The Evil Dead franchise came back in a big way this fall with Bruce Campbell once again taking on the role of Ashley Wiliams in a new horror series Ash vs Evil Dead on the Starz Network. This series comes just a few years after there was actually a reboot of the movie that started it all in "Evil Dead". While the film was not nearly as loved as the original, at the very least it helped us all remember how much we loved flicks like Army of Darkness, and Campbell's other creations. Despite the fact that the franchise has had a cult following, there are probably plenty of things you don't know about the franchise. Check out our list of 10 shocking things you didn't know about the Evil Dead franchise and let us know what you think!
Those who pay close attention to the original two films might notice that Ashley J. Williams is never referred to by his full name in those flicks. He was only called Ash or Ashley. Part of the reason for this is because Campbell and director Sam Raimi hadn't decided on a full name for the character yet.
When Raimi wrapped production on the original Evil Dead, he didn't feel all that great about the movie. Horror master Stephen King was one of the biggest fans of the film and actually helped get the sequel made, thanks to his friendship with producer Dino De Laruentiis.
The Evil Dead comic book series has been going strong since 2004 and is supposed to pick up where Army of Darkness leaves off. In this series there have been a number of crossovers that fans have enjoyed.
There was some talk that a new Ash would make an appearance in the Evil Dead movie reboot. Some people thought Sam Raimi, the original's creator, asked for this character to be left out. It turns out it was actually Bruce Campbell who requested the character to be excluded and the reboot's creators agreed.
Before the series Ash vs Evil Dead appeared on Starz, there was quite a bit of talk about a fourth film starring Bruce Campbell. The talks never came to fruition but the series did. That series has now been picked up for a second season. We wonder whether this will help or hurt talk of another Bruce Campbell centered film in the franchise.
There has been some talk about whether the new Evil Dead movie is supposed to be a reboot, or a continuation. One thing that may hint at this movie actually just being a continuation is that Ash's old Delta 88 car makes an appearance, all rusted out and junked, in front of the cabin. Of course, that could just be an homage by the producers of the new movie.
While the Evil Dead reboot had a much higher budget, that doesn't mean its money was endless. One way in which the production team saved money was by shooting the movie in order. It's surprising how few films do it this way. The fact that most of the movie took place in the infamous cabin helped.
People from Evil Dead and Friday the 13th apparently had a crossover in the works, until the groups couldn't agree on whether or not Ash should die at the end. Despite that partnership dissolving, the book that plays a prominent role in the Evil Dead franchise The Necronomicon makes an appearance in Jason Goes to Hell: Final Friday.
Back when Evil Dead was made, Sam Raimi was still an up and coming director who wasn't given much money to make a movie. Since then, the director has had quite a bit of success. It turns out that when he made the original Spider Man film, he was given a budget about 400 times bigger than Evil Dead's.
The original Evil Dead movie was done on a shoestring budget. That meant that the actors who were supposed to be possessed by the evil creatures known as Deadeyes had to wear contact lenses that weren't remotely comfortable. In fact, the actors described the lenses as feeling as though they were wearing teacup saucers. Not only were they uncomfortable but anyone wearing them couldn't see very well, complicating shooting.


