This is The Digital Story Podcast #670, Jan. 15, 2019. Today's theme is "The DJI OSMO Pocket Review, Las Vegas, and More." I'm Derrick Story.
Las Vegas was lit during CES week. Thousands of technology professionals from all over the world converged on sin city to show their inventions and discover those by others. I was in the middle of it all, and with me was the DJI OSMO Pocket to record the sights and sounds of this consumer tech wonderland. So how did it perform? Is the OSMO Pocket a breakthrough device or just another geek toy? Stay tuned for my verdict.
The DJI OSMO Pocket ($350) debuted before CES with much fanfare and discussion. The petite 3-axis gimble 4K movie camera fits nicely in a top shirt pocket, but packs an incredible amount of imaging power in its svelt frame. It is not perfect, but by any reasonable measure, it is a breakthrough device.
The features that I was most interested in were video recording (1080p and 4K), SloMo capture, timelapse, panorama, and audio recording. Here's my opinion on all of those functions.
For sample videos, audio, and images, see my post titled, DJI OSMO Pocket Review - It's Probably for You on TheDigitalStory.
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To enter, send your best B&W portrait to thenimblephotographer@gmail.com by Jan. 22, 2019. Subject Line: B&W Portrait Contest. Make sure you have permission from the subject. Entrant must have captured the image and performed all of the post production on it. Recommended size of the image is 2000 px on the longest edge. The selected image will be featured on TheDigitalStory and the photographer will receive a 1-Year Pro Account with Portfoliobox.
To create your own Portfoliobox site, click on the tile that's on every page of TheDigitalStory or use this link to get started. If you upgrade to a Pro site, you'll save 20 percent off the $83 annual price.
Set your gambling budget before you leave, and stick to it. If you lose your money, it's gone. And throwing more money after it will not bring it back.
Alternate water and alcohol when out on the town. Have one cocktail, then one ice water. Repeat as often as necessary.
Do not accept anything handed to you on the street. Period.
Avoid rip-off cab companies. My experience is that it's best to stick with ride sharing and the monorail. But if you have to take a cab, such as from the airport to the hotel, ask what the expected price should be and if there are any add on charges beyond what the meter reads. Fares to most hotels on the strip should not be more than $23.
Shy away from over-priced restaurants. There are many fine eating establishments in Las Vegas. Do your homework first and avoid the outrageous steak houses and big name chefs.
I've secured a beautiful home for us just south of Bodega Bay. This will serve as our headquarters during the event. There's plenty of room for our classroom and presentation work, plus beautiful areas for relaxing, and even sleeping accommodations for those who wish to stay there.
If you do want to join us July 17-19, and I hope you do, please visit the Workshops Signup Page and place your $100 deposit. That will secure your ability to attend when official registration begins later this month. You can also read more about the event on the TDS Workshops page.
Inner Circle Members: Our current Photo Challenge is Repetitive Pattern. Check your Patreon page for the details and prize. And thanks for supporting this podcast!
The DJI OSMO Pocket ($350) debuted before CES with much fanfare and discussion. The petite, 3-axis gimble, 4K movie camera fits nicely in a top shirt pocket, but packs an incredible amount of imaging power in its svelt frame. It's not perfect, but by any reasonable measure, it is a breakthrough device.
The functions that I was most interested in were video recording (1080p and 4K), SloMo capture, timelapse, panorama, and audio recording. Because I've been using a DJI Spark for over a year, I felt like I already knew the OSMO when I first fired it up. They are indeed cousins from the same family.
And like a DJI drone, the initial introduction might test your patience. Instead of powering up and recording a video, you must first endure a mildly tedious setup process where you register the device with your DJI account. All I have to say is you will get through it, and don't let it deter you from your goal of embracing the OSMO. Do plan on 10-15 minutes before you can actually get to work.
There are two basic ways to use the OSMO Pocket: as a standalone device and connected to your smartphone. I began my journey using it as a standalone, walking through the press events at CES. It must have been quite a sight seeing a tall man strolling through the crowds with this petite device in his hand. As you will witness from the movie, no one seemed to care. The OSMO Pocket is too cute to be intimating.
With a little practice, I learned to shorten my stride providing even smoother capture. The gimble is terrific, in spite of the cameraman, and viewing the footage creates a real sense of presence. At this point, I was already hooked.
In standalone mode, you have a 1-inch screen to serve as the monitor. It's helpful for initial setup. Swipe right-to-left to configure the video settings, swipe up to initiate any of the special features such as ActiveTrack, and swipe down for the settings menu. When you've recorded the footage, swipe left-to-right for playback. It's that simple to operate.
But the real key to using the OSMO in motion is to set it up, then use your eyes to make the movie. Once I centered the screen on the scene that I wanted to record, I only checked it sporadically during capture, instead concentrating on holding the device steady as I moved through the crowd. With a little practice, this technique can produce very intimate moments. It's a little like becoming at one with the universe.
Adding the iPhone X to the mix not only gave me a bigger screen to work with, but better controls for exposure and gimble operation. Plus reviewing the video is quite nice, and you can even save and publish at this point if you wish.
The Mimo app can also stitch your panoramas and produce the timelapse videos you've captured. If you want to build your own panos, such as with Lightroom, the individual files are the microSD card in the OSMO.
Since I was in Las Vegas, I decided to really push the envelope and record night video in slow motion mode. The OSMO Pocket has a tiny 1/2.3" CMOS Sensor, so this seemed like a challenging test.
I'll let you judge for yourself by viewing the following movie. Clearly, the footage isn't theater quality, but it's impressive if you stop and think that all I've done is pull this little device out of my pocket, hold it in my hand, and record.
Some of the harshest criticism of the OSMO Pocket comes from the very audience it was designed for: video bloggers. Triple-tap the right button, and the camera lens whips around pointing directly at the operator. Press the record button, and start talking.
And just to be brutal, I set the OSMO Pocket to 4K capture. I thought it handled both the audio and video quite well, and is definitely usable for individual field reports. See what you think.
The DJI OSMO Pocket is a perfect device for those who want to capture the world while moving through it. You can easily add your own commentary, suplement the reporting with 12MP still images, panoramas, and timelapse clips.
I don't see it as a device for two-person interviews and more sophisticated reporting. The OSMO Pocket is for individuals, sharing their thoughts and their view of the universe. And as such, I consider it a breakthrough device, especially for $350.
The DJI OSMO Pocket has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.
The doors opened at Las Vegas Convention Center and the people flowed through them to experience the first day of the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show. After exploring both the North and Central Halls, here 5 takeaways from my adventure.
Transportation is indeed getting exciting. Automotive technology is sophisticated and seems to entering a new golden age. And it's not just cars as we know them, but versatile robotic devices that can transport people and cargo in a variety of situations.
3-D Printing, instant photography, clever projectors, and a variety of fun imaging tools filled both booths. To be honest, they were a couple of the most fun places to hang out.
I got a good look at the Panasonic S2, spent time in the Sony booth, checked out Nikon, and visited Canon. Most lenses for full frame mirrorless, especially the zooms, are just to dang big and heavy. In terms of size and weight, it feels like DSLRs all over again.
Among all the glitz and glamor in the Sony booth, there was the Pro Support team working on cameras. Not sure whose they were, but the message was clear that Sony wants to be a player with professionals.
There's a reason why the halls are crowded. CES is a fun event. It's thought-provoking, entertaining, and sometimes just plain whacky. But it's a treat for the senses, and it provides some insight into the direction of consumer technology for the year ahead.
This is The Digital Story Podcast #669, Jan. 8, 2019. Today's theme is "Making Photographs with Ibarionex Perello." I'm Derrick Story.
The Candid Frame Podcast has been running as long as The Digital Story. And over those years listeners have enjoyed the insightful interviews conducted by Ibarionex. And now he has a new book titled, Making Photographs. Seems like a great time to have this long overdue visit with one of the great guys in our industry. Hope you enjoy the show.
Ibarionex and I sit down to discuss his new book, Making Photographs, and our combined 25 years of podcasting.
Set colors and fonts on your entire website at once - You can fine-tune your website and choose specific colors and fonts for every element of your Portfoliobox site: menu, logo, text, headers, links, etc. Or you can opt for the quick and easy way and change all of them at once by choosing one of the preset combos we've prepared for you. Go to Colors and Fonts and click on Color Scheme or Font combo.
Mike and I made this movie on the final day of last year's SF Street Photography Workshop. (Here's link as well.) It provides you with an inside look at our premier urban event. We're going to have just one more street photography workshop in SF, this coming April. And we'd like you to join us for the farewell to this long running gathering in the city.
If you do want to join us April 26-28, and I hope you do, please visit the Workshops Signup Page and place your $100 deposit. That will secure your ability to attend when official registration begins later this month. You can also read more about the event on the TDS Workshops page.
Coming off the holidays, we're very much in a group shot frame of mind. As we should be, right? Gathering people together is an efficient (and fun) way to document the event.
But we sometimes forget the value of individual family portraits as well. And over the years, these are just as valuable because they give us as photographers the opportunity to capture the essence of the person we know.
Zach at 22 years old. Photo by Derrick Story. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II with Olympus PRO 45mm f/1.2 at f/1.4, ISO 200. Processed in Capture One Pro 12.
Once you process the shoot, be sure to share a gallery with a variety of poses with your subject. Chances are good that the version they like will differ from your favorite. That's OK. They can use the images for social, resumes, etc. while you build the family archive.
Updating family portraits is an excellent creative project for 2019. After all, we don't want the shoe cobbler's kids to have bare feet.
To learn more about Capture One Pro, take a look at my online course: Capture One Pro Essential Training on LinkedIn Learning. You can also tune in on lynda.com if you prefer your training there. Either way, I have four hours of entertaining education that will help you master this excellent photo management and editing application.
This is The Digital Story Podcast #668, Jan. 1, 2019. Today's theme is "Happy New Year!." I'm Derrick Story.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge our productive 2018 and express my optimism for the year ahead. I'm not going to take much of your time today - just a few thoughts before we get back into full swing next week.
Regular listeners know that I'm up late every Monday night putting the final touches on our weekly podcast before I call it a day. I'm going to be up late this Monday as well, but for once not producing the show, rather, bidding farewell to a challenging, productive, and sometimes exhausting 2018.
One of things that keep me energized this past year was this photography community. Knowing that no matter what happened in this crazy world of ours, we would get together once a week and focus only on the art and science of image making.
There have been weeks when this show was an island of calmness in an otherwise sea of madness. And for that, I thank you, each and every one of you.
Next week, we fire up the machine again and begin the year with an interview with Ibarionex Perello of the Candid Frame. I'll also be in Las Vegas for CES, and will be reporting on the things that I discover there. It's going to be a fast start to 2019. I'm so glad that you'll be there with me.
We have two more spots on the reserve list for the Joshua Tree High Desert Adventure this coming March. Full itineraries go out this week to reserve list members.
The Adobe Rockpile is located conveniently on the way to Joshua Tree National Park,just minutes from the west entrance. Enjoy our Hammock,hot tub,views, and desert scenery!This Property is the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, nature, and high desert style.
The Adobe Rockpile is located in the most beautiful neighborhood in the hills of Yucca Valley. It feels like you are out in the national park, but are only one to two miles away from all the in-town amenities. Surrounded by open space, boulders and other custom homes with plenty of space in between, you will feel all the comforts of home and more in this neighborhood.
If you want to join us in March, If you want to join us in 2019, and I hope you do, please visit the Workshops Signup Page and place your $100 deposit. That will secure your ability to attend when official registration begins.
Inner Circle Members: We have a new photo challenge: "Repetition of Pattern." Tune into your Patreon page for all of the details. Challenge runs through Jan. 15, 2019. The honoree receives an official Nimble Photographer water bottle made by Victorinox.
Skylum has released Luminar 3.0.1 for Mac and Windows that addresses a number of annoyances with the initial release of Luminar with Libraries.
For Windows, go to Help > Check For Updates. Luminar always checks for updates when it starts. If Luminar crashes, rerun your downloaded installer. The current version will be installed automatically.
I've been using Luminar 3.0.1 for the last day on my Mac, and I'm having a good experience with it. So I'm getting things set up now for adding it to my overall photography workflow in 2019.
New users can purchase Luminar 3 for $59 ($49 with coupon code THEDIGITALSTORY). That's $20 off the standard $69 price. This special offer is good from Sunday, December 30 through Wednesday, January 2, 2019.
If you didn't get your photography gear itch scratched during the holidays, here are five great deals that you might want to take advantage of right now. They are good through Saturday, Dec. 29.
Kodak Photo Printer Mini - $49.99 ($50 off) - Create fun snapshots as you wander the world or hang out with your friends with the portable and battery-powered white Photo Printer Mini from Kodak. This compact and lightweight printer connects directly to your smart device using Wi-Fi and can perform a one-touch connection thanks to built-in NFC. From here users can then open a mobile app for their iOS or Android device and print from a variety of sources quickly and easily. Using D2T2 dye diffusion thermal transfer technology, the Photo Printer Mini can then produce a full-color credit-card sized 2.1 x 3.4" photo in about one minute. It also places and overcoat on the image that will protect the image from damage, including by being fingerprint and water resistant.
Joby GripTight POV Kit - $9.99 ($30 off) - Enhance your smartphone photography with the Joby GripTight POV Kit. This kit consists of a Joby Impulse Bluetooth Remote and the Joby GripTight POV, which fits devices 2.2 to 3.6" wide. The GripTight POV also features a cold shoe adapter and a poseable handle, which can be removed and used with pin-joint style accessories for action cameras like the GoPro. The remote connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and acts as a remote trigger from up to 90' away.
SLR Magic 8mm f/4 Lens for MFT - $119 ($230 off) - Ultra wide and ultra lightweight at just 3.9 oz, the 8mm f/4 Lens from SLR Magic can easily find a home on your drone or gimbal stabilizer. Designed for these demanding applications, this lens offers a 16mm equivalent focal length with minimal distortion and high sharpness, ideal for vast landscapes, tight interiors, and architectural work. Also, it has an f/4 aperture that allows for the lens to remain extremely compact.
MeFOTO BackPacker Air Travel Tripod (Red) - $29.95 ($50 off) - The red BackPacker Air Travel Tripod from MeFOTO is a sturdy, lightweight, and compact aluminum alloy support designed for the modern enthusiast and smartphone photographer.
Panasonic Eneloop CC55 Quick Charger Kit - $34.99 ($20 off) - The Eneloop CC55 Quick Charger Kit from Panasonic contains eight Ni-MH AA batteries with a capacity of 2000mAh and four AAA batteries with a capacity of 800mAh. The batteries have been pre-charged by solar power, so they are ready to use out of the package. The included CC55 charger has four charging bays with individual LED charge indicator lights, which shows how much each battery has charged. To charge a fully depleted battery, it can take between three and four hours, and once all the batteries are fully charged, the charger will automatically shut off for overcharge protection.
This is The Digital Story Podcast #667, Dec. 25, 2018. Today's theme is "The Inside Scoop on Luminar 3 with Libraries." I'm Derrick Story.
On Dec. 18, Skylum released the long-awaited Luminar with Libraries. What was originally perceived by customers as a Lightroom replacement proved to be an asset manager of a different type. Some love it, others are disappointed. Where you land on this spectrum depends on your needs. Helping you determine that is the focus of today's TDS Photography Podcast.
After being through the beta testing program, monitoring the online Skylum Public Photography Group, and preparing for my recent Nimble Classroom on the subject, I feel like I have a good handle on the first release of Luminar 3 with Libraries. I cover the highlights in the first segment of today's show.
Each week for the month of December, I'm going to feature an inspirational photographer who uses Portfoliobox as his/her platform for presenting their work. This week I want to point you to www.luigiquarta.com/. Luigi Quarta is a conceptual photographer, who uses photography as a means of expression to represent concepts, feelings, and moods.
He writes about Portfoliobox, "Portfoliobox has a modern design that I like a lot and is very easy to use. It's really a great platform to open your personal website."
What Are Your Real Life Shots of 2018?
As photographers, we have this unique opportunity to see our lives in ways that others cannot. Find those real life moments, look at them, then think about what you want to do this coming year. Here's why.
Inner Circle Members: We'll start a new Photo Challenge after Christmas. Stay tuned to your Patreon page for upcoming details and the prize.
What Are Your "Real Life" Shots of 2018?
Most photographers are this wonderful mix of artist and historian. But many of the images that we share online tend to be more from the artistic nature rather than the storytelling. That's OK. Nothing wrong with impressing our peers with our creative chops.
"Trip to the Vet" - Sylvester had developed a constant sneeze that needed attending to. I took her to the vet for advice. While we were waiting, I noticed the photo of another Tuxedo cat on the wall. I really liked the juxtaposition of Sylvester in the foreground against the image on the wall. BTW: Sylvester is fine now. We treated her with some meds, and she's back in the pink. And she has been one of my many blessings this year. Photo by Derrick Story. iPhone X.
But here's an exercise that I think you will really enjoy. Go back through your photo collection from 2018, and mark the "real life" images. You know, those snapshots from gatherings, home repair, pets, kids, tough moments, family members, and friends.
Put those images in a collection, and build a simple slideshow with them. Be sure to add a dash of your favorite music. Then, on New Year's Eve, share that collection with any friends or family who you happen to be with. And if you're flying solo, share it with yourself.
Regardless of how good or bad you're feeling at the moment, I promise that a faint glow will come over you. If the images are challenging, then know that you met that adversity and made it through the year. If the pictures are heartwarming, then give thanks for your blessings. For many of us, it will be a mix of both.
As photographers, we have this unique opportunity to see our lives in ways that others cannot. Find those real life moments, look at them, then think about what you want to do this coming year.
Happy Holidays and Peace on Earth.


