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How to Visit the Nazca Lines
by Kaitlin McMichael | May 16, 2011 | Peru Tours |
Last updated on December 31st, 2018 at 12:03 pm
Love archeology? Love mystery? Love flying above a barren desert floor in search of ancient geoglyphs in the shape of hummingbirds, spiders, and monkeys?
Then learn about how to visit the Nazca Lines in southern Peru sounds like the perfect add-on to your next South America tour vacation.
What You'll See
The ancient Nazca Lines are a collection of geometrical lines and figures that were drawn into the desert floor in southern Peru over millennia ago. The ancient Nazca people brought these lines, which stretch several kilometers in length, and also built underground aqueducts, temples, and villages.
Many theories have sprung up around the purpose of the Nazca Lines, some theories more convincing than others, but most scholars believe the lines were created for religious or astrological purposes. A National Geographic article suggests that the Nazca people were water-worshippers and that the lines were built in celebration of water deities.
The Nazca Lines are still somewhat shrouded in mystery, which seems to contribute to their fame and allure.
How Much Time to Spend in Nazca
When planning how to visit the Nazca Lines on a Peru tour, plan on staying in the small city of Nazca, about a day's drive from Lima, and explore the Nazca ruins and the lines themselves.
Spend the night in a Nazca hotel, then get up early and take a short, 30-minute overflight to see the best of the Nazca Lines. Peer out over the desert landscape and see the famous figures of a hummingbird, lizard, spider, monkey, and more. The morning is the best time to fly when there is less air turbulence.
The return trip from Lima to Nazca usually takes 2-3 days, with an 8-hour bus ride each way. Nazca is also a good stopping point when continuing to Arequipa in southern Peru.
Alternatively, you could transfer from Lima to Ica, a much shorter bus ride away than Lima-Nazca. Then in Ica, you can fly over the Nazca Lines. This is a great alternative for those who are short on time. Also, the advantage of transferring to Ica is that you can visit the Ballestas Islands, the Paracas National Reserve, and the Huacachina desert oasis nearby. Plus, Ica has some pisco distilleries and bodegas where you can go wine tasting.
But for true archaeology and history buffs, it's best to travel to the town of Nazca itself.
After your Nazca flight, if you still want to see some more Nazca Lines – this time a bit more up close and personal – head over to the Nazca Lines Mirador on the Pan-Americana highway. The Mirador looks out over a couple of the Lines. If you go just before sunset, you'll get magnificent views.
Other Things to Do While in Nazca
While you're in the area, make sure to check out the Maria Reiche Observatory at the Hotel Nazca Lines. The hotel once housed the famous archeologist Maria Reiche, who spent much of her life dedicated to understanding the Nazca Lines. You'll hear a lecture about the researcher, get an excellent overview of the Nazca Lines – including the discovery of the lines in the early 20th century, and scope out some of the stars and planets in the Southern hemisphere.
Also check out the Chauchilla cemetery, which lies just outside of town. The cemetery allows visitors to see the burial traditions of the ancient pre-Inca culture. Many skeletons are well-preserved, including long dreds of hair. The graves were robbed over the centuries, but there is still plenty to see, and there are informative guides on site to help you make sense of it all.
You'll also want to visit the Nazca aqueducts, which are located right beside a farm and cactus field that are irrigated by the aqueducts. These water systems feature a spiral pattern that makes it easy to access water several feet below ground. These aqueducts have been in continual use for centuries.
You can visit the Nazca Lines on our Essence of Peru Tour, which covers the highlights of Peru within 2 weeks.


Over the last decade or so, biologists have identified and mapped nearly all of the micro-organisms that together comprise the microbiome, and in doing so they have also developed an ever-growing appreciation for the essential role of our microbial communities in health both mental and physical. The DNA of these micobiota outnumbers human DNA by 10 to 1, weight somewhere between 7 oz. an 48 oz.
A microbiome is "the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms that literally share our body space." This term was originally coined by Joshua Lederberg, who argued the importance of microorganisms inhabiting the human body in health and disease. Many scientific articles distinguish "microbiome" and "microbiota" to describe either the collective genomes of the microorganisms that reside in an environmental niche or the microorganisms themselves, respectively.
Further, there is a related model of evolution based on the impact of the microbiome on our own genetic and epigenetic evolution, the hologenome theory of evolution. The hologenome theory of evolution proposes that the object of natural selection is not the individual organism, but the organism together with its associated microbial communities.
In this model, although not universally, microbiota are re-termed symbionts, while the hologenome is re-termed the holobiont, a term that represents the symbiotic relationship between the host and its symbionts.
[R]elationships (ranging from mutualism to parasitism) lead to formation of a holobiont [1,2] that includes host and its associated microbiota or symbionts (Figure 1). Although the word "Holobiont" was coined by Lynn Margulis in 1991, to signify symbiosis between individual organisms or the bionts , the concept was highlighted in 2002 and later during the study of corals, and their associated symbionts, as coral holobionts .
This is not a new idea in evolutionary theory, but until 15-25 years ago, we did not understand how it worked so mainstream evolutionary biologists dismissed it. Now it is known, sometimes derisively, as Neo-Lamarckism within a Darwinian context.
The microbiome has become a popular topic in the media. A recent CBS News article proclaimed "How the gut's "microbiome" affects weight gain," the Digital Journal reported on the "Immune system and skin microbiome," Gastroenterology and Endoscopy News claim that "Ideas About Gut Microbiome and Diet Becoming Mainstream," while a recent Huffington Post Canada, "Thinking of Going Gluten-Free? Why Your Gut Will Thank You,"argued that going gluten free will change the balance of microbiota from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory.
"We've had decades of research on wheat and gluten's effects on the body and we know the microbiome is involved. Although we may not know all of the links at the cellular and molecular level, we can still improve our lives now. By avoiding wheat, people can keep their germs happy, their immune systems balanced and improve the quality of their lives. I think it's worth the effort."
A microbiome is "the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microorganisms that literally share our body space." This term was originally coined by Joshua Lederberg, who argued the importance of microorganisms inhabiting the human body in health and disease. Many scientific articles distinguish "microbiome" and "microbiota" to describe either the collective genomes of the microorganisms that reside in an environmental niche or the microorganisms themselves, respectively. However by the original definitions these terms are largely synonymous.
The human body contains over 10 times more microbial cells than human cells, although the entire microbiome only weighs about 200 grams (7.1 oz), with some weight estimates ranging as high as 3 pounds (approximately 48 ounces or 1,400 grams). Some consider it to be a "newly discovered organ" since its existence was not generally recognized until the late 1990s and it is understood to potentially have overwhelming impact on human health. Modern DNA testing of their residues has enabled researchers to find the majority of these microbes, since the majority of them cannot be cultured in a lab using current techniques. Its most important aspect may be its possible effect on auto-immune diseases like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and perhaps some cancers. Common obesity might also be aggravated by a poor mix of microbes in the gut. Since some of the microbes in our body can modify the production of neurotransmitters known to be found in the brain, we may also find some relief for schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder and other neuro-chemical imbalances.