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Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) heads down court between plays against the San Antonio Spurs during the first half in Game 1 of the NBA basketball finals on Thursday, June 5, 2014, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Kobe Bryant Torn Achilles, Michael Jordan's Flu Game, LeBron James Cramps Viral on Twitter
June 6, 2014 Updated: June 24, 2015
Twitter users on Thursday night were comparing Kobe Bryant's torn Achilles injury a few years ago with LeBron James' leg cramp after the Miami Heat lost to the San Antonio Spurs.
James was taken out of the game in the final minutes due to the cramp.
After that, people were questioning James' toughness and posted images of Michael Jordan's "The Flu Game" during the NBA Finals in 1997 where he collapsed in teammate Scottie Pippen's arms.
But they mostly compared Bryant's making of two free throws in 2013 after he tore his Achilles.
"People comparing LBJ being carried off to Kobs's walking off with a torn Achilles are idiots," one person wrote on Twitter.
Added another, "To compare a torn Achilles to cramps is kinda wierd because you can feel cramps and when you get your Achilles torn you can't feel it."
Said another, "Lol at LeBron leaving the game with cramps… Kobe hits two clutch free throws with a torn achilles… LeBron is in it for himself."
"Oh yeah, and Lebron got carried off cause of a cramp. Kobe made 2 free throws and walked off w/ Torn Achilles. Oh alright then," wrote another.
Tweeted another, "Laughing hysterically to all the medical experts comparing AIDS, a flue and a partially torn Achilles to a muscle cramp…."
Former Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas was more sympathetic, saying that Jordan wouldn't have been able to play through James' cramps.
"There is no athlete on the planet who could've played through those cramps," he said, according to Yahoo Sports. "Michael Jordan absolutely couldn't have played through those cramps. I absolutely couldn't have played through those cramps. As an athlete, there's nothing you could do."
"There's no way you could play that way," Thomas added. "People have to understand that – just no way." In Game 6 of the 1988 NBA Finals, Thomas scored 25 points on a bad ankle, hobbling the whole time.
[View the story "LeBron" on Storify]
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Spurs beat the Heat. Miami couldn't beat the heat.
And there was the story of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
With LeBron James unable to play in the final 3:59 because of cramps, and on a night where an air conditioning failure inside San Antonio's arena had temperatures hovering near 90 degrees, the Heat simply withered in the final minutes. With their four-time MVP reduced to a spectator, Miami watched as San Antonio pulled away in the final minutes for a 110-95 win on Thursday night in the opener of the title series.
James scored the last of his 25 points on a layup that got Miami within two. That was the end of his night; he stood still on the baseline afterward, unable to move his left leg because of cramping.
His night was over, and soon, so was the game. The Spurs outscored the Heat by 13 the rest of the way, and took the series-opener for the second straight finals.
The Heat were outscored 36-17 in the fourth quarter.
Dwyane Wade scored 19 points, Chris Bosh added 18 and Ray Allen scored 16 for Miami. Rashard Lewis added 10 for the Heat.
"I think it felt like a punch in the gut when you see your leader limping like that back to the bench," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "But at the same time we still had an opportunity."
James has dealt with cramping issues several times in the past, including during the 2012 NBA Finals against Oklahoma City — in a game in Miami.
"We're used to having the hotter arena," Spoelstra said.
Spoelstra insisted that the Heat would not use the temperature as an excuse, and said James tried to return to the game shortly after the cramp knocked him out.
"I just looked at him and said, 'Don't even think about it. You can't even move,'" Spoelstra said.
Tim Duncan led the Spurs with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Tony Parker added 19 points and Manu Ginobili finished with 16 points and 11 assists for San Antonio, which improved to 10-1 at home in the playoffs.
James was affected throughout the second half, asking for breaks more than once, and some players placed ice bags on the backs of their necks in an effort to combat the temperature.
Duncan said the heat was a significant factor in the game.
"I don't know what happened to LeBron, but I think all of us were feeling the heat," Duncan said. "We were all dehydrated."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich acknowledged afterward that James' departure obviously played a role in the finish, though lauded the way his team executed in the deciding minutes.
"Certainly could have been a different story. There's no doubt about that," Popovich said.
It's not the first time electricity has had a significant impact on a championship event in recent years. The Super Bowl in 2013 between Baltimore and San Francisco was marred by a power outage at the Superdome in New Orleans, interrupting play for 34 minutes.
Power was the culprit in Game 1 of the finals as well, arena officials said.
"An electrical failure for the power that runs the AC system in the AT&T Center has occurred," Spurs Sports and Entertainment said in a statement distributed in the second half. "We are continuing to work on resolving the problem. We apologize for any inconvenience."
Many fans removed the giveaway black T-shirts handed out before the game, obviously wanting to wear as few layers inside the steamy building as possible.
"They're trying to smoke us out of here," James told teammates during one stoppage in play.
With 1:14 left, he limped out, not long after throwing a towel to the court in frustration.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Be Not Weary in Well Doing
The story of why a 19th century Maharajah felt compelled to make such an extraordinary gesture to ensure a free, clean water supply to a small Chilterns community.
31st August 2018 6th May 2019 Mary Tebje2 Comments
In which a childhood tale of hardship and a beating, led to a generous royal gift to a small Chilterns community from a benefactor in a far-flung British colony.
Described on TripAdvisor as 'fresh as paint' I was interested to see the restored Maharajah's well in Stoke Row and discover why a 19th century Maharajah felt compelled to make such an extraordinary gesture to ensure a free, clean water supply to a small Chilterns community.
Indian largesse
Hang on, shouldn't that be the other way around? Isn't Britain usually the one dispensing largesse to the less fortunate in far-flung colonies?
Stoke Row is a fairly typical Chilterns village, situated at the southern end of the region, near Henley-on-Thames, in a cluster of villages that include Ibsden, Nuffield and Nettlebed. It's quite hard to find, along gloomy woodland lanes, around some tight corners, that has in its foundations, chalk, flint and clay that have enabled a long history of pottery making. However, in common with Turville, there is no natural water source.
The source of this charming Chilterns story
Maharajah of Benares and Suite, 1870s
East India Connections
The Narayan dynasty was the ruling Bhumihar family of Benares. After the disintegration of the Mughal Empire in the 18th century, the family ruled Benares as tributaries of the Nawab of Awadh and the East India Company. In 1911, Benares became a full-fledged princely state of British India, and the Narayan dynasty ruled it as British vassals until they acceded to independent India in 1948. Even today, the Kashi Naresh, the titular ruler of the dynasty, is deeply revered by the people of Benares. He is the religious head and considered the incarnation of Lord Shiva.
Local Ibsden squire, Edward Anderson Reade (1807 – 1886) had worked alongside and formed a friendship with Maharajah Shri Ishwari Prasad Narayan Singh Bahadur of Benares (1822-89), whilst working as administrator and Lieutenant Governor in the North West Provinces for the East India Company. The two men must have shared childhood stories which later were to inform the Maharajah's decision to fund a new well, far away in a country he had never visited, but had a huge impact on his life and country, Great Britain.
101 Cherry Trees
In 1831, Edward Reade had a well sunk for a community in Azimgurgh, alongside a new mango grove. It was this generous gift and that childhood tale of dried up Chilterns village ponds, hardship and a child beaten for stealing a drink of water, that sealed the subsequent deal. In 1863, the Stoke Row well was sunk for around £40,000 in today's money, the adjoining 'Ishree Bagh' was planted with 101 cherry trees and the Well Cottage built with a view to providing funds for the well's maintenance.
The well is housed beneath a Mogul-inspired dome.
I expect the village hasn't seen anything like it, not since Queen Victoria opened the well in 1864. Until 1964 that is, when HRH the Duke of Edinburgh attended the centenary and a sample of water was drawn that can be found at the local pub apparently. Please let me know if you have any luck finding it!
One of the few cherry trees in the ishree bagh.
The Ishree bagh, cherry orchard, feels well used as a local green space, but as an orchard, neglected. There is random planting of young cherry trees (a Chilterns heritage crop), some dead, others not sure whether to thrive or die, and some well designed childrens' dens in amongst the trees. There are a good number of oak trees, some with legible plaques, others rusted away. Thank you Denise for the beautiful oak tree planted in your memory, the bagh is better for it.
Trunk to Trunk
The orchard mound is now topped with a commemorative wooden elephant 'the Elephant & Bandstand' to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the well.
The distinctive Dome
In a neat space between the orchard and well, is the tiny brick cottage with an unfeasibly tall chimney, former home of the well keeper no less. Dwarfed by the ornate dome, a foresight as it's visible from afar – and a nod to the Maharajah who would never see his gift, but wanting it visible all the same. Beneath the Burgundy Mughal-inspired dome, a golden elephant sits atop the shiny machinery designed and built by local agricultural engineers, Wilder of Wallingford 1863.
The shaft plunges through clay, gravel, sand, chalk sand, more chalk and finally chalk and shells before reaching the sweet water, a mere 368 feet deep – twice the height of Nelson's column. Drawing water must have been quite a chore. It took 10 minutes for the pulley to reach the bottom and another ten minutes to reach the surface. I expect they all formed a neat and orderly queue and exchanged village news whilst waiting. The well was closed in 1939.
I love this story. It has a special resonance for me, hailing as I do from the colonies. What makes this story so extraordinary is that a former colony did what Britain usually does; dispensing largesse in the form of a royal gift, to those in need, those less fortunate. But in this case, those who where in need where the masters, the mighty British Empire. Oh, the irony!
The inscription 'Be Not Weary in Well Doing" is a fitting epitaph for Edward's gravestone, in the nearby Ibsden cemetery.
This Chilterns travel blog is only about the naturally outstanding Chiltern Hills. The Chilterns are not a place name you'd perhaps recognise, despite being located in the distinctive green space between London's Metroland and Oxford. If quirky is your thing, we've a load more stories to tempt you.
Nearby is the modest home of William Morris, who lived at Nuffield Place and brought affordable motoring to Britain.
For further Chilterns ideas and inspiration, or to book a table at England's first gastropub, the nearby Crooked Billet. Built in 1642, reputed to have been the hideout of highwayman Dick Turpin, which may have been due to a certain landlord's daughter, Bess.
The local village store offers coffee and freshly made light meals.
Posted in Chiltern Hills, sense of place, The Chilterns, Travel and Tourism, Travel bloggingTagged A Year in the Chilterns, blogs, Chiltern Hills, Chiltern Society, chilterns, chilterns cycling, Chilterns history, chilterns walks, Curiosity, East India Company, Education, england, english history, history, India, national, national trust, Photography, quirky, seasons, sense of place, The Chilterns, Tourism, traditions, Travel, Tripadvisor, Water well
Almshouses: a social history
31st May 2018 4th May 2019 Mary TebjeLeave a comment
Almshouses are a fascinating curiosity left over from an age when the poor and destitute would typically fall through the gaps as universal care as we know it, did not exist.
You will find almshouses in the centre of busy towns, on high streets, beside churches or tucked away in the corner of a field, the remnants of former communities and their social needs. Typically Georgian in style, there are some Tudor, one Strawberry Hill Gothic, whilst others have had a Victorian makeover, but still include interesting features, elaborate chimneys, often with pretty cottage gardens or courtyards the perfect location for the residents to spend time in.
A Safe Passage for Souls
By definition, an almshouse is charitable housing provided to enable people to remain in their own particular community. They are often targeted at the poor, at those from certain forms of previous employment, or their widows, and are generally maintained by a charity or the trustees of a bequest. Originally formed as an extension of the church system, benefactors were not exclusive to this order however, and some where established primarily to ensure safe passage for the benefactors' souls to make it to heaven.
Alms are, in the Christian tradition, money or services donated to support the poor and indigent. The first recorded almshouse was founded in York by King Athelstan; the oldest still in existence is the Hospital of St. Cross in Winchester, dating around 1132. In the Middle Ages, the majority of European hospitals functioned as almshouses and for those established for the benefit of the founder of their family, usually incorporated a chapel. As a result, most were regarded as chantries and were dissolved during the Reformation, under an act of 1547.
Residents no longer have to wear special items of clothing, emblems or badges that would signify where they lived, or to remind others of their benefactors' largesse. Dwellings too have been modernised which has meant that in some instances, fewer residents can be housed with the addition of indoor plumbing for example. An impressive 2,600 almshouses continue to be operated across the UK, providing 30,000 dwellings for 36,000 people.
The Chilterns has a wonderful collection of these buildings that are still functioning as charitable associations, housing those in need and below are some that I have visited, and will add to this as I encounter more. Suggestions most welcome!
Aylesbury Old Town
Hickman Almshouses with their elaborate mock Tudor chimneys, Church Street
Aylesbury old town centre is a crowded cluster of cottages in just a few narrow, largely car-free streets that surround the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin whose ornate clock tower dominates this skyline. Many of these dwellings are in fact almshouses, administered by the Thomas Hickman Charity. Founded in 1698, the charity works to support the people of Aylesbury and aims to benefit those in a similar state of need; an aim broadly in line with almshouse charity foundations across the country.
Church Street Aylesbury
To say these lanes are a delightful surprise is an understatement! A pretty church square with beautiful trees and lopsided headstones are from another age surrounded by multiple terraced houses or apartments now providing accommodation for small numbers of residents.
Ewelme
William and Alice de la Pole were benefactors of the almshouses and school built in 1442. The almshouses were to consist of twelve old men, bachelors, poor and in reduced circumstances, but not from the lowest class of life. Over them was set the thirteenth man, who was to be of a 'superior type', a kind of head-brother to the twelve. All were to wear a habit consisting of black tabards or gowns of wool with a red cross upon the breast. Closely incorporated with the church through whose west door leads you into the pretty cloister around which the 14th century almshouses residents now live, which in turn lead into the compact school grounds that makes for a magical medieval complex, complete with their very own Grande Dame of Ewelme.
The Almshouses in Ewelme
Lady Dodd's cottages Ellesborough
A Grade II Listed block of four almshouses in Ellesborough, that were formerly eight, date from 1746. Founded in 1720 by the bequest of Dame Isabella Dodd for the maintenance of 4 old men and 4 old women, but is unclear what her connection with the Ellesborough area was. Over the road form the church, these cottages are now a private home with one of the loveliest of Chilterns views. Lady Dodd made similar bequests in Little Budworth in Cheshire.
St Peter & St Paul church with Dodds cottages in the foreground
Weedon Almshouse Gardens Chesham
A Grade II Listed building, founded in 1624 by the bequest of Thomas Weedon of Pednor, Weedon Almshouses were rebuilt in the late nineteenth century of flint rubble and red brick quoins. The four almshouses with their gables, barge-boards and chimneystacks are difficult to see as they sit obscured behind a high flint wall, so an image is not readily available.
Sir William Drake's Almshouse Amersham
The dwellings are typically set around the communal courtyard
A Grade II listed property, the Drake's almshouses were a gift to the market town of Amersham by local bigwig, Sir William Drake who built them in 1657 'for the relief of 6 poor widows of good repute in the parish'. Originally six dwellings, they were converted in 1997 to provide increased accommodation and modern conveniences for four residents given them greater comfort including indoor plumbing.
There is a tablet to the rear of the buildings commemorating John and Alice Day, who used to run the Swan Inn. Their daughter Harriet built these almshouses in 1875 for six poor women of good character. Men are now permitted to live here – how times have changed!
The John and Alice Day almshouses are visible from the Museum garden.
John Sayer Almshouses Berkhamsted
Located on the high street in Berkhamsted, John Sayer, chief cook to Charles II, bequeathed £1000 in trust "for the building of an almshouse and the purchasing of lands for the relief of the poor widows in Berkhamsted St Peter". The inscription reads: "The Guift of John Sayer Esq 1684". They are noticeable for their simple, compact structure, along a high street messy with renovations and clutter.
Louisa Cottages Tring
A Grade II Listed Building located on the original Roman road, Akeman street in Tring, opposite the quirky Natural History museum. They were built to house the retired workman from the Rothschild Estate, an entity that had a huge impact on this quiet market town and wider Chilterns. This lovely row of tudoresque-styled almshouses was designed by William Huckvale and are quite a local feature, with Nos. 1-5 dated '1893' and Nos. 6-8 dated '1901'.
Adventures and further inspiration in the naturally outstanding Chilterns.
Celebrating all that is quirky in the Chilterns, including museums, the famous and infamous past residents.
To find out more about Almshouses, the Almshouse Association has a useful website.
Posted in Chiltern Hills, sense of place, The Chilterns, Travel and Tourism, Travel bloggingTagged almshouses, blogs, Chiltern Hills, Curiosity, Education, england, English countryside, English heritage, english history, history, landscape, Library, national, Photography, sense of place, The Chilterns, Travel
An Appreciation of Aylesbury
29th May 2018 14th June 2018 Mary Tebje2 Comments
At first drive-through, this busy Buckinghamshire town is not a pretty sight. Aylesbury is town that has kept it's historic heart well and truly hidden, marooned on a little island cut off by busy roads full of traffic rushing through on their way elsewhere.
Perhaps you are familiar with Aylesbury because of its association with ducks? Not as obvious is its historic association with the nearby Chilterns as this town played an important role in the English Civil War, very much in support of the Parliamentarians against Charles I and presents one of the most visible links with the Chilterns due to its proximity to Great Hampden, home of John Hampden: his silhouette on the emblem used by the district council and his statue prominent in the market square.
A town that has grown too quickly, concrete, traffic and ugly shopping centres are the hazards to be navigated before finding the charming Georgian old town.
The Kings Head Farmers Bar
A way in, is through an easy-to-miss arch that leads from Market Street into the restored 15th medieval coach inn yard of the Kings Head inn, busy serving food and beverages since around 1455 no less. Now owned by the National Trust, the popular Farmers' Bar within the King's Head site has been run by the Chiltern Brewery since 2005. Follow the cobbled passageway into the courtyard that dates back to the early 14th century when it was the original busy market square.
The enclosure of the quiet courtyard with additional stables to the one at the rear once provided stabling for nearly thirty horses, hard to imagine now.
The old town centre is a crowded cluster of cottages in just a few narrow, largely car-free streets that surround the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin whose ornate clock tower dominates this skyline.
Many of these dwellings are in fact almshouses, administered by the Thomas Hickman Charity. Founded in 1698, the charity works to support the people of Aylesbury and aims to benefit those in a similar state of need.
St Mary's Square
To say these lanes are a delightful surprise is an understatement! A pretty church square with beautiful trees and lopsided headstones are from another age. These multiple small terraced houses or apartments providing accommodation for small numbers of residents can be found all over England, the Netherlands and Norway. Established from the 10th century, the first recorded almshouse in England was founded in York by King Athelstan with many of the medieval almshouses established with the aim of benefiting the soul of the founder or their family. As a result, most were regarded as chantries (saying prayers for the soul of the benefactor to speed their way to heaven), and were dissolved during the Reformation, under an act of 1547.
The rebuilt 1871 almshouses on Church Street with distinctive Neo-Tudor chimneys
There have been almshouses in Aylesbury since before the 12th century and the provision for assisting the poor typically came from the church, local hospitals and various private benefactors. By the late 17th century, demand grew, due to increased migration from the countryside that continued to put pressure on the Aylesbury parish. It was during this time, that the Thomas Hickman charity was founded, along with other new almshouses including; the Weeden almshouse in Chesham, the Drake almshouses in Amersham and Lady Dodds cottages in Ellesborough and the even older Ewelme Almshouse Charity in Ewelme amongst others (blog post follows).
A variety of styles along Church Street
These simple dwellings provided space for one person to live in a single room – normally as part of group that stipulated how many where intended for men and how many for women, all of whom received an allowance, or pension that could be money and goods, such as kindling. The Thomas Hickman houses did not follow this pattern and you can enjoy the many sizes and styles alongside one another, that reflect that there is unusually no prescribed limit on the number of occupants, normally one per dwelling.
It is remarkable that such an old welfare system still survives today, is testament to it's valued place in building communities and giving recipients independence and dignity with a stimulating and beautiful environment that hasn't suffered the same fate as the rest of the town.
No8. Church Street 'the Chantry'.
Various information signs indicate a trail, but I didn't follow it. Worth the effort I'd say, once past all the concrete to explore this oasis and I will be popping back to wander these calm streets and visit the Bucks County museum.
"The white Aylesbury duck is a universal favourite. Its snowy plumage and comfortable comportment make it a credit to the poultry-yard, while its broad, deep breast and ample back, convey the assurance that your satisfaction will not cease at its death. "—Isabella Beeton, Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management, 1861
You can still buy Aylesbury ducks from the last breeder, Richard Waller, whose family has been breeding them since 1745.
The Thomas Hickman Charity, A Tercentenary History (author Hugh Hanley) is an interesting accompaniment to this feature.
Bucks County Museum is worth a visit and is open throughout the year.
To enjoy Chiltern Brewery finest beer and ale, visit the Kings Head pub.
For more Chilterns ideas and inspiration VisitChilterns.co.uk
Posted in sense of place, The Chilterns, Travel and Tourism, Travel bloggingTagged almshouses, Aylesbury, Aylesbury ducks, Aylesbury Vale, blogs, Buckinghamshire, Bucks County museum, Chiltern Brewery, Chiltern Hills, chilterns, Curiosity, Education, england, english, history, Kings Head Aylesbury, landscape, leisure, Library, national, Photography, quirky, Richard Waller, Rural, rural heritage, rural tourism, sense of place, thechilterns, Tourism, traditions, Travel


