text:
Q: Correct positioning of views in SwiftUI chartsBackground With the new Charts for SwiftUI that Apple released in July 2022, we can now make charts with extraordinary ease. There is a view modifier in Charts, chartBackground, where we can use SwiftUI views as a background to the chart. I have tried to use the chartBackground with mixed results, because I do not understand how to position the views correctly.
The codebase I have here is a simplified version of the chart view in my app, to illustrate the problem I have.
The chart is a line chart, with an array of EnergyPriceData:
struct EnergyPriceData: Identifiable {
    var id: String { UUID().uuidString }
    let date: Date
    let cent: Double
}

The cents are plotted on the y-axis, with dates on the x-axis.
The background for the chart is in the chartBackground modifier:
.chartBackground { proxy in
    GeometryReader { geo in
        if let startDate = startDate, let endDate = endDate, let startPositionX = proxy.position(forX: startDate), let endPositionX = proxy.position(forX: endDate) {
            let height = geo[proxy.plotAreaFrame].height
            let width = geo[proxy.plotAreaFrame].width
            let _ = print("startDate:", startDate, "endDate:", endDate, "startPositionX:", startPositionX, "xdiff:", endPositionX - startPositionX, "width:", width)
            Rectangle()
                .fill(Color.green.opacity(0.06))
                .position(x: 208, y: height / 2)
                .frame(width: endPositionX - startPositionX, height: height)
        }
    }
}

When I run the app in the simulator, the following is printed out by the print statement, so I get an idea what the coordinates and positions are:
startDate: 2022-10-15 18:00:19 +0000 endDate: 2022-10-16 03:00:19 +0000 startPositionX: 56.46153846153847 xdiff: 254.0769230769231 width: 367.0
I want to have a color of green with an opacity of 0.06 between the two green vertical lines, and found out by experimenting, that a position value for x of 208 would give me that. The width of the green area is the endPositionX - startPositionX. By googling around, the sparse information I could fine how to calculate the startPositionX is let startPositionX = proxy.position(forX: startDate). But that can't be true, because the printout above gives a much smaller value, 56.46 than the value 208. And I am not able to find out how to get the correct value of startPositionX from the GeometryReader.
And when I swipe on the chart, the green area is moving outside the start and stop vertical green lines.
This short video illustrates the problem: SwiftUI Chart swiping
Below is the complete code of the chart view, if you want to see how the chart looks like, you can just replace the ContentView.swift file of a new SwiftUI project with the following:
import SwiftUI
import Charts

struct ContentView: View {
    let prices: [Double] = [268.613, 264.863, 242.250, 240.813, 237.350, 200.050, 225.050, 211.063, 212.838, 225.588, 227.388, 244.238, 271.588, 314.875]
    let startDate: Date
    let endDate: Date
    var dates: [Date] = []
    var data: [EnergyPriceData] = []
    @State var selectedDate: Date?
    @State var selectedCent: Double?
    var hourMinuteFormatter: DateFormatter {
        let formatter = DateFormatter()
        formatter.dateFormat = "HH:mm"
        formatter.locale = Locale.autoupdatingCurrent
        formatter.timeZone = TimeZone.current
        return formatter
    }
    var hourFormatter: DateFormatter {
        let formatter = DateFormatter()
        formatter.dateFormat = "HH"
        formatter.locale = Locale.autoupdatingCurrent
        formatter.timeZone = TimeZone.current
        return formatter
    }

    init() {
        let date = Date()
        var dateComponents = Calendar.current.dateComponents([.year, .month, .day, .hour, .minute, .second], from: date)
        dateComponents.hour = 20
        dateComponents.minute = 0
        dateComponents.second = 19
        let startDate = Calendar.current.date(from: dateComponents)!
        let newDate = Calendar.current.date(byAdding: .hour, value: 9, to: startDate)!
        var newComponents = Calendar.current.dateComponents([.year, .month, .day, .hour, .minute, .second], from: newDate)
        newComponents.minute = 50
        let endDate = Calendar.current.date(from: newComponents)!
        let dates = (-2...13).map { Calendar.current.date(byAdding: .hour, value: $0, to: startDate)! }
        self.startDate = startDate
        self.endDate = dates.filter { endDate > $0 }.last!
        self.dates = dates
        data = prices.indices.map { .init(date: dates[$0], cent: prices[$0]) }
    }

    var body: some View {
        Chart(data, id: \.id) { data in
            LineMark(x: .value("Hour", data.date), y: .value("Cent", data.cent))
                .foregroundStyle(.red)
                .lineStyle(StrokeStyle(lineWidth: 6))
                .interpolationMethod(.catmullRom)
            if let start = startDate, start == data.date {
                RuleMark(x: .value("Start of charging", start))
                    .foregroundStyle(.green)
            }
            if let stop = endDate, stop == data.date {
                RuleMark(x: .value("End of charging", stop))
                    .foregroundStyle(.green)
            }
            if let selectedDate = selectedDate {
                RuleMark(x: .value("Selected date", selectedDate))
                    .annotation(position: .top, alignment: .top) {
                        VStack {
                            Text(dateFromTo(with: selectedDate))
                            Text(centPerkWh(with: selectedCent))
                        }
                        .padding(.bottom, 20)
                    }

                if let selectedCent = selectedCent {
                    PointMark(x: .value("Selected date", selectedDate), y: .value("Selected cent", selectedCent))
                        .foregroundStyle(.red)
                        .annotation(position: .overlay, alignment: .center) {
                            Circle()
                                .frame(width: 20, height: 20)
                                .foregroundColor(.red)
                        }
                }
            }
        }
        .chartYAxis {
            AxisMarks(position: .leading)
        }
        .chartXAxis {
            AxisMarks(position: .bottom) {
                AxisGridLine()
                AxisTick()
                if let value = $0.as(Date.self) {
                    AxisValueLabel {
                        Text(hourFormatter.string(from: value))
                    }
                }
            }
        }
        .scaledToFit()
        .chartOverlay { proxy in
            GeometryReader { geometry in
                ZStack(alignment: .top) {
                    Rectangle().fill(.clear).contentShape(Rectangle())
                        .gesture(DragGesture()
                            .onChanged { value in
                                updateSelectedDate(at: value.location, proxy: proxy, geometry: geometry)
                            }
                        )
                        .onTapGesture { location in
                            updateSelectedDate(at: location, proxy: proxy, geometry: geometry)
                        }
                }
            }
        }
        .chartBackground { proxy in
            GeometryReader { geo in
                if let startDate = startDate, let endDate = endDate, let startPositionX = proxy.position(forX: startDate), let endPositionX = proxy.position(forX: endDate) {
                    let height = geo[proxy.plotAreaFrame].height
                    let width = geo[proxy.plotAreaFrame].width
                    let _ = print("startDate:", startDate, "endDate:", endDate, "startPositionX:", startPositionX, "xdiff:", endPositionX - startPositionX, "width:", width)
                    Rectangle()
                        .fill(Color.green.opacity(0.06))
                        .position(x: 208, y: height / 2)
                        .frame(width: endPositionX - startPositionX, height: height)
                }
            }
        }
    }

    func updateSelectedDate(at location: CGPoint, proxy: ChartProxy, geometry: GeometryProxy) {
        let xPosition = location.x - geometry[proxy.plotAreaFrame].origin.x
        guard let date: Date = proxy.value(atX: xPosition) else {
            return
        }
        selectedDate = data
            .sorted(by: {
                abs($0.date.timeIntervalSince(date)) < abs($1.date.timeIntervalSince(date))
            })
            .first?.date
        selectedCent = data.first(where: { $0.date == selectedDate })?.cent
    }

    func dateFromTo(with date: Date?) -> String {
        guard let selectedDate = date, let toDate = Calendar.current.date(byAdding: .hour, value: 1, to: selectedDate) else { return "" }

        let from = hourMinuteFormatter.string(from: selectedDate)
        let to = hourMinuteFormatter.string(from: toDate)

        return "\(from)-\(to)"
    }

    func centPerkWh(with cent: Double?) -> String {
        guard let selectedCent = cent else { return "" }
        let formatter = NumberFormatter()
        formatter.currencyCode = "NOK"
        formatter.currencySymbol = ""
        formatter.locale = Locale.autoupdatingCurrent
        formatter.numberStyle = .currency
        formatter.maximumFractionDigits = 0

        let formattedValue = formatter.string(from: NSNumber(value: selectedCent)) ?? "-"

        return "\(formattedValue) cent"
    }

}

struct ContentView_Previews: PreviewProvider {
    static var previews: some View {
        ContentView()
            .padding()
    }
}

struct EnergyPriceData: Identifiable {
    var id: String { UUID().uuidString }
    let date: Date
    let cent: Double
}

A: I found out why setting the .position(x: startPositionX, y: height / 2) didn't work. I must also offset the x-position with half the rectangle's width, because SwiftUI will center the rectangle at the position where I want to draw: .offset(x: (endPositionX - startPositionX) / 2) In addition, I must adjust the x position with the origin.x of the plotArea, so the new midStartPositionX will be let midStartPositionX = startPositionX + geo[proxy.plotAreaFrame].origin.x.
So the new .chartBackground will then be:
.chartBackground { proxy in
        GeometryReader { geo in
            if let startDate = startDate, let endDate = endDate, let startPositionX = proxy.position(forX: startDate), let endPositionX = proxy.position(forX: endDate), let midStartPositionX = startPositionX + geo[proxy.plotAreaFrame].origin.x {

                let height = geo[proxy.plotAreaFrame].height
                Rectangle()
                    .fill(Color.green.opacity(0.06))
                    .position(x: midStartPositionX, y: height / 2)
                    .offset(x: (endPositionX - startPositionX) / 2)
                    .frame(width: endPositionX - startPositionX, height: height)
            }
        }
}


