Edward Manzo discusses creating, patenting, and marketing board games.
Have you ever wondered about the ins and outs of board game patents? We did, so we turned to Edward D. Manzo. A frequent lecturer on several aspects of patent law, Edward D. Manzo has worked exclusively in IP law since 1975. He is one of the founders of Cook Alex Ltd, an IP law firm in Chicago, Illinois. His practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, counseling, and managing patent prosecution.
Manzo is Vice President of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC) and a member of the Association of Patent Law Firms (APLF). He is the lead author and editor-in-chief of Claim Construction in the Federal Circuit, which focuses on patent claim interpretation law in the United States (only). He is completing a second title now, Patent Claim Interpretation - Global Edition, also with Thomson West, due to be published later this year and covering patent claim interpretation in 21 major countries.
Mr. Manzo has taught, led, or participated in several programs at DePaul Law School and the John Marshall Law School and has published and/or spoken dozens of times about many substantive areas of patent law. He offers advice to our readers on creating, patenting, and marketing board games.
How difficult is it to get a board game patent?
It is not harder than any other invention. That said, in light of the Supreme Court ruling in 2007 on patent obviousness, it is harder to show inventiveness in simple mechanical inventions than in complex biotechnology which is more unpredictable. For a board game, there has to be something different than prior games, and it should not be predictable. If the game has a new and unexpected "twist" to it, or some unexpected step or operation (moves), that should be enough to persuade the patent office examiner to approve the patent application.
What steps should someone take to patent a board game?
Just have a patent lawyer prepare a patent application for it and file it with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
You don't have to physically make one, but you do need understandable drawings for it, and a clear set of rules is very helpful.
You should also tell the attorney what games you know of that are somehow like yours. *After the USPTO receives the application, it will conduct an examination and send a report back to the attorney.
Typically after one or two exchanges, in which your "claims" may be amended and/or where your attorney may explain why the "prior art" is different, you typically arrive at a final decision - either a final rejection or an allowance.
After paying the USPTO fee for issuance, a patent issues a few months later.
The whole process typically costs from $5,000 to $10,000 for a simple invention.
Once an inventor has received a patent, what steps can be taken to market the game?
Finding a manufacturing source is one issue, but finding a store to sell the game is yet another issue. Most people can find a factory in China that will manufacture just about anything you want. What you need, however, is a market. The inventor will be greatly assisted with a patent, or at least having the right to declare that the game is "patent-pending." Without protection, copying is a serious risk.
What types of games seem to be more popular among companies?
This depends on the target age group. Games for adults are getting popular, especially ones that call for imagination, creativity, knowledge-expansion, or independent thinking.
Readers may enjoy referring to the USPTO website where they can run searches for patents and published patent applications on games, using word searching.
Do you have any websites or publications you'd like to share?
Several articles I have written about various issues in patent law are available on my firm's website, Cook Alex.com on the "Resources" tab and more particularly under "Publications and Presentations" and under "Claim Construction." This includes works on patent claim interpretation, injunctions in patent cases, rules pertaining to jury practice, patent obviousness, damages, and some further legal issues concerning patents.


Tonga declared a state of emergency Monday and imposed a curfew in the capital Nuku'alofa as the Pacific island kingdom braced for a direct hit from Severe Tropical Cyclone Gita.
The cyclone has already created havoc in neighbouring Samoa and is threatening to become a Category Five superstorm as it approaches Tonga.
Acting Prime Minister Semisi Sika issued a nationwide alert, saying he was "satisfied that an emergency is happening or is about to happen".
The Fiji Meteorological Service predicts Gita will become a Category Five storm - the top of the scale - before reaching Tonga Monday night.
It is already packing gusts of 275 kmh (170 mph) as it sits off the east coast of the country's most populous island Tongatapu.
Truckloads of troops were helping people batten down as the capital prepared for the cyclone and evacuation centres were opened across the kingdom.
Police also announced an overnight curfew in central Nuku'alofa "to further protect people and property".
"We are urging people to seek refuge from this severe cyclone that could be the most powerful in the country's history," said police commissioner Stephen Caldwell.
Tonga's Fua'amotu Weather Forecasting Centre warned residents could expect "very destructive hurricane-force winds".
Philip Duncan, chief forecaster at New Zealand's Weather Watch service, said current modelling showed it was lining up to hit Tongatapu directly.
"That's a very serious situation, the capital is there, there's over 75,000 people," he said.
"It's pretty rare to see the perfect circle, the centre of that storm, going right over the top of such a small island."
"If it moves just a little bit north or south it may not make technical landfall but it's severe weather, winds up to 230 kmh, waves over 10 metres at sea and a storm surge over a metre on top of that," he said.
The information ministry advised anyone considering moving to the shelters to leave early, saying travel would not be possible when the eye of the storm passes over.
Otherwise people should stay at home and ride out the wild weather, it said.
"Every family should have an emergency kit packed in their homes," it warned.
Tonga Meteorological Service director Ofa Fa'anunu said the low-lying capital was particularly vulnerable to storm surges.
"We are looking at major structural damage," he warned.
Cyclones are common in the Pacific at this time of year, with Category Five systems proving highly destructive when they make landfall.
Cyclone Winston killed 44 people in Fiji in 2016, and Cyclone Pam claimed 11 lives and damaged 65,000 homes in Vanuatu in 2015.
Another Category Five storm, Cyclone Ian, hit Tonga's sparsely-populated Ha'apai islands in 2014, causing extensive damage and leaving thousands homeless.


I'm Laura! Most days, you can find me juggling writing, podcasting, decorating, and a whole host of other creative endeavors while handing out Veggie Straws and throwing impromptu dance parties in the kitchen with my kiddos.
I co-founded Risen Motherhood and currently serve as the Executive Director and co-host of the podcast. I also co-wrote a book with my sister-in-law by the same name, "Risen Motherhood" which comes out in September 2019.
In addition, I dabble in helping people with interiors and new construction design and periodically consult with brands on their social media strategy and planning. I love asking good questions, studying theology, great design, books with real pages to turn, and being a mom (not in that order).
Welcome to my corner of the internet. I'm glad you're here.


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Home » Collections » Ancient Art
The Gallery's collection of art from the ancient Mediterranean world comprises over 13,000 objects from the Near East, Egypt, Greece, Etruria, and Rome. The collection is also known for its important finds from Yale University's excavations in the 1920s and 1930s at Dura-Europos (in present-day Syria) and at Gerasa (now Jerash, Jordan).
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About Ancient Art
The Yale University Art Gallery's collection of ancient Mediterranean art is displayed in the graceful Sculpture Hall in the 1928 Old Yale Art Gallery building, the chronological installation moving from ancient Babylon through early medieval Europe. Visitors first encounter objects representing the ancient Near East, including Assyrian stone reliefs from the palace of the ninth-century B.C. King Assurnasirpal II, followed by vases, glass, sculptures, and mosaics from the Greek and Roman civilizations. In particular, the display features the Gallery's strong collection of Classical Greek vases, as well as private and imperial Roman portraits.
The installation also includes an important gallery devoted to Yale's finds from ancient Dura-Europos, in Syria. Excavations in the 1920s and 1930s uncovered what is likely the earliest Christian church, a synagogue whose assembly-room walls were painted with biblical scenes, and a shrine to the mysterious Roman god Mithras. Many other pagan religious sanctuaries surfaced, reflecting the multicultural nature of religious communities in the Roman provinces. Also discovered were paintings, sculptures, papyri and parchments, coins, arms and armor, and items of daily use, such as leather sandals, jewelry, and textiles. The extraordinary sculptures found at Dura-Europos are presented together with works from nearby Palmyra, asserting the close connections and exchanges between the two cities. Other highlights include a full-scale reconstruction of the Mithraeum, wall paintings from the baptistery in the Christian church (including what is among the earliest known images of Christ), decorated ceiling tiles from the synagogue, and rare examples of military equipment (including a complete set of horse armor and painted wooden shields).
At the same time as the Dura excavations, Yale also participated in excavations at Gerasa, whose mosaics represent the best of early Byzantine church-mosaic production in Jordan. One of the Gallery's most important objects is a spectacular sixth-century A.D. floor mosaic with isometric images of the Egyptian cities of Alexandria and Memphis, which had been in storage since the 1940s. An innovative conservation treatment was recently completed, allowing the mosaic to be a highlight of the Gallery's ancient Mediterranean installation.
Explore the Related Online Feature about Dura-Europos
Note from the Curator
A new installation at the Gallery features highlights from its extraordinary collection of ancient glass, which is one of the largest and best in the country. The display showcases 56 exquisite and rare examples of Near Eastern, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman glass that range from the 14th century B.C. to the 7th century A.D. The selection represents the full spectrum of masterful techniques and styles developed during the early history of glassmaking, illustrating the high level of artistry achieved by glassmakers in the ancient world.
On view are works of mosaic glass, which inspired the later artisans of Renaissance Venice; free-blown and mold-blown glass; core-formed and cast glass; and vessels adorned with marbled and splashed glass, gilding, or threads of molten glass. While the names of most ancient glassmakers are unknown today, the most accomplished among them did sign their works. One of the most spectacular vessels in the installation is a bowl signed by the Roman glassmaker Ennion, a master of mold-blown glass in the early to mid-1st century A.D. The bowl is one of about 20 surviving vessels that bear his signature.
Lisa R. Brody
Associate Curator of Ancient Art
Installation of ancient glass in the Mary and James Ottaway Gallery of Ancient Dura-Europos
Related Online Feature
Dura-Europos: Excavating Antiquity
The archaeological site of Dura-Europos, in modern Syria, is a fascinating crossroads of ancient cultures. It is perhaps best known for the important finds unearthed during the excavations in the 1920s and 1930s sponsored by Yale University and the French Academy of Inscriptions and Letters. These discoveries included a shrine to the god Mithras, a synagogue whose assembly room walls were covered with painted biblical scenes, and one of the earliest Christian house churches.
Susan B. Matheson
Susan B. Matheson, the Molly and Walter Bareiss Curator of Ancient Art, oversees the collections of art from the ancient Mediterranean and ancient Americas. She has organized exhibitions on Greek vases, Dura-Europos, and Neoclassical and Gothic Revival Art, and she was cocurator of the exhibition I, Claudia: Women in Ancient Rome in 1996. Her books include Polygnotos and Vase-Painting in Classical Athens, volumes on Yale's Athenian vases and ancient glass, and Art for Yale: A History of the Yale University Art Gallery. She teaches courses on Athenian vase painting for the departments of Classics and the History of Art at Yale.
susan.matheson@yale.edu
Download Susan Matheson's CV
Lisa R. Brody, Associate Curator of Ancient Art, received her B.A. from Yale and her PH.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University. She has excavated around the Mediterranean and on Yale's campus, and her publications include Aphrodisias III: The Aphrodite of Aphrodisias. In 2011 she cocurated Dura-Europos: Crossroads of Antiquity, which was on view at the McMullen Museum at Boston College and at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University, and she coedited the accompanying book. She most recently cocurated Roman in the Provinces: Art on the Periphery of Empire and coedited the exhibition catalogue.
lisa.brody@yale.edu
Download Lisa Brody's CV
Baird, J. A. "Photographing Dura-Europos, 1928–1937: An Archaeology of the Archive." American Journal of Archaeology 115 (July 2011): 427–46.
Baur, Paul V. C., ed. Gerasa: City of Decapolis. New Haven: American Schools of Oriental Research, 1938.
Brody, Lisa R. "Portrait of a Lady: A New Statue at the Yale University Art Gallery." Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin (2008) 143–47.
Brody, Lisa R., and Gail L. Hoffman, eds. Dura-Europos: Crossroads of Antiquity, exh. cat. Chestnut Hill, Mass.: McMullen Museum of Art, Boston College, 2011.
Brody, Lisa R., and Carol Snow. "A Mystery in Marble: Examining a Portrait Statue through Science and Art." Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin (2010): 31–45.
The Excavations at Dura-Europos, Preliminary and Final Reports. New Haven: Yale University Press; Los Angeles: University of California Press; Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1929–2001.
Grossmann, Richard A. Ancient Glass: A Guide to the Yale Collection. New Haven: Yale University Art Gallery, 2002.
Harrelson, Sam. Asia Has Claims Upon New England: Assyrian Reliefs at Yale. New Haven: Yale University Art Gallery, 2006.
Hopkins, Clark. The Discovery of Dura-Europos. Edited by Bernard Goldman. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979.
Matheson, Susan B. Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum: Athenian Red-figure and White-ground Vases in the Yale University Art Gallery. Mainz-am-Rhein, Germany: von Zabern, 2011.
Matheson, Susan B. Greek Vases: A Guide to the Yale Collection. New Haven: Yale University Art Gallery, 1988.
Matheson, Susan B. Ancient Glass in the Yale University Art Gallery. New Haven: Yale University Art Gallery, 1980.
McCarty, Matthew M. Ancient Bronzes: A Guide to the Yale Collection. New Haven: Yale University Art Gallery, 2006.
Scott, Gerry D. III. Ancient Egyptian Art at Yale. New Haven: Yale University Art Gallery, 1986.
Ancient Art Highlights