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The name of a local restaurant with tasty oyster shooters (discovered Mother's Day). It's also what I'm saying after learning that Dollhouse will have 13 more episodes. Go Joss, go.
Dollhouse – starting to kick it.


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I just received my order of window clings a couple of days ago, including the free set of stained glass clings you offered for me to try.
I immediately cleaned a couple of windows and put up a couple of the stained glass clings.
They are beautiful. We have a lot of homes in this area that have real stained glass in some windows. I myself have a stained glass window in my bathroom. The stained glass clings compare very favorably with the "real thing." As a matter of fact, the clings have much more vibrant colors and really "come alive" when the sun is bright. The clings I used are in southern-facing windows where the sun lights them up most of the day.
Loved the colorful flier. Three things caught my eye: price, "reusable," and "Made in the USA." If you have a website, you might consider adding that, but the cheerful lady holding two clings made me trust your claims!!
I've had my set of window clings for many years and used them to decorate my granddaughter's windows. Now that my youngest granddaughter helps me put them up – they end up on any piece of glass or mirror, she thinks it's great, especially the Christmas ones, she makes her own scenes.
She puts the little tree in the middle of all the houses like a street scene. I've lost one snowflake after all these years.
I like my clings cause they still cling after all these years. I see you have a few new ones?
Thank you so much for your beautiful stickers! I am sending your website to all of my relatives. So, I'm hoping you will soon hear from other Mendoza's, the Garcia's, Herrera's, Griffith's, etc.
I could not find any that were not any in the local stores that I liked. I love the cardinal and the bell ornaments. I ordered this as they remind me of the ornaments that my Mom use to have. I could not find any that were not any in the local stores that I liked. I love the cardinal and the bell ornaments. I bought them for next year but they care nicely colored and have sharp images. I did use the Happy New Year one on our refrigerator and it stuck extremely well. Very nice quality.
This is one of the best purchases I made this holiday season. The clings are all well made and beautiful, and such a great value. They came well packaged with instructions. Perfect for a little "Bling" adding to windows, and mirrors– nice for a traditional Christmas theme.
Very clingy and colorful. I've had up for about 6 weeks and not one has fallen off. I did not wash the windows…I last did that in late spring so figured if they started falling I would wash and put them back up. Lucky me I didn't have to.
I put these on my office/home window that looks out to the street & they are perfect! I just peeled them off the backing and when Christmas was over I put them back on and packed them away for next year.
Fun to work with on my large picture window. Easy to use and reuse. Lots of selections for variety and unique arrangements. Also used on glass doors of china cabinets and bookcases. Child resistant and allows for personal creativity.
Easy to put on and take off. Clings very tightly to window. Very bright from both sides. Definitely recommend. Fast service! Not thin and flimsy like most clings.
These were great, so much better than the ones we had (not from Amazon) last year. Really brightened up the house.
Loved them decorated my office space and got many compliments from co-workers and even the head CEO !
Very easy to use and clings tightly to window. Fantastic product and great seller. Definitely 5 stars.
Nice – it worked for what I wanted. And there were so many – that I have plenty for next Christmas!
These are the prettiest Christmas window clings I have ever found!
These window clings are bright, colorful and toddler/pre-schooler friendly. They stick to the windows as promised and can be reused every year. I just tuck them away with the rest of the holiday decorations, and bring them out again the following year. They cannot be torn, broken or put up "wrong" so little ones can feel a part of making home ready for the holidays.
Colors stay, doesn't fade in the sun or melt and I live in the sunny south. Sticks to windows well. Worth buying a pack.
Just as advertised. They are just the thing to spread Christmas cheer on windows and mirrors through out the house. I will consider them for Halloween next year.
So many different decals to choose from. I placed them on the glass back door and the shower door. Stayed on without any problems.
Good quality window clings. Customer service was excellent.
I've bought several sets from this company mainly because I love their artwork The actual images are much brighter when you put them up, on both sides of the glass, not just on one side like other decorations I've used. Not sure how they do it, but the clings seem to last longer and show up better than any other window clings I've bought.. I've still got the ones I bought last year, and they're still as bright as they were when I took them down and stored them. The reason I know this is because I ordered a second set and they just got in. I compared them to the ones I bought last year and there wasn't even any fading, they are just as bright as when I took them down last year and are just as bright as the new set I just got. My grandkids are having a ball putting them up as we speak.
Great quality clings, great size of decals.
My family used the four sheets of leaves to decorate 3 large windows. The kids loved decorating with them, and they look great from the inside and out.
The best window clings we have purchased. For how many you get, cling for cling they are about the same price as those at the Dollar Tree (where we bought clings before) but these are more vivid and are printed on both sides so you can enjoy them from inside and outside. They are about the same thickness as regular clings. This is our second year putting these up and they are very reusable and have faired better than the dollar store variety. If you have any trouble sticking them on, rub in a few drops of water on the back and stick to a clean window. Highly recommended!