The LFT Blog addresses the evolving role of LFT in clinical practice. Curated by Paul I. Singh, MD, who has performed more than 3,000 LFT procedures, it addresses a number of topics relating to the treatment of symptomatic floater patients. Dr. Singh is in private practice at The Eye Centers of Racine & Kenosha in Wisconsin, USA. He was the first ophthalmologist in Wisconsin and Illinois to implant the iStent glaucoma drainage device, and, more recently has helped to pioneer the development of new lenses and laser technologies for use in LFT.
When adopting a new procedure or technique, outcomes of the first few cases can shape the surgeon's perspective of that procedure, and in turn, affect the willingness to continue performing the procedure. Take Laser Floater Treatment (LFT) for example; although this procedure has been attempted for many years, with new technology and new protocols/techniques, LFT has been reintroduced to the world of ophthalmology over the past 1-2 years. Because there have been changes to the YAG laser as well as technique, there is a learning curve.
In medicine, our decision to treat or not to treat a condition has been based on the risk-benefit ratio associated with the treatment. Basically, the higher the risk, the worse the symptoms usually have to be before the surgeon and patient are willing to perform the surgery. As technology has advanced, the risk associated with many procedures has generally decreased, subsequently leading to surgeons and patients opting to perform the procedure much earlier in the disease process.
Modern LFT. Does the data stack up?
In recent years, there has no doubt been an increased interest in modern laser floater treatment, LFT. Within the past five years since I began performing the procedure, more and more surgeons are now adopting LFT in their practices. Although the procedure may seem fairly new, surgeons may not realize that the use of a YAG laser to treat symptomatic floaters has been performed for many decades. So, why is this procedure only now starting to gain traction?
Can the Vitreous Help Explain the Unhappy Postop Cataract Patient?
Our cataract patients' expectations have steadily increased as our surgical technique and IOL technology has advanced over the years. As a profession, we have focused a great deal of attention on the smallest detail during the entire process; pre-op, (including biometry, topography, OCT), to intraoperative tools and techniques (such as femtosecond assisted surgery, intra op aberrometry, and premium IOLs), to postop drop and capsule management.
Does Technology Define When a Condition is Worth Treating?
Historically, as a profession, we have created the perception that vitreous floaters (opacities) are a mere annoyance to our patients. A condition that, although many people complain of, does not cause a significant enough impact on quality of life and daily functioning to warrant treatment. Why is that? Why is it considered just an annoyance when patients often complain of difficulty driving, reading, or even working on a computer?


text:
Living the Music: Music engineer, entrepreneur strives for success in the Northwest
4 Min. Read Success Stories By: Tyree Harris
Chris Reeser, 27, is the lead music engineer at Telos Studios and co-founder of Relentless Hustle, a budding clothing company that has already sold around 2,000 products. Reeser met with us to talk about the engineering business model, the music industry and the challenges he faces. This Q&A was edited for clarity and brevity.
Up and Running: When did you realize you could make a living off of your music?
Chris: That was probably three years ago when I started pushing a lot of studio work and started earning my stripes. I was getting better with my abilities, my knowledge and my grasp of sound in general.
How did you start earning income?
When I started getting clients that were willing to pay, it was kind of an eye opener. The money really started becoming a full-time job when I got with Telos about a year ago. Other than that, I was making some money, but my main job was doing graphic design and web design.
When you hear the term music entrepreneurship, what comes to mind?
People that are looking to progress the game of music. Whether it be doing higher-quality production or invading different markets, that's really what I feel. Young kids that know what the limits of business are going to be set at, and trying to push them.
Why don't you think that term is used a lot?
I don't really know, probably because the music industry is such a one-sided kind of object.
Why do you say that?
Well, if you're going to create money and make money off music, you're gonna basically be owned. You're gonna be owned by EMI, BMI — all those sorts of things. The money starts coming when you reach a superstar status. Otherwise, you're going to be on a small label or even a medium-sized label, doing full-on touring but not making more money than a regular job and an education could make you. So really, a lot of people with aspirations of being musicians get detoured from doing the entrepreneurial aspect of it.
Tell me a little bit about what you're doing with Telos and Relentless Hustle
Right now I'm working with Telos Studios and my buddy James Aronoff doing all the recording, engineering, mixing and mastering that comes our way. We're trying to vastly expand into any other kind of market that we can with video production, as well as getting bands from outside of Eugene and Oregon to come to the studio.
With Relentless Hustle, right now we're really trying to find some investment. Both my co-owner and I are having a lot of time that is being consumed by other things, so we haven't been able to put our full dedication to it. It's on somewhat of a slow hiatus while we're looking for investment. But other than that, we're looking to expand there as well and have multiple online merchants that are ready to sell.
How does an engineer gain business?
I promote to bands and artists that are wanting to record. I record every style of music that there is, and I'm always looking to do more. You offer your services, you get them to come in, and you record them. Mixing and mastering is optional.
How do you maintain business? What keeps people coming back?
Really, it's about being personable and being a good employee to the artist. Because then they want to come back, and return business is where all the money comes from. You can't fill your slots up with new clients every day it's impossible. I rely so much on people that come back and record with me because they like how their music comes out.
There are a lot of musicians in Eugene; does that mean there is a lot of business?
It's true, but to a very, very certain extent. There are only so many artists in town that have the funding or desire to pay $35 to $40 an hour on studio time. There's only that many that believe in their music enough to pay for the quality. Home recording is great, but recording in a professional studio with an actual engineer that's done a lot of different things is even better.
How does $40 an hour compare to the standard rate?
The prices are fairly standard for the quality of our studio. There are a couple other places in town that charge just as much as us and aren't nearly as good as we are.
What have been some of the challenges that you've faced in a small market like Eugene, Oregon.
The economy. The way it is. Other places have picked up. But here, it's still being hit pretty hard. People are still struggling from that. We don't have a huge economy of one certain thing here that drives the whole town. Like technology or anything like that. So really it's finding the ability to work with people's budgets and not breaking our own pockets trying to run a business that's not going to be profitable. So it's been finding the business model of being affordable, but making money for ourselves.
How much business awareness do artists need in the music industry?
A lot. The more you learn about the business of the art you're trying to be in, the bigger upper hand you'll have.
What's in store for you in the next few years?
Really progressing my ability in engineering and the clients that I work with. I'd like to go to subsidiary labels of large record labels and start getting bands sent to the studio to do albums. That's really what we're trying to do. We're pushing to make the best music we can and to create the biggest buzz that we can. We have the potential to be one of the best studios in Oregon and the Northwest. It's pretty much forward progression for us.
This is part of an on-going series on music entrepreneurship. An archive of all the posts in this series can be found here.
Tyree Harris
Tyree Harris hopes to motivate young, business-minded people to explore their entrepreneurial potential.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Buildings & Structures>
Concrete Homes>
Building Systems for Every Need>
Precast concrete is available in many shapes and sizes, including structural elements and unreinforced pieces. Panels are the most common members used in building construction, and may serve as structure or cladding or both. As structural-architectural panels, they provide a cost effective solution to building enclosures. Panels can be full- or half-sandwich or hollow core construction. Full-sandwich panels are popular because they provide two durable faces and allow a space between that is filled with insulation. The half-sandwich panels contain just one concrete face and therefore require additional insulation and finishing after erection. Hollow core panels can be used for walls, but are especially well suited to floors. The cores can be used for utility chases or sometimes as ducts for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).
The following points describe precast concrete panels for low-rise buildings:
Installation, Connections, and Finishes
Sustainability and Energy
Manufacturing and Physical Properties
Comparative Cost
Concrete sandwich panels are highly engineered to provide rugged, durable surfaces for walls and can be used for floors, as well. Precast concrete panels (and other items) are manufactured in factory settings. Not only is this conducive to improved quality control, it's also possible to manufacture year round during any type of weather.