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The Brief: Brother Nature tweeted a public apology after offensive Tweets he made when he was younger resurfaced.
The day after these racist, sexist, and anti-semitic Tweets went viral, Brother Nature Tweeted an apology, explaining that he was about 12 years old when he Tweeted those things, that he's sorry, and that he's changed.
On Twitter, critics responded to the uncovering of these tweets with outrage, saying that he had milkshake ducked and should be canceled. Others forgave him, emphasizing that he was young and immature when he wrote them.
Unlike some of the botched apology videos in the 2018 Beauty Vlogger Dramageddon, Brother Nature's apology seemed to be sincere and was generally well-received.
Ultimately, this story is another reminder that everything online is permanent.
If you wanna cancel Brother Nature over a tweet from when he was 12 years old – okay, that's your decision. But if you're still supporting actual convicted pedophiles like 6ix9ine or notorious rapists like Kodak Black… Your activism is performative and unhelpful.


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Discounts Pass
Versailles Tickets and Tours
This is a comprehensive guide that details everything you need to know about visiting Versailles, including tips on how to get there, which ticket(s) to buy, as well as a comparison of the various guided tour options.
Tours from Paris
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The Palace of Versailles is a colossal estate that has been home to many significant events. Most notably, it is where the Peace Treaty was signed between the Germans and the Allies at the end of WWI, as well as the final residence of King Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette before the French Revolution.
Versailles is approximately 40 minutes away from Paris by train.
Expect long lines!! One of the many benefits of traveling with a tour company or booking your tickets in advance is that you will be put in the fast-track line. Still, there are often delays when entering the Palace so be patient… we promise it's worth the wait!
You can either travel to Versailles with a tour company (who then, in most cases, will arrange for your Palace entrance tickets) or on your own from Paris.
There are several different types of tickets for the Palace of Versailles. Some will just give you access to the Palace, while others will also allow you to visit the gardens, the Musical Fountain Show, etc.
VERSAILLES TICKETS
There are several different types of tickets, each of which gives you access to varying parts of the estate.
Though you can wait to purchase tickets in person at the ticket office, it is often cheaper and much easier (no lines!) to buy them online in advance.
Below we have listed all the different ticket options in order from least to most inclusive.
Please note that though many of the 3rd party tour operators listed in this guide also cover the entrance fees to the Palace, some do not. Therefore, be sure you know whether you need to purchase a ticket separately.
Palace of Versailles Entrance Ticket with Audio Guide
Includes entrance to Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and Marie-Antoinette's Estate.
Musical Fountains Show not included.
From €12 per person
Palace and Gardens
Includes entrance to Palace of Versailles with Audio Guide and Gardens of Versailles except on the days when the Musical Gardens or Musical Fountains shows are on.
1 Day Passport with Show
Includes entrance to the Palace of Versailles, Trianons, and the Musical Gardens or Musical Fountains Show.
€27 per person
2 Day Passport without Show
Includes entrance to Palace of Versailles, Grand Trianon, and Petit Trianon and Gardens, except on the days when the Musical Gardens or Musical Fountains shows are on. Valid on two consecutive days.
Valid on two consecutive days.
Versailles is located approximately 45 minutes southwest of Paris. You can choose to get there either on your own by car or train, with a tour company by train, or with a bus tour company by private coach.
Though a fairly easy drive, the route between Paris and Versailles can often become congested with traffic, making the journey seem much farther than it is.
If choosing to travel by car, be sure you go on off-peak times to avoid sitting in traffic.
Depending on where in Paris you depart from, the journey should be approximately 25 km and take 45 minutes.
The train is probably the easiest and most frequently used way to get to Versailles from Paris. In fact, all of the bike, segway, and walking tour companies listed below take visitors on the train to get them to Versailles.
The ride is approximately 50-70 minutes long, depending on your departure point.
By bus tour:
As noted below in our Versailles Bus Tours section, Paris City Vision offers comfortable transport in a private mini-bus with a/c between Paris and Versailles which is then accompanied by a guided tour of the Palace.
By bike tour: There are 3 different bike tour companies that we recommend for tours of Versailles! Each has its guests meet in Paris and then they guide them on the train to Versailles before handing over the bikes for the tour. Check out our Versailles Bike Tours section to learn more.
By walking tour: There are currently two walking tour companies that offer day trips to this location. As with the bike tours, you also travel via train with the tour company and then continue on foot once you arrive in Versailles.
VERSAILLES WALKING TOURS
If you're interested in seeing all of the major attractions at Versailles, a walking tour is an excellent way to discover this landmark.
In addition to covering train tickets to and from Versailles, these tours also include a guided trip throughout the palace and gardens.
Some tours actually allow you to visit after hours, giving you the chance to avoid the crowds and see everything with ease.
Tickets range from €30 – €100 depending on what is included with the tour.
SANDEMAN'S New Europe
SANDEMAN'S New Europe is one of the only walking tour companies to offer a guided tour of Versailles from Paris.
This outing includes transportation to and from the site at no additional cost, but you will have to pay for admission to the palace and gardens.
Visitors can expect to see locations such as the King's Apartment, the War Room, the Peace Room and more during this Versailles tour.
Half-Day Versailles Gardens Guided Tour from Paris
Departs Tuesday-Sunday at 9 am.
Price includes train transportation to and from Versailles.
Price does NOT include entrance to the Palace (EUR 15) or entrance to gardens (EUR 8/9)
Reviews of Sandeman's New Europe
This company has some of the best ratings in Europe, often receiving scores of at least 4 ½ out of 5 stars – if not better!
Most customers feel that their guides are very helpful and informative, and their tours are a great way to learn more about any given subject.
Take Walks
Unlike their main competitors in Paris, this company offers an after hours Versailles tour with a maximum of 19 guests per outing, making it easier to avoid large crowds.
Take Walks also has a combo package which includes a tour of both the Louvre and Versailles. If you're interested in visiting both locations, this is a great way to save time!
Each outing includes transportation to and from Versailles via train and a fully guided tour of each historic site.
Closing Time at Versailles Tour
Weekday Prices: €85/Adults | €83/Students | €80/Children
Weekend Prices: €99/Adults | €97/Students | €94/Children
Spring/Fall Availability: Sun, Tue, Thur, Sat between 12 pm – 2 pm
Summer Availability: Thur – Sun & Tue between 12 pm – 2 pm
Duration: 4 ½ hours
Louvre & Versailles Tour
€139/Adults | €135/Students | €129/Children
Spring/Fall Availability: Thur, Sun at 10:30 am
Summer Availability: Thur, Sat & Sun at 10:30 am
Includes admission to the Louvre.
Reviews of Take Walks
This tour company receives generally positive reviews, with most guests agreeing that their tour guides are friendly and very informative.
The only complaints anyone had were regarding the gardens, which can be diminished depending on the time of year you visit – but this isn't a factor that Take Walks can control.
VERSAILLES BIKE TOURS
Bike tours are perhaps the most popular way to explore the Palace of Versailles. The royal grounds are massive, making it difficult to see and do everything by foot. However, with a bike tour you are able to cover much more ground. There are 3 main companies leading cycling tours to Versailles: Bike About Tours, Fat Tire Bike Tours, and Blue Fox Travel. Each tour runs for 8 hours and costs approximately €85-€99, with Blue Fox Travel being the cheapest and Fat Tire Bike Tours being the most expensive. All have stellar reviews so it is doubtful that you can go wrong with any of them. However, if you're really uncertain about which company to select, be sure to look over the itinerary for each as they vary slightly.
Bike About Tours
Bike About Tours offer an 8 hour bike tour of Versailles from Paris. Take the train to Versailles and then set off through the tree-lined royal forest before stopping into a local food market at Versailles village to buy things for a picnic on the Grand Canal. After lunch, continue to the Queen's Hamlet, which was Marie Antoinette's private residence and the place where she sought refuge from the rigors of court life. In addition to your bike hire, round-trip train tickets to and from Paris and entrance tickets into the royal grounds and Chateau of Versailles are included in the price of the tour.
Palace of Versailles Full-Day Bike Tour from Paris
Departs Tuesday-Sunday at 8:45 am
Reviews of Bike About Tours
People seem very pleased with their experience travelling to Versailles with Bike About Tours (read the reviews). Many write that they felt they saw and learned much more than guests who visited Versailles on their own. Several also make a point to say that they saved a lot of time by going with this tour company as they were able to skip the long lines. The Versailles Market for lunch comes highly rated too. All in all this looks like a great tour! TripAdvisor Rating: 5 stars.
Fat Tire Bike Tours
Similar to Bike About Tours, Fat Tire Bike Tours also offer a full day bike tour of Versailles from Paris. After taking the train to Versailles, you will hop on your bike and began the cycling tour around the grounds. Also visit the Hall of Mirrors, as well as the Grand and Petit Trianons. For lunch you will visit the Versailles open market where your guide will help you pick out the best local specialties to enjoy during your picnic on the Grand Canal. Included in the price: round-trip train tickets to Paris-Versailles, timed entrance to the chateau, entrance to the Grand and Petit Trianons and Marie Antoinette's Hameau, garden ticket on fountain days, and the bike hire.
Skip the Line: Versailles Guided Bike & Palace Tour
Departs Tuesday-Sunday at 9 am
Fat Tire Bike Tours is a beloved company with outstanding reviews (read the reviews). This tour seems especially popular with families who felt that the bike tour helped keep the kids entertained and enjoy their time in Versailles. The bikes themselves are also commended for being clean and comfortable. The only negative review comes from a visitor whose tour was cancelled at the last minute. However, though unfortunate, we have to assume that this was a rarity. TripAdvisor Rating: 5 stars.
Blue Fox Travel
Blue Fox Travel also offers an 8 hour bike tour to Versailles from Paris. After a short train ride from Paris, you will be paired with your bike and then take off to explore the formal gardens and extensive grounds of the Versailles. You will also get to walk through the Palace of Versailles at your own pace and visit Marie-Antoinette's private village and farm, hidden in the Royal Grounds. Like the other tours, you will visit the farmers market in Versailles town to prepare some items for a picnic lunch.
Versailles Bike Tour with Palace & Queen Farm Entrance
Departs Tuesday-Sunday at 9am
Reviews of Blue Fox Travel
Reviewers seem to love Blue Fox Travel, writing that the guides were brilliant, informative, and entertaining (read the reviews). Many other praise the bikes for being so comfortable and easy to ride. In fact, several people comment that their tour with Blue Fox Travel was the highlight of their trip. TripAdvisor Rating: 5 stars.
BUS TOURS FROM PARIS TO VERSAILLES
Another easy way to visit Versailles is by taking a bus tour from Paris. Paris City Vision is by far the most well-known company offering this service. At €87 per person, the cost of this tour is comparable to any of the bike tours. However, at just 4 hours, the Skip the Line: Versailles Guided Tour from Paris by Paris City Vision is half the length of time. Regardless, people seem to be generally very happy with their experience as this is a great option for those who want to be guided door-to-door on wheels.
Paris City Vision
Paris City Vision offers a 4-hour tour that brings guests straight to Versailles from Paris via an air-conditioned luxury coach. You are then guided through the Palace before being given time to explore the surrounding area, though the entrance fee to the gardens is not included. Paris City Vision does not offer complimentary hotel pick up/drop off, so be prepared to meet your tour bus at 2 rue des Pyramides near the Louvre.
Skip the Line: Versailles Guided Tour from Paris
Reviews Paris City Vision
Though guests seem universally impressed by Versailles and happy with their decision to visit the Palace, many comment that their time was too short on this tour (read the reviews). With only 4 hours to travel from Paris and tour the area, several felt rushed and were disappointed to leave. However, if you only have a half-day to spare, this is the perfect tour to choose as it's extremely convenient and allows you to see the most significant parts of Versailles! TripAdvisor Rating: 4 stars.
VERSAILLES SEGWAY TOURS
