text:
Persons using assistive technology might not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, please send e-mail to: firstname.lastname@example.com. Type 508 Accommodation and the title of the report in the subject line of e-mail.
Violations Identified from Routine Swimming Pool Inspections --- Selected States and Counties, United States, 2008
Swimming is the third most popular U.S. sport or exercise activity, with approximately 314 million visits to recreational water venues, including treated venues (e.g., pools), each year (1). The most frequently reported type of recreational water illness (RWI) outbreak is gastroenteritis, the incidence of which is increasing (2). During 1997--2006, chlorine- and bromine-susceptible pathogens (e.g., Shigella and norovirus) caused 24 (23%) of 104 treated venue--associated RWI outbreaks of gastroenteritis, indicating lapses in proper operation of pools (2). Pool inspectors help minimize the risk for RWIs and injuries by enforcing regulations that govern public treated recreational water venues. To assess pool code compliance, CDC analyzed 2008 data from 121,020 routine pool inspections conducted by a convenience sample of 15 state and local agencies. Because pool codes and, therefore, inspection items differed across jurisdictions, reported denominators varied. Of 111,487 inspections, 13,532 (12.1%) resulted in immediate closure because of serious violations (e.g., lack of disinfectant in the water). Of 120,975 inspections, 12,917 (10.7%) identified disinfectant level violations. Although these results likely are not representative of all pools in the United States, they suggest the need for increased public health scrutiny and improved pool operation. The results also demonstrate that pool inspection data can be used as a potential source for surveillance to guide resource allocation and regulatory decision-making. Collecting pool inspection data in a standardized, electronic format can facilitate routine analysis to support efforts to reduce health and safety risks for swimmers.
Prevention of RWIs at treated venues requires pool operators to 1) maintain appropriate disinfectant and pH levels to maximize disinfectant effectiveness and 2) ensure optimal water circulation and filtration. Pool codes, promulgated by individual state or local public health agencies, govern pool operation.
CDC selected a convenience sample of 15 health agencies in four states and 11 counties or cities* to participate in an analysis of pool inspection data. For inclusion, data from inspections had to be in an electronic format and the agency had to provide ≥1,000 pool and spa inspection records† for 2008. Each agency's pool inspection data were standardized for analysis and included information on water chemistry, circulation and filtration system, policy and management, and pool setting and type. A violation was defined as an inspection item that did not meet standards set by the jurisdiction's pool code. CDC developed an algorithm based on facility name to classify pool setting (e.g., "hotel A" was coded as "hotel/motel"). Facility-identifying data then were deleted, and data from individual agencies were aggregated. Denominators in this report vary because pool codes, and therefore inspection items, differed across jurisdictions.
During 2008, inspectors in the 15 jurisdictions conducted a total of 121,020 routine pool inspections. Among the 121,020 inspections, the number of code violations identified ranged from 0 to 28 (median: 1), and 73,953 (61.1%) inspections identified one or more violations. A total of 13,532 (12.1%) of 111,487 inspections identified serious violations that threatened the public's health and resulted in immediate pool closure. Of 120,975 inspections, 12,917 (10.7%) identified disinfectant level violations; of 113,597 inspections, 10,148 (8.9%) identified pH level violations. Other water chemistry violations§ were documented during 12,328 (12.5%) of 98,907 inspections, with the number identified per inspection ranging from zero to four. Circulation and filtration violations¶ were documented during 35,327 (35.9%) of 98,361 inspections, with the number identified per inspection ranging from zero to nine. The following violations also were identified: improperly maintained pool log (12,656 [10.9%] of 115,874 inspections), unapproved water test kit used (2,995 [3.3%] of 90,088 inspections), valid pool license not provided and/or posted (741 [2.7%] of 28,007 inspections), and operator training documentation not provided and/or posted (1,542 [18.3%] of 8,439 inspections).
Of the 121,020 inspection records, 59,890 (49.5%) included pool setting data. Among venues with known pool settings, child-care pool inspections had the highest percentage of immediate closures (17.2%), followed by hotel/motel and apartment/condominium pool inspections (15.3% and 12.4% respectively) (Table 1). Apartment/condominium and hotel/motel pool inspections had the highest percentage of disinfectant level violations (13.1% and 12.8%, respectively). Child-care and apartment/condominium pool inspections had the highest percentage of pH level violations (11.8% and 10.0%, respectively). Approximately 35% of inspections of apartment/condominium pools, hotel/motel pools, and water parks identified circulation and filtration violations.
Of the 121,020 inspection records, 113,632 (93.9%) included pool type data. Interactive fountain inspections had the highest percentage of immediate closures (17.0%) (Table 2). Kiddie/wading pool inspections had the highest percentage of disinfectant level violations (13.5%), followed by interactive fountain inspections (12.6%). Therapy pool inspections had the lowest percentage of disinfectant and pH level violations but the highest percentage of other water chemistry violations (43.9%). Interactive fountain inspections identified the lowest percentage of circulation and filtration violations (12.8%).
Reported by
L Hendrix, Jefferson County Dept of Health, Alabama. D Ludwig MPH, Maricopa County Environmental Svcs Dept, Arizona. B Franklin, Los Angeles County Environmental Health; C Maitoza, Sacramento County Environmental Management Dept, California. N Doxford, Florida Dept of Health. SE Ford, MD, DeKalb County Board of Health, Georgia. J Compton, Taney County Health Dept, Missouri. BF Buss, DVM, Career Epidemiology Field Officer Program, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Nebraska Dept of Health and Human Svcs. D Sackett, New York State Dept of Health. D Salmen, Mecklenburg County Health Dept, North Carolina. K Krinn, MA, Columbus Public Health, Ohio. S Campbell, MES, Oklahoma City-County Health Dept, R Roth, Tulsa Health Dept, Oklahoma. E Florom, South Carolina Dept of Health and Environmental Control. T Clements, MS, King County Public Health, Washington. D Newell, Garrison Enterprises, Charlotte, North Carolina. EC Ailes, PhD, SA Collier, MPH, Atlanta Research and Education Foundation, Atlanta Veterans Admin Medical Center, Georgia. C Otto, Div of Emergency and Environmental Health Svcs, National Center for Environmental Health; JM Roberts, MA, Div of Parasitic Diseases, Center for Global Health; MC Hlavsa, MPH, MJ Beach, PhD, Div of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases (proposed), National Center for Zoonotic and Emerging Infectious Diseases (proposed); EL Dunbar, MPH, CDC/Assoc of Schools of Public Health Fellow, CDC.
Editorial Note
This report is the second to examine pool code compliance in multiple U.S. jurisdictions. The first report analyzed aggregated pool inspection data collected during May 1--September 1, 2002, from six jurisdictions (3). This report examined data from more jurisdictions and for an entire year, resulting in a sample more than five times larger than reported previously. The conclusions from the two reports are similar: pool operation violations and immediate closures appear to be common in the United States. Although the sampled jurisdictions are not necessarily representative of the United States, the results underscore the public health importance of pool inspections. The results also underscore the potential for inspection data to better inform and direct public health decision-making regarding swimmer health and safety, particularly if these data are standardized.
Pool inspections are a key part of ensuring pool code compliance (4). This report indicates that routine pool inspections resulted in a high percentage (12.1%) of immediate closures because of serious code violations. Moreover, disinfectant and pH level violations were identified during 10.7% and 8.9% of pool inspections, respectively. Such violations are particularly important because improper disinfectant and pH levels can result in transmission of chlorine- and bromine-susceptible pathogens. Reduced chlorine levels and lower inspection scores have been associated with positive microbiologic water testing results (5). In this report, 18.3% of inspections noted that operator training documentation was not provided and/or posted as required. Pool operator training has been associated with decreased water quality violations (6).
This analysis suggests that efforts to prevent RWIs should focus on certain pool settings (i.e., apartment/condominium, hotel/motel, and child care) or types (i.e., kiddie/wading pools and interactive fountains). In pool settings where swimming is not the primary activity, the person responsible for pool operation likely has other competing responsibilities (e.g., heating and air conditioning maintenance). Requiring operator training for staff responsible for pool operation might improve water quality, and should be considered for these and other pool settings. Among pool types, maintaining adequate disinfectant levels at kiddie/wading pools and interactive fountains is challenging because shallow depth, aeration, sunlight, and organic material (e.g., feces, urine, sweat, and dirt) from young children deplete disinfectant. Disinfectant and pH levels should be measured and adjusted more frequently at these pool types, particularly when bather load is high.
The findings in this report are subject to at least three limitations. First, the results of these inspections might not be representative of inspections conducted by agencies nationwide. Second, some jurisdictions combined multiple inspection items into a single variable (to increase efficiency of data entry), which could lead to an underestimate of the actual total number of violations. Finally, pool setting was specified for <50% of inspections, limiting interpretation of these stratified results.
If pool inspection data were available in a standardized electronic format within a jurisdiction, routine analysis would be facilitated, which could better inform and direct public health decision-making at the state and local level, especially in an era of budget cuts and furloughs (7). For example, inspection programs might boost their effectiveness by targeting educational and regulatory enforcement activities at venues where inspection data indicate violations are disproportionately high. State and local agencies also could use inspection data for program evaluation (e.g., assessing closure and violation trends or differences in results by inspector), as demonstrated with other inspection data (8).
In 2005, federal, state, and local public health officials and aquatic sector representatives met to identify factors contributing to the increasing incidence of reported RWI outbreaks in the United States (2). They identified the variability of pool codes across jurisdictions as a key barrier to RWI prevention. Since 2007, CDC has sponsored a national, state, and local public health and aquatic sector effort to create a Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC). MAHC will include national standards for pool design, construction, operation, and maintenance and guidance for inspections that are based on scientific evidence or best practices to reduce the risk for RWI and injury at public treated venues (9). Voluntary state and local adoption of MAHC could promote standardization of pool codes nationally and, in turn, could result in standardized pool inspection data by defining how and which elements are collected (Box). Standardized, electronic pool inspection data across jurisdictions would supply needed baseline data and enable future monitoring and evaluation of MAHC as a public health resource for state and local jurisdictions in their efforts to promote swimmer health and safety.