Being close to downtown Houston is essential to many home buyers in the state of Texas. Candlelight Hills is a family oriented subdivision situated in the City of Spring, Texas with the awesome quality of being just a few minutes from the most acclaimed City of Houston. As well from the master planned community The Woodlands, which provides extra points. Candlelight Hills real estate offers a subdivision that stands out by its tall trees and nature that greet you as you enter.
You will find Candlelight Hills it is just 5 minutes from the Interstate 45, which takes you almost everywhere from any point you take, it also has a close proximity to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
First homes at this place were built in 1978 and the rest until 2013, there are 479 homes on beautiful wooded lots and huge landscapes. Candlelight Hills offers homes that go from $150,000 to $300,000 with traditional styles and their median price per Sqft is $61.51.
Children and teens at this beautiful neighborhood attend the recognized Klein Independent School District, where they can go to different schools with high educational standards.
Candlelight Hills real estate offers amazing amenities for those who decide to start a new lifestyle in this place. This heavily wooded place has a great clubhouse, an amazing children's playground and picnic areas that you can find them nestled in the woods. And if you are up to for some sports, there are two beautiful tennis courts. The Woodlands is also very near the place, where you can visit the Cynthia Woods Pavilion and enjoy its areas.There are plenty places at the downtown Houston like restaurants, shopping places, entertainment areas and so much more.
Are you interested on getting a home at this great place? Tamborrel Properties can guide you with Candlelight Hills real estate information, and one of our multi-awarded realtors can provide you with an excellent assistance to buy the perfect home you are looking for! Do not wait any longer and contact us right away at (832) 482-9367.


Cheswick Village thought that its troubles with internet access were over.
Fibre broadband was finally installed early last year after many local residents were left in the dark ages with slow internet speeds.
But a new problem has arisen – there's now not enough capacity in the fibre cabinets for people wanting to upgrade to superfast speeds.
According to the broadband provider BT Openreach, cabinets 14 and 28 which serve the estate, have reached their full capacity and the equipment needs to be upgraded, to meet the demand.
It is expected that residents will be able to order fibre broadband from July this year.
Sejal Hampson, a local resident and campaigner, has referred to the situation as "unacceptable" and "disappointing".
She said: "The estate I live on has 1,000 homes and I know of at least 50 homes personally who are having issues.
"Some potential customers who want to upgrade to fibre have been chasing their communications providers for months about when they will be able to offer fibre products.
A new housing development is also being built in Cheswick for around 100 dwellings, which will only increase the demand, says Mrs Hampson.
A spokesperson from BT Openreach said: "The cabinets are full, but there is a proposal to [upgrade the equipment] which is awaiting financial approval.
"If approved, it will take approximately six months and we would expect it to be ready to accept new orders by July 2016.


On June 6th, 2016, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officer assigned to Ponderosa High School was contacted by school staff and advised of an extensive burglary to the Ag Mechanics Building that had occurred during the previous night. Taken during the night was over $16,000 in welding equipment and tools.
An investigation was immediately started and based on extensive video surveillance, the investigation quickly focused on two vehicles and several subjects seen on campus in the area of the burglary.
One person seen on the video surveillance was identified as 27 year old Joseph Bradley of Folsom. Bradley, who is on felony searchable probation, was contacted at his residence by investigators and arrested on charges of burglary, possession of stolen property, and possession of methamphetamine.
The investigation is still active and working on identifying the other suspects seen in the video.


SABRE 5.0 series featuring CROSSFIRE technology, this MK-3 1.5 oz Crossfire Stream improves target reach by firing from any angle or orientation. The MK-3 Crossfire stream deploys ten (10) full one (1) second bursts at a range of 15 to 20 Ft.
The pungency on this spray is 5% Oleoresin Capsicum and .67% Capsaicinoids. This supplies an pungency level, which approximately twice of Level 1 and offers a shorter decontamination period than 10% OC sprays.
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This is a copy of an email that was sent by Virginia House of Delegates member Jay Leftwich to fantasy player Jeff Elliott on Friday, July 1st.
Thank you for your email and input on this issue. I voted against the bill as I believed it was, as you put it, "rushed" and needed more thought and vetting before adoption. Nevertheless, I believe the result you mention is an unintended consequences as the patron has a reputation of being strongly opposed to government overreach. I would be pleased to listen to the ideas of the Small Business of Fantasy Sports Trade Association and speak with my colleagues, in particular, the patron of last years bill, in an attempt to make this a better piece of legislation.


Three new hand-watercolored Savannah Squares are up for sale in The Ink Lab. Chippewa, Orleans, and Whitefield. The mini-prints have yet to be listed, but if you'd like one just let me know…much more to come!
Chippewa Square, archival pen & ink print, watercolored by hand.


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Home » Industry Developments » Selected News Headlines 2021/Q1
Selected News Headlines 2021/Q1
HEADLINES SELECTED BY INTERCARGO (22/03/2021 – 28/03/2021)
Successful Refloating of EVER GIVEN
Admiral Osama Rabie, Chairman and Managing Director of the Suez Canal Authority (SCA), has announced today, Monday 29th March, 2021, that the Panamanian container ship has been successfully refloated. This was the result of successful push and tow maneuvers which led to the restoration of 80% of the vessel's direction; with the stern 102 m. away from the bank of the Canal now instead of 4 m. prior to the refloating. (Suez Canal Authority: click here)
Media Release: "INTERCARGO affirms leadership role in representing dry bulk shipping"
HEADLINES SELECTED BY INTERCARGO (23/01/2023 – 29/01/2023) Crew restrictions returning following end of China's zero-covid policy Global Maritime Forum also says vaccination rates among seafarers are now higher than most countries (Tradewinds:...
Dry bulk trade and fleet updates 2023
The "Dry bulk trade and fleet update" is a monthly edition prepared exclusively for INTERCARGO Full Members by Mr Richard Scott (Managing Director, Bulk Shipping Analysis & member, London Branch committee, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers)...
HEADLINES SELECTED BY INTERCARGO (19/12/2022 – 31/12/2022) Retailers Pull Back From Using Chartered Cargo Ships Retailers are moving away from using chartered ships to get around pandemic-triggered disruptions now that congestion at ports has...


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Reporter Boyd Huppert Shares Tips For Better Storytelling
By Matthew Martinez
Boyd Huppert's session on storytelling didn't start until 9 a.m. but when he came down an hour early to prepare, a group of students from the University of Missouri were already in their seats.
"They got here before I did," Huppert laughed.
Marisa Rios, a junior, and Austin Walker, a senior, were two of the students who came early to ensure they had a spot. They both work for KOMU in Columbia, Missouri and model their stories after Huppert's.
"Our professor showed us videos of his stories," Rios said, citing Huppert as an inspiration for story structure.
Huppert's stories aren't just an example for students. The reporter's home station is KARE in far-north Minneapolis. That doesn't stop his work from being shared by KTVE and KARD news director Andy Pederson down in Monroe, Louisiana.
Pederson is most impressed by Huppert's use of natural sound and shows his reporters examples from his work.
"I like how he can just pepper [natural sound] and put some spice on the story," Pederson said.
Huppert's series, Land of 10,000 Stories, is a weekly program that has featured the friendship between a little boy and a World War II veteran, support for an immigrant shop-owner after an arson case and even the selling of his family's farm. It has received numerous awards for distinguished photojournalism and writing.
Over his career, Huppert has won 16 Edward R. Murrow Awards. He also garnered four Sigma Chi Delta awards and a national Emmy for feature writing. He can still relate to an audience at a journalism conference.
"30 years ago I was a workshop-aholic," Huppert said. "I spent a lot of time trying to figure it out…now I've got to figure out how to teach it."
Huppert breaks down some of his best advice into "Ten Exercises To Pump Up Your Storytelling Muscles." The three-hour session is comprised of things he wishes he had known sooner.
"I used to stare at my fingertips waiting for the right words to come out," Huppert said.
The session outlined tips on finding focus in stories, implementing reveals and surprises and crafting perfect opening shots. Focus should be rooted in character, emotion and concept, Huppert said. Reveals and surprises should be used to reinvest readers into a story every few seconds.
"You can't just put a toe in, you have to immerse yourself in the story," Huppert said.
Huppert also advised attendees on things to avoid, such as using news clichés and using the word "interview" when asking someone to be part of a story.
"I always say, 'Can you help me with something?'" Huppert said.
Huppert's other lessons involve observing what happens in a story, including keeping your eyes open and learning when to stay silent to let a moment play out. He also advised journalists to "write to the edge of the screen," or know what visual elements can speak for themselves and write to set them up.
Huppert said he hoped to teach attendees to do stories that connect in a different way and expand their toolbox to make their writing more compelling. He said that the process of learning more about storytelling is far from over.
"I start every day trying to tell a better story," Huppert said.
Tagged under: EIJ, EIJNews, Journalism, storytelling
How to survive — and thrive — after a layoff
SPJ Board of Directors Discusses Strategic Plan and New Executive Director