Microbiomes are being characterized in many other environments as well, including soil, seawater and freshwater systems. It is believed that Endosymbiotic theory originally gave rise to more complex organisms, and continued to play a fundamental role in guiding their evolution and expansion into new niches.
The microbes being discussed are generally non-pathogenic (do not cause disease unless they grow abnormally); they exist in harmony and symbiotically with their hosts.
Researchers have learned that much of the population of microbes found in the human body are not bacteria but a very old class of single-celled organisms called archaea.
During the course of evolution, multicellular living forms emerged from unicellular life; the latter not only predominates the multicellular life quantitatively but also has a close association with it. There are many types of associations that have developed during evolution ranging from mutualism to parasitism. Such associations always affect the life of multicellular hosts in the short term from birth to death, with implications on their survival in the environment, and in the long term as a phenotypic unit for natural selection. Such relationships lead to formation of a holobiont [1,2] that includes host and its associated microbiota or symbionts (Figure 1). Although the word "Holobiont" was coined by Lynn Margulis in 1991, to signify symbiosis between individual organisms or the bionts , the concept was highlighted in 2002 and later during the study of corals, and their associated symbionts, as coral holobionts . Symbionts can be divided into two categories, endosymbionts and exosymbionts which refer to symbionts living inside or outside of the host cells, respectively. Such associations result in a hologenome comprising of genetic information of both host and the associated microbiota . Hologenome includes the static genome of the host alongwith dynamic genome of the symbiota. The dynamism of symbiota's genome provides the competence to holobiont to adapt and survive in different environmental conditions. The hologenome theory of evolution considers the alliance of holobiont with its hologenome as a selection unit for evolution to act upon . Further hologenome theory of evolution can be helpful in comprehending the emerging constructive role of probiotics in human health.
Alrighty then . . . it seems the preface material greatly out-weighs the actual article from Scientific America, but hopefully it was interesting and/or useful.
WE ARE ONE: Biologists say common gut microbes such as Bacteroides fragilis may be as important as our genes. Image: Photo Researchers, Inc.
~ This article was published in print as "Backseat Drivers."
Here is a little bit on the the hologenome theory of evolution, from a 2011 article (Symbiosis and Development: The Hologenome Concept) by Eugene Rosenberg and Ilana Zilber-Rosenberg in Birth Defects Research [(Part C) 93:56–66 (2011). DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.20196].
The hologenome theory of evolution considers the holobiont with its hologenome, acting in consortium, as a unit of selection in evolution (Rosenberg et al., 2007; Zilber-Rosenberg and Rosenberg, 2008; Sharon et al., 2010). The holobiont has been defined as the host organism and all of its symbiotic microbiota (Rohwer et al., 2002). The hologenome is the sum of the genetic information of the host and its microbiota. The hologenome theory posits that (1) all animals and plants harbor abundant and diverse microorganisms acquiring from their host a sheltered and nutrient-rich environment, (2) these microbial symbionts affect the fitness of the holobiont and in turn are affected by it, (3) variation in the hologenome can be brought about by changes in either the host genome or the microbial population genomes (microbiome), and (4) these variations, including those of the microbiome, can be transmitted from one generation to the next with fidelity and thus may also influence evolution of the holobiont.
Fitness in the case of a holobiont must include beneficial interactions between the host and its symbionts, including those that may influence development, reproduction, and adaptation. In addition, it has to include beneficial interactions between the symbionts themselves as well as between the holobiont and other holobionts and the environment.
Variation in a holobiont can arise from changes in either the host or the symbiotic microbiome. Genetic variation in the host (occurring in the gametes or during development) as well as in individual microorganisms can be generated by the well-recognized mechanisms of recombination, chromosome rearrangement, and mutation, in addition to epigenetic variation. Stochastically produced variants followed by selection of the fittest are the essence of neo-Darwinian evolution. Consideration of the hologenome, namely the host genome combined with that of its microbiota, brings forth three additional modes of variation, which are unique to the holobiont. The first is microbial amplification, the increase of one group of symbionts relative to others, which can occur when conditions change. The holobiont is a dynamic entity with certain microorganisms multiplying and others decreasing in number as a function of local conditions within the holobiont. An increase in the number of a particular microbe is actually equivalent to gene amplification. Considering the large amount of genetic information encoded in the diverse microbial population of holobionts, microbial amplification can be a powerful mechanism for affecting adaptation and development. Examples of environmental factors that can lead to changes in symbiont populations and thereby to variation in hologenomes are nutrient availability, disease, light intensity, pH, and temperature. The second mechanism for introducing variation into holobionts is acquisition of new symbionts from the environment. All animals and plants come into contact with billions of microorganisms during their lifetime. One can reasonably assume that occasionally, as a random event, some of these microbes will find a niche and become established in the host. Under the appropriate conditions, the novel symbionts may become more abundant and affect the phenotype of the holobiont. Unlike microbial amplification, acquiring new symbionts can introduce entirely new genes into the holobiont. The third mechanism is horizontal transfer of genes from transient or nonassociated bacteria to resident microbiota.
The applied fields of prebiotics and probiotics involve attempts to modify microbiota of animals, including man, and plants, by changing the diet or adding specific bacteria, respectively. In effect prebiotics targets variation by amplification and probiotics can lead both to amplification and acquisition of novel bacteria.
Microbial amplification and acquisition of novel microbes into holobionts closely fit the Lamarckian first principle of ''use and disuse.'' The holobiont loses characteristics (microbes) it does not use and gains characteristics (microbes) that are useful. As these amplified or acquired microbes can be transmitted to offspring, it satisfies the second principle of Lamarckism. Thus, the hologenome theory of evolution contains Lamarckian principles within a Darwinian framework (Rosenberg et al., 2009). In addition, it should be pointed out that microbial variation in a holobiont can be considered an epigenetic variation, in that it involves inherited changes in the phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying host DNA sequence (Gilbert et al., 2010).


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Lessons of innovation with Sang Shin, Digital Innovation Director of Temasek
Alexandra Ebert and Jeffrey Dobin
Sang has a fascinating story to tell about his time in Silicon Valley when his company innovated in the privacy space with a data protection app. We'll learn what the data privacy landscape looks like in Southeast Asia right now, and he also shares his experience with synthetic data, his vision for the future of data and all things tech. Subscribe to the Data Democratization Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your shows! Listen to the previous episode or read the transcript about digital transformation.
Jeffrey Dobin: Good morning. Hello and welcome to Episode Four of the Data Democratization podcast. Jeffrey Dobin here, along with my tag team partner Alexandra Ebert, Chief Trust Officer at MOSTLY AI. Today we're joined by a true frontline warrior and data privacy champion. Alexandra, what should people expect?
Alexandra Ebert: Definitely a lot. Sang is a seasoned startup veteran with some interesting stories and a ton of insight. He's currently working in Singapore, helping startups reach their full potential as Director of Digital Innovation at Temasek, an investment management company. Today, he talks about the data protection app he invented that was used by millions of people, but eventually was taken down by Apple.