In the previous tutorial, we discussed how to record input from the keyboard. This tutorial will explain how to accept mouse messages.
First we look at the WM_LBUTTONDOWN message. There is also a WM_RBUTTONDOWN equivalent. This is obviously sent when you left-click or right-click the mouse button. Below, a message is displayed when the left mouse button is clicked.
Next we look at the WM_RBUTTONDBLCLK message. Once again there is a left button equivalent. This message occurs when you double click a button.
For this to work, you need to add the CS_DBLCLKS style to the window class. ie.
Our double click message handler is shown below. A message is displayed when the right mouse button is double-clicked.
Next we will discuss the WM_MOUSEMOVE message. This message is sent everytime the mouse is moved within the window.
2 macros are available to retrieve the high order and low order word of a variable. Sometimes multiple pieces of data are stored in one variable. These can be retrieved by using the LOWORD and HIWORD macros. An example of this is the lParam parameter for all mouse messages.
The x coordinate of the mouse at the time of the message is given by LOWORD(lParam) and the y coordinate is given by HIWORD(lParam). The coordinates can be retrieved in both messages above as well.
The wParam variable holds any other keys or buttons that could have been down when the mouse event occurred. You can use the & (and) operator with the key or button flag to determine if the key or button is down. If the key or button is down, a non NULL return value will be given.
The key or button flags start with MK_* eg. MK_LBUTTON, MK_MBUTTON, MK_SHIFT, MK_CONTROL, etc.
Below we check if the right hand mouse button is down while the mouse is moving.
If it is, we display the coordinates of the mouse at the time of the event.
If you run the program, you will be presented with a window. If you left-click in the window, a message box will be displayed. If you double right-click on the window, you will receive a message box and if you hold the right mouse button down while moving the mouse, you will receive a message box showing the coordinates of the mouse.


