text:
package scripts;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Arrays;
import java.util.Stack;

public class GoogleTest2 {
	//

	//
You are given a listing of directories and files in a file system.
	// Each directory and file has a name, which is a non-empty string
	// consisting of alphanumerical characters. Additionally, the name of each
	// file contains a single dot character; the part of the name starting with
	// the dot is called the extension. Directory names do not contain
	// any dots. All the names are case-sensitive.

	//
Each entry is listed on a separate line. Every directory is followed
	// by the listing of its contents indented by one space character. The
	// contents of the root directory are not indented.

	//
Here is a sample listing:

	// <tt style="white-space:pre-wrap">
	// dir1
	// *dir11
	// *dir12
	// **picture.jpeg
	// **dir121
	// **file1.txt
	// dir2
	// *file2.gif</tt>
	//
We have three files (<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">picture.jpeg</tt>, <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">file1.txt</tt> and <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">file2.gif</tt>) and six directories (<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">dir1</tt>, <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">dir11</tt>, <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">dir12</tt>, <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">dir121</tt>, <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">dir2</tt> and the root directory). Directory
	// <tt style="white-space:pre-wrap">dir12</tt> contains two files (<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">picture.jpeg</tt> and <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">file1.txt</tt>) and an empty directory (<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">dir121</tt>). The root directory contains
	// two directories (<tt style="white-space:pre-wrap">dir1</tt> and <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">dir2</tt>).

	//
The absolute path of a file is a string containing the names of
	// directories which have to be traversed (from the root directory) to reach
	// the file, separated by slash characters. For example, the absolute path
	// to the file <tt style="white-space:pre-wrap">file1.txt</tt> is "<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">/dir1/dir12/file1.txt</tt>". Note that there
	// is no "drive letter", such as "<tt style="white-space:pre-wrap">C:</tt>",
	// and each absolute path starts with a slash.

	//
We are interested in image files only; that is, files with
	// extensions <tt style="white-space:pre-wrap">.jpeg</tt>, <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">.png</tt> or <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">.gif</tt> (and only these extensions). We
	// are looking for the total length of all the absolute paths leading to the
	// image files. For example, in the file system described above there are
	// two image files: "<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">/dir1/dir12/picture.jpeg</tt>" and "<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">/dir2/file2.gif</tt>". The total length of
	// the absolute paths to these files is 24 + 15 = 39.

	//
Write a function:

	//

<tt>class Solution
	// { public int solution(String S); }</tt>

	//
that, given a string S consisting of N characters which contains the
	// listing of a file system, returns the total of lengths (in characters)
	// modulo 1,000,000,007 of all the absolute paths to the image files.

	//
For example, given the sample listing shown above, the function should
	// return 39, as explained above. If there are no image files, the function
	// should return 0.

	//
Assume that:

	//

N is an integer
	// within the range [1..3,000,000];

	//
string S consists only of alphanumerical characters (<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">a</tt>-<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">z</tt> and/or <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">A</tt>-<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">Z</tt> and/or <tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">0</tt>-<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">9</tt>), spaces, dots (<tt
	// style="white-space:pre-wrap">.</tt>) and end-of-line characters;

	//
string S is a correct listing of a file system contents.

	//

	//

Complexity:

	//

expected
	// worst-case time complexity is O(N);

	//
expected worst-case space complexity is O(N) (not counting the
	// storage required for input arguments).

	//

	//

	public static void main(String[] args) {
		// TODO Auto-generated method stub
		String s = "dir1\n dir11\n dir12\n  picture.jpeg\n  dir121\n  file1.txt\ndir2\n file2.gif";
		Directory root = new Directory("", "", -1);
		Stack<Directory> currentDirectory = new Stack<Directory>();
		currentDirectory.push(root);
		for (String line : s.split("\n")) {
			int indent = getIndentLevel(line);
			while (indent <= currentDirectory.peek().indentLevel) {
				// System.out.println(currentDirectory.peek().name + ": " +
				// currentDirectory.peek().indentLevel + ", " +
				// (currentDirectory.peek().indentLevel + 1 - indent));
				// for (int i = 0; i < currentDirectory.peek().indentLevel + 1 -
				// indent; i++) {
				// System.out.println(line);
				currentDirectory.pop();
				// }
			}
			if (!line.contains(".")) {
				Directory dir = new Directory(line.substring(indent),
						currentDirectory.peek().pathToParent + currentDirectory.peek().name + "/",
						currentDirectory.peek().indentLevel + 1);
				currentDirectory.peek().contents.add(dir);
				currentDirectory.push(dir);
			} else {
				currentDirectory.peek().contents.add(new File(line.substring(indent),
						currentDirectory.peek().pathToParent + currentDirectory.peek().name + "/",
						currentDirectory.peek().indentLevel + 1));
			}
		}

		System.out.println(root);
		System.out.println();
		System.out.println("******");
		System.out.println();
		System.out.println(root.findLengthOfImages());
		System.out.println(39);
	}

	public static int getIndentLevel(String str) {
		for (int i = 0; i < str.length(); i++) {
			if (str.charAt(i) != ' ') {
				return i;
			}
		}
		return -1;
	}
}

abstract class FileObject {
	public String name;
	public String pathToParent;
	public int indentLevel;

	public FileObject(String name, String pathToParent, int indentLevel) {
		this.name = name;
		this.pathToParent = pathToParent;
		this.indentLevel = indentLevel;
		// if (indentLevel == 0) {
		//
		// } else {
		//
		// }
	}

	public abstract int findLengthOfImages();
}

class Directory extends FileObject {
	public ArrayList<FileObject> contents;

	public Directory(String name, String pathToParent, int indentLevel) {
		super(name, pathToParent, indentLevel);
		this.contents = new ArrayList<FileObject>();
	}

	public String toString() {
		String spaces = "";
		for (int i = 0; i < indentLevel; i++) {
			spaces += " ";
		}
		String str = spaces + this.name;
		for (FileObject obj : this.contents) {
			str += "\n" + obj.toString();
		}
		return str;
	}

	@Override
	public int findLengthOfImages() {
		int total = 0;
		for (FileObject obj : this.contents) {
			total += obj.findLengthOfImages();
		}
		return total;
	}
}

class File extends FileObject {
	private String extension;

	public File(String name, String pathToParent, int indentLevel) {
		super(name.split("\\.")[0], pathToParent, indentLevel);
		this.extension = name.split("\\.")[1];
		this.findLengthOfImages();

	}

	public String toString() {
		String spaces = "";
		for (int i = 0; i < indentLevel; i++) {
			spaces += " ";
		}
		return spaces + this.name + "." + this.extension;
	}

	@Override
	public int findLengthOfImages() {
		if (this.extension.equals("jpeg") || this.extension.equals("png") || this.extension.equals("gif")) {
			return this.pathToParent.length() + this.name.length() + this.extension.length() + 1;
		} else {
			return 0;
		}
	}
}


text:
RIBA: Pupils and Teachers Deserve Better Than Flatpack Schools
Apr 8, 2011 2:43 pm
In its response to the Review of Education Capital led by Sebastian James, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) warned the Government against building overly-standardised "identikit" schools.
The review, released today, was completed by Sebastian James as part of the Government's overall review of all capital investment, and sets out recommendations for the Department for Education's future delivery models for 2011-12 onwards.
"The James Review recognises the wastage that took place through Building Schools for the Future (BSF), but over-emphasises as a solution the role of standardisation in school design," said RIBA President Ruth Reed. "There is certainly a case for the standardisation of certain elements of a school building, but the Review fails to recognise that a school which is 'fit for purpose' must meet the needs of its client.
The Housing Minister Grant Shapps recently quite rightly condemned the identikit housing estates that are being churned out up and down the country, and we would be concerned if the pattern-book mass housing delivery model were endorsed by the Education Secretary Michael Gove and applied to schools, which work best when they respond to the needs of students, teachers and the context of a site.
We urge the Government to recognise the complexities in delivering the best new school buildings possible and to reject the over-simplistic approach recommended by the James review. This is not about more work for architects; it is about ensuring the best outcomes for school users and best value for money for the taxpayer."
Marylebone, London
architecture.com (5,240)
category Architecture Organizations
filed under: Architecture
38,798 impressions, 2,896 clicks
How a 160 Year Old Paper From Toronto Created a Global Reading Experience
The Core Teams with Agency Goodness and Lucas Arts for New Lego Star Wars 3 Video Game Campaign
RIBA Unveils London's Best New Buildings
RIBA Names Designers of 2019 Summer Installation
RIBA Launches UK's First Nationwide Architecture Program for Schoolchildren