He also talks about the current privacy landscape in Europe, in the United States, as well as in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Plus, he shares his predictions for the tech sector for 2021 and beyond, with us. There's a whole bunch of other insights he shares during today's episode. Listen in and enjoy.
Hi, Sang where does this podcast find you? Can you briefly introduce yourself to our listeners?
Sang Shin: Hello. My name is Sang. You found me in this interesting space and time of my life. Currently, I'm in Singapore. I'm a Korean who was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to the United States to study in college. After that, I stayed in the States for a couple of decades, where I worked in investment management technologies, building different systems. Towards the last step of my stay, I ventured into the startup world. Moved over to California, and did a bunch of startups. Once that ended, I moved over here to Southeast Asia to see how I could take what I learned over the past few years and decades and help grow the startup ecosystem in this neck of the woods.
Alexandra: Perfect. It sounds like you've got your fair share of traveling before we hit this pandemic and are not allowed to travel anymore. A wise choice to do back then.
Sang: You can never travel enough. Let me put it that way.
Alexandra: Absolutely agree with that. One thing I would love to talk about, you actually invented the data protection app that was not only downloaded, but also used by millions of people. Then Apple pulled it from the App Store. Can you share the story with us?
Sang: Sure, yes. That was a very interesting part of my life. I was towards the tail end of my career in corporate America. I was working in some hedge fund at that point in time. An ex-colleague of mine, and I decided to drop things and tackle this problem, where we just didn't understand back then and still today, how data was just being collected and monetized in a very not explicit or not clear way, with consumers. There's a lot of money to be made doing that. We just thought it didn't make sense the way we had arrived there.
The path to that point was an interesting one. It started with the internet, and the web and with cookies, and browsers and Netscape. It just continued to evolve into the mobile world when phones started coming up and different types of tracking in the mobile setup. We decided to try and change it and take a stab at it. We built an app that, essentially, if you installed the app by default, it would block all trackers from taking data from you, and your history and your activities, also would block the ability for advertisers to send you advertising based on your data, and effectively put you off-grid from that whole digital advertising market data collection space.
Our app really only had one major utility or function. It was a simple switch, on or off state. Default state is you're off-grid. Should you choose to you can flip the switch and join our ad network or our data sharing and monetization network. The difference with our network is we explicitly are clear on what data we're collecting, and actually pay you for your data, and for the right for advertisers to show you advertising, based on the data you shared with them. This was a very different take on the way things were. It was a very explicit agreement. You as a user would effectively take control over the value of your data. You could sell it over and over to different advertisers and make money out of it.
That essentially, was the app that we built called Been Choice.
Alexandra: Absolutely impressive. I think it's not only about taking control, but also get money for the data yourself. It's definitely beneficial for users. What would you say were the benefits for the companies that were purchasing this type of data, where users gave explicit consent?
Sang: From the business side, there was a lot of issues in terms of options. Meaning that unless you were in the walled gardens of, let's say, Facebook or Google, or at that time emerging was Amazon, you really had no choice. Where else would the data come from? You would be limited. You would have to rely on other alternative data sources, which would be, at that time was a hodgepodge of data collectors and sellers. They would try it through some complex mechanisms, and sometimes very surreptitious ways, try to put and stitch microdata together to build a picture of who you are, which really wasn't that accurate.
You would sometimes see ads that you really didn't care about popping up on your phone. That was a challenge for businesses because their investment into advertising and marketing wasn't really paying the dividends. Unless you would then go to Facebook's advertising platform, or one of the walled gardens, where they control all the data and control also the marketing and advertising platform itself, you're very limited. The ad would only then appear on when they used Facebook, for example. As a business, you were left with not really great options as a result to that.
The value add to them would be to be accessing very high-quality first-party data, meaning data that the user themselves or him or herself has specifically said, "I do want to share this data with you, you company specifically because I'm actually interested in your products and services. I do want to see if you have any deals or discounts for your products and services." For me, that would be I like to buy, let's say, Nike products, Nike shoes, for example. I wouldn't mind sharing my data with them in order to be getting a discount or be able to join a lucky draw or some other marketing thing that they're doing. They can target me because I want to be targeted by them. They would be happy too because their spend would yield high results because they're targeting now people who actually want information from them and deals from them.
Alexandra: This sounds actually like an invention that was truly helpful in reconciling, not only privacy protection, but also privacy friendly way of updating utilization. Then you mentioned, when we had a conversation before the recording of this episode, that the app actually was pulled from the App Store. Why was that?
Sang: There's multiple stories around why the app was pulled. Technically, the official technical story is, and if you Google it, you will see that it was pulled because of some infringement in the way that it handled some certificates, which without getting too technical, is just the way that in Apple and iOS for its iPhones, handled the way apps in general, what access they had in controlling, in our case, some of the data.
The technology we used was nothing groundbreaking, in terms of that it was a VPN, ultimately. It was a very special VPN. There were a lot of VPN software apps out there using exactly what we were doing, to be honest. It wasn't something new that came up and that they disallowed. It was, in essence, something that had been going on forever that for some interesting reason, they picked that point in time on us to stop.
Alexandra: I think you even mentioned that point in time was after a New York Times article.
Sang: It was when we were published on Financial Times, that publication, that led to a lot of interest in what we're doing and triggered an avalanche of media coverage of the potential and game-changing and disruption that this business model capability would bring about. That, I think, precipitated at the high levels of the company, some difficult decision making they had to do.
If you remember, I don't know if most people won't remember, but I do remember because I was in the hell of it. At that time it was around when iOS, if I recall, 9 or when for people like iPhone 5 kind of, iPhone 6, that era, it was at that time when Apple themselves actually released for their iOS browser Safari on the phone, on the iPhone. iPhone's browser, they released the capability to actually block trackers and ads for Safari for any developer to come in and develop something and then add it on to the Safari browser. Effectively, also go off-grid, meaning it would block collection of data and block ads from being sent to you. There was a whole lot of these small little ad blockers that came up using that capability that Apple enabled.
When we came about, which was actually just not too far from that, it was like a month or two months, if I recall, it caused an issue because what we're able to do is do it not only for any browser, let alone the Safari iOS browser, but any app. In fact, your entire phone would be shielded, not just the Safari browser. Then it was a difficult discussion because they had just allowed their browser to do this, but then what are they going to do about apps and other browsers? Particularly, apps where big companies were making huge revenue.
The question invariably boiled down to are we going to allow this for browsers, particularly our browser but not allow it for apps, and why would that be? Because the same company would have a website, and also an app. It's displaying the same info and collecting similar info. The app would collect more info because it can, but what would be the delineation and difference? That's the struggle they had. They had to make a decision.
Ultimately, after some months of back and forth, they eventually made the decision that they can't allow that in apps. Eventually, they made the decision. Then the way they implemented that decision was through this technicality, which I described earlier on the certificate that has existed for many, many, many years, and used that as an infringement policy to whatever their rules and badness. Took us out of the store as a result.
Alexandra: Okay. It can be assumed that somebody had something against millions of people having the option to go off the grid and opt-out?