By designing buildings to have one predominant panel size, panel manufacturing becomes a repetitive process and gains efficiency. Following a two-step casting process, the resulting void between panels can be filled with insulation.
The ability to quickly erect panels at the site is another advantage of precast. Once footings are prepared, panels can be placed quickly to form the enclosure. This requires some lead time to order the panels, but is an advantage at the site. It also means that construction can be completed within a relatively small footprint and may allow building in weather that would negatively affect other types of construction. Solid, high-quality concrete construction built with an efficient use of labor makes for cost effective structures.
Precast, like all concrete construction, provides fire, rot, termite, and mold resistance. Exterior walls can withstand tornado-force winds. It is solid construction that protects occupants from weather and from natural disasters.
The casting process itself is not limited to any particular size, but because the panels have to be shipped on trucks and erected at the building site, there is a practical limit to their dimensions. When the precasting facility and site are located relatively close to each other, panels have been as long as 50 feet. Panels can be just about any size, as long as the trucks and streets can accommodate them and the equipment can place them.
Panel size should be suited to the building design. For instance, for a single-story structure, the panel may be eight to 10-feet tall, and 20 or 30 feet long. For a two-story building, the panel might be 15- to 20-feet tall. Again, as long as the panel can be trucked to the site without causing problems on roads or under bridge overpasses, the size is dictated by the building itself.
Concrete weighs about 150 pounds per cubic foot, so precast items are heavy. For instance, a full-sandwich panel that is 10-by-20-feet by eight inches thick (with a three inch void for insulation) weighs more than six tons. Cranes and other lifting equipment should be appropriately sized to handle the panels. Tight quality control of dimensions allows panels to be erected quickly at the site with only a minimum of field adjustments.
Sandwich panels are bolted to the footing or slab. The panel must be placed, leveled, and plumbed before the attachment is made. It must be braced during this time. Generally, the brace remains in place until the panel is connected to neighboring panels which complete the structure and provide support. Hollow core panels are attached to dowels in the footing or slab and the core is grouted to create a column that ties the wall structurally to the base.
Connections between panels are made either by grout columns (hollow core slabs) or by bolting or welding plates cast with the concrete. Bolted joints should be finished by caulking with a sealant to seal the building enclosure and protect the steel connections from rusting.
Architectural finishes for precast are varied. Concrete can be integrally colored with mineral pigments. The range of colors is quite wide if white cement is used. One of the most common surface treatments is exposed aggregate. Form faces can be treated with surface retarders prior to casting, or, following hardening, the surface of the concrete can be textured with abrasive or water blasting. Exposed aggregate finishes are usually sealed to provide added resistance to water penetration. Alternately, panels may be cast with a form liner and painted with a masonry-type paint. This allows the simulation of many other finishes such as hand laid masonry (brick or stone). Some people prefer casting a thin brick or concrete unit into the face of the panel. Still others prefer attaching the finish at the site to create either a cavity wall or a barrier wall.
Portland cement plaster is also a suitable finish for precast, and can be directly applied to panel faces.
Interior finishes may be given the same treatment as exterior faces, may receive a direct application of plaster or paint, or they can be finished with drywall for a more conventional appearance.
Sustainability and Energy Considerations
In terms of sustainability, precast has something to offer both as a material and in its performance. On the material side, it can contain recycled materials like fly ash and rebar, which may help contribute to credits in green rating systems.
From a performance perspective, the system creates an energy efficient envelope. Precast panels are erected on site and joined together. The size of panels dictates joint spacing, but often the number of joints is reduced over other types of construction, which helps create tight building envelopes. This protects against unwanted air losses and may even require that air changes be provided. It is common to downsize heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment and increase mechanical ventilation in precast concrete buildings.
Insulated precast panels may reduce energy consumption by 20 to 30 percent in smaller buildings. This is because the panels are so energy efficient, having insulation combined with the thermal mass of concrete. A related benefit of mass walls is that they are great for soundproofing. Next-door neighbors may like it warmer or cooler, louder or quieter than each other, but the insulated concrete panels means they can both have it just the way they like it.
Depending on the location of manufacturing relative to the project site, precast may also contribute to local materials credits in some green building rating systems. Most concrete materials are locally sourced. Also, precast producers are located throughout North America, and it is common to source the panels from a relatively close producer to minimize the time and expense of shipping.
Often, the production of panels is a highly automated process. Forms are built, openings laid out, reinforcement is placed, and perhaps even conduit is placed for mechanical or plumbing needs. Fresh concrete is deposited into these forms in a factory setting. This greatly improves the control over concrete mixing and temperature. Tight quality control is exercised at every step in the process, including adjustments to thickness and other dimensions for precise panel sizes.
Panels can be cast vertically or horizontally. Vertical casting is similar to cast-in-place concrete. The panels are cast in the same orientation which they will be placed in service. Horizontal casting is perhaps more common because it is easier and faster to lay out the panels, openings, and reinforcement, and cast the concrete. Following casting, panels are placed into curing chambers to develop strength and durability.
Casting beds create the panel faces. Horizontal casting also simplifies sandwich type fabricating. This allows for casting two separate panels—one interior, one exterior—so that a void is created between them. The void can then be filled with insulation to improve the panels' performance as part of a building envelope. This also permits quite a bit of flexibility for the aesthetics of each finished face.
Panel manufacturers usually provide engineered, stamped plans for single-family residential homes they supply. They also provide a resource to answer questions from building departments. On larger buildings, it's common to custom engineer the building. The panel producer provides engineering data and specifications for their panels. Designers use this information in their analysis.
Precast is designed following the International Building Code, which has provisions based on ACI 318, the Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete.
Precast is a premium construction method that offers many performance benefits. It becomes increasingly cost effective and economical when repetition can be built into the process. As such, it's more common on medium and larger sized buildings. More information on precast is available from the .
Photos courtesy of Dukane Precast.
Residential Precast Project
Premium Project: Melrose Places Precast Condos
A 48-unit condominium building in Melrose Park, Illinois, showcases just how versatile precast construction can be. Nearly the entire building is made from precast components: beams, columns, double-tees, sandwich panels, slabs with integral steel joists, and cornices.
The five-story structure has four stories of condos sitting atop an at-grade parking garage. The exterior precast walls are made using highly insulated panels (R-value 22) that are furred out on the inside and finished conventionally with drywall. The interior hallway precast walls, however, are constructed with a double-wall precast system, which provides a completely finished wall on both sides (and contains electrical conduit)—so no extra finishing is necessary. This allowed the contractor to build out the units faster and with less cost, since only a prime and paint finish was needed on walls throughout the corridors at every level. And tenants will enjoy quiet living spaces since interior precast walls provide excellent sound attenuation for reducing hallway noise.
What may be most important, however, is how livable and safe the space is. The strong concrete construction stands up to all sorts of rough weather. Although the Midwest experiences quite a range of high and low temperatures throughout the year, the building envelope is energy-efficient to keep occupants comfortable and minimize heating and cooling expenses. The units have high ceilings and open floor plans. Developers selected an innovative precast flooring system: the individual precast floor panels contain integral steel joists that provide open undersides, so mechanicals can be routed through this area and enclosed by drywall attached to the bottom of the joists. The floor panels are 40-feet long and have variable widths—up to 12 feet—to help create the gently curving floor plan. This footprint nicely fits the somewhat tight urban site and adds curb appeal to the building. Other amenities include exterior patios and balconies.
Precast concrete really allows this building to be a place of comfort, a home to all its occupants.