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Modulus brings order to the chaos of multiple devices, closed systems, tangled wires, lost remotes, and forgotten passwords. In one brilliant, powerful box, Modulus gives control of your home media back to you.
Modulus combines a DVR, Blu-Ray/DVD/CD player, networked movie server, streaming video and music, and personal media organizer into one. No switching inputs! Upload your music, movies, and family media to enjoy ALL your content in our elegant, proprietary user interface with up to an enormous 20TB of storage. Get rid of your cable DVR and those rental fees!
Modulus streams Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Spotify, and more, plus it remembers your login info for each service. Modulus also allows you to record all your streaming content — no more disappearing episodes!
Play your DVD and Blu-Ray Discs or quickly import them into Modulus' online library with no quality loss or need for conversion.
Store and enjoy all your home movies, family videos and photos right here. Modulus offers unlimited storage capacity with up to 20TB internal memory plus 4 USB 3.0 ports for external add-on USB drives.
Upload your entire collection of CDs to Modulus, and all the music and playlists from your smartphone. Then add speakers and your TV becomes your home stereo system.
Control Modulus with your voice using our user friendly remote, or download the mobile app and control it from your phone or tablet.
Founder Steve Schulz speaks to a crowd of journalists and innovators at TechBites 2018 about how Modulus brings freedom to home media.
More than 250 of the top integrators and installers have seen Modulus and they are giving it high praise indeed. See the reviews!.
So many devices, and so many content suppliers who don't want to play together. It's a nightmare for consumers who long for one easy-to-use system. With Modulus, watching TV is fun, not frustrating. All your content becomes easily accessible in fresh, elegant way. Modulus unifies and simplifies. It's a beautiful solution created by media lovers who wanted a way to seamlessly move from content to content, and share it with family throughout the house. It was designed to eliminate the clutter of boxes of unused CDs and DVDs, and use the latest technology to make managing all your favorite programs a joy, not a chore.
Learn how a savvy tech entrepreneur and his merry band of software engineers built a system that Sound & Vision magazine calls, "the most exciting thing to happen in the home theater category in years."
Modulus is in production now and is shipping machines late October 2018. If you are interested in being a customer, part of our Preferred Dealer Network, a vendor, distributor, or partner, please share your email and we'll send you regular updates as Modulus reinvents the home theater experience!


text:
EDC Rebrands as One Okaloosa EDC
The Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County ("EDC") announced that, effective Dec. 1, the organization will be known as One Okaloosa EDC. Along with the name change, a new organizational logo was unveiled. Stylized as a circle indicative of forward motion, the logo utilizes the organization's long-standing gold, blue and green colors as a nod to the EDC's 31 year history. Specific design elements within the new logo include a gear, representing Okaloosa's diverse industry base; the sun, representing the area's enviable coastal lifestyle; and an atom, representing the community's emphasis on education and noteworthy research and innovation assets.
Along with the new name and brand, the organization will also begin utilizing www.oneokaloosa.org as its primary domain name with new staff email addresses structured in the same manner. In addition, all other One Okaloosa EDC managed websites – including www.okaloosasites.com, www.startupokaloosa.com, www.shoalrivergigasite.com, and www.tecmenindustryday.com – have been updated accordingly.
"After 31 years of being known as the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, our Executive Committee began to evaluate the opportunity for a more simplified – and impactful – organizational brand last spring just as COVID-19 was tightening its grip on our area. Noting how swiftly our local governments, businesses, non-profits and everyday citizens joined together to help one another through the unprecedented challenges brought forth by the pandemic, it was clear that our community was rising to the occasion and working as ONE Okaloosa. This is where the concept was initially born," stated Lee Lewis, AVCON, and One Okaloosa EDC FY 2021 Chairman.
"Along with being emblematic of the spirit of our community that has been on regular display during the pandemic, One Okaloosa speaks to a collective desire to be best-in-class and the tireless commitment of so many to ensuring that Okaloosa's infrastructure systems, educational assets, military bases, workforce development programs and industrial sites are ranked number one. As we emerge from the pandemic and prepare to begin a new year, we feel these efforts have never been more important," stated Nathan Sparks, Executive Director, One Okaloosa EDC.
The new brand is the culmination of many timely pivots and strategic initiatives the EDC has unveiled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other recently announced initiatives include the formation of a new partnership between the EDC's TeCMEN (Technology Coast Manufacturing & Engineering Network) and FloridaMakes for the benefit of area manufacturers, the launch of the Startup Okaloosa virtual incubator (www.startupokaloosa.com) in support of local entrepreneurs, and the rollout of a new quarterly professional development webinar series for the benefit of all Okaloosa businesses.


text:
Q: How to access environment variable in react? I added react into django using webpack and when I created .env file in app_name/, I am trying to access environment variable like this process.env.base_url but I am getting undefined.
file structure
Django_React

  -- app_name
       -- src
       -- .env
       -- urls.py
       ...
       ...
  ...
  ...

webpack.config.js
const path = require("path");
const webpack = require("webpack");

module.exports = {
  entry: "./src/index.js",
  output: {
    path: path.resolve(__dirname, "./static/js"),
    filename: "[name].js",
  },
  module: {
    rules: [
      {
        test: /\.js|.jsx$/,
        exclude: /node_modules/,
        use: "babel-loader",
      },
      {
        test: /\.css$/,
        exclude: /node_modules/,
        use: ["style-loader", "css-loader"],
      },
    ],
  },
  optimization: {
    minimize: true,
  },
  plugins: [
    new webpack.DefinePlugin({
      "process.env": {
        NODE_ENV: JSON.stringify("development"),
      },
    }),
  ],
};

How can I create and access environment variable if react app is created like this ?

A: Such issue could lead from naming convention.
According to React Doc - Adding Custom Environment Variables

You must create custom environment variables beginning with REACT_APP_. Any other variables except NODE_ENV will be ignored to avoid accidentally exposing a private key on the machine that could have the same name.

So, maybe you could try to

*

*add REACT_APP_ at the beginning of your environment variable name, like process.env.REACT_APP_base_url;

*restart the development server;

*access environment variable by process.env.REACT_APP_base_url.

Hope this helps.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Demi Moore was hospitalized Monday night, with sources telling TMZ the actress was suffering from substance abuse.
Paramedics responded to a 911 call placed at 10:45pm PT and after assessing Moore's condition, transported her from her home in Los Angeles to a local hospital.
She has reportedly been moved to a facility to seek treatment for substance abuse, sources told the entertainment website.
"She looks forward to getting well and is grateful for the support of her family and friends," her rep added.
In November, Moore, 49, announced she was ending her marriage to Ashton Kutcher after six years -- amid reports Kutcher, 33, had engaged in multiple extramarital affairs.


He's hot, he's hip, he's Amish! Holyman Undercover is a side-splitting farce that is "Just too funny!" according to Tom Saab, CFFA. Veteran actors David A.R. White, John Schneider and Fred Willard create a comedic miracle in this joke-a-second romantic comedy with lots of heart.
Join a young Amish farm boy named Roy Weichbrodt (David A.R. White, Hidden Secrets, Mercy Streets), as he says farewell to the farm and hello to Hollywood. Roy heads to Los Angeles to be a missionary, and instead finds fame and fortune playing Satan on a top-rated television show. There Roy meets the girl of his dreams (Andrea Logan White, Fear Factor, My Date with Drew). As Roy pursues her love, his dream quickly vanishes when scheming networks, a powerful producer (Fred Willard, Wall-E, Anchorman) and a temperamental co-star (Jennifer Lyons, Dorm Daze 1 and 2, Married With Children) turn his life into the world's worst reality show.
Edie McClurg (Ferris Bueller's Day Off), Clint Howard (Apollo 13, Austin Powers), Gregg Binkley (My Name is Earl) and Stacy Keanan (Step by Step) add star power to this uplifting fish-out-of-water comedy. Holyman Undercover will cure your blahs and jumpstart your heart.
Purchase your movie license for HOLYMAN UNDERCOVER for your next church movie night NOW!


text:
Essilor Group to complete acquisition of Lenstec Optical Group
Essilor acquired a minority shareholding in the company in 2016 through Shamir and now plans to acquire the remainder of the shareholding
29 April 2021 Kimberley Young
Essilor Group
The Essilor Group has confirmed its intention to acquire the remainder of the Lenstec Optical Group shareholding.
Essilor acquired a minority shareholding in the optical company through Shamir in 2016.
Now the Essilor Group plans to complete the acquisition for the remainder of the shareholding from owners Nigel Castle and Gerard Donovan.
Olivier Chupin (pictured), Essilor's vice president North Europe, said: "We are pleased to reinforce our partnership with Lenstec which will allow us to improve access to the Essilor Group's wide range of product offering to British consumers."
Chupin explained that the existing relationship between the companies illustrated the "relevancy" of expanding the partnership, adding that this move will present Essilor with "a number of opportunities, across a broad range of market segments, especially key accounts."
Lenstec operates in three sites across the UK. The company saw a turnover of £22m in 2019.
Commenting on the announcement, Lenstec's managing director, Castle, shared: "We are excited to continue our journey within the group. The partnership with Essilor and Shamir allows us to both strengthen and extend our products and service offering to our valued customers, whilst retaining the same customer intimacy, service and solutions our customers have come to expect."
The new deal is expected to close during 2021, pending approval from the UK Competition and Markets Authority.
Across Eyewear and lenses
Essilor achieves a world record with its new Special Lenses range
Essilor launches new coating and multi-pair promotion
"I like making bold statements"
Inspecs acquires Ego Eyewear
More Eyewear and lenses articles
Providing choice, style, and fit
Urban eyes