If you're keen to do a segway tour during your travels, why not take one during your visit to Versailles! Versailles Events, a local events company, run 1 and 2 hour segway tours Tuesday-Sunday. During each tour, you are guided through Versailles Park where you will see Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and Marie-Antoinette's Hamlet. Entry to the Palace of Versailles is NOT included in the price of the tour, so you will need to purchase that separately.
Versailles Events
Versailles Park: 1 Hour Guided Segway Tour
Departs Tuesday-Sunday at 2pm
Departs Tuesday-Sunday at 10am
From €110 per person
Reviews of Versailles Events
Despite the fact that this tour does not actually visit the Palace of Versailles or the gardens, but instead Versailles Park, it still gets great reviews (read the reviews)! Most people report back saying that they had a great time and that their guide was a lot of fun. Some were disappointed that the tour didn't enter the official royal gardens. However, as long as your read the description and understand what you're paying for, you're sure to enjoy yourself. TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5 stars.
WALKING TOUR OF OLD TOWN VERSAILLES
Looking to experience Versailles beyond the Palace? One company, Monument Cafe, offers a lunch and guided walk of the Old Town of Versailles. If you're only planning to spend half a day on the Palace grounds, this tour is a great way to fill the rest of the day as lunch is included and it will introduce you to the rest of the city.
Monument Cafe
Monument Cafe run a 1.5 hour guided tour and lunch of the Old Town of Versailles. The lunch is an impressive all-you-can-eat buffet lunch featuring French specialties. While you dine, you will have plenty of time to sit and enjoy the beauty of the Palace as it is very nearby. After lunch you will embark on a guided walk of the historic area of Versailles where you will learn more about the Palace and its significance during the French Revolution.
Old Town of Versailles: Lunch & Guided Walk
1.5 hour tour available 9am-6pm on weekends and 11am-6pm on weekdays
Reviews of Monument Cafe
Though most of the reviews of Monument Cafe come from patrons who loved their food, there are also a handful of reviews from visitors who took their guided walking tour. Many comment that they appreciated how this tour expanded their understanding of Versailles beyond just the Palace. TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5 stars.
There are several different tourist passes available in Paris, which offer discounts on tours and major attractions such as the Palace of Versailles. The Paris Pass is a great way to save on ticket prices, especially if you're interested in visiting other touristic sites as well. These are a great way to save serious cash and really make the most of your time in the city. Also consider checking websites such as GroupOn and TravelZoo for additional discounts on tours.
SELF GUIDED TOUR OF VERSAILLES
Located less than an hour from Paris, Versailles is a must-see destination for most visitors to France. Whether you're a French Revolution enthusiast, a lover of Marie Antoinette, or simply interested in seeing the interior of one of the most opulent Palaces in the world, Versailles is for you! Though a free audio tour is available with your ticket purchase, we've written up a self-guided tour to help you navigate this 17th century marvel.
The Palace of Versailles
Gardens and Fountains
Trianon – Countryside Palaces
Versailles Markets
Interested in visiting Versailles with a tour group? Check out our Guide to Versailles, where we compare all the various walking, bike, segway, and bus tour companies that visit the Palace!
The Palace of Versailles (1.5 hrs)
The Palace of Versailles is the center piece of any visit to Versailles. A walk through the ostentatious rooms and hallways offers critical insight into what helped inspire the French Revolution. Though the Palace is very large, most guests complete their visit in under 1.5 hours. Below we've listed some notable highlights that should not be missed during your visit.
Open from 8 a.m. to 5.30, 6 or 8.30 p.m.
Allow for up to 1.5 hours
€18 -Palace of Versailles with Audio Guide and Gardens of Versailles except on the days when the Musical Gardens or Musical Fountains shows are on
€27 – (1 Day Passport w/Show) Palace of Versailles, Trianons and the Musical Gardens or Musical Fountains Show
THE ROYAL COURTYARD AND MARBLE COURTYARD
After going through the first security check at the main gate, you will enter the Royal Courtyard. Walk up the steps to your left and step foot in the Marble Courtyard, taking in the ornate architectural detail and iconic floor patterns.
THE GALLERY OF THE HISTORY OF THE PALACE
Next, you will enter the Palace and collect your free audioguide. Before entering the Royal Chapel, take a few minutes to enjoy the Gallery of the History of the Palace, which details the history of Versailles using multimedia. This is a great introduction to the Palace and definitely should not be missed!
THE KING'S STATE APARTMENTS
Next, head toward the the King's State Apartments. These are 7 prestigious rooms that reveal the opulence and interests of King Louis XIV. Each is named after a planet and served a different purpose during the King's reign.
The first of these rooms is the Hercules Room, which was the last to be built by the King. Pay special attention to the ceiling as it features an incredible painting called The Apotheosis of Hercules. The masterpiece was completed by François Lemoyne in 1736 after 4 years of work. Despite being made First Painter by the King after its unveiling, Lemoyne committed suicide just 1 year later, siting exhaustion after working so long and hard on the project.
Next is the Hall of Plenty. This room was used to serve coffee, wines and liqueurs after an evening gathering. Notice the depiction of the King's Vessel over the door, which held the King's sorviette and symbolized power.
Beyond the Hall of Plenty is the Venus Room, which was one of the rooms that mad up the mani entrance to the King's Apartments. You will notice a painting a Venus on the ceiling, as well as a lot of Baroque decorations. This room was filled with flowers and "pyramids of rare fresh fruit" during evening gatherings.
As you move into the next room, you will see a painting of Diana (the goddess of the hunt) "watching over navigation and hunting scenes." This is the Diana Room, which was also used as a main entrance and functioned as a Billiards Room during gatherings.
The Mars Room marked the beginning of the King's Private Apartments and was used as a Guard Room, hence its dedication to the god of war. There are several impressive paintings in the room, many of which allude to the military.
Though originally the royal bedchamber of the King, the Mercury Room was rarely slept in. It once was decorated with tables, mirrors, andirons, and chandeliers, however all these valuables were eventually melted down to finance the War of the League of Augsburg. This is also the room where the body of Louis XIV was displayed for over a week after his death in 1715.
The final room of the King's Apartments is the Apollo Room, which was "designed as the sovereign's Ceremonial Room" and later used as the throne room. Above the fireplace hangs the most famous portrait of Louis XIV. The King was so pleased with the result of the painting that he requested the artist to make additional copies of the same image. Today, the original is on display in the Musee du Louvre and one of the copies hangs here.
THE HALL OF MIRRORS
Next you will enter into the Hall of Mirrors — the most famous room in the Palace of Versailles. This extravagant room was constructed to replace the large terrace that originally opened out to the garden. Due to its poor design and overexposure to the weather, the terrace was torn down and remade into this icon of opulence.
Though the room was most often used by courtier and visitors to pass through the Palace, it was occasionally used for special events such as royal weddings or diplomatic receptions. In these cases, the King's throne was placed at the end of the Hall near the Peace Room, which served to emphasize the French monarchy's power and wealth. This room was also where the Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919, which ended WWI.
THE GALLERY OF GREAT BATTLES
Lastly visit the Gallery of Great Battles, which is part of a historical museum that documents "all of the glories of France." This room was transformed between 1833 and 1837, after the Palace was left abandoned.
Near the exist, there are restrooms, lockers, and a gift shop, as well as the desk where you can return your audio guide.
Gardens and Fountains (2hrs)
The Gardens are an extravagant symbol of wealth that rivals the Palace itself. Featuring several different water features, lawns, and statues, the Gardens are an absolute MUST if you're visiting Versailles.
We recommend taking a stroll along one of the many paths and getting lost amongst the many trees and and enclaves. Below we've listed some of the highlights, though there are many other ornate details and impressive foliage to see.
Allow for up to 2 hours
One of the most spectacular pieces of architectural genius is the Orangerie. Home to 1,500 orange and lemon trees from Portugal, Spain, and Italy, the Orangerie is nearly 200 years old and still cultivated today.
As you continue into the gardens, take the center stairway to visit Leto's Fountain. The massive fountain depicts several characters from Greco-Roman mythology. Louis XIV felt a particular connection with Apollo and thus "embodied him through statues in the gardens."
Continuing along the line of the Grande Perspective, you will arrive at the Great Lawn, which runs 335 meters through the center of the gardens. Observe the symmetrical bushes and "yews of geometrical forms." If you're in need of refreshments or a toilet, head to the Girandole Grove near the beginning of the Great Lawn.
Halfway down and to the left of the Great Lawn is the Winter Walk, which leads to the Saturn Fountain and Mirror Pool. Here, there are "five avenues marked by four imitation classical statues, including one of Apollo."
Just beyond, you will see Apollo's Fountain, which once again demonstrates Louis XIV's love of mythology and extraordinary wealth. The ornate statue shows the god Apollo emerging from the water in his chariot, drawn by four horses and surrounded by tritons. Meant to represent sunrise, the fountain marks the end of the gardens before the park. From here, there are bicycles, boats, segways, and electric vehicles for rent, as well as refreshments and toilets. The Trianon Palaces and Marie Antoinette's Estate are approximately a 10 minute walk away, or just a few minutes if taking the tram.
Trianon – Countryside Palaces (4hrs, only in afternoons)
Those interested in exploring even more of the Palace grounds should consider visiting the Trianon Palace and Estate of Marie Antoinette. The quiet and serenity of theses places provided were a sharp contrast to the Palace of Versailles, and thus served as an escape from Court life. If you skip the Gardens, the Trianon Palace is about a 30 minute walk from the Palace. Otherwise, it is 10 minutes from the far edge of the Gardens or just a few minutes if you take the electric tram.
Open from 12 noon to 5.30 or 6.30 p.m.
Each building can be visited separately
€12 – Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and Marie-Antoinette's Estate
THE GRAND TRIANON
The Grand Trianon is a set of buildings that served as Louis XIV's second residence. Designed to resemble the Italian architecture of the time, the Grand Trianon was an oasis for the King to relax without the constraints imposed in the Palace.
You will first enter the Empress's Apartments, which are comprised of several rooms including the Hall of Mirrors and the Empress's Chambers. Continue onwards to the Emperor's Apartments, where you will find the music room, Malachite Room, and Cotelle Gallery — the last of which is appropriately decorated with several paintings of Cotelle.
Before wandering over to the Petit Trianon, spend some time admiring the grounds surrounding this palace. Then, make your way over Chemin Creux Bridge to continue your tour.
THE PETIT TRIANON
Given to her by Louis XIV in 1774, the Petit Trianon served as Marie Antoinette's beloved escape from the imposing rules of the Court. Enter through the Swiss House, where you will have a chance to view the Réchauffoir, which kept dishes warm before they were served to the royal table. Next, venture upstairs to visit the bedroom and the Cabinet of Moving Mirrors. Commissioned by Marie Antoinette herself, this special cabinet is was handmade so that mirrors from the floor would rise up and close of the window, creating a boudoir.
Finish by visiting the French gardens, just outside of the Petit Trianon. This area was used to host visitors and entertain them with music. Nearby, a green trellis surrounds the area known as the Cool Room, which was where diners would enjoy dairy and vegetables from the gardens.
THE QUEEN'S HAMLET
The Queen's Hamlet is a unique feature that is made up of 11 houses along the Great Lake made to resemble a Norman village. Each home is adorned with a small garden that grows fruit and vegetables. During King Louis XIV's reign, these lands were managed by a farmer and the produce that was harvested helped supply the kitchens of the Palace.
Beyond the Palace grounds, there are several local markets where visitors can buy the makings of a picnic. Market stalls were a very important part of daily life in the 17th century. However, in 1841 these open-air vending stations were replaced with a covered market that still exists today. Some of the most notable of these markets include the Market of Notre Dame, as well as Jussieu-Montreuil market.
Christina studied art history and French literature at the Sorbonne for a year in Paris as an undergrad. Now based in Washington, DC, she visits Paris as often as possible and loves introducing family and friends to her favorite places there. She has worked as a travel writer, museum professional, English tutor, and editor, and her favorite French cheese is Pont l'Eveque.


