes and provides tools for scheduling meetings, gathering RSVPs, having discussions within the group, adding polls, sharing files, posting photos, generating name badges, and more.
The real value of meetup, though, is that your community gets exposed to the meetup universe. For example, I created the XPRIZE Think Tank San Francisco and within a matter of hours I had more than 100 people join—with zero promotion on my part.
Now, this has a dark side: it is a closed ecosystem, which I am not a fan of. But the meetup.com folks have a pretty good track record: if they start making bad decisions, people will simply move away in droves. As such, while not perfect, the benefit of the sheer exposure your community will get seems to outweigh the risk of meetup going evil and screwing your members. It is a compromise, but a compromise I am currently happy to make given my experience working with the meetup folks. While this is a paid service (creating a group costs money), on balance it is cheaper than many of the custom platforms for handing local groups if you want to organize many groups around the world. Meetup also provides chapter accounts for managing lots of local groups (which I have used; it works great).
This one may not seem like a community tool, but I think it is important to mention.
When building a community you should make doing great work as simple as possible for your members. In many cases this means creating downloadable kits of materials that people can share, utilize, and expand upon. For example, if you want to create local user groups, you may want to have a downloadable kit of materials for local events which include presentations, posters, handouts, and more. This is something I have used in my work many times. This means creating material that you will want other people to be able to enhance, change, and edit. Now, you could use Microsoft Office or Google Docs for this, but the former would require your members to have access to paid tools and the latter is not great for creating localized copies.
As such, I recommend LibreOffice. This is an entirely free, cross-platform office suite that provides a tremendous solution for presentations, documents, spreadsheets, and more. Simply create your material in LibreOffice's OpenDocument format; this means that you are not only providing the materials your community needs, but you are also providing it in a way they can modify it with free tools as they see fit.
Well, that's it. I hope you found this little list useful, and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments and tweet to me on Twitter at @jonobacon. Until next time!
As an alternative to Trello(not saying it's bad) I would recommend Waffle.io. It does all the things Trello does and it is tightly tied into Github. The cards are actually Github issues/tasks. Just something to look at as well.
One tool that I would take issue with is your choice of LibreOffice. Not that I have a problem with LibreOffice itself. Actually, I'm a huge fan of it and use it semi-regularly. No, the issue is the choice of a tool to solve what should be a decision made about file formatting instead.
Does your documentation require all of the capabilities expressed in the ODF file formats? By all means, choose that as your set of file formats and suggest, not require, LibreOffice.
Does your documentation require beautiful printed output? Consider LaTeX as your file format. I would suggest LyX as one possible editor among many that some may find easier than diving directly into editing LATEX formatting. The document classes create some truly outstanding documentation formatting, too.
Does your project instead need to create an ebook as the final output? Then I would recommend EPUB as the file format and suggest Sigil as a good editor to recommend.
Or, if you're like 90+% of the projects out there and all you really need is a relatively simple markup language that can handle text, tables, and image insertion that can then be output to a number of different formats, why not consider markdown or multimarkdown as your file format? Either one creates simple, easy to read text with embedded formatting that is then trivial to export to any number of final formats. Multimarkdown is even supported directly by Wordpress, for example.


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Alan Gratz is the New York Times bestselling author of several books for young readers, including Grenade; Refugee; Projekt 1065, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2016; Prisoner B-3087, a Junior Library Guild selection that was named to YALSA's 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults list; and Code of Honor, a YALSA 2016 Quick Pick. Alan lives in North Carolina with his wife and daughter. Look for him online at alangratz.com.
Praise for Refugee
* "Gratz accomplishes a feat that is nothing short of brilliant, offering a skillfully wrought narrative laced with global and intergenerational reverberations that signal hope for the future. . . . Poignant, respectful, and historically accurate while pulsating with emotional turmoil, adventure, and suspense."
-- Kirkus Reviews, starred review * "[A] hard-hitting novel. . . . Filled with both tragic loss and ample evidence of resilience, these memorable and tightly plotted stories contextualize and give voice to current refugee crises, underscoring that these journeys are born out of a desperate need for security and safety." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review "Gratz, who is known for well-written and well-researched historical fiction, doesn't disappoint. His latest is timely and moving. . . . This compelling novel will help young people make sense of today's refugee crisis. Meant to be read, discussed, and shared widely." -- School Library Journal "Some novels are engaging and some novels are important. Refugee is both." -- #1 New York Times bestselling author Ruta Sepetys
"This heart-stopping novel is not only compelling -- it is necessary." -- Judy Blundell, National Book Award winning author of What I Saw and How I Lied "An incredibly important, heartrending, edge-of-the-seat read, bringing light to the plight of immigrants who search for safety and freedom." -- Pam Munoz Ryan, author of the New York Times bestseller and Newbery Honor Book Echo "With urgent, clear-eyed storytelling, Gratz's Refugee compellingly explores the desperation and strength that unites those struggling for a place to call home." -- Eliot Schrefer, New York Times bestselling author and two-time National Book Award finalist of Rescued and Endangered "Full of struggle, heroism, and non-stop adventure, Refugee is not only an important book, it's a terrific story." -- Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, author of the New York Times bestseller and Newbery Honor Book The War That Saved My Life "Powerful and compelling. Refugee is a story about what unites us all." -- Christina Diaz Gonzalez, award-winning author of Moving Target Praise for Projekt 1065 * "While the book is replete with fascinating historical insight, Gratz has also crafted a suspenseful mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With short, action-packed chapters, it is a great choice for reluctant readers as well... A winning combination of action, suspense, and historical setting." -- School Library Journal, starred review * "A rare insider's glimpse into the Hitler Youth: animated, well-researched, and thought-provoking." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review "[A] high-action spy thriller." -- Booklist Praise for Prisoner B-3087 A Junior Library Guild Selection Golden Sower Award, 2014-2015 Winner Nebraska Isinglass Teen Read Award, 2014-2015 Winner New Hampshire Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award, 2014-2015 Winner Pennsylvania Junior Book Award, 2015-2016 Winner South Carolina Grand Canyon Reader Award, 2015-2016 Winner Arizona Truman Readers Award, 2015-2016 Winner Missouri Readers Choice Awards, Winner 2015-2016 Virginia Volunteer State Book Award Winner, 2015-2016 Tennessee "A powerful story, well told." -- School Library Journal "A bone-chilling tale not to be ignored." -- Kirkus Reviews "[A] remarkable survival story." -- Booklist "Gratz ably conveys . . . fatalism, yearning, and determination in the face of the unimaginable." -- Publishers Weekly "Heartbreaking, gripping, raw, and emotional . . . storytelling at its finest." -- VOYA Praise for Code of Honor "Readers will be swept up by both the intrigue and the rapid pacing... Kamran is a smart and sympathetic narrator, and readers will be happy to spend time with him in this action-packed thriller." -- Kirkus Reviews "Exciting, at times ripped from the headlines, and scary, this cinematic work has layers of intrigue and danger in each scene... will appeal to a variety of readers and will raise questions about patriotism, loyalty, and trust... A winner." -- School Library Journal "Vivid characters and timely topics, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, contribute to making Code of Honor a first-rate novel." -- VOYA
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The ADS-1500W connects to your wireless network, or to a single machine to scan at up to 1200 x 1200 dpi resolution (interpolated) and 600 x 600 (optical). Its compact size and many features make it great for a home office or small business that regularly scans and digitizes printed information but may not have space for a larger scanner.
Wireless, fast and easy to use, the WorkForce ES-500W duplex document scanner cuts down on clutter.
Delivering high-quality scans at speeds up to 35 ppm/70 ipm, the DS-575W document scanner gives fast-paced businesses the solutions they need for more efficient document management.
Boasting easy wireless scanning (1) and the fastest scan speeds in its class (2), the WorkForce ES-300W compact duplex document scanner keeps you organized at the office and on the road.