subject:"D2 port of Sociomantic CDGC available for early experiments"
On Friday, 17 October 2014 at 11:30:48 UTC, Marc Schütz wrote: Marginally related: Page fault handling in user space. http://lwn.net/Articles/615086/ Maybe this can be used as an alternative to forking. Definitely good news for moving GCs.
This means, the program should link with object file instead of a library. Alternatively it can be pulled eagerly by the proposed `init` function if it will explicitly depend on a symbol from a gc library - the linker could resolve the symbol early.
Regan Heath, el 22 de October a las 10:41 me escribiste: NO, this is completely false, and why I think you are not entirely familiar with env vars in posix. LD_PRELOAD and LD_LIBRARY_PATH affects ALL, EACH and EVERY program for example. D or not D. Every single dynamically linked program.
Marginally related: Page fault handling in user space. http://lwn.net/Articles/615086/ Maybe this can be used as an alternative to forking.
On Thu, 16 Oct 2014 09:10:38 +0100, Dylan Knutson tcdknut...@gmail.com wrote: Wouldn't it be more generally useful to have another function like main() called init() which if present (optional) is called before/during initialisation. It would be passed the command line arguments.
Gentlemen, do I understand correctly that you're trying to find a Windows-friendly switch to something that will never see the light on Windows (because of being based on fork)?
On 09.10.2014 21:38, David Nadlinger wrote: On Thursday, 9 October 2014 at 18:33:25 UTC, Rainer Schuetze wrote: This is a gcc extension, which isn't supported under Windows by dmd. Can you add this attribute in GDC/LDC as part of a D file aswell?
On 10/10/2014 5:45 PM, Leandro Lucarella wrote: I still don't understand why wouldn't we use environment variables for what they've been created for, it's foolish :-) Because using environment variables to tune program X will also affect programs A-Z.
On Thursday, 9 October 2014 at 18:33:25 UTC, Rainer Schuetze wrote: This is a gcc extension, which isn't supported under Windows by dmd. Can you add this attribute in GDC/LDC as part of a D file aswell?
On 10/9/2014 7:25 AM, Dicebot wrote: At the same time I don't see what real benefit such runtime options brings to the table. This is why in my PR garbage collector is currently chosen during compilation time. Choosing at compile time is probably best.
On Wednesday, 8 October 2014 at 00:18:16 UTC, Walter Bright wrote: On 10/7/2014 3:27 PM, Leandro Lucarella wrote: Walter Bright, el 7 de October a las 13:06 me escribiste: On 10/6/2014 9:51 AM, Dicebot wrote: That's a good idea, but I hate environment variables affecting all D executables.