text:
10 Maryland MSE Faculty Members Ranked in Top...
10 Maryland MSE Faculty Members Ranked in Top 2% of World Scientists
Ten University of Maryland (UMD) Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) faculty members are amongst the top 2% of world scientists according to a Stanford University report.
John Cumings, Liangbing Hu, Maija Kukla, Gottlieb Oehrlein, Gary Rubloff, Ichiro Takeuchi, Eric Wachsman, Howard Wang, Manfred Wuttig and JC Zhao were ranked based on number of citations between 1996 and 2019. The report covered scientists from around the globe in fields ranging from chemistry to engineering to economics and business. It was prepared by a team of experts led by John Ioannidis, Stanford Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Health. Follow this link to see the list of top 2% of world scientists included in Stanford's report.
The ranking method is described here: https://lnkd.in/dT4FFZA


Twitter is apparently bringing a pool of emojis to its tweets. The news has come up from a Twitter user _Ninji who presented a picture showing numerous emojis and says that popular is currently testing multiple emoji reactions. He could access the emojis through a jailbroken version of the app, and that the feature is incomplete with a huge scope of improvements.
Talking about bringing emoji in Twitter, a wave of arguments will splash on the micro blogging site. The sticker like emojis have been launched by Path and the tradition of commenting using emojis was started by Slack and carried forward by Facebook. Very recently Twitter replaced the Star icon for Favorites by Hearts but the change was not accepted with open arms. This is because adding heart to tweets which are emotionally or morally upsetting is not a welcome change. Even though emojis can be a better way to express your emotions compared to Hearts, but the feature will surely compromise the simplicity that Twitter claims to have. So a debate will continue to fume up with every coming change.


Naturally, this leads to an obvious conclusion. If you're small business doesn't have a website that accommodates mobile users, you're going to be fighting an uphill battle.
Most websites owned, designed, and operated by qualified professionals have been accommodating mobile users for over a year now. Early in 2015, Google announced that a (then) future update would use a website's mobile friendliness as a ranking factor.
The prudent marketers, SEOs, and web administrators sought to update their site with responsive designs and mobile formatting to keep up with the latest searches. For that reason alone, your website needs to easily navigable and readable on smartphones. But now that mobile searches have overtaken traditional queries, there's an even greater need to make sure your website is formatted correctly.
Aside from boosting Google ranking signals to climb higher in the SERPs to capture more organic traffic, you have your visitors to think about. If you engage in any kind of social media content marketing (as you should be doing), realize that your posts are going to be seen on a mobile device more often than not.
This is a huge paradigm shift that has really only surfaced within the last 5 years. Before, we had to think about which devices people were using to view any given marketing channel. For example, when non-mobile searches were the norm, you could purchase Google ads and still accommodate the majority of your users without a mobile-friendly site.
When Facebook first came out, flip-phones were still the norm, but today competent marketers know that their Facebook content marketing is going to be viewed on a smartphone. Since mobile devices rule Internet traffic these days, you need to understand what mobile users like as well as what turns them off to your content.
Haven't you ever viewed a website that wasn't formatted correctly for your smartphone? It's a pain in the neck, and a headache-inducing nightmare. What was your first reaction when confronted with a poorly designed site? Did you try to resize the screen, wait patiently for 60 seconds while the page tried to load, or did you flee the site in anger? If your website irritates your visitors, your bounce is going to skyrocket – which is terrible for organic rankings.
If your small business is within the Food & Beverage category, rejoice! The highest performing mobile search category is "Food & Beverage" with about 72% of search volume. And that makes a lot of sense, doesn't it? How many times have we all whipped out our phones to find a place to eat, whether in our home town or some other location?
Although, if you're not in the food & beverage industry, that doesn't mean you should ignore mobile users. Even though your industry may not be the highest searched mobile category, you still need to accommodate mobile users because they make up such a large chunk of your potential leads. Leads have mostly moved to mobile devices now, and you need to keep up with the latest trends.
Another conclusion contained within the report was actually pretty surprising and counter-intuitive. The mobile queries were actually slightly longer than desktop queries, which means you might be able to catch more outliers with long tail keywords that are mobile specific. For instance, within the Food & Beverage industry, desktop queries were 13.8 characters, but mobile queries were 15.5. Personally, I hate typing on my smartphone because I'm an old school typist. I can type a lot faster on my laptop.
But I think that auto-completion features have become so advanced that people don't feel as encumbered when making a mobile query.
Just how much more of the total search percentage mobile devices will take remains to be seen. But many people have theorized that in the not-so-distant future, all computing devices are going to be mobile. That may or may not be true, but we do know this much for certain: mobile searches have overtaken desktop searches, and they're not showing any signs of slowing down.
You should already have your website optimized for mobile searches because mobile-friendliness is a ranking signal that determines your website's position in the SERP's. But if you lack the skills and experience necessary to optimize your website, you're going to miss out on a massive chunk of your audience. In that case, it's best to reach out to a qualified web design and SEO professional.


text:
Are Sharon Needles and Alaska still together 2020?
Who is Sharon Needles partner?
Are Manila and Sahara still together?
Are Coco and Alyssa friends now?
Does Jinkx monsoon have a son?
What happened to Sahara Drag queen?
Why did Alyssa lose Miss USA?
Why did Alyssa lose her crown to Coco?
Who is Trixie Mattel boyfriend?
Who did Jinkx monsoon marry?
Who are Sharon Needles and Alaska on Drag Race?
Who was Sharon Needles dating in the past?
What did Alaska say about Sharon beating her?
Who was Alaska's royal couple on Drag Race?
Needles was in a four-year relationship with fellow RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Justin Honard, better known by his stage name Alaska Thunderfuck; they ended their relationship in 2013 but remained friends. ... The two began dating in late 2013 and got engaged in 2015. However, they broke up in summer 2020.
Who is Sharon Needles boyfriend? The drag queen is currently single after breaking up with Chad O'Connell, a wax figure and special effects artist from Pittsburgh. The couple met in 2013 and got engaged in 2015.
Davenport was best known as a contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race....
Sahara Davenport
Died Octo (aged 27) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Resting place Silver Spring, Maryland
Occupation Drag queen, dancer, make-up artist
Partner(s) Manila Luzon (2006–2012; Ashley's death)
2 more rows
Coco and Alyssa went way back. ... Alyssa's face when Coco walked into the werk room will forever be etched into my brain, along with the sound effect, and aggressive zooming. After the two shared some heated exchanges, they eventually made up and were friends again when them competed against each other in All Stars 2.
Twenty-Nine years ago, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race season 5, Jinkx Monsoon, gave birth to a homosexual son (best friends in real life). Jinkx is on a mission to be a more active mother and spend quality time with her gay son.
Personal Life & Death Before his death, Davenport resided in New York City with his boyfriend Karl Westerberg (Manila Luzon), who was a contestant and runner-up on the Season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Davenport died from heart failure at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on Octo.
In 2010, winner Alyssa Edwards had her title revoked due to scheduling conflicts with previous engagements and her Miss Gay America duties. The title was passed to the 2010 first alternate, Coco Montrese, who was crowned in a special ceremony at The Grey Fox Nightclub in St. Louis, MO.
David Silver
Trixie Mattel
Title Drag Race All-Stars Winner
Predecessor Alaska
Successor Monét X Change and Trinity the Tuck
Partner(s) David Silver (2016–present)
On Janu, Hoffer married their partner Michael Abbott in a small ceremony at home with their friends and family witnessing through video call. The marriage was officiated by comedian Deven Green.
Throughout Needles' ascent and Alaska's eventual casting, Drag Race heavily focused on the couple's " kai kai " relationship (gay translation: "partnered drag queens"). After two full seasons of exposure, they were considered by most a gay "power couple."
Sharon had at least 1 relationship in the past. Sharon Needles has not been previously engaged. She was born in Newton, Iowa. She dated fellow Drag Race star Alaska 5000 for four years. According to our records, she has no children.
Instagram Now, in the latest Feast of Fun podcast, Alaska clarifies her comments, saying that she wants everyone to know that she didn't mean it to come across that Sharon beat the shit out of her. Hosts: Dominic Patasa says, "This is somewhat personal, hope you don't mind.
Alaska reflects on her Drag Race "royal couple" relationship and public breakup with Sharon Needles. #LogoTV celebrates one-of-a-kind personalities, unconventional stories and discovering what's next.
Do AirPods fall out when you run? ⇒
Is AK-47 the most powerful gun?
Are albino Plecos rare?
Daun kemangi manfaatnya apa?
How do I know what kind of strawberry plant I have?


