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(-) National Security, Intelligence, Defense
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Release Day Blitz: Collared by Nicole Williams
Posted March 22, 2016 by bookstobreathe in Book Blitz/Promo, New Release / 0 Comments
Title: Collared
Author: Nicole Williams
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, Romantic Suspense
Purchase: Barnes & Noble
Purchase: Amazon UK
Purchase: Kobo
Purchase: Amazon CA
When a seventeen-year-old girl vanishes,
A community is shaken.
Parents turn desperate.
Friends hold vigils.
And the boy who loves her searches.
When a year goes by,
The community is recovering.
Parents feel hopeless.
Friends feel helpless.
And the boy who loves her continues his search.
When ten years go by,
The community has forgotten.
Parents cling to the past.
Friends move toward the future.
And the boy who loves her . . .
Brings her home.
Jade Childs spent ten years in captivity, but now that she's back, the real battle for survival begins. The media shadows her. Flashbacks haunt her. Her old life evades her. Her so-called new life rejects her. She spent too many years in the dark to recognize the light. She spent too long repressing her feelings to remember how to express them. She spent a decade abandoning hope and cannot dare letting it back into her life. Jade's not just defined by what happened to her—she's collared to it.
When the twenty-seven-year-old woman is found,
A community wants to know the story,
Parents want to forget the story,
Friends want to be a part of the story,
And the man who still loves her faces the greatest challenge yet: letting her go.
He exhales like there's some war being fought inside him. I don't think he'll answer. He has a right to keep his secrets—god knows I should be able to empathize with that.
His hand dangling over the steering wheel curls into a fist. "The woman I wanted to spend my life with was gone. I wasn't in the mood to find a backup."
My chest does that thing again—contracting like someone just hit me in the ribs with a hammer. When Torrin glances at me, it looks like someone's swinging a dozen hammers at him too.
I can't keep looking at him watching me like that. I know we're feeling the same thing—the ache of what could have been. The pain of accepting it never can be again.
I find myself focusing on the dashboard. I don't notice it right away, but when I do, I touch the bright coral smear running down the front of it. "You never cleaned it." I trace my finger down the dried nail polish, reliving the moment like it was happening right now.
"I could never bring myself to." Torrin's eyes land on the stain from the bottle I accidently spilled when I was painting my toenails on a drive to the beach. "I couldn't bring myself to just . . . erase it."
I don't know a tear's slipped out until it falls onto my arm that's still reaching out, touching the stain. It's only one tear, no more are coming, but Torrin doesn't miss it.
He sighs and clenches the steering wheel a little harder. "I'm sorry. I don't know what to say. How to act around you. I don't think I'm doing anything right." His knuckles are white when we exit the freeway. "This is all very surreal. What happened. You being back. I'm totally lost."
I don't know why he's apologizing. The only time I've felt like life hasn't siphoned every last drop of emotion out of me is when I've been with him.
"You're treating me exactly like you used to." My fingers fall away from the dash. The good memories have turned to painful ones, a spilled bottle of nail polish included. "I'd rather have you act like nothing happened and I'm the same person you remember than have you second-guess everything you say and do."
His knuckles loosen around the steering wheel. He rolls his fingers, popping them.
"Just do what comes naturally to you." I turn in my seat to face him. "I'll do what comes naturally to me, and maybe things will get easier."
We're stopped at the light leading to the zoo, and he looks at me. His forehead is folded into creases. "What comes naturally to me?" He doesn't pause long enough for me to reply. "I'm not sure that would be helpful to either of us."
It's not my chest that hurts when he says that—it's my stomach. It's not really pain though—it's something else. I haven't felt it in a long time, and I know I shouldn't feel it right now.
I can't let that look in his eyes keep doing this to my stomach. I can't let the way his chest is rising and falling harder now affect mine.
The light changes, thankfully, and his eyes move from me to the road. The air inside the cab takes a while to clear though despite the cracked windows.
"That's when I started to fall in love with you—after my dad died and you acted the exact same around me. You treated me the same as you had every day before. Still rubbing it in my face when you scored higher on a test. Still knocking on my door and seeing if I wanted to shoot hoops. When everyone was understanding of me wanting to lock myself in my bedroom, you got me to play basketball." He smiles at the windshield like he's watching the twelve-year-old versions of us playing a game of Around the World. "You brought me back . . . when everyone else just kind of left me behind."
I find my eyes drifting back to the nail polish stain. "And when did you finish falling in love with me? When I finally let you win a game of one-on-one? Or was it the night we . . . you know?" Thinking about that night makes me blush. Talking about it makes me shift.
Torrin glances at me for a moment. "I'll never finish falling in love with you."
About Nicole Williams
Biographies are impossible for me to write without landing somewhere in the realm of lame. Which is ironic since I'm a writer attempting to, you know, do what I do and write. For whatever reason though, trying to sum up who I am is enough to make me rock myself into a psychiatric-something in a dark corner.
I could try explaining what I love: books, writing, adventures, the outdoors, animals, my family, my friends. I could list what I don't love: hate, needles, narrow-mindedness, pantyhose, celery. I could go into my background and my sources of inspiration, sprinkling throughout witty bits of commentary and the expected author-fare of a few words that make a person scratch their head and reach for a dictionary. But the true biography of who I am is penned on the pages of my books, hidden between the words. Where I've been, who I am, where I'm going—it's all there.
At the end of the day, I'm an open book.
By Nicole Williams
Pre-Order Blitz & Giveaway: Exes with Benefits by Nicole Williams
Release Blast & Giveaway: Damaged Goods (The Outsider Chronicles #2) by Nicole Williams
Cover Reveal: Exes with Benefits by Nicole Williams
Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Damaged Goods (The Outsider Chronicles #2) by Nicole Williams
Cover Reveal: Stealing Home by Nicole Williams
Release Day Launch: Back to You (Dreams #1.5) by Faith Andrews
Release Day Blitz: Rough Ride (Chaos #4.5) by Kristen Ashley
Release Blitz & Giveaway: Some Like It Hot Anthology
Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Spike (Spark #2) by Jennifer Ryder
Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Thirty-five and Single by Terri E Laine


A range of size, style and location makes the rental cabins at Unicoi State Park & Lodge, just outside of Alpine Helen, Georgia, a natural favorite for outdoor enthusiasts and travelers alike. Each cabin for rent is unique with easy access to the park's most beautiful hiking trails, trophy trout streams, and Unicoi Lake. Not only that, but with a shuttle running daily from the lodge to Downtown Helen, they are the perfect solution for those looking to visit the town while staying away from all the hustle. We offer 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom rental cabins. We offer ADA accessible cabins for rent as well as pet-friendly cabins; there are restrictions for overnight canine guests.
Enjoy nature's solitude at our tucked away 2-bedroom, 2-bath Smith Creek Cabins. Each rental cabin features a full kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, central heating and air, along with easy access to Downtown Alpine Helen, trout streams and nearby Anna Ruby Falls. The Smith Creek Cabins offer the best opportunities for quiet mornings watching deer and wild turkey. It is the perfect place to get away, unplug and tune back into nature.