Sang: Yes, you could make that assumption. Look, if we didn't have a lot of adoption, if it was going nowhere and nobody cared and nobody wrote about it, then we would have continued to exist. It was only because people were writing about it, people cared, and people were downloading it that it raised the concern.
Alexandra: Yes, I can imagine. I think people downloading it, actually is a strong indicator that this is something that people actually desire to have and wish to have. How did this whole story and how things turned out to be change your views on privacy and data utilization?
Sang: You've got to remember this was back quite a while ago.
Alexandra: What year was it?
Sang: We started thinking about this about six or seven years ago, so back then unlike today, people didn't realize they were the product. Now, it's almost common knowledge about data collection issues and monetization, but back then, that wasn't the case. When we were doing it, it was quite eye-opening. I didn't know what was really going on and the most eye-opening thing was when we were actually creating our app. When we were creating a product, we actually had to do research and development into what data was actually being collected, how was it being collected, and by whom and all this stuff? When I did that work, it just really blew my mind how much data was being collected, that people had no idea was being collected, even technical people.
At one point, I was like, "Wow." I realized that over half of the data that your phone uses over cellular, and back then it wasn't cheap, it was 3G, there was no 4G LTE yet, so you actually watched how much data you use, and more than half, 60%, 70% was just tracker information and ads coming out of your phone and you had no idea you're paying for it. That's why companies that actually targeted that, company such as Onavo, which Facebook bought, their value add was they were able to reduce your data bandwidth every month by blocking all that stuff out, and so people would download, and install it because they would save money every month.
Alexandra: Yes, of course. Not only that you're not getting paid for the data you share, and if you also have to pay for it, you're probably not going to be happy. I would argue, still, with the onset of GDPR and all the emerging privacy regulations, but still, the majority of people is not aware of how much data actually is collected about them every day. Luckily, I think we are really moving in the right direction with this new awareness and people demanding that their privacy is protected and respected.
You left Silicon Valley and moved to Singapore. What's your perspective on the data landscape in Singapore, also in comparison to the United States and to Europe?
Sang: Singapore is somewhat unique. I don't think it represents, necessarily, the Southeast Asian region, in terms of data maturity, in terms of privacy, and policy. It's more advanced. There is a national policy that's been crafted and whatnot, but I do think generally speaking in this region of the world, it's still a little early. Meaning it's not as mature, let's say, as Europe with GDPR and even America coming closer to that. It's a little bit like the Wild West, in terms of, especially if we go to some of the more developing countries out there, what the data policies are and who's actually enforcing it, it's a little bit loose. I don't think it's going to be loose forever.
What I've envisioned is that in this region of the world, at least, there's a window of time where it will get more strict over time. It's both an opportunity and a challenge. It's a challenge because we have to make sure that things aren't abused and we don't go the same route that we went in other parts of the world, but it's an opportunity in the sense that we have a chance to make it, so that it doesn't go there. It doesn't evolve in that weird way it did evolve over in America, for example. That we help with evolution to bypass some of those rabbit holes and end up with a better setup.
Right now, the history is that it's so entrenched, and then so concentrated into some big tech companies in the US, for example, that they now wield so much power, and that some of the power is somewhat of a threat even to the politics of the country and where now there's all this mixture of politics and data and using the data to show you content and with the Netflix documentary that everybody has watched how it can affect people's version of reality. Hopefully, there's a way we can get to a point here, where we avoid such concentrations of power.
Alexandra: How confident are you that everything will move in there as you described without these strict regulations being in place? Do you think it's possible that organizations, it could be this decision to themselves without forcing them to some regulation, but they will opt for more privacy protection and less data collection, and data utilization?
Sang: Yes. On the surface, one would think that it can't work unless there is legislation and rules and enforcement of the rules. I don't necessarily think so. I think there's another component that will affect the way it evolves and that is essentially in profits. If the market evolves, where there actually is not much profit to be gained anymore by doing that, and that we've moved on to other things, then that could be a reason not to do it anymore.
Let me give you an example of that. Google recently said they're not going to collect data anymore from web browsers and sell the ads, they're shutting that down. You've got to ask yourself why they're doing that.
Alexandra: Yes, absolutely.
Sang: If you think they're doing that because they woke up one day and decided we're not going to do any more evil, like we promised a decade ago, probably not. The reason most likely is it's a diminishing return, in terms of revenue stream. In my opinion, we've kind of finished about a decade's worth of doing that, and what is that? That was kind of faking you out using human psychology to addict you or to make you tap this tap that, so you can get that data this data. Basically, hacking your human psychology and then using that to get as much data as you can.
There's a whole bunch of mobile apps that develop everything from Uber to location data in the past decade. I think that that kind of is closing. That kind of way of making money and apps is slowly being replaced by a new interest in creating new technology and apps to actually make impact. Because we've got serious issues coming up, and then see a lot of investment money going into these types of funds that look at impact, such as sustainability with a huge influx of money coming in there, for example. Investment money is pouring into these things and not so much anymore some whiz bang app, that's going to collect your data. I think it's going to change. I think the next couple of decades it's going to morph into those types of investments, and ultimately innovations and new technologies.
Alexandra: Absolutely. I think we have to move in these directions to save the planet. Still, I'm a little bit surprised at what you described about Google because I always thought that the majority of the revenue is actually generated by selling. Now the possibility to advertise in the search engine, it would be a big step, I assume, for them to really move past and beyond that and focus on other areas that would have a bigger impact, as you described.
When we come back to Singapore, have you noticed any notable privacy tech innovations we should watch out for?
Sang: Sure, there's quite a bunch. The most obvious one I can think of the one that I've been privy to help out, when I can with the COVID situation, there's this whole, how are we going to re-enable travel in a secure way and is there going to be some kind of a digital passport? How do I know you got tested and with what test kit and by whom? Eventually, is going to be how do I know that you get the vaccine, for example? There have been trial tests here.
For example, with the privacy, one of the solutions that has been pushed and been trialed, that we're somewhat involved in is to actually not have the data through using DLT and the chain, not actually have the data go anywhere, but just have the attestation of the fact that he did it by an accredited place, and through wallets, confirm that. That's an interesting way, where the data is preserved and what you're doing is attestation and the accreditation of what happened, rather than the actual thing itself.
I think that's going to be something you're going to see more and more where the data isn't transacted on.
Alexandra: Understood. Do you actually see a role for synthetic data in the space of enabling privacy-friendly data utilization?
Sang: Yes, totally. Synthetic data, I think is as you said, is an enabler. It lets you do certain things as a proxy. You can generate certain types of insights you can generate certain value out of that data because it's synthetic, without actually using the data, which comes into the issues that we talked about. I do think so. Yes, definitely.
Alexandra: Perfect. Have you encountered any examples in the wild, that you can share?
Sang: I've been involved in it actually. One time we ran a datathon type of hackathon, where it was the first time in the country of Singapore where we put together data from private and public sector, which never happened before into a sandbox and had hackers basically come in and see what they could build out of this data set and it was synthetic data. It was the only way we're able to get the agreement between all the entities, and you can imagine: the government, with retirement, all that with the banking info from a major bank, for example, and traveling for a major airline and all this, was through that.