text:
President Trump To Visit North Dakota On T+229 (September 6, 2017)
Link here. On September 6, in the following years:
1620: the Mayflower departs Plymouth, England
1901: US President William McKinley shot by Leon Czolgosz, an anarchist, while visiting the Pan-American Exposition in New York
1966: Margaret Sanger, "founder of 'Planned Parenthood,' dies in Tucson; never played any role in the crusade to make abortion legal, but funded the physician who "invented" the birth control pill, Enovid;
And relevant for Williston, which had a Piggly Wiggly, across the road from Harmon Park:
1916: the first true supermarket, the "Piggly Wiggly" is opened by Clarence Saunders in Memphis, Tennessee
The Energy And Market Page, T+223 -- August 31, 2017
Disclaimer: this is not an investment page. Do not make any investment, financial, travel, job, or relationship decisions based on anything you read here or think you may have read here.
This market is just remarkable. The NASDAQ apparently hit an all-time closing high today, although not an intra-day high, according to CNBC. I can't verify that, but record or not, it was another remarkable day.
Likewise, the Dow just missed a gain for the month of August, as far as I could tell, but I could be wrong. During this past month, when there was a pullback in the Dow many pundits, including Jim Cramer, said it was not unusual for the market to pullback in August.
From this USA Today story, July 25, 2017:
In the past 20 years, August is the worse month for the Dow's performance, with an average drop of 1.4%. And September hasn't fared much better, posting average losses of nearly 1%, which is the third-worst monthly ranking. If you go back 100 years, September is the Dow's worst month of the year.
Investopedia says September, on the other hand, is the worst month for investing:
One of the historical realities of the stock market is that it typically has performed poorest during the month of September. The "Stock Trader's Almanac" reports that, on average, September is the month when the stock market's three leading indexes usually perform the poorest. Since 1950, the month of September has seen an average decline in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) of 1.1%, while the S&P 500 has averaged a 0.7% decline during September. Since the Nasdaq was first established in in 1971, its composite index has fallen an average of 1% during September trading. This is, of course, only an average exhibited over many years, and September is certainly not the worst month of stock-market trading every year.
Bloomberg says October is the worst month for the market and, of course, Black Monday, 1987, occurred in October.
And, of course, "everyone" says to "sell in May and go away.
And, yet, with all that, futures, right now, are again green for equities.
Ten New Permits; WTI Recovers A Bit; Gasoline Spikes Post Harvey; Panic Buying In The US; NASDAQ Hits New All-Time Record -- August 31, 2017
$47.09↑↑
Active Rigs 55 33 76 194 185
Ten (10) new permits:
Operators: Enerplus (9); Iron Oil Operating LLC
Fields: Moccasin Creek (Dunn); Antelope Creek (McKenzie)
Comments: Enerplus has permits for a 9-well "heavy metal" pad in Moccasin Creek in NENE 16-147-93 (see graphic below)
Iron Oil Operating:
has 21 oil and gas permits
permits in Antelope Creek, Bear Butte, Sather Lake, Ellsworth, others
from "Bakken Operators":
Iron Oil: first mentioned on the blog, July 18, 2017
about 21 wells transferred from Hunt Oil Company to Iron Oil Operating, LLC
I believe this is a new entrant into the Bakken
a Billings, MT, company
See Enerplus Permits Above
This page will not be updated. The "heavy metal" pad is now tracked here.
Enerplus' "heavy metal" pad:
33967, 3,162, Enerplus, Cobalt 147-93-09D-04H, Moccasin Creek, t7/18; cum 202K 3/19;
33968, 932, Enerplus, Nickel 147-93-16B-21H-TF, Moccasin Creek, 33 stages; 5.9 million lbs, t8/18; cum 110K 3/19;
BAKKEN 10-2018 30 17554 17484 19817 12287 6796 4413
BAKKEN 8-2018 31 28292 27958 38928 19805 58 19746
BAKKEN 7-2018 1 236 226 3493 165 58 106
33969, 1,077, Enerplus, Steel 147-93-09D-04H-TF, Moccasin Creek, t8/18; cum 138K 3/19;
8-2018 35723 108
7-2018 923 108
33970, loc, Enerplus, Tungsten 147-93-16A-21H,
10-2018 20759 8070
33971, loc, Enerplus, Zinc 147-93-09D-04H,
33972, loc, Enerplus, Lead 147-93-16B-21H-TF,
33973, loc, Enerplus, Titanium 147-93-16A-21H,
33974, loc, Enerplus, Silver 147-93-09D-04H,
33975, loc, Enerplus, Platinum 147-93-16A-21H,
Labels: 50K_Wells
Yup, The NASDAQ Hit A New All-Time Record -- Make America Great -- Trump, Catching The Wave -- T+223 -- August 31, 2017
NASDAQ hits a new all-time high: 6,429.
I think the Dow squeezed out a "positive" for the month of August but it will be close.
Before Hurricane Harvey: no effect on US GDP.
After Hurricane Harvey: OMG. The sky is falling. Huge impact on GDP.
Labels: Records
Panic Buying Has Begun In North Texas -- August 31, 2017; Record Amount Of Gasoline Produced Last Week; Record Gasoline Demand In US -- August 31, 2017
September 6, 2017: PennEnergy says gasoline situation in Texas is returning to normal. Clearly panic buying and hoarding contributed to the problem but there are stations that ran out of gasoline on September 1 and have still not opened as of today -- there was no panic buying at their gas stations; their supplier still unable to re-supply.
September 1, 2017, 00:32 a.m. Central Time: the main road from our apartment complex to the home where the granddaughters live is a busy, busy thoroughfare. Earlier this evening I dropped off the oldest granddaughter after water polo practice and then drove home. It was eerily quiet: no cars on this stretch of road, when normally it would be quite busy. Literally, everyone is rationing their single tank of gasoline in whichever car they were fortunate enough to have when they got their last "fill-up."
Later, 9:57 p.m. Central Time: it appears that every gas station on this side of DFW (the north side) is out of gasoline. There is one gas station that appears to have done the right thing and is rationing the amount of gasoline it will dispense to any car. It appears to be the only station still selling gas, but I assume it will be out of gas by midnight. And then that's it. I assume the entire DFW area is now out of gasoline. When/if gasoline starts flowing again, everyone will need gasoline and the cycle will start again.
Later, 3:44 p.m. Central Time: from chron.
Later, 3:37 p.m. Central Time: from mainstream media.
Later, 3:11 p.m. Central Time: two out of three gas stations now out of gasoline here in north DFW area.
Later, 1:58 p.m. Central Time: because of panic buying of gasoline and the likelihood that the city of Austin, TX, will have no gasoline available on Monday, Labor Day, the three-day Labor Day soccer tournament scheduled for venues on the north side of Austin has been canceled. What a shame. And the nation (and Texas) has a record amount of gasoline. And most of it will be in gasoline tanks in SUVs parked in garages and on driveways over the weekend. The good news: the soccer coach is working on getting the team scheduled for another soccer tournament in the DFW area.
Later, 1:03 p.m. Central Time: yes, it's already happening. My wife just sent me an e-mail that:
a) the local neighborhood gas station has lines too long that she describes as "impossible"
b) the gas station near our granddaughters' school has already run out of gasoline (a Shell station)
c) the gas station a bit farther away and not particularly close to any highway still has gasoline and lines that are more manageable (and, yes, she filled our tank -- it was close to 3/4 full, but she felt it important to "top it off").
Based on the anecdotal data in that e-mail, we can now confirm (if ABC phones us) that one out of three gas stations in the DFW area are now out of gasoline, Thursday, the day before the Friday before the three-day Labor Day weekend.
We have sent an e-mail to our older daughter to fill up when she gets a chance.
Disclaimer: this was done quickly. I may have missed something. There may be factual and typographical errors. If this information is important to you, go to the source.
And it begins ...
Starting last night, here in north Texas folks have been advised to keep their gasoline tanks full due to the impending shortage of gasoline in Texas, anticipated shortages extending from the southeast coast up to Dallas-Ft Worth as mainstream media endlessly report that the end is near.
This morning on my bike ride the message is being heard. Long lines are already forming at our neighborhood gasoline stations. If everyone fills their tank today and in tomorrow, I would assume many gas stations will run out of gasoline by mid-weekend, but at least all those folks that aren't traveling over the weekend will have a tank full of gasoline (or more, if they own multiple cars) sitting in their driveways.
President Trump has already responded to Senator Markey's request and has released 500,000 bbls of crude oil from the SPR. That allotment will go to the Lake Charles Phillips 66 refinery. Some data points about that refinery:
crude oil capacity: 250,000 bbls (so they will receive a two-day supply)
total capacity: 285,000 bbls (I assume total capacity includes non-crude oil hydrocarbon products such as NGLs)
gasoline production: 90,000 bbls/day (almost exactly 1% of US total daily demand)
Go Phillips!
By the way, the largest refiner in the US, Motiva, burns through 600,000 bbls of crude oil/day and will be shut down for three weeks. A delivery of 500,000 bbls from the SPR would not meet the daily capacity needs of Motiva. Just saying.
Record amount of gasoline produced in the week prior to Hurricane Harvey. Source:
Record gasoline demand in the week prior to Hurricane Harvey (this data would have included the largest US automobile migration in modern history -- to experience the August 21, 2017, total eclipse. Source:
The Only Ones Getting Fat This Weekend:
Refiners And Retail Gasoline Service Stations
Creeque Alley, The Mamas and The Papas
Labels: Panic, Records, Staggering
More On Those New Super-Long / Extended Long Laterals Reaching Under The River -- August 31, 2017
The Wells
The wells have been brought up here for easier tracking. Data in the original post below will not be updated.
33025, SI/NC-->conf, CLR, Hereford Federal 10-17H1, Elm Creek, 26,836 feet; (#19503, #18138, #19397, #23493, #23495); conf but noted to be producing as of 4/19;
33026, SI/NC-->conf, CLR, Hereford Federal 11-17H, Elm Creek, 26,682 feet; conf but noted to be producing as of 4/19;
33027, conf, CLR, Hereford Federal 12-17H2, Elm Creek, 26,772 feet; conf but noted to be producing as of 4/19;
33028, SI/NC, CLR, Hereford Federal 13-17H, Elm Creek, 26,599 feet;
33963, A/n/d, CLR, Hereford Federal 14-17H1, Elm Creek, ~ 26,715 feet from the permit; fracked, flowing, 4/19; no production data,
33964, TA, CLR, Hereford Federal 15-17HSL, Elm Creek, ~ 26,579 feet from the permit;
33965, SI/NC, CLR, Angus Federal 6-16H2, Elm Creek, ~ 26,729 feet; from the permit;
35691, SI/NC, CLR, Hereford Federal 15X-17HSL, Elm Tree, no production data, was fracked 2/19;
July 11, 2018: add these Hereford Federal wells to the list below (this is an 8-well pad along section line of 20-153-94 --
32357, 1,190, CLR, Hereford Federal 2-20H1, Elm Tree, 61 stages; 22.78 million lbs, t9/17; cum 268K 11/18;
32354, SI/NC, CLR, Hereford Federal 8-20H2, Elm Tree, still a DUC, 11/18;
January 31, 2018: see first comment at this post.
These Hereford wells are certainly interesting... after looking this well up in the well files category in premium however, It looks like this well starts in section 20... It goes horizontally almost a half mile in section 20, the goes up through sections 17, 8, and ends up on the north end of section 5... so 3 full miles plus almost 1/2 mile in section 20, so a very long horizontal.
Still impressive, but makes more sense when you divide the stages, sand, etc. by the longer length. It has to do with access point (section 20) and Lake Sakakewea (just north of section 20) so an unusual setup because of the lake.
January 30, 2018: 32355, 1,217, CLR, Hereford Federal 6-20H1, Elm Tree, Three Forks 1, 61 stages; 15.5 million lbs, mesh, large, small; t8/17; cum 232K 11/18;
January 26, 2018:
32356, 1,054, CLR, Hereford Federal 4-20H2, Elm Tree, Three Forks (2), 28 stages; 6.9 million lbs, mesh, large, small, t9/17; cum 109K 11/18;