After we left the lush green West Coast of the country we drove inland toward Wanaka and Queenstown. The landscape changed drastically and quickly became dry and quite barren.
This is prime country for merino farming, and it was in this climate that we saw a shift from dairy properties to sheep. The country is hard, and lacks vegetation – which causes a bit of stress making the merino wool softer and longer (we learned this in Eneabba as well). It is also a popular place for snowboarding, skiing, luxury retreats and station living.
Mike used to live in the area, and spent a few seasons snowboarding and was keen to show me the space. We visited old friends (Tracey and Elliot) and thier two dogs whom have settled into Wanaka's easy ways and enjoyed some really nice sushi and a breezy few days in the summer sun. The area is really cute, and frequented heavily by tourists, yet still doesn't appear to be too over crowded. That is true apart from….
Queenstown. The city is perched on the edge of a beautiful lake, and is very strikingly similar in feel to Banff. The temperature dipped low the night we intended to camp there and so we avoided the chill and took shelter in a local hotel. This particular evening we ate out (which is not something we've actually done very much of while camping – for the most part we have been budgeting and making healthy meals) – at a popular pub that served us some pretty awesome pizza. We both really loved the smoked chicken, cranberry, rosemary and brie pizza. Seriously…it was beyond good. I might try to find a way to make it at home.
During our time in the Otago, we also did a really cool tour at Cromwell for a bit of history on the local prospecting scene and to learn a thing or two about what it takes to actually pan for gold.
Men used to hike for days with little to no food from Dunedin, only to discover that there was no vegetation in the area…return back and then make the trek again toward the area with whatever provisions they could physically carry. It had originally been discovered by two men whom were gold panning in the 1800's and the volume of gold they found (80kg in three weeks) brought out a sea of men. Very few made as much as the first two gold panning pioneers however it did become more lucrative over time as new methods of panning became available (dredging etc).
This was probably my favourite thing we did in the area. The simple act of separating mud, rock and sand with water is quite soothing, and also did surprisingly yield a few little pieces for us. We spent 3!!!!! hours hunched over with gold fever looking for the dull yellow mineral amongst the muck. In the end we both hurt our backs and had to pull each other away from the hunt. It was so much fun though.
We each took away a small vile filled with water and our small flecks, which of course we both compared and took note of whom might have found more gold. It may be that I found a lot of pyrite! haha…it's mostly goldish looking.
This entry was tagged Cromwell, Gold Panning, Nature, new zealand, Otago, Photography, Queenstown, Road Trip, Tourism, Travel, Wanaka. Bookmark the permalink.


The Wilton Warriors visit St. Joseph's Dalling Field's to take on the Cadets in the HAN-FCIAC Football Game of the Week. You can watch the game live at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, (or later on-demand) in the video player below. The game will also be rebroadcast later on Frontier Communications' Vantage Sports Network (Chs. 600/1600).
Before the game begins, watch FCIAC Tailgate, HAN Network's live pre-game show, at 12:15 p.m., with Frank Granito, Kate Czaplinski, and Kevin Coleman. Tailgate features guests from the St. Joseph's — including teachers, students and football players and coaches before they take the field. Frank and the crew will also announce the winners of this week's HAN-FCIAC Athlete of the Week vote, brought to you by Runner's Roost in Darien.
Wilton (3-1 overall and in FCIAC) comes into Saturday's contest in third place in the FCIAC's East Division. St. Joseph (3-1, 2-1 in FCIAC) is a half-game back in the East Division. You can see the complete FCIAC football standings here.
The HAN Network live broadcast of the game can be seen on this page, at HAN.Network, on affiliate websites including FCIAC.net and on Frontier Communications' channels 600 and 1600. The stream usually starts 10 minutes before the event is scheduled to begin. Frank Granito and crew join you five minutes before the contest begins. Keep an eye on our Twitter feed for the latest updates.
The HAN Network is the exclusive FCIAC broadcast partner through the spring of 2018. HAN Network's broadcasting division streams at least four high school sporting events a week during the school year. This is in addition to daily news, sports, politics and lifestyle studio programs. Check out our broadcast schedule here and be sure to watch Coffee Break, our southwestern Connecticut daily news show at 11 a.m., and join us for sports talk on Nutmeg Sports, Monday-Thursday at 2 p.m. You can watch all the shows at HAN.Network or on demand at live.HAN.Network/han-on-demand/.


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text:
Crowdsourced transit app shows what time the bus will really come
Curated on Posted on March 26, 2014 October 31, 2018 by Stefaan Verhulst
Springwise: "The problem with most transport apps is that they rely on fixed data from transport company schedules and don't truly reflect exactly what's going on with the city's trains and buses at any given moment. Operating like a Waze for public transport, Israel's Ototo app crowdsources real-time information from passengers to give users the best suggestions for their commute.
The app relies on a community of 'Riders', who allow anonymous location data to be sent from their smartphone whenever they're using public transport. By collating this data together, Ototo offers more realistic information about bus and train routes. While a bus may be due in five minutes, a Rider currently on that bus might be located more than five minutes away, indicating that the bus isn't on time. Ototo can then suggest a quicker route for users. According to Fast Company, the service currently has a 12,000-strong global Riders community that powers its travel recommendations. On top of this, the app is designed in an easy-to-use infographic format that quickly and efficiently tells users where they need to be going and how long it will take. The app is free to download from the App Store, and the video below offers a demonstration:
Ototo faces competition from similar services such as New York City's Moovit, which also details how crowded buses are."
CategoriesCollection TagsTOPICS: big data, crowdsourcing, open data, smart city TagsSECTORS: urban planning TagsGOVERNANCE LEVEL: TagsREGION: Global TagsTYPES:


text:
Jay Watson
Superbike Racer Thad Wolff Is Reunited With His Suzuki GS1000
A chance meeting in the early 1970s created a lifetime of memories
had Wolff was a wheelie-popping teen like many other American kids in the early 1970s when he met Japanese emigrants Hideo "Pops" Yoshimura, his son Fujio, Suehiro Watanabe, and Minoru Matsuzawa. That chance encounter at a Southern California storefront—the nascent Yoshimura Research and Development of America Inc.—changed Wolff's life forever.
"I was a dirt-bike kid; I had no idea about all this roadracing stuff."
"Yoshimura was just starting with Yvon Duhamel and the Kawasaki Z1," Wolff recalls. "I was a dirt-bike kid; I had no idea about all this roadracing stuff. When it was time for lunch, they crouched down in a circle, eating fish heads and rice with chopsticks. I was 12 or 13, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing."
Thirty-five years after it was last raced, the Escargot Suzuki GS1000 resurfaced at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, for the inaugural Classic Bike Revival.Jay Watson
A few years later, Wolff walked into the Cycle magazine editorial offices and asked to speak with the editor, Cook Neilson. "I know you won Daytona, and I think I want to try roadracing. Would you give me some advice?" Neilson tossed an AFM rule book into Wolff's open hands. "Read this," he instructed. "And remember to safety-wire your drain plug."
Wolff progressed quickly through the club ranks and then won the 1980 AMA 250cc Novice title, which led to a reunion with Matsuzawa. "Matsu had gone off on his own and started Escargot Enterprises of America, a little speed shop in Van Nuys. We went to Riverside Raceway for a private test with his Suzuki GS1000, and I went pretty doggone fast."
Matsuzawa and Wolff made a plan to contest the '81 AMA nationals. Suzuki's American subsidiary—known at that time as US Suzuki Motor Corp.—agreed to help, Yoshimura chipped in with cams and pistons and other engine parts, and Matsuzawa built the first-year GS1000 that Wolff tested at Riverside into a full-blown Superbike.
Thad Wolff spent two AMA Superbike seasons looking through the windscreen of the Minoru "Matsu" Matsuzawa-built inline-four, with a best finish of third at Bryar Motorsports Park in Loudon, New Hampshire.Jay Watson
Matsuzawa had another surprise for his new rider. "We drove to Suzuki and went around back to the shop," Wolff recalls. "The Japanese in their suits and ties rolled up the door, and there sat an RG500 with a big spares kit for us. So, I went from 250cc novice on a Yamaha TZ250 one season to an AMA Superbike and Formula One the next—a real trial by fire."
Matsuzawa and Wolff campaigned both classes for two years. "The next season, 1982, was the pinnacle for Superbike," Wolff says. "Freddie Spencer, Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Mike Baldwin, Wes Cooley, David Aldana, Steve Wise, and Roberto Pietri were all racing that class, and I finished sixth. F1 was technically the premier class, and I was fourth on the RG500.
"There couldn't have been two more different motorcycles. The RG500 was faster than stock but harder to ride. I was constantly bouncing from one bike to the other. Sometimes I had to talk to Matsu about the first session after the second session. If I had concentrated on just one machine, I probably would have done even better."
Wolff taped copies of his two favorite photos of Matsuzawa to the Suzuki's gas tank for the event at Laguna Seca. The current front disc brakes are a custom mix of past and present.Jay Watson
Wolff podiumed at Loudon alongside Rainey and Lawson ("passing Cooley fair and square in the process"), but he never raced another full AMA season. No longer Superbike-legal, the GS1000 met its end at the '83 Willow Springs 6-Hour when the spun aluminum Mitchell rear wheel failed while Wolff was leading the race. The RG500 was destroyed a couple of weeks later at Road America when Wolff was taken out by a fellow competitor.
Once his injuries from the two wrecks healed, Wolff revived his photo-modeling/bike-wrangling career that began in '79 with the help of Cycle editor Phil Schilling. "My racing career was short and sweet," he says, "but it led to working not only for magazines but also manufacturers." (Remember the Honda V45 Interceptor ad, "Bring the world to your knees"? Wolff was featured in that and countless other print and TV campaigns.)
Wolff at speed aboard the Escargot GS1000 on the Pocono International Raceway road course, his knees layered in pre-slider duct tape. The 19-inch magnesium Morris front wheel and 18-inch Mitchell spun aluminum rear wheel originally wore bias-ply Goodyear slicks.Thad Wolff archives
Like so many obsolete racebikes, the GS1000 was put up for sale. "Matsu owned the bike," Wolff says. "He sold the expensive brakes, but I kept the fairing, fender, gas tank, and custom seat, the only one we ever used. A customer wanted a GS like the one I had raced, so the bike went to that guy. He later died and left it to a mutual friend.
"A couple of years ago, that guy—we called him 'Freeway' because he often tested his racebikes on the 10 freeway—called me. 'Hey, Thad. I've got something for you.' And he gave me the motorcycle. I can't describe the feeling I had with that motorcycle coming back into my possession. It was very emotional."
First order of business was to strip off all the parts that weren't part of the original machine. "I started scrounging around and found the bodywork, seat, and even the front number plate. I had to come up with different brakes and other pieces that were wrong or missing, but I got the bike back to where it is today. It's not 100 percent original, but most of it is correct."
Fox shocks, 33mm Mikuni smooth bores ("I think they were the first set in the US," Wolff noted), and handmade side covers. The Camel Pro Series sticker is signed by Kenny Roberts.Jay Watson
Matsuzawa went on to build race engines for Mat Mladin. He was later diagnosed with prostate cancer and died in 1999, one race before the Australian won the first of seven Superbike titles with Yoshimura Suzuki. "I thought that Matsu and I were going to grow old together and have all these memories," Wolff says, "but it wasn't meant to be."
Matsuzawa's spirit is still present in Wolff's garage in the form of two framed photos. "One is from Pocono in the pits—I always liked that picture of Matsu. In the other, I'm holding up three fingers. That was after we finished third at Loudon." Wolff taped copies of the photos to the Suzuki's gas tank for the Classic Bike Revival this past June at Laguna Seca Raceway.
"To work on the bike, to resurrect it to this point, and to be able to jump on it again, looking through that same fairing, sitting on that same seat, and riding it around the racetrack, thinking about the good times with Matsu, all those memories, was an emotional roller coaster. It just blew me away.
"Matsu and I were so close," Wolff says softly. "We had our highs and lows racing together, but the bond we formed was so special. I joke that I'm reliving the glory days of my youth through this motorcycle. Well, not so much joking because it was a wonderful time in my life, as you can imagine. The only thing missing is Matsu."
If your championship-winning middleweight sportbike ain't broke, don't fix it.
Or is that even the right question to ask?
By Byron Wilson
High stakes at one of the world's most wild urban motorcycle roadraces.
Marta Covioli
Meet the new autonomous Tech-Air 5 motorcycle airbag system from Alpinestars.
By Ken Hutchison
Harley-Davidson and Tuscany Motor Co. built a limited-edition GMC Sierra pickup truck.
A midsize three-cylinder motorcycle that puts the "sport" in "sport-tourer."
An electric motorcycle that's designed to be a technological leader.