This report is based, in part, on contributions by E Wright, Jefferson County Dept of Health, Alabama; G Epperson, Maricopa County Environmental Svcs Dept, Arizona; M Davin, Pueblo City-County Health Dept, S Evans, Weld County Dept of Public Health and Environment, Colorado; R Vincent, P Anderson, Florida Dept of Health; B Trundle, Catoosa County Environmental Health, R Cira, MPH, S Gaines, DeKalb County Board of Health, D Hornsby, L Westcott, Gwinnett County Environmental Health, Georgia; M Mettler, Environmental Public Health Div, K Harrington, R Hooton, St. Joseph County Health Dept, Indiana; L Linnenbrink, Scott County Health Dept, Iowa; G Edwards, A Georgeson, Minnesota Dept of Health; C Fernandez, Environmental Health Dept, City of Minneapolis, Minnesota; L Hunter, L Randolph, Taney County Health Dept, Missouri; T Huffman, J Daniel, Nebraska Dept of Health and Human Svcs; T Wilson, New Hampshire Dept of Environmental Svcs; D Mead, T Shay, New York State Dept of Health; C Stilwell, Mecklenburg County Health Dept, North Carolina; K Madden, Columbus Public Health, Ohio; M Rockey, C Li, Oklahoma City-County Health Dept, Oklahoma; SB Keifer, E Van Ess, Oregon Dept of Human Svcs; J Kawaguchi, Multnomah County Environmental Health, Oregon; D Cinpinski, Allegheny County Health Dept, Pennsylvania; JL Ridge, South Carolina Dept of Health and Environmental Control; T Vyles, MA, Plano Health Dept, G Rothbarth, W Turpen, Tarrant County Public Health, Texas; RM Mason, L Wood, Tennessee Div of General Environmental Health; S Hughes, Alexandria Dept of Health, C Gordon, Virginia Dept of Health; M McGinn, Clark County Environmental Public Health, S Main, Spokane County Health Dept, B Petek, Kitsap County Health District, D DeLong, Tacoma-Pierce County, G Fraser, Office of Environmental Health, Safety, and Toxicology, Washington; N Bloomenrader, Wyoming Dept of Agriculture; and C Nolan, Garrison Enterprises, Charlotte, North Carolina.
- US Census Bureau. Recreation and leisure activities: participation in selected sports activities 2007. Available at http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s1212.pdf. Accessed May 17, 2010.
- CDC. Surveillance for waterborne disease and outbreaks associated with recreational water use and other aquatic facility-associated health events---United States, 2005--2006. MMWR 2008;57(No. SS-9):1--33.
- CDC. Surveillance data from swimming pool inspections---selected states and counties, United States, May--September, 2002. MMWR 2003;52:513--6.
- van Weerdenburg K, Mitchell R, Wallner F. Backyard swimming pool safety inspections: a comparison of management approaches and compliance levels in three local government areas in NSW. Health Promot J Austr 2006;17:37--42.
- Hadjichristodoulou C, Mouchtouri V, Vousoureli A, et al. Waterborne disease prevention: evaluation of inspection scoring system for water sites according to water microbiological tests during the Athens 2004 pre-Olympic and Olympic period. J Epidemiol Community Health 2006;60:829--35.
- Buss BF, Safranek TJ, Magri JM, Török TJ, Beach MJ, Foley BP. Association between swimming pool operator certification and reduced pool chemistry violations---Nebraska, 2005--2006. J Environ Health 2009;71:36--40.
- National Association of County and City Health Officials. LDH budget cuts and job losses: 2010 data confirm job losses and program cuts in LHDs continue. Washington, DC: National Association of County and City Health Officials; 2010. Available at http://www.naccho.org/advocacy/lhdbudget.cfm. Accessed May 17, 2010.
- Cramer EH, Blanton CJ, Otto CM. Shipshape: sanitation inspections on cruise ships, 1990--2005, Vessel Sanitation Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. J Environ Health 2008;70:15--21.
- CDC. Model Aquatic Health Code. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2010. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/mahc. Accessed May 10, 2010.
* The 15 participating agencies and their total number of routine pool inspections conducted in 2008: Florida Department of Health (52,752), Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (1,132), New York State Department of Health (7,384), South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (22,111), Columbus (Ohio) Public Health (2,117), DeKalb County (Georgia) Board of Health (2,755), Jefferson County (Alabama) Department of Health (982), King County (Washington) Public Health (2,300), Los Angeles County (California) Environmental Health (7,890), Maricopa County (Arizona) Environmental Services Department (15,075), Mecklenburg County (North Carolina) Health Department (1,248), Oklahoma City-County (Oklahoma) Health Department (1,802), Sacramento County (California) Environmental Management Department (1,016), Taney County (Missouri) Health Department (549), Tulsa (Oklahoma) Health Department (1,907).
† Although data from the agencies included hot tub inspection records, this report focused only on pool inspection data.
§ Aggregated, dichotomous variable indicating whether at least one of the following inspection items was found to be in violation: cyanurate levels, algae, bacterial quality, disinfectant/pH chemical feeders, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, total dissolved solids, saturation index, and oxidation reduction potential.
¶ Aggregated, dichotomous variable indicating whether at least one of the following inspection items was found to be in violation: turbidity, cross connections, flow meter, water level, turnover, skimmer/gutter, weirs, filter, gauges, and pipe labeling.
What is already known on this topic?
Pool inspection programs are important in assessing and enforcing compliance with pool codes aimed at minimizing the risk for recreational water illness and injury.
What is added by this report?
Analysis of routine pool inspection data from a convenience sample of 15 jurisdictions with 121,020 inspections found that almost one out of eight inspections conducted in 2008 resulted in immediate closure because of serious code violations (e.g., lack of disinfectant in the water).
What are the implications for public health practice?
Pool inspection data can be used as a potential source for surveillance to guide resource allocation and regulatory decision-making to reduce health and safety risks for swimmers; the Model Aquatic Health Code can facilitate systematic collection of pool inspection data.
BOX. Recommendations for pool inspection data collection and database creation with supporting rationale* |
Recommendation |
Analysis outcome or rationale |
Provide a unique identifier for each venue (e.g., permit number or facility title). |
Generates a violation history for each venue. |
Provide a unique identifier for each body of treated recreational water at a venue. |
Generates a violation history for each body of treated recreational water at the venue. This allows tracking of specific high-risk areas at larger venues (e.g., kiddie pools). |
Provide a unique identifier for each inspection of each individual body of treated recreational water at an aquatic venue (i.e., do not include multiple bodies in one inspection record). |
Allows analysis of inspection data by body of treated water over time. |
Specify pool setting (e.g., hotel/motel or apartment/condominium). |
Allows identification of differences in risk for recreational water illnesses and injuries by pool setting. |
Specify pool type (e.g., pool, wading pool, therapy pool, or interactive fountain). |
Allows identification of differences in risk for recreational water illnesses and injuries by pool type. |
Specify water location (i.e., indoor or outdoor). |
Allows identification of differences in maintaining water and air quality by location. |
Specify type of inspection conducted (e.g., routine inspection or inspection in response to public complaint). |
Directs program planning and evaluation and provides census of mandatory inspections. |
Identify inspector who conducted inspection. |
Allows identification of differences among inspectors and helps ensure uniformity of program inspections. |
Limit each data field to one inspection item (e.g., do not combine multiple violations into one field). |
Facilitates data interpretation and analysis. |
Set value limits for data entry for each inspection item. |
Reduces data entry errors and facilitates data analysis. |
Differentiate among inspected items found to be in compliance, out of compliance, corrected on the spot, not observed, or not applicable. |
Allows determination of the number of inspections in the denominator of the proportion of inspections with identified violations. Proportions can be used to track trends over time. |
Standardize inspector notes (e.g., provide a pick list). |
Facilitates data entry and analysis. Inspector's notes (e.g., "pH is too low and needs to be raised") provide detailed information. |
Specify disinfectant type. |
Differentiates among disinfectants, which have different required minimum and/or maximum levels. |
Include actual numeric values measured for total and free disinfectant, cyanurate, and pH or note that no reading was taken. (Limit this field to numeric data only. Including characters such as "<" or ">" increases the need for data cleaning.) |
Allows analysis of critical variables, particularly those with upper and lower limits, to determine which limits were violated. Total and free disinfectant levels can be used to calculate combined disinfectant levels. |
If data entry is too resource intensive, prioritize by order of importance (e.g., inspection items that if found to be in violation would result in closure). |
Facilitates data entry and analysis. |
Specify inspection outcome (e.g., pool closed due to serious violations, pool passed inspection, or reinspection needed). |
Directs program planning and evaluation. |
Log time required for inspection. |
Assesses resource requirements and guides resource allocation. |
Design database that is flexible and allows data fields to change over time. |
Allows database to be altered with changes in pool code and program needs. (Changes to data collection or entry can preclude analysis of trends over time.) |
* CDC recommends that before creating a pool inspection database, agencies should establish the objectives of data collection, entry, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. The objectives will determine how and which data are collected and entered. Electronic data facilitate 1) data analysis and 2) use of these data for public health decision-making. Entering electronic data at point of observation (e.g., via a handheld computer) is ideal but not always possible. Another option is to scan data collection forms to reduce resource burdens. Electronic data also can facilitate public access if inspection reports are uploaded to the Internet. (Adapted from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/regulation/recommendations-pool-inspection-data-collection.html.) |
Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are
provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply
endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the content
of pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of
the date of publication.