Unique in every way and our most requested north Georgia mountain cabins for rent are our Barrel Cabins which offer guests comfort and quirkiness with their unusual designs and shapes. Perched on the hillsides and nestled into the forest, our Barrel Cabins range from a 1-bedroom, 1-bath with a sleeper sofa to our 2-bedroom, 1-bath with King and or Queen accommodations. Located near Unicoi Lake with easy access to all the great recreation activities including hiking trails, biking trails, and beach access, these cabins are the ultimate experience at Unicoi State Park &Lodge and so much fun!
Need some extra space? Reserve one of our 3-bedroom, 2-bath Deluxe Cabins with two king bedrooms, one queen bedroom, a sleeper sofa, full kitchen, cable TV, fireplace and more. Our Deluxe Cabins are perfect for family and friends and have easy access to local shopping, sightseeing and trails and the beach a Unicoi Lake.


Home » Blog » Event » Beach to River Celebrates First Year!
Beach to River Celebrates First Year!
Beach to River is celebrating our first birthday. It's hard to believe that the first year has gone by so fast. We have some wonderful memories of all the events that we attended, the stunning locations we visited, the recipes that we have "tested" and of the wonderful people that we have met along the way. We anticipate a spectacular 2012 with more excitement, flair and community involvement.
Looking back at the first year we decided that the most interesting posts that we did in 2011 involved people so we intend to focus more on the people of St. Augustine in general without sacrificing our popular coverage of events and sharing of recipes.
Thank you to all who read and share our blog on Twitter and Facebook your support is deeply appreciated. We are certain that we have the best readers and thank you for making our first year so memorable and encouraging!
The St Augustine First Friday Art Walk is tonight from 5-9pm in downtown St Augustine. The event is sponsored by Art Galleries of St Augustine (AGOSA) and is held each month on the first Friday. The event is free and educational. There is a free service from the trolley so parking is not an issue. There's no excuses not to enjoy some wonderful art created by local St Augustine artists and enjoy the beautiful downtown sights of St Augustine.


Above the surface of the moor.
For my body no longer feels like my own.
Harder and harder to bear.
In the shadow of trust.
We went to the zoo today.
We saw the cockroaches at play.
Of the panda there is only one.
Empty cages in the zoo today.
I won't let you have the power.
As natural as breathing to you.
But I'm lost if I dare to desire.


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A Guide to Sacramento's Neighborhoods
By Rachael Medina
Staff Writer December 18, 2020
Sprawled across nearly 100 square miles between Lake Tahoe and San Francisco, Sacramento has a lot to offer. Complete with large-lot ranches, Gold Rush-era Old Sacramento, a bustling downtown, Victorian homes, and quaint neighboring cities, Sacramento's neighborhoods offer idyllic places to settle down. Whether you're a young professional commuting to San Francisco or an established family looking for a centralized location that allows you to explore California, the perfect neighborhood awaits you in the state's capital.
Everything You Need to Know About The Best Sacramento Neighborhoods
While there is no end to good neighborhoods in Sacramento, each section of the city offers something slightly different. With everything from historic homes to newly built condos, any lifestyle is possible in this inland metro area. When it comes to choosing the right neighborhood, Sacramento realtor and California.com Recommended Business* owner Rico Rivera says, "it really just depends on your lifestyle and what you like," but he emphasizes the importance of doing your own research to find the right fit. Here's what you should know about Sacramento's neighborhoods.
Whether you're looking for a modern condo or a historic home, Sacramento has it all. Discover which neighborhood is most suitable for your lifestyle.
East Sacramento is full of established neighborhoods and beautiful Victorian homes, offering a more suburban atmosphere than other regions. This neighborhood also features Fab Forties homes that architecture enthusiasts will adore, but its main draw is its proximity to Sacramento State University. While East Sacramento's location makes it a fantastic option for college students, its quaint shops and eateries, established private schools, parks, and small-town vibe also make it a great place for young families.
Tahoe Park
If you're looking for a true suburban vibe that's still close to downtown, Sacramento's Tahoe Park is the perfect place to buy a home. Known as an up-and-coming neighborhood full of historic charm, this area is frequented by young professionals. While there are plenty of homes in this area, it's also dotted with inviting coffee shops and parks that were made for Sunday strolls.
Curtis Park
Sacramento's Curtis Park is beloved for its historic character and suburban feel. The neighborhood offers a wider variety of homes for rent than nearby Tahoe Park—making it a fantastic place to live while finishing up your home search. With diverse residents and lower median home prices than East Sacramento, Curtis Park might be the perfect spot to call home.
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Tucked between Tahoe Park and Curtis Park, Oak Park residents enjoy close proximity to midtown. Much like its surrounding neighborhoods, Oak Park is known for its historic homes and has been revitalized in the last few years. Today, the area offers Berkeley-esque vibes with its strong hipster culture. Artisanal eateries, art galleries, and coffee shops make this neighborhood feel both energetic and suburban.
Land Park
Nestled between Curtis Park and the Sacramento River, Land Park is known for its newer homes, historic charm, and dining scene. While all of Sacramento is referred to as America's Farm-to-Fork Capital, the Land Park neighborhood shows off its elegant flair with local shops such as Taylor's Market and the crave-worthy Freeport Bakery.
With its newer construction of 2000s houses, higher home prices, and upscale amenities, Land Park is geared toward established professionals and families, but it's also a wonderful area to spend time in. It's home to the Sacramento Zoo, a sprawling golf course, and the kid-friendly Fairytale Town. Nearby South Land Park also offers great housing communities a bit farther away from the downtown area.
Located southwest of the Sacramento Executive Airport, Pocket is a family-friendly neighborhood known for its 1970s and '80s homes. While it's slightly farther away from downtown and the Capitol Mall than many other areas of the city, it's dotted with bus routes that make getting around incredibly easy.
"If you like walking everywhere and you don't want to get in a car and drive somewhere, I would live in midtown or downtown. The walkability is great and everything's around you." —Rico Rivera
Bustling downtown Sacramento offers endless entertainment, making it ideal for young professionals.
Downtown Sacramento
The downtown area is the heart of Sacramento, offering everything from incredible farm-to-table eateries and cool boutiques to historic homes and the California State Capitol. In addition to having a bustling city environment, downtown is home to the Old Sacramento Waterfront—a Gold Rush–era district featuring riverboats, historic façades, and wooden-planked sidewalks.
Since this neighborhood has so much going on, it's a popular tourist destination and an excellent place for young professionals and nightlife enthusiasts to live. For those who need to commute out of the city for work or who enjoy traveling via rail, the downtown Amtrak station provides a convenient way to get around without having to drive. Though you can take your pick of good neighborhoods in Sacramento, nothing quite compares to the energy of downtown.
Midtown is a hip and vibrant neighborhood that's become the cultural center of the city.