Blue Creek flows cold and clear from high in the Siskiyou Mountains of northern California and meets the Klamath River 16 miles upstream from the mouth. It is the first source of cold water that salmon and steelhead encounter on their migration inland and provides these fish a critical cold-water refuge so they can complete their journeys inland to spawn. It is the lifeline to the Klamath River in the heart of the California redwoods. Photo by Dave Jensen.
WE DID IT! In 2018, WRC successfully created the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary when it conveyed 9,140 acres to the Yurok Tribe in February of 2018.
PURCHASED! In 2017, WRC acquired the final 8,582 acres in our effort to create the 47,000-acre Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest.
SUCCESS! WRC brought its first carbon offsets to market in the fall of 2017, helping fund this historic project.
SECURED! In 2017, WRC secured $10 million in federal funding for the Yurok Tribe to acquire and conserve a portion of the project lands.
In February 2018, following a ten-year effort, Western Rivers Conservancy succeeded in creating a salmon sanctuary at Blue Creek, the most important cold-water tributary to California's Klamath River. We have now ensured Blue Creek is protected from the Siskiyou Wilderness all the way to its confluence with the Klamath River. In the process we returned sacred ancestral homelands to California's Yurok Tribe, which will manage the lands to recover forests that were harvested for decades and to improve habitat for the incredible fish and wildlife of the Klamath River and the greater Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion.
Protecting Blue Creek is the backbone of our larger effort in partnership with the Yurok Tribe to conserve over 47,000 acres of temperate rainforest along the Klamath River by creating both the salmon sanctuary and a sustainable community forest to be owned and managed by the tribe.
The Klamath was once the third largest producer of salmon on the West Coast. Sadly, its great runs of Chinook, coho and steelhead have been reduced by hydropower dams, irrigation projects and over fishing. Today, one of the greatest threats to salmon and steelhead are high water temperatures when the Klamath is stressed by low summer flows. For returning fish, Blue Creek is the first cold-water refuge they encounter on their journey inland from the Pacific Ocean. Studies have shown that by holding in Blue Creek's cold water, Chinook can lower their body temperature by up to eight degrees Fahrenheit, making this tributary critical to their survival. Without this cool-down period, most Chinook would likely die before reaching their spawning grounds in the upper Klamath.
Blue Creek also provides high-quality spawning habitat for Chinook, coho and steelhead. The riparian and upland areas within the Blue Creek watershed provide outstanding habitat for rare and imperiled animals like marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl, California condor and Humboldt marten.
Western Rivers Conservancy and the Yurok Tribe established a long-term partnership to buy 47,097 acres along the lower Klamath and Blue Creek from Green Diamond Resource Company. The land includes the entire lower Blue Creek watershed, as well as extensive frontage along the lower Klamath. The upper reaches of Blue Creek are already protected by the Siskiyou Wilderness Area. The cold-water tributaries that are included in these lands are vital to the recovery of diverse species, including coho and Chinook salmon, steelhead, marbled murrelet and northern spotted owl. Once the project is complete, 73 square miles of the Klamath-Siskiyou will be managed as a salmon sanctuary, climate preserve and sustainable community forest.
As part of this effort, WRC helped the Tribe create the Yurok Tribal Community Forest along the Klamath. The Tribe now manages this for the sake of forest health, clean water, fish habitat and cultural rejuvenation. Ultimately, 14,790 acres will be protected as salmon sanctuary and 32,307 acres will be sustainably managed as community forest.
To create a salmon sanctuary of this scale, WRC pioneered new approaches to conservation finance. Through the federal New Markets Tax Credits Program, designed to spur revitalization in low-income communities, WRC tapped a significant—and nontraditional—source of private funding. Combined with donor and foundation support, including generous funding from an anonymous foundation and a grant and low-interest loan from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, WRC was able to raise the needed funds to purchase these lands.
WRC will pay off the loan from the Packard Foundation through the sale of carbon offsets and sustainable forestry practices that will rejuvenate old-growth habitat and improve the overall health of the Blue Creek watershed. To accomplish this, WRC created a supporting nonprofit, called Western Rivers Forestry (WRF), which will hold the land until it can be conveyed to the Yurok Tribe for permanent stewardship. From the outset, the Tribe will manage the lands on behalf of WRF and in line with WRC's conservation vision.
In February 2018, the vision became a reality when WRC conveyed the first major landholdings—nearly 10,000 acres—along Blue Creek itself to the Yurok Tribe. This transfer established the sanctuary and, at long last, reunited the tribe with Blue Creek. The Yurok Tribe will now steward the forests for the sake of fish and wildlife and to keep Blue Creek healthy and cold. Under a management plan approved by the State of California, the Yurok Tribe will manage the lands to heal decades of aggressive timber harvest, restore the richness of the forest and create tribal jobs in sustainable forestry and restoration.
In the end, this historic effort will help ensure the survival of one of the West's great salmon streams, protect vital wildlife habitat in one of the most biologically rich areas on Earth, and reestablish a sacred homeland and economic base for the Yurok. Blue Creek can now be safeguarded by a community whose greatest cultural, spiritual and economic interests are healthy forests, healthy habitat and healthy returns of wild salmon and steelhead.
Funding for the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest was made possible through generous contributions from multiple sources, including the Aveda Corporation, L. P. Brown Foundation, California Coastal Conservancy, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Wildlife Conservation Board, Compton Foundation, Flora Family Foundation, Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation, Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, Betsy Jewett and Rick Gill, George F. Jewett Foundation, The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation, The Kendeda Fund, Nancy Kittle, The Joseph and Vera Long Foundation, Giles W. and Elise G. Mead Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/Acres for America and Walmart Stores, Inc., Natural Resources Conservation Service, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, State of California's Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program, Mark Umeda, U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Inc., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, the Weeden Foundation, and with the generous support of many additional individuals, foundations and businesses.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement 83590301 to the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Inc. (the "Endowment") is a not-for-profit corporation that works collaboratively with partners in the public and private sectors to advance systemic, transformative and sustainable change for the health and vitality of the nation's working forests and forest-reliant communities.
The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government or the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation."
The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or its funding sources.
After a 10-year effort the Yurok Tribe, Western Rivers Conservancy, Opportunity Fund, and U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation, a division of U.S. Bank, successfully create a salmon sanctuary to protect the cold-water lifeline of the Klamath River.
In northern California, Western Rivers Conservancy has purchased the final 8,582 acres in our effort to forever protect Blue Creek, the lifeline of the Klamath River. This extraordinary step puts us within striking distance of completing the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest, a 73 square-mile preserve in the heart of redwood country. WRC is now working to convey the land to the Yurok people for permanent conservation.
Thanks to a generous show of support during our 2015 crowdfunding campaign and a $1 million grant from the Kendeda Fund, Western Rivers Conservancy is one step closer to saving Blue Creek! The contributions allowed us to purchase another 562 acres of coastal temperate rain forest in the heart of the California redwoods. This is exciting headway in our effort to bring the final 10,000 acres of land into the 47,000-acre Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and Yurok Tribal Community Forest.
Western Rivers Conservancy pushed ahead this month in our effort to create a major cold-water salmon sanctuary in the heart of the Klamath-Siskiyou, one of the earth's biodiversity hotspots. We successfully completed our third land acquisition on the Klamath River and Blue Creek, which brings us three-quarters of the way toward conserving 47,000 acres in partnership with the Yurok, California's largest Native American tribe. The acquisition adds 6,479 acres of vital forest and riverland to the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary, as well as extensive forestland to the recently created Yurok Tribal Community Forest.
"As controversial legislation to remove dams in the Klamath Basin awaits congressional approval, the right to manage one of the river's main tributaries and its most important salmon stream will soon be restored to the Yurok Tribe.
This month, some 6,479 acres along the middle reach of Blue Creek will be transferred out of Green Diamond Resource Company's ownership as part of a plan to buy the entire 47,000-acre watershed and return it to Native American stewardship. Once the deal goes through, the Yurok Tribe will manage about 30,500 acres around Blue Creek, all acquired since 2011 through a partnership with Portland-based non-profit Western Rivers Conservancy.
Using a complex financing scheme, the conservancy will receive and hold the latest parcels for a seven-year period before selling to the Yurok Tribe, which takes over land management from the outset."