Alexandra: It sounds impressive and of course, I think that's a nice way to really make data accessible and also unlock some innovations. What was the outcome of this hackathon, any great innovations insights that happened there?
Sang: Yes, it was actually interesting. Obviously, the hope was out of the hackathon or the datathon, that this new unicorn is going to come out, but that's clearly not what happened. What ended up happening is, what we found was some very interesting insights and correlations, in terms of human behavior and let's say, their propensity to save for retirement, or different population segments and their ability to be healthy. It's not like you could build a company out of those insights, but there was a lot of very important insights that I think would have helped a lot of, let's say, policymakers, gain ideas into what's going on and also from the private sector and how they can better help people.
Alexandra: Yes, absolutely. Since you describe this how people save for retirement, that reminds me of one study that was once conducted, where they found out that people are much more likely to save for their retirement, if you actually show them a picture of themselves, that is photoshopped for an older version. I think this exact finding was taken by some startup, that's now doing this with an AI service that helps you to build some kind of financial savings tool, where you can regularly see and also talk to your older self, and therefore increase the likelihood to save for retirement.
Sang: One thing I recall from that was there was a certain amount of traveling that people did by a certain age and if they hit some threshold, like traveled a certain amount by a certain age, their retirement funds were not great.
Alexandra: Okay. What was the exact correlation, so was it just too much traveling that's consumed all your retirement savings?
Sang: Kind of, yes. Essentially, that your propensity to spend was high as a result of traveling. There will be some leading indicators into that.
Alexandra: Understood. Of course, it's a difficult choice to make while you're young.
Sang: Oh yes. There are no right or wrong answers. Everybody decides how they want to live their life.
Alexandra: Absolutely. I think that's always the best choice. What are your predictions for the tech sector in 2021 and beyond?
Sang: Oh, wow. This part, maybe you don't want to keep in the podcast because this is how I get caned later on, "Sang predicted that, never happened." Predictions, we're in a very interesting point right now. Continuing on what I said earlier, it's interesting in gaming the human psychology and making money through apps that make you tap and click here and suck you in through addiction. I think that that is last decade. I think, as I was saying, more and more technology is coming in, into impact, whether it be through sustainability or life sciences. I do think that biotechnology and genomic areas is going to grow a lot. In fact, it may be where sustainability was two years ago, which was really explosive, but people are just getting to know. Then all of a sudden since the last two years, it just exploded, in terms of funding, at least.
If anything, COVID has shown that if enough money and smart people are put together onto a task, amazing things happen. We have messenger RNA vaccines in a year. That's just crazy. It's just unheard of. It's literally like in textbooks in 100 years from now, when they look back, they're going to remember this as that moment in humanity were like, "Wow, if we work together on something, we can do amazing things, literally." I think it's showed, and that's why I think biotechnology and genomic, we're going to find more cures and more money pouring into it in the coming years. It's going to be very multidisciplinary.
The other thing that COVID is shown is not just biologists and medicine and medical people and doctors, no, it's machine learning experts that are out doing the traditional. It's the data, the huge open databases now that house all this information that people are using to do research. It's a very collaborative, multidisciplinary platform that has opened up. People's minds also now, it's impossible, now they think it's possible.
I think for those reasons, that area is definitely going to be an area of interest. That in the usual, like FinTech, is democratizing people as they get digitized, particularly in developing nations. AI is going to continue to do what it does. That's something we have to closely monitor, as it evolves. Then you have fringe things like space and quantum. A little bit further down the line, that we've got to keep our eyes on as well.
Alexandria: Definitely interesting. You mentioned not sure if these predictions come true, but I definitely hope they do because I think there's so much potential. If we really manage to work together and create technology that serves us and not, I don't know, puts us in front of our screens, and let not get us away from them and spend hours in front of social media, I think then we can really benefit from this on a global and humanitarian level. Let's hope that things continue.
What are actually your three best pieces of advice that you share with people or companies that look into leveraging data, and also privacy for their success?
Sang: It's super important to be transparent. This whole like, "I'm going to hide it away in small text, and do all this stuff," is gone. Especially now we have Netflix documentaries talking about it. That's yesteryear. The more upfront you can be, and the more transparent and clear that whatever product or service you're providing, needs certain things for certain reasons, that is something that enables that trust with the people. Which right now is broken. That is a competitive advantage these days, is that trust.
The other thing is rather than being so protective of the data, if you think about software development, it used to be the case where you have proprietary software, you put it into a vault, like Windows code, and nobody can touch it. It's yours. You sell it and you make money off, and you license it and whatnot. That got disrupted with open source. Now, it's all about open source, the more people using it, actually it's is more secure, like signal or bigger market opportunities, because of large user base. These types of things, I think, will apply to data as well. It'll calm you over and spill into the data world, where it's now not anymore, like Facebook walled gardens, "This is my data," but more on like, "Okay, we're going to have open databases. We're going to have open anonymized databases."
Similar to open-source software, these open anonymized databases, will provide new business opportunities and new capabilities and insights that you wouldn't be able. That's the direction, I think, things should go and probably will.
Alexandria: Absolutely. This is also one thing I'm particularly excited about, that the European Union is looking into ways to make open data possible in a privacy friendly way and therefore, give also these small and medium enterprises and startups the possibility to innovate in a much larger scale. Not only the large corporations have all the data and all the innovation.
Sang: Look we're re-living in a decentralizing moment in human history. Decentralized finance, it's not just finance. It's everything and it's enabled by technology.
Alexandria: Absolutely. Well, I think we can continue this conversation for hours to come, but I don't want to keep you from your weekend too long. Let's maybe move to the last section of our recording. We usually like to play this game with our guests at the end. Just answer the first thing that comes to your mind. Don't think about it too long. Are you ready?
Sang: Sure.
Alexandria: Perfect. First question is rainbows or unicorns?
Sang: Rainbows.
Alexandria: Why rainbows?
Sang: You can never find the end of the rainbow. You'll always be going and looking for it.
Alexandria: Keep moving and keep learning. Traditional banks or Fintechs.
Sang: Fintechs.
Alexandria: Why Fintechs?
Sang: I'm just not traditional, to begin with.
Alexandria: Valid argument.
Sang: Yes.
Alexandria: No worries. Global or local.
Sang: Both, globe, local. Glocal. My answer will be glocal.
Alexandria: What do you mean by glocal?
Sang: I'm a glocal guy. A local, but global. Again, enabled through technology. I can be local, but global at the same time.
Alexandria: Yes, definitely. That's a benefit also now with all this technology, that we have the possibility to have conversations with people all around the world to collaborate. It's really impressive to see how the pandemic actually, also boosts these capabilities and enables so many more things. Apple or Google?
Sang: You know I got banned by Apple, right?
Alexandria: Okay, so not a fan?
Sang: I think that neither.
Alexandria: Okay. Let's leave it like that. Privacy or data driven innovation?
Sang: Can those two coexist?
Alexandria: I think so. This was actually the answer I wanted to hear. Thank you, a lot, Sang. It was really a pleasure talking to you. It was so great to hear all your stories.