Why are you running and why should people vote for you? I am running to represent the people of Ward 1. People should vote for me because I'm honest and hard working.
What is the most important issue facing your town? How would you approach it? Infrastructure. I would start by getting the help the Street & Wastewater departments' need with updated equipment.
Under what circumstances, if any, would you raise taxes or fees in the municipality? Please explain. I would only vote to approve a tax or fee increase for the residents in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. Otherwise the city should look for other ways to balance the budget.
Crime has been an issue in parts of the metro-east. What is the best way to stop the problem in and around your community? I believe in the power of neighborhood watches and believe they should be taken seriously and have open communication with our Police Department.
In recent years, the city has granted various tax incentives to businesses. Explain whether you would support or oppose tax incentives for businesses. I oppose tax incentives for businesses unless we have more oversight and the businesses have collateral in case the agreement terms are not met.


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Blues Traveler at Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Blues Traveler Tickets
Hop on the tour bus and join the Blues Traveler as they hit the road for their 2021 concert tour. This rock improv – jam band is headed for the Red Rocks Amphitheater on Sunday 4th July 2021. Immerse in their blues-rock, psychedelic rock, folk-rock, soul, and Southern rock sound that will make one of the most unforgettable jam sessions you'll ever experience in a lifetime. Go from lockdown to rock down! So save the date and lock in those tickets now!
From house basement to garage to concert halls and stadiums. There's still no stopping the Blues Traveler from holding jam sessions wherever venue they perform or for whatever music era they're in. Formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987, their sticky blend of blues-rock, psychedelic rock, folk-rock, soul, and Southern rock, were one of the building blocks of the so-called jam band scene of the 90s, and eventually spearheading the H.O.R.D.E. touring music festival.
"We started this whole adventure as a team," says resident drummer Brendan Hill. "We've taken every step of this as a group together, from the basement to moving to New York, getting signed, hiring a manager, to achieving all our goals."
Indeed, Blues Traveler has travelled far and wide and created tracks and leaving musical imprints with their fans as they churned out Top 40 singles such as "Run-Around", "Hook", and "But Anyway". In addition to that, the Blues Traveler got their first Grammy nomination in 1996 for Best Rock Performance by A Duo Or Group with Vocal category for "Run-Around."
Now 2021, Blues Traveler are still hitting the gas and speeding up to concert venues and drawing crowds from all ages and generations of music fans.
"I'm a firm believer that rock and roll keeps you young," adds guitarist, co-founding member Chan Kinchla. "Because I don't feel any different than I did when we started, even though I've got a wife, two kids and all kind of life in between. "
Legendary frontman John Popper adds. "We've really got nothing but love from our audience. If something has quality, it's constantly reconsidered through the ages. And that's what we're doing this for… posterity. We've never been 25 before, so having this kind of retrospective, as songwriters, it's an opportunity for long forgotten songs get their day in court."
With concert fans excited to experience live music, the Blues Traveler at Red Rocks Amphitheater will definitely be a hot ticket! Get your hands on it now!


Only a few days after the release of her badass ads for Chanel, Cara Delevingne helped cement her status as an It-model this morning, by revealing her latest conquest: becoming the new face of U.K. mega-store Topshop.
Delevingne took to Instagram to share the first images from her campaign, and (naturally) she looks stunning in everything from classic black pumps to more Cara-friendly combat boots.
Check out our favorite shots from the campaign below, and tell us what you think of her first Topshop ads!


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Successful generation of Tc-99m is a supply chain advancement that can help ensure patient access to critical medical imaging scans.
November 9, 2015 – CHALFONT ST. GILES, UK – Technetium-99m (Tc-99m) is used in more than 40 million medical imaging procedures each year, primarily stress tests to assess heart disease, and bone scans to determine the stage of cancer progression. This essential medical isotope is generated in pharmacies and hospitals from another isotope—molybdenum-99 (Mo-99). Despite using half of the world's supply of Mo-99, the United States does not produce any domestically and imports 100 percent of its supply from foreign nuclear reactors. Many of these reactors are beyond their originally intended lifespans and outages have caused major shortages of Mo-99.
Today, SHINE and GE Healthcare announced they have successfully obtained pharmaceutical-grade Tc-99m from GE Healthcare's Drytec™ (Technetium Tc99m Generator) For the Production of Sodium Pertechnetate for Tc99m Injection, using Mo-99 produced by SHINE's innovative process. The positive results of this test confirm that Mo-99 produced by the SHINE process can be incorporated into the existing Mo-99 supply chain. Once approved by FDA, use of SHINE-produced Mo-99 in DRYTEC Tc- 99m generators will not require changes to radiopharmacy practices or how the resulting Tc-99m is used in scanning procedures. SHINE is expected to begin commercial production in 2019 using this new process and expects to be able to produce enough Mo-99 to supply two-thirds of the US patient population.
After successfully producing technetium-99m (Tc-99m) in the DRYTEC™ Tc-99m Generator using SHINE Mo-99, GE tested it in preparation of finished radiopharmaceuticals using kits of GE Healthcare Tc-99m-based products: Myoview™ (Kit for the Preparation of Tc99m-Tetrofosmin for Injection) and Ceretec™ (Kit for the Preparation of Tc99m Exametazime for Injection). Successful quality control testing was performed on the reconstituted kits, indicating feasibility for Tc-99m radiopharmaceuticals prepared using this material.
SHINE's alternative to highly-enriched uranium (non-HEU) technology also advances the United States' efforts to eliminate the use of weapons-grade highly enriched uranium (HEU) in Tc-99m production around the world. The SHINE process provides a cost-effective, LEU-based alternative to the HEU-produced Mo-99.
View this press release at the GE Newsroom.
Founded in 2010, SHINE is a development-stage company working toward becoming a manufacturer of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine. The SHINE system uses a patented proprietary manufacturing process that offers major advantages over existing and proposed production technologies as it does not require a nuclear reactor, uses less electricity, generates less waste and is compatible with the nation's existing supply chain for moly-99.


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The strength of Congo's rebel groups
As M23 revels leave Goma, there is a general feeling they could return back quite soon.
by Nazanine Moshiri
As our team drives out of our Goma hotel, we are told to wait at the barrier. The police commissioner of Goma has just returned to this city. Twelve bodyguards with ray ban sunglasses, clutching semi-automatic rifles and even RPGs surround his car. As we observe the spectacle, someone says under his breath "where were these officers, 2 weeks ago?" I couldn't help pondering that question, how could a well-armed UN backed national army and police force prefer to desert a major City than stand and fight around a thousands rebels?
Jason Stearns from the Rift Valley Institute knows more than most about why rebel groups are able to succeed in this part of the world. He says the key with M23, is "the fact that there are local elites here in Goma, and across the border in Rwanda that feel that their interests are not guaranteed by this corrupt Congolese state, without having an armed force to protect them. And that does make North Kivu, and Goma much more violent than other places in the country."
Poverty and Corruption
There is no doubt some of the strength of rebel groups like M23 lies in the weakness of the Congolese Army and State. Here are some examples, in September, local radio and newspapers reported that around $15 million dollars which was supposed to go towards the army's costs, went missing.
On Monday, the IMF stopped a planned $240 million loans to the DR Congo for failing to publish mining contracts as requested.
It is astounding how a country rich in gold, and diamonds, can be among the world's poorest. Last year, the United Nations Development Program ranked Congo the least-developed country in the world, and DR Congo remains near the bottom of Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index.
Outside assistance?
However, there may be other explanations for the strength of a rebel group like M23, as there is growing evidence of outside interference and support. When M23 was leaving, a number of Government cars were reportedly stolen by members of the rebel group. When we asked eyewitnesses where the cars had been taken, almost all of them laughed at the question, and replied "Rwanda, of course."
Recently, a group of experts tasked by the UN Security Council presented new evidence alleging M23 received "direct support" from the Rwandan Defence Force to capture Goma. The allegations, which were in a letter to the Security Council, said that "a mixture of M23 and RDF troops clandestinely entered into Goma from the Rwandan town of Gisenyi through small streets situated between the town's two official border crossings". This is likely to incense the Rwandans, who vehemently deny any such assistance.
A disciplined Rebel Force?
There are however, other reasons why M23 has succeeded while other groups have failed. Having watched and observed the group close up since they first started out in April. I can tell you their discipline and organisation are the key reasons why it was able to control a City of a few million with just a few hundred fighters. Although there are reports that in the last few days before their departure there were incidents of looting, and intimidation of local people.
Even in the remotest outposts of the group in Masisi, none of the soldiers would talk to us unless they had direct command from their leader General Sultani Makenga. Moreover, if we offered their soldiers anything, from a bottle of water, to a cigarette, they would not accept unless they received the nod from their commanding officer.
When the rebels started withdrawing from the hills surrounding Sake on foot, they walked determinedly, in a single file, without complaint, and without stopping unless they were ordered to do so.
As I watched the last of their fighters leave Goma, I wondered if M23 was closer or further to achieving its aims, and whether it would be back.
Nazanine Moshiri
Presenter and correspondent
@ nazaninemoshiri