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– I hate rain shortened games in baseball. Another professional sport does not exist that allows an unfinished game to go in the record books as a final. I don't really have a solution, because the sheer number of games in a baseball season makes postponing/rescheduling/resuming games very, very difficult. But the Blue Jays deserved a better fate last night. Ubaldo Jimenez without question has been the best pitcher in the game this year, but the Jays touched him up for three runs last night, the most he has allowed in a game all season. His ERA jumped from 0.93 to 1.16. But the biggest disappointment was that through six innings, though the Jays were down 5-3, Jimenez had thrown 106 pitches. That meant that the Rockies were likely going to go to their bullpen for the final three innings. Colorado's pen has a very good ERA (3.25, 6th overall in the MLB), but with a record of 6-12 and 6 blown saves, a win was far from a sure thing. Unfortunately it goes into the books as a loss. Very unfair in the humble opinion of this lowly sportswriter.
– I don't understand the uproar I am hearing from people on the Jays decision to send reliever Rommie Lewis to the minors in order to recall Jessie Litsch. "Why would he go down when he has pitched so well" was a common complaint. Well friends, a 4.91 ERA in 18.1 IP is nothing to write home about, especially for a situational lefty type reliever. With Scott Downs and an effective (albeit slightly used) David Purcey already in the pen, and Brian Tallet (a starter who really is better suited as a long reliever) already on the roster, Lewis no longer had a place. Watching him struggle against New York and Tampa in his last two appearances (3 IP, 4 ER, 4 BB) did little to help his cause. If Jessie Litsch is truly ready to go, he is a much better fifth starter than Brian "Billy Talent" Tallet, thus strengthening Toronto's rotation and bullpen. Besides, what kind of name is Rommie anyways?
– Jose Bautista is struggling. In his last 24 plate appearances he has 0 hits and 5 walks for a .000 avg, .208 OBP, and a .208 OPS. Perhaps pitchers have figured out a way to get him out, neutralizing his blazing start. But forget all that. Have you watched Jose grow a beard? Unbelievable. I feel like I watch a game on a Monday night and Bautista has a full, lush beard. Then on Tuesday, he is clean shaven, perhaps trying to break out of a slump. But without a word of a lie, by Thursday night the beard is right back, full, thick, and dark. Incredible.
– If anybody had the chance to watch This Week In Baseball last weekend, you will understand what I am about to say. The Blue Jays bullpen needs to get somebody on the team to serenade them with a song each game day. Go to each bullpen member's home in the morning, sit cross-legged on his bed while he is still half sleeping, and sing a song while playing guitar. It works for Cincinnati Reds rookie Mike Leake when "Charles" Bronson Arroyo does it, so why not for the Jays? Despite my best efforts I can not locate a clip on the internet to link to, but trust me – it was at once the weirdest, strangest, and most uncomfortable thing I have ever seen. same sites expired domains apache web server website offline link checker .
Arroyo is my new musical hero.
I agree with you on the Lewis/Litsch situation. I'd like to see Purcey get more innings, he is a big power lefty kind of like B.J. Ryan and I think he could thrive in relief. I'd also like to see Roenicke get another shot, he has always done well in the minors even though he hasn't looked great in MLB. Purcey and Roenicke could be a pretty overpowering LH/RH combo in the late innings.
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Nasdaq constructs the NASDAQ AlphaDEX® Large Cap Value Index by ranking the eligible stocks from the NASDAQ US 500 Large Cap Index on growth factors including 3-, 6- and 12- month price appreciation, sales to price and one year sales growth, and separately on value factors including book value to price, cash flow to price and return on assets. All stocks are ranked on the sum of ranks for the growth factors and, separately, all stocks are ranked on the sum of ranks for the value factors. A stock must have data for all growth and/or value factors to receive a rank for that style.
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Prescio Consulting is proud to honor Dr. Prabir Burman, Professor of Statistics at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Burman is a professor of distinction who has had considerable influence on the education of rising scholars in the field of statistics.
The Prabir Burman Internship is open to statisticians and other quantitative Ph.D. students. The intention of the internship is to provide students with corporate consulting experience in real world consulting projects. Below are some of the previous interns we've had the pleasure to work with at Prescio over the years.
Anand Nambiar, PhD.
2016 Intern
"First, let me thank the Prescio team for providing me a great opportunity to have hands on experience of real-world data analysis. Soon after I finished my PhD in Applied Economics I joined Prescio, as part of an internship program. Though I had gained theoretical knowledge in economics and statistics from school, I soon realized that it is not enough to make one a real analyst. Real-world data may not always be structured, and you may have to do lots of preparations to make them usable in data analysis software. The internship at Prescio helped me tackle such data, teaching me some new modeling methodologies, which I had not studied in school. During the internship program, which spanned over about five months, I literally learned something new every day. Apart from the experience with data analytical tools, I also had the opportunity to produce model development documentation. Nowadays, especially in the financial world, the model development process is not considered completed unless the whole process is well documented. A poorly documented model, no matter how complex or useful, may get rejected by the approval authorities. Finally, this internship played an important role in receiving an offer from a leading financial institution. I would urge all who want to get a real-world experience to try the internship at Prescio, which is a worthwhile experience. The whole team at Prescio is very helpful with necessary directions to train interns into successful and competitive real-world data analysts."
Travis Scholten
The 2015 Prabir Burman intern is Travis Scholten. Mr. Scholten is pursuing his Ph.D. in Physics, at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, where he focuses on problems that lie at the intersection of computer science, information theory, and quantum mechanics. He received his BA in Physics from California Institute of Technology, Pasadena in 2012. He joined Prescio to learn about alternative career paths for those with quantitative skills. He left Prescio with a better understanding of his skills and where they can be improved and with some interesting experiences under his belt.
"On the whole, this summer has been one of expanding knowledge, both of a personal and technical nature. It was great to work with a company whose size is of a human scale. I was able to learn a lot about my coworkers and their lives, and to gain a better appreciation of how to work with others even when they may not be physically present.
I am grateful to Prescio for having me join their quant team and work on new projects for our clients. Broadly speaking, I worked on three projects: learning about a new financial risk assessment approach, performing sensitivity analysis for models developed by our client, and performing an independent investigation into the stability of those models. One highlight from this summer was writing code which could automate generating some of the reports we prepared. Doing so challenged me to learn the very useful skill of working with code written by others. In addition, I gained experience in writing code which can be used after I have departed.
What is more, I was encouraged to try my hand at something relatively new to me – writing for the company's website. Such practice has helped me develop my writing skills, and has encouraged me to continue to write.
On the personal side, Prescio's location in Arizona made it favorable for taking simple day trips around the state. It was great to be able to see what natural and historical sites this state has to offer."
Matt Dawson
The 2014 Prabir Burman intern is Matt Dawson. Mr. Dawson is pursuing his Ph.D. in Biostatistics at the University of California, Davis. He received his B.S. in Mathematics from California State University Channel Islands in 2010. Over the summer, Mr. Dawson assisted the Prescio team with model building and validation and fraud analytics.
"As a graduate student seeking a career in industry, I believe it is paramount to gain hands on experience. My internship at Prescio allowed me to reinforce what I have learned in the classroom, as well as become acquainted with business-practical applications. The staff was more than friendly and made the experience very comfortable. Additionally, I was encouraged to be creative and explore new ideas while working on projects rather than taking a passive role. This training will undoubtedly help in my pursuit toward a Ph.D., making this internship one of the most valuable opportunities I have had in my academic career and I would like to thank Prescio for having me!"
Newton Foster
The 2013 Prabir Burman intern is Newton Foster, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Mr. Foster is working towards his Ph.D in mathematics and is researching Complex Function Theory. He obtained his MS in Mathematics from University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 2012, and his BS in Mathematics, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Central Arkansas in 2009. We are proud to welcome Mr. Foster to our company.
"I would like to thank the Prescio Consulting team for giving me the opportunity to work with them through the Prabir Burman Internship. Prescio offered a welcoming, collaborative environment in which to learn and be successful while presenting the challenges necessary for me to grow. The experience has provided a springboard for my career and opened my eyes to the possibilities in the future."
Luvenia Hellams
The 2012 Prabir Burman intern was Luvenia Hellams. Ms. Hellams is working towards her Ph.D. in Statistics at Iowa State University, and received her BS in Mathematics from Spelman College in May 2008. While at Prescio, Ms. Hellams worked with our quantitative consulting team in validating an Operational Risk model for a major Midwest bank.
"I want to thank you and the entire staff for taking time to share expertise and knowledge of the field. It is through these times in which I feel I am able to learn and grow the most in developing my skills. You all were responsive to my requests and made me feel like a full time member of the group."