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Why Are Men on Instagram Obsessed With Baking Bread?
There's nothing ladies love more than a guy who can make a fluffy sourdough.
By Allie Volpe
Last winter, Matt Goold, 31, a design director for a digital creative agency, started watching The Great British Baking Show, a reality show featuring amateur bakers competing for the honor of being named the top baker in the United Kingdom.
Goold enjoyed the show; he found it both entertaining and appropriate enough for his two young daughters to watch. What Goold didn't anticipate, though, was how it would inspire him to take up a baking venture of his own.
"You're kind of wondering, 'Could I do that?'" Goold told MensHealth.com. "'What does it take?'"
So Goold decided to try his hand at baking bread. He liked to cook and the recipes looked pretty simple, so how hard could it be? He quickly learned that "the process is incredibly thorough." There was the rolling, the kneading, the letting the dough rise — and all of these techniques varied from loaf to loaf.
It took a bit of trial and error, but by May, Goold had cracked the code and baked a successful loaf of sourdough. He posted the result on his Instagram. His followers were quick to applaud his accomplishment, further fueling his burgeoning obsession.
"You get into it, and it's the thing you want to talk about, and then you realize everyone else is.. just as genuinely excited about it," he says.
Artisanal bread has long been trendy, appealing to amateur and professional bakers alike. On Instagram, the trend is thriving: the hashtags #breadporn and #realbread yield more than 89,000 and 300,000 posts of what the writer Sam Leith described as"mouthwatering Instagrammed crusts, close-ups of crumb structure, and intricate golden landscapes where the slashed tops of loaves have heaved open and caramelized in the oven's heat." It helps that the success of a loaf is primarily visual: you can easily tell if a bake is a winner based on how it looks, even if you haven't tasted it.
In our visual-based, food pornified social media landscape, the popularity of #breadporn isn't itself that surprising. What is somewhat surprising, however, is who is posting the photos: "mostly boys," as Leith puts it. On Instagram, bearded men are posing with their carbs to show off a job well done, grinning broadly and flashing a thumbs-up, the images showing enormous pride and lack of pretense.
There's even an Instagram account, Boys With Bread, devoted to showcasing men's photos with their loaves.
"The craft of baking bread is so ancestral, and [the process] has so many components," Melanie Albert, the creator of Boys With Bread, told MensHealth.com. "People are really proud of mastering that kind of skill."
Baking bread is a simple process, but it's a time-consuming one: there's the kneading, the pulling, the rolling, the rising of the dough. Part of the appeal of Bread Boy Instagram stems from guys showing off the byproduct of their hard work, kind of like the fitspo photos of guys with their bench weights with the hashtag #nooffdays.
"In terms of how [the posting] pertains to the male ego, I think it comes from a desire to brag on any win, small or large," Goold says. "I don't feel like this is too small or too cheesy, because it took real effort."
Vienna-based amateur baker Severin Stafflinger has posted more than 100 photos of his bread-making hobby, from intricately designed wheat loaves to picturesque French baguettes. He views each of his loaves as "some kind of artwork."
"I think working with dough is similar to working on a canvas," he told MensHealth.com. "When I watch my sourdough grow, knead the dough, or watch the gluten networks improve, I guess I feel a bit like an artist."
The end result is that a small community of amateur male bread bakers has emerged. It's not uncommon to see guys leaving effusive comments on each other's loaves. "The bread looks absolutely awesome," one commenter gushes. Another, from Goold's account: "You a breaaaaaaad boyyyyy."
"When I watch my sourdough grow, I guess I feel a little bit like an artist."
There's also another driving force behind the trend — something that's more community-minded, or even a little bit subversive. Albert says that while initially, the purpose of creating Boys With Bread was simply to post images of "hot dudes posing with baguettes," she quickly realized that, much like the Instagram accounts Hot Guys Reading or Hot Dudes With Kittens, Boys With Bread was about men embracing a hobby that's often considered inherently feminine.
"For a long time, when you thought of baking, a lot of people thought of it as a woman's craft," Albert said. "I think they're trying to flip it on its head so it doesn't have to be a 'woman's sport,' so to speak."
And in a culture where men are trained to be reserved and non-effusive, it's refreshing to see guys being so public about their passion for baking. "Maybe guys are looking for something to improve themselves...or for some sense of community," Martin Philip, head baker at high-quality flour and baking ingredients distributor King Arthur Flour in Vermont, speculates. Maybe Bread Boy Instagram "is a place to see some beauty that's in contrast to what's going on [in the rest of the world]. It's a place to hide, in a way."
Want to try your hand at becoming a bread boy? Try these recipes from Philip, the author of Breaking Bread: A Baker's Journey Home in 75 Recipes.
Cardamom Buckwheat Cake (serves 6)
1½ teaspoon cardamom (freshly ground is best)
½ cup plain whole milk yogurt
Directions: 1) Preheat the oven to 375 F.
2) Melt the butter.
3) Grease two mini loaf pans (5 1/2" by 3") or one loaf pan (8 1/2" by 4 1/2").
4) In a medium bowl combine the flours, cardamom, baking powder, baking soda, sugar, and salt. Whisk briefly to combine.
Allie Volpe Allie Volpe is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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'Stranded' Jackson residents finally getting water bills
Public Works Director Robert Miller said the city is on its way to getting nearly all of its water billing issues resolved by October.
'Stranded' Jackson residents finally getting water bills Public Works Director Robert Miller said the city is on its way to getting nearly all of its water billing issues resolved by October. Check out this story on clarionledger.com: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2018/06/13/jackson-water-bills-arriving-stranded-customers/697631002/
Justin Vicory, Mississippi Clarion Ledger Published 10:53 a.m. CT June 13, 2018 | Updated 2:59 p.m. CT June 13, 2018
Jackson resident Mary Louise has worked with Habitat for Humanity Capital Area since 1992. Meet this amazing volunteer. Barbara Gauntt/Clarion Ledger
A contract signed by Jackson and Siemens in 2012 called for replacing old water meters in the city and the billing system as well as making some capital improvements.(Photo: File photo/The Clarion-Ledger)
About a fifth of the 20,134 Jackson residents who weren't getting a water bill now are.
Public Works Director Robert Miller said in a recent memo to Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba that the city is making progress on Miller's promise to get accurate water bills to residents.
Miller said his department has resolved 3,865 customer bills and is on pace to get billing online for 99 percent of all customers by Oct. 1, which is the beginning of the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
Miller told the City Council in April that 20,134 of Jackson's approximately 57,000 customers are considered "stranded" and don't get a bill, or more than a third of all Jackson customers.
The hit to Jackson in uncollected revenue has been anywhere between $10 million and $20 million since Oct. 1, he said.
Miller on Monday said the revenue for the recently recovered water bills is $3,530,962. The money will be put back into the city's water and sewer account.
Miller also gave an 18-month time frame to get the city's collections back in order, with a goal of 95 percent or higher.
He said the collections portion of the plan would take about a year and a half to get customers who haven't been paying — in some cases for many months — used to the billing schedule.
With 16,269 stranded bills remaining, the department is trying to resolve between 3,000 to 4,000 bills a month, Miller said. The Lumumba memo detailed the department's billing progress from May 1 to June 5.
Miller had told the council in April that Jackson faces "an existential crisis" if the billing situation is left unattended; namely, it'll run out of cash by the end of the fiscal year and be unable to pay its debt services and commitments under the Environmental Protection Agency's consent decree.
The city is working with Siemens, which has a $90 million energy performance contract with the city, to get billing up to speed.
Contact Justin Vicory at 601-961-7251 or jvicory@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter.
Read or Share this story: https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2018/06/13/jackson-water-bills-arriving-stranded-customers/697631002/