text:
£88 Free Play Now
Baccarat Features
Baccarat Information
It is a very popular game which is the toast of almost all casinos the world over.
It is this game which has made its place in the domain of casino games through its unique traits that have enabled it to be among the best of the best.
This game has become successful because of the ease with which the casino playing people can start playing it even from scratch.
It is this very game with which once the casino players are linked they simply can never snap ties.
It is very much a very high staked game that is played by around 12 to 14 players who have a set of three types of playing table to choose.
It is thus very easy for these players to switch on and simply play on a game where you need to be a very good observer to gain the world.
It is often referred to as a game for the high rollers as it is similar to the lottery games like lotto or bingo that are under the arc lights in all of the casino houses.
The game of Baccarat is totally absorbing and all who have an inherent quality of patience to decipher the probability of occurrence of certain numbers.
It is the map of numbers that decides the fate of the bidding players who are slated to win or lose millions of dollars for each of the games in Baccarat.
Today there are ample versions of baccarat available, most of which are running packed houses at the various casinos the world over.
It may vary in terms of speed as to card distribution methods are elaborated or short to enhance the speed of different games.
These slight differences have immense impact on each game type casting them as variations that are either casino based or region based.


Cheryl Roddick is a fundraising professional with over 20 years of experience. She is currently a consultant with Offord Group, a management and fundraising consulting firm specializing in the charitable sector. Prior to her work as a consultant, Cheryl led teams at a number of nonprofits, including The Stop Community Food Centre, where she held the position of Director of Development for 8 years.
Cheryl holds a CFRE designation, an M.A. in Public Policy and Administration and a Combined Hon. B.A. in English and Political Science, both from McMaster University. She serves on her firm's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and on the Investment Committee of The Pecaut Centre for Social Impact. She also volunteers for Dancing with Parkinson's as Chair of the Fundraising Committee. Cheryl is the proud mom of two adult daughters, an avid gardener and cook, and a passionate advocate for social change.
Michal is the Executive Director of Progress Toronto, a not for profit that advocates and organizes for a more democratic, socially just, and progressive city. Michal was 2017 Campaign Director for Jagmeet Singh's successful NDP Leadership Campaign. She is Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Broadbent Institute and a founding board member of The Urban Worker Project. She was one of Chatelaine's Top Women in Canada of 2017. For six years, she served as Chief of Staff to Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton, where she worked on a wide range of policy issues and city-wide campaigns. In 2014, she was Field Director for Olivia Chow'sToronto Mayoral Campaign. From 2008 to 2011, she worked at the Toronto Environmental Alliance. Michal has helped to train candidates and activists on organizing. Through work and activism, Michal has had leading roles on a number of issue-based and electoral campaigns at the municipal, provincial and federal levels across Canada.
For twenty years Simon has worked in non-profits and in the public sector to build activism and capacity. Half of that time was spent as a social worker. He currently works as a researcher for the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Simon has previously sat on the advisory boards of the CCPA-Ontario and Columbia Institute (Ontario). Of special interest is the preservation of public services and how the public sector can contribute to meeting the challenges of climate change and create a policy framework for improvement of the environment.
Edward Xie is a family and emergency physician at busy academic hospitals. He continues to work with medical organizations and global health groups to improve health equity and social justice from the local to international level. Edward teaches at the University of Toronto and has earned an MSc in health policy, involving research on climate change communications. He has lived in Toronto on and off over the past decade and enjoys exploring all of its neighbourhoods by bicycle and public transit.
Anjum Sultana is a policy professional based in Toronto engaged on issues of public health, gender equity and civic engagement. Currently, she serves as the Manager of Policy & Strategic Communications at YWCA Canada, the nation's oldest and largest women's serving organization. Anjum Sultana holds a Masters of Public Health from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto. During her graduate studies, Anjum received the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, was accepted into the Public Health Policy Collaborative, and was a Junior Fellow at Massey College. During her graduate studies, she was Executive Co-Director of IMAGINE, the University of Toronto student-run interprofessional clinic and health promotion initiative that provides access to health care services for people without OHIP coverage. Anjum is Founding Advisor with Progress Toronto, a Board Member with the Regent Park Community Health Centre and Completed a Fellowship at the Wellesley Institute.
As a researcher, Anjum has been involved in projects focused on the health impact of social protection policies, mental health, sexual health, employment and working conditions, as well as citizenship and civic engagement. As an advocate and organizer, Anjum has been involved with campaigns focused on the $15 Dollars and Fairness campaign, reversing cuts to refugee health care, and promoting access to health care services to all residents in Ontario.
Axelle Janczur has been working in the not for profit sector in Toronto for over 30 years. With practice grounded in principles of access and equity, her interests include addressing systemic barriers to services, working with vulnerable communities to achieve change. She is an experienced trainer and public speaker, and a committed volunteer. With an MA in political science and an MBA from the Schulich School of Business, she has been working at Access Alliance Multicultural Heath and Community Services for the past 20 years as Executive Director, and has led them through a transformative process, prioritizing capacity building to enhance services for immigrants and refugees, developing a community based research agenda and advocating for improved access to the determinants of health for individuals and communities facing discrimination and marginalization. In her personal life, she lives with a recycling enthusiast and two rescue cats, is mother to an extreme vegan fixed gear cyclist and a feminist hiker/kayaker. With increasing anxiety about environmental issues, she is excited to join the board of TEA to support local actions on this global issue.
For over 20 years, Jin has worked and consulted in government and multiple non-profit sectors, including the immigrant and refugee serving sector, LGBTQ+ health, community arts, social housing and the environment. She holds two post-secondary degrees in environmental studies. As a consultant and senior manager, she has worked on strategic and systems planning initiatives, change management, program development, partnership/team building, staff learning and development, and conflict resolution. Currently, Jin runs her consulting practice while also working as a Program Director in a multi-service community organization located in northwest Toronto called North York Community House. Throughout all this work, she brings a passionate commitment to equity, anti-oppression, and social, environmental, and economic justice. Jin lives with her partner in east Toronto and spends most of her spare time chasing after her energetic toddler and her shy rescue dog. Her hobbies also include cycling, camping, reading, singing, and watching movies.
Nour Alideeb is a student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, completing a major in Economics and a double minor in Biology and Women and Gender Studies. There, she got involved in the Ministry of Environment where she helped create and implement green initiatives on and off campus. Nour went on to serve two terms at the University of Toronto Mississauga Students' Union as the Vice-President University Affairs & Academics, then as President. She is now the Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario, representing over 300,000 students across the province. Nour is the official spokesperson for the organization and helps with the development and implementation of a wide variety of campaigns and services.
Kofi Hope is a change maker. He is a Rhodes Scholar and has a Doctorate in Politics from Oxford University. Currently, he is Senior Policy Advisor at the Wellesley Institute, a strategic consultant to the Vice President HR/Equity at the University of Toronto and the Bousfield Visiting Scholar at U of T's School of Urban Planning. In 2017, he was the winner of the Jane Jacobs Prize and in 2018 he was named as A Rising Star by Toronto Life in their Power List. He is the founder and former Executive Director of the CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals. In 2005, he founded the Black Youth Coalition Against Violence, which became a leading voice for advocating for real solutions to gun violence in Toronto and led to him being named one of the Top 10 People to Watch in Toronto in 2006 by the Toronto Star.


at least not to me anyway.
This year is flying by way too fast.
I was able to squeeze in some crochet time.
I found a pattern for some fingerless gloves and decided to give it a go.
With the weather getting cooler these little accessories are nice to have.
I am a big fan of fingerless gloves. They keep your hands warm while keeping your fingers free to do other things. I received my first pair a few years back as a gift from a blogging friend. You can view those here. Every time I wear them I get several complements on them. So when I came upon this pattern I knew I needed to try them.
You can find the pattern here. It was fairly easy to follow however, I did alter it a little bit to customize it to fit my hand better. I added some extra stitches to make the thumb hole a little bit bigger and I decreased heavily towards the top to give it a more fitted look.
I've had this yarn for a while. It's Knit Picks Wool of the Andes sport weight yarn in Cobblestone Heather. Their yarn comes in small 50 gram balls and I only had one. It was the perfect amount for this project though and I still had a little bit left over.
I can envision more of these in different colors lining my drawers.
Simple yet practical and oh so enjoyable.
It was Senior night Friday at our son's football game.
This is me and my hubby standing with our son #12.
It was the last home game of the regular season. It's hard to believe how that is possible. It seems like football season just started. How can it be ending? They went undefeated the regular season and they go into the playoffs as the number one seed. It's been a good season for them. We will take it week by week and hopefully they can go all the way to the finals.
You made such pretty hand warmers! It's the perfect season for them!
Lovely hand warmers and nice pictures !
A beautiful proud Mum moment. I loved the hand warmers, they really would make great gifts.
Oh Beca you are So CUTE!!!
I love the picture of you on the football field!
Your fingerless mitts are gorgeous and I'm going to try making a pair. Thanks for the pattern.
I've yet to make fingerless gloves. They are lovely. I've bought some of the sweater weather candles for gifts. Smell sooooo good.
I also like fingerless gloves! and your are so beautiful! maybe I do with gray for me too ... but now I not have wool gray! hahahaha! hope you have a beautiful day! kisses from Catalonia!


text:
ComicsDC Comic Book ReviewsDC ComicsDoom PatrolReviewsYoung Animal Comics
Review: Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds #6
by Matthew Lloyd December 22, 2019
by Matthew Lloyd December 22, 2019 0 comment
Writers: Gerard Way & Jeremy Lambert
Art: Omar Francia
Colors: Omar Francia
Letters: Simon Bowland
Robotman, now know as Cliff Fixit throughout the universe, is still on his mission of helping other, thus improving himself. In Dannyland the rest of the Doom Patrol gets a distress call, the Bozumatricks has been compromised and is in danger of shutting down, trapping all in virtual reality forever…!
Cliff's continued journey is truly inspiring. It's a a wonderful lesson about the power of helping others and its affect on the self. Cliff's massive upgrade in this issue is just that- the Power of Self. While the metaphor is very obvious, it it does not diminish the impact of the message and the meaning.
By the end of Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds #6, Cliff has upgraded to what appears to be a "Cliff-Star," and is prepared to "fix" everyone and everything. Now, this may not be accurate, but it appears that Cliff may be headed for a new lesson, as he embarks on "fixing" things on the grandest scale. This may be the other side of the coin. Cliff has been helping others who need it, but Cliff may be about to find out what happens when things don't need "fixing."
This is surely right in line with the self-help journey people go through in life. They see others they want to help, but some of those people don't always want that help. Cliff's final stage (next issue, presumably) may be coming to terms with that. Now, that he has the power to "fix" everything, how does he use that power without overstepping his bounds.
The rest of the team faces their own version of a "social ill" in the remainder of the issue, as their story is a not so thinly veiled lesson on the dangers of leaving behind the real world for the digital world. Casey, Jane, Larry, Rita and Lucius plug into the Bozumatricks to catch a virus that's going to shut down the system and trap everyone that's "inside," inside the virtual world forever.
It doesn't take a lot to see that this is another message/lesson on the dangers of getting stuck in virtual and online "worlds" in lieu of living one's life in the real world with real people. Whether it's social media, online communities or video games, people can't give up on real life and real relationships. It might be tough, at times, but real life is important and shouldn't be dismissed.
Positives Cont'd (Again)
Finally, Omar Francia does a wonderful job of utilizing two completely different styles in this issue. When the Doom Patrol goes into the virtual world, he transitions from a standard drawing style to a digital style. It's not sure what technique he's using, but there are moments that recall the first every digitally produced comic, Shatter. Shatter was an ongoing series that ran from 1985-1988 that was the first comic book to have all the art entered into the computer as opposed to later scanning techniques.
Francia's approach is highly effective as switching between styles not only makes it clear what's going on, but it enhances the storytelling, creating a different feel for the digital world. It also heightens the tension as it becomes easier to imagine the characters getting stuck in the digital appearance and not returning to their standard "drawn" appearance.
The only negative is that next issue will be the final issue of Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds. Ralph Waldo Emmerson once wrote, "To be great is to be misunderstood." It's clear that's what's going on with this series. It's a fantastic series that says something helpful about life. It's about as far away from the standard super-hero comic, as one can get despite, using the familiar language and motifs . For this series not to be a critical and commercial success speaks to this conundrum. This comic is truly great.
Despite the fact that only 6 issues of Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds will be published in 2019, hopefully, the greatness of this series will be recognised by professionals in the field. Last month, Becky Cloonan and Michael Conrad's Eisner Award worthy issue. It seem like a no-brainer that when combined with Way and Lambert's themes and approach on the entire series recognition is due. They've worked in a recognisable framework to consistently create something truly unique and wonderful.
Becky CloonanBozumatrickscasey brinkeCliff Fixitcliff steelecrazy janeDC ComicsDC comics newsdoom PatrolDoom Patrol: Weight of the WorldsDoom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds #5Eisner Awardselasti-girllarry trainorLuciusMichael Conradnegative manrita farrRobotmanShatterYoung Animal Comics
Review: Far Sector #2
Review: Hawkman #19


France – Asking about money is considered impolite in many countries, but the French are particularly sensitive about the subject.
Ukraine – People in Ukraine as well as in most Slavic countries bring even number of flowers to the cemeteries.
New Zealand – Honking the horn in New Zealand is generally used to insult another driver.
India – PDA (public display of affection) such as kissing or holding hands is forbidden because it is considered to be something highly inappropriate.
Japan – The Japanese are incredibly proud to provide the best service as standard without waiting for the tips.
Mexico – Mexicans love to make jokes and they are generally innocent, so they treat it that way.
Norway – Many people don't go to church at all and such a question would be considered rude to ask.
Turkey – This is seen as being an obscene gesture in Turkey.
UK – Such behaviour is considered very rude.
Ireland – Many Irish people don't actually think they have any accent at all.
Germany – People believe that the person may not live to see the birthday in question if congratulated beforehand.
Kenya – It's only ok to do it after someone has called you by your name first.
Chile – Manners are everything.
Singapore – Don't feed birds and don't throw garbage and don't spit on the street.
USA – Tipping is considered to be obligatory in the US.
Italy – You can order it in a restaurant, but in such case be ready for the surprised look from your waiter. Italians drink cappuccino for breakfast, espresso for the rest of the day.
Hungary – Though it's an old habit, some people still prefer to avoid clinking glasses especially when drinking beer.
China – It brings bad luck.
Next articleWhat Kind of Grammar Nerd Are You?