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Pricing is available at bikerburial.com – Click Here
The History of the Harley Hearse
In 2002, Wrightsville resident Al Skinner wanted to fill a void in the tristate area. He figured that if firemen had firetrucks as escorts in funeral processions, why not have a motorcycle escort for motorcycle enthusiasts?
Skinner retired in 2009 leaving a void yet again until summer 2017, when Chad Snyder approached him. From there, Skinner reconstructed the old chassis to fit the funeral home's needs. The search began to find a 100th Anniversary Harley that would adapt to fit the original chassis, since Harley changed frame styles in 2009.
Once the 2003 100th Anniversary Harley Road King was found, Skinner started on modifications. They included reverse gear, modified motor, and extra chrome for the "bling" effect. Lastly, a table was custom made from Birch wood that has a marine varnish, typically used for boats. A gloss coat was added for a finished, elegant look.
In order to make modifications, Skinner made calls to hearse manufacturers for dimensions to ensure the table would fit perfectly to the chassis. The hearse was also modified to not only hold an urn, but rather an urn ark for a ceremonial display. What's unique about the Harley hearse is that typically motorcycle hearses are on trailers behind the bike. This hearse features an elegant table on a chassis next to the motorcycle, for a modern approach on an old concept. This concept allows open air for their last ride.
Before retirement in 2009, Al Skinner was a funeral escort. He escorted funerals from Connecticut to West Virginia and everywhere in between.
There have been processions for those who have rode all of their lives to people who always wanted to ride but never got the chance.
When asked what was one of the most memorable, Skinner said "All of them, you never know what will happen, or what the dynamics are. Every service is different." There was one service that stuck out to him. "A 31 year old man, who had a developmental disability had always admired motorcycles. No one in his family rode, and when I showed up, the father said "he'll finally get his sidecar ride." He learned that the man worked at a fast food chain and made friends with a few of the cycle club members –about 5 or 6 groups. He had a real passion for motorcycles, so making friends came easy with a common interest. Members from all groups would take him for rides around the block or take him for a spin in his development.
Once the man became too fragile from cancer treatments, his parents thought the rides might not be the best idea, given his decline in health. The man responded with "well Dad, I just need a sidecar, then I could ride again." Skinner was able to make his wish come true. As rewarding as it is to fulfill the wish, it's also about creating the experience for the family at the service. It truly puts a new spin on "riding in the wind."
Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home is a third generation family owned business who owns the Harley Hearse and rents usage to other Funeral Homes in the tristate area. We will travel to any Funeral Home in the tristate area to help make your client's experience a memorable one.
Contact us for additional details.


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Birthday Flowers Delivery Franklin TN - Always In Bloom, Inc.
Look no further than Always In Bloom, Inc. for birthday gifts! Liven up any birthday party with a festive birthday flowers or surprise them with a cheerful "Happy Birthday" bouquet! We offer birthday flower delivery to Franklin, TN or nationwide.


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Jehovah_Witnesses
Legal-JW Child Custody
THE EMISSARIES OF DIVINE LIGHT
(ONTOLOGISTS)
The Emissaries of Divine Light are a communal group founded by Lloyd Meeker in 1945 in Colorado. The group has since spread around the world. Meeker grew up in poverty, was unsuccessful in business, "rode the rails" in the depression, became a salesman, and eventually declared himself a "Bishop" and began dispensing his own brand of religion. He also adopted the exotic name "Uranda" for his writings. He died in a plane crash in 1954, but not before converting Lord Martin Cecil, who founded the Canadian commune in Northern B. C.
Meeker had a high opinion of himself, and stated in 1952, "I have been privileged in my ministry--and it is something for which I am deeply humble and grateful before my Lord and King--to go much further, and to have many things which our Master on earth could not do and did not have."
LORD MARTIN CECIL
Lord Martin Cecil is really a titled English Lord, but is usually called "Bishop Martin Cecil" by his followers. He says of himself, "Consequently I have been richly blessed by the love which has been offered to me, but I never assumed that it was offered to me as a person, except as I was an exemplification of the truth, which was being loved; then you really can't separate the two." (Hearts Possessed by the Truth, p. 8).
RECRUITING INTO THE EMISSARIES
Although the Emissaries are recognized as being much less zealous and slower than, say, the Moonies, they nonetheless have similar techniques. They recruit mainly on University campuses and invite recruits to their commune to experience their lifestyle.
Recruits are told they must break away from society and their family to rid themselves of guilt. Blind obedience is stressed, and a very anti-intellectual approach is taken.
DOCTRINES OF THE EMISSARIES
Their statement of beliefs says "The primary purpose of this Society is to assist in carrying forward a work of spiritual regeneration of the human race, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God." Because God is spoken of, and the Bible is sometimes quoted, some people assume the Emissaries of Divine Light are a Christian commune, but our examination of their publications will prove that they are not.
BELIEF IN ONTOLOGY
"Ontology" is a legitimate metaphysical term which usually means the study of the ultimate nature of being. Followers are often urged to forget their intellect in favor of their instincts.
Ontology journals also tell believers they have the potential to cure the sick with a natural current that is supposed to flow from their hands. The Emissaries of Divine Light also publish a magazine called "Integrity" and distribute it world-wide.
"CONVERSION" TO THE EMISSARIES
In their publication, "About Sunrise Ranch", on p. 2, the statement is made, "In this awakening process there is no need for elaborate concepts and beliefs, no need for a philosophical or religious dogma to which one might be converted. It is merely a matter of being what one truly is." This is, of course, a very humanistic statement and out of harmony with the Bible.
HEALING, EMISSARY STYLE
The healing rituals followed by this group usually consist of waving their hands over a body, which action supposedly rids it of evil spirits and disease. "Pneumaplasm" is a term used by the group, and is supposedly the connecting force between the human body and spirit.
Their founder, Meeker, is quoted as saying, "If, by ill attitudes and reactions we are dissipating pneumaplasm faster than we are building it, we come to the point of not having enough, and then physical ailments, physical degenerations follow."
There is much talk in Emissary publication of "radiation", which is the life-giving current flowing out of the followers' hands. This radiation supposedly acts on the pneumaplasm and brings it into attunement, or harmony with God.
The person is then cured, even of such diseases as cancer. E.D.L. beliefs also do not allow for accidents, a major embarrassment when Meeker died in one.
AN OVERVIEW OF E.D.L. LITERATURE
In reading their literature, we find much mention of "being where you are", finding your way to "cosmic awareness", and a lack of any really clear-cut thoughts. There are terms like "vibrations", patterns", "focalization", "reality", "wholeness", "rightness", "oneness".
AT ODDS WITH CHRISTIANITY
Our Christian concept of prayer is foreign to the Emissaries, who state, "And we don't need to beseech some God who is way off somewhere to do something to satisfy us." (Oneness, pp.6,7).
Being "born again" (John 3) and becoming a "new creation" are basic teaching in Christianity. The EDL, however, view recreation this way,
"However when man is willing to learn how to accept the control of being, and how to conform to the design of being, so that he actually does it, then recreation may take place and he may become what he ought to be; a revelation of real being on earth." (An Open Door, pp.4,5).
Their salvation then, is really by their works, and grace is not a factor. (Compare Ephesians 2:8,9).
While Christians look to a heavenly reward, here is the "reward" of the EDL. "There is no greater reward than to discover the true nature of one's own being, so that one no longer tries to be something that he is not." (An Open Door, p.12).
We also find overtones of Hinduism in the EDL teachings. Lord Martin Cecil said, "It might be said you know, that we've all died many times, there was quick reincarnation, mind you. But the form of our manifestation has continually changed." (Hearts Possessed by the Truth, p.3).
Creation is ridiculed by the group as evidenced by this quote from "Ontological Thought", Vol. 3, No. 10, p.21, "We have swallowed our own tales about creation to generate a fictitious order that we might continue to survive in this state."
WHAT DO THEY THINK OF CHRIST?
In speaking of salvation, page 11 of "Ontological Thought", Vol.3, No. 10, makes this point, "It is not, as in traditional Christianity, merely a process of magical transformation by a supernatural deity through belief in the alleged atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross. The individual in such a scheme of things becomes little more than a bystander, and, since a Savior has done for him what he himself needs to do, there is no reason whatsoever for him to move out of his state of sin and weakness." Hardly flattering to Jesus!
Despite Martin Cecil's denial of the Emissaries of Divine Light being a cult, we must put them in that category. They have misrepresented Jesus Christ, salvation, and creation, and have adopted Eastern religious ideas contrary to the Bible. They are in need of our prayers and our witnessing about the true Jesus of scripture.