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Published 09 Mar 2018 in Columns
Slicing and dicing the streaming revenue cake
by Jari Muikku
As streaming revenues and their significance have increased, the fairness of the distribution system has become a topic for global debate within the music industry. Consumers have an important role in this discussion as the distribution method may have a crucial impact in increasing the amount of shareable money for all parties. A study performed in Finland was based on Spotify's streaming data, which was used to compare pro rata and user centric distribution models.
In 2016, digital revenues made up 50% of the total revenue in the international recorded music business. The share of streaming revenue across all digital income was 59%, and it keeps growing fast. In some forerunning territories like the Nordic countries, the share of streaming has already exceeded 80% of the overall revenues in the recorded music business.
Therefore, it is evident why all parties in the music business want to study in detail the current distribution methods of the subscription-based streaming services, and their fairness for each stakeholder group. Currently all major audio streaming services use the pro rata model in their distribution, but various right holder groups around the world have expressed a need to study the outcomes of alternative methods as well, such as the so-called user centric model.
As Finland is one of the leading streaming countries, it is natural that our local music organizations have wanted to compare the different distribution systems. The aim of the study "Pro Rata and User Centric Distribution Models: A Comparative Study" (2018) was to compare the current pro rata system and the alternative user centric system, using real data from a major streaming service, in order to see how these two methods affect distribution.
The key findings of the study demonstrated the basic differences and correlations between the pro rata and the user centric distribution models.
The overall income from an international music audio streaming service is shared between three main groups. The streaming service gets around 30% of the income and the rest is divided between the various right holders of recordings (55-60%) and works (10-15%).
In the pro rata model, monthly revenues are combined and shared between individual tracks according to the total amount of streams. In the user centric model, the calculation is based on the listening habits of each individual user, whose subscription fee is distributed only to the right holders of the tracks he/she has actually listened to.
The data used in the study consisted of Spotify Premium usage information in Finland during the month of March in 2016. This was, as far as I know, the first time Spotify had released this kind of data for public research purposes. The streaming report consisted of more than eight million individual streams. The researcher took a random sample from 10,000 tracks to represent the entirety of the material. This sample included tracks from 4,493 individual artists and 22,496 streams, which were played by 8,051 anonymised user IDs.
The key findings of the study demonstrated the basic differences and correlations between the pro rata and the user centric distribution models. The general trend is that as the overall stream count decreases, the revenue difference between the user centric and the pro rata models increases.
The pro rata model favours those artists and tracks who get the largest amounts of played streams regardless of whether those streams are created by a large number of users with fewer plays, or by a smaller number of users who have played them repeatedly.
The user centric model favours artists with smaller amounts of streams, especially when the overall stream count is smaller. However, it should be emphasized that the positive financial effect is not automatic in all user centric cases: instead, the outcome may even be the opposite. The results depend on the cumulative effects of both individual and user groups' listening habits. In any case, the user centric model gives more immediate power to users to direct the money they pay for the service towards the artists or tracks they favour, compared with the pro rata model, which is not transparent from the user's point of view.
However, the key findings of the study only represent the tip of the iceberg, as there are numerous key issues that affect all right holder groups of recordings. The following issues are amongst the most important.
Firstly, the analysis could also have been done based on works instead of artists. If that had been the case, there would have been different kinds of variations available, such as several different recordings of a work by several different artists, works created by several composers and lyricists, and so on.
Secondly, it could also be researched whether subscribers choose tracks they listen to based on an artist, a work or a combination of the two, or simply prefer to use ready- or self-made playlists. Subscribers can also rely on each service's algorithms, which learn the tastes of each user and offer recommendations or playlists based on listening habits. This would be a useful tool for estimating the importance of the user centric method for consumers' willingness to pay for audio streaming services.
Thirdly, the current pro rata distribution system does not take into account the big differences between the durations of the various kinds of musical works. For example, the distribution process treats a play of a three-minute pop song in the same way as a play of a 15-minute classical music work. This is clearly not fair, and therefore some kind of adjustments would be required.
Fourthly, in most countries, it would be interesting to compare the shares of domestic and international artists, tracks and works. In smaller countries like Finland this is significant both from commercial and cultural points of view.
The user centric model favours artists with smaller amounts of streams, especially when the overall stream count is smaller.
Regardless of the results of this study and the aforementioned topics, we should remember that music business is, at the end of the day, a business. The current distribution system is a result of business negotiations between different leading parties, and negotiating also remains the only way to change the system. It cannot be done by a single party such as Spotify. The companies who have the strongest leverage will dominate the system in the future just as they have done until this day.
These parties' decision makers can only be convinced by demonstrating either the direct or indirect financial benefits the change would bring. One should also bear in mind that the costs of changing the distribution system have to be covered somehow. Furthermore, a change of method or increasing fairness as such do not automatically increase the amount of shareable money. It simply splits up the revenues in a different way. For the time being, the most likely scenario for a change is for the user centric system to find a way to make the bonds between artists and their fans stronger, which in turn will bring more paying subscribers for streaming services. The prerequisite for this is a transparent system, which proves to consumers that the money they pay is distributed to those right holders whose music has been played. This would be one of the most efficient ways to make the revenue cake grow and justify the efforts and costs of changing the current pro rata distribution system.
Jari Muikku is a consultant and the CEO of Digital Media Finland, and the author of the distribution method report.
Back to Columns
#distribution share
#user centric
#pro rata
#Music research
#Spotify
Paying the piper
by Merja HottinenPublished 29 Sep 2015
Changing listening habits
by Merja HottinenPublished 11 Mar 2014


text:
Q: Loading unstructured CSV data into Hive I would like to load a CSV file that contains 250000 posts from Stack Exchange into Hive. The CSV takes the following format:
    Id  Score   ViewCount   ParentId    Body    DisplayName rnk

Every field is delimited by a "," but the field that screws everything up is Body.
Body contains the contents of the top 250000 posts on the website so there's all sort of characters in there, so there's one post per row with 250000 rows.
I've read up on Serde and Regexp but I am still getting null values in my Hive table.
    CREATE TABLE dataStore(Id string, Score string, ViewCount string,     ParentId string, Body String, DisplayName String, Rank String)
    ROW FORMAT SERDE 'org.apache.hadoop.hive.serde2.OpenCSVSerde'
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    "quoteChar"     = """",
    "escapeChar"    = "\"
    )
    STORED AS TEXTFILE;