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The 25 Best Albums of 1980
The year 1980 began with the last gasps of disco, as Donna Summer sat atop the Billboard Album charts that first week of January. But the backlash was in full swing, and it was coming from all directions. The Rolling Stones released their most disco single, "Emotional Rescue" in June, but hip hop and post punk were getting mainstream exposure. Future legends like Bruce Springsteen, Prince and U2 were coming into their own.
It's been 40 years since the decade of Reagan and Thatcher began with its promise of economic boom for the Haves and promise of war on the Have Nots. And the transition to a new era brought with it some boundary-pushing music. We look back and celebrate the 20 best albums from 1980, noting that The Clash's London Calling was released in the U.K. in 1979 and topped the 1979 list we made last year.
Here are the 25 best albums of 1980:
25. The Beat (The English Beat): I Just Can't Stop It
While many of their 2-Tone Records contemporaries like The Specials and Madness took pains to cover classic ska sides to establish their bona fides, The English Beat took a different tack, embracing easy listening schmaltz with the same fervor as the reggae artists that inspired them. Hence, the group was able to take a 1963 hit by crooner Andy Williams, tease out the romantic sentiments at its core, and turn it into something more slinky and spirited. It helps that the source material was created by the great songwriting team of Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and that their arrangement is so spare and open that it could be easily adapted for a rocksteady beat and Dave Wakeling's blue-eyed soul vocalizing. "Mirror in the Bathroom" was the original hit off this record, but "Can't Get Used to Losing You" would be the true gem released as a single three years later.—Robert Ham
24. The Cramps: Songs the Lord Taught Us
A gleefully raw, thoroughly campy collection, the Cramps' first LP showcased blaring guitars and Lux Interior's unhinged vocals on songs steeped in the twin influences of rockabilly and garish B-movie horror imagery: "TV Set," "I Was a Teenage Werewolf," "Sunglasses After Dark" and "I'm Cramped" were weird, funny and loud, just like the band as a whole. Speaking of weird: Big Star's Alex Chilton produced this album, which still seems incongruous nearly 40 years later. —Eric R. Danton
23. Pylon: Gyrate
When Pylon released their debut album, not many outside of Athens, Ga., took notice. But for the art majors and quirky townies in the Classic City, Pylon was the local embodiment of the post-punk scene, proving you didn't have to be in London or New York to create something special. Droning bass, buzzing guitar and absolutely punishing drums provided the framework for Vanessa Briscoe to scream her way to the edge of insanity. Live, the singer was a spinning firecracker on stage, personifying the album's title, Gyrate, exploding through songs like "Feast on My Heart" and "Stop It." R.E.M. ensured the album wouldn't be lost to history, when drummer Bill Berry proclaimed Pylon the best band in America. —Josh Jackson
22. Split Enz: True Colours
By the time Split Enz released True Colours in 1980 they'd already established themselves as a colorful and bizarro art rock band in their home country of New Zealand. This record changed all that, both commercially and stylistically. The band's proggier elements were replaced by more streamlined pop songs that were heavily influenced by early-Beatles and the burgeoning New Wave scene, most notably in songs like "Shark Attack" and the psychedelic synth instrumental "Double Happy." Young Neil Finn, recruited by his brother Tim for their previous record Frenzy, also upped his songwriting game, most notably on Split Enz's breakthrough single "I Got You," which stands as one of the best New Wave pop songs to this day. That earworm found its way onto a new network called MTV one year later, and the video—which showed the band hadn't completely abandoned all their eccentricities—pushed Split Enz from cult band to chart-toppers in New Zealand and Australia, and MTV staples in the States.—Mark Lore
21. David Bowie: Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
"There's a brand new talk," David Bowie sings on Scary Monsters's "Fashion," "but I don't know its name." That sense of being slightly disconnected from the punk crowd of the late '70s and the nascent New Wave scene echoes throughout the album. It's Bowie trying to figure out exactly where he fits in at that moment in time, and for that reason it's one of his most underrated albums. While it didn't produce any massive hits, it did see the return of his Major Tom character on "Ashes to Ashes," and Bowie manages to work in a dig at the new kids on "Teenage Wildlife": "A broken-nosed mogul are you/One of the new wave boys/Same old thing in brand new drag." In short, it's a legacy artist reminding us that while fads come and go, he'll always remain relevant, and in that sense, it's a roaring success. —Bonnie Stiernberg
20. Young Marble Giants: Colossal Youth
This minimalist trio have yet to record a follow-up to their magical debut album, even after playing a bunch of reunion shows together in recent years. And I rather hope that they never try. I think even they know that they will never recapture the same strange combination of rickety drum machine technology, shambling guitar and bass work, and Alison Statton's just barely in tune vocals. You couldn't have plotted it out on a map at the time to any degree of success, yet these Welsh wonders did it without a second thought. They used the tools available to them at the time and a keen ear for songwriting (courtesy of guitarist Stuart Moxham) and came up with a sparkling jewel of an album never to be bettered or replicated. —Robert Ham
19. The Fall: Grotesque (After the Gramme)
Mark E. Smith confirmed his status as the funniest man in rock 'n' roll with the Fall's third record, where he directs his acid wit towards early Thatcherite England, the cartoonish promise of America, the fatuousness of the music industry, and the gormlessness of modern society and culture. Even at his most scathing and condescending, Smith remembers to toss out one-liners and observations more brutal and hilarious than any comedian on songs like "English Scheme" and "C 'n' C-S Mithering." It culminates in the genuine epic "The NWRA," a ten-minute fantasy of England's industrial north rising up against their cultural enemies in the south and making a hash of it. —Garrett Martin
18. XTC: Black Sea
Though XTC's most-celebrated album is 1979's Drums And Wires, its 1980 follow-up is the superior pop album. Drums And Wires—their third album and first released in the U.S.—rests on sharp guitars, sassy vocals and on-edge rhythms, and it's certainly more streamlined than their previous work, but Black Sea has even more room to breathe and more satisfying melodies. It leans less on jagged post-punk and more on classic British pop à la David Bowie and The Kinks, which is why it occasionally sounds like a Britpop precursor, though they manage to preserve the bizarre punk quirks that set them apart. "Love At First Sight" and "Burning With Optimism's Flames" are the perfect fusion of radio pop and forward-thinking punk, and "Generals and Majors" and "Rocket From A Bottle" are refined, buoyant indie-pop classics. The way it merges the past, present and future of British pop music is quite astounding. —Lizzie Manno
17. The Sugarhill Gang: Sugarhill Gang
A lot of the albums on this list were influential in one way or another, but none can hold a candle to how The Sugarhill Gang's self-titled debut changed the world of music. The five-minute radio edit of "Rapper's Delight" was already a top 40 single (the first rap song to accomplish that) when Sugarhill Gang was released with the full 14-minute version. Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank and Master Gee introduced themselves one by one over the chunky guitar of Nile Rodgers and the bouncing bass of Bernard Edwards, and in doing so introduced the world to the rap scene taking over New York and other pockets around the country. The six-song album only contained one other hip-hop song, "Rapper's Reprise," which added South Carolina female hip-hop trio The Sequence—"We're from the north! / We're from the south! / And as a combination we can rock the house." Jam on. —Josh Jackson
16. The Soft Boys: Underwater Moonlight
Today it's hard to understand how the lightly psychedelic pop-rock of the Soft Boys was ever considered anything close to punk. Frontman Robyn Hitchcock is basically just Elvis Costello without the need to appear at every all-star jam. Underwater Moonlight sounds like the best bar band in the world playing hits from a world that's better than our own. "I Wanna Destroy You" and "Queen of Eyes," especially, should be radio staples. —Garrett Martin
15. The Feelies: Crazy Rhythms
If I had a musical time machine, one of my first stops would be to visit the post-punk scene of New York right around 1980. I'd go see The Feelies at CBGB right after their debut album Crazy Rhythms and watch the crowd of other young musicians react to the melding of driving bass and drums with experimental guitar, a sound that would help inspire some of the best New Wave, gothic rock and jangly college rock to follow. When they sing about "The Boy with the Perpetual Nervousness," you can feel it in Anton Fier's drumming and the way every instrument plays around the frantic beat. This was the essential link between The Velvet Underground and R.E.M. —Josh Jackson
14. Bruce Cockburn: Humans
Few songwriters are as keen observers of humanity as Canada's Bruce Cockburn, and he's never been better than he is here, in the wake of a failed marriage and a move to inner-city Toronto. Here his writing began to get more political and outward-looking without losing the spiritual underpinnings and openness that made him unique. He compares humans to cattle in "Grim Travelers," rattling off the problems of capitalism, imperialism and industrialism in verse after verse, and that's just track one. And yet, in "Rumours of Glory," he celebrates what humanity can be, "shining like gold but better." It's an optimistic album that pulls no punches on the struggles we face, struggles that haven't changed all that much in 40 years and which Cockburn is still struggling against today. —Josh Jackson
13. AC/DC: Back in Black
On the night of February 18, 1980, AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott left the London club Music Machine and never made it home. He died sometime early the following morning, under somewhat mysterious circumstances likely involving alcohol or drugs. That was nearly the end of the Australian hard-rock band as well, but, with the encouragement of Scott's family, the remaining members decided to keep going. Their next album, Back in Black, released just five months later with Englishman Brian Johnson taking over vocal duties, would become one of the best-selling albums of all time—25x Platinum in the U.S. and an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide. From the moment Malcolm Young's guitar kicks in after the sound of bells tolling on "Hell's Bells," it was clear that though they'd lost a dear friend, they hadn't lost their swagger. "Shoot to Thrill," "Back in Black," "You Shook Me All Night Long" and "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" helped carry classic hard rock into the 1980s, led by Angus Young's shredding lead guitar and supported by the tank-heavy rhythm section of Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams. —Josh Jackson
12. Emmylou Harris: Roses in the Snow
Having flirted with country traditions early in her career, Harris went all in and made this, a drummer-less bluegrass album, one of her very best recordings. Her high, lonesome soprano was well suited to the music, and with a band featuring Ricky Skaggs, Jerry Douglas, Tony Rice and Emory Gordy, she had the best pickers available. The majority of the material was pre-Beatles bluegrass and country, and the treatments combined a genuine respect for the sources with a modern-pop precision. Skaggs sang four duets with Harris and guided the arrangements, which anticipated his own bluegrass-country hits. —Geoffrey Himes
11. Steely Dan: Gaucho
Gaucho consummated Steely Dan's metamorphosis from early '70s New York jazz-rock band to early '80s L.A. studio hermits. The album pushed Steely Dan to limits both personal and professional—the grooves had never been smoother, the lowlife characters had never been sleazier, the recording sessions never more obsessive. (According to legend , the drum track on "Gaucho" was spliced from 46 different takes. 46!) With a sardonic smirk, Donald Fagen recounts the misadventures of an aging hipster struggling to relate to his 19-year-old girlfriend ("Hey Nineteen") and a drug dealer hustling for deals at Mr. Chow's restaurant ("Glamour Profession"). Other highlights include the shuffle-beat classic "Babylon Sisters" and the heroin-inspired "Time Out of Mind." Is it Steely Dan's best album? Debatably. Is it Steely Dan's most Steely Dan album? Absolutely. —Zach Schonfeld
10. Tom Waits: Heartattack & Vine
After recording his sixth album, Blue Valentine, Tom Waits broke up with Rickie Lee Jones and left Los Angeles for New York, moving into the Chelsea Hotel. He eventually returned to Los Angeles at the request of Francis Ford Coppola to record music akin to his early work for One from the Heart. But Waits was restless and traded out piano for blues guitar for his own next project, Heartattack and Vine, his final album for Elektra-Asylum. He'd just met (and almost immediately married) his wife Kathleen Brennan, and Waits sings with an urgency that almost reaches desperation on songs like "Downtown." Heartattack and Vine was a transition between the jazzy orchestral arrangements of his early work and the deconstructed songwriting and experimentalism of the albums that would follow. Ballads like "Jersey Girl" and "On the Nickel" sit alongside the fever-dream roadside blues of "'Til the Money Runs Out" and "Mr. Siegal," which more than hinted at the brilliance to come next with Swordfishtrombone. —Josh Jackson
9. Squeeze: Argybargy
The razor-sharp songwriting of Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook might've hit its peak on Argybargy, the third in a run of five great records released over five consecutive years. "Another Nail in My Heart," especially, is power pop perfection—three minutes of hooks piled on top of each other, with smart, lovelorn lyrics that are self-critical without resorting to self-pity. "Pulling Mussels (from the Shell)" is short story as pop song, a wry, incisive look at how working class Britons circa 1980 vacation wrapped up in a jam that sounds great coming out of a radio. Those are the hits, but Argybargy is full of smartly observed, exactingly constructed pop songs that capture not just the sound of 1980 but the everyday moments as well. —Garrett Martin
8. Devo: Freedom of Choice
Freedom of Choice marked the beginning of a new era for Devo, almost entirely ditching the raw, post-punk sound of the late '70s and embracing and popularizing synth-pop. The album also changed the physical look of the Mothersbaugh-and-Casele group with the emergence of their strange, red plastic hats. Those "energy domes," as they called them, made Devo a prime example of classic '80s culture. Freedom of Choice is a treasure of propelling bass lines and revolutionary synths seasoned with tongue-in-cheek lyrical delivery, blazing the electronic trail for many musicians to come.—Annie Black
7. X: Los Angeles
X's debut Los Angeles set the template for The John Doe and Exene Cervenka Show, the great punk soap opera of the 1980s. Falling in and out of love and hate over every album, they gave us every detail of every booze-fueled breakdown, and always left room for bitchy asides about the rest of the poseurs and degenerates trying to make the scene in the shadow of Hollywood. Billy Zoom's maximum surf and rockabilly riffs always helped made sure the desperation never felt like a drag. —Michael Tedder
6. Prince: Dirty Mind
Prince's first two albums were overlooked gems, near-perfect confections of sexy R&B. But it was on Dirty Mind, his breakthrough record, that Prince established the sound and persona that would make him the most fascinating artist of his generation. The sex became more explicit and exciting, and so did the hints of New Wave rock that had been flickering in his early work. Like Stevie Wonder, Prince could do it all: write earworm melodies, create super-funky rhythms, excel on every instrument and sing like an angel. Unlike Stevie, Prince could do it in a way that got under your skin and made you squirm. —Geoffrey Himes
5. Joy Division: Closer
The second—and sadly, final—effort by these post-punk legends is shrouded in gloom; part of its inherent melancholy stems from the fact that lead singer Ian Curtis committed suicide only two months before its release, ending his life just as Joy Division was climbing towards what may have been the group's creative peak. However, remove Curtis' death from the equation and you're still left with a record full of bass-heavy pathos that's positively haunting and oddly comforting at the same time. —Bonnie Stiernberg
4. The Clash: Sandinista
White people were still trying to figure out exactly what hip hop was in December of 1980, and here was The Clash, leading off the feverishly anticipated follow-up to instant classic London Calling with "The Magnificent Seven," one of the first rap songs many rock fans ever heard. And if Joe Strummer wasn't exactly Big Daddy Kane rhymewise, the gesture showed that The Only Band That Matters were still as curious about the outside world as ever, whether that meant exploring New York street art or South American political movements. Sandanista! doubled down on the genre exploration of Calling, investigating dub, blues and folk music to see what they could say to punk rock. A triple album, Sandanista! overflowed with musical ideas and outspoken lyrics, finding beauty in information overload. —Michael Tedder
3. U2: Boy
With their blindsiding debut LP Boy, U2 married post-punk's stark rhythmic force with grandiose arena-rock majesty. Bono is the beacon of spiritual vigor, propelling anthems like "I Will Follow" and "The Electric Co." The Edge's echoing guitar is amplified lightning. But the band's unsung post-punk nucleus is the rhythm section: Bassist Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. keep the songs anchored on Earth, as their bandmates gaze into the beyond. —Ryan Reed
2. Bruce Springsteen: The River
Bruce Springsteen's The River falls right in the middle of one of the greatest decade-long runs by any artist, coming after Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town and just before Nebraska and Born in the U.S.A. While arguments can be made for any of the five albums recorded from 1975-1984, The River remains my favorite given its ambitious and cohesive message. It was a working-class record made in the height of a recession, chronicling the ups and downs of living in harsh economic conditions. The Boss has been both more triumphant and darker in singular moments, but it's throughout this sprawling double album that he makes his most honest statements. As we find ourselves in the midst another recession, Springsteen's message throughout The River no longer simply echoes sentiments of a singular experience but has emerged as a timeless sentiment speaking to the American workingman's struggle. —Max Blau
1. Talking Heads: Remain in Light
For their fourth and finest record, the Talking Heads (along with producer/collaborator/all-around musical badass Brian Eno) trotted out their African influences in full force. Polyrhythmic, lyrically cryptic and featuring one of the most awesomely weird guitar solos of all time (Adrien Belew's blippy genius on "Born Under Punches"), Remain in Light stands as David Byrne and company's masterpiece. It's rooted in tradition, yet it sounds delightfully futuristic—even three decades after its initial release. —Bonnie Stiernberg
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Such a gorgeous day out today :) Hope you are all enjoying it.
Just a quick outfit post on my Summer look from the weekend gone.
I am all about the tassel trend. I love these lace up shoes in blush pink.
I bought the Rose tassel bag last week and it matched them perfectly.
White blouses are perfect for these hot evenings and will go with nearly everything. I teamed it with ripped denims for my look.
Big hair on the night. I used my new remington silk curler that Damien got me as a little present for hitting the 10k mark on instagram. It gives a tight curl which I teased to make extra big.
I finished the look off with a light blush coat.
Today is rest day for me, thank God!! I started Cycle 3 of the 90 day challenge last Monday and I have never experienced training as tough.
The first month was HIIT training, second month was weight training mixed with HIIT and now the final month is DTP HIIT. The workouts seem shorter than last month but are way more intense. I have to to do high to low range rep exercises followed by a round of HIIT training in between each one.
I train 4 times a week and each day focuses on different muscle groups. Monday - chest and back, Tuesday- arms, Wednesday- rest, Thursday- legs, Friday- rest, Saturday- shoulders and Sunday- rest.
I had a couple of people asking how do I stay motivated to workout all the time. I find it easier to workout with a gym buddy as you can motivate each other. My friend Denise and I have been going to the gym together. When she can't make it I normally tag along with my boyfriend and we do our own weights and then a HIIT session together. Having someone to go with it makes it harder to roll over and hit the snooze button because you're letting your friend down as well as yourself by skipping it.
This picture sums up how I felt all week, every move I made was painful. Good pain though, progress pain!!
Taking pictures is the best way to see your progress. I have lost the weight I wanted to and now its all about toning and building muscle. They say muscle is heavier than fat so I feel like there is no point in standing on the scales anymore. There is no better feeling than seeing a picture from four weeks ago to now and being able to see the changes you have made by healthy eating and training.
Healthy tip: If you keep only good food in your fridge, you will only eat good food.
I don't buy crisps or chocolate anymore there is never an option to cheat when I am at home.
I am not saying I don't ever eat bad food. I do have a treat meal once a week. Although this is not part of my plan I felt if I went too extreme and cut it out completely that I would find it to hard to stick to.
60 days down, 30 to go and I can't believe the second cycle has gone by so fast. I posted my before and after pictures on my instagram and got a great response from so many of you so thought it might be easier to write a post on it.
When I finished cycle 1, I submitted my pictures & measurements.
The picture on the left was the one I submitted when I signed up for the plan and the one on the right I took when I finished cycle 2 a few days ago. I made my bf take the before picture for me and when I saw it I had a little cry. Although I know that sounds really dramatic I couldn't believe that was me. When the plan came I was determined to make a change and pursue a healthy lifestyle. Not only to look better but to feel better also.
Although you are supposed to continue as normal while waiting on your new plan to be sent back to you I thought what the hell and had 1 or 2 cheat meals. Even though I am trying to get in shape I don't want to let it completely take over my life I just want to keep a balance in my life. It is just really important not to let one or 2 bad meals turn into a week of bad food and binge eating.
I found the food in cycle 2 much easier because you are allowed to pick and mix with the meals. It is still 3 meals and 2 snacks a day but on the days I trained I got to eat 3 carb refuel meals whereas I was only allowed 1 carb refuel meal right after training in the first cycle. I did feel bloated the first week or two with the amount of carbs I was allowed in comparison to the first cycle. I noticed I was much hungrier after doing this training as it is much more intense so my body definitely needed the extra carb meals.
The training in Cycle 2 was definitely a lot tougher. It went from being 25 minutes a day to 45mins - 1 hour. I still done my HIIT sessions but weights were introduced. I had to train 4 days a week while making sure I was taking rest days in between and not doing 5 days straight and then taking the weekends off like I did in the first cycle.
I am really looking forward to cycle 3 now and cant wait to put my pictures from day 1 and day 90 side by side to see my progress.
If you are thinking of signing up you can do so on the body coach website. I have more details on signing up in my first blog post " The Body Coach- 90 day SSS plan Cycle 1". Take a look on his instagram page if you want to see some more amazing results from other people doing the challenge.
As many of you might already know from my snapchat I work in Kingsbury Furniture. I have been working here since I came home from Australia a couple of years ago and I love it. Naturally growing up with this being the family business I have gained a huge interest in interiors and interior design. I actually have a furniture blog that I set up 2 years ago on the Kingsbury furniture website. I know that this post wont be for everyone but all this stuff is too cute not to share.
The Versailles day bed is too cute. It has an underbed trundle which you can pull out and stand up to make this into a 6ft bed when both singles are pushed together (which makes it ideal for sleepovers). I dressed it up last year with a girly paisley throw and cushions.
This chest of drawers are adorable and the colourful design means it will match in with nearly any colour scheme. We have these little chest of drawers in loads of different sizes. I stuck a headboard on the wall for the display.
Baby furniture isn't something we specialised in so when the NEC furniture show came around this January we thought this was our oppertunity to get some new kids pieces in. I think knowing that my best friend Grace was pregnant at the time and that I have a baby niece I was very much focused on buying pieces that were good quality as well as looking pretty.
We are expecting a cot and toddler bed in this month too.
I feel like I have been slacking a bit in terms of my blog the last week. I had 3 different events so never got around to writing one up until now. The good weather also just makes me want to get out and about but I have loads of new Summer looks coming soon. I went to the Flormar event with Grace last Thursday and got to meet and see the amazing Alesha Dixon perform.
I feel in love with this flower wall. It was such an amazing backdrop and I wanted to take it home with me. As far as events go I haven't been to many but I know this one will be difficult to top.
As the weather was nice I went with a casual summer look and dressed it up with my heels.
I like the oversized look so always buy a size or two up in tee's. I teamed it with river island cropped jeans, heels and straw handbag. I love the bobble details on this handbag its so summery and will be perfect for my holidays.
These heels were definitely the favourite part of my outfit. I got them in Pennys a couple of weeks ago and I love them.