Welcome to our "Let The Bible Speak"- a collection of scripture verses that addresses our most basic needs that are usually mentioned in our live broadcast. Come discover the power of the Word by declaring these verses over your life.
1 Chron. 4:10, Jabez cried to the God of Israel, saying, Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and You would keep me from evil so it might not hurt me! And God granted his request.
3 John 2, Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
Psalm 37:25, I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the [uncompromisingly] righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread.
Psalm 34:10, The young lions lack food and suffer hunger, but they who seek (inquire of and require) the Lord [by right of their need and on the authority of His Word], none of them shall lack any beneficial thing.
Psalm 23:1, THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack [want].
Deuteronomy 28:2-8 & 11-13, And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God. … Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field. … Blessed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock. … Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading trough. … Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out. … The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. … The Lord shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouse and in all that you undertake. And He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you. … And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity, through the fruit of your body, of your livestock, and of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. … The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. … And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them.
Luke 6:38, Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you.
1 Corinthians 16:2, On the first [day] of each week, let each one of you [personally] put aside something and save it up as he has prospered [in proportion to what he is given], so that no collections will need to be taken after I come.
Malachi 3:10-12, Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. … And I will rebuke the devourer [insects, plagues and whatever else that seeks to rob you] for your sakes and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts. … And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
2 Corinthians 9:8, And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
Philippians 4:19, And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.


text:
The puzzlers of expansion
Like just about everyone else who makes (or tries to make) a living covering college sports, I've found the last week or two to be absolutely riveting.
Schools changing conferences. Other schools threatening to do the same. Leagues clinging to existence and attempting to find new life in unorthodox ways. People demonstrating irksome degrees of gullibility by believing reports from random media outlets and websites without applying some level of scrutiny to where information is coming from.
It seemed sort of silly to weigh in here, namely because (a) I truthfully have no new concrete information to offer at the moment, merely caustic observations on what all has happened; (b) The problem hasn't landed in my backyard, namely the ACC and the smaller conferences that operate in the Baltimore-D.C. corridor; and (c) There are enough people wringing their hands right now; there just simply isn't a need to add to the cacophony.
It reminded me of a time when I tried to argue to a boss that dumping extra work on me when a couple other people (however unskilled they might have been) were doing nothing was ridiculous. "You're railing against reality," he sagely told me, and off I went to do the extra work the other people weren't capable of doing.
So complaining about reality seemed useless. Questioning just how rationally everyone was behaving was another matter.
That's no knock on Colorado, which might well be better off in the Pac-11/12/16. It's not criticism of Nebraska, which solidified its future with a good geographic fit in the Big "Ten." And it certainly isn't an insult of Boise State, which improved its lot in life hopping from the WAC to the Mountain West.
So far, so good. All three moves made sense for each party. All three schools and all three leagues are likely better off in the long run, and no conference is completely destroyed as a result.
But nearly everything else considered a fait accompli at some point or another in the last week? It wasn't entirely rational. That's why today's Orangebloods.com report on Texas reconsidering the inevitability of a move to the Pac-Something was encouraging. It means that maybe, just maybe, knee-jerk reactions won't define the future landscape of college sports.
And it also offers an answer to one of 10 questions only a handful of folks seemed interested in exploring at any time during this reallocation of resources.
1. What's best for Texas?
If Texas' share of the Big 12 revenues was such a point of contention for some of the northern teams in the league, doesn't it stand to reason the Longhorns would be better off staying in a place where they are king?
Yes, the Pac-Whatever could have its own TV network. But as today's report hinted, why share with Oregon State and Stanford when you can start your own network.
At no point has Texas Tech or Oklahoma State driven the talk of a mass defection westward. It was all about what Texas was going to do. There might be a short-term financial boost for the Longhorns to make a leap. But there's something to be said about being the undisputed kingpin of the neighborhood.
2. What incentive does the SEC have to expand?
In some ways, the SEC is fortunate not to have a bunch of highly rated universities in its consortium. It means the conference doesn't have to be pretentious and make believe academics are a driving part of any of this.
The SEC's most valuable asset isn't that it represents an aggregation of great research institutions. Its greatest asset is its collection of schools where football is king (along with Kentucky and Vanderbilt). There is no reason for that league to grow unless its football product and shadow improves.
That's why Oklahoma and Texas A&M would probably be welcome. Those are big names (even if the Aggies haven't been great of late) and new markets.
As for Florida State and Miami (Florida), Georgia Tech (Georgia) and Clemson (South Carolina), there isn't a whole lot those schools will offer the SEC that it doesn't already have. That's a victory for the ACC, by the way, however odd it might seem.
3. Is anyone considering how unwieldy a 16-team league is?
In recent times (not the Southern Conference of generations past), two leagues come to mind that opted to go 16 teams deep.
There was the WAC of the late 1990s, which lasted three years before sensibly breaking itself into a pair of eight-team parts.
Then there's the Big East of the second half of the Aughts, a compromise between football and basketball that soldiers on and will have its third different conference basketball tournament format in six years next March. It remains a colossal confederation of eight football schools, seven non-football schools and Notre Dame, and the question still remains how long it can continue in its current form.
Which begs the question: Is 16 teams too big? Chances are, no one knows for sure.
4. The next TV contract won't be the last one, right?
Is making a move to be part of a potentially more lucrative television contract the best way to make a decision. Maybe it's a better deal now, but is it a guarantee it will remain that way in 15 or 20 years?
Take the landscape of 20 years ago. Oregon State, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin are in better shape on the field than Notre Dame, Syracuse and Washington. Who saw that coming?
Will there be unanticipated downsides to switching league? Of course there will be. How much will they outweigh the positives of a short-term cash grab?
In short, is a single payday worth delving into a lot of unknowns? Perhaps. But perhaps not.
5. Where will all the extra money go?
This is what makes me laugh more than anything. Suppose a school gets an extra $10 million a year from switching conferences. That money isn't going to the women's soccer program or the general scholarship fund.
Coaches will make more money. Assistant coaches will make more money. Athletic directors will make more money. More absurd facilities will be built. And it will happen at just about every school in a remaining power conference, lest they get left behind the next time the college sports world is turned topsy-turvy.
From the great beyond, Adam Smith will be proud.
The additional income will be pumped heavily back into football. Expectations there are already so crazy in some places that Mark Richt could be considered somewhat under fire at Georgia going 90-27 over the last nine years. Those competitive demands will grow even more.
6. Who else realizes nothing is permanent ... and that it extends into communications systems?
Also amusing is the assumption that, in the long term, a cable network is the wave of the future. Maybe it will continue to be, but how about the possibility technology advances quickly enough that it becomes easier for networks (and leagues) to package everything on the Internet rather than on television. At that point, it could be online subscribers as opposed to cable subscribers that would be producing money each month for a conference.
But the money part of that isn't the biggest issue of that scenario. It's that quality (of program) rather than quantity (of TV sets) would become more important if subscribers could be gleaned from just about anywhere rather than a limited geographic area. There wouldn't be as much of a need to pressure cable companies into placing a network in their package, since many subscribers would be self-selecting.
This is a nice way of saying a Rutgers --- or another school located in a large metropolitan area --- might not be so attractive if it ever becomes easier for conferences and networks to penetrate homes in ways other than a place on a standard cable tier.
7. A special question for Maryland fans: Do y'all really want to be an extreme geographic outlier?
The next few paragraphs are based on speculation Maryland could be a Big Ten target, even though the fit between the two doesn't make a ton of sense from a football perspective. Nonetheless ...
If there is a historical complaint from Maryland fans, it is the belief the ACC stands for "All Carolina Conference" and decisions are made to best accommodate those schools closest to the conference office in Greensboro.
Well, College Park is still about a five-hour drive from league headquarters, so it was never that far away. And while I'm not a geography expert, I'm pretty sure Chicago (home of the Big "Ten" offices) is a bit longer haul from the Capital Beltway than Tobacco Road ever was.
Not only would Maryland be a geographic outlier, it would also have the second-smallest football stadium (ahead of only Northwestern) in a league constructed almost solely for football. Not exactly the way to exercise any clout.
There's little other than dollars to really make the Big Ten attractive to Maryland, and vice versa. And how, exactly, do a lot of marriages based solely on money work out?
8. Has everyone forgotten what it was like when oil was $150 a barrel two years ago?
In the world of super conferences, after all the extra money is gobbled up by football-related things (see Question 5), there will still be a bunch of smaller sports to pay for.
Should there be rapid fluctuations in the oil market (and, along with it, airline pricing), what happens to the athletic department budgets in these giants leagues?
What happens when it becomes obscenely expensive to fly the Texas Tech volleyball team to Pullman, Wash. Just sayin'.
There could certainly be enough money to alleviate these problems. But conferences over three time zones (or spread from the western edge of one time zone to the eastern edge of another) have a chance to bring their own brand of headaches. A heavier dependence on hoping oil prices don't spike could be one of them.
9. Along those lines, at what point do increased non-revenue sport costs lead to a decrease in non-revenue teams?
A future built almost exclusively on football revenue will mean that in any rational athletic department, the one sport that won't face cutbacks in times of severe budget crunching will be football.
(Please note: Not all athletic departments are rational).
So, if football revenue skyrockets and if football costs skyrocket and if nonrevenue costs skyrocket largely because of travel, which areas of the athletic department will take a hit if finances don't work out?
Probably the ones not generating any revenue in the first place.
10. Do campus presidents and chancellors in expanding leagues realize they're making the case against a football playoff a lot flimsier?
What are the two arguments for the bowl system trotted out more than any other?
One is tradition. Two is "student-athletes missing class time."
Well, ripping apart conferences and abandoning long-standing rivalries is a sure-fire way to say tradition is meaningless.
Sending Nebraska to Penn State or Texas to Oregon for a midweek games in any sport would suggest class time isn't the major factor (which, of course, it really is not), either.
Not that it will lead to a playoff, even if the hypocrisy behind not having one will somehow grow even more under this set of conditions.
Excellent article!
Posted by: john | 06/14/2010 at 11:07 AM
Great perspective. I agree with most of your points, but I don't think the Texas Tech v-ball team will need to fly to Pullman all that often. In a 16 team conference, you've got enough teams in your division that you will only need one or two cross-divisional games every season. I wouldn't think Texas Tech's travel would be a whole lot worse if they are still playing Texas, A&M, OU, OSU, Arizona and Arizona State.
Posted by: Austin Perry | 06/14/2010 at 11:26 AM
Austin ---
Thats a valid point. Of course, it leads to a question at the other end --- how much cohesion will there be from a conference in which an in-league rivalry is part of the regular season once every four years?
Granted, that happens in ACC football (i.e. Maryland playing Georgia Tech is 2006 and 2007 and not again until 2011 and 2012), but at least theres a home-and-home there.
Posted by: D1scourse | 06/14/2010 at 11:30 AM
Re: #6
http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-how-the-tv-business-actually-works-and-why-its-going-to-take-longer-than-you-think-to-disrupt-it-2010-4
Posted by: SmyrnaTiger | 06/14/2010 at 12:24 PM
Another set of preseason mag all-ACC picks While the last few days have left the college sports world riveted by change (Colorado, Boise State and Nebraska swapping conferences) and the possibility/probability of more to come, there is still a 2010 football season coming up in a few months. And with yet another preseason magazine hitting newstands this weeks, there's a chance to look just a little bit ahead. This time, it's Lindy's that takes a detailed look at the upcoming year in the ACC: MARYLAND LB Alex Wujciak (first team) TB Da'Rel Scott (second team) WR Torrey Smith (second team) VIRGINIA G Austin Pasztor (second team) DT...
College football countdown: Nos. 116-120 College football season will be here soon. Just not soon enough. With the lack of anything better to idle away the next month or so, it's time to roll out the college football countdown earlier than it's been uncorked in recent years. As a refresher course: All 120 major college teams are included in five-team increments. Some quick math says that means there are 24 installments. By starting it early, it means it isn't crucial to touch on it every day. But it certainly won't hurt in helping to pass the time. The problem with this way of doing this...