A: I normally use ogrodnek's serde, you might have more luck with that. Also I don't think you're escaping your special character properly, I believe you need
"quoteChar"     = "\"",
"escapeChar"    = "\\"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
BERNARD LEACH: LIFE & WORK
Yale University Press has republished Emmanuel Cooper's classic biography of the great Bernard Leach.
To mark the centenary of the founding of the Leach Pottery, Yale University Press have just re-issued, for the first time in paperback, Emmanuel Cooper's biography of Bernard Leach. The book, first published in 2003, is widely thought to be the definitive record of one of the great pioneers of studio pottery.'Widely recognised as a pioneer of studio pottery, Bernard Leach (1887–1979) cultivated an identity for artist potters in Britain and around the world. This outstanding biography provides a vivid, detailed account of Leach's life and art.
'Cooper must be congratulated for writing this much-needed biography. It is a book which will become the standard reference for Leach, and appeal to a general audience as well as the specialist reader.' - Julian Stair, World of Interiors
Now available in paperback to mark the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Leach Pottery, Emmanuel Cooper's insightful book explores Leach's working methods, the seams of his pottery, his writings and philosophy, his recognition in Japan and Britain and his continuing legacy, bringing into sharp focus a complex man who captured in his work as a potter the "still center" that eluded him in his tumultuous personal life.
'Bernard Leach - Life & Work' is now available to order online.
DESIGN AUCTION
MOST IMPORTANT 20th CENTURY UK POTTERS
WRITER ON CRAFTS
WRITER ON VISUAL ARTS


text:
35+ Alan Watts Quotes on the Meaning of Life, Knowing Yourself, Slowing Down, & More
Alan Watts seems to be having a resurgence in the digital age. His audio lectures have millions of views on YouTube, his books have thousands of reviews on Amazon, and Alan Watts quotes on Instagram seem to get more engagement than anything else.
So, who was he?
Alan Watts was a writer and speaker primarily known for popularizing Eastern spirituality in the West—a "spiritual spokesperson" for the counterculture movement of the 1960s.
"I remember asking Alan why he was teaching. He just smiled at me, and pointed out the window, to a bird flying. There was no reason why he was teaching, he replied. He taught, he said, just as the bird flies." — William Warren Bartley
When I asked people on Twitter what they like so much about Watts, here were some of the responses:
"His style is very easy to consume."
"Humor and style. He's genuinely entertaining, funny, as well as wise."
"His ability to simplify concepts/theories and articulate them with amazing precision is what makes him so popular."
"He tells truths directly and simply. He puts into words things you kinda knew but hadn't found the words to express."
"He brings the entire eastern spiritual tradition on these topics in an easy to understand/follow setting for a western mindset."
If the quotes below spark your interest, you may want to check out these two Alan Watts books that are currently on my reading list:
The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety (Amazon)
The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are (Amazon)
Source: The Alan Watts Organization via Big Think
Alan Watts Quotes on the Meaning of Life & the Art of Living
"The meaning of life is just to be alive. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves." — Alan Watts
"The art of living … is neither careless drifting on the one hand nor fearful clinging to the past on the other. It consists in being sensitive to each moment, in regarding it as utterly new and unique, in having the mind open and wholly receptive." — Alan Watts
"What do you desire? What makes you itch? … If you say that getting the money is the most important thing, you will spend your life completely wasting your time. You'll be doing things you don't like doing in order to go on living, that is, to go on doing things you don't like doing." — Alan Watts
"It's better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, than a long life spent in a miserable way." — Alan Watts
"This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play." — Alan Watts
Alan Watts Quotes on Ego, Anxiety, & Insecurity
"A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts. So he loses touch with reality & lives in a world of illusion." — Alan Watts
"No amount of anxiety makes any difference to anything that is going to happen." — Alan Watts
"Faith is, above all, openness; an act of trust in the unknown." — Alan Watts
"Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun." — Alan Watts
"As a matter of fact, you cannot compare this present experience with a past experience. You can only compare it with a memory of the past, which is a part of the present experience. When you see clearly that memory is a form of present experience, it will be obvious that trying to separate yourself from this experience is as impossible as trying to make your teeth bite themselves. To understand this is to realize that life is entirely momentary, that there is neither permanence nor security, and that there is no 'I' which can be protected." — Alan Watts
"To put is still more plainly: the desire for security and the feeling of insecurity are the same thing. To hold your breath is to lose your breath." — Alan Watts
"There is a contradiction in wanting to be perfectly secure in a universe whose very nature is momentariness and fluidity." — Alan Watts
Alan Watts Quotes on Busyness, Slowing Down, & Presence
"There is no hurry, and in a way there is no future. It is all here — so take it easy, take your time, and get acquainted with it." — Alan Watts
"The difficulty of describing things for Western ears is that people in a hurry cannot feel." — Alan Watts
"We get such a kick out of looking forward to pleasures and rushing ahead to meet them that we can't slow down enough to enjoy them when they come." — Alan Watts
"We keep counting time. We have the sensation time is running out, and we bug ourselves with this. Time is nothing but an abstract measure of motion. We are living in an eternal now." — Alan Watts
"We need, above all things, to slow down and get ourselves to amble through life instead of to rush through it." — Alan Watts
"If you make where you are going more important than where you are, there may be no point in going." — Alan Watts
"As muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone, it could be argued that those who sit quietly and do nothing are making one of the best possible contributions to a world in turmoil." — Alan Watts
"It is only when there is no goal and no rush that the human senses are fully open to receive the world." — Alan Watts
Alan Watts Quotes on Knowing Yourself
"The most strongly enforced of all known taboos is the taboo against knowing who or what you really are behind the mask of your apparently separate, independent, and isolated ego." — Alan Watts
"A man does not really begin to be alive until he has lost himself, until he has released the anxious grasp which he normally holds upon his life, his property, his reputation and position." — Alan Watts
"Every intelligent individual wants to know what makes him tick, and yet is at once fascinated and frustrated by the fact that oneself is the most difficult of all things to know." — Alan Watts
"We seldom realize, for example that our most private thoughts and emotions are not actually our own. For we think in terms of languages and images which we did not invent, but which were given to us by our society." — Alan Watts
"Words can be communicative only between those who share similar experiences." — Alan Watts
"You are under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago." — Alan Watts
"You are in relationships with the external world that, on the whole, are incredibly harmonious." — Alan Watts
"All happenings are mutually interdependent in a way that seems unbelievably harmonious. Every this goes with every that. Without others there is no self, and without somewhere else there is no here, so that — in this sense — self is other and here is there." — Alan Watts
"The relationship of self to other is the complete realization that loving yourself is impossible without loving everything defined as other than yourself." — Alan Watts
Alan Watts Quotes on Paradoxes
"The fundamental, ultimate mystery – the only thing you need to know to understand the deepest metaphysical secrets – is this: that for every outside there is an inside and for every inside there is an outside, and although they are different, they go together." — Alan Watts
"Soon you will find that the so-called outside world and the so-called inside world come together. They are a happening. Your thoughts are happening, just like the sounds going on outside and everything is simply a happening and all you're doing is watching it." — Alan Watts
"Life is not a problem to be solved, nor a question to be answered. Life is a mystery to be experienced." — Alan Watts
"Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way." — Alan Watts
"It is a special kind of enlightenment to have this feeling that the usual, the way things normally are, is odd—uncanny and highly improbable." — Alan Watts
"In the moment of death many people undergo the curious sensation not only of accepting but of having willed everything that has happened to them … not willing in the imperious sense; it is the unexpected discovery of an identity between the willed and the inevitable." — Alan Watts
"The whole process of nature is an integrated process of immense complexity, and it's really impossible to tell whether anything that happens in it is good or bad — because you never know what will be the consequence of the misfortune; or, you never know what will be the consequences of good fortune." — Alan Watts
"You didn't come into this world. You came out of it, like a wave from the ocean. You are not a stranger here." — Alan Watts
Top Quotes about Perspective, Happiness, and Purpose
45 Lifelong Learning Quotes that will Inspire You to be a Student of Life
11 Daily Life Quotes to Set Your Perspective Every Morning in 1 Minute
19 Deep Life Quotes to Ponder for How to Live in 2019


text:
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#define V_OPENGL_H

#ifndef V_GLES_API
#define V_GL_API
#endif

#include "v_main.h"
#ifdef V_GL_API
#include <GL/glew.h>
#include <GL/glu.h>
#else
#include <GLES2/gl2.h>
#endif

typedef struct {
	GLuint indId, vertId, texId, colId, nrmId;
	int numVerts;
} Model;

extern GLuint curShader, shader, shieldShader, guiShader;
extern float V_vertFov;

Model* V_LoadModel(const char* path);
void V_StartOpenGL();
void V_RenderModel(Model* m);
void V_PushState();
void V_PopState();
void V_ClearColor(float r, float g, float b, float a);
void V_ClearDepth();
void V_SetDepthTesting(bool b);
void V_SetDepthWriting(bool b);
void V_SetAlphaBlending(bool b);
void V_BindTexture(unsigned id, int pos);
void V_BindCubeMap(unsigned id, int pos);
void V_SetTexRepeating(int tex, bool b);
void V_SetTexInterLinear(int tex, bool b);
void V_SetTexMipmapLinear(int tex, bool b);
void V_MakeProjection();
void V_SetFaceCulling(bool cull);
void V_UseTextures(bool b);
void V_IsParticle(bool b);