Handful is the uplifting party anthem from Melbourne-based emcee Sol Bishop, and now, it's accompanied by some fresh new visuals.
Directed by Hoodwolf, the comical video features appearances from the likes of Hoodwolf himself, Dom Cork, Eleji and Boy Graduate, in what is a fitting take on the happy-go-lucky track.
"It was written purely to boogie and send good vibes," said Sol on the tracks purpose.


Has anyone looked at connecting to Topic'it (ios/android)? They are an app similar to tapatalk, except without the vendetta against wordpress. They already connect to PHPBB and others through plugins, and are making their API available to anyone who wants to create a plugin for wordpress..
I'm going to give it a shot, but it's my first time creating a WP plugin.
I'll keep you posted mrditt!
Not sure who moved the topic, but I've just moved it to "Creating and Extending".


This summer, I plan to write about a variety of destinations that are mere road trips away from Boston. First up? Mystic, Connecticut.
Located right off of Route 95 just past the Rhode Island border is Mystic, CT, home of Mystic Pizza. There you'll find loads of quaint shops in Old Mistick Village, and kid-friendly activities in Mystic Seaport and the Mystic Aquarium.
Want to save money? Consider the Mystic Pass! Here are the details!
Discounts at 10 local restaurants.
To learn more about Mystic, CT, visit the Mystic County Web site.
where are the roads you mention in your headline (back roads, not state or county roads)?
My grandfather used to refer to back roads as the "old road" versus the "new road". I don't know of any old roads to Mystic from Boston, unfortunately. We take 95S.
I'm using the term "road trip" to mean a destination you can drive to, rather than fly.