32349, 1,168, CLR, Hereford Federal 9-20H, Elm Tree, 86 stages; 14.3 million lbs, in excess of 100K in first four months of full production; t8/17; cum 380K 11/18; no production first three months of production; TD = 26,960
32351, 1,136, CLR, Hereford Federal 5-20H, Elm Tree, 71 stages; 14.2 million lbs large, small, no ceramic; t8/17; cum 222K 11/18; TD = 26,780
32352, 1,136, CLR, Hereford Federal 3-20H, Elm Tree, 71 stages, 14 million lbs, large/small, no ceramic, t8/17; cum 224K 11/18; TD = 36,675
32353, 1,558, CLR, Hereford Federal 1-20H, Elm Tree, 69 stages; 25 million lbs sand small/large, t8/17; cum 238K 11/18; TD = 26,786
The other day, an alert reader noted CLR permits for super-long laterals / extended long laterals.
It turns out CLR has permits for four additional permits in the same general location that will also be super-long laterals / extended long laterals: NWNW 21-153-94, Elm Creek oil field. Those permits were from the September 20, 2016, daily activity report:
33025, drl, CLR, Hereford Federal 10-17H1, Elm Creek, 26,836 feet; (#19503, #18138, #19397, #23493, #23495); still drl 11/18;
33027, drl, CLR, Hereford Federal 12-17H2, Elm Creek, 26,772 feet;
33028, drl, CLR, Hereford Federal 13-17H, Elm Creek, 26,599 feet;
The three similar permits from the August 30, 2017, daily activity report:
33963, drl, CLR, Hereford Federal 14-17H1, Elm Creek, ~ 26,715 feet from the permit;
33965, drl, CLR, Angus Federal 6-16H2, Elm Creek, ~ 26,729 feet; from the permit;
The CLR Angus and Angus Federal wells are tracked here; they are all "standard" long laterals, about 21,000 feet long (with the exception of this new one, #33865).
The graphic: in the graphic below, the permits for the new wells that will be super-long laterals / extended long laterals are to the west, permit numbers in the two boxes at the far left.
One can see where earlier super-long laterals / extended long laterals were places under the river.
Like the "original" super-long laterals / extended long laterals, the "new" super-long laterals / extended long laterals will just reach to the middle of the river.
Labels: ExtendedLongLaterals, SuperLongLaterals
The Market And Energy Page, T+223 -- August 31, 2017
Ludicrous: comparing Wal-Mart grocery with Whole Foods.
The fruit, vegetables and canned goods were all cheaper at Wal-Mart, with the exception of bananas, which cost 49 cents per pound at Whole Foods compared with 56 cents per pound at Wal-Mart. The biggest price difference was for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, which cost $1.99 per pound at Wal-Mart and $5.19 per pound at Whole Foods.
Whole Foods sells only natural products that are fully compliant with animal-welfare standards, while Wal-Mart sells a range of groceries that don't all meet Whole Foods' lofty standards. Still, it could be tough to persuade cost-conscious shoppers to pay $1.99 for a can of Whole Foods corn that they can get at Wal-Mart for 68 cents.
Two other independent surveys found that prices at Whole Foods had barely budged since the Amazon takeover earlier this week. A Whole Foods in Princeton, New Jersey, reduced prices by an average of 1.2% compared to a week earlier.
A separate review of prices at a New York City Whole Foods by Telsey Advisory Group determined Whole Foods prices remained higher than those at Wal-Mart and Kroger despite Amazon's cuts. And Amazon has also raised prices: the cost of the salad bar at at least one location in Manhattan jumped from $8.99 a pound to $9.99 a pound this week.
I'm not sure why the writer would "combine" fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) with canned goods in one sentence. But having done so, it surprised me. Whole Foods will never, never, never beat Wal-Mart on canned foods except as loss leaders. Fresh produce? It's a toss-up.
But look at chicken: incredibly more expensive at Whole Foods. And that won't change.
Canned corn? 68 cents at Wal-Mart. Almost $2 at Whole Foods.
By the way, at our neighborhood Aldi grocery store, boneless, skinless chicken breasts are even less costly then Wal-Mart: at $1.69 / lb at Aldi.
Housing Sales for July, 2017
CNBC:
Forecast: up 0.4%.
Actual: down 0.8%.
June's sales revised downward
fourth monthly drop in five months
Stephen Wolfram
DDS: 500WOL
Background: the author was born in 1959. Born in London, educated at Eton, Oxford, and Caltch. He received his PhD in theoretical physics in 1979, at the age of 20, having already made lasting contributions to particle physics and cosmology.
He says that he "can trace the beginning of [his] serious interest in the kinds of scientific issues discussed in this book rather accurately to the summer of 1972, when [he] was twelve years old. [He] bought a copy of the physics textbook [pictured] on the right [Statistical Physics], and had become very curious about the process of randomization illustrated on its cover."
The result was this book and a "new kind of science" based on what he called "cellular automata" (to be discussed later).
Almost immediately he "discovered" something completely unsuspected: from simple rules, one could develop a "complex result."
He goes on:
In the early years, I did as I had done before as a scientist, and published accounts of my ongoing work in the scientific literature. But although what I wrote seemed to be very well received, I gradually came to realize that technical papers scattered across the journals of all sorts of fields could never successfully communicate the kind of major new intellectual structure that I seemed to be beginning to build.
So I resolved just to keep working quietly until I had finished, and was ready to present everything in a single coherent way. Fifteen years later this book is the result. And with it my hope is to share what I have done with as wide a range of scientists and non-scientists as possible.
Cellular automata.
Take out a piece of graph paper.
Color in the very top center pixel solid black. Leave everything else white.
Now, write a rule for the next line; that rule will be the rule for the entire "thing" that follows.
Let's say the rule will be: on the next line, every pixel will be the same color as the pixel directly above it.
Obviously one ends up with a straight, black vertical line running down the middle of the page.
It turns out, interestingly enough, it seems to be a coincidence (but I'm sure there's a mathematical explanation), there are 256 rules that one can write resulting in 256 patterns. Some patterns will repeat, interestingly enough (in other words, there may be 256 rules, but there will be less than 256 unique patterns). Some patterns will be simple; some very, very complex and chaotic.
From Wolfram on the web:
The number above each image is the "number of the rule" that generated the pattern. There are 256 rules.
Wolfram argues that it does not take a complex set of rules to "describe" the complex nature of the universe (human life, for example). Or, I guess another way to say it, there may not be a complex set of rules (or the need for a complex set of rules) underlying the complexity that seems to permeate the universe.
The text of the book is 846 pages long.
a 6-page preface
9 pages of general notes
337 pages of notes by chapter
63 pages of index
Sempra and Boardwalk's Proposed Permian-to-Katy Gas Pipeline -- RBN Energy -- August 31, 2017
RBN Energy: Sempra and Boardwalk's proposed Permian-to-Katy gas pipeline.
In the short term, Permian natural gas will be dealing with the aftermath of Harvey and what it might do to associated gas production from crude oil wells being curtailed due to refinery downtime and storage capacity issues. But that will soon be behind us, and at that point Permian natural gas production will resume its steep upward trajectory. Just a few months ago, the gas market was still sharpening pencils on potential gas takeaway constraints in West Texas, but congestion in the Waha gas market now appears as likely as another winning season for Alabama football. Where will this tide of natural gas end up? Until a few days ago, the Agua Dulce Hub in South Texas was Number 1 on the list, but a new project has thrown the Katy Hub into the mix as a potential destination. Today we analyze an interesting approach to relieving Permian natural gas market constraints.
One thing we've yet to discuss here in the blogosphere is the potential impact of Permian natural gas arriving at the Agua Dulce Hub in 2020. Will these projects flip Agua Dulce from being short natural gas (as was our outlook in the "Miles of Texas" Drill Down series), to being long natural gas? If so, will excess gas need to flow northeast along the Texas Gulf Coast to the Katy and Houston Ship Channel (HSC) markets? Once that gas arrives in the Katy/HSC markets, will it find enough local demand? Or will it need to continue moving east into the Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana markets? Finally, what happens if Permian supply skips over Agua Dulce altogether and heads directly to Katy/HSC on a new greenfield pipeline? That last question is the subject for today as we look at the dynamics driving Sempra LNG & Midstream and Boardwalk Pipeline Partners' Permian-to-Katy (P2K) pipeline open season. We will explore the other questions in a future bog series on the shifting Gulf Coast supply and demand dynamics.
Sempra and Boardwalk announced a non-binding open season for the Permian-to-Katy (P2K) pipeline on August 14, 2017. The proposed 42-inch-diameter pipeline would originate at the Waha Hub in the Permian and terminate at the Katy Hub just west of Houston. Just before reaching Katy, one leg of the pipeline would head south and interconnect with various interstate pipelines before terminating at Gulf South Pipeline Co.'s Coastal Bend Header (which will supply gas to Freeport LNG) in Wharton and Brazoria counties.
The P2K pipeline would require an estimated 24 months to build and cover 475 miles from Waha to Katy, approximately 10% longer than the distance from Waha to Agua Dulce. The project could provide capacity by December 2019 and would have an estimated transport rate of $0.45 to $0.55/MMBtu.
Jobs: first time unemployment claims -- pending. Forecast is for an increase of 3,000 over previous week.
prior: 234,000; revised: 235,000
consensus forecast: 237,000
new claims, actual: 236,000 -- up just 1,000
4-week moving average: down to 236,750 from 238,000 (revised up slightly)
Colonial Pipeline Shut Down Due To Hurricane Harvey -- August 31, 2017
September 3, 2017: To re-open, Monday, September 4, 2017; link here.
August 31, 2017: Bloomberg -- President Trump will release 500,000 bbls of crude oil from the SPR for Phillips 66 Lake Charles refinery.
August 31, 2017: Bloomberg update.
Motorists from Maine to Florida will soon feel the wrath of Hurricane Harvey without seeing a single raindrop. Fuel prices at the pump are likely to climb after Colonial Pipeline Co., the largest U.S. gasoline conduit, was forced shut its main diesel line late Wednesday and planned to halt its gasoline line Thursday because about half of Gulf Coast refining capacity was offline.
Valero Energy Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, both major Gulf Coast refiners, told wholesale customers Wednesday they don't have enough gasoline and diesel to sell retail suppliers.
"It's one thing to not have refiners," Dan McTeague, an analyst at GasBuddy.com, a company which tracks retail prices and availability, said by phone. "It's quite another thing to not have pipelines."
Hmmmm .... pipelines? I thought we didn't need any more pipelines.
Link at CNN.
The Colonial has been shut down before, most recently October, 2016.
Senator Edward Markey has the solution: link here at Reuters via Rigzone:
release oil from the SPR
release gasoline from the Northeast Gasoline Reserve
a shortage of oil is not the problem; the refineries are shut down
gasoline? the US gasoline demand is about 10 million bbls/day; NEGR contains one million bbls of fuel at three sites in New York, the Boston area, and Maine
Either I'm missing something or we have another nominee for the 2017 Geico Rock Award
Labels: GeicoRockAward_2017
President Trump To Visit North Dakota On T+229 (S...
The Energy And Market Page, T+223 -- August 31, 20...
Ten New Permits; WTI Recovers A Bit; Gasoline Spik...
Yup, The NASDAQ Hit A New All-Time Record -- Make ...
Panic Buying Has Begun In North Texas -- August 31...
More On Those New Super-Long / Extended Long Later...
The Market And Energy Page, T+223 -- August 31, 20...
Sempra and Boardwalk's Proposed Permian-to-Katy Ga...
Colonial Pipeline Shut Down Due To Hurricane Harve...
► Ma