text:
"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards."— Soren Kierkegaard – Danish Philosopher
It's amazing how preoccupied we can be with the past—whether historical or recent. As a pastor, I've invested innumerable hours in counseling sessions, intercessions, and teachings that attempt to help folks unravel, understand, and heal from what has happened in the past. Complicated and entangled situations plague them: painful circumstances from home, work, school, and church—between friends, family, co-workers, and parishioners. People are still mentally, emotionally, and spiritually dealing with their own regrettable decisions or the behavior or words of others that has brought injury. Many are stuck between "If only…and what if," or so focused on "The good old days," that they are stalled at a standstill. When our life's-blood is only made up of memories—it is hard if not impossible to move FORWARD—onward so as to make progress; toward a successful conclusion; toward the future. The military's definition of forward is positioned near enemy lines. Maybe we don't move forward because we're afraid of what lies there— but destiny is found in forward.
Fridtjof Nansen, Norwegian Nobel Peace Laureate, and Explorer said,"I demolish my bridges behind me…then there is no choice but to move forward." Nansen led the team that made the first crossing of Greenland in 1888, traversing the island on cross-country skis. It takes courage to move forward—to stop thinking about, to ignore, disregard, and leave the past behind, while choosing to forge ahead. The Apostle Paul, who held many regrets from his former life persecuting Christians, made "Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead," his focal point—'the one thing " he would do. (Phil 3:13)
If we are to make forward progress…the past can no longer rule us. We are called to forgive ourselves as we have been forgiven…even for the time we believe we have "lost." We can choose to release our cravings for revenge, and let go of our fights for vindication. We can surrender: our approval addictions and our internal wars for significance by means of achievements, relationships, notoriety, and possessions. Many of us have been struggling to 'prove things' to ourselves and others for quite a while. It's time to be free. If we are to move forward, we must do so without fear…in particular, the fear of failure. C.S. Lewis said, "Failures, repeated failures, are fingerposts on the road to achievement. One fails forward to success." Move forward.
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The Safe Pregnancy Spa Plan #NoStress!
Saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs are not recommended during pregnancy because you're at risk of overheating, which can be dangerous for your baby. Some spas offer laconiums and tepidariums – warm rooms and beds that pose no danger but still soothe and relax. 'They're a great way to take the weight off aching joints and sink into a state of deep relaxation without going somewhere hot,' says Daphne. Check with the spa what they offer.
There is some discussion about having a manicures and pedicures during pregnancy. 'Nail varnishes often include chemicals such as formaldehyde, toluene and phthalates which some women worry about inhaling during pregnancy,' says Daphne. 'But these chemicals are normally at such a low level that they're very unlikely to harm your baby.' If you decide you want to avoid them completely, you could still ask for a file, shape and buff of your fingernails, and a pedicure will be fine as you're not sitting close enough to your toes to inhale any chemicals.
The general advice is to avoid body wraps during pregnancy. 'It's easy to overheat and dehydrate during a wrap, so give it a miss,' says Daphne.
Book a facial as they're often a safe bet when it comes to pregnancy-friendly treatments. And if your skin has been playing up since you got pregnant (thanks hormones!), you could opt for a skin-calming or ultra moisturising one to get the most benefits.
If you can't have a treatment or don't fancy one, find out if your spa offers pregnancy yoga or even meditation sessions. Now's the time to make the most of peaceful days that are just for you, and these classes will do just that.
Have you had any spa treatments during your pregnancy? Let us know below.


Updated Jul 26, 2018 at 2:16 a.m.
Published Jul 25, 2018 at 6:55 a.m.
Published Jul 22, 2018 at 11:19 p.m.
Published Jul 22, 2018 at 9:28 p.m.
Published Jul 22, 2018 at 11:17 a.m.
Published Jul 21, 2018 at 2:11 a.m.
Published Jul 21, 2018 at 1:41 a.m.
Updated Jul 21, 2018 at 2:26 a.m.
Updated Jul 19, 2018 at 2:54 a.m.
Published Jul 18, 2018 at 9:39 p.m.


Born and raised in Georgia.
Grew up on five acres of land, so she was always outside playing and exploring the various abandoned historical houses in her community.
Says she always had an interest in history and knew she wanted to be an archaeologist from a young age.
Attended Georgia State University, where she received her bachelor's degree in archaeology and pursued concurrent master's degrees in anthropology and historic preservation.
While in college, she traveled a lot and worked at various dig sites, but she struggled to find a focus within the field of archaeology: "I felt like a bad archaeologist, nothing resonated with me."
She realized that her interest was in ensuring that we aren't "doing archaeology for the sake of archaeology," but that people are able to have access to historical resources and learn from them.
She decided to return to Georgia to help her community by combining her passion for social issues with the study of archaeology and historic preservation.
Says her favorite archaeological site in Georgia is one of the Rosenwald Schools from the 1920s, which is one of a series of schools built for African-American students in rural communities.
I specialize in promoting Georgia's history and culture through public engagement and education.
I work for the historic preservation division with the goal of working with local communities to empower them to interpret and protect their cultural resources. This means hosting a lot of outreach events and community days to introduce people to the cultural artifacts in their communities. There is also a lot of local travel involved visiting different sites.
You have to have an interest in people and be able to communicate effectively with them. Being able to translate and relay complex scientific information to the general public is valuable.
Notice the gaps and opportunities in the field you are interested in and how to apply the things you've learned in the classroom in new/interesting ways.
"Maybe my heart really isn't in archaeology."
I struggled to try to figure out the area of archaeology that interested me enough to focus on, but nothing resonated with me. I got really scared that my passion wasn't enough to be a career. What I found helpful was to look at my field outside of the box and explore archaeology outside of the classroom.
I spent a lot of money doing study abroad programs to figure out what area of archaeology I was interested in.


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International Water Association
IWA-network.org IWA Connect IWA Publishing
In the latest issue
IWA News
News - Environment
Global warning on biodiversity
© iStock / Alexis Gonzalez
The fifth edition of the UN's Global Biodiversity Outlook report, published by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), warns that action on biodiversity is essential to prevent future pandemics.
The latest biodiversity report was released ahead of a UN Summit on Biodiversity that took place at the end of September. Under the CBD, countries had agreed a set of 20 biodiversity targets to reach by 2020, after which a global biodiversity framework is due to be created. However, the goals have not been achieved.
The latest report is seen as particularly significant because it is the "final report card" for the biodiversity targets. In it, the authors stress that nearly all countries are now taking some steps to protect biodiversity.
The document notes falling rates of deforestation, the eradication of invasive alien species, and raised awareness of biodiversity and its importance. However, this positive news does not offset a worsening situation.
For example, funding is far below levels needed, and the hundreds of billions of dollars required are dwarfed by the amounts spent on activities harmful to biodiversity.
The report also highlights disparity between freshwater and marine biodiversity, with only 4% of bilateral biodiversity-related overseas development assistance (ODA) addressing marine biodiversity, with the remainder spent on terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity.
Pressures on biodiversity will reduce nature's contributions to people, compromising its role in regulating water quality and reducing coastal risk. Up to five billion people face increased water pollution under future scenarios of land use and climate change, the report predicts, particularly in Africa and South Asia. "Hundreds of millions" face increased coastal risk in Africa, Eurasia and the Americas.
Efforts to restore biodiversity need to be scaled up, the report says, including restoration of coastal and inland waters. A range of proposals for stepping up protection has been put forward, and the report emphasises the need to take account of potential negative impacts on food security if areas protected or restored add further pressure on the land available for food production.
An emphasis on improving biodiversity in 'shared' landscapes such as farmed land can generate greater gains for services including aquatic biodiversity, the report says. The report is paralleled by the launch of a pledge by the EC and heads of state and government from more than 60 countries to reverse nature loss by the end of the decade as part of the UN Decade of Action to Achieve Sustainable Development.
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Utility guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic
Keith Hayward - January 12, 2021
The International Water Association's COVID-19 Task Force has prepared key guidelines to support water utility planning in the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we present a...
Keith Hayward - October 31, 2020
The fifth edition of the UN's Global Biodiversity Outlook report, published by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), warns that action on biodiversity is...
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"Public Deliberations, Discursive Participation and Citizen Engagement:" by Michael X. Delli Carpini, Fay Lomax Cook et al.
Many theorists have long extolled the virtues of public deliberation as a crucial component of a responsive and responsible democracy. Building on these theories, in recent years practitioners - from government officials to citizen groups, nonprofits, and foundations - have increasingly devoted time and resources to strengthening citizen engagement through deliberative forums. Although empirical research has lagged behind theory and practice, a body of literature has emerged that tests the presumed individual and collective benefits of public discourse on citizen engagement. We begin our review of this research by defining "public deliberation"; we place it in the context of other forms of what we call "discursive participation" while distinguishing it from other ways in which citizens can voice their individual and collective views on public issues.We then discuss the expectations, drawn from deliberative democratic theory, regarding the benefits (and, for some, pitfalls) assumed to derive from public deliberation. The next section reviews empirical research as it relates to these theoretical expectations.We conclude with recommendations on future directions for research in this area.
Posted with permission from the Annual Review of Political Science, Volume 7 © 2004 by Annual Reviews, http://www.annualreviews.org.