Sang: Happy to be on board and happy to have shared some of my thoughts. Thank you for anybody who's listening for listening.
Alexandria: Absolutely. Thanks for listening. Have a great day.
Jeff: I really enjoyed today's episode, and hope you did, too. Sang provided much food for thought. Alexandra, can we pull together some takeaways for our listeners?
Alexandria: Sure Jeff. I've got three. First, be transparent on how we use data. Transparency is actually a competitive advantage in today's market. Consumers expect that the privacy stays protected.
Second, join the open data movement. That is going to be the next big thing, following the open-source software trend. Open Data will bring new business opportunities and valuable insights.
Third, be on the lookout for more startups and tech with a mission to positively impact society and the planet. Whether it be climate change or social good, we are only at the beginning of innovation. We'll see a lot of advancements over the next 10 to 20 years.
Jeff: Boom. Thanks, Alexandra. Thank you, Sang. To our listeners, I hope you enjoyed the show.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Toby Cosgrove
Medicare-Medicaid Administrator Says States Need More Flexibility, But Clinic's Cosgrove Sees Risks
The head of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says the Trump administration wants to move more health insurance decisions from…
Two Northeast Ohio CEOs Sat on Trump's Now Dissolved Economic Advisory Panels
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Cosgrove Will Step Down as Head of the Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic president and CEO Toby Cosgrove announced today that he is stepping down. After almost 13 years as head of one of the world's largest…
The Clinic's Cosgrove Says Akron General Will Expand Cancer Care, U.S. Healthcare System is Fragile
Jeff St. Clair
It's been one year since Akron General hospital became fully part of the Cleveland Clinic system. It's also been a period of uncertainty in U.S.…
Cleveland Clinic CEO Says Operating Income Dropped by Half in 2016
The Cleveland Clinic saw a substantial drop in operating income in 2016 -- more than 50 percent over the previous year. But as WCPN's Marlene…
Vice President Biden Pushes 'Moon Shot' for Cancer Research
Vice President Joe Biden was in Cleveland today to talk about boosting cancer research. He addressed the Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit. About…


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Fool on the Hill
Eric Burdon and The Animals Sky Pilot
Johnny Rivers Secret Agent Man
The song " Fool on a Hill" was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon-McCartney. The Beatles recorded it in 1967 and released it on their album Magical Mystery Tour. The song was included in the soundtrack to their 1967 film Magical Mystery Tour. While it is always a dicey business (and perhaps a fruitless one at that) to discuss a writer's inspirations, the solitary figure on the hill whom others do not understand or listen to but who sees the world could refer to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. There is an interesting use of going from D major to D minor when it gets to "but the fool." It has been noted that this is similar in structure to Cole Porter's use of minor and major in his song "Night and Day." Be that as it may, the song became a more popular international hit through the version done by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66. They gave it a bossa nova rhythm and some strings. Their cover went to #6 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #1 on the Adult Contemporary Chart, and #13 in Australia.
Sérgio Santos Mendes was born in Niteró, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is a bandleader, pianist, composer, and songwriter. The original members of Brasil '66 were Mendes (piano), vocalists Lani Hall and Bibi Vogel (later replaced by Janis Hansen), Bob Matthews (bass), José Soares (percussion) and João Palma (drums). John Pisano played guitar. Of course, there were numerous changes in personnel and other things over the years.
Here are the lyrics to "Fool on the Hill" by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 :
Alone on a hill
The man with the foolish grin
Is keeping perfectly still
But nobody wants to know him
They can see that he's just a fool
And he never gives an answer
But the fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
And the eyes in his head
See the world spinning round
Well on his way
His head in a cloud
The man of a thousand voices
Talking perfectly loud
But nobody ever hears him
Or the sounds he appears to make
And he never seems to notice
And nobody seems to like him
They can tell what he wants to do
And he never shows his feelings
Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 also did a great cover of "Night and Day," which is on their 1967 album Equinox. It was their second album for A&M records. The A stood for Herb Alpert, and singer Lani Hall married him.
Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music
The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin'. Hope you enjoyed "Fool on the Hill" by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66.
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Why should you choose quartz countertops?
When remodeling your kitchen, one of the biggest considerations is what will become of your new countertop. While you have many surfaces to choose from, you should choose quartz. What advantages can quartz provide you with? Here are the major benefits of quartz countertops: resistance to scratching, resistance to staining, resistance to bacteria infiltration, colorful aesthetics, and ease of installation.
When it counts to countertops, quartz provides one of the toughest possible surfaces. Quartz is engineered and created from the combination of several component substances. Quartz is ground up and then mixed with resin and pigmentation for color. The final result is a surface that does not scratch. It is also stronger than granite while also being heavier. This enhanced durability means the surface will last for many years – presumably until your next kitchen remodel. When it comes time to clean it, cleaning quartz is much easier, and taking good care of it is simple as well. But cleaning and taking good care of it raise another point – its resistance to staining.
Like scratches, stains are another problem countertops will frequently face. Luckily, quartz does not have any pores for liquids to leak through. Even after preparing a meal, cleaning off quartz countertops is easy to do. Quartz countertops will keep their good looks and can help your kitchen stand out as fantastically valuable. Granite and marble, two other countertop surfaces, need constant resealing in order to protect their surfaces.
Much like scratches and stains, a third problem countertops encounter is the presence of bacteria. Bacteria can be present in all sorts of food and liquids found in the kitchen. This bacteria cannot leak into the surface, creating a much more sanitary environment. Just be sure to use hot water or regular cleaning products to clean off the surface when you're done. You want to be sure that you're keeping your family as healthy as possible. Quartz countertops can go a long towards making that happen.
The range of color choices is another reason to consider getting quartz countertops. Part of a remodeling project's objective is to make the kitchen look fresh. New colors can help achieve that objective. Whichever color you choose, you can expect that same color to be present throughout the entire block of quartz. Natural stone may be unpredictable in the distribution of variations in the color and in the pattern. How you want your new countertop to look is entirely up to you.
According to the professionals that make and install these countertops, quartz is much easier to create. Building a quartz countertop and getting it installed takes much less time than a granite one. No matter what material a countertop is made from, it will have seams. These seams can be disguised more easily on a quartz countertop than a granite one. Even when done flawlessly, the seams can still be easier to spot on a granite countertop. Quartz does a better job of hiding these flaws.
Ready to get started on your next home remodeling project? Kitchen and Bath Depot is the perfect choice for a premier home remodeling services. We provide remodeling services to customers throughout Maryland and the Washington D.C. area including Bethesda, Silver Spring, Gaithersburg and more. Whenever you're ready, we are ready to touch base with you and here about your dreams for your home. If you are ready for a quote and to see how we are different than other companies, contact us online or give us a call at (301) 888-5324. For more tips, follow us on Facebook, Houzz, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest.
This entry was posted on Friday, July 14th, 2017 at 2:16 pm. Both comments and pings are currently closed.


Rise India has raised Rs 14 crore funding in form of a loan from National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
Rise India is now an affiliated training partner of NSDC and has been allocated this fund to setting up Driver Training Institutes across the country, with a target of training 2.5 lakh youth over the next 7 years.