Midtown Sacramento
Midtown is an idyllic neighborhood for those wanting easy access to the city's amenities. With dozens of restaurants, grocery stores, and nightlife destinations within walking distance, cars aren't necessary here. Combine these perks with a bike score of 98 and a transit score of 53 from Walk Score, and you'll be able to take full advantage of all that Midtown Sacramento has to offer.
Due to its accessibility, this neighborhood is often known as a hipster area and is a popular choice for both Millennials and Gen Xers. While younger generations adore this district, there's a good amount of diversity thanks to downsizers who reside in Midtown's condos.
Mansion Flats, Sacramento
Mansion Flats is a unique neighborhood featuring everything from 1880s homes to modern architecture. Located near downtown, this region is a melting pot with its culturally diverse population, scattering of single-family homes and multi-unit residences, and range of household incomes.
There's no end to opportunity in Mansion Flats. With excellent walk and bike scores, this neighborhood makes getting around without a car incredibly easy. For those looking to be near the action without having to live directly in the downtown area of Sacramento, Mansion Flats provides an ideal solution.
Natomas, Sacramento
Situated north of downtown Sacramento, closer to the international airport, Natomas offers nice homes at decent prices. Like West Sacramento, Natomas is a wonderful option for residents commuting to San Francisco for work because it's near the 80 freeway and doesn't require driving through downtown. Since it's close to downtown—especially if you're in the South Natomas region—it's also a great fit for young professionals.
Offering new tract-home communities and larger houses at lower prices than many other Sacramento neighborhoods, Natomas is an ideal place for first-time homebuyers to consider and is a popular choice for residents in their 30s. While easy access to the airport is available from anywhere in the city—a unique characteristic Sacramento residents are particularly proud of—Natomas offers unparalleled proximity for travelers.
For those who don't mind being farther away from downtown or living outside of Sacramento, the cities of Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, and El Dorado Hills have a lot to offer. With great school districts, stunning nature trails, and plenty of charm, these cities are amazing options for those who don't mind commuting into Sacramento for work or who are able to work from home.
Make sure to research each neighborhood thoroughly before looking for homes, and don't hesitate to contact a local realtor for help.
Ready to move to Sacramento but not sure where to start?
If you're considering moving and trying to find the right Sacramento neighborhood for you, start with this advice from Rivera:
Write it down: Turn your idea into a plan and put pen to paper.
Do your homework: Research Sacramento and its neighborhoods so you get a good idea of what each area is like and where you might want to live.
Call a professional: Sometimes the biggest mistakes we make are when we try to do it all ourselves. Get expert help from a lender and a realtor to make the process easier.
Are you moving east from the San Francisco region? Read Rivera's article, "Everything You Need to Know About Moving to Sacramento from the Bay Area," for additional inspiration.
*Our Recommended Business Program highlights top-quality California businesses with a demonstrated love for their community. Businesses who meet our criteria are invited to join our program and pay membership fees.
Rachael Medina
Staff Writer Rachael Medina
Rachael Medina is the senior content writer and operations manager for California.com. She was born and raised just outside the Mojave Desert in Southern California and moved to the redwood forests o…
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Sometimes a city takes your breath away and you stare in awe at the life, culture, and colors surrounding you. The small towns and villages are usually the ones that get me… but Split was different. As the second largest city in Croatia right behind Zagreb, the city is a popular transport hub if you are traveling around Croatia. If you are passing through, it's worth spending any time you have to visit Split to explore it's history and beauty. There are more than a few things to do in Split, Croatia, so I've handpicked some of my favorites to get you started!
Check out the Split Lonely Planet guidebook to take with you, and use the code LITTLETHINGS10 for 10% off!
It's nearly impossible to miss Diocletian's Palace if you are visiting Split. You may even already recognize it as one of the filming locations for Game of Thrones. It's located right in the city center, now known as the old town of Split, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This isn't just a large building — it's an entire 30,400 square meters (99,737 square feet) full of shops, restaurants, cafes, museums, bars, courtyards, apartments, and more. Today, there are about 3,000 people residing in this portion of town.
Dating back to the 4th century AD, the palace was built by the Roman emperor Diocletian as a place for him to reside after his retirement in May 305 AD after being in power for 21 years. The other half of the palace that wasn't for his own personal use served the purpose of housing the military garrison. Reveling in peaceful retirement was actually a big accomplishment as he was the first to retire voluntarily and was one of the few emperors of this era to die naturally.
Lookout for the crowds if you are around during noon. They do a short 10-minute show and everyone gathers around to watch.
I highly recommend doing a tour otherwise you will have no idea what you're looking at when walking around. I suggest going with Split Walking Tour, a top tour and activity in Split rated 5 stars on TripAdvisor. I went on the Diocletian Palace Tour, that takes you through 1700 years of the palace's history for only 100 kn or 14 € per person. They offer a variety of tour times in English, and even some in French, Italian, German, and Spanish.
We were all hungry, had been walking most of the day, and it was HOT outside as you can clearly see from my shiny forehead in the photo below. Yet, our fabulous guide Lucy made every one of those 75 minutes of the tour worthwhile as she shared story after story about St. Duje's Cathedral, the street where murder of the last Roman emperor took place, the city clock, and more.
The group of us with our tour guide Lucy after doing the Split Walking Tour of Diocletian's Palace.
You can easily spot the north entrance of Diocletian's Palace by the statue of Grgur Ninski in front, the arch bishop of Split in the 10th century, that was created by Ivan Mestrovic in 1929. Make sure to rub his big toe for good luck!
This ancient palace stays alive day and night, the bright light illuminating the cobbled streets and music filling the crisp air as couples, families, and solo adventurers stroll the narrow passageways and stop to drink and dine in the lively plazas.
Ria Harbor, known as the Riva, sits right along the coast of the Adriatic Sea and is a place to relax, stop at a cafe, people watch, or grab a bite to eat. Palm trees line the walkway where you can enjoy beautiful views and watch the boats coming in and out of the harbor. Day or night, there is always something going on along the Riva!
I love exploring a new city, but after a while I start craving some green landscapes. Luckily, in Split they have the perfect option to get away from the bustle of city life. Marjan is a hill on the peninsula that makes up the westernmost point of Split, and is a popular recreation area for tourists and locals alike. It is covered in a dense pine forest with agave plants and is home to 12 historical monuments, running and biking trails, beaches, rock climbing, and even Renaissance hermitage caves.
The highest peak, called Telegrin, is 178 meters (584 feet) high with 314 steps and is worth the climb for Panoramic views of Split, the coast, and even some of the nearby islands if it's a clear day. Take a break at Café Vidilica when you reach the top for a refreshing drink while enjoying the scenery from above.
If you keep heading up the hill from Telegrin, you'll reach the thirteenth-century St. Nicholas Chapel (Sveti Nikola). St. Nicholas was the the patron saint of sailors, fishermen, and travelers. You can find even more chapels if you continue on, and can make a nice day hike out of it with stops at the few beaches along the way if you need to cool off.