You are here: Home / Uncategorized / REFLECTIONS….
I try to keep my posts upbeat for the most part but sometimes it is necessary to discuss more serious matters.
Depression is a serious illness and if not treated sometimes it leads to suicide.
I was visiting with Kathryn from Crochet Concupiscence and saw that she has a project by the name of #mandalasforMarinke.
When I read what it was all about I decided that I was going to take part and that I needed to share this project with you and hopefully you will take part too.
Marinke or Wink was the crochet designer behind "A Creative Being" blog. I came across that blog several times in my travels 🙂 and I liked her creations, so it was shocking to know that she had died. Please click on the links and it will explain everything.
I would like to say: if you feel that you are depressed and think you need help to kick depression to the curb, then please reach out to one person or a group of people or a doctor and don't be ashamed to ask for help.
Life is difficult at times, but we should know that bad times will pass.
I will admit that I don't suffer from depression but it is only because I stay away from what triggers it.
Each person has their own unique triggers, and it is important to identify them.
Let me share with you what my triggers are: 1- the horrible daily news 2- a sedentary lifestyle 3- no sunlight for days.
And I try to stay grateful, none of us have the "Perfect Life" because that life does not exist, so be thankful for the little things in life.
Okay, let me stop here. Please send a SOS if you need help….
Stay positive and take part of #mandalasforMarinke, God bless You!
Thanks for sharing on a growing problem on today's world.
Let us hope we can start to reverse the tide….
This is sad, yet so very true. It is not easy to loose a family member or friend under any circumstances. We recently lost a young friend, she unfortunately committed suicide. It was and still is a horrible shock to us all.
Stay strong and be there for each other.
Such an important topic. Depression runs in my family too and I suffer occasional bouts myself. You're right about knowing your triggers. My own Father and brother both died from suicide, so when I read about Wink it was like a punch in the gut. So sad for all who can't see their way out of the darkness. Hugs to you.
Thank you so much for your participation in the project, letting other people know about it and your smart words about depression.
I am so sorry to hear this Daniella.
I do suffer from depression, have a family history of it and have a husband who suffers from profound depression caused in part by a health condition. Like you I know the triggers and work hard to keep them at bay. I have also learnt to put myself ahead of others which makes a big difference. Keep up the good work reminding us creative people to keep our chin up and keep smiling. My husband says my art brings him some of the brightest light to his day.


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Home /Sedans & Coupes/Sedans
E38 BMW 7 Series Buying Guide: Reliable Budget Bond Luxury
by Matthew Skwarczek twitter linkedin | More Articles: Sedans
E38 BMW 7 Series guide highlights:
The 1995-2001 BMW 7 Series is still regarded as a brand high-water mark for its restrained styling and fun driving dynamics
Available with a V8 and a V12, the enthusiast's choice is the 740i Sport
A well-maintained E38 BMW is generally reliable, and you can pick one up for $10,000-$15,000
Next to discount secondhand sports cars, cheap used luxury cars are some of the biggest temptations in the automotive world. And because BMWs combine aspects of both, buyer's remorse often strikes particularly hard. However, while some used BMWs can be expensive problems, others are a bit stouter. Also, depending on your tastes, older Bimmers offer a certain elegant style. And few combine these various elements quite as well as the E38 BMW 7 Series.
The E38 BMW 7 Series is the definition of understated luxury
E38 BMW 750iL | BMW
Although some Chris Bangle-era BMW designs, such as the M Coupe 'clown shoe,' have gained an appreciation, others still draw ire. The 2002-2006 E65 7 Series is a particular hate magnet, and not just because of its first-gen iDrive infotainment system. It's because, for many, the preceding 1995-2001 E38 BMW 7 Series represents the apex of luxury design. Some might call it 'boring,' but for others, it's 'timeless.'
Admittedly, being newer, the E65 offers more technology and interior space than the E38, MotorTrend notes. However, BMW arguably started its trend of tech-heavy 7 Series cars with the E38 to compete with the then-new W140 S-Class. But while it's not as advanced as a new 7 Series, the E38 did introduce some notable firsts.
For example, it's the first car with standard side-curtain airbags (from 1998 onwards). The E38 is also the first 7 Series with traction control and the first BMW with satellite navigation. Scratch that, it's the first European car of any kind with navigation. By 1998, stability control was standard; Xenon headlights and rain-sensing wipers were standard on 1999-2001 US-market models. And in 2000, BMW introduced adaptive cruise control as a Europe-only optional extra. Plus, depending on the trim, the E38 BMW offered things like an onboard telephone, heated rear seats, 14-way power-adjustable front seats, parking sensors, and upgraded audio systems.
However, the E38 BMW 7 Series offers more than tech. The interior still feels premium by modern standards. Also, with the optional long-wheelbase 'iL' models, the rear passenger space is "cavernous," MT says. Autotrader describes "the feel of the buttons" as "magical." It rides comfortably, too. And then, there's its performance and handling.
An E38 BMW offers V12 750i smoothness, V8 740i sportiness, and bulletproof Protection, even if you're not James Bond
2001 E38 BMW 740i Sport | BMW
1995-2001 E38 BMW 7 Series
Engines 740i/740iL: 4.0-liter 'M60' V8 (1995), 4.4-liter 'M62' V8 (1996-2001)
750i/750iL: 5.4-liter 'M73' V12
Horsepower 740i/740iL: 282 hp
750i/750iL: 322 hp
Torque 740i/740iL: 295 lb-ft (1995), 310 lb-ft (1996-1998), 324 lb-ft (1999-2001)
750i/750iL: 361 lb-ft
Transmission Five-speed automatic
Curb weight 4145-4905 lbs (MotorTrend)
0-60 mph time 8.0 seconds (1995 740i)
5.9 seconds (2000 740i Sport)
6.4 seconds (750iL)
To be fair, the E38 BMW 7 Series isn't the German automaker's sportiest sedan. Then again, even with Alpina's help, neither is the modern version. Yet despite the age gap, the E38 doesn't give up any handling prowess to its modern descendant, Autotrader reports. If anything, the late-90s 7 Series is the better driver's car, thanks to its smaller size and more communicative, better-weighted steering.
However, the E38 BMW's place in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies wasn't mere product placement. This is a comfortable highway cruiser that nevertheless has the proper reflexes of a fun back-road car. Furthermore, it has a standard limited-slip differential. And while the 750i is reasonably quick by modern standards, its V12 provides a smooth rush of power that's still exhilarating. Little wonder Rolls-Royce used it in the Silver Seraph.
If you want something a bit sportier, though, look no further than the trim with 'Sport' literally in the name. It's the E38 BMW 740i Sport, aka '740i M Sport,' aka the 'shorty sporty.' It rides lower than the standard 740i and has stiffer springs, firmer shocks, and a bigger front sway bar. Also, a sequential-shift version of the five-speed automatic, upgraded torque converter, shorter final-drive ratio, and Sport-specific wheels. And inside, you get different wood trim and sport seats. The result is an E38 BMW that's still luxurious but corners and accelerates significantly better.
However, BMW offered other E38s that channeled even more of the James Bond spirit. While today it outsources its bulletproofing services, BMW briefly offered bulletproof E38s under the 'Protection' moniker. And years before Aston Martin made a Goldfinger DB5, BMW made a functional version of the Tomorrow Never Dies car. Seriously, it's called the 750iL Security Line, aka '740iLS,' and all the gadgets work, The Drive reports.
The E8 BMW 7 Series is almost a classic, but it's not necessarily a maintenance nightmare
By now, the oldest E38s technically qualify as classic cars. And even the youngest ones are over two decades old. So, before you put down any money, a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified, trusted, independent mechanic is recommended. But the good news is that, although not the most reliable used BMW, the E38 7 Series is the #2 or #3 pick in that regard.
The 740i's M60 V8 is a stalwart BMW engine overall, and unlike the M62, no VANOS. Some early cars did suffer bore-lining damage from high-sulfur gasoline, but that's a non-issue today. Apart from that, its only 'flaws' are age-related timing-chain stretching and cooling-system issues, BMW Tuning claims. Just make sure that the transmission fluid was regularly flushed; if not, make it a priority.
However, don't discount the M62 entirely. It has some extra worry areas, such as the VANOS system and plastic timing-chain tensioners, but with proper maintenance, these aren't deal-breakers. And stronger replacement parts are available, BMW Tuning notes.
The M73 V12 is a bit of a mixed bag, though. On the one hand, it doesn't have VANOS, and "isn't terribly complex," Road & Track says. However, parts are expensive, especially the throttle bodies. And because it's a 12-cylinder engine, it has more parts than a V8, which also means higher labor costs. So, unless you've got a robust maintenance budget, best stay away.
In addition, before buying any E38 BMW 7 Series, check that all its electronics work. These luxury sedans are fairly robust, but at their age, glitches sometimes show up. And while replacing, say, an ABS module isn't too difficult, fixing the navigation gets pricey.
How much does an E38 cost today?
BMW E36 M3 Buyer's Guide: Not Underappreciated Anymore
As noted earlier, the E38 BMW 7 Series is nearing classic age by now. So, high-mileage examples are the norm, rather than the exception. However, sub-100,000-mile E38s are still out there, though they naturally command higher prices.
Still, as with a newer 7 Series, buying used reaps you the benefits of depreciation. In 2000, a 740i Sport started at $64,200; that's just over $103,600 in 2021 money. But a decent-condition example today typically costs $10,000-$15,000.
Tags:7-series BMW luxury cars Used Cars