Rise India Skill Solutions currently has 14 centres which are operational. Additionally, 28 new centres are being proposed to be opened under the agreed project.
61 locations have been identified of which 28 will be selected for setting up of these centres. The locations are across NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar. These training will be done in Light Motor Vehicles, Heavy Motor Vehicles and Heavy earth moving equipment like backhoe loaders, cranes and mixtures which are often used in infrastructure development.
Rise India offers effective training programme and courses in skill development that has transformed lives. Through this alliance, RISE INDIA would set up numerous driver training institutes across the country and deploy people, infrastructure, capacity, content, trainers to deliver the trainings efficiently. Rise India, through its own equity funding will contribute an additional Rs 4 Crore to make it total outlay of Rs. 18 crore, which will be invested in capacity creation over the next 18 months.


"Internet search engine giant honours famous German music composer Johann Sebastian Bach, who not only made music but was also proficient in constructing and inner repairing the complex inner mechanisms of pipe organs, which are depicted the interactive Doodle," reports Google's website.
"Composing music at a prolific pace (sometimes at the rate of one cantata per week!), Bach was a humble man who attributed his success to divine inspiration and a strict work ethic. He lived to see only a handful of his works published, but more than 1,000 that survived in manuscript form are now published and performed all over the world," it informs.
It adds, "Bach's reputation soared following the 19th century "Bach revival," as the music world gained new appreciation for his innovative use of four-part harmony, modulations of key, and mastery of counterpoint and fugue. Perhaps the best measure of his legacy is his impact on other artists, ranging from classical to contemporary over the centuries."
Long live the music of German music composer Johann Sebastian Bach.


We have two behavioral health campuses in the South Bay—one at Paradise Valley Hospital in National City and the Bayview campus in Chula Vista. We provide patient-centered care in a compassionate environment.
Our highly-skilled, board-certified physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers and staff are dedicated to helping our patients find hope and improve the health of their mind, body and spirit.
When there is a need for short-term, crisis stabilization to help people regain control over their lives, we provide immediate assistance for adults in need, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Under the guidance of a behavioral health psychiatrist, our dedicated multidisciplinary team implements a patient-centered inpatient mental health program to specifically meet the needs of people with a wide range of mental health and chemical dependency issues.
Partial hospitalization is available Monday-Friday to help our clients further stabilize and transition back into the community. This program is tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients in a safe, structured environment.
Once a client's symptoms are more stabilized, outpatient services are available and allow our clients to attend a therapeutic program up to three days per week while functioning in the community.
We offer chemical dependency support for those people suffering from either substance abuse and/or dual diagnosis issues.
Emergency care is available around-the-clock. Paradise Valley Hospital Behavioral Health System offers a 24-hour crisis line (800) 585-2767 to serve the needs of our patients, their loved ones and community care providers. Our physicians, nurse clinicians and assessment therapists are ready to assist anyone in need of mental health support.


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Rugby.com.au
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Double injury blow for Brumbies on tour
21 Apr 2019 Super Rugby
David Pocock is set to miss another game with injury. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley
by Beth Newman
Josh Mann-Rea and David Pocock will both be heading home early from the Brumbies' South Africa-Argentina tour in a double injury blow for the side.
Mann-Rea limped off the field midway through the second half of the Brumbies' win over the Stormers in Cape Town and has reportedly suffered a suspected ACL injury.
The hooker is the oldest player in Super Rugby at the moment and a long layoff could potentially spell the end of his career.
Pocock is still struggling with a calf injury that he picked up in a January preseason camp with the Wallabies.
He hasn't played since aggravating the issue on March 8 after already having a delayed start to the season because of the injury.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar was confident as late as last Thursday that Pocock would be fit for their round 11 clash with the Jaguares but that prospect has been dashed already.
McKellar said last week that Pocock's time out had been frustrating for both the player and the side.
"It all started back in January at the Wallabies camp and hasn't stopped really," he said.
"If I had have been told, when I was originally told it was a calf strain in January, that it would be still dragging on in the back end of April, you'd certainly be frustrated.
"He's been frustrated, as much as anyone. He works hard on his rehab and wants to contribute to the team. He still certainly had a really good contribution but he wants to be able to have a contribution on the field and hasn't been able to do that this year.
"But there is still a long way to go and it'll be nice to have him back for the second part of the season.
"We have to make sure if we throw him back into a game situation that he is prepared and ready to perform. And not just play, so the last thing we want him to do is have another set back."
The form of Locky McCaffrey has somewhat offset Pocock's absence and though he missed the Stormers match, the gritty no. 8 is expected to return in Buenos Aires.
Rookie flanker Jahrome Brown was also impressive in his run-on debut in Cape Town while Tom Cusack has been consistent when he has had opportunities in the no. 7 jersey this season.
Connal McInerney will link up with the Brumbies in Argentina to replace Mann-Rea.
The Brumbies take on the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Saturday April 27, Sunday April 28 at 7:40am AEST, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and Kayo Sports.
Super Rugby Brumbies
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Home Find Centers
Winter in-person and virtual programs for all ages!
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Photo Credit: Photos by TIA International Photography
8319 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98108
M/W: 10am-7pm
Tu/Th: 11am-8pm
* Late Night and Tween Night reopen at South Park Community Center on 1/6/23!
Late Night: Friday, 6 pm to 10:30 pm
Tween Twilight Night: Saturday 4- 8pm
Special Populations Programs
Indoor Toddler Playtime
Late Night Programs
Lifelong Recreation
**Late Night and Tween Night re-open at the community center on 1/6/23.**
In Spring 2023 we will close for the South Park Community Center Sitewide Renovation and Stabilization projects.
South Park Community Center is in the heart of the small but ethnically diverse neighborhood in southwest Seattle.
Built in the late 1980s, the facility is a modern adobe-style building with a vaulted ceiling in the lobby and several large windows that look out onto a medium-sized playfield. The lobby area has both a meeting/study area and a lounge area furnished with soft leather chairs and a television. Other interior spaces include a child care room, a newly redesigned teen room, a medium-sized multipurpose room with a mirrored wall, and a full-size gym. Adjacent to the building outside is the playfield with two baseball diamonds and two soccer goals. There is also a wading pool, tennis court, basketball court and small play area.
South Park Community Center is very community oriented, hosting several popular annual community events. Among them are Winterfest, Haunted South Park (Halloween), Field Day and the Spring Egg Hunt. South Park also hosts an annual Teen Film Festival. The center offers a wide array of programs and classes for all ages including the Community Kitchen program that brings people together to prepare and share healthy food; before- and after-school programs; summer day camp; Teen Late Night; toddler indoor gym; tai chi; basketball; volleyball; yoga; Zumba; and more.


Marco Island is an affluent beach community with gorgeous real estate, a pristine shoreline, charming restaurants and shops, and a laid-back atmosphere that promotes rest and relaxation. It is here you'll find this stunning vacation rental within walking distance to the popular Tigertail Beach. Tigertail beach offers ample and inexpensive parking, picnic areas, public restrooms, a playground, beach rentals and even a butterfly garden. If it's easy access to the beach you are looking for, you've found the right home.