Exploring the food scene in a new country is one of my favorite ways to get to know a different culture. I discovered a lot about Croatian culinary traditions by taking a Croatian cooking class. An easy drive or bus ride, Trogir is only 27 km (about 17 miles) west of Split. Learn about the traditional dishes in the Dalmatian region, their history, and how to make them. Then of course, you get to eat your delicious cooking afterward!
There is a gelato shop on nearly every corner. Any one will do, but make sure you have your fair share of gelato! Especially if you are traveling in the Croatian summer heat, plenty of water and gelato will keep you nice and cool.
Who's craving some gelato now?
Only about 40 minutes from Split you will find the charming historical town of Trogir, the perfect day trip destination. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Trogir is the best-preserved Romanesque-Gothic complex in all of Central Europe. The towering medieval walls of the city house over 2,000 years of history.
Get lost walking the winding, narrow pathways, try a few of the quaint restaurants, and browse through the shops and local vendors around town.
There are multiple busses running every day between Split and Trogir. Buy your tickets online, or on foot at the main bus station. Although the weather didn't work in our favor this time around, there are also many island day trips like to the Blue Cave and the Island of Hvar.
I have a slight obsession with olive oil, so when I discovered Uje Oil Bar I knew I wasn't leaving Split without stopping there first. Tucked away on one of the small side streets in Diocletian's Palace, Uje Oil Bar offers tastings of the 50+ varieties of Croatian olive oils that they have available, served with freshly baked bread. The flavored oil with chile was one of my favorites!
They also have a short menu that is written each day, based on what's in season. Since they have limited seating, I would advise making a reservation ahead of time. They also have a small shop section that you can browse through if you want to take any of their oils, Croatian wines, jams, or other products home with you.
This is a where not to eat in Split, although it has nothing to do with the food because we left before we could even order a drink. Ironically, the restaurant named NoStress was actually very stressful.
NoStress – The most stressful restaurant I have ever been to.
We were a group of seven, so before ordering we always asked at any restaurant to split the check three ways. No one ever had a problem with that – until now. "No, we don't do separate checks here," our waiter told us. Okay, we'll survive right?
Well, this restaurant apparently didn't have anything, according to our waiter. Olives for a martini? They don't have those. A glass of water? Nope, they don't have water. His entire demeanor was rude and we had enough. We got up and went to another restaurant that was much less stressful.
It seems like we were not the only ones who received this terrible service, although at least we left before actually having to pay for anything. As an alternative, I recommend making a reservation at Trattoria Tinel and enjoying a delicious, relaxing meal instead.
There are plenty of affordable apartment rental options near the city center. I found that Split has the best options on booking.com. The main bus station is very centrally located, making it even easier when you're coming in from out of town. We stayed at the adorable Villa Spaladium, in the Studio Deluxe with Sofa Bed room at Radunica Street 17.
The owners were very friendly and provided a map where they showed us their favorite restaurants and attractions around town. The adorable terrace is the perfect spot to get lost in a book or simply enjoy the Croatian weather. The studio where we stayed was in a great location, only a five minute walk from Diocletian's Palace.
I've also found that since my visit, more accommodation options in Split are popping up on Airbnb, so be sure to check there as well. If you use that link, new users will receive $40 off your first stay!
I hope you find that Split takes your breath away too, and that you have a chance to spend some time in the city instead of just passing through. As one of the oldest Croatian cities, the history and people have left a lasting impression that I hope to experience again someday.
Remember to snag your Split Lonely Planet guidebook to take with you (and use the code LITTLETHINGS10 for 10% off)!
Have you visited Split? What are your favorite things to do in Split, Croatia? Let me know in the comments below!
If you're looking for something scary to do, at least if you're not the best with climbing ricketty stairs next to long possible drops, head to the top of the bell tower. There's a beautiful view from the top, but it's a pretty terrifying journey, with the metals stairs looking almost as ancient as the actual tower.
I'm hoping to visit Split this year, already found some cheap flights and just trying to fit it in my schedule, so this post is a really great help! It seems like there's plenty to see and do and it's impossible to be bored in Split! I'm definitely going to use your tips when I eventually go there!
So glad to hear you found this useful Kami! You will definitely keep busy 🙂 Hope you enjoy your time in Split!
In addition to Trogir, another place worth exploring is Omis (down the coast in the opposite direction). Pretty town with some incredible geography, known as the place for adventure sports in the area.
I did hear good things about Omis! Sadly I didn't have the time to squeeze it in on this trip, but I will definitely make sure to visit next time! Thanks for the suggestion!
going to Croatia in early part of June 2017 🙂 So excited.. just in process of booking flights from Calgary soon. All this information is great! Thank you!
Awesome glad you found it useful! Hope you have an incredible trip!
Isn't Croatia a dream? I've only been to Dubrovnik, Hvar and Rovinj but I loved everything about it! Adding Split to the list.
It really is! Hvar and Rovinj are on my list. I'd love to go back and explore more of the Istria region!
Wow! I love the look of the old architecture, Marissa! How long does the walking tour take?
Yes it is truly impressive! The walking tour lasts about an hour and 15 minutes.
Wonderful ideas to spend your time in Split – you also have lovely pictures!


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Free exchange | Growth
The heavy hand
It's worse for growth than the invisible hand
By R.A. | WASHINGTON
AS A nice follow-up to yesterday's post on catch-up growth and the prospects for authoritarian emerging markets, check out this Project Syndicate piece by Dani Rodrik:
Democracies not only out-perform dictatorships when it comes to long-term economic growth, but also outdo them in several other important respects. They provide much greater economic stability, measured by the ups and downs of the business cycle. They are better at adjusting to external economic shocks (such as terms-of-trade declines or sudden stops in capital inflows). They generate more investment in human capital – health and education. And they produce more equitable societies.
Authoritarian regimes, by contrast, ultimately produce economies that are as fragile as their political systems. Their economic potency, when it exists, rests on the strength of individual leaders, or on favorable but temporary circumstances. They cannot aspire to continued economic innovation or to global economic leadership.
At first sight, China seems to be an exception. Since the late 1970's, following the end of Mao's disastrous experiments, China has done extremely well, experiencing unparalleled rates of economic growth. Even though it has democratized some of its local decision-making, the Chinese Communist Party maintains a tight grip on national politics and the human-rights picture is marred by frequent abuses.
But China also remains a comparatively poor country. Its future economic progress depends in no small part on whether it manages to open its political system to competition, in much the same way that it has opened up its economy. Without this transformation, the lack of institutionalized mechanisms for voicing and organizing dissent will eventually produce conflicts that will overwhelm the capacity of the regime to suppress. Political stability and economic growth will both suffer.
China is a poor country and a very unequal one, as well. Its urban rich enjoy developed nation living standards while its rural poor are far poorer than low-income individuals in America or Europe. The bottom line is that Chinese economic development is not a threat to the rich world. Overreaction to Chinese development and misguided attempts to replicate its "success" in going through an economic development process the developed world completed long ago? Those are threats.
More from Free exchange
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Has BRICS lived up to expectations?