text:
Tag Archives: Railways
Indian Railways: getting on the right side of the tracks
"Indian Railways" is, by any account, a remarkable organization. Various sources claim that:
a) it is either the largest or second largest (after the Chinese Army) employer in the world
b) the network carries the equivalent of the population of Australia every day
c) it has one of the most complex revenue collection systems in the world
The daily reality is equally astonishing.
We arrived at Mughal Sarai station (just outside Varanasi) at 8.30am, greeted by a cow who had clearly got bored of queueing up for the ever-chaotic Enquiry Office. Although it would be unfair to say this is a frequent sight, you get so used to randomness here that it took a second to register just what a strange picture this was.
Leaving Ermentrude behind, we walked through the upright scanner that most Indian stations now have for these security-conscious times. The operation of these is just as random as the queue for enquiries however – the sound of the beeper alarm is no guarantee that you will be stopped, and if your bag is too big to squeeze through these flimsy structures, doing a quick side-step round the side is usually tolerated by generally bored looking officials.
The train was delayed. I was quite happy to draw on my ever-increasing well of patience. I decided to have a look around.
A couple of young official-looking boys with flimsy fluorescent yellow waistcoats (so loved by officials the world over) walked past. They came over. The usual pleasantries were exchanged, involving interrogation as to our country of origin (more on that in another post). It turned out that they were riding on the trains in a joint WHO/Rotary International programme, administering polio drops to children under five. Given the Australia statistic above, this seemed like a deeply practical initiative.
As the boys walked off to continue their walk, I looked up the platform. There was something wrong. The platform was not just clean, it was close to spotless. I looked up to see a sign:
"REVOLUTION HAS JUST BEGUN FOR COACH CLEANING
Clean n Carewel Services CTS MUGHAL SARAI"
It seemed remarkable. As the Western world privatizes its banking system, could private contracts for railway station maintenance really be establishing a foothold in India?
The train arrived, a mere 90 minutes late, which is actually not bad for a train that had been on the tracks for 10 hours and had at least another 12 to go. (We were joining the Sealdah-Jaipur Express, which cuts a swathe through the Gangetic Plain from Bengal to Rajasthan – click here for route).
Within a few kilometres we were headed into the interminable expanses of countryside, so uniform across the entire country that, as John Keay points out in his History of India, "the traveller – even the Indian traveller – may have difficulty in identifying his whereabouts".
Despite this uniformity, there is always endless fascination and plenty of food for thought. Within a single minute you pass seemingly random piles of concrete pillars (actually railway sleepers); village settlements with haystacks and flimsy homes with roofs made from plastic sacks; railway crossings with a surprisingly large number of assorted cars, cycles, rickshaws, pigs, cows, monkeys, and foot passengers waiting patiently to cross; a concrete town settlement looking strangely cubist with it's concrete box housing; school children immaculately dressed on their way to their lessons.
But these are interruptions to the hours spent staring out of the windows at vast tracts of cultivated land as the train trundles on. (It was in Karnataka when the full scale of what these tracts mean first dawned on me – with little to no mechanization in many parts of the country, the crops still have to be harvested. By hand).
We pulled into Allahabad station, where the Ganges and the Yamuna rivers converge. Two men in smart green jump-suits climbed on – one walked purposely through the carriage spraying pungent air freshener everywhere, while another brought on what looked like a steam vacuum cleaner and started cleaning the floors. Someone, somewhere, had spotted the opportunity of these private cleaning contracts. "Clean n Carewel" were clearly a successful outfit.
The opportunity to chat to fellow passengers is one that I rarely turn down (even at the risk of occasionally being sucked into a vortex of interminable conversation). On this journey, my favourite was the Sikh who sniffily picked up the history I was reading, turned straight to the Index and announced loudly that it couldn't be any good because it only had a dozen pages or so worth of references to Sikhs. I tried to point out that a) the book was 500 pages, b) it endeavoured to cover 5000 years, and c) Sikhism (though an essential part of the mix) hasn't exactly dominated Indian society since its founding in the late 15th century. But he was not convinced.
We finally pulled into Agra Fort station in the evening, emerging back into the chaos of the streets from the relative tranquility of the journey.
There is a whiff of change in the Indian Railway system. It almost feels like things have even improved while I have been here (although admittedly the sample is rather low and restricted to passenger trains – 70% of Indian Railways revenue comes from shifting freight).
Lalu Prasad Yadav is the man in charge, a bruiser of a politician from the wrong side of the tracks, with a background that is colourful even by Indian political standards. It is he that is credited by some with making the difference, and in a tactic employed the world over in the run-up to elections, he is also promising massive investment.
He is a toughie, from the toughest of the tough lands in India, Bihar. But then as one of my fellow passengers said, the Biharis may be the only ones tough enough to keep up with the pace of change here.
I am in Agra and the surrounding area for a few days.
Filed under 'mind the gap' journey 08-09, All posts, India '08-'09, North India
Tagged as Railways


text:
Stephen's Lighthouse
Stephen Abram's Posts About Library Land
Lighthouse Consulting, Inc.
from Ed Vielmetti
http://vielmetti.typepad.com/vacuum/2013/05/internet-2020.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Vacuum+%28Vacuum%29
"Some predictions for what the internet will look like in 2020, covering trends in mobile, laptop, social media like Facebook and Twitter, low-cost computer hardware, high speed networks and corporate evolution. Prepared for the LA2M marketing lunch meeting, 14 May 2013.
1. Mobile. See how far we've come in a few short years (Wikipedia):
We have a steady stream of innovations for better phones in the same size. Then what happens? The glass rectangle takes over, the keyboard disappears, and the screens start to get bigger. Behold the phablet:
What next? A few predictions. Mobile devices get more and more important as Internet devices; the sensible person who is developing a new web site should think first about how it looks on mobile. Devices themselves keep mutating – smaller, bigger, fancier, cheaper – and the rapid purchase cycle on mobile phones ensure that enough people have the latest and greatest.
This is my biggest prediction about the internet of 2020 – for more and more people, the mobile device will be their primary device, and all of the systems that depend on a big screen and a full keyboard will face pressure from the small screen.
2. Laptops
Back in 1981 – and really, that wasn't that long ago – the closest thing to laptops looked like this, the luggable 23.5 pound Osborne 1. (Image: Wikipedia)
Thirty-some years later, we're twenty pounds lighter, with a better keyboard, better screen, six orders of magnitude more memory, and built in high speed communications. (Image: Apple)
What's left to improve? The only thing left to remove from the weight of the device is to remove the keyboard entirely. Alas, that suggests to me that laptops start to enter a stage of stagnation, where you can't rely on rapid technological turnover to drive sales, and people keep their devices for three, four, five, six years since they have something that's perfectly good. That leaves the consumer with free cash to spend on mobile devices (see #1) and time to spend on smaller devices.
Remember the ubiquitous America Online CDs? (Photo Dain Binder)
I really don't see how Facebook wins in the long run, to the extent that it's just like America Online. At some point something new comes along and the kids go there and the old service is just for old people. Old people are inconvenient – they aren't as much fun to advertise to, they tend to do inconvenient things like get sick and die, and do you really want your Facebook feed to look like an obituary feed?
Photo Cream Global
Do I believe that Facebook will be dead? No. I think it will be less important and heading the way that all closed systems are heading, where the people who are there like it but few new people are joining and key demographics head for greener pastures. They are going to try to move the full-sized, rich, immersive Facebook environment (designed for laptop-sized screens), but the experience of Facebook Home (two star rating in the Google store, and ATT pulling the Facebook Home phone from sale) is that they will have trouble adapting to a mostly-mobile world.
Twitter as a simple short message service hearkens back to the olden days of the telegraph system. Photo: Wikipedia
Telegraphy has a fascinating history, with the use of codebooks to make long messages shorter, secrets sent by telegraph over open wires with the use of cryptography, and a long and slow process of moving telegrams from a labor-intensive human encoding and decoding process to highly automated electromechanical machinery for moving messages around.
The next step in short messaging services was SMS, which moved the power of the telegraphic communication from the telegraph network to the mobile phone network.
In that context, how do you view Twitter? Unlike Facebook, which ties individual accounts to individual people and attempts to shape the entirety of the user experience in posting and receiving, Twitter is a relatively more flexible system which allows not just people to post but also has a place for robots and automated machinery to post.
Image: Jack Dorsey, founder of Twitter:
I'll make the bold assertion that short status updates are a better place to build a future world of Internet computing than all-encompassing immersive friend-driven environments.
5. Tiny computers and the internet of everything
Here's why I think the short message is the foundation of future computing.
Once upon a time if you wanted to do home automation – let's say, hooking up a temperature probe to your hot tub, so that you coudl be sure that it didn't freeze in the Michigan winter if your tub heater conked out – you'd set up something like this (a Sun 3/60, photo Wikipedia). It was about $5000 worth of gear used, and if you were the first person to do this (like Paul Haas of Ypsilanti) Esquire Magazine would get word of it and note 'Paul's kind of geeky'.
Now days, small programmable internet devices are cheap. There's the bare bones CPU of the Raspberry Pi, easily comparable in power to the $5000 Sun, for $35 (Photo: CNET)
and shiny consumer devices like the Nest thermostat take the power of small controllers to the next step of plug-in readiness:
This is the much-promised "Internet of things" – going well beyond one person per computer to have a world where there are lots of cheap systems scattered around your world each with a simple task to do, all connected through some kind of short-message system.
6. Fiber to (some) homes
7. Death of the net
Finally, it's worth remembering what has disappeared from the network (and why) to have some sober expectations for the much-beloved services of today that are going to strike out.
Image: GoogleAppsForEdu
One reason that services close is that the organization that runs them no longer has the appetite for them. Google has killed a number of services that it has acquired after pulling from them the good ideas and the people resources that attracted them to it in the first place.
Sometimes services die because there's better ones available – see the Internet Gopher, which peaked in 1993, 20 years ago, when it was bigger than the World Wide Web. (Image: Brad W. James)
The death of Gopher is either the result of technological determinism (Web pages were prettier) or the result of poor management (U of Minnesota was looking for licensing fees). In either case, what did happen was that a system that many people used disappeared from public view in a few short years
The Internet turns out to be a cyclical industry, with periods of manic growth interspersed with deep depressions. The dot-com flameout, as expressed in Phil Kaplan's "F'd Companies", chronicled the demise of dozens of well-funded but poorly thought out new companies of the dot-com era.
If we look forward far enough in time, it's almost certain that the Internet will go through some sort of corrective cycle, with startup companies dying faster than they are born. They will run out of money, or some part of the ecosystem that sustains them will fall apart just long enough to wipe them out, or their founders will get hired away by some megacorp and their project/product abandoned in the process."
Posted on: May 30, 2013, 6:40 am Category: Uncategorized
By: Stephen Abram
Continuing the Discussion
Proud2Know said
RT @sabram: Internet 2020 from Ed Vielmetti … http://t.co/aaSbNqzhnj
InformationMan2 said
on May 31, 2013 12:41 am
Stephen Abram is a librarian and principal with Lighthouse Consulting Inc., and executive director of the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries. He blogs on library strategies for direction, marketing, technology and user alignment.
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