Miscellaneous items (without queues): envelopes, orders, objects, belongings forgotten at home, office, etc.
Miscellaneous items (with queues): registered letters from the post office, medical test results, etc.
Service providers: laundry, locksmith, seamstress, shoemaker, computer technicians, etc.


Co owner and Service manager of Windsor auto repair. Scott is ASE certified in gas engine repair and rebuilding. Scott has worked on vehicles for most of his live, from working on the ranch trucks of his youth to the cars of today. In his spare time, Scott enjoys golf, touring the southwest on his motorcycle and spending time with his family. Call and ask Scott to play a round of golf; he will probably say yes.
Co owner and business manager of Windsor Auto Repair. Pete and Scott started the company in 2003 with a passion of providing great customer service at affordable prices. Pete is involved in numerous local organizations from Rotary to chamber of commerce. When not at Windsor Auto Repair, Pete can be found working his small ranch where he runs a cow/calve operation. He sells both grain and grass finished beef.
Transmission specialist. Dennis has been with us from the beginning. He started his career in the military and has decades of vehicle and transmission experience. There isn't much that Dennis hasn't seen in the car repair business.
Drive-ability technician. If your vehicle isn't running well Josh is the guy to see. He has years of experience with running and drive-ability issues. Josh is an Iowan transplant who enjoys everything outdoors that Colorado has to offer, from biking to skiing, Josh likes it all.
General line technician. Joe has years of experience with both general technician work as well as extensive front end experience. When not found here at Windsor Auto Repair, Joe enjoys camping around the Red Feather area with his family.
Service Manager for the shop. Chad is Scott's nephew. Chad's work experience comes from the retail arena. He is committed to providing the highest quality customer service and customer care. He is the one that keeps the shop running at peak performance. When Chad isn't at the shop, you can find him either camping, spending time with family, or hunting across the Rocky Mountain region. See Chad for all your vehicle needs!
Oil change technician. Mel can handle all your general maintenance items. Ask Mel for the joke of the day,and he'll have one for you. An avid sports enthusiast, if not with his family Mel can be found officiating high school athletic events in Northern Colorado in his spare time.


How do you tell potential corporate and agency clients about the incredible range of freelance and fulltime creative, digital, and marketing professionals on The Pond's books? You hire a specialist marketer who really 'gets' what we're trying to achieve and knows how to tell the world about it.
So meet Catherine, an experienced marketer from the UK who also boasts a very strong background in project management, advertising, and HR. She has worked across a diverse set of industries in the UK, including law, sports media, web development, and event management, and she comes fully charged with tons of background knowledge and a truly strategic approach.
"In this business, it's all about relationships. I'm here to build them up, make them last, and ensure they bear fruit for all concerned," says Catherine.
"The thing that sets The Pond apart from other talent agencies is our highly tailored service offering – we only sign up the best, we vet them more thoroughly than anyone else, and we have sufficient critical mass to match exactly the right candidates to each job.
In her spare time Catherine goes pretty hard out: diving, running half marathons, and the like. Having toured Europe with her Kiwi husband in a minivan they gutted themselves and refitted as a camper, she's keen to do the same thing here when she gets the chance.
Professional Membership at The Pond is only available to a select few. They are the ones who have the experience and skills to get things done at the highest level. If you think you could be a Professional Member get in touch with me today or register.
One month at The Pond!
It's almost been one month since I started at The Pond, it's been great meeting all the amazing new talent come through our doors. If you're looking for your next big opportunity register with us today!
I'm the new Marketing & Talent Manager at The Pond (Hamish has moved down south). I'm looking forward to getting to know you all over the coming months.


text:
Q: R import SDMX Data into a dataframe I am trying to download a SDMX data series from a website into a dataframe.
http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DatasetCode=MEI_CLI
The SDMX DATA URL is:
http://stats.oecd.org/restsdmx/sdmx.ashx/GetData/MEI_CLI/LOLITOAA.AUS+AUT+BEL+CAN+CHL+CZE+DNK+EST+FIN+FRA+DEU+GRC+HUN+IRL+ISR+ITA+JPN+KOR+LUX+MEX+NLD+NZL+NOR+POL+PRT+SVK+SVN+ESP+SWE+CHE+TUR+GBR+USA+EA19+G4E+G-7+NAFTA+OECDE+OECD+ONM+A5M+BRA+CHN+IND+IDN+RUS+ZAF.M/all?startTime=2000-01&endTime=2015-05
I then tried:
library(XML2R)

file <- "http://stats.oecd.org/restsdmx/sdmx.ashx/GetData/MEI_CLI/LOLITOAA.AUS+AUT+BEL+CAN+CHL+CZE+DNK+EST+FIN+FRA+DEU+GRC+HUN+IRL+ISR+ITA+JPN+KOR+LUX+MEX+NLD+NZL+NOR+POL+PRT+SVK+SVN+ESP+SWE+CHE+TUR+GBR+USA+EA19+G4E+G-7+NAFTA+OECDE+OECD+ONM+A5M+BRA+CHN+IND+IDN+RUS+ZAF.M/all?startTime=2000-01&endTime=2015-05"

obs <- XML2Obs(file)
tables <- collapse_obs(obs)

How do I proceed now to collect the time, country and data value into a dataframe?
I also need to be able to collect data from 2000 (default setting is only two years)

A: Try rvest package with the original link:
library(rvest)
k1<-html("http://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DatasetCode=MEI_CLI")%>%
html_table(fill=TRUE,header=FALSE)%>%
.[[1]] //give me the first list only

View(k1) #see how table looks like. We only need row 4 (header), rows 8-last row.
names(k1)<-k1[4,] #gives me header

#We also don't need column 2. It's NA
data<-k1[8:nrow(k1),-2] #gives me final data
rm(k1) # remove k1, not necessary now

head(data)
    Country Australia Austria Belgium Canada Chile Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Israel
8  Jun-2013      99.5    99.9    99.4   99.6 100.2           98.1    99.5    97.9    99.6   99.1   100.0   99.1    98.8   100.0  100.0
9  Jul-2013      99.5   100.0    99.6   99.7 100.1           98.4    99.7    98.2    99.8   99.2   100.2   99.0    98.7   100.1   99.9
10 Aug-2013      99.5   100.2    99.8   99.8 100.0           98.7   100.0    98.8    99.9   99.4   100.5   99.0    98.7   100.2   99.8
11 Sep-2013      99.6   100.3   100.1   99.9  99.9           99.2   100.2    99.4   100.0   99.6   100.7   99.0    98.7   100.2   99.7
12 Oct-2013      99.6   100.5   100.3  100.0  99.8           99.6   100.3    99.8   100.2   99.7   100.9   99.1    98.7   100.2   99.7
13 Nov-2013      99.7   100.6   100.5  100.0  99.7          100.0   100.4   100.0   100.4   99.8   101.0   99.3    98.6   100.2   99.6
   Italy Japan Korea Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Portugal Slovak Republic Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey
8   99.2 100.7 100.2   99.0        99.2       101.3  100.1   99.9     98.4            98.6     98.1  99.2   99.0       100.2  100.7
9   99.4 100.8 100.2   98.8        99.4       101.5  100.2  100.0     98.6            98.8     98.0  99.5   99.1       100.3  100.5
10  99.7 101.0 100.1   98.7        99.5       101.6  100.4  100.1     98.9            99.0     98.0  99.7   99.1       100.4  100.3
11  99.9 101.1 100.1   98.7        99.7       101.6  100.5  100.2     99.3            99.2     98.0 100.0   99.2       100.6  100.2
12 100.0 101.3 100.0   98.8        99.8       101.7  100.7  100.2     99.8            99.5     98.1 100.2   99.3       100.7  100.1
13 100.2 101.4 100.0   98.8        99.9       101.7  100.9  100.3    100.2            99.9     98.2 100.4   99.4       100.8   99.9
   United Kingdom United States Euro area (19 countries) Four Big European    G7 NAFTA OECD - Europe OECD - Total OECD + Major Six NME
8           100.2         100.4                     99.4              99.7 100.2 100.2          99.6        100.0                100.0
9           100.4         100.4                     99.6              99.9 100.3 100.2          99.8        100.1                100.0
10          100.6         100.4                     99.8             100.1 100.4 100.2         100.0        100.2                100.1
11          100.8         100.4                    100.0             100.3 100.5 100.2         100.1        100.3                100.1
12          100.9         100.4                    100.2             100.5 100.5 100.2         100.3        100.3                100.2
13          101.0         100.4                    100.4             100.6 100.6 100.2         100.4        100.4                100.2
   Major Five Asia Brazil China (People's Republic of) India Indonesia Russia South Africa
8            100.3   99.5                        100.5  99.0     100.4   99.1        100.6
9            100.3   99.4                        100.5  99.0     100.0   99.2        100.6
10           100.3   99.3                        100.5  98.9      99.5   99.3        100.6
11           100.2   99.3                        100.5  98.9      99.1   99.4        100.6
12           100.2   99.3                        100.4  98.8      98.9   99.6        100.5
13           100.2   99.3                        100.3  98.8      98.7   99.7        100.4