The bloc of big emerging economies is surprisingly good at keeping its promises
How to interpret a market plunge
Whether a sudden sharp decline in asset prices amounts to a meaningless blip or something more depends on mass psychology


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Category Archives: School
Inspiring Spires
Radcliffe Camera at Oxford University
Last week our Leadership Team at Sanoma Learning visited Oxford. We're working together on how we will lead the transformation of learning for the next generation. It was inspiring to be in this environment of educational excellence and the sessions on Educational Neuroscience and the Purpose of the Team were especially good.
Team GB winning Olympic Gold in Beijing
Most inspiring of all was the session with Double Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Steve Williams at the Leander Club (he won rowing Gold in the coxless four in both Athens and Beijing). The Leander Club was founded in 1818 (15 years earlier than the oldest established part of Sanoma Learning – Van In) and is arguably the World's most successful rowing club. Steve talked us through his journey to becoming an Olympic Champion and then took us out onto the water to row together.
Our teams after the rowing session
Steve is not only an Olympic Champion but also a gifted storyteller. I will try to re-tell the core ingredients of what brought his team success, but nothing can beat the inspiration of hearing it in situ. He strongly credits many other people for the success, especially their coach, team members and everybody who supports the operation.
Steve explaining to us how they train
Overall, I believe the distinguishing factor behind their huge success has been their mindset: a culture of excellence where they truly live by their code. This has been nurtured and cultivated and almost certainly dominates the lives of the teams – you truly feel it everywhere at the Club. In my own words, I would summarise the essence of their approach as follows:
1. Set the highest expectations (goals)
Purpose: inspire a nation
Goal: win Olympic gold
Stopwatch: performance target (time)
They have set themselves a noble purpose with a clear and highly ambitious goal and they track progress consistently on the journey – not only to check and improve performance but also to affirm progress and success. The hunger for Gold in particular is deeply embedded in the culture and symbols of the Club. For example, the names on the Honours Board at the entrance to the Club for major international events such as the Olympics, are given in two colours only: Gold (winner) and Black. There is no doubt that this Club expects its members to win Gold. It triggered us to think how we can sharpen our purpose, goals and stopwatch at Sanoma Learning. What's our 'Gold medal' – our impact on learning, our reach, our size?
2. Focus on moving the boat (strategy)
The Olympics are held every four years and a race lasts about six minutes. All of the focus on the journey there and during the race itself has to be on doing the things that move the boat. Make a plan to win, cut out the things that don't make an impact and focus on moving the boat forward. The things that don't move the boat forward basically hold it back. What lessons can we learn from this at Sanoma? What are the things we are doing that really move the boat forward? Is everything we are doing 'moving the boat'?
3. Get the basics right (execution)
The team develops supreme physical fitness and technical competence that helps to bring them the bullet-proof confidence that underpins a winning mindset. Part of this derives from a gruelling training schedule of six hours per day, six or seven days per week. Good nutrition and rest are taken seriously and staying mentally strong is crucial. Essentially, the team is making the kilometers so that they are better prepared than anyone else on race day. The determination and pure discipline in delivering on the basics Steve showed were inspiring and possibly obsessive (no offence intended Steve). It makes me wonder: are we as fit in all places as we need to be to succeed in the future? How can I make myself fitter on the basics?
4. Learn fast (improve)
Part of any high-performance culture is to learn fast. I was especially interested in the 'hot wash-ups' they do immediately after each outing on the water. Very quickly, they huddle up and ask eachother a) what went well and b) what can we improve next time? Simple and effective. Part of their code is also that people speak out early and at the right time (before a decision) and that no problem lives longer than two hours. Feedback is so crucial to learning! We did a 'hot wash-up' and 'feed forward' with our team afterwards. We learned a lot and it was interesting and (sometimes) fun too! We have an open and trusting team so it was easy to do. Imagine how much further we could develop ourselves, our team, our people and our business if we would structurally build this into our culture. Let's do it.
5. Celebrate success (enjoy!)
Members of the Leander Club want to be winners. And they want to feel like winners. Celebrating success feeds that mindset. Check out the Honours Board. See the photographs of winning teams hanging on the walls. Read the newspaper articles pinned on the wall, telling their stories of success. Listen to how they tell their story. Feel how Steve radiates pride at being part of the Leander Club. See how they measure progress and affirm their success. Who would not want to succeed in this environment? I am sure we could do a better job at celebrating our successes and those of our customers at Sanoma Learning.
I was inspired by Steve and his journey. Listening to him made me want to set (even) higher standards for myself, our team and for Sanoma Learning. We'll be working this out with the team in the coming period.
Even more fundamentally: what about our schools? Imagine Steve Williams as Headmaster of a school. Think about the high aspirations, the culture of excellence and the dedication to purpose. The 'fitness' on so many dimensions. Imagine the positive impact such a leader would have on the next generation of children and teachers. What could be a better 'Gold Medal' than that?
This entry was posted in Education, Leadership, Learning, Sanoma, Sanoma Learning, School and tagged Education, Gold, Gold Medal, Leadership, Leander Club, Learning, Rowing, Sanoma, Sanoma Learning, Steve Williams on 10/03/2015 by johnrichardmartin.
Inspiring kick-off Sanoma's Learning Lab in Leiden
Today we kicked-off of the Learning Lab at the Da Vinci College in Leiden, The Netherlands. I was super-excited about this for both professional and personal reasons. I'm passionate about our goal to improve learning as we transform to a more personalized future. I like and respect the forward-looking Da Vinci College in my home-town – the "education city" of Leiden. And this is a great collaboration between Learning and Digital at Sanoma, the teams to which I have committed my professional life in recent years.
Inspiring introductions
We started with some inspiring introductions from the school, Sanoma and facilitator MakerLab. One of the absolute highlights of the day for me was the introduction and welcome to Da Vinci College Kagerstraat by Rector Annick Dezitter. I'd met her before on a visit to the school when we had discussed the personalization of learning. In her introduction, she talked openly and passionately about the future and had a very engaging personal style. I imagine she is an inspiring Rector! She is originally from Belgium and the two Belgians in our Learning Lab team (Johan Merlevede, Chief Transformation Officer in Sanoma Learning's Leadership Team – the overall sponsor of the Learning Lab, and Joris van Heukelom, Partner at MakerStreet) both proudly reminded me that they are Belgian too, after her speech :-). I very much appreciated her warm welcome and inspiring words.
Another highlight was from my former colleague and founder of Sanoma Lab, Lassi Kurkijarvi. He was my first hire at Sanoma Digital and is a mobile native with a can-do mentality and a big heart. I love working with that guy and have learned a lot from him about engaging people. I really liked to see how the style and content of his session had deepened and progressed from our very first accelerator a couple of years ago (it was already good then). I love to see people grow like that!
Selecting the ideas and team leaders
Next, each of the 30 participants pitched their ideas and 10 were chosen to lead teams to develop their concept in the next stage. Seven were selected by the crowd and three through wildcards. It was really fast-paced and exciting! It was great to hear the ideas and to get a sense of the person behind the idea during the pitch. I was very happy with the selection of people and ideas. The 10 team leaders include four teachers, three Sanoma employees and three external "open" applicants. A great mix of talent!