Blog - The Waiting Game: Who are the slowest buyers in the UK?
The Waiting Game: Who are the slowest buyers in the UK?
Research by OpenOpps.com shows that the procurement process is least efficient in the NHS, where tender awards take longer and bidders are given less time to respond to tenders.
Open Opps analysed over forty six thousand tender and contract notices to determine how long it takes organisations to go from publishing a tender notice to awarding a contract. This is a useful metric to analyse, as it serves as a proxy for organisational efficiency, but also has an impact on the bidders, particularly smaller companies, who thrive on the cash-flow benefits of being able to do deals quickly.
Our research shows that it takes an extra month and half for the NHS to go from tender to contract than it does central government.
Of the five slowest tenderers is government, three are part of the NHS, while a fourth operates catering procurement, often on behalf of the NHS.
DFID is the clear outlier, with a typical tender time of 222 days, 53 days higher than the next highest central government body, the DWP. The rest of the top five is made up of bodies that perform procurement functions on behalf of the NHS.
The Litmus Partnership is a catering and facilities consultancy that often runs catering tenders on behalf of government bodies. NHS Shared Business Services is a joint venture between the Department of Health and Sopra Steria to run back office services for the NHS and NHS Supply Chain performs some procurement activities on behalf of NHS Shared Business Services and is run by DHL Services. The Commercial Medicines Unit works on behalf of the NHS and the Department of Health to buy pharmaceuticals.
Not only are these buyers the longest at issuing tenders, but 7 of the top top have a bid to tender response ratio of 1:5 or over. Bid to tender response ratios are the time given to buyers to submit a bid compared to the time taken to award a contract by the tenderer and most organisations have a ratio of less than 1:3. Ratios of over 1:5 mean that bidders have to wait more than five times longer than the time they are given to respond to a tender to receive the decision on who won the tender.
Slow tenders are often caused by complex bidding requirements. Complexity forces suppliers to respond with hundreds of pages of documentation, which then burdens the bid assessment team who must evaluate multiple versions of the material required in the ITT before they can award. This complexity is also toxic for SMEs, who lack the resources and cash-flow to respond to complex bids.
Although this could indicate efficient tendering, it could also reveal that the procurement team is not taking the time necessary to evaluate bids and make contract award decisions.
Long, complex tenders with drawn out waits for contracts disproportionately disadvantage SMEs because cashflow issues are more pressing for them.
Tender timeframes are worst in the NHS, where often procurement being performed on its behalf by other bodies, some owned by the government and others run privately. This shows outsourcing in the NHS is not as efficient as we would have hoped. The NHS supply chain tender is coming up for renewal, the NHS might wish to include the bid to response ratios as part of any future contract service level agreement.
Poor practice in the DFID should also be cause for concern, especially as central government as a whole is performed well. DFID should learn from and replicate best practice from similar bodies.
If any representative of the mentioned organisations wishes to get in touch with a correction, we will happily update the article.


As a Front-Row Leadership expert, Marilyn Sherman, CSP inspires people to take charge of their career and life with dynamic keynotes and workshops that focus on three things: vision, goal achievement and having a 'no-more excuses' mindset. It's time to get out of that rut, stop settling for mediocrity, and it's certainly time to end workplace stagnation. Attendees of Marilyn's programs gain clarity, increase their confidence, take control of their attitudes, and are motivated to stretch themselves in all aspects of their life.
Ms. Sherman inspires people to get out of their comfort zone, overcome obstacles, and take a front-row seat in life. Her passion is helping people reach their true potential. For example, she inspires employees to go from an attitude of entitlement to an attitude of gratitude resulting in: better customer service, increased productivity, increased accountability for overcoming obstacles and less conflict in the workplace. She teaches people how going above and beyond truly makes a difference for others, as well as creating a positive impact in their own lives.
In addition to being a popular motivational keynote speaker, Marilyn Sherman is also the author of three motivational career-focused books. In 2015, Marilyn was recognized as one of the Top 10 Motivational Keynote Speakers to hire (based on her content, presentation style, and value delivered to her audience). Marilyn is a graduate of Washington State University, and is a Certified Speaking Professional, (CSP) – the highest earned designation in the speaking profession (with fewer than 10% of professional speakers earning this certification).


text:
Amelia Biewald: Perfect From Now On
November 12 - December 23, 2010
Magnan Metz Gallery is proud to announce Amelia Biewald's third solo exhibition with the gallery. Perfect From Now On will be on view from November 12 – December 23, 2010. The artist reception will be held Thursday, November 11th from 6-8pm.
Amelia Biewald's artwork is rooted in the intricacies of fables, art histories and inherent visual possibilities of "supernaturalness". Inspired by the eerie beauty of caves, and the visual appearance of their organic timeless structures, Biewald transforms the gallery space into a subterranean cave-scape. In the large wall drawing Salon Noire (Niaux Cave, France) (2010), sensuous, contrasting surfaces, transparencies and textures are produced with a labor-intensive layering technique similar to the slow formation of cave structures like stalactites and stalagmites. Similar to the cave paintings at Lascaux, France, Biewald's piece creates a space where the lines between the natural and the artificial are blurred, creating a tableau of desire and anxiety, boldness and accomplishment.
In Perfect From Now On, the beauty of the subterranean cave world is linked to the grandeur of castles and cathedrals from the Baroque period. Referencing a theory that ancient cave paintings were translations of constellations, Biewald creates a series of carefully crafted glass bell jars, serving as mini dioramas. In the piece Andromeda (Chained Maiden) (2010) we see a vast world unfold within the confines of a crystalline encasement. As the artist explains, "I have always been interested in the artifice and illusion inherent in eighteenth century society; here I imagine subterranean courtesans, intrigues and encounters." In Andromeda, Biewald fuses both ancient systems of understanding the natural world with a clutter of modern man's follies. By transporting these characters into the timelessness of the crystal, they become one with the formation of the subterranean world- like the ant imprisoned in amber for millions of years- perfect from now on.
Amelia Biewald earned a B.F.A from the Rhode Island School of Design and an M.F.A. degree from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. The recipient of many awards and fellowships, Biewald received a 2004 residency fellowship from the Skowhegan School of Painting & Sculpture. She has exhibited widely in the midwest and taught at the College of Visual Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota. She is an adjunct professor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
For information and visuals, please contact the gallery at 212.244.2344 or info@magnanmetz.com
Amelia Biewald