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VIDEO: Making of French rugby hunk calendar
France's annual calendar featuring the country's rugby hunks has unveiled its cover boy for the 2015 edition, but also a video of the making of 'Les Dieux du Stade' that should interest fans of these lightly clothed fellows.
Here's a sneak peak at France's much anticipated rugby hunk calendar. Photo: Screengrab/StadeFrançais
And the cover of the 2015 edition 'Les Dieux du Stade' (Gods of the Stadium) goes to scrum half Morgan Parra who plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne.
His name, and photo, were leaked to the media this week in the run up to the October 2nd release of the legendary calendar that's now in its 15th year of half-naked pics of rugby hunks.
Here's the photo of Parra, which is all that's been unveiled for now.
(Screengrab/StadeFrançais)
But if you'd like to see a little (actually a lot) more of the fellows, French pay TV channel Canal+ has released a video of the making of the calendar that doesn't leave much to the imagination.
La Nouvelle Edition du 27/06 – Dieux du stade : les coulisses du shooting
RUGBYCALENDAR
French rugby in turmoil as FFR boss gets suspended sentence over corruption
France v Ireland Six Nations rugby game postponed due to coronavirus outbreak


To request assistance in your asylum case, please fill out this form.
August 22, 2017 - Under the Trump Administration's new immigration enforcement priorities, many asylum seekers are now facing the terrifying possibility of being deported to violence and persecution in their home countries. As a result, CGRS has experienced a sharp rise in the demand for our expertise in asylum law. Over the past three years, the volume of requests for technical assistance in asylum cases we received on a daily basis had already been steadily increasing, largely due to rampant gang- and gender-based violence in Central America, which has driven many women, children, and families to flee. In 2016, we responded to a record number of nearly 3,000 requests for assistance. But since the issuance of President Trump's anti-immigrant Executive Orders in January, we have been absolutely inundated at a level we have never seen before. We are currently responding to more than 450 requests per month, putting us on pace to respond to over 5,500 requests for assistance from attorneys representing asylum seekers in 2017.
San Francisco Immigration Judge Dana Marks often likens asylum hearings to "trying a death penalty case in traffic court." She understands that her decision to grant or deny an asylum claim can have life or death consequences for the applicant. At CGRS, we do not turn down requests for assistance in a single case because we know that for asylum seekers effective legal representation can be life-saving. In order to sustain our technical assistance program at its current caliber, we are working closely with a web development team to make improvements to our online asylum case database that will help us address the current level of demand. We have also hired several stellar new attorneys and support staff who are working together to reduce response times and provide in-depth, one-on-one consultations to advocates in need of more individualized support.
Our team at CGRS is honored to collaborate with attorneys from around the country who vigorously defend the rights of immigrants and asylum seekers every day. Quality, zealous legal representation has the potential to tip the scales of justice in favor of asylum seekers and others looking to the United States for safe haven. The Trump Administration's immigration agenda certainly threatens the advances in asylum law and policy that we have worked so hard to achieve. But we will not turn back now. CGRS is leveraging our experience and knowledge to defend hard-won victories and provide attorneys with the expertise and resources necessary to advocate for the just treatment of women, children, and LGBT asylum seekers. Please help us answer the growing and urgent need for expertise in asylum cases by making a gift today. Together, we can ensure that no refugee is denied her right to protection from persecution.
Photo from Mary Altaffer, Associated Press.
The Center for Gender & Refugee Studies protects the fundamental human rights of refugee women, children, LGBT individuals, and others who flee persecution in their home countries through legal expertise and training, impact litigation, policy development, research, and in-country fact-finding.


Incorporating nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) into polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber changes the tensile property of PAN fiber. The goal is to identify the distribution of NCC on PAN fiber.
The peaks associated with NCC are acquired by taking PiFM spectra of pure NCC sample. The NCC peaks compared to the glass substrate are clearly identified. These peaks are used to bring out the subtle features from the hyPIR image taken of the PAN-NCC sample. Note that the strengths of peaks are as such: strong (1034, 1059, 1273 cm-1), medium (1103 cm-1), and weak (1167, 1212, 1323 cm-1).
The PiFM spectrum of a PAN-NCC samples clearly identifies the strong PAN peaks.
When the NCC sample is imaged at a wavenumber (946 cm-1) not associated with NCC peaks, NCC appears darker than the glass substrate whereas when it is imaged at a wavenumber (1260 cm-1) associated with NCC peaks, the PiFM image for NCC particles correlate well with the topography image.
The above images show the PiFM intensity map for the specified wavenumbers, which are associated with the NCC and PAN peaks. The images are displayed with different values of maximum intensity in order to bring out the PiFM features within the fiber structure. Note that NCC peaks at 1034, 1059, and 1271 cm-1 and PAN peaks at 1465, and 1738 at cm-1 are displayed with the same maximum intensity. The images at 1034 and 1059 cm-1 show the fiber being outlined from bright horizontal lines against the very strong substrate signal whereas the images at 1465 and 1738 cm-1 show the entire fiber being much brighter than the substrate. The image at 1103 cm-1 also reveals the horizontal PiFM features when the maximum intensity is lowered to 200. At 1271 cm-1, the PiFM signal for both the substrate and the overall fiber appear with roughly similar strength (as expected based on the spectra at the top of the page, which show peaks at 1273 cm-1 for both the glass substrate and NCC, albeit stronger for NCC) except for the brighter horizontal features observed at other NCC peaks. At the weak NCC peaks (1167 and 1324 cm-1), the maximum intensity has to be lowered to 150 to bring any PiFM feature on the fiber. Given that at the pure PAN peaks (1465 and 1738 cm-1), the whole fiber is more or less homogeneous in PiFM signal (without the strong horizontal features observed at NCC peaks), it is likely that the horizontal PiFM features observed at NCC peaks indicate the distribution of NCC on the PAN-NCC fibers.
These two images that superimpose the PiFM signals onto the topography shows that the PiFM signal at NCC peaks are associated with topographical ridges whereas there is no such correlation at a PAN peak (if anything, there is an inverse correlation where the PiFM signal at 1463 cm-1 is slightly lower at the ridges).


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Streaming media and home entertainment…
July 25, 2010	 History / Microsoft / Phones / Software / Technology / Video
I've recently helped a few friends get setup with "media centers" as their home entertainment systems. They've all been centered around using a small form-factor computer to 'power' things, and central to that is Microsoft's Windows 7 and Windows Media Center.
I was lucky enough to be a software tester at Microsoft around 2001 testing the first version of Window Media Center Edition (MCE) and it was exciting back then. It's now been 10 years – and it still hasn't caught on. But, I'm confident that's about to change.
TiVo can be credited with getting the 'digital revolution' started by recording the standard TV signals onto a hard drive, then letting people play it back whenever, and with the ability to skip commercials. It took a few years for consumers to "get the idea", but now almost everyone has a DVR (digital video recorder). I often explained the TiVo as being on par with the invention of the telephone. At first, no one really needed it, but it quickly became something that no one could live without. And now look where we are with phones…
After TiVo and DVRs became common-place, the price came down and availability went up for large flat-panel TVs. At first, only a few people had them, but here again, almost everyone has a flat-panel TV now. And once those HD televisions were everywhere, the TV stations started broadcasting in HD. Then by 2006 Sony had started shipping their Blu-ray format DVDs and players, with higher-definition pictures to go with those big TVs.
So, what's next? Well, over the past couple of years, Hulu and Netflix and even YouTube have seen incredible growth in the number of users who stream video. Devices like the XBox, Roku and next-gen TiVo allow people to play movies instantly through their internet connections. It's obvious that media streaming is the next big thing. Right now, not everyone is ready for it, but within a year or two, it will be just like DVRs – people won't be able to live without instant, on-demand, streaming media to their home entertainment systems.
This is where Microsoft has yet another chance to do something great – or flop (as has been their way lately.) Windows Media Center is now built-in to Windows 7. And it's got some great features. Aside from recording TV to the hard drive, there are lots of applications available and great integration with XBox and other devices to become "media extenders", which will allow the whole house to use the content on the machine. That, combined with Netflix, web-browsing, music and photo playback, MCE could be the killer app as the next big thing comes around. The question is – can Microsoft deliver? Or will they fall into old habits and just sit back and expect people to fit into Microsoft's mold? I'm sure Google TV is hoping that's what they do…
Now, I do love what Google has been doing in recent years, but I love what Microsoft use to be as well. So for now, I have to root for Microsoft and hope that they do the right thing and do some SERIOUS work on Windows Media Center. They've got MAYBE a year to get it updated, start having contests or paying people to build apps for it (which also means building a GOOD app store for it), and then get it into people's living rooms. If they don't do it now, they'll never get the chance again – and it will be yet another great product that they've developed, then let die on the vine.
Now, with that out of the way, what's the next, NEXT big thing after streaming media? I say it's all about information. Contextual information that goes along with people's favorite media is the thing to watch.
VidTaggr.com has that platform working now, but it's a tiny bit ahead of it's time (hopefully just a TINY bit!) Once everyone is streaming all of their movies, TV shows and other media, they're going to want something more. Just like how we weren't satisfied with only being able to make phone calls from the beach, now we want to call from the beach, but we want GPS built-in and 5mp cameras and internet access – ON OUR PHONE! So as streaming becomes 'the next big thing', VidTaggr will be right behind that to be the next, NEXT big thing.
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