After lunch the real work began with the first workshop. The teams were formed and the first steps were taken. I'm curious where this will lead us. The spirit and energy were good.
Looking forward >>
We will be continuing with similar kick-offs in Gdansk, Antwerp, Helsinki and Stockholm in the coming days. We will then develop the concepts, five of which will eventually win a place to build a prototype of their idea at bootcamp in Amsterdam in December. I'm truly excited about this! Thanks to everyone who is joining us and respect to you! Looking forward >>
This entry was posted in Accelerator, Digital, Edtech, Education, Innovation, Learning, Leiden, Malmberg, Sanoma, Sanoma Learning, School, Teacher and tagged Da Vinci, Education, Innovation, Learning, Learning Impact, Learning Lab, Leiden, Personalised Learning, Sanoma, Sanoma Lab, Sanoma Learning, The Netherlands on 01/10/2014 by johnrichardmartin.
Sanoma's Learning Lab hits the right note
I love the start of the new school year: it feels like a time of new beginnings and new opportunities. I'm especially excited about the coming semester because we will be running our Learning Lab in partnership with five great innovative schools!
Improving the impact of education on learning
We're a key partner to schools and frontrunner in the digital transformation in some of the World's best performing education systems, including Finland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Poland and also Sweden. We're deeply committed to supporting excellence and equity in education. And we see that many stakeholders in education are looking for renewal: for improved learning outcomes, for better engagement and for new ways of working. Our goal with this Learning Lab is to co-create new concepts, together with our partners, that help to improve and evidence the impact of education on learning.
In time and in tune with teachers
Our target was to recruit 150 participants. However, the Lab has been heavily over-subscribed: we have received about 350 applications! We will increase capacity to take account of this. Interest has been especially strong from teachers. The subject and timing of this innovation lab seems to be very much in line with the needs of our customers. We really appreciate your trust in working together with us in developing new ways of teaching and learning.
Five innovative partners
Thanks to all the individuals and also to the five partner schools for showing their innovative colours and joining us on this journey of discovery. The partner schools are:
Sint Maria Primary School in Antwerp, Belgium: http://www.st-maria-antwerpen.be/
Kulosaari Secondary School in Helsinki, Finland: http://www.ksyk.fi/en/
Da Vinci College in Leiden, The Netherlands: http://www.davinci-leiden.nl/
V. L. O. in Gdansk, Poland: http://www.vlo.gda.pl/
Futuraskolan International School of Stockholm, Sweden: http://www.futuraskolan.se/school/stockholm-international/
It's great that you have taken on this challenge together with us.
I can't wait for the kick-offs at the beginning of October. We're going to learn new skills, broaden our networks and take a positive step to improving learning. And we'll have a lot of fun on the way! I'm excited to be working with you on this initiative in the next few months!
This entry was posted in Accelerator, Edtech, Education, Innovation, Learning, Learning Outcomes, Open Innovation, School, Teacher, The Netherlands and tagged Belgium, Education, Finland, Innovation, Learning, Outcomes, Poland, School, Sweden, Teacher, The Netherlands on 08/09/2014 by johnrichardmartin.


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Stuck in my head is a song by Housefires called Build My Life. The key adjective in this song is "worthy" an appropriate word used to describe my response to God.
He is worthy. He is perfect. He is the creator. I exist because he imagined me. He is good and gracious. He is worthy and acknowledging Him as worthy is an appropriate response to God. Yet the adjective worthy cuts both ways. Is it possible for me to be worthy of Him? In the gospel of Matthew Jesus instructs his disciples on how to carry the good new of God to people and he speaks of being worthy. Jesus tells the disciples that they will be worthy of the needs provided by the people they visit. And the people the disciples visit have an opportunity to be worthy of the miracles and message that the disciples carry to them.
The Greek word ἄξιος (axios) in this text is translated as "deserves" and "worthy". Axios is an adjective describing the disciple, the host of the town, and the town itself. Axios means that something is of equal worth or it is befitting of the situation. While I know God is worthy of all praise, worship, and adoration Jesus tells the disciples they need to be worthy of the situation and that the people they speak with need to be worthy of the message the disciples carry.
It is an interesting challenge and as Jesus tends to do, he turns the tables over and makes me rethink my approach to the world. Am I worthy of the situation? Worthy to teach God's word? Worthy to carry his Message? I am worthy to receive it? Would my life be described as "Axios"… befitting of the call from God?
Jesus later on in gospel of Matthew provides a parable about being worthy and meeting the standards of God. In the parable heaven is compared to a king who is going to have wedding feast for his son. The invites have gone out but none of those invited show up to the wedding. Worse yet the invitees murder the messengers of the King. After dealing with the murders the King still plans to host the wedding party.
The original guests were not worthy so the servants invited everyone they could find both good and bad. Would these new guests be worthy? There are four responses to this invitation in the parable. Ignore the King and be cutoff by your own choice. Attack the bearer of the invitation which is an attack on the King himself. Accept the invitation without any intention of being respectful which will result in being cast "into the outer darkness". Or accept the invitation and humbly recognize the King's authority. A King who is good, just, merciful, and loving. Only one of these responses allows me to be worthy of this King. Only through Jesus living in me could I ever rise to the standard befitting the situation.
What is the primary message of Jesus when he was on earth teaching? Would any of the following be able to sum up what Jesus taught… God is love, help the poor, don't judge, love everyone, be a good person? While true to a degree none of these summaries is even close to true on their own. Many want to use their conception of Jesus as a talking point to support an agenda, a political view, or to justify some lifestyle. The reality however is that the message of Jesus demands a radical change of heart in the hearer.
Jesus taught the disciples a message of Repentance. Paul continued that teaching and the disciples continued that teaching. Peter in his first sermon after Jesus ascended to heaven concluded his preaching with a message of repentance.
The "gospel" of Jesus Christ (his main message) is a message of repentance. The gospel is not a message that God loves but you can continue to do whatever you want. The gospel message of repentance means that you will want to turn away from anything that is wrong and turn to God who is right.The gospel is not do good stuff and maybe God will let you into his kingdom. The gospel is good news that God became a man (Immanuel = God with us) named Jesus (Jesus literally means "God Saves") to provide a way for us to repent and restore ourselves in right standing with God. In church talk this is summarized by saying Jesus Saves.
God loves so much and He has been so kind to us that he is giving men and women a chance to repent. The good news is that repentance is possible. Turn from the way the world operates in selfishness and sin. Run from the death of whatever feels good do it and turn toward the selfless, servant like morality that Jesus offers. Peter in his sermon clearly states that Repentance leads to forgiveness from God and that God who is loving will give to you His Holy Spirit that will change us to an acceptable citizen of the kingdom that is at hand.