GLuint V_LoadShader(const char* name);
void V_DeleteShader(int programId);
GLuint V_LoadTexture(char* name);
GLuint V_LoadCubeMap(char* name);
void V_SetAnimMatrix(Model* m, unsigned int time, mat4x4 r);
void V_SetShader(GLuint id);
void V_SetParam1f(const char* var, float f);
void V_SetParam2f(const char* var, float x, float y);
void V_SetParam3f(const char* var, float x, float y, float z);
void V_SetParam4f(const char* var, float x, float y, float z, float a);
void V_SetParam1i(const char* var, int i);
void V_SetParam4m(const char* var, mat4x4 mat);
void V_PrintMat(mat4x4 mat);

#endif // V_OPENGL_H

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


It's hard to believe it's 2015 and the majority of us have been buying CDs for over 20 years. This month marks the 20th anniversary of a few famous albums that were released in 1995. Remember these?
The third album by British boy band Take That, this was the last recording before original band members like Robbie Williams disbanded. It contains their most successful song "Back For Good".
This is the third album by Icelandic singer- songwriter Björk, in which she brought an electronic-pop sound with teasers of trip-hop and other styles. The album was met with critical success and was certified platinum in the US, UK, Canada, Europe and Australia.
One of the most memorable albums of the 90s, Jagged Little Pill put Alanis on the map as an alternative rock goddess. The album was written after a breakup, with singles like "Ironic" and "You Oughta Know".
This album made Selena the first Hispanic singer to have an album debut at No.1 on the US Billboard charts. The release was a historic event in terms of album sales from a female singer as well.
This was the first album released on Michael Jackson's own label, MJJ Productions. Disc 1 is a compilation of greatest hits, and Disc 2 was completely new material at the time.


Yacht crew pack in a boatload of duties each day, usually several tasks at the same time. But there are limits to multitasking when it comes to crew meals, according to captains at this month's Triton From the Bridge lunch. Although they would like to hold a meeting or focus on crew bonding during mealtime, they try to avoid anything more than eating.
"It's inevitable that meals turn into a little talk about work, but we try not to be a meeting," a captain said.
Dining together is an important part of crew dynamics on board and that is why captains want the time to be positive. But several reasons prevent breakfast, lunch and dinner from being optimal for work or official team-building, including the high probability of some crew members not present, interruptions, and yacht duties.
"It's functional feeding," a captain said, as many captains nodded in agreement. Meals are often just enough time to grab some nutrition. He looked around the monthly Triton discussion group as the captains had scheduled a dedicated hour-and-a-half out of their day with no interruptions.
"Sometimes, they just can grab two bites before they have to go work," another captain said.
To better understand what is going on with meals, we asked for a look inside the crew mess. It varies, but often it is a buffet in the morning and chowder or something on the stove during the day, one captain said.
During charter or with owners on board, all bets are off, a captain said.
"Meals are always a problem with guests on," another captain added.
"We just try to grab a meal during break… We try to have a lunch, but people are still on their shifts," a third captain said.
In the midst of changing schedules and unplanned issues, most of the captains still set regular meal times.
"We try for noon and six so the crew know what to expect. That's important," a captain said.
Everyone in the group said typically breakfast is informal, with each person eating when they can. The midday meal is a more common time for groups of crew to aim to eat together and most captains schedule dinner at a time when the majority of crew can take a break together.
But there are still crew who "grab when you can," like the stew that has to move clothes in the laundry to keep on schedule. Or the chef – his or her place at the table is even more rare, a captain said.
The idea for this topic stemmed from a captain's suggestion, and the fact that family meal time has changed in society. Half of this group grew up with a regularly scheduled evening family meal, often a bit family business, school updates and some fun. They said there were many benefits and seemed nostalgic to have their yacht families be able to do the same thing.
"It is a time to ask about life in general, find out if people are happy or not happy," a captain said.
But most of the group agreed that societally, the ritual seems to be more uncommon these days.
A captain brought up a hindrance to the feeling of a family meal – cell phones. Even though they are part of life for yacht crew, they seem to separate people and halt conversations.
The reason most of the captains have steered clear of strict phone policies is the crew reliance on their devices. He said mealtimes are often crew members' only opportunity to look at their phone.
"That can be the only time they have to talk to their family or their boyfriend or girlfriend," the first captain said.
A meeting is work, a meal is supposed to be a break. This group said dining should not be about plans, schedules, rules, and discussion of crew problems.
"If you want a crew meeting, call a crew meeting," another captain said.
Light communication is the goal, said a captain whose crew tries to meet for lunch and watch a comedy news program.
Often a crew member or two are missing from a meal or they are partially engaged in a work task during dining. And although crew often relax during meals, it does not equal a day-off or time away from the boat. This group of captains said stronger crew relations can happen anytime crew are together, but especially when they are off duty together. For real bonding, they said they step away from work.
"We go for a crew swim or we take the tender out," a captain said.
"Water activities are great," another captain said.
Another captain said the entire crew goes on excursions, a local activity in a new port, or an activity that appeals to everyone.
"We have a barbecue on Friday or we just plan a social meeting," another captain said.
Overall, off-duty activities are the key to crew relations, a captain said. But he has seen good intentions not run smoothly.
As we wrapped up the discussion, the captains agreed that meals are for feeding the crew. They fight the urge to handle ship's business and build camaraderie, but they welcome every time crew get to know each other a bit better.
Individual comments are not attributed to encourage candid discussion; attending captains are identified in the accompanying photograph. Captains who make their living running someone else's yacht are welcome to join in the conversation. Email to editor@the-triton.com for an invitation to our monthly From the Bridge discussion.


In anticipation of tonight's sold out Florence and the Machine concert at the Enmore Theatre, I thought I might do a short review on last year's debut album, Lungs.
All I can say is "WOW". Ok, maybe a little more than that... it really did take me by surprise.
This LP by pop-rock artist, Florence Welch, really is hard to define in terms of genre. It's kind of a combination of rock and epic soul music, maybe a bit of pop too. Her vocals are absolutely amazing and has incorporated a wide range of beats and instruments from pianos to harps to heavy drums. Wait, her vocals deserve a couple sentences to them selves. Maybe even a couple of paragraphs. While "the Machine", her band, provides the eclectic backing sound, the voice box on this chick is awe inspiring. No matter what instruments she is singing to, her voice takes over the song at all the right moments. It's truely a special talent and people are realising this including Florence taking home Best Breakthrough Act at the 2009 UK Festival Awards and also winning the best album award at this year's BRIT awards.
My musical taste generally hangs in the hip hop and rock departments but I first heard Florence on Triple J's live at the wireless. I heard You've got the love, and Dog Days Are Over and figured they'd be the only tracks I'd like on the album but gladly I was wrong. This album rocks. It's going to be hard to back this album up well with her next try. I hope she does though.
You might have heard this before but check out "You've got the love"
It's hard to choose but this is possibly my fave track at the moment, "Cosmic Love"