If you are willing to put extra effort to enter the header names, you can use readHMTLTable from XML package.
library(XML)
k2<-readHTMLTable("http://stats.oecd.o/Index.aspx?DatasetCode=MEI_CLI",header=FALSE) #first list gives the data
head(k2[[1]]) # as before you need to remove second column which is blank here

      V1 V2   V3    V4    V5    V6    V7    V8    V9   V10   V11  V12   V13  V14  V15   V16   V17   V18   V19
1 Jun-2013    99.5  99.9  99.4  99.6 100.2  98.1  99.5  97.9  99.6 99.1 100.0 99.1 98.8 100.0 100.0  99.2 100.7
2 Jul-2013    99.5 100.0  99.6  99.7 100.1  98.4  99.7  98.2  99.8 99.2 100.2 99.0 98.7 100.1  99.9  99.4 100.8
3 Aug-2013    99.5 100.2  99.8  99.8 100.0  98.7 100.0  98.8  99.9 99.4 100.5 99.0 98.7 100.2  99.8  99.7 101.0
4 Sep-2013    99.6 100.3 100.1  99.9  99.9  99.2 100.2  99.4 100.0 99.6 100.7 99.0 98.7 100.2  99.7  99.9 101.1
5 Oct-2013    99.6 100.5 100.3 100.0  99.8  99.6 100.3  99.8 100.2 99.7 100.9 99.1 98.7 100.2  99.7 100.0 101.3
6 Nov-2013    99.7 100.6 100.5 100.0  99.7 100.0 100.4 100.0 100.4 99.8 101.0 99.3 98.6 100.2  99.6 100.2 101.4
    V20  V21  V22   V23   V24   V25   V26  V27  V28   V29  V30   V31   V32   V33   V34   V35   V36   V37   V38
1 100.2 99.0 99.2 101.3 100.1  99.9  98.4 98.6 98.1  99.2 99.0 100.2 100.7 100.2 100.4  99.4  99.7 100.2 100.2
2 100.2 98.8 99.4 101.5 100.2 100.0  98.6 98.8 98.0  99.5 99.1 100.3 100.5 100.4 100.4  99.6  99.9 100.3 100.2
3 100.1 98.7 99.5 101.6 100.4 100.1  98.9 99.0 98.0  99.7 99.1 100.4 100.3 100.6 100.4  99.8 100.1 100.4 100.2
4 100.1 98.7 99.7 101.6 100.5 100.2  99.3 99.2 98.0 100.0 99.2 100.6 100.2 100.8 100.4 100.0 100.3 100.5 100.2
5 100.0 98.8 99.8 101.7 100.7 100.2  99.8 99.5 98.1 100.2 99.3 100.7 100.1 100.9 100.4 100.2 100.5 100.5 100.2
6 100.0 98.8 99.9 101.7 100.9 100.3 100.2 99.9 98.2 100.4 99.4 100.8  99.9 101.0 100.4 100.4 100.6 100.6 100.2
    V39   V40   V41   V42  V43   V44  V45   V46  V47   V48
1  99.6 100.0 100.0 100.3 99.5 100.5 99.0 100.4 99.1 100.6
2  99.8 100.1 100.0 100.3 99.4 100.5 99.0 100.0 99.2 100.6
3 100.0 100.2 100.1 100.3 99.3 100.5 98.9  99.5 99.3 100.6
4 100.1 100.3 100.1 100.2 99.3 100.5 98.9  99.1 99.4 100.6
5 100.3 100.3 100.2 100.2 99.3 100.4 98.8  98.9 99.6 100.5
6 100.4 100.4 100.2 100.2 99.3 100.3 98.8  98.7 99.7 100.4

A: With the SDMX data source, you can use the rsdmx package (available on CRAN).
For this, you just need the following:
myURL <- "http://stats.oecd.org/restsdmx/sdmx.ashx/GetData/MEI_CLI/LOLITOAA.AUS+AUT+BEL+CAN+CHL+CZE+DNK+EST+FIN+FRA+DEU+GRC+HUN+IRL+ISR+ITA+JPN+KOR+LUX+MEX+NLD+NZL+NOR+POL+PRT+SVK+SVN+ESP+SWE+CHE+TUR+GBR+USA+EA19+G4E+G-7+NAFTA+OECDE+OECD+ONM+A5M+BRA+CHN+IND+IDN+RUS+ZAF.M/all?startTime=2013-06&endTime=2015-05"
sdmx.obj <- readSDMX(myURL)
sdmx.df <- as.data.frame(sdmx.obj)
head(sdmx.df)

And that's it! Feel free to check out the rsdmx wiki which contains more examples.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Inbound Marketing has been the latest trend in marketing for some time now. Businesses are taking advantage of tools and resources to create impactful messages and campaigns. But with any trend, misconceptions will easily be made about what it actually is.
So what is Inbound Marketing? Inbound Marketing may sound overwhelming but it's all about bringing your target market directly to you through quality content customised specifically for them. Marketing budgets are tight, and inbound marketing is a methodology created to stop unnecessary spending on immeasurable marketing and start providing a great ROI.
'Inbound' isn't a product – 'Inbound' is a mindset.
FALSE: SEO is a tactic within the overall strategy. It engages visitors with your website through search marketing, like Google AdWords. Inbound Marketing is the umbrella strategy of turning leads into sales. Therefore, SEO falls under the objectives of Inbound Marketing. While SEO is very important for online traffic, it is not the same thing.
While this statement is true, executing an Inbound Marketing campaign without software (such as Capture) is very difficult. Managing Inbound tactics like those listed below, without software, will cause a lot of friction.
Investing in software may seem expensive upfront. However, the ROI generated will cover the start-up fees sooner than alternative marketing activities.
FALSE: Just like SEO, content marketing is a tactic within Inbound. Content marketing focuses on creating content that is relevant to the consumer experience. By doing so, native advertising is used to get your message across in a natural tone, without the 'sales push'. Aligning with your customers' interests is at the heart of content marketing.
FALSE: There is no golden formula to follow. Yes, there are tactics. Yes, there is a general structure. However, The idea of Inbound Marketing is to be dynamic and personalised. Inbound is not a product, but rather an ongoing mindset to adopt across all marketing practices.
FALSE: Inbound is here to stay! Customers have grown tired of traditional, disruptive mass advertising. Now more than ever, customers have the power. That's where Inbound allows your business to stand out from the crowd, and give your customers a reason to pay attention. This strategy has been established through an evolution of old practices, to meet modern customer needs.
Forget organic – think dynamic.
Inbound Marketing is a cultural shift. It's the idea of being transparent, genuine, and versatile in your marketing messaging. Adopting this strategy aids your business to "look beyond traditional wisdom and conventional solutions" (Paul Roetzer). Diversify your communications strategy and start thinking dynamically.
To find out more about Inbound Marketing, download our FREE eBook here. Or, schedule your obligation free Game Plan Consultation today.


Every trip is unique. Each experience is different. We are now relying on the advanced technologies, such as cameras or smartphones, to seize the memory of the places we visited. And beyond these technological advances, few experiences are as satisfying as sending postcards to your loved ones. So why? Why you need to Send Travel Postcards?
Together with Tour du Montblanc, let's check some very good reasons why you should always bother preparing and sending postcards. With options such as Mixbook it's possible to create your own photobooks or postcards. This way you can make the postcards part of all your trips.
A postcard is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard to write or mail. Postcards are widely used since 18th century, and are extremely important in 2000. Sending postcards to friends, family, or loved ones during travel can be a great way to show your affection, as well as giving people an idea of where you are.
However, due to the latest technologies, like Facebook or Instagram, we are more and more forgetting how important the postcards are. I mean, when was the last time you actually received a postcard? When was the last time you wrote one? Got your hands all covered in ink, and traveled with a print out list with everyone's mailing address?
If you still miss your physical mailbox, then you should scroll into the next question: Why you need to Send Travel Postcards.
Here are the ten reasons why you need to send travel postcards to your loved ones.
Most postcards fall in the range of 50 cents to $1 each, including postage. Nowadays, many companies offer volume discounts for large orders. For a beautiful gift like a postcard, it only cost you exactly just a cup of coffee. That's the most economic and detailed in low budget that can give great happiness to your friends and family.
I once received a postcard with many portraits of best large room air purifier on it, the history of air purifier making and how these devices work. It is really amazing because I always have extreme issues with wildfire smoke, and this postcard saved me a lot.
The process of sending a postcard is very exciting. From the moment you drop the postcard in the mailbox until the recipient receives it, makes for an exciting journey. That is, the postcard acquires its own history, its own itinerary.
Do you love the traditions, like me? Not losing the old habits is a good formula to not end with traditions as beautiful and constructive as sending postcards. We are here because of many traditions we still keep from the past, and that's why I keep sending postcards.
When I was a child, I dreamed of having a postcard. I love traveling, but there is no way I can see the beauty of the cities that I never go to. So a postcard from my dad and my relatives means a lot to me. Postcards are like photographs of the most emblematic places of a destination. The difference is you have the possibility to customize the visual image through a message of your own or to prepare the postcard yourself.
Related post: European capital cities rich in art and culture.
There are many people who have trouble on writing words for their loved ones. So why not sending the postcards? You do not need to buy envelopes to send the postcards. They will all arrive at their destination.
The joy that recipients get when receiving a postcard is greater than when they receive a message from Whatsapp or Facebook. Quite simply, because a postcard is less routine and is something they can touch.
It is really hard to look for an unforgettable gift. You need to know the culture of where you visited, the likes and dislikes of your beloved ones. But no one can resist such a beautiful postcard. In the stationery market, you will find a wide range of products to turn every trip into an unforgettable gift. Choose your favorite postcards with love.
Related post: ECO travel gadgets for those who travel by plane.
Surely some of your friends collect postcards. Or, some of your contacts may not be able to travel as much as you do. And through this little detail, you make those people feel a little closer to those movie destinations.
It is personal, you know. Sending postcards is an incredibly personal thing, and unlike posting a faceless photo to Facebook or Instagram, receiving a postcard tells someone that you're genuinely thinking about them.
Unlike an email or text, a postcard isn't something you can accidentally erase. Postcards are tangible, which means it won't get deleted if your computer crashes, or lost unexpectedly in cyber space. That makes you stand out of the crowd easily, especially when there are fewer and fewer people who send letters to their friends.
Above are the ten things Why you need to Send Travel Postcards. Do you agree? Please share your thoughts.


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