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Naming the Trope: A Deep Dive into the Harmful Uses of Disability Stereotypes in the American Theatre
It's 2019, and I am walking into a prominent American theatre to see a well-reviewed production. This production is intended to examine a specific disability in an honest and exciting light to change our cultural understanding of disability. As a disabled theatremaker and activist, I anticipated an honest portrayal of both the hardships and celebrations of being disabled in America. Except this doesn't do that. Instead, it follows a familiar pattern of sacrificing disabled truth for an unsettling, two-dimensional depiction of disability filled with clichés and stereotypes. The playwright wrote the disabled character as a shell of a human, an able-bodied writer's judgement on how a disabled individual interacts with the world around them. That night, I leave at intermission, discouraged but unsurprised at yet another portrayal of disability as "lesser than."
This experience is not new to the disability community, or frankly to any marginalized community in America. We are inundated with stories written solely through tropes. I define the term "tropes" as significant and recurring character motifs present in popular culture that homogenize a group's experience. Every sociopolitical minority has their own collection of emotionally exhausting tropes, which generally exploit marginalized identities to engage privileged audiences rather than those who are in the marginalized group. Stories use these tropes to create catharsis, or emotional release, in those who are part of the majority.
What Are the Tropes?
The "Gentleman Freak" refers to any story where a physically disabled character, often referred to as deformed, terrifies society with their very presence. Eventually, a brave, nondisabled character sees that they are not scary at all and befriends them, realizing that they are, in fact, more "civilized" than any of the other characters in the play. While this trope is present in virtually any story about the freak shows of old, there is no better example than Joseph Merrick in The Elephant Man. Merrick was born with a physical disability, and his appearance scares society and is considered monstrous. After a nondisabled character realizes that Merrick's demeanor does not match his exterior, he considers Merrick the perfect gentleman. This characterization looks at disability on a binary: in these stories, the disabled person is either evil or a saint. There is no middle ground from which an actual human could emerge. In addition, the whole idea of "gentleman" is based on a neurotypical idea of status quo. Merrick's behavior mimics a nondisabled expectation of what it means to be a human. As with many of the tropes, the Gentleman Freak focuses on cathartic release for the nondisabled audience rather than an honest portrayal of disability. Because of this, many of these stories end with the disabled character dying to create a tearjerker.
This characterization looks at disability on a binary: in these stories, the disabled person is either evil or a saint. There is no middle ground from which an actual human could emerge.
Tiresias, the recurring blind prophet of Greek theatre, is the prototype for the "Magical Freak" trope. This trope, akin to the "Magical Negro," presents a disabled person who possesses special insight or mystical powers that are in direct opposition to their disability. In many Greek plays, Tiresias enters and predicts tragedy. The nondisabled main character often disregards him, calling him an ancient or foolish old man and teasing him about his blindness. Tiresias's character is grounded in the idea that while Tiresias cannot see in the traditional sense, his prophetic powers allow him to see into the future. By assigning the only disabled character a nonhuman trait, this trope positions disability as "other" or "inhuman," rather than as a part of the human condition. This distinction separates the disabled characters from all other characters in the story, ensuring that the Magical Freak is rarely the focus, but rather a prop in a plot that centers nondisabled characters. Because of this, the character rarely shows any sort of personality trait that is unrelated to their disability. They aren't a human; they are an entity.
As the Magical Freak often assigns ethereal powers to those with disabilities the "Super-Crip" trope assigns inhuman physical skills to a disabled character. This trope refers to a heroic and inspirational disabled character succeeding at a task despite the horrible odds the world has stacked against them. In this trope, disability is a curse that must be heroically overcome by a particular skill. Tommy, in the eponymously named musical, is a "deaf, dumb, and blind kid" who "sure plays a mean pinball." In the musical, Tommy has overcome the curse of his disability to become a world champion at a skill that no one believed he could succeed at. This trope centers disability as a limitation rather than a difference. In disability studies, many subscribe to the social model of disability, which states that there are no inherent disabilities, but rather a collection of differences turned into disabilities by the policies and structures endorsed by the general public. In other words, a person in a wheelchair wouldn't be disabled, except for the fact that our society has built an infrastructure which values stairs over ramps. For the Super-Crip character, the disability is an obstacle to overcome rather than a set of valid differences. This view of the disabled community as inspirational or heroic propagates an idea of otherness within our society. Disabled people should not be viewed as better or worse than the nondisabled, but as a group of people who move through the world in a different, yet totally acceptable, way.
This creates a strange dichotomy in which the audience is expected to laugh at the disabled person until the end, when they must shift gears and start weeping at the tragedy of disability.
The "Misunderstood Weirdo" favors characters with cognitive impairments. In these stories, a person with an intellectual disability is viewed as rude or weird by the world. The individual doesn't know how to fit in but desperately wants to make friends. By the end of the story, the character realizes that it's okay that they are different, and they don't need traditional friends because they have their disability. Once they come to this realization, nondisabled individuals shower them with love, admiration, and sometimes even forgiveness. In the Tony award-winning musical Dear Evan Hanson, Evan (a young teenager with anxiety and depression) laments that he is constantly "waving through a window," unable to connect with those around him. He finds himself in a never-ending spiral of horrific events because his only way to find human connection is through a fantasy that he is spreading. The overarching idea of the story is that all of this could have been avoided had society accepted him. Many individuals with cognitive disabilities (myself included) feel unwelcome in traditional American society, but this stereotype uses that feeling to create catharsis for the nondisabled community. Characters within this trope often have no defining personality traits other than a general sense of weirdness. In the musical, Evan's weirdness is never fully fleshed out, and like other characters in this trope, his quirks are often used as the punchline of a joke that only he is unaware of. This creates a strange dichotomy in which the audience is expected to laugh at the disabled person until the end, when they must shift gears and start weeping at the tragedy of disability.
The "Rage-Filled Recluse" refers to a character isolated by society and mad at the world because of the unfairness of their disability. By the end of the story, a nondisabled character shows them that their life has value despite their disability. This trope is foundational to I and You by Lauren Gunderson, a common play in high schools and colleges. Caroline, a chronically ill teenager, is confined to her home and copes with her situation by being cold and sarcastic. When the star of the basketball team comes over, he teaches her that her rage simply masks her insecurities and that her life has worth despite her illness. This trope examines disability through a very specific, emotive lens, which once again simplifies the very intricate experience of being disabled in a neurotypical society to a single trait. This trope almost always features a nondisabled character teaching the disabled character how to live their disabled life.
The final trope is one of my favorites: the "Ambiguous Disability." These characters suffer from a disability which is never explicitly specified in the story. The character's disability is an amalgamation of symptoms which lead to an interesting narrative storyline. This disability concoction inspires sympathy and catharsis from an audience but doesn't portray any semblance of truth. In A Small Fire, the playwright Adam Bock creates a disability where a healthy woman loses each one of her senses within a year. By the end of the story, she is nothing more than a lady with no communication or connection to the outside world. Because a specific choice of disability has not been made in the piece, it is an amalgamation of many, leaving it ambiguous. This conglomeration of many disabilities allows the playwright to illicit the maximum number of audience tears without doing much research or presenting disability accurately. Simply put, this form of writing is harmful because it propagates misinformation regarding disability in a time when many in our society refuse to engage with disability in the first place.
Disrupting the Narrative
These tropes are dangerous to society's collective understanding of disability, which is fraught to begin with. They are popularized by entertainment created by nondisabled artists with little collaboration with those whose disabilities become plot and character choices. Because of this, disability becomes dangerously homogenized. This is a clear example of neurotypical bias, which is the idea that the nondisabled community governs society's definitions of what is "correct" or "normal." Through neurotypical bias, our society tends to curate the emotional experience of the disability community. Our media limits representations of what disabled folks can or cannot do. For example, in none of the above tropes do we see a disabled person feeling joy at any circumstance unrelated to their disability. Disabled folks are also rarely allowed to portray any form of sexuality despite this being a common occurrence within the disabled experience. When entertainment creates a two-dimensional portrayal of disability through tropes, it leads to an ableist environment more focused on meeting a disability than meeting a person.
For an example that layers these tropes, look no further than She Kills Monsters by Qui Nguyen, one of the country's most produced plays at high schools and universities. Towards the end of this play, a central character—who has previously been played by a nondisabled avatar—suddenly walks on with an unspecified disability, provides sage wisdom about how the nondisabled protagonist should approach life, and walks off with no further discussion. She is nothing more than a piece of set dressing. Her portrayal in this story utilizes most of the tropes I've described: her disability is never named (Ambiguous Disability); her physical abnormality provides a cathartic release when we realize just how clever she is (Gentleman Freak); she is used as a prop to advance the story of the nondisabled character (Magical Freak); she only appears in her own setting (Rage-Filled Recluse); and she has an adept understanding of the videogame world (Super-Crip). If this is the portrayal of disability available to young adults, how can we ever create a more equitable society for people with disabilities?
If this is the portrayal of disability available to young adults, how can we ever create a more equitable society for people with disabilities?
Solving this problem will require the dismantling of an age-old system of interacting with disability. Disability does not get talked about enough because it can be a very complicated subject; it is easier to adhere to the status quo. If we as a theatrical community are going to uphold the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the stories we program, disability must be part of the conversation. When we recognize disabled tropes, we must call for a more honest portrayal. This is easier than it sounds because we are so conditioned to look for inspiration and focus on our own catharsis when it comes to disability. The only way to defeat ableism in the media is to first name it within ourselves. Once we have named it, our next step must be to demand equitable and honest portrayals within the media. This includes investing our time, our money, and our programming in disabled writers and rejecting nondisabled writers who use a simplistic view of disability as a tool in nondisabled stories.
Theatre for Young Audiences
Jeanne Crane
Wow! Amazing article and I recognize every one of those tropes as I have seen them in media. This essay should be required reading for all who produce theater/movies/tv. It will be up to those persons to "correct" the tropes before they are perpetuated. They will be the ones who educate the writers of the ignorant/unintentionally offensive material, and they will also educate the public.
As a person who reads new play submissions for a couple of local theaters, I will personally be watchful of the characters and language used in the submissions I read.
Best wishes to you!
Mark Mulkerin
Thank you for this lovely essay. It got me thinking about the relationship between tropes and dramaturgy. It has made me mindful that if can be tempting to write a part that fills a dramaturgical need in a work and frequently an "outsider" is enlisted to serve that role. Perhaps every time we ask ourselves what dramaturgical function this or that character serves in the play, we must immediately follow with - and how to we do that in the context of their realized humanity.