The iPhone 8 Plus boosts the same usage types to maximums of 21 hours, 13 hours, 14 hours, and 60 hours respectively. Both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus benefit from a fast-charge capability, which allows the smartphones to reach a 50 percent charge.
On the front for both devices is the FaceTime HD camera, which uses a 7-megapixel BSI sensor and an aperture of f/2.2. Capable of recording 1080p video, the FaceTime cameras offer automatic HDR for photographs, body and face detection, auto image stabilization, burst and timer.
AppleInsider 's testing of iPhone 8 charging methods reveals wireless charging occurs at roughly the same rate as a connection with the included 5W adapter, taking 2.5 hours to fully charge an iPhone 8 Plus. Originally, the wireless charging capability was limited to 5 watts.
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text:
Antelle Haithcock
By Meg Crosby - For The Lima News
Antelle Haithcock, of Lima, greets Gov. Ted Strickland before he stood on a table to speak to Barack Obama supporters in downtown Lima at the opening of the Barack Obama Headquarters in 2008.
The Lima News
Allen County Commissioner candidates Sam Bassitt, Antelle Haithcock, Dan Reiff, Mitch Kingsley and Ed Kirk participate in a forum in 2004 at the Fox 25/CBS 38 studio.
Haithcock ran for Allen County commissioner, losing in 2004.
Helen Roberts, left, and Antelle Haithcock were photographed in 1989.
Allen County Historical Society
Haithcock
LIMA — "Don't let anyone take away your joy."
Antelle Marie Haithcock lived by those words and when she died in 2010 they were chiseled into her tombstone at Woodlawn Cemetery. Short in stature with a voice robbed of volume by a long battle with asthma, Haithcock nevertheless spent more than 30 years in local media speaking to area residents as a reporter and the first black weatherperson at WLIO-TV, host of a gospel music show, reporter and columnist for The Lima News, and candidate for Allen County commissioner. For an even longer time she lent her voice to the choir at Lima's Second Baptist Church.
When she died June 3, 2010, The Lima News managing Editor Jim Krumel wrote: "You didn't have to know Antelle Haithcock long to be considered one of her friends. She called many people her friends. That usually meant being greeted with a wide smile and outstretched arms, followed by a heartfelt hug. Then she would ask a question about your family, job, mutual friend or an organization.
"Antelle Haithcock was simply one of the nicest people I ever met."
She was born May 22, 1955, in Lima, the daughter of Harold Lawrence Haithcock Jr. and Phyllis Ann Green Haithcock. She was graduated from Lima Senior High School and the Howard School of Broadcasting in Southfield, Michigan.
Haithcock quickly found her way working as a weatherperson and reporter for WLIO-TV. Later she would work as a columnist and reporter for The Lima News. As a writer, Haithcock often wrote about her own life and how she connected her everyday experiences to her faith in God, the rejection of racism and the simpler joys.
In a column from Dec. 20, 2003, she recalled an early Christmas when she was waiting to come home from a children's hospital in Cincinnati. "I was happy to be going home," Haithcock wrote, "but what if I had an attack while I was home? It's funny, I don't think most adults believe kids think like that. An asthma attack is scary for both adults and children and I didn't want to hear the sirens or hear my mama cry. I didn't let on though; I acted like I couldn't wait to get home."
Haithcock had confronted the reality of asthma from an early age. In a News article from July 11, 1995, Haithcock vividly remembered being carried down the street in the arms of her mother who, desperate to get her help, stopped at a nearby fire station.
According to Haithcock, a firefighter told her mother, "I'm sorry. She's gone." A second firefighter, however, said, "Let's try again," Haithcock said.
"Haithcock was 8 years old, having one of her worst asthma attacks," the News wrote. "At 9, she was taken to Children's Convalescent Hospital in Cincinnati to get treatment. She stayed there for 1 1/2 years."
"Haithcock's asthma was so bad in high school that a teacher told her she couldn't be a broadcaster because her voice was too airy," the News wrote in a story from May 14, 1998.
The teacher was wrong. "The Lima resident landed a job at WLIO-TV when she was 19 and just out of broadcasting school. She started as a camera girl, but eventually set her sights on doing the weather," the News noted. "It never occurred to her that would be a 'first' for blacks in Lima. She simply did her job, she said." Haithcock would do her job at WLIO, which also included a stint as promotions director, for 28 years.
"During my years at the TV station, I was the host of 'A Gospel Sound,' a 30-minute music and interview show on the air from 1983 until 1998," she wrote in a Nov. 18, 2003, column in the News.
Her words to live by grew out of the show. "I would always begin the show by saying, 'Hi, everybody,' and end it by telling my viewers not to let anybody take their joy," Haithcock wrote. "I said, 'Man didn't give it to you and they can't take it away. They'll try. Some people will get on your very last nerve, but don't let them do it. Don't let anybody take your joy."
Haithcock had other advice. On Dec. 28, 2002, in a tongue-in-cheek nod to the middle age it once looked as if she wouldn't reach, she wrote, "Don't complain about aches and pains because this is only the beginning," adding that "it's great to eat right and exercise. Many experts say this will help in the aging process. I agree. I don't do it, but I agree with it."
She had other, more serious advice, too. Krumel shared some of her thoughts in his June 2010 column:
About crime: "I have never denied that black people do commit crime. What I want people to realize is that most black people are not killers, thieves, drug dealers and addicts."
On rejection: "I learned a long time ago that if someone doesn't invite you to their party, have a party of your own."
To a black child on the first day of school: "Don't worry about prejudice. It's there. Some teachers may have it against you; you may have it against them. Rise above it. The easiest thing in the world to do is fail."
The welfare of children was on Haithcock's mind when she decided to run for Allen County commissioner, telling the News she wanted to see the Allen County children's home reopened. "I am very concerned about how our children are being treated," she told the News on Dec. 20, 2003. "I believe that a facility is needed to help those children, and that's what we don't have."
Haithcock lost the election in 2004 but had long since won the admiration of the community. On June 19, 2010, about two weeks after her death, Lima City Council approved a resolution memorializing Haithcock for her role in the media and work in the community.
https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2018/03/web1_gov176.jpgAntelle Haithcock, of Lima, greets Gov. Ted Strickland before he stood on a table to speak to Barack Obama supporters in downtown Lima at the opening of the Barack Obama Headquarters in 2008. The Lima News
https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2018/03/web1_ComissionerForum01_LEV.jpgAllen County Commissioner candidates Sam Bassitt, Antelle Haithcock, Dan Reiff, Mitch Kingsley and Ed Kirk participate in a forum in 2004 at the Fox 25/CBS 38 studio. The Lima News
https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2018/03/web1_Haithcock_Antelle_02co.jpgHaithcock ran for Allen County commissioner, losing in 2004. The Lima News
https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2018/03/web1_Haithcock-Antelle-r-1989-BHSA-Helen-Roberts-l-.jpgHelen Roberts, left, and Antelle Haithcock were photographed in 1989. Allen County Historical Society
https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2018/03/web1_Haithcock_Antelle_01co.jpgHaithcock The Lima News
By Meg Crosby
Reach Meg Crosby at info@limanews.com.
Hi! A visitor to our site felt the following article might be of interest to you: Antelle Haithcock. Here is a link to that story: https://www.limaohio.com/features/lifestyle/291376/antelle-haithcock


In a recent conversation the subject of my Navy career was mentioned and someone casually remarked �thank you for your service.� While no harm was intended, I was mildly embarrassed.
My �service� involved no sacrifice. No thanks are needed. My service was filled with opportunity; the opportunity to learn a profession, the opportunity to travel to places I never knew, the opportunity to make lifelong friends, the opportunity to meet the woman who would become my lifelong partner and the mother of our children.
But there are those who should be thanked for their service; those who have sacrificed their lives or futures and especially the families of those who have given their lives or are permanently disabled. Those are the ones who should be thanked for their service.
In my opinion, mere words are not sufficient thanks for their service.
If you want to thank them for their service, then study our Constitution.
Why is the Constitution so important that I took an oath �to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America,� the same oath that every President and Member of Congress takes? We did not take an oath to protect the economy, or the security or the welfare of the citizens of United States. We pledged our lives to protect the Constitution! Our Constitution enables every American to work for his own security, success and welfare. That is what sets Americans apart from all the others.
After you have learned why it is so important to protect the Constitution, then become a protector yourself. Teach the children why the Constitution is important. Elect legislators who will protect the Constitution. Defeat those who will not. Only by understanding our Constitution can we really know why and how to �protect and defend the Constitution of the United States� and only then will we be worthy to enjoy those rights and privileges guaranteed by our Constitution and to thank a deserving veteran for his service.


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Register, it's (almost) free
Parent: CL Short Story Project 2.0: Topic Discussion
#62533 • 2013-08-12 22:22:00	• DarkChaplain said:
I think the more character focused type of story coming with the above is a good thing for a project like this. You don't have to dream up a whole huge world with its own mythology or whatever, but can concentrate on a character or two, and tell their story, or an episode of their lives and adventures. Heck, you could tell the story of a freakin' innkeeper whose bar is getting trashed by sell-swords, or that of a pissed-off dwarf seeking his own doom in glorious combat.
There's a lot of room with that theme, and everybody could find a niche to feel comfortable in.
#62537 • 2013-08-12 23:41:30	• Cenica said:
DC. I was actually thinking about writing something like that... so much for surprises.
1 See New Games


Is there anyone using PhotoBiz for their webpage design? I'm updating mine and want to feature a lot more Matterport tours but cannot get the page to accept the embed code. The page accepts YouTube and Vimeo but will not work with Matterport.
Is there something I'm missing or is it a fact that it just will not work?
Screen grab of what you see on the front end?
For some reason the cut and paste embed code from the Matterport site isn't recognized. I retyped the code and it worked.