All MMWR HTML versions of articles are electronic conversions from typeset documents.
This conversion might result in character translation or format errors in the HTML version.
Users are referred to the electronic PDF version (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr)
and/or the original MMWR paper copy for printable versions of official text, figures, and tables.
An original paper copy of this issue can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9371;
telephone: (202) 512-1800. Contact GPO for current prices.
**Questions or messages regarding errors in formatting should be addressed to


text:
Ultimate Learning Pro is a new WordPress LMS Plugin that will help you create a premium Learning platform for your future Students & Instructors. You'll be able to easily create courses, reward your students, gather feedback and much more!
We have experience with WordPress plugins, having created the successful Ultimate Membership Pro & Ultimate Affiliate Pro plugins. Ultimate Learning Pro is the most feature rich LMS Plugin out there and what sets us apart is that we give you ALL the features from the start. We don't have hidden costs or paywall features.
You can turn your website into a real business, sell courses through all of the popular methods and have instructors manage your students, start your premium learning platform today!
- Intuitive Course Builder
Easily create, edit and maintain online courses with our friendly user interface. - Everything Included
All the Premium Addons are included in the price, you get everything from the start with no hidden costs - Control Enrollment
With Ultimate Learning Pro your users can register to automatically become Students and/or Instructors or you can manually add them. You can even add multiple Instructors.
- PayPal Payment
Your users can use PayPal's direct payment method. - Stripe Payment
Your users can use Stripe's direct payment method. - Membership Payment
You can link a course to a Ultimate Membership Pro level. - WooCommerce Payment
Your users can use the payment methods integrated in WooCommerce. - EDD Payment
You can link a course to an Easy Download Digital item
- Student Notes
Special form generated by the plugin where your students can take notes during courses. - Student Badges
Set up badges to reward your students for completing certain conditions. - Reward Points
Reward your students with points when they answer questions, finish a quiz, lesson or course. Use points as a prerequisite condition for your courses. - Wish List
Lets your students save a course to their personal wish list for later use. - Grade Book
Students will be able to see their grades in a special form generated by the plugin.
- Course Certificates
Certificates can be added for courses, they are given to your students upon completion of the course. - Course Reviews
Help your sales grow by having honest reviews of your courses written by students. - Course Difficulty
Define difficulty levels and assign them to your courses to help potential customers make the right choice. - Course Estimation Timer
Set up an estimation of how much time it will take to finish this course. - Featured Course
Highlight a course in the public section to attract interest to it with just one button click. - Course Price
Determine if a course is free or paid and set up the price.
- Lesson Preview
Make a lesson available for everyone so they can get an idea of how the course is like. - Lesson Drip Content
Control when a lesson becomes available for your students by scheduling content releases. - Lesson Duration
Establish the minimum amount of time a user must spend on a lesson in order to avoid a user clicking next, next to pass through a lesson with ease. - Quiz Timer
Set a number of minutes after which the quiz will end. - Randomize Questions
Display the questions of a quiz in a random order every time. - Randomize Multi-Choice Answers
Display the multi-choice answers in a random order every time. - Determine Passing Grade
Establish the minimum grade a user must obtain in order to pass a quiz or course.
- Pushover Notifications
Create notifications which will be received by your users on mobile via Pushover. - Multiple Instructors
Ultimate Learning Pro has the functionality to add multiple instructors to a course, this is available from the beginning for no extra cost. - MyCred Integration
MyCred is integrated in ULP, allowing your users to earn points for certain actions, you have full control over these. - Invoices
Allow your users access to their invoice(s). - BuddyPress Integration
BuddyPress is integrated in Ultimate Learning Pro, adding a new tab to your BuddyPress public profile. - Custom Currencies
ULP allows the addition of new currencies alongside the predefined list based on custom symbols. - Account Custom Tabs
You can create and reorder the account page menu items.
If you want to use Ultimate Learning Pro plugin, all you need to do is install WordPress 3.0+ with PHP 5.6+, and install the plugin.
- FontAwesome
- Bootstrap Responsive
Updates Log
Version 1.9
- ADD Video Lessons - ADD Sliding Coure Curriculum - ADD Custom Redirect for Buy Button - Improve system performance - Improve Reviews workflow - Improve PoEdit Languages update option - Improve DataBase performances - Improve WPML Compatibility - Fix Announcment notifications workflow - Fix Q&A Notifications workflow - Fix Questions title special characters - Fix DirectEmail functionality - Fix Instructor List - Fix Print Certificate option - Fix Notifications settings - Fix Export Students option
Version 1.7
- ADD Gutenberg Integration - Improve system performance - Update Envato API integration
Version 1.6
- ADD WPML Integration - ADD Elementor Integration - ADD Gutenberg Integration - ADD Profile Image cropping options - ADD decimals to Course price - Improve right answer confirmation workflow - Improve "free choice" questions special characters - Improve Notifications parsing content workflow - Fix Reward Points settings - Fix Modules Pagination - Fix listing "draft" courses on front-end - Fix "Preview" for Courses Grid showcase - Fix Instructor Dashboard courses submissions
Version 1.5
- ADD New Module: Front-End Instructor Dashboard - Fix DirectEmail custom content - Improve Course Curriculum management - Improve workflow for different WP Site Address - Fix Fill in Blank Question type - Fix Adding new Reviews from Admin Dashboard - Improve access restrictions for Lessons and Quizzes - Improve submit Q&A on front-end process - Improve Reviews management. - Improve WP Profile Image replacement - Improve workflow on Course Tabs
Version 1.4
- ADD New Module: Announcements - ADD New Module: Coming Soon Courses - ADD New Module: Q&A - ADD option to change Account Page Banner - ADD Direct Email feature - ADD Course Page Menu showcase - Fix Crons workflow - Fix Badges assignments - Fix Remove Lessons/Quizzes actions - Improve Permalinks workflow - Improve Reviews management - Improve Export/Import workflow - Improve performance - Improve predefined Style
Version 1.3
- Improve the payment workflow - Improve the Checkout page - ADD Loading progress workflow - Improve "Fill In" Question type to have multiple possible answers and multiple requests. - ADD new Question type "Choose Image single choice" - ADD new Question type "Choose Image multiple choices" - ADD new Question type "Matching" - Fix Question Order option - Fix "Essay" question type workflow - Fix Avatar Image workflow on account page. - Update languages files - Improve Admin courses list. - ADD RTL workflow - ADD Checkout message for non-logged users. - ADD 2Checkout Payment module - Improve Template files in child theme workflow - Fix Stripe payment via UMP system - Improve front-end templates style
Version 1.2
- Improve Demo content insert process - Improve shortcodes workflow - Fix Student Bases display - Fix Retake Course process - Improve Enroll option for expired Courses - Improve access restriction into ULP Dashboard - Fix Instructor WP Role assignation - Show pending Instructor into ULP Dashboard - Improve Custom Links for Lessons and Quizzes - Improve Instructor workflow - Improve Instructor restrictions - ADD two different Instructor roles - Highlight Pending for Review Lessons and Quizzes - ADD Review time better display - ADD "Show more Reviews" button - ADD Review Awesome Box for Average Course Rating - ADD New Module: "About Instructor Box" - ADD New Module: "Students also Bought Box" - ADD New Module: "Instructor Public Page" - ADD New Module: "More Courses by Current Instructor" - ADD New Module: "Courses Tags" - ADD Special Price option - Compatibility with Elementor Page Builder Added - Questions content shortcodes allow - Compatibility with GeneratePress Theme - New created DB Tables with utf8 encoding - ULP Dashboard Improvements

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This will serve as the central clearing house for all the Windows 8 articles, blog posts, screenshot galleries, and other content I create while attending BUILD in Anaheim, California this week. It will be updated continuously throughout the week.
Live blogs
Tuesday, September 13, 2011: Keynote 1 (Expected: Windows 8) 9 am PT/12 pm ETWednesday, September 14, 2011: Keynote 2 (Expected: Windows Server 8) 9 am PT/12 pm ET
BUILD Blogger Bash: the ultimate BUILD party!
Live From Anaheim: It's The BUILD Blogger Bash!Wednesday, September 14, 20115pm-7pm
Bar Louie Tavern & Grill
Level 2 Main Level 212
321 West Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92802
"Unwind from BUILD with all your favourite Microsoft bloggers and podcasters, including Ed Bott, Mary Jo Foley, Kip Kniskern, Marques Lyons, Ryan and Travis Lowdermilk, Rafael Rivera, Paul Thurrott, Tom Warren, Long Zheng, and more! Chat about Windows 8, .NET, HTML5 or anything. Besides, it's never too early to start speculating about Windows 9."
If you're planning to attend, please RSVP and be sure to arrive early to avoid disappointment. And if you can't make it, check out our live coverage of the party.
Articles and blog posts
Windows 8 Refresh Your PC Screenshot GallerySeptember 14, 2011
Here are some screenshots of the new Refresh Your PC capability in Windows 8. more
Windows 8 PC Repair Screenshot Gallery
September 14, 2011
Here are some screenshots of the new PC repair tools available in Windows 8. more
Windows 8 Developer Preview Setup Screenshot Gallery
September 14, 2011
Here's a quick screenshot gallery showing off the process of installing the Windows 8 Developer Preview.
BUILD: Microsoft to Detail Windows Server 8
September 14, 2011
On the second day of its inaugural BUILD Conference, Microsoft will detail the next major version of its server OS, Windows Server 8.
Microsoft Bringing Xbox LIVE to Windows 8 Too
September 13, 2011
So we already knew that a Windows 8-esque, Metro-style UI was coming to the Xbox 360 this fall as part of a new Dashboard update. But Microsoft is also working to move that UI back to Windows 8, in the form of Xbox LIVE for Windows 8. This is a replacement for today's awful Games for Windows LIVE interface, of course, but ... man. Does it look nice.
Windows 8 Features and Terminology
September 13, 2011
As the author of several books about Microsoft platforms--Windows Phone 7 Secrets most recently, and of course the coming Windows 8 Secrets--I'm very concerned about documenting both the features of these platforms--applications, services, and so on--but also the terminology that Microsoft uses to describe them. These things have names, and need to be referenced properly. Here's an early peek at where I'm at. more
Get the Windows 8 Developer Preview Build Today!
September 13, 2011
Unexpectedly, Microsoft is making the Windows 8 developer preview available to the public today, starting at 8pm PT today. This includes 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) versions of the OS, with or without development tools, but not any ARM versions, which are chipset specific. Only clean installs are supported, not upgrades from Windows 7.
Windows 8 Developer Preview: Samsung 700T Photo Gallery
September 13, 2011
Microsoft this week provided reviewers with a very temporary loan of a specially made slate PC running the Windows 8 technical preview. And when I say temporary, I mean temporary: We have to give this machine back on Thursday evening before we leave BUILD.
BUILD: Microsoft Announces Windows 8 Developer Preview
September 13, 2011
Microsoft announced a developer-preview release of Windows 8 at its first-ever BUILD Conference, ushering in a new era for both PC users and developers. Windows 8 is a "reimagined" version of the world's most popular software, as Microsoft executives are fond of saying, offering both an iPad-like "touch-first" user experience as well as the traditional Windows desktop.
Windows 8 Developer Preview Screenshots, Part 2
September 13, 2011
Here's a collection of live screenshots from Windows 8 build 8102--the developer preview--running on a loaner slate PC. (Part 2 of 2)
Windows 8 Developer Preview Screenshots, Part 1
September 13, 2011
Here's a collection of live screenshots from Windows 8 build 8102--the developer preview--running on a loaner slate PC. (Part 1 of 2)
Windows 8 Developer Preview Screenshot Gallery
September 13, 2011
Here's a small collection of Windows 8 developer preview (build 8102) screenshots, courtesy of Microsoft.
Windows 8 Developer Preview
September 13, 2011
On Monday, I attended an all-day reviewer workshop for Windows 8, Microsoft's next desktop operating system. And while it may be a while before I can adequately describe my thoughts about Windows 8, for now it goes something like this.
The Excitement BUILDs: Here Comes Windows 8
September 11, 2011
I'm in Anaheim, California for this week's BUILD conference, where Microsoft promises to reveal Windows 8 (and Windows Server 8) to the world. It's going to be a fire hose of information. But let me just frame where my head is at with a simple declaration: My next OS is better than your next OS.
September 5, 2011
Microsoft will soon host its inaugural BUILD conference, which has one aim and one aim only: To reveal Windows 8 to the world.
What The Tech 84: Windows 8 UnveiledSeptember 14, 2011
This week on What The Tech: Paul Thurrott checks in from the Microsoft Build Conference. Paul shows off the first Windows 8 tablet from Samsung. Is it going to be an iPad killer? If so, what does it mean for Android tablets? Andrew and Paul also discuss Skydrive integration in Windows. Andrew asks Paul about how the Metro UI will work for power users that may not need, nor want the interface. And when can we expect to see Windows 8 launch to the public?
Windows Weekly 225: I Can't Wait For All This To Be Over
September 6, 2011
In the latest episode of the Windows Weekly podcast, Leo, Mary Jo and I discuss Carol Bartz's firing from Yahoo, a bunch of pre-BUILD Windows 8 updates, several Windows Phone stories, Windows Intune 2, and a new Twitter and Bing linkup.
Hide comments


text:
A debugger tool is provided to help track down the cause of problems in your source code. This section introduces you to some of the ways in which it can be used.
(defun test ()
(let ((total 0))
(loop for i below 100 do
(incf total i) when (= i 50) do
(break "We've reached fifty"))))
This function counts from 0 to 100, accumulating the total as it progresses, and forces entry into the debugger when the count has reached 50.
into the Listener.
Initially, the command line debugger is entered. This is a debugger which can be used from within the Listener itself. More details about what you can do in the command line debugger can be found by typing
at the debugger prompt.
The debugger tool appears, as shown in Debugger tool.
The debugger tool gives a view of the backtrace (in the Backtrace pane), showing the functions that are on the stack, and their internal variables (including any arguments) at the point that the error occurred.
. This indicates an expandable node. Click on this to open up the tree display, showing the local variables used in function
. Notice that the value for
is 50, as you would expect.There is a row of toolbar buttons at the top of the debugger which let you perform a number of different actions.
The debugger disappears from the screen, and the command line debugger in the Listener is exited, leaving you at the Lisp prompt in the Listener.


text:
Just about every type of extreme weather event is becoming less frequent and less severe in recent years as our planet continues its modest warming in the wake of the Little Ice Age. While global warming activists attempt to spin a narrative of ever-worsening weather, the objective facts tell a completely different story.
New Records for Lack of Tornadoes
New data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration show the past 12 months set a record for the fewest tornadoes in recorded history. Not only did Mother Nature just set a record for lack of tornado activity, she absolutely shattered the previous record for fewest tornadoes in a 12-month period. During the past 12 months, merely 197 tornadoes struck the United States. Prior to this past year, the fewest tornadoes striking the United States during a 12-month period occurred from June 1991 through July 1992, when 247 tornadoes occurred.
The new tornado record is particularly noteworthy because of recent advances in tornado detection technology. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is able to detect more tornadoes in recent years than in prior decades due to technological advances. Even with such enhanced tornado detection capability, the past 12 months shattered all prior records for recorded tornadoes.
NOAA posted a list of the five "lowest non-overlapping 12 month counts on record from 1954-present." Notably, each of these low-tornado periods occur since 1986, precisely during the time period global warming alarmists claim global warming is causing more extreme weather events such as tornadoes. According to NOAA, the lowest non-overlapping 12 month counts on record from 1954-present, with the starting month, are:
197 tornadoes – starting in May 2012
247 tornadoes – starting in June 1991
270 tornadoes – starting in November 1986
289 tornadoes – starting in December 2001
298 tornadoes – starting in June 2000
On a related note, a new record for the longest stretch of consecutive days without a tornado death occurred during 2012 and 2013.
New Records for Lack of Hurricanes
Hurricane inactivity is also setting all-time records. The United States is undergoing its longest stretch in recorded history without a major hurricane strike, with each passing day extending the unprecedented lack of severe hurricanes, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data.
It has been more than 2,750 days since a major hurricane struck the United States. This easily smashes the prior record of less than 2,300 days between major hurricane strikes.
Although global warming activists and their media allies often claim global warming is making extreme weather events more frequent and severe, virtually all extreme weather events are becoming less frequent and less severe as our planet gradually warms.
Droughts, Wildfires, Etc.
Pretty much all other extreme weather events are becoming less frequent and less severe, also. Soil moisture is in long-term improvement at nearly all sites in the Global Soil Moisture Data Bank. Droughts are less frequent and less severe than in prior, colder centuries. The number of wildfires is in long-term decline despite a recent change in wildfire policy that no longer actively suppresses wildfires. Just about any way you measure it, extreme weather events are becoming quite rare.
Anecdotes vs. Objective Data
Despite all this good news, a growing number of people believe global warming is causing an increase in extreme weather events. This is no accident. Fully aware of the objective facts, global warming activists are doing everything they can to distract people from the truth. Although extreme weather events are becoming less frequent, the Earth is a big place with a dynamic climate. There will always be some extreme weather events, even as they become less frequent and less severe. Global warming activists can always highlight some extreme weather event occurring somewhere on the planet and paint a false narrative that global warming must be to blame, even though extreme weather events are becoming rarer as the planet gradually warms and returns to pre-Little Ice Age norms.
Major hurricanes struck the U.S. Northeast on a fairly regular basis during the first half of the 20th century when temperatures were cooler. Now, as our planet warms, hurricanes of any sort almost never strike the U.S. Northeast. As a result, when even a minor hurricane like Sandy strikes the Northeast, it is a seemingly unheard of weather event. We can thank global warming for the fact that even a small hurricane like Sandy is a rare event in the U.S. Northeast. The same applies for tornadoes, droughts, etc.
Thank goodness science is conducted according to objective facts rather than activist propaganda!


text:
Vulcan, Birmingham Alabama's colossal statue is the world's largest cast iron statue and considered one of the most memorable works of civic art in the United States. Designed by Italian artist Giuseppe Moretti and cast from local iron in 1904, Vulcan has overlooked Alabama's largest city from atop Red Mountain since the 1930s.
By 1999, the 50-ton statue was in desperate need of repair. The surrounding 10-acre park was closed. Vulcan was removed from his pedestal. Realizing Vulcan's importance to the region's history, city leaders sought public support for its restoration, forming the non-profit Vulcan Park Foundation. The foundation would oversee a master plan to return this colossal statue to
his 1904 grandeur. They also created a dynamic educational park complex interpreting Alabama's rich industrial history for both residents and visitors from across the globe.
Today, thanks to public-private partnerships and a $15.5 million campaign, this beloved symbol of Birmingham and the nation's iron and steel industry stands preserved and proud as the centerpiece of it rehabilitated and expanded park, now referred to as Vulcan Park and Museum.


text:
There are adults today who have never known a world without cell phones, color television or ATMs. These are people who have had cable television all of their lives (not to mention Internet access, DVRs, DVDs, and so on for a shorter period of time). This actually presents significant challenges to the cable industry. To people who have always had cable, there is no difference between an over-the-air (OTA) broadcast channel and cable offerings. However, in both the business and regulatory environments, the difference between OTA television and cable matters. The business models are different, the ad revenue streams are different, the content regulation is different. Whether you run a local TV station or a cable system, a broadcast network or a cable net, you live with these differences everyday. To viewers, those differences are invisible. They cruise around the channel lineup, probably not paying any attention when they're tuned to a cable channel and when they're looking at a broadcast station. They may be vaguely aware the rules for swearing vary between basic cable and networks like NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, or the CW – although, as broadcast standards have changed over the years, the differences aren't as stark as they used to be. Even if they see that distinction, they may not know this is because broadcasters use the public airwaves, while cable programmers do not.
Another example: If a cable programmer – Animal Planet, Comedy Central, Turner Classic Movies – wants to be carried by a cable operator, then that network has to make its pitch. It has to demonstrate the value it will deliver and then an agreement is negotiated. An OTA broadcaster can choose between Must Carry or Retransmission Consent status in order to gain carriage. As NCTA President & CEO Kyle McSlarrow pointed out in testimony earlier this year, "it's not a free market negotiation." For example, if negotiations between a cable operator and a broadcaster go badly, that operator can't turn to an out-of-market broadcaster that carried the same programming. You can argue that the average viewer doesn't need to know the difference. They watch what they want to watch and they don't care whether the programming is cable or broadcast. But you cannot ignore the impact of these differences. They can be seen all the time. I've mentioned the issue of must carry/retrans, which I blogged about earlier when clashes between Time Warner Cable and broadcaster LIN TV were in the news. I've written multiple times about the distinction between the broadcasters' Digital TV Transition and the cable industry's migration to digital; just recently, my colleague Michael Turk responded to a Consumers Union letter that seemed to combine the two. I've written about the so-called "cord-cutters," who aim to get all their TV via the Internet; I mentioned how little cable programming is available online as compared to broadcast television – an issue which is a direct result of their differing business models. (Will Richmond writes about this issue in more detail today.)
When discussing television, and the impact of various policy proposals, it is useful to be aware that the telecommunications and television industries are still rooted in historical traditions, no matter how much it seems like all the old rules are gone. While public policy may eventually catch up with the rapid changes of the last decade, we're not quite there yet. We must remain cognizant of that in applying a one-size-fits-all model to services that vary greatly – whether you can see the differences or not.


text:
Sep 27, 2010
(#10-40-Sept. 27-Oct. 2) Linda Criddle will detail how the public can keep their kids' identities safe on the internet. Rex Ghesh will discuss economic terrorism, and actress/activist Lee Kessler on mideast terrorism.
Sep 20, 2010
(#10-39-Sept. 20-Sept. 26) James Frayne will discuss the controversial immigration issue. Dr. Stuart Reeves will talk about keeping the immune system strong, and food and nutrition expert Marci Rothman on good nutrition for kids.
Sep 13, 2010
(#10-38-Sept. 13-Sept. 19) Tim Schmidt will discuss efforts to get concealed gun laws passed. Mike Flanagan will talk about ways to find a job, and LY Marlow on her national campaign to increase awareness of dometic violence.
Sep 7, 2010
(#10-37-Sept. 6-Sept. 12) Sports Soup Host Matt Iseman will discuss arthritis. Princess Clark Windell will give an update on the economy, and David Weber talks about women in combat.


text:
Dark Tourism - the guide to dark travel destinations around the world
dark tourism
dark tourism
Andaman & Nicobar
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Cape Verde
Channel Islands
Cyprus (North)
Czech Republic
Dominican Republic
Easter Island
East Timor
El Salvador
Falkland Islands
French Guiana
Great Britain
New Zealand
Northern Ireland
North Korea
South Africa
South Georgia
South Korea
Sri Lanka
St Helena
Tristan da Cunha
PLEASE NOTE that this section is in part quite old and some are by now pretty outdated. I'll try to find the time to add more updates, but it's not my main priority at the moment ... please bear with me.
Here are a few remarks about travel photography, not much that's specific to dark tourism, rather more general points to bear in mind …
simply click on the titles to jump to the relevant sections:
restrictions and ethical issues in general
photography at places of tragedy
be considerate – PLEASE turn off those bleep and ping noises!!!
differences between snapshots and good photography – general hints:
demands and equipment
learn to use your camera's potential
holding the camera right
pressing the button: gently does it – or use the self-timer
observe the light
timing natural light conditions
careful with that flash!!!
think before you shoot
compose your shot
experimenting with focus
processing photos afterwards
keeping order
Restrictions and ethical issues
Most travellers like to capture what they perceive as images they want to keep, in order to document their travels. Only, there are points when photography is either downright prohibited (e.g. at military sites in many countries), inadvisable, or unethical.
Where you are clearly informed of the fact that photography is forbidden, don't disobey, esp. at military sites, or you may end up being taken for a spy and getting arrested (or worse …). Then there may be situations when it is advisable to put your camera away rather than capture the moment, say if that's a moment of unrest.
Angering an already volatile mob can be more dangerous than military imprisonment. Fortunately, most travellers are unlikely to get into such a bad fix. But should you get into a somewhat hairy situation, use your judgement. When in doubt, don't take pictures – i.e. do the opposite of what holds for journalists: they have to take risks, it's their job. For a tourist it's not and risks should be avoided (see also
danger tourism
health and safety
And then there are lots of situations where taking pictures isn't exactly risky, but
ethical issues
come into play. In some cultures taking pictures of people as such is an issue – and you'll either have to avoid photography or at least ask for permission before raising your camera.
In general: when in doubt as whether it's OK to take a picture or not, then don't or ask first rather than just shooting away.
Photographing at places of tragedy
ethical issues
about photography concern the way pictures are taken. I for one have a real issue with people taking 'selfies' or posing for photos in that 'cheese'-smile fashion in front of sites of tragedy and grief, such as at memorial sites of former
concentration camps
(see e.g.
). Some people may find it unethical to photograph at such sites at all, but that's too extreme in my view.
A decent balance and
respectful behaviour
should be observed, but stigmatizing all photography at dark tourism sites is taking it too far – and would take a crucial part of what tourism is all about out of the notion of 'dark tourism'. Why should it? A respectful middle ground is what I believe is adequate.
Taking photographs of the places, buildings etc. that you've come to visit should in most cases be fine (but preferably without people in the pictures – see
ethical issues
composing your shot
). Where even this is not welcomed, and it's usually made clear explicitly, then of course be obedient (see
). At many such sites there are shops that offer an alternative – books that include photos of the site (often taken by pros and under better conditions than you will get). Even where you are allowed to take pictures, it may be worth checking these alternatives out before you shoot away.
--- top ---
Be considerate – PLEASE turn off those bleeps and pings!!!
One more point that is close to my heart: please take the trouble to turn off all those sounds that many digital cameras make when left in the manufacturer's default setting. Somewhere in the set-up menu there will be a function silencing those annoying peeps and pings. Use it – do turn them off! Even if you're not bothered by them yourself, it's just a courtesy to fellow travellers and your environment in general.
[see this
personal anecdote
In fact this applies to some locations especially, namely again ones where remaining quiet is generally a duty out of respect, e.g. at former
concentration camp
memorial sites. Beeping cameras in such locations can also annoy the hell out of me and surely out of others even more so (see
photography at places of tragedy
). Be warned: if you're a camera-beeper too, then you really don't want to bump into me at such a site … or mercy be with you! So listen:
turn those sounds off!!!
And after all: does anyone really need all those sounds? I doubt it! The only exception I could just about imagine may be the artificial shutter-noise many digital cameras make – that may indeed serve to give you instant feedback that the camera's shutter has actually been released. (In the case of an SLR you can't do anything about it anyway, so I suppose it has to be tolerated.) But then again, the digital still image coming up on the viewfinder/LCD-screen does the same job of confirming the shot – with only a bit of lag time.
And as for all other functions – go by visual feedback too, it's good enough. No need to add noise pollution to your environs. The world's already too full of beeping noises as it is …
--- top ---
There's a difference between snapshots and good photography – some hints:
Photography can vary wildly in quality. I'm not a professional or even a real photographic expert, but I do know one or two things about the topic and over the years have managed to enhance my own photographic skills to provide for much better results than I used to be able to achieve many years ago, before I became aware of a few aspects that make a difference (and some that don't).
I have an eye for aesthetics and, conversely, an awareness of some of the typical mistakes that jeopardize good photography. Here's a few points in question that I'd deem worth passing on:
demands and equipment
learn and use your camera's potential
holding the camera right
pressing the button: gently does it – or use the self-timer
observe the light
timing natural light conditions
careful with that flash!!!
think before you shoot
compose your shot
experimenting with focus
- Demands and equipment
Of course, many people aren't very demanding when it comes to photography and are happy if whatever object or scene is "in the photo" somehow, as long as it is not totally out of focus, blurred or dark. But of course there's more to
(as opposed to average snap-shot) photography. And it
does not mean
you have to use
big expensive gear
It's just as possible to do crap photography with a big SLR with a mortar-size lens on it as it is with a mobile phone cam. Naturally, good gear will enhance the possibilities for very good picture quality, but that's just the technical side.
It doesn't require expensive gear to do decent above-average photography from a stylistic and aesthetic point of view. Lower resolution digital photos may not respond well to blow-up prints, but who really requires poster-size print-outs of their photos? Professionals mainly. And they'll have the pro gear anyway – in fact they often retain the use of analogue cameras for that purpose. For "normal mortals", even enthusiasts with pretty elaborate gear, most digital photos these days remain in electronic format anyway, except perhaps for a few select super-shots we may want to put on the wall.
It's all a matter of balancing individual needs and preferences – including what you can/want to sensibly invest in your gear. In general:
tend to be more expensive, not necessarily at entry-level and with just a kit lens, but they require more additional equipment, at least some alternate good quality lenses, which soon can make things very expensive … and unwieldy to cart around on travels. At the other extreme is the little flat slab-like compact digicam, which may be super-convenient, as it can be carried around in a shirt pocket – but it may have its limitations especially in image quality. Often also with zoom – cheap ones may offer no more than 3 x optical zoom (and forget "digital zoom", that's not zoom at all, but just the processor cutting the picture smaller in-camera … totally pointless, as you can do that at home by cropping the image yourself afterwards).
These days, of course, many people simply rely on the cameras built into their smartphones. While some are capable of images about as good as a decent point-and-shoot compact camera, the limitations to taking really good pictures are at least as severe with smartphones as with ordinary compacts.
There are now some really good (almost) pocket-sized digital cameras specifically marketed "for the enthusiast", but these can actually cost more than an entry-level dSLR. Image quality may be excellent, but they tend to come with restrictions especially with zoom reach (some only have one fixed focal length).
With more demands, though, size will matter and thus increase.
If you don't want to go up the scale all the way and take the SLR path, then consider a so-called '
bridge camera
' ("bridging" the gap between compact and SLR, hence the designation), which may offer just the right
, esp. for the traveller. They're bigger and heavier than the little slabs, but with fixed lenses of often good quality which can offer tremendous zoom-ranges. And that without the inconvenience of having to cart the much bulkier SLR zoom lenses about.
Also: changing lenses on an SLR can get dust on the sensor. Several manufacturers have developed "dust-shake" systems to compensate for this, but there's only so much they can achieve. In many photographic situations this may not be much of an issue, but "out in the field", say in a dusty desert or steppe it can be a crucial factor (believe me - I'm speaking from bad experience). Bridge cameras don't have that problem so much as their lenses are firmly attached anyway. Their flexibility also makes them much quicker to use, which is another factor to consider.
In general: make an
decision, and shop around. Specs alone aren't good enough. Get reviews (at the fullest depth e.g. at dpreview.com) and customers' opinions (e.g. from Amazon) first and take your time comparing. If possible it's best to even test-
candidate cameras ... it's very much a matter of personal taste and e.g. one's size of hands, as to what makes good handling.
Just one specific thing: don't be drawn into that megapixel game.
More megapixels does NOT
mean better pictures
(at least not with compact and bridge cameras). It often simply means cramming more information onto a much too tiny sensor. The megapixel count may go up, but it can create other problems. Some reviewers now actually recommend looking for older models – they may have gone cheap, because the manufacturers are now pushing a follow-up model with more megapixels. But those older models may offer better overall qualities. After all: if you really
need 20
MP or more then you'd go for a semi-pro SLR anyway. Compacts at least do just fine or even better with lower MP counts. It has been argued convincingly (see:
) that for a small-sensor compact camera the ideal megapixel count is 6MP. But due to the marketing craze about ever more megapixels, no such cameras are currently being built any longer. Shame! [UPDATE: the megapixel craze has clearly won the battle, when even smartphones come with 48MP cameras these days ...]
If you go for a dSLR, more MPs do make a difference to a point, as does going for full-frame cameras, though these generally cost more. Going even beyond, for mid-format cameras with 50-100MP, costs a fortune and is really only for professionals. Those huge and often slower cameras are also not good for travel, when weight and size matter too and you may frequently be under time pressure.
If you're interested,
these are/have been my personal camera choices over the past nearly two decades
--- top ---
- Learn to use your camera's potential
For the traveller who wants to capture his or her travels well photographically, the way in which you take pictures is ultimately more important than the price of your equipment. Today, even many small digital cameras are capable of decent enough photos technically – provided you use them right!
One thing is: familiarize yourself with the settings of your camera –
don't just shoot everything in auto-mode
. It may be alright in perfect daylight conditions, but once you're, say, indoors in a sparsely-lit environment, many a camera's auto-setting gets into trouble. At least learn to use some of the additional programmes your camera offers.
E.g. night-shot modes can be useful – not only at night out in the wild or in city streets, also indoors! But you will have to
your camera to get a shake-free result. If no natural options are available, then one of those trouser-pocket-sized mini-tripods can indeed be useful – esp. for travel photography (not much extra bulk).
Make use of the
function when using settings with longer exposure times – even pressing the shutter can be enough to blur the picture (or, if your camera allows it, use a remote control).
Just being familiar with a few standard choices in camera settings will give you better chances of decent results. Most travellers will not have the time for fully manual settings in most situations anyway, and only exceptional situations really require such an effort. But be familiar with a range of pre-sets and your options are much enhanced.
I emphasize again: I'm not talking professional photography here, but simple enhanced picture-taking for the travelling user of budget to mid-range photographic gear who isn't interested in the finer technical points of photographic theory, but who wants to do more than mere auto-mode snapshots.
If you're relying on a smart phone, forget all this, unless you have one of those few that specilize in decent camera functions. Most smart phones produce at best very mediocre results and often do not even allow much, if any, control over settings. They are really just for snapping and selfies, but not for serious photography.
If you're going for a dSLR, then you should learn its functions well, so you don't have to waste time in the field looking up things in a manual or searching through menus. As a default I use my SLR in aperture priority mode (marked A on the mode wheel on most cameras, on Pentax it's "Av") because that's the parameter I want to have control over most often, and I leave it to the camera to automatically pick the fitting shutter time (going fully manual, setting M, is too time consuming for most of my photography siutuations). My K1 also offers five programmable custom settings which I used for complex settings, for night shots with self-timer and for fast shutter wildlife photography settings. Thus I have very little to do in terms of twiddeling dials and switches. By default I generally try to stick to low ISO values, because that produces less image noise, but occasionally I do exploit the very high ISO settings my K1 offers in extreme low light situations when I don't have a tripod or other means of stabilizing it for long exposures. And as I now shoot everything in RAW I can see to whitebalance and exposure later in the editing phase.
--- top ---
- Holding the camera
This can be more of an issue than you may think – many people use the digital LCD display and apply that arms-stretched-out free-held approach. That's a recipe for camera shake resulting in blurry pics (even if your camera does have a shake-reduction function – there's only so much that can be compensated for). Instead hold the camera tight, elbows propped against your body, take a breath and hold you breath while taking the pic. If necessary (and possible) support the camera against something solid, like a pillar or something.
When shooting hand-held it's generally better to use the viewfinder rather than the LCD-Display – if your camera has one, that is. Some super-slim miniaturized digicams these days often do without. That's quite a restriction (also in situations where the sun makes seeing the LCD-display difficult or impossible.) Some cameras' viewfinders aren't very good, though – so this is something to check especially carefully when choosing a camera! If it's an option, then going by viewfinder rather than display is to be preferred. It has the immediate advantage that it almost forces your body into a position more conducive to controlled, shake-free pics.
It's also easier to compose the shot through the viewfinder (it's easier for a single eye to flit around various fixation points, and you don't have to focus your two eyes). This is of course especially true if you're long-sighted (like me), which means you either need your reading glasses to use the display or you have to hold it away from you on outstretched arms to be able to focus. Not an issue at all with a proper viewfinder (which should have dioptre adjustment, of course!).
--- top ---
- Pressing the release button: gently does it – or automatic, by using the self-timer
And don't slam the shutter button down, rather gently squeeze it down. Better still, when it really counts, use auto-release – the self-timer function that most cameras have provides this (how easily it is accessible is another one of those little criteria to look for in a prospective camera's controls determining the quality of handling).
You can even use it for increased stabilizing of hand-held shots. Set it to the shortest timing (e.g. 2 seconds), press the shutter button to start the countdown and autofocus, hold still and wait for the picture to be taken – that's what makes it calmer than even the softest manual pressing of the button. Obviously auto-release is especially helpful when using a tripod.
Some better cameras also have a remote shutter release function – which is even better still, but most compact and bridge cameras lack this special feature. The self-timer does the trick almost as well.
--- top ---
- Observe the light
Brightest sunlight is not necessarily the best light. In fact the glare you get in some hot countries such as Turkey can be a real problem for getting good shots. Morning and afternoon/evening light often works better – and it can add atmosphere.
Obviously, too little light is also a potential problem, but that can be compensated for by using special settings with longer exposure times or higher ISO sensitivity settings. In many digital cameras, however, higher ISO sensitivity too readily makes pictures overly grainy. (Excessive ISO sensitivity values are another crazy marketing ploy, like excessive megapixels, even though values over 400 may in effect be totally unusable.) Better to resort to longer exposure at less sensitivity, and use a tripod or some other physical stabilization (see
holding the camera
). That's usually best for capturing scenes in low light.
Obviously enough, shooting into the light makes it all but impossible to get a decently balanced picture (although it can occasionally be an effect that can be employed for specific artistic reasons, but use it sparingly and consciously). One exception is sunsets – always a favourite with most photographers, would-be or advanced. Many cameras, therefore, have a special setting for sunsets – try using it. It's bound to be better than on auto. It may be good for other situations too, by the way – try thinking out of the box.
For instance, I was once able to get superb results at a live gig by shooting in my camera's sunset mode – it enhances colours, but stage lights are often extremely colourful anyway, so you don't notice any deviations; and it makes shooting hand-held easier, whereas night modes would have too long shutter times.
--- top ---
- Timing natural light conditions
In general: try and capture your object of photography decently-lit – if you have a choice, that is. On the road, in a large number of travel photography situations, light conditions are simply out of the photographer's control. But: there may be occasions where you do have a choice, e.g. of going to certain places that are especially photography-worthy at different times of daylight. Take photography into consideration when making that choice. If photography is important to you, plan in advance – find out which sites/objects are better in morning light and which are better in the evening, for example.
If you know which way an object is facing (in relation to a predetermined vantage point), then you can predict the basics: if it's facing east, light will be better in the morning, if it's facing west choose the afternoon. Some objects/scenes may be better in sunlight, others without (strong shadows are often not too good for photographing buildings, for instance), but of course you won't have much say in the matter … other than picking an appropriate season, but even then you may be at the mercy of the weather gods …
--- top ---
- Careful with that flash!!!
Most standard digital cameras with fixed flash have a clear weakness here. Mostly, front-on flash is simply too bright to make for a good photo. (Of course, the people with the semi-pro gear will have those top-'shoe'-mounted flash machines that can be angled and flexibly set to accurately fit the situation – but most us of do not carry such gear around with us on our travels … see above under '
Typical results of too much flash are those party pics with white-faced people in the foreground in front of an invisible background. Or photos taken at live gigs – if flash is used you typically see the brightly lit backs of heads of the people in the audience right in front, and hardly anything of the action on stage.
In such situations,
turn the flash off!
In other situations when you may want a bit of flash, at least try using a reduced flash setting as default, if your camera allows for this.
Another typical fault through flash happens when there are objects like doorframes or the like in the way of what you're actually aiming at. Avoid these when using flash or else they'll stand out more in the resultant picture than the actual centre of attention. (This will look even more annoying than the T-shirt wearing tourist in the frame mentioned under
take a second
Rule of thumb: if at all possible avoid flash altogether when shooting indoors, try using a "night" setting or a (semi-)manual setting and then make sure you
the camera when shooting (
holding the camera
) long exposures or use a tripod and/or auto-timer release.
And remember: there are situations when you aren't even allowed to use flash, such as in museums or ancient cultural sites. Not knowing how to turn off the flash on your camera in auto-mode is no excuse for disobeying such rules! And the rules are generally not there to annoy you but for the good reason that flash can do real damage, e.g. to ancient wall paintings. Thousands of flash photos by masses of tourists can mean the equivalent of exposing these artworks to direct sunlight: the colours fade. Of course you may think, well, one single flash can't do much harm – true, but think of the cummulative effect if everyone went by that reasoning …
--- top ---
- Take a second to think before you shoot.
Think photography when pointing your camera at what you're seeing. Human eyesight/visual perception works differently when looking at a two-dimensional photographic representation compared to looking at things in the 3-D animated real world. Our perception is very good at filtering out the irrelevant in the real world, esp. when we're concentrating on something specific. Remember those tests in that BBC programme where people were asked to count the number of times a ball was passed from one person to the next and thus totally failed to notice the man in a gorilla suit casually walking through the scene! Same with photography – many people are surprised to see things in their photos that they failed to notice when they were taking the picture – and that's usually things you wouldn't have wanted in the picture in the first place. But then it's too late (or requires complicated digital manipulation afterwards).
… a "case study" for illustration:
Imagine sightseeing at some ancient Roman temple site – you're fascinated by a particular row of columns and immediately point your camera at it to capture the moment. Your real-life visual perception concentrates on those columns that are the "target" of your photo-shooting. Only when looking at the picture afterwards do you notice that tourist in a brightly coloured T-shirt annoyingly blotting out part of a column in the bottom left part of the frame … and he was just walking away from the frame. Had you simply waited a second or two, the shot would have been unblemished by that touristy colour blot in the frame. Now that it's on the screen (or in print), all the viewer sees at first is that T-shirt – the columns suddenly fade into the background. In short: it's a failed shot.
If you find that sort of thing as annoying as I do, then take my advice: think and briefly scan the whole frame before pressing the shutter button. It doesn't take more than a second's hesitation. In most cases the opportunity for a good shot will not have gone away in that short a moment and instead you'll have the chance for a better photo (see also
compose your shot
). It's no guarantee for better photography, but it may save you a larger number of failed or imperfect pics that you later have to delete or at least trim or manipulate.
What you can't compensate for in a picture is those cut-off parts of objects that should really have been captured in full. Cut-off heads of people is only the worst example. How many pictures of buildings, say churches, have you seen where the top bit is missing? Too many, would be my guess. So, try and get the full object in the frame (you could always trim later should you wish to) – if necessary take a few steps back first (but look first, don't just stumble backwards into people or traffic …).
Of course a wide-angle lens helps – and these days even some compact cameras offer wide angles (28 mm or less). This may actually be a criterion in choosing a camera, if you want a stand-alone all-rounder, that is. (With SLRs this is the point at which you'll have to change lenses – see demands and equipment.)
--- top ---
- All things being equal, the most important bit is: compose your shot!
Again, the underlying issue is that seeing doesn't equal photographing. Visual perception in the real world moves to fixation points differently to when looking at a static 2-D photo.
From an aesthetic point of view, it can make an enormous difference whether a photo is simply aimed at a certain object in the middle of the frame, ignoring what's around it (see also
take a second
…), as opposed to a consciously composed shot in which everything within the frame is arranged in a way that makes sense. It's difficult to be more precise here, and much depends on personal liking and stylistics, but for instance it can help to think imaginary lines connecting more than one object in a frame (I'm using "object" loosely, to include scenery and people as well, even clouds). Say it's three main things in the frame. Now, think perspective and how they should ideally appear in the frame – all in a horizontal line, a diagonal line, arranged in a V-shape? Note in particular: the most foregrounded object doesn't always have to be in the centre (see
play with focus
There's no rough-and-ready rule here, but just remaining aware of different composition options can help making better choices. If you can, that is – in some quick moving situations, such as wildlife photography, choices will be determined partly out of your control and you'll have to take what you get. But for instance when photographing architecture, controlled composition can make a huge difference.
--- top ---
- Play with focus
Many cameras come equipped with multi-field autofocus. Fine for most situations. Often, however, spot-focus gives you more options with more ease. Having a particular part of the picture, a particular object, in crisp focus while other parts/objects further away in the background – or closer in the foreground – remain "blurry" (out of focus), can have a good aesthetic effect (Photo enthusiasts call it 'bokeh'), and to be in control of which point is to be in focus you need to switch to spot-focus. Bokeh effects can even simulate "real eyesight", as that's what happens all the time when you look at the world. When using an SLR, put it into aperture priority mode ('A' on the mode dial on most cameras – I have my SLR set to A mode by default) and play with the different settings of the 'f number' (aperture value). A rough rule of thumb: a lower 'f-number' means open aperture allowing in more light and creating a narrow depth of focus giving more blur around the focus point, which is useful for close ups with lots of bokeh. A higher number (narrower aperture) gives a deeper field of vision/wider depth of focus, and generally makes the picture crisper and sharper (good for low light landscapes). Remember, though that higher 'f numbers' also require longer exposure times (i.e. more stable camera, possibly even a tripod), and that lower 'f-numbers' can result in lack of sharpness overall.
From a creative point of view, remember this: your stereo-vision eyes can only focus on one point in the depth of your field of vision at a time. OK, having a clear focus point in a picture the rest of which is out of focus does limit the way you can look at the picture – but that can be the point: it guides the viewer to one (controlled) way of looking at the pic. It's not for everyone and certainly not for every situation, but something to experiment with.
Similarly, the focal point of a picture doesn't always have to be in the centre (see also
compose your shot
), often you get a better effect if you focus on your main object but then move the camera a bit to point the centre focus spot somewhere else off centre (but keep the actual focusing, i.e. keep the shutter pressed halfway down – in 'focus memory' as it is sometime called) then release. Try it.
When shooting moving objects, try moving the camera "with" the object to get it into clear focus – the surroundings will then appear blurred of course. Can be worth it – again, because the result is similar to what your eyes do when they track an object's movement in the real world. If you can predict the distance at which the object will be passing in front of the camera, it can help to pre-focus it in advance on another object at the same distance (and brightness) – that way the autofocus doesn't actually have to "catch" the moving object itself, which may be too fast.
It'll often be a bit trial-and-error to get the camera movement synchronized with the object's movement but with a bit of practice it can enhance your aesthetic range well. The alternative is always having a crisp and clear background perfectly in focus and a blurry swoosh going through the picture (this may occasionally be just what you want too, but try alternating).
--- top ---
- Take some time processing photos afterwards – but don't overdo it.
One of the main advantages of digital photography is that you can manipulate the results after the event in ways much more flexible than in traditional 'analogue' photography. Most people will have some sort of picture-processing software on their computers. Use it. The free software that comes with some cameras may not be too good (I have even encountered positively harmful ones), but you may find alternatives already part of your software package, or part of the software that came with your printer. If none of them are any good, invest in special software – there's loads on the market, some very affordable, some unwieldy but powerful, some easy-to-use but more limited ones. Basic functions for post-processing should include trimming, colour-correction, contrast and light settings, size-reduction (if you want to send pics by email or put them on your own website), and so forth. I'm not talking elaborate manipulative "photo-shopping" (after the name of one of the most popular and powerful photo software packs), just some essential measures.
If the picture is already perfect, no manipulation is necessary. But often enough a few minor tweaks can indeed enhance the result. E.g. if you have taken pictures from a bus, colour-correction (red-shifting) can make the pic look more "natural" (because often the windows are tinted slightly blue). Or your frame composition may not be perfect – say, you didn't wait long enough for that T-shirt to move out of frame (see
take a second
) so that a thin sliver of it is still visible at the right edge? Just cut it away. It's so easy digitally these days.
But don't assume (like surprisingly many people seem to do) that more contrast and more sharpness always means better. Too much of this and a photo can easily take on a visibly processed character – rightly criticized by old-school purists. Simply be careful, try minor tweaks first. If in doubt, copy the file twice first and make two versions of increased processing. More often than not the less overtreated versions will stand the test of time better. Unless it's extreme artistic manipulation you're after, of course, then it's all just a matter of how far you choose to go … Also, do all the processing of one photo in one sitting – repeatedly treating and saving of the same file can lead to loss of picture quality per se.
Perfectionists often shoot in RAW format, which allows more processing flexibility after the event, but this takes up a hell of a lot more memory space for each shot, and then requires a lot more time sitting at the computer later. If you do want to go down that route, then those countless specialized photography-themed websites will be useful for more hints (it's simply beyond the scope aimed at here). For what I assume to be my average target group, a reasonable compromise between affordable gear and sensibly restrained post-processing, mostly in JPEG format, will do just fine.
--- top ---
- Keeping (selective) order and showing photos selectively
And finally: keep your digital photo archives tidy. Throw out immediately files that are so faulty that you can be sure you don't want to view them again in the future.
What appears to be a major advantage of digital photography is also one of its banes – namely that you can just shoot away masses of attempts, as it doesn't really cost anything and you "could always delete later" … but if you don't do it rigorously, then those masses of files can quickly clog up memory space, first on your camera's card, and later on your computer's hard disk. There are people whose computers' hard drives are more than 80% filled with photo files, many of which are never properly looked at ever again. If it gets out of hand, an external hard drive may be the solution for storage – but make sure to research the options well, some external drives are not too reliable long term, so best have a "back-up back-up".
In principle: keep order, or you may drown in the masses of files. Put photos in clearly labelled thematic folders, preferably take the time to give the photo files themselves telling names. When processing your photos, keep a copy of the original files, as they've come off the camera, and preferably back-up everything on different media, not just the internal hard drive, also externally, and perhaps even on CD/DVD.
And if you want to show your photos to others and there are loads and loads of them, then make a strict selection for this purpose, don't bore your viewers with multiple versions of the same view over and over again.
Also: when putting together a selection vary the aesthetic styles, if possible. E.g. alternate wide shots with close-ups, "normal" ones with more "experimental" ones, calm ones with action, and so on and so forth. Try making the photo viewing exciting as such, independent of what's "in" them. As exciting as that may already be to you – it often is less exciting for others who weren't there, but can be enhanced by a more interesting presentation.
back to top
Cookies make it easier for us to provide you with our services. With the usage of our services you permit us to use cookies.
More information


text:
Setting up an anonymous proxy is generally a very effective way to maintain your browsing privacy, but it can also be a complicated process. Unless, that is, you get some help from ChrisPC Free Anonymous Proxy, which makes it as easy as clicking a button.
Just about everything happens from a single dialog, and the main option you might want to consider there is choosing your preferred proxy country. There are 50 possibilities, from Argentina to the USA, or you can simply accept the default "Random Country" setting and see what happens.
Once you've sorted that out, though, all that's left to do is click "Connect to proxy". ChrisPC Free Anonymous Proxy will then find a proxy server for you, modify your settings to use it, and you'll immediately be ready to surf with your new identity and IP address. (Although it may be wise to restart your browser, just to avoid potential problems.)
This all worked just fine for us; we were given a French IP address and could then browse as normal. Browsing speeds were a little slow, but you can always try connecting to another server. And the program also allows you to selectively activate the proxy for, say, just Opera, so you could use that only when necessary, and turn to another browser when performance was important.
ChrisPC Free Anonymous Proxy won't (for the most part) allow you to watch TV from sites such as Hulu, the BBC and so on. The developers have produced an Expat addon which they claim will do the trick, though - it's yours for $14.99.
Please note, ChrisPC Free Anonymous Proxy attempts to install additional free software during its setup process. There's lots of it, and you need to do different things to avoid installing each one (click Decline here, Skip there, clear some checkboxes maybe) so read each step carefully before clicking "Next" or "Finish".
ChrisPC Free Anonymous Proxy provides a quick and easy way to locate and use anonymous proxies. Their performance can sometimes be poor, though, so this may not work for everyone.


text:
We use cookies to help improve our services, make personal offers, and enhance your experience. If you do not accept optional cookies below, your experience may be affected. If you want to know more, please read the Learn more.
Customer Login | HoodMart
Registered Customers
New Customers
Creating an account has many benefits: check out faster, keep more than one address, track orders and more.


text:
Voice recognition programs, such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking for the PC and Dragon Dictate 2.0 for the Mac, can be heaven-sent if you're struggling with repetitive stress injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
This software is affordable (less than $100 for the PC version and less than $150 for the Mac version) enough for home use, and even people without hand/wrist issues enjoy using it.
Once you train the computer to recognize your voice patterns, you can speak into the headset at a brisk speed, and the program transcribes everything you say. I've used Dragon for everything from surfing the web to typing up fantasy novels. (Though, I did find it best for business/technical writing; even with 'training,' Dragon wasn't the best at recognizing my crazy made-up fantasy places and character names.)
Nuance, the company that puts out the PC & Mac Dragon products, released new versions of both this past year, so if it's been a while since you've tried voice recognition software, you may want to see what it can do these days. The technology is improving all the time, and, while it's probably never going to be perfect, it can be a true relief for people who struggle with pain from typing and mousing.


text:
With five climbs and some of the steepest stretches in the entire Tour, this stage (along with Ventoux) will be the toughest test of the race. Almost the entire stage is either up or down. Even the flat parts aren't really flat.
Here is a preview of each climb along with a few viewing tips.
For a preview of Stage 16 – The Grand and Petit St Bernard – see here.
#1 – Cormet de Roselend
East Side: The climb: 20.3 kms (12.6 miles) The Ascent: 1,160 metres (3,800 feet)
This will be the 10th time Cormet de Roselend has appeared in the Tour.
This stunning climb is the highest point of the stage at almost 2000 metres. While never too steep, it's long and a tough start to the day. The descent is not technical at all – the riders will fly down the other side – past a beautiful alpine lake/dam.
Viewing tip: In the hairpins below Cret Bettex is marked the spot where Johan Bruyneel crashed over a ledge in the '96 TdF – look for the "Johan" written in yellow on the safety wall. Race footage of the crash is here
#2 – Col des Saisies
The climb: 15.2 kms (9.4 miles) The Ascent: 980 metres (3,215 feet)
This will be the 10th time Col des Saisies has appeared in the Tour.
There are 8 ways to cycle up to Saisies (!) – this is the classic south route. Not too steep again – but steady. We are in Beaufort cheese country.
Viewing tip: At the top of Col des Saisies is a French/American WW2 monument commemorating one of the biggest weapon drops to the French resistance – and the death of an American parachutist (see photo above).
#3 – Cote d'Araches
The climb: 6.3 kms (3.9 miles) The Ascent: 440 metres (1,440 feet)
The smallest climb of the day. This is in fact the first third of the climb to Col de Pierre Carrée – Flaine ski station. It's a fun route climbing up a steep cliff face. Details of entire climb to Flaine – here.
Viewing tip: You are so close to Colombière, watch there, not here.
#4 and #5 – Col de la Colombière the hard way – Via Romme
The climb: 24.8 kms (15.4 miles) The Ascent: 1500 metres (4,920 feet)
This will be the 19th time the Tour climbs Col de la Colombière – but the 1st time via Col de Romme;
Exciting! Col de Romme is one of those local rides that we always wish would get added to the tour but assume it never will be. It starts beside the highway and just goes up. Amazing and steep.
It climbs above the classic route for Col de la Colombière and then descends 5 kms to join it.
The race will then finish by climbing the nasty half of Col de la Colombière (Colombe = Dove).
The last 3 kms are along side a cliff, very steep, and almost always into a strong wind! Last July (yes July), I was hailed on here. We are in Reblochon cheese country.
Viewing Tip: Half way, near Reposoir is a beautiful Chartreuse Monastery – well worth a visit (see photo above). If you watch at the 1km from the top marker, you will be on TV. 😉
Final Thoughts?
This should be an epic, unbelievably difficult day. I expect the Grupetto to be 40 minutes behind the leaders. The final descent to Le Grand Bornand is not that long or technical, so first over should win the stage.
I'll be the slow bald guy wearing polka dots – riding the final 2 climbs – if you see me say hi.


text:
Climate Change: State of the Ocean
We are all modern witnesses to both the miraculous and the incomprehensible. We have seen our planet from space, had access to the deepest canyons of the ocean, deciphered the infinitesimal DNA structure of life, and discovered unimaginable species—but we've also seen our own destructive influence on the planet's complex network of life.
Nowhere is this more evident than with the current state of the world's oceans.
Besides the devastating impact of overfishing, habitat destruction and ocean pollution, climate change is modifying the chemistry of the oceans in a way that has not been seen for tens of millions of years.
Since the pre-industrial age, the oceans have been absorbing more than one third (almost 130 billion tons) of human emissions from the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. Increased CO2 has wreaked havoc on our ocean's chemistry. The oceans are naturally alkaline and when CO2 dissolves in seawater, it forms carbonic acid, which greatly increases ocean acidity levels.
There is no controversy about this, it's just basic chemistry. Nor is there any question that increased acidity is fundamentally altering the ocean's essential functions, such as regulation of the earth's climate system or absorption of carbon.
The actual process of ocean acidification greatly decreases the ability of many marine organisms, such as coral reefs, to build their shells and skeletal structures, which provide the foundation for one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the world.
If we lose our precious corals, we will set off a deadly chain reaction causing extinctions of the important organisms that inhabit and depend on the reef systems. This will make the reefs less diverse, less resilient and far less productive for the hundreds of millions of humans who rely on them for food, protection and livelihoods. And when the loss of coral reefs is coupled with sea level rise, this will lead to the mass displacement