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Interesting Article in The Bollard (a.k.a. Mainer)
A funny thing's been happening on the Jet Video Facebook page: we've gotten almost 100 likes in the past month or two, following about a year's passage with a static following of around 1600.
The growth is probably a combination of people coming out for ice cream and seeing for the first time that the storefront's no longer there, then looking us up online, and maybe also new people moving to Deering Center, wondering what the empty storefront once was, and checking it out, among other interests.
Whatever the case, now that we're entering the season when the storefront really would have been abuzz with fully ripened, late-spring energy right on the verge of summer, now is as good a time as any to share a very interesting news story and some timely reflections.
Independent Maine monthly The Bollard recently reorganized as a solidarity cooperative and renamed itself Mainer, and the cover story of their first issue is called "Portland's War on Fun." We thank them for taking on this abstract and, probably for many, somewhat nebulous topic in such an incisive and detailed way.
At Jet, we always saw our storefront in Deering Center as part of Portland's "fun engine," and as part of our effort to help it to reach its full potential, we always tried to keep a finger on the pulse of the city in terms of how people were feeling and how they wanted to relax and be entertained. It was literally our business to do this, we followed it as closely as possible, and we loved it.
When it came time for us to decide last year whether or not to keep the storefront open, a factor we felt strongly about but which was very hard to communicate to people who hadn't been on the inside of it was that the city's vibe seemed really different to us by 2016-2017 or so and increasingly from then on -- at times sharply. All of the subtle and some not-so-subtle shifts seemed to add up to the conclusion that the Jet storefront had arisen out of a different collective mood and attitude, a different Deering Center, a different Portland -- and one that was vanishing, much of whose former population went on to live in Westbrook, Falmouth, Gorham, and elsewhere. It was happening, but there wasn't one particular, concrete thing you could point at to explain it in full.
Without further ado, here's the article by Chris Busby, which includes references and analysis all the way back to the 1970s. It really struck some chords with us about trying to make a living by facilitating fun, sociability, and community in this particular city in recent years.
link: http://thebollard.com/2019/06/02/portlands-war-on-fun/
Final Batch of Donations to Gorham's Baxter Library
This month, Jet completed the last of several batches of DVD donations to Gorham's Baxter Memorial Library. In all, we donated nearly 4,000 movies and TV seasons to be processed by the Baxter librarians. Thanks again to them for their interest in expanding their video library and thanks again as well to Friend of Jet, Dianne Ballon, for helping to connect us.
https://baxterlibrary.org/


Some people don't think that their carpets need cleaning, maybe because they can't see what is hiding in carpet fibers, research conducted by cleaning machines manufacturers showed that health horrors hiding in unwashed carpets, carpets were found to contain traces of horse manure, fox poo, urine, vomit and tar as well as human and pet hair, pollen and traces of skin. dangerous bugs like pneumonia and E Coli are being brought into our homes on the soles of our shoes. unwashed carpets can become homes to bacteria and germs and in particular dust mites, which can put some people at greater risk of diseases.
We provide carpet cleaning services, using extraction cleaning method which is the most effective and recommended method by carpet manufacturers. Extraction cleaning also known as steam cleaning is a process in which a high pressure cleaning solution spray penetrate carpet fiber coupled with a powerful vacuum action that extract the solution and soil from carpet. leaving your carpet clean and fresh. you can use your carpet after one hour depending on weather condition may take less or more. don't hesitate and contact us to feel the difference.
Don't hesitate, protect your family and enjoy freshness, let me do amazing job!


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Q: typescript optional property with a getter This is a simplified example:
class PersonParms{
    name:string;
    lastName:string;
    age?:number;
    get fullName(){return this.name + " " + this.lastName;}
}

class Person{
    constructor(prms:PersonParms){
    }
}

new Person({name:'John',lastName:'Doe'})  // ts error: Property 'fullName' is missing in type '{ name: string; lastName: string; }'.

The idea is to pass a literal object as the intizalizer of PersonParms but having that getter you can neither declare the getter optional or add the property to the object literal. Is there another way to achieve it?

A: As of April 2020, there is NO way to implement this.
There is an inconclusive PR for this:
https://github.com/microsoft/TypeScript/pull/16344
A proposed solution via an interface is presented here:
https://github.com/microsoft/TypeScript/pull/16344
Personally, the solution did not meet my needs, and I rather declared the property as private.
Hopefully, we can have better luck in the future.

A:
Is there another way to achieve it?

Here is how I would do it:
class Person {
  constructor(public config: { name: string, lastName: string }) {}
  age?: number;
  get fullName() { return this.config.name + " " + this.config.lastName; }
}

new Person({ name: 'John', lastName: 'Doe' })

A: Very interesting. I think, you should report an issue to TypeScript, because methods can be optional (see below), but property getters not. It is strange.. As a workaround I can suggest two variants. A nice one:
class PersonParms {
    name:string;
    lastName:string;
    age?: number;

    getFullName?() {return this.name + " "+this.lastName;}
}

And a second one, that is hacky, because there we make all the properties optional when passing to constructor.
class PersonParms {
    name:string;
    lastName:string;
    age?: number;

    get fullName(){return this.name + " "+this.lastName;}
}

class Person{
    constructor(prms: Partial<PersonParms>){
    }
}

A: I found this solution which is ok for me:
class Person {
  name?:string;
  lastName?:string;
  age?: number;
  fullName?:string;

  constructor(public config: { name: string, lastName: string }) {
    Object.defineProperty(this,'fullName',{
           get(){return this.name + " " + this.lastName;}
          });

}

A: If you creates a new instance of PersonParms then the error will be gone.
class PersonParms{
    name:string;
    lastName:string;
    age?:number;
    get fullName(){return this.name + " "+this.lastName;}
}

class Person{
    constructor(prms:PersonParms){
    }
}

const personParams = new PersonParms();
personParams.name = 'John';
personParams.lastName = 'John';
new Person(personParams)  // No error because this is an instance of PersonParams

I am not sure where/how do you use PersonParms.fullname but in your case I would use this:
interface PersonParms{
    name:string;
    lastName:string;
    age?:number;
}

class Person implements PersonParms{
    name: string;
    lastName: string;
    age?:number
    constructor(prms: PersonParms) {
        this.name = prms.name;
        this.lastName = prms.lastName;
        this.age = prms.age;
    }

    get fullName(){return this.name + " "+this.lastName;}
}

const person = new Person({ name: 'John', lastName: 'Doe' });

console.log(person.fullName); // John Doe

A: Remember that optional is a type concept.  A getter is an implementation.  The implementation can return an optional type.  In a class that implements an interface with an optional readonly property, the class may leave off the getter.  See this answer get and set in TypeScript

A: class PersonParms {
  name: string;
  lastName: string;
  age?: number;
  fullName?: string = this.name + ' ' + this.lastName;
}

class Person {
  constructor(prms: PersonParms) {
  }
}

new Person({ name: 'John', lastName: 'Doe' });

A: If you cast the object this will prevent the compile time error.
export class IndividualModel {
    constructor(individual: IndividualModel = null) {
        if (individual) {
            this.individualKey = individual.individualKey;
            this.firstName = individual.firstName;
            this.lastName = individual.lastName;
        }
    }

    individualKey: string;
    firstName?: string;
    lastName?: string;
    get fullName(): string {
        return `${this.lastName}, ${this.firstName}`;
    }
}

const individual = new IndividualModel(<IndividualModel>{ individualKey: 'some-key' });

A: If you don't want to make every property optional using Partial, you can just omit the getters.
class PersonParms{
        name:string;
        lastName:string;
        age?:number;
        get fullName(){return this.name + " " + this.lastName;}
    }

    class Person{
        constructor(prms: Omit<PersonParms, 'fullName'> ){
        }
    }

    new Person({name:'John',lastName:'Doe'})

A:    class PersonParms {
      name: string;
      lastName: string;
      age?: number;

     getFullName?(): string | null { return this.name + ' ' + this.lastName; }
  }

  class Person {
     constructor(prms: PersonParms) {
     }
  }
 new Person({ name: 'John', lastName: 'Doe' });

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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We have a 24 hour answering service. If you are an established patient and have a urological emergency, please call our office at 607-729-7666 to speak with the on-call physician or go directly to our Emergency Department.
Our office is conveniently located on the top floor of the Ambulatory Care Center. We are able to perform several outpatient procedures such as urodynamic testing, cystoscopies, minor bladder biopsies, prostate biopsies, and other minor procedures in the safe, private and comfortable setting of our office.
For easy access to our office, park in the parking garage or Lot G to the right when you enter the campus via the West Drive. Enter the main entrance then take the elevator to the top floor.
If you believe you are having a medical emergency (e.g., uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing, chest pain, etc.), we advise you to call 911 or your local emergency services provider.
Please note that our office does not provide primary care. Patients must be referred to our office for evaluation by their own primary care provider or by one of the local hospital emergency departments.
Prior to the scheduling of any appointment, your medical records must be received and reviewed by our office as they are important and essential in the proper evaluation of any urological problem.
Please arrive at your appointment on time. We respectfully request you be present in our waiting room 15 minutes prior to your appointment time. This will allow you to complete any required paperwork. To further save you time, you may print and complete our patient visit forms prior to your arrival at our office.
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Please be sure to bring order forms and/or any referrals.
Information about financial assistance is available by calling 607-798-5506 or 607-798-5229.
Our physicians are all board certified in urology, they are trained in the latest urology services including davinci robotic surgery. Our Nurse Practitioner is also board certified and a SUNA member.


Whyville, an on-line town. This site aims to engage its users in learning about a broad range of topics, including science, business, art and geography. Here you can build a face, build a house, and build a business. There are tons of science experiments for them to try as well as art games at the Getty Museum. This is a great place for kids to interact on-line with kids around the world. A free registration is required.