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Gustav Basson (ur. 23 lutego 1996 w Nelspruit) – południowoafrykański kolarz szosowy.

Osiągnięcia
Opracowano na podstawie:

Rankingi

Przypisy

Bibliografia

Południowoafrykańscy kolarze szosowi
Ludzie urodzeni w Nelspruit
Urodzeni w 1996

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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FOOF may refer to:
 Flags of Our Fathers, a book about the Battle of Iwo Jima
 Flags of Our Fathers (film), a film based on the book
 Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Fraternal Order of Odd Fellows)
 f00f, the term for an exploit common to early Intel microprocessors
 Foof (artist), former drummer with The Bloodhound Gang
 Dioxygen difluoride, a chemical compound with the formula FOOF


Brazilian Focus Filmes will launch Akira アキラ in April. To commemorate the animation's 20th years, the company will launch the original version remastered in widescreen format, with a double box.
Focus Films will also release a single version of DVD, with just the film (remastered version in widescreen) and few extras about the production. In partnership with JBOX website, Focus is choosing the DVD covers arts with the fans.
A Focus Filmes lançará Akira アキラ no mês de abril. Para comemorar os 20 anos do animê, a empresa lançará um box duplo com a versão remasterizada em formato widescreen e a versão original.
A Focus Filmes também colocará disponível uma versão simples do DVD, apenas com o filme (versão widescreen remasterizada) e extras da produção. Em parceria com o JBOX News - que promovei uma enquete - a Focus está trabalhando na capa escolhida pelos fãs.


The best way to entertain all your guests is by offering them with the real experience of glamour and high life of Vegas Style Casino Event in Saint Paul. Whether it is an individual party, birthday party, corporate affair, bachelor's night, fund raising event or any other occasion, Casino Night Events has the experience to help you create a typical experience of Vegas Style Casino for your guests in your upcoming party. Right from handling the details of casino games to catering and car dealers, everything is properly taken care of to make your venue look like real casino for the night.
Casino Night in Saint Paul organized by Casino Night Events will surely have all the thrill and excitement of Vegas. Since no real money in involved in gambling, there is no risk of losing any money while gambling at your casino night. No matter what is the occasion, Casino Night Events ensure that any entrusted job is done professionally that can turn your typical event into virtual casino that includes all the elements to offer real feeling.
What Casino Night Events Offers?
So, Casino Night Events has the passion and experience to organize Casino Parties in Saint Paul. So, give a try to entertain your guest in unique way.


text: An old portfolio built with Express, jQuery, handlebars, and page


text:
pass the microphone
This Memphis senior was kicked out of three high schools. Here's how he got on track to graduate.
By Caroline Bauman - February 21, 2019
PHOTO: Gillian Wenhold, The Social Exchange
Despite what John Chatman calls a "really tough childhood" where he was often left on his own, he's on track to graduate from alternative school G.W. Carver College and Career Academy this year.
In front of more than 100 people, John Chatman recalled the bullying he endured as a child for having a stutter.
Chatman was one of seven educators and students who took the mic at Chalkbeat's February story storytelling night. The stories centered around school discipline practices, a topic we recently covered in this special report.
"Growing up in the area I grew up in, it's hard to deal with that," said the 18-year-old. "You're an outcast. … It made me hate school, because I never could enjoy it. I may answer a question and stutter, [and other students would] get to laughing and cracking jokes."
Kids stopped making fun of him in middle school when Chatman became a star middle school football player in Memphis — but the prestige that came with playing football disappeared when he was injured on the field.
"I took my injuries and replaced them with the streets," Chatman said. "Throughout my ninth-grade year, I was starting to lose myself. … By 11th grade, I didn't know who I even was."
During that period, Chatman said he was kicked out of three high schools and eventually wound up at G.W. Carver College and Career Academy, an alternative school for expelled students, housed in former Carver High School.
"This school changed my life forever," Chatman said.
Rise & Shine Tennessee
Start your morning with the latest Tennessee education news in your inbox.
"Chalkbeat grounds me in the work going on here. It's a lifesaver for understanding the lay of the education land." — Clare L.
To hear more about how Chatman's life changed, watch the video (or read the excerpt) below.
The storytelling night was hosted by Chalkbeat Tennessee, Spillit, and The Knowledge Tree. The video was filmed by Gillian Wenhold for The Social Exchange, a pay-as-you-can public relations and content creation firm for nonprofits, and businesses owned by women and people of color.
My 11th-grade year was the time I decided I had to change. The change was when I finally got kicked out of school. Well, I'd been kicked out of school but this was the kick-out-of-school that kicked me in my back real hard and said you only have one strike left. If you mess this up, this is it. It's over with. You're not going to see the light of day. Due to that, I ended up going to Northeast, and it still didn't get better. In fact, I'm going to tell y'all the transitions of my schools. It started at ninth grade at Central, couldn't come back to Central and I had to go to East , got kicked out of East and went to Northeast. Got kicked out of Northeast and now I'm back at Carver.
I'll tell y'all, this school changed my life forever. I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for that school. It happened like this. There was a guy named Roger. We used to run together during the same time period. …
[During a presentation of past Carver graduates], an image of Roger popped up clear on the screen. It wasn't up for nothing bad, he was on the road to making a six-figure [salary]. I was like, 'This was the same person I used to shoot dice with?'… Now he's living a life and I'm stuck here. I'm still doing the same stuff I've been doing and not getting no different result, and that's called insanity… I took it, and I told myself if he can do it, I know I can.
PHOTO: Xzavier Bonds
Chatman speaks to a packed room during Chalkbeat's storytelling event.
By Caroline Bauman @CarolineBmn cbauman@chalkbeat.org
In this story: John Chatman
Tell us about your experience with busing in Memphis schools
backing out
For the first time, a Memphis charter network leaves state district for local oversight
change course
In rare move, University of Memphis middle school could share building with East High


We have been successfully serving our clients from last 8 Year 7 month 14 days, so Techsodes Corporation thanks to all.
Greenhouses Environment Control System form an important part of the agriculture and horticulture sectors in our country as they can be used to grow plants under controlled climatic conditions for optimum produce. Appropriate environmental conditions are necessary for optimum plant growth, improved crop yields, and efficient use of water and other resources. Automation is process control of industrial machinery and processes, thereby replacing human operators. The soil moisture conditions, environment temperature and various climatic parameters govern plant growth. Automating the data acquisition process allows this information (soil moisture, temperature and various climate parameters) to be collected at high frequency with less labor requirements.
Cell Phone controlled Land Rover using AT89S52 is basically made to operate robots by cell phone in order to simplify the control of robots. It is mainly focused to overcome the limited working range of wireless controlled robots which uses RF circuit. Cell phone controlled robot provides the advantages of robust control and increases the working range as large as the coverage area of the service provider. There is no any interference with other controllers and give up to twelve controls. It enables you to control the your robot only by pressing of your mobile key from anywhere just like that your cell phone works as remote control. Although, the Cell phone controlled robot's appearance and capabilities vary vastly. In spite of the fact all robots share the feature of a mechanical, movables structure under some form of control.
Bus Route Optimization project is to providing customer facilities to get information about Buses and route with source, destination and date of journey easily. Whenever an organization, in the business of providing mobility, is entrusted with moving goods and peoples a natural question that arises is how efficiently that organization can provide the services. This basic requirement of efficient mobility of goods and passengers gives rise to, among many other things, the subject areas of optimal routing and scheduling. In the following sections the problems of optimal routing and optimal scheduling are done by our Bus Route Optimization project.
In our modern world the most critical problem standing over human society is to find out the alteration of non-renewable energy sources. And we find hope in the renewable energy sources. Walking is most common activity in day to day life. When a person walks he loses energy to the road surface in the form of impact, vibration, sound etc, due to transfer of his or her weight on the road surface, through foot falls on the ground during each step. This energy can be tapped and converted into usable form such as electric form. In order to develop a technique to harness foot step energy, a foot step electricity generating device was developed. This device, if embedded in footpaths, can convert foot impact energy into electrical form. If such devices are embedded into places where there is continuous human traffic like malls, railway platforms, city footpaths etc, the electricity generated from these devices can be used for street lighting purpose.
The main objective of Wireless Charger System is to charge the mobile battery by using wireless charger. The dream of wireless charging is just to be able to plop your phone on a shelf after work and have it fully charged when you pick it up again on your way out. This technology will replace cables and standardize on one interface, potentially being able to adjust power settings to charge different types of batteries.
Engineering Projects © 2019. All Rights Reserved.