Satan is a topic that generates views. Some of the posts to this blog that receive the most views over time deal with the topic of Satan. Good vs. Evil. Evil is everywhere it is in every family. People are looking for assurance that good will win. The sad part is that evil does in fact have a power on earth right now. There is a spiritual war that spills over into this physical creation. People are slaves to the evil in this war. We like to think that people are basically good but in reality, people are basically selfish and self-absorbed and God calls that nature in us evil. The good news for any reader that is overwhelmed and overcome by evil is that God has already won. Satan is not a co-equal force balancing out God's good. The truth is that Satan already lost the war and God is working out the last of his perfect plans to restore all that was broken by our evil.
It is hard to believe that Satan has already lost but he has. If we back up to the moment that Jesus is about to start his ministry we will see where Jesus overcame Satan. Jesus has gained a few followers but he has not yet started the calling on his life. Jesus approaches John the Baptist who has a ministry that is already in progress and he asks John to baptize him. At the conclusion of the baptism God himself in an audible voice for all to hear establishes Jesus to start teaching, performing signs, and calling followers.
Imagine this moment. One of the few times where God, with a voice from heaven, speaks audibly. Jesus is "my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased". Could God be any clearer to both the physical world and the spiritual world who Jesus is to him? Jesus heard this voice. Satan heard this voice. Yet Satan in his first approach to Jesus in the wilderness questions just that.
"If you are" is the opening line. "If you are" is a slap in the face to God and Jesus since God just spoke into the physical world that Jesus is God's son. Satan knows Jesus is the Son of God yet he tries to put doubt in Jesus as to if that is true. If Jesus already knows it to be true why does he need to prove anything to Satan? I see this line all the time when people demand I prove God exists. They say "If God exists then he should be able to show himself" as a mocking challenge. God does not perform tricks for our amusement. It is like the jester demanding the King perform a juggling act. It is clear to me that God does exists just looking at the complexity of this physical reality. It is foolish from my perspective to think that this happened randomly. And even more foolish to imagine the physical world coming from of nothing. There was nothing and then bang. The princess kissed the frog and then in a billion years the frog became a prince.
Questioning God is Satan's first line of attack and it seems to be the most successful since so many fall for the lie just like Adam and Eve did at the start.
Satan comes at Jesus with the same line he came to Adam and Eve. Did God really say that? If he did this to Adam and Jesus then maybe we should all stop and ask ourselves if we are hearing such a line. "Did God really say" and fill in the blank. Did God really say… don't lie, don't be sexually immoral, or Did God really say worship me and me alone? This is probably the same lie Satan tells himself when he is alone. God said he created me but did he really?
Jesus unlike Adam and Eve did not question what God had plainly spoken "my beloved Son". Jesus knew where he stood with God and Jesus speaks the truth back to Satan.
Jesus reminds Satan of the truth. Words spoken "from the mouth of God" that he is indeed the Son of God. Jesus rejected the lies and lies are the only power Satan has in this confrontation.
Jesus overcame Satan in the wilderness that day. Jesus a man from heaven overcame what the man from earth failed. Dear reader now is the time to embrace and live by the words that come from the mouth of God.
It is an interesting phenomenon that we can be blind to our own shortcomings. We can look at others and quickly point out all the things they are doing wrong, but never see ourselves through the same critical lens. Religious peoples and even peoples within a same ethnic group are the same way. We get caught up in an echo chamber hearing only the words we want to hear about how great we are. Or people get caught up in their own bubble never seeing the world outside that bubble as it actually is. A friend once claimed that he would only read theology from authors who wrote at least 100 years ago so that he would not be caught up in group think that flows from today's mega church settings. While extreme I agree that it would be wise to diversify the kinds and types of input one uses to be informed and to learn. One great example of learning from others is found in the gospel of Matthew where the wise men come to worship Jesus.
When Jesus is born and then started his ministry few people seemed to recognize exactly what he represented. A majority of those in power actively fought against everything that Jesus taught. While there are numerous examples of Jewish peoples who recognized and worshiped Jesus the idea that Persian astrologers traveled some unknown distance following a star to worship the King of the Jews is amazing to me.
Here we have an educated group, with means, traveling from faraway lands hunting for a new born king that they may worship him. These same people have enough pull that they gain an audience with the Roman king of this territory. Yet when they find Jesus as a poor child in a backwoods town they fall at his feet to worship. Of all the incredible events of the New Testament this must rank right up at the top of the list. They discovered all this from following a star? It is shocking to see God speaking to the hearts of pagan gentiles in such a way. But why is it shocking? The Biblical record is full of gentiles who have more fear and respect for God than the Hebrews, God's chosen people, and Jesus points this out at the beginning of his ministry in his own home town in such a way that the leaders of the Synagogue tried to kill him on the spot.
God is creator of all peoples. All people over all the earth have a common set of parents. Adam and Eve. God is near to all peoples be they Gentiles or Jews. I am a Gentile yet God has call me to be his child. Jesus died on the cross for my sins. Why me? Someone living in land far from Israel? I can't say because it is not something I did or something I wanted. I will say that because of His love he has my attention and has more than earned my trust. Romans Chapter 9 is a difficult section of Paul's letter to the church in Rome. In this section he explains how these pagan astrologers came to worship the one true king and how someone like me born thousands of years later on the other side of the planet came to worship the same one true king.
These wise men did something incredibly wise in that they by faith listened to the instructions given to them and followed the star provided by God. Dear reader I would challenge you in the same way to listen to the call of God. Who has been praying for you? Who among your friends and family knows where you are and can see what you are doing wrong? Maybe God is speaking through them. He is near. It is an extravagant moment of grace from the Creator that such a moment is given for you and I to obtain God's righteousness by faith. David Platt in his commentary of Matthew links these wise men to another gentile prophet of the Old Testament who proclaimed a star would come from Israel. Balaam was hired by a gentile king to curse Israel but he instead he delivered a promise about the future king Jesus.
Matthew 1:21 | Christmas Rejoice!
Christmas is just a few short days away. I love it. Christmas is one of two main holidays that Christians celebrate. Easter is the other holiday and it is in many ways more important, less celebratory, but more reflective. I love both and what they mean for me as a Christian. Christmas and Easter are linked from the very first Christmas. Part of that link is one of the things that seems odd when we read the Christmas Gospel. The Angel tells Joseph to call the child "Jesus" and then references the prophecy of Isaiah that says his name will be "Immanuel".
I am familiar with the name Immanuel because it is part of the Christmas tradition every year. One of my favorite Christmas songs is centered around this name. It is an old hymn hundreds of years old even before being translated from Latin to English generations ago.
Matthew was kind enough to translate Immanuel from Hebrew for us so that we can know the name means "God with us". Jesus being born of a virgin is God himself taking on the form of a man. God with us is a profound thing to contemplate. Could it be that the Creator of all things would limit himself to the physical form of a baby? God is giving himself as a gift to all people. Rejoice! Because a king is coming to restore Israel. A king is coming to set right all the wrongs. A king is coming to provide the ransom to those in captivity. Matthew in the opening genealogy of chapter 1 takes extra care to make sure the audience knows that Jesus is linked to king David and Abraham as the rightful king of Israel.