Hola friends! I am Jessi Konley, owner, designer, creator, seamstress, boss lady, and mess maker at Red Dog Leather Goods. Born and raised in Montana, I currently reside in Livingston, MT.
My cozy house is made a home by my handsome Minnesota husband, one dang cute toddler and his new little brother, two cats and our labradoodle.
I truly believe that Montana leaves an impression; it creates forever deepening grooves full of memories and experiences on those of us who are fortunate enough to call her home. I am no exception to this and currently I am working in 34 years of being molded by my home state. I try to pinpoint the moments that made me who I am, the minutes in time that forged my values and beliefs, and the memories that are called upon while creating art.
Maybe it was the art kits gifted to me by my great grandmother, who was instrumental in starting the Water Works Museum in Miles City, MT. It certainly could've been the hours spent at garage sales and thrift stores with my frugal and hard working mother. Or the hours we spent working shoulder to shoulder into the night sewing clothing projects for 4-H that were due the next day. It may have been my father's affinity for rusty old automobiles, or his wheeler and dealer ways, always bringing home different old cars for us girls to romp around in. I remember vividly taking in the smell of the upholstery, the intricate detail on the radio knobs, the patina of the paint and the roaring sound of the motor running as he drove us around town in the back of the car, three giggling girls sitting on giant gold, tasseled, velour floor pillows. There is no one moment but instead they all meld together, sometimes it's just a blur of scents and sounds. They all created me; Montana has formed me and ultimately my art.
I am obsessed with the texture and daydreaming about the former life of vintage fabrics, the whirl of the sewing machine, the tink of pins, the smell of leather and the satisfaction of cutting a big buttery piece to create the bottom of a backpack. Afternoon drives to small town Montana in order to thrift fabric sets my soul on fire. The rolling hills, jagged snow capped mountains, the powerful Yellowstone River and fields, upon fields of cattle, deer, horses and pivot lines.
At the end of the day I do what I do because I come from a long line of seamstresses, because I was born to create, because I have so much to give, simply because I have to.
Location - loving life in the studio at Cactus Blossom Collective.
INSPIRED DESIGNS, AN UNLIKELY UNION OF LEATHER AND TIMELESS VINTAGE TEXTILES, INDIVIDUALLY HANDCRAFTED IN MONTANA.
"I strive to make functional pieces of art that are worthy of conversation. I want that conversation to be about what we value as human beings. Who we are, and where we came from."
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Glenn Hughes Fan Forum > COMMUNICATE > Polls & Questions?
Polls & Questions? Here you can post polls for everyone to participate in or if you have general questions, this is the place to ask them!
Ask me a question… leave a reply here and I'll answer it before I leave for the UK.
Be sure to include your name and city/country… so you know it's the one YOU asked!
And with that post you opened a can of worms!
When you joined Purple and spent that weekend with Ritchie in Hamburg - did you just hang out in bars or did you also visit some music clubs (like Fabrik, Logo, Remter - in case you remember any names. I'm quite sure you must have been to the "Reeperbahn" - hope they didn't ripp you off there).
Why do you think Ritchie 'fell out of love' with you and wouldn't talk to you no more after you joined Purple, as you told "Gitarre & Bass" magazine during your recent BCC gig here? Just his kind of attitude?
Aaaah, if only I could grab you and DC for an evening - there would be tons of questions waiting for you!
Looking forward to your reply, thanks a million!
Hi Glenn! When are you performing your next live concert in Italy?
Tank you so much for your great voice and music!
Hello, Uncle Glenn, David and all GHCP. Glenn, in all of your lifes accomplishments, how would you describe the release of your auto bio. And what direction do you think your heading in with the next album, a guest appearance from a different guitarist on each track perhaps? Thank You, Mark/Rochester, NY.
Scott Timmons of New York- love all work, but the work with Tony..
My God! I am waiting for the day of Live.. But I would take more recorded!!
While I thought that the autobiography was a very interesting and specially insightful read (!) and the Foruli Edition is a wonderful collectors item I will certainly treasure forever, I was surprised to find a few gaps in there.
I understand that the story is told in scenes, but I wonder if there e.g. just weren't any stories to tell about the Phenomena project or about the work on your numerous solo albums and the people you have worked with after your comeback. Should be very interesting!
'Scenes from the life...' is the 'THEN GLENN', and a lot of people here on the Fan Forum (and GHPG.net of course) have long been part of the 'NOW GLENN'. Are you including some of those 'missing' stories in your solo & acoustic shows and release them on DVD?
Well, and there is the inevitable question: PINK CLOUD Records vs. the ALIVE DRIVE. The demand for physical archive releases is certainly strong. This is (for) the people who still buy CDs. Any chance for more like Incense and Peaches any time soon, or not so soon?
Thanks for taking the time and good like with the UK shows.
Hope to see you again in Vienna soon - coffee is still on (me)!
Glenn, I think it would be a great 'tribute' to Mel if you were able to 'drop' your vocals onto the tracks of the 'Hot Wire' album......whadda ya think?
Do you think it would be not impossible to see you on stage together with David Coverdale and/ or Ritchie Blackmore once in a time again ?
You said once in an interview, the Rock'n Roll is a devils business, and i can imagine what you mean based on the hard experiences you were in, and for God's sake you survived.
But: The abuse of drugs and alcohol is not only found in the rockhistory, many artists in all times had the same problem, songs about f...g are absolutly normal in old times operas, Mozart certainly, opera singers today and in the past weren't smiling while singing, they show their furious faces in a artistic expression like rocksingers do.
I believe good rockmusic is nothing the angels can reject, there is so much plastic stupid any intelligence missing stuff in the charts made only to make a lot cash.
When was your first and last meeting and conversation with each of Deep Purple (Mk 1-8) members?
Yes, he's really cool, isn't he? Have you ever seen a priest playing Smoke on the Water?
"I just wrote a new song, this "Cry" song on my album. It's really funky, almost like...I don't know, it's sorta nasty, almost like the Gap Band. I said to myself, "I can't put this on my album." I played it around the house for a couple of days, Gabby came in and said, "You gotta put this on your album." So I said "**** it, I'll just write some lyrics to it."
Did you put it on any album later with another title?
Hi Glenn. Do you think you will cooperte again with some of the members of the Red Hot Chilly Peppers?
Hey Glenn - huge fan here since I first heard the bridge in the song Burn on Cincinnati radio in 1974, now living in Boston.
Here are 2 questions for ya (as Mr. Coverdale might say): There are times when I hear songs that I feel would be fantastic for you to cover. Fairly often they aren't particularly famous songs, but great songs nonetheless. I just wish there was a way to get these songs to you for your consideration for possible covers. Is there a way to do that?
Also, have you ever considered doing a Duets cd with various female singers? I think that could be terrific. I know a woman singer who now lives in Florida with whom I'd love to hear you sing, because I feel your voices would work wonderfully together. I think if the right songs were chosen, and the right women to sing with, this idea could produce some splendid music. Any reactions to this notion? Thanks!
I am one of the two crazy Dutch guys (together with Theo) and we go to your concerts for years and years.
A simple question: when do you come with your solo band to Holland again?
All the best, YOU rock!
I hope you don't mind if I have one more question regarding your outfit.
In earlier times I saw you wearing a fluke on a chain which I liked a lot. I was wearing one myself for years when I was active for the WDCS (Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society). Then you started wearing a cross and sometimes I see you wearing a hand grenade on a chain as well.
Now the last thing is irritating me a bit because I always associate death and destruction with a hand grenade. I would be very interested to know what made you wear this weapon round your neck.
Will you issue a new album with BCC?
Hi Glenn! Do you think you will issue a new album with BCC? If so, when? When do you think you will play again in Italy with BCC?
Woohoo...that's gonna be a long video message!
Can't wait...can't wait...started singing "Curiousity killed the geosoul girl"...still can't wait to see it!
Glenn's answers will arrive after his return from Europe... in early December.
Hi Glenn,what,s the story behind the ALCHEMIST album??,the west side song is briljant Anders.
hey, how well can you play canon rock and is there a vid of it?
Wouldn't that be a lovely surprise!
ooooohhh... how I love it when somebody compliments me!
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text:
A Letter From '008'
James Bond has been with us since the publication of Casino Royale in 1953. Since then, there has been a vast amount of literature about the character — so much that one would be forgiven for thinking that every stone had been turned. It's a surprise to find in 2015 that this isn't so, as several new books are showing.
Some Kind of Hero (The History Press) by Matthew Field and Ajay Chowdhury (disclosure: a friend, and I helped out with the book in a miniscule way) tells the story of the Bond films in loving detail over 700 pages, which are packed with nuggets of juicy new information. It's a real labour of love by the authors, drawing on a passion for the films stretching back decades: as well as filtering information from a vast range of sources, they have carried out over 100 new interviews, with actors, directors, producers, cameramen and others involved, to present what I am sure is the most comprehensive examination of the Bond films yet published. Some of the highlights include a long interview with George Lazenby in which he recounts how he was cast as Bond, one of the most extraordinary stories in showbiz history; interviews with people who have written Bond scripts, including Purvis & Wade and Len Deighton; and the new light shed on Johanna Harwood's contributions to the genesis of film Bond, finally putting her voice centre-stage. With around 20 in-depth pages devoted to each film, I reckon even the most hardcore Bond fanatic will find their fill of new dope.
Also just published is The Man With The Golden Typewriter (Bloomsbury), a collection of letters to but mostly from Ian Fleming edited by his nephew Fergus. Many of these have been published in full or part elsewhere, but lots haven't been, and offer all sorts of insights into how Fleming wrote and edited his books, his relationships with other writers, and more besides. It's essential reading if you're interested in Fleming and Bond.