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Matador Endorses Barack Obama For President
Ross Borden
In our official endorsement of Barack Obama, we define the values of our community, and explain how Barack Obama's policies align with our vision and hopes for America.
When we started Matador, we never anticipated publishing much about American politics. After all, we're a travel site. There are so many thousands of amazing places and cultures to write about without venturing into the political fray.
But as the primaries heated up, our readers asked for more political content. Since then, we've been calling it like we see it.
A Big Moment In History
Here in America we're facing the most difficult economic times and the bleakest outlook that any of us has ever experienced. These are sentiments also echoed by our parents' generation.
People who built successful businesses and who gave their productive lives to their communities are now struggling to pay the bills.
How has this happened?
How, with our resources, ingenuity, and work ethic, have we gotten to a point where two parents working full time still have trouble making ends meet? And what effect might this crisis have on the next generation?
These are very serious times, and we need a very serious leader. After much careful consideration of the issues, the Matador team emphatically endorses Barack Obama for President. Here's why:
At Matador we believe passion is a virtue,
We believe in making the most of opportunities, but always giving back to the community.
John McCain graduated at the bottom of a class of 500 people. Barack Obama graduated Magna Cum Laude, first in his class at Harvard Law School, and was the first black president of the Harvard Law Review.
Afterward he returned to his community and taught Constitutional Law for over a decade.
At Matador our core values are rooted in respect for other cultures, lands, and peoples.
We recognize the importance of free and open dialogue and cultural exchange as a means to deeper understanding.
After graduating from college, Barack Obama spent two months traveling, connecting with local communities in Europe and Africa.
By contrast, McCain has no record of travel as a young man outside of his military career, and running-mate Sarah Palin never even held a passport until the middle of 2007.
At Matador we believe sustainability and transparency are the building blocks of communities, businesses, and government.
Barack Obama has laid out a clear and practical economic plan that will create 5 million new green jobs.
By stark contrast, McCain's plan is a continuation of the very same nefarious practices and policies that have plunged our country into a time of historic economic losses.
John McCain is being advised by people whose very actions precipitated the cataclysmic downturn of the US economy.
One of McCain's top advisers, the general co-chairman of his campaign, Phil Gramm, is directly responsible for deregulating the banking industry in the late 90s and lobbying Congress to roll back state restrictions on predatory and subprime mortgage lending practices.
Effectively, John McCain is being advised by people whose very actions precipitated the cataclysmic downturn of the US economy.
At Matador we're concerned for the health and well being of our parents and extended families.
Barack Obama has a visionary plan to reduce healthcare costs as well as cut taxes on seniors while protecting and enhancing Social Security.
By contrast, John McCain wishes to privatize Social Security. His "plan" would funnel money straight out of senior's pockets and into the coffers of multinational corporations.
At Matador we believe in being a good guest, a good ambassador.
On the stage of international politics, this translates into equanimity, diplomacy and smart foreign policy. We have cringed at McCain's aggressive rhetoric on the prospect of bombing Iran, and his escalating animosity towards Russia.
And whereas Sarah Palin has no foreign policy experience whatsoever, Joe Biden is a long-time member and current chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
At Matador we believe in conserving the earth for future generations and understand the critical need for energy independence.
From our travels, we see how other countries are making real progress, harnessing solar and wind energy and being good stewards of the land. Barack Obama will implement an energy plan that makes America the leader in alternative energy technologies, whereas McCain's plans for "energy independence" can be summed up with the RNC chant of "drill baby, drill!"
Over the next 4 years, the Matador team hopes to see the damage of George W. Bush's calamitous presidency undone. We want less war and more education. We want less time in the office, and more time with our families. We want less terror, and more hope.
We want our next leader to put the interests of average American citizens before those of big oil companies and other multi-national corporations. We'd like to see a resurgence of the middle class.
While traveling abroad in the last year, we can't help but notice that being American now carries a stigma. It's not surprising. We believe that electing Barack Obama will help America earn back the trust of people in all corners of the world.
We will not be silent at this crucial moment in history. We believe in the power of the American people to make the right decision. We are proud to support Barack Obama, and we encourage you to do the same.
Call your friends! Call your family! Write letters! The future depends on our ability to rise to this moment.
We hope you will continue to help us build the most vibrant travel community on the Web. We appreciate all perspectives, regardless of political affiliation, but request that the discourse remain civil at all times.
Photo, top, by Joshua Wanyama (Creative Commons)
Photo, right, by springhill2008 (Creative Commons)
Activism Miscellaneous
The year women became eligible to vote in each country
A Flat Earth Cruise will sail to the 'edge of the world' in 2020
Street artists turn anonymous building into an amazing bookcase illusion
Fellow chefs declare June 25 'Bourdain Day' to honor their late friend
Woman finds guns, typewriter made of human teeth, and more behind locked door in Airbnb
Traveling with your kids makes them better in school, new study says
Anonymous person pays for 70 homeless people to stay in hotel rooms to escape the frigid Chicago weather
Immerse yourself in Van Gogh's Starry Night at this Paris exhibit
This Australian company gives employees 12 weeks of 'life leave' every year


InVision is the collaborative prototyping tool used by more 3 million people and it has been around since 2011. Today, InVision is releasing desktop app Studio, which is meant to accomplish everything a digital designer needs; all at once.
InVision's new Studio design tool goes toe-to-toe with Adobe Photoshop and Sketch, offering designers a way to both create and edit their work and then seamlessly send it into the InVision cloud for collaboration. Adobe says that over 90 percent of the world's creative professionals use Adobe, with Creative Cloud making representing more than 50 percent of the company's value. For the past few years, InVision has grown its customer base by acting as a layer that sits on top of design tools. Designers using Photoshop or Sketch can upload their screens to InVision and add in all the animations and transitions that would be functional on a live website. They can then share that prototype with peers, clients, and/or whomever else is involved in the project and receive feedback.
The founder and CEO Clark Valberg said that Photoshop was meant for photo editing, but has become a necessity for product designers, whose job has evolved rapidly over the last decade. He also said 'Sketch is a reductionist version of Photoshop, baked down to just what you need to draw stuff on a screen'. Beyond that, designers often need to use a few more tools to get their job done, including using a tool for animation, one for asset source management, and hop back and forth between them all to complete would-be simple tasks.
Studio takes on the familiarity of traditional design tools like Photoshop and Sketch, but is built specifically with the modern designer's workflow in mind, says Valberg. The advanced animation you find on InVision is now available in Studio on the design level, letting designers bring life to static screens without writing code. The new tool is also with a responsive design feature, letting designers automatically check their screens on multiple screen sizes without re-creating them for each different device that customers might be using.
Because designers are working collaboratively at companies like Airbnb, Spotify and Twitter, Studio will offer shared design systems where assets, hex codes, and other components of design are available from within the tool. And, obviously, Studio will let users upload their content instantly to the InVision Cloud for collaboration across the organization and beyond. InVision wants Studio to have its own app store and asset store, so developers and designers can build products and offer designs within the tool itself.
InVision isn't ready to announce official pricing as the product won't be publicly available until January, but Valberg said he wants Studio to be as disruptively priced as possible, and that InVision customers should be able to use the product for free. This marks InVision's first foray into vertical integration. The company has raised a total of $135 million. You can request early access to Studio at Invision website.