text:
Arizona Attorney General Asks Judge to Disband Police Force in Polygamist Community
Documents submitted Tuesday say the US Marshal's office for two communities acts as the "de facto" law enforcement arm of the FLDS church.
by Kayla Ruble
June 18, 2014, 10:05pm
Arizona's attorney general has asked a federal judge to disband the US Marshal's office in two Arizona and Utah communities that are under the control of the polygamist church founded by imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs.
Based on new evidence, and in conjunction with a federal lawsuit against the municipalities of Colorado City, Arizona and Hildale, Utah, Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne submitted proposed judgment documents on Tuesday asking for the disbandment of the Marshal's office in the cities where about 7,000 people live.
The move comes after the former police chief admitted to lying under oath during the lawsuit hearings. He also acknowledged that Jeffs' Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) exercised various levels of control over the office throughout the last four decades.
Pope Francis accused of shielding priests who sexually abused children. Read more here.
"The disbandment of the Colorado City/Hildale Marshal's Office is the only remedy that will stop the FLDS-controlled towns of Hildale and Colorado City from using their willing participant Marshal's Office as a tool to perpetuate their historical discriminatory pattern," Horne wrote in the request, addressing the alleged violations of fair housing and other rights of non-FLDS individuals.
"It's a tandem effort between the state of Arizona and the Federal Government to get real American justice for people who have lived in these communities."
Horne said the authorities had become "the de facto law enforcement arm of the FLDS Church" in order to support the group's policies.
"It's about time, Arizona has struggled to get the right balance," Marci Hamilton, a church/state scholar at Cardozo Law School. "It's a tandem effort between the state of Arizona and the Federal Government to get real American justice for people who have lived in these communities."
"For years, the police force in these two cities have worked only to obey the words of their despot, now-imprisoned leader, Warren Jeffs," Nancy Mereska, who founded the Stop Polygamy in Canada Movement, told VICE News.
In late March, an Arizona couple was awarded $5.3 million in a lawsuit they brought against the communities alleging religious discrimination in relation to housing and utilities. A parallel lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice that accused Colorado City of violating the Fair Housing Act Amendments also reached the courts in March.
Sudanese woman gets death sentence for converting to Christianity. Read more here.
During the trial, the Colorado City/Hildale Chief of Police Helaman Barlow testified on behalf of the municipalities saying that the Marshal's office was not under FLDS control, treated everyone equally, and did not give the church access to security cameras. He also denied aiding and abetting Warren Jeffs while he was on the run. The polygamist sect leader was given a life sentence in 2011 for sexually assaulting underage girls.
Less than two weeks after the March trial, Barlow took administrative leave and subsequently sought immunity from the Attorney General and DOJ prior to participating in a deposition about the lawsuit. In the April deposition, Barlow changed his tune dramatically and revealed a laundry list of questionable activity between the Marshal's office and the FLDS church.
According to the judgement request, Barlow, who is no longer an FLDS member, expressed concerns that some employees in his office were more loyal to local bishop Lyle Jeffs than to their oath of office. He said he had lied during his testimony when he claimed the Marshal's office did not give preference to FLDS members.
Barlow confessed to altering police reports to benefit church members and secretly recording meetings to send to Jeffs. He said his office ignored underage marriages, that the church participated in selecting police academy attendees, and that municipal cameras were linked to the FLDS Church.
"Marshal Barlow's sworn confessions of perjury prove that the Colorado City/Hildale Marshal's Office has operated for decades, and continues to operate, as the de facto law enforcement arm of the FLDS Church," Horne wrote.
The judgment proposal is Horne's fourth attempt to disband the department, with the previous three being failed legislative measures.
The attorney for the towns, Blake Hamilton, said the attorney general is overreaching with the judgement request and that his team is will issue a response.
"Now they're trying to do what they couldn't accomplish in legislation," he said. "We don't believe there's authority there with what they're proposing with disbanding the Marshal's office."
According to Blake Hamilton, losing the Marshal's office is a grave concern for the community.
"With respect to the nature of those communities [the Marshal's office] has their trust more than anyone in the outside world," he said, adding that there is already a mechanism in place to decertify problematic officers — an action that hasn't been taken in seven years.
"You can't pretend that serious crimes aren't happening at the hands of these religious communities."
Giving religious groups like the FLDS communities in Arizona and Utah preferential treatment because of perceived sensitivity, is exactly what Marci Hamilton sees as the problem. She also points to political voting blocks as a key deterrent for authorities to crack down on these communities.
"You can't pretend that serious crimes aren't happening at the hands of these religious communities," she said. "Who suffers when elected officials kowtow to the political power of religious groups?"
Mereska agrees that officials have been scared to crack down on the religious sects, especially because of historical efforts gone wrong.
"Scenarios like Jonestown and Waco have done much to make officials afraid of taking action when they know wrongs are being done," she said, referring to the 1978 Jonestown massacre in which government involvement triggered a mass suicide of more than 900 People Temple members and the federal law enforcement siege of a Davidian compound in Waco, Texas that left 76 members of the sect dead.
But according to Marci Hamilton, the recent efforts in Arizona, speak to larger nation-wide progress in addressing extremely religious groups. According to Hamilton, society has gotten more comfortable discussing problems in these communities in a way that would have been unimaginable 10 years ago and cites attention placed on the sex abuse scandals within the Catholic Church as the catalyst for this change.
"The federal government is finally getting interested and we've just reached a time in our society that we are less deferent to religious communities harming people," she said. "We have a political culture where instead of being blindly deferent to religious groups, they are standing up against abuse."
In VICE on HBO: Season One, VICE traveled to Utah to meet young FLDS men who have been thrown out of their homes because of an edict allowing polygamist church elders to monopolize all the eligible young girls.
Follow Kayla Ruble on Twitter: @RubleKB
Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Tagged:attorney general tom horneChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saintscolorado cityFLDShildaleJonestownmarci hamiltonmormonReligionus marshal's officeUtahwacoWarren JeffsVICE News


A quick scroll down her Instagram feed is all the hair-spiration we need!
Gabrielle Union is Black girl magic personified and all around goals when it comes to beauty, business and fitness.
Flawlessly rocking any and every hairstyle, from edgy bobs to braids, Gab has long been one of the women who constantly give us major hair inspiration.
These days, Union is embracing a plethora of textured styles and inspiring women to let their big curls fly freely.
Since launching her hair care line, Flawless by Gabrielle Union, Union has opened up about the journey to accepting and loving her natural curls.
In an interview with PEOPLE earlier this year, she said, "I went through a phase where I would leave my relaxer on so long, thinking the longer I leave this relaxer on, the straighter it's going to be," she shared.
Her dedication to protective styling has paid off, as now her strands are looking strong, healthy, and beautiful.
See more of Gab's gorgeous coils below!


text:
News & Insights Resources
Toggle submenu for: Business Function
Data & Technology Partners
Developers - Data & News Integration
Research, Strategy & Competitive Intelligence
Sales, Business Development & Marketing
Strategic Communications & Media Monitoring
Trading & Market Surveillance
Advanced & Quantitative Analytics
Investor Experience
Market-Moving News
News Sentiment & Signals
Publishing & Licensed Content
Sustainability & ESG
The Delta between In-Office and Remote Work Productivity
Author Brian Panton
With the highly transmissible Delta variant causing the surge in Coronavirus cases and creating new layers of uncertainty, companies are reassessing their return-to-office plans. Employees across a number of industries are showing hesitation about going back to their offices due to no requirements for vaccinations, ever-changing mask guidelines, breakthrough cases and the prospect of wearing a mask all day.
Many CEOs have maintained that their companies operate best when employees can collaborate face-to-face; however, remote work has prompted workers to re-evaluate what they value about their jobs, with many surveys revealing that they want greater flexibility. In fact, Google has approved 85 percent of 10,000 employee requests to relocate or work remotely.
The downside of working remotely is an influx in cyber attacks, as IT departments were not prepared for a near-universal work-from-home environment and an increase in activities such as phishing, malware and ransomware. Overall, though, companies have hailed the work-from-home experiment as a success, with many executives marveling at how business has marched on. Not surprisingly, media coverage signals that many companies are standing by their return-to-office timelines, while others are maintaining work-from-home plans or hybrid arrangements.
The media have taken a substantial interest in big tech's return-to-office policies. Recently, Amazon disclosed that it is pushing back its return-to-office plans to 2022, with masks required in offices except for staff who verify they are fully vaccinated (The Wall Street Journal, August 6). Microsoft too has said it would require proof of vaccination for all employees in its U.S. facilities, and Netflix will require vaccinations for all cast and crew on its U.S. productions.
Google said it would extend its work-from-home policy through October 18 and, along with Facebook, said all employees must get vaccinated to step back into offices. Twitter, meanwhile, is shutting its reopened office in the U.S. The consensus view and prevailing message in the media gleaned from Factiva's archive is that the workplace has been transformed by COVID and that telecommuting will be one of the pandemic's lasting legacies.
Brian Panton is a Content Analyst at Dow Jones.
More Content by Brian Panton
Education Goes Old School with In-Person Learning
COVID-19 safety protocols have increased in schools as they move away from remote learning options. The post Education Goes Old School with In-Person Learning appeared first on Dowjones Professional.
Curated Newsletter Keeps Global Payments Giant in the Know
A global payments technology firm turned to Dow Jones for curated newsletters that would keep its marketing team informed each day on pertinent brand and industry news from premium publications.
COP26: Greenwashing or Green New Deal?
The global climate conference, COP26, serves to encourage countries to craft more ambitious and clear goals to reduce their planet-warming emissions.
Make the Most of Your Curation Services Engagement: A Dow Jones Content Analyst Tells You How
Secure a competitive edge in an increasingly fast-paced global marketplace with newsletters curated by Dow Jones.
Vaccine Boosters Create Confusion Amid Mixed Messages
With the coronavirus showing no signs of slowing, the debate over booster shots has been at the media forefront and in public health circles.
Tokyo Olympics Creates Concern for Japan, Broadcasters and Public Health
As the Tokyo Olympics open one year later than planned, it is clear the coronavirus will have as much impact on this year's games as it did last summer when the event was canceled.
Will E-Commerce Sustain Its Momentum in a Post-Pandemic World?
E-tailers' popularity soared as the world came to terms with living life in a pandemic. The question remains, will these e-commerce giants sustain their momentum in a post-pandemic world?
Wireless Carriers Compete Over 5G, Customers and Coverage
The major wireless carriers in the U.S. are battling for supremacy in what is already an extremely consolidated telecommunications market.
Factiva for Strategic Communications
As the voice of the company, strategic communications are individuals are driven by the mission of building, boosting and protecting the company's reputation - both internally and externally. They are
How to Build a Chart in Factiva
With Factiva, you can create informative charts that make it easier to evaluate media coverage.
Premium news and social content integration: Dow Jones and Social360
Inspired by Dow Jones' strong global brand and premium, in-demand content, Social360 approached Dow Jones about a partnership.
What the Media Tells Us About Gender Diversity at Work
New academic research explores how social issues, such as gender diversity at work, are captured in Australian news media articles.
The Value of Premium Content
This article examines the tools strategic communications professionals use to maintain proper media intelligence in near real-time.
The Corporate Comms Complex: A Six-Part Series
This six-part series addresses difficulties and considerations strategic communicators regularly encounter.
How to Build a Newsletter in Factiva
Building a newsletter in Factiva takes just three easy steps. Learn how here.
Factiva Celebrates 20 Years of Innovation
Learn about Factiva's award-winning innovations over the past 20 years, from delivering content via CD-ROM to big data integration for ML initiatives.
Saving Lives with News Coverage & Data: Public Health Agency of Canada and the Creation of the GPHIN
This article describes how the Public Health Agency of Canada uses media coverage to identify disease outbreaks more quickly.
Best Practices for Visualizing Business Critical Trends
This article addresses recommended visual techniques for research professionals to communicate business trends effectively with their stakeholders.
4 Topics Trending in Media Coverage of the U.S. Election
As the 2020 U.S. presidential election nears, major media outlets have intensified their coverage around trending topics.
Pinpointing Insights on the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election with Factiva
In Factiva, credible coverage and actionable information on the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election are present all in one place.