In February, John Blake will publish James Bond: The Secret History by Sean Egan, for which I've written a brief foreword. This very entertaining book looks at all aspects of the Bond phenomenon — books, films, comics, video games — and includes some of the more obscure detours the character has taken over the decades. Egan has interviewed several key people, but for me it was not so much the information as the opinions that made the book so rewarding, as they forced me to re-think some of my own hardened views.
There's a rash of books published with the advent of every new Bond film, but the last decade or so feels different. I suspect a book of Fleming's letters wouldn't have been thought commercially viable last century, when Bond's — and Fleming's — critical stock was lower. Now Oscar-winners direct the Bond films and acclaimed novelists write the books, and Bond seems to be rightfully seen as the great fictional icon he is. This renewed interest and advances in technology means that a lot of fresh information is being revealed, which in itself feeds others' curiosity, provides new avenues of inquiry and leads to further discoveries.
In that spirit, I am now throwing a little something into the pot. I think I have just stumbled across something unknown about Ian Fleming. It's this letter to The Spectator in June 1956, purporting to be from '008'. The OCR has slightly mangled some of the text, but you can see a scan of how it originally appeared over on the right of that page. I don't believe this has been spotted before — and I think it's a hitherto unknown letter by Ian Fleming.
The letter is in response to an article by Anthony Hartley published in the previous issue that praised John Buchan's heroes in comparison to 'Mr. Ian Fleming's appalling James Bond'. Hartley's chief complaints were that Bond was a sadist, a snob about food and clothes, and vulgarly sexual. Intriguingly, these were the three key charges that would be made against Fleming two years later, by Bernard Bergonzi in The Twentieth Century, an editorial in The Guardian and, most famously, Paul Johnson in The New Statesman.
The author of this letter defending Fleming has taken on the amusing device of pretending to be a colleague of Fleming's, '008' of Regent's Park, London:
'SIR,—The Secret Service has had to suffer some hard knocks recently, but none unkinder than Mr. Anthony Hartley's disparagement of the head of their 00 section, James Bond. I share an office with Bond and, since I know even more about him than does his biographer, Mr. Ian Fleming, I have exceptionally obtained the permission of M. to break the rules of silence of our Service and come to his defence.'
He goes on to wryly point out why Bond is not the clubland hero Hartley presumed him to be — indeed, that he is if anything 'sub-consciously in revolt' against the Buchan-style Establishment — that his tastes are much simpler than described, and that sex and violence were elements of the modern world.
There are a few people who could conceivably have written this, but I think '008' was most likely Ian Fleming himself. Firstly, the letter doesn't simply demonstrate a lot of knowledge about James Bond, but is very presumptuous with it. It would take some bravado to claim more knowledge of another man's characters than he himself did, and to then co-opt his characters into the bargain: 'I have exceptionally obtained the permission of M.' If someone else had written this, I think it would have to have been someone Fleming would have been happy to have done so. His editor William Plomer, say.
But I think all signs point to this being by Ian Fleming himself. He sometimes wrote for The Spectator, and knew the magazine well: he later became its motoring correspondent. At the time of this letter, his brother Peter had written a column in the magazine under the pseudonym 'Strix' for a decade (the style and content was similar in many ways to 'Atticus' at the Sunday Times, which Ian had taken over in 1953). Peter knew his brother's books well and would have been in a position to have written such a letter, but it seems highly unlikely he would have intruded in such a way and in doing so claimed to know more about Bond than Ian, who was quite capable of defending his own work.
But the 'smoking gun', I think, comes courtesy of The Man With The Golden Typewriter. On May 31 1956 — just a week earlier, and the same day as Anthony Hartley's article attacking Bond for his amorality was published in The Spectator — Fleming wrote to Geoffrey Boothroyd, a reader who had written him a long letter about Bond's guns. Fleming was delighted by Boothroyd's evident expertise, and wanted more:
'At the present moment Bond is particularly anxious for expertise on the weapons likely to be carried by Russian agents and I wonder if you have any information on this.
As Bond's biographer I am most anxious to see that he lives as long as possible and I shall be most grateful for any further technical advices you might like me to pass on to him...'
The chances of someone else calling Fleming Bond's biographer just a week later seem slim. Neither was this the only time Fleming used the device of pretending Bond was a real person in this way. At the end of From Russia, With Love, published in April 1957, Fleming left a cliffhanger that suggested Bond had been killed by Rosa Klebb. When The New Statesman published an article bemoaning Bond's apparent end, Fleming sent them a letter about it and, according to Fergus Fleming, it became his standard reply to fans who wrote to him regretting Bond's demise. In that letter, he described himself as 'Commander Bond's official biographer'.
The Spectator letter is signed by '008', rather than Fleming, but it casts Fleming and Bond in the same roles and makes several points Fleming made elsewhere. In a letter to what was then The Manchester Guardian in April 1958, Fleming argued that in the real espionage world a spy would likely face more violence than in older thrillers, that Bond's tastes were perhaps not as outlandish or high-flown as they initially appeared, and mentioned the security risk of the character's absurdly conspicuous consumption of scrambled eggs. The Man With The Golden Typewriter also reveals that in June 1959, Fleming wrote to a reader who had sent him a card for the Aston Martin Owners Club:
'Thank you very much for your splendid letter of June 17th and for your kind invitation for James Bond to join the A.M.O.C.
Since neither Bond nor his biographer are owners of an Aston Martin, I can do no no more than pass your invitation on to the head of Admin. at the Secret Service from whose transport pool the DB III was drawn.'
As in the 1956 letter from '008', Fleming pretended Bond was real, that he was his biographer, and similarly added some business suggesting that he had to navigate the Secret Service bureaucracy of Bond's world.
In October 1962, The Spectator published a letter from Fleming under his own name. As with the 1956 letter he was defending his books from criticism, this time responding to three separate comments about his work in a previous issue of the magazine. Once again, he adopted the pretext of his character being a real person, starting the letter by saying that
'since Bond is at present away in Magnetogorsk, I hope you will allow me to comment on his behalf.'
Later in the letter he referred to his novels as 'my serial biography of James Bond', and defended the character from a charge of fascism by stating that Bond's politics 'are, in fact, slightly left of centre' — this echoes 008's point in 1956 that Bond is not quite the Establishment character he has been mistaken for.
Fleming took the conceit to its furthest point in You Only Live Twice, in which M. writes an obituary for a presumed-dead Bond and expands on the idea of Bond being a real figure and Fleming being merely a reporter of his adventures:
'The inevitable publicity, particularly in the foreign press, accorded some of these adventures, made him, much against his will, something of a public figure, with the inevitable result that a series of popular books came to be written around him by a personal friend and former colleague of James Bond. If the quality of these books, or their degree of veracity, had been any higher, the author would certainly have been prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act.'
So, presuming the letter was written by Ian Fleming, what does it tell us? Perhaps not a huge amount, but I think it adds something to the picture of how Fleming defended his work. He would later use his own name, but adopt the same amused tone and claim to be Bond's biographer, and it is a disarming tactic: had he written these responses 'straight', it might seem that he was genuinely offended and kicking up a fuss. The technique of pretending Bond was real allowed him to make all his arguments but to do so in a dry, airy way that made him seem unconcerned. In several of these responses, Fleming was defending spurious claims based on misreadings of his own work and the genre as a whole: a secret agent with a knowledge of good food, drink and tailoring had been a staple of the British thriller since at least the first decade of the 20th century, something Fleming knew very well because he had drawn on some of those thrillers for inspiration. Fleming knew the genre better than his critics, but was in the curious position of seeing, in his own lifetime, his creation become synonymous with an entire genre.
It might be that Fleming's letters along these lines acted as an unconscious trial run for the passage in You Only Live Twice, as over time he became attached to the idea. Fleming's letters, journalism and novels are littered with passing ideas that he subsequently picked up in later stories. For instance, in April 1956 he reviewed Scarne on Cards in the Sunday Times: the book, and its topic of cheating at cards, had featured prominently in Moonraker. Fleming ended the review by saying that, because of the criminal uses the book's contents could be put to, libraries and clubs should issue it to readers 'with the proviso "For Your Eyes Only"'. That expression would, of course, be used by Fleming for the title of his collection of short stories published in 1960.
The date of the 008 letter is also interesting, in that 1956 is two years before the main attacks on Fleming's books, and those attacks were on very similar grounds. We also tend to presume that Bond had little cultural impact before the films, but here we see that just three years after the publication of the first novel, Casino Royale, James Bond was a significant enough force that he was being discussed at some length in a British magazine, to the degree that a letter from its author making an in-joke about a character who didn't even exist in his books, ie 008, would presumably have been understood by most of the publication's readers.
Finally, I think this letter shows how the trickle of fresh information about Fleming and his work is gathering pace. This letter hasn't been picked up before, I suspect, in part because it was not signed by Ian Fleming. But it is also thanks to scanning technology that it's appeared on The Spectator's website, where it came up in a Google search I ran for something else. Armed with new information from The Man With The Golden Typewriter and elsewhere, I was also able to put it into more context than I would have been able to a few years ago. So while it's a very minor discovery in terms of Ian Fleming's work, I think it's part of a pattern that suggests there is more out there than previously thought — for example, the latest Bond novel, Trigger Mortis, written by Anthony Horowitz, includes snippets of original material by Ian Fleming that I don't think were previously on record as having even survived.
What else might be out there?
With many thanks to Ihsan Amanatullah and Tom Cull for additional information and insights.