This beautiful three bedroom home has everything you need for a comfortable and convenient home away from home. When you first enter the house, you will notice an elegant picnic-table style dining room set. This long wooden table with two padded benches enables the whole family to sit together for a meal or discuss their adventures of the day. This front dining room flows right into the gourmet kitchen. This beautifully tiled, fully furnished kitchen has stainless steel appliances, granite counters, and ample cabinet space. Double sinks and a whisper quiet dishwasher make clean up a breeze, and the open layout provides plenty of space for the family chef to work his/her magic.
The kitchen blends effortlessly into the main living area. This spacious room is complete with a leather sofa and loveseat, armchair and coffee table in front of a stunning stone fireplace. Above the fireplace is a flat screen TV. The high ceilings and large windows create a welcoming and open space for the whole family to relax in together. A breakfast nook is located directly off of the living area. This peaceful little spot has a round wooden table and seating for 4. This is an ideal place to enjoy coffee in the morning or plug in your laptop and send emails and pictures back home to friends.
The gorgeous master bedroom has a King size bed, private living area, flat screen TV and private access out to the pool. The master bathroom has an elegant tub with marble and stone accents. There is also a double vanity area and glass enclosed shower. A high-tech washer and dryer is tucked away in the bathroom, allowing guests to stay on top of laundry while they're away. The quiet washer and dryer duo don't take up much space and will help you avoid doing mounds of dirty laundry when you get home.
The second bedroom is perfect for kids or adults, and features two upscale twin beds. A small nightstand and lamp sit in between the beds, and a flat-screen TV sits on top of a sleek dresser. With tiled floors and a soft color scheme, this is a relaxing place to snooze. This bedroom also has its own private bathroom.
The third bedroom has a full-size bed, and peaceful island themed décor. This bedroom has its own flat screen TV and access out to the sparkling pool.
Soak up the sun around this incredible waterfront pool! The shaded lanai offers plenty of seating for the whole family. There are high-end sun loungers available for those who want to work on their tan, and the fully screened in pool keeps leaves and dirt out while letting all of the sun in. A private sitting area (with a BBQ!) outside of the master bedroom is perfect for a mid-afternoon nap or romantic cocktail under the stars. The private pool overlooks the canal, giving guests the ultimate waterfront lifestyle experience.
Making this contemporary 3-bedroom beach home part of your vacation makes getting to the beach, local restaurants, and shops so convenient. Not only is the home stocked with everything you need for a comfortable family vacation, but the attention to detail and luxurious touches will also make you feel like a VIP on your own private island.
Beautiful furnishings in this 3/3 waterfront home. Located in the highly desired Tigertail Beach area, this home is perfect for your vacation getaway. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. Granite counter tops in kitchen and all bathrooms, tile throughout, freshly painted, flat screen TVs in each room, fireplace and more! Make sure to view the video-tour to get a better idea of the layout of the home. Truly the perfect home for those that enjoy strolls along the beach and casual bike rides around the neighborhood! Make sure to keep an eye out for the many tortoises and burrowing owls in the area.


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Lincoln Discussion Symposium / Lincoln Discussion Symposium / Books - over 15,000 to discuss
/ He Knew Lincoln
He Knew Lincoln
Full title - "He Knew Lincoln and Other Billy Brown Stories" by Ida Tarbell
Published in the early 1900's, with 179 pages.
A fun, easy to read book with emphasis on the personal side of Lincoln, using examples of what he said and did that has people cherish his memory.
The book consist of four stories or interviews the author has with Billy Brown. Billy Brown wasn't a single person. From the introduction -
"Particularly was Lincoln at home with men like the Billy Brown of these pages, men whose native grain had not been
obscured by polish and oil. There were many of them in his time in Illinois, plying their trades or professions more or less
busily, but never allowing industry to interfere with opportunities for companionship. They were men of shrewdness, humor,
usually modest, not over-weighted with ambition. Their appetite for talk, for politics, for reports on human exhibits of all sorts,
never dulled. Their love of companionship outstripped even their naturally intolerant partisanship.
The original of Billy Brown was such a man, He was still keeping his drug store in Springfield in the 90 s when the
writer made studies there for a "Life of Lincoln" ; She passed many an hour in Lincoln s chair, while Billy, tipped back
in something less precious, talked. There were Billy Browns in other towns Bloomington, Princeton, Quincy, Chicago.
Their memory of Mr. Lincoln was among the most precious and satisfying things in their lives. When business was dull
or the day rainy and consequently there were few or no interruptions, the talk you started by questions soon be came a soliloqey.
Head against the wall, feet on desk, eyes far away, voice soft ened, they re-lived the old friendship.
Their memories were tender, reverent but singularly devoid of the thing that we call hero-worship."
The book consists of four parts, each one showing a different aspect of Lincoln's personality and character that made his friends and companions treasure his memory.
It's available on Internet Archives
https://archive.org/details/heknewlincoln00tarbrich
I can highly recommend this book. This one is worth purchasing, be sure to get one with the full title.
As there are several editions and reprints, prices vary.
David Lockmiller
Legendary Member
RE: He Knew Lincoln
(12-08-2017 08:40 AM)Gene C Wrote: The book consists of four parts, each one showing a different aspect of Lincoln's personality and character that made his friends and companions treasure his memory.
At page 77, there is following story reported:
"Don't worry, Billy, about that," he says, "that don't make no difference. I ain't saying I don't want to go to the United States Senate – I do. Always have. When I quit politics in '49, and made up my mind I wa'n't goin' to have another chance to go to Congress or be anybody, I was miserable. But that's all over. What's important now in this country is makin' people feel that slavery is wrong, that the South is bent on spreadin' it and that we have got to stop 'em. Slavery is wrong, Billy, if it ain't wrong nuthin' is. We have to fight against its spreadin', and its goin' to be a durable struggle. It don't make no difference who gits office or who don't. All that's important is keepin' on fightn'. Don't worry if I ain't elected. The fight's goin' on."
I do not believe that Lincoln would have made the italicized statement above. Lincoln had just run for the Senate in order to have a voice in government affairs. And, four years later, Lincoln sought the office of President.
"So very difficult a matter is it to trace and find out the truth of anything by history." -- Plutarch
Rob Wick
As long as I have studied Tarbell, I have come to the conclusion that she pretty much nailed Lincoln's thoughts. The italicized passage you quote is certainly within Lincoln's thought process. The issue of slavery far outweighed the political fortunes of one man. Of course Lincoln was an ambitious politician, but he also realized that no one man is indispensable and it's the cause that matters.
Besides, whether Lincoln ever said it is irrelevant. What's relevant is whether or not be believed it. I think he did.
Abraham Lincoln in the only man, dead or alive, with whom I could have spent five years without one hour of boredom.
--Ida M. Tarbell
I want the respect of intelligent men, but I will choose for myself the intelligent.
--Carl Sandburg


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