If the prophecy said the son's name would be Immanuel then why did the Angel instruct Joseph to name the baby "Jesus"? The Angel hints at the reason by telling Joseph exactly what this baby will accomplish in life.
This baby who is God with us will "save his people from their sins". God has come, Rejoice!, to save people from their sins. If God coming to earth in the form of man is profound then God coming to earth to save humanity is even more amazing and that is a nod to the future reflective holiday in Easter. What is required of Jesus in order to save his people, the ransom to be paid, comes at an extreme price.
Jesus is not a random name. The Angel was instructed to provide this name because this name also reveals more of God's intention for Immanuel. Jesus means "Jehovah is salvation". Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name "Yĕhowshuwa`" which means "Jehovah saves". Matthew's audience would have understood Jehovah to be the formal name of the one true God. The name Jesus literally means "God Saves" and Immanuel is the promise that God is present and God has not abandoned his creation. Do not believe those that think God does not exist or that God is not an active participant in this life. God is with us now and God is actively involved.
Jesus is God and Jesus saves. Jesus will save people from their sins. The Angel as a messenger of God is revealing the next step of God's grand plan to restore Creation and to reconcile people. This baby we celebrate today will save us tomorrow. Does this king know you? Will he count you numbered in His kingdom? Dear reader if you have not already done so now is the time call on Jesus "God Saves".


Play-Doh modeling compound started out as wallpaper cleaner. Joe McVicker learned from a teacher that kids usually found modeling clay too hard to manipulate. Discovering that the squishy cleaning product he manufactured could substitute, McVicker shipped some to the school. After teachers and kids raved, he offered to supply the product to all Cincinnati schools. More rave reviews followed. McVicker showcased the modeling clay at a national education convention in 1955, and word spread to Macy's and Marshall Field's. By 1956, the wallpaper cleaner had become Play-Doh. A year later, the manufacturer offered a softer Play-Doh in primary colors. Kids mixed these to make other colors, ending inevitably in brown. Captain Kangaroo endorsed Play-Doh, and so did Miss Frances from Ding Dong School. Play-Doh Pete appeared on product cans in 1960. The Fun Factory let kids extrude the material into interesting shapes, making mock hair, colorful spaghetti, and pretend ice cream that wouldn't melt. In the 1980s, Play-Doh expanded its palette to eight colors. Later versions sparkled with glitter, glowed in the dark, or smelled like shaving cream. Recent estimates say that kids have played with 700 million pounds of Play-Doh.


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Home » Technical Topics » Data Science
An introduction to Statistical Inference and Hypothesis testing
ajitjaokar
In a previous blog (The difference between statistics and data science), I discussed the significance of statistical inference. In this section, we expand on these ideas
The goal of statistical inference is to make a statement about something that is not observed within a certain level of uncertainty. Inference is difficult because it is based on a sample i.e. the objective is to understand the population based on the sample. The population is a collection of objects that we want to study/test. For example, if you are studying quality of products from an assembly line for a given day, then the whole production for that day is the population. In the real world, it may be hard to test every product – hence we draw a sample from the population and infer the results based on the sample for the whole population.
In this sense, the statistical model provides an abstract representation of the population and how the elements of the population relate to each other. Parameters are numbers that represent features or associations of the population. We estimate the value of the parameters from the data. A parameter represents a summary description of a fixed characteristic or measure of the target population. It represents the true value that would be obtained as if we had taken a census (instead of a sample). Examples of parameters include Mean (μ), Variance (σ²), Standard Deviation (σ), Proportion (π). These values are individually called a statistic. A Sampling Distribution is a probability distribution of a statistic obtained through a large number of samples drawn from the population. In sampling, the confidence interval provides a more continuous measure of un-certainty. The confidence interval proposes a range of plausible values for an unknown parameter (for example, the mean). In other words, the confidence interval represents a range of values we are fairly sure our true value lies in. For example, for a given sample group, the mean height is 175 cms and if the confidence interval is 95%, then it means, 95% of similar experiments will include the true mean, but 5% will not contain the sample.
Image source and reference: An introduction to confidence intervals
Having understood sampling and inference, let us now explore hypothesis testing. Hypothesis testing enables us to make claims about the distribution of data or whether one set of results are different from another set of results. Hypothesis testing allows us to interpret or draw conclusions about the population using sample data. In a hypothesis test, we evaluate two mutually exclusive statements about a population to determine which statement is best supported by the sample data. The Null Hypothesis(H0) is a statement of no change and is assumed to be true unless evidence indicates otherwise. The Null hypothesis is the one we want to disprove. The Alternative Hypothesis: (H1 or Ha) is the opposite of the null hypothesis, represents the claim that is being testing. We are trying to collect evidence in favour of the alternative hypothesis. The Probability value (P-Value) represents the probability that the null hypothesis is true based on the current sample or one that is more extreme than the current sample. The Significance Level (α) defines a cut-off p-value for how strongly a sample contradicts the null hypothesis of the experiment. If P-Value < α, then there is sufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis and accept the alternative hypothesis. If P-Value > α, we fail to reject the null hypothesis.
The central limit theorem is at the heart of hypothesis testing. Given a sample where the statistics of the population is unknowable, we need a way to infer statistics across the population. For example, if we want to know the average weight of all the dogs in the world, it is not possible to weigh up each dog and compute the mean. So, we use the central limit theorem and the confidence interval which enables to infer the mean of the population within a certain margin.
So, if we take multiple samples – say the first sample of 40 dogs and compute of the mean for that sample. Again, we take a next sample of say 50 dogs and do the same. We repeat the process by getting a large number of random samples which are independent of each other – then the 'mean of the means' of these samples will give the approximate mean of the whole population as per the central limit theorem. Also, the histogram of the means will represent the bell curve as per the central limit theorem. The central limit theorem is significant because this idea applies to an unknown distribution (ex: Binomial or even a completely random distribution) – which means techniques like hypothesis testing can apply to any distribution (not just the normal distribution)
Image source: minitab.
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text:
The O'Briens
Authors: Behrens, Peter
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
An unforgettable saga of love, loss, and exhilarating change spanning half a century in the lives of a restless family, from the author of the acclaimed novel The Law of Dreams.
The O'Briens is a family story unlike any told before, a tale that pours straight from the heart of a splendid, tragic, ambitious clan. In Joe O'Brien—grandson of a potato-famine emigrant, and a backwoods boy, railroad magnate, patriarch, brooding soul—Peter Behrens gives us a fiercely compelling man who exchanges isolation and poverty in the Canadian wilds for a share in the dazzling riches and consuming sorrows of the twentieth century.
When Joe meets Iseult Wilkins in Venice, California, the story of their courtship—told in Behrens's gorgeous, honed style—becomes the first movement in a symphony of the generations. Husband and wife, brothers, sisters-in-law, children and grandchildren, the O'Briens engage unselfconsciously with their century, and we experience their times not as historical tableaux but as lives passionately lived. At the heart of this clan—at the heart of the novel—is mystery and madness grounded in the history of Irish sorrow. The O'Briens is the story of a man, a marriage, and a family, told with epic precision and wondrous imagination.