The WareHouse » Online Genealogists be careful!
Desert Morning News recently reported about a software company that has produced and is selling a program called Fake Family. Fake Family can create genealogy websites with thousands of pages of bogus data. Why? To make money of course. Such sites generate revenue from advertisements. Yet another reason to document and double check all your sources.
The post "Online Genealogists be careful!" was written by "cwware" and filed under the category Genealogy at 13:03 PST on November 14, 2005. This is revision of this post, modified on .


That's actually a question that has always bothered me – old maps still displayed those ribbons of paper with the names of localities on them, but on modern maps they're gone. What happened to those ribbons? Judging by the maps, those things were HUGE. For a medieval society, it must have been quite an effort to create and erect them, so why did they suddenly decide to get rid of them?


LEONARDTOWN is located in SAINT MARYS county, Maryland at latitude 38.295332 and longitude -76.637939 with an elevation of 130 feet. The population of LEONARDTOWN is 2,075 as of the year 2005 with a population growth of 9.44% from the year 2000 through 2005. The most common zip code of LEONARDTOWN is 20650.


text:
2013 OSTAR Finishes Up
It's good to see that some things stay the same. Chief among these is the OSTAR, the legendary event that basically invented the modern sport of singlehanded ocean racing.
While many other races have long-since gone commercial, the OSTAR, first conceived by sailing legend Herbert "Blondie" Hasler in the late 1950s, has remained true to its Corinthian roots, with 18 sailors from all walks of life taking part this past June. Among them was U.S. sailor Jonathan Green aboard the Beneteau Oceanis 351 Jeroboam, who entered the race in partnership with the Storm Trysail Foundation (stormtrysailfoundation.org) and Sail for Kids.
Organized by Britain's Royal Western Yacht Club, the race is held roughly every four years and has been through multiple iterations since it first took place in 1960. It has served as a springboard for any number of now-famous sailors, including France's Eric Tabarly and Britain's Sir Francis Chichester, who won the inaugural race in 40 days 12 hours aboard the 40-foot Gypsy Moth III.
The line-honors winner of the this year's race was Italian skipper Andrea Mura, who completed the 3,000-mile course from Plymouth, England, to Newport, Rhode Island, in 17 days 11 hours, 22 minutes aboard the Open 60 Vento Di Sardegna. Jon Green, the only U.S. entrant, finished in 23 days, 8 hours, to comfortably win both his class and IRC Overall. For complete results, visit ostar.rwyc.org
Photo courtesy of Billy Black/OSTAR


Please contact us to learn more about advertising with Equitrekking.
Equitrekking and Equitrekking.com inspire and enrich a dedicated, affluent audience with lifestyle and travel experiences connecting culture, cuisine, equestrianism and history.
Equitrekking's current 33 Emmy Award winning episodes broadcast to 94% of the U.S. on PBS stations and on Create TV, a Public Television lifestyle and travel cable channel that reaches 84% of U.S. TV households.
Host Darley Newman wins over viewers with her upbeat outlook on adventure and natural ability to connect with audiences. An award-winning author, magazine columnist, blogger and speaker, Darley also hosts segments on Starz! Networks Encore Channel and Ralph Lauren TV, writes a popular column for Practical Horseman and True West magazine and is regularly featured in the media and as a speaker. Learn more about Darley.
Consistent ratings wins have outperformed Discovery, Animal Planet, and Travel Channel.
Equitrekking and Equitrekking.com have been featured in USA Today, New York Times, Washington Post, Ralph Lauren and Bloomberg BusinessWeek. View Equitrekking news and press.
Filmed in stunning High Definition.
Equitrekking broadcasts on international networks in over 65 countries including Japan, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey.
Dedicated, affluent audience who are active and educated.
Companion coffee table book published by Chronicle Books.
Promotional partnerships with Ralph Lauren, Voxel.net, and DiscoverHorses.com.
Equitrekking.com is promoted four times during each episode on TV, including a 15 second direct call to action, driving traffic to Equitrekking.com on a consistent basis.
Awards: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Photography. Three Daytime Emmy nominations for Oustanding Special Class Series & Outstanding Photography. Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Special Class Writing. Merit Award for Best Travel Book and Best Travel Broadcast 2009 & 2010 from the North American Travel Journalist Association.
We have organized Equitrekking.com into core content categories based on our visitor's online user behavior.
Homepage Videos: Stunning, professional video clips from the popular, Emmy winning PBS series, including never before seen outtakes and footage not found in the PBS series.
Darley's Blog: Updated daily with popular host Darley Newman's perspective on travel, equestrianism and life.
Photo Gallery: Stunning galleries from Chip Ward, Equitrekking's award-winning photographer from global destinations, including never before seen behind the scenes photos.
Travel Tips: Expert tips to help visitors research and plan their travel adventures.
Travel Articles: Packed with first-hand information on equestrianism and travel. Travel articles offer readers an escape from the ordinary and provide helpful information.
Expert Articles: Tips from experts relating to horseback riding, travel, horse breeds, sports and lifestyle.
Vacation Guide: An online guide to ranches, resorts, outfitters and destinations with equestrian vacation offerings and horse riding pursuits.
Please contact us to receive more information, pricing and statistics. Our team can create a package to fit your buget and marketing goals.
Up to 20 second spots are available for broadcast on PBS stations and Create TV across North America. Align your message with our Emmy-winning brand and reach our active, affluent audience.
Equitrekking.com: A perfect companion to the show, Equitrekking.com features everything visitors need to research and plan their travels and is regularly updated with fresh content. Equitrekking.com is promoted four times during each episode, including a 15 second call to action. Opportunities: Pre-roll video ads, skyscraper, leaderboard, big and small box ads, wide mid-page ad, feature bar, tiles, text links, banners, logos, photo gallery sponsor, floating ads, advertorial content.
Pre-roll Video Advertisements: Advertiser may align their brand with Emmy winning Equitrekking videos. Advertising messages appear for up to 15 seconds at the beginning of video clips on Equitrekking.com. Multimedia (both pre-roll & slide shows) are an ideal forum for advertisers to showcase messages to a highly engaged audience. These clips may also be distributed on YouTube, the iTunes Music Store and social media outlets. Studies have shown preroll ads to be very effective, especially when paired with the right content.
Equitrekking Monthly E-Newsletter: Advertiser's logo, link and recognition plus the option to promote contests, advertiser information and specials. Reach upscale, affluent consumers who love to travel and make your brand part of their purchase consideration.
Photo Gallery: One of the most highly viewed areas of the site, the photo gallery can be branded and personalized with a presenting sponsor's message as part of a creative advertising program.
Equitrekking.com Vacation Guide: A global guide to dude ranches, guest ranches, cattle drives, resorts, outfitters and equestrian vacation destinations with horseback riding, Equitrekking's searchable Vacation Guide to equestrian vacations is the best way to market your destination online to a targeted audience interested in horses and travel.
Not just a listing service, showcase your destination with a beautiful full page with a photo gallery, outbound links directly to your email, website and contact information, in depth information on your vacations and the option to showcase video. Destinations featured in Equitrekking.com's Vacation Guide gain high quality traffic from visitors who are searching for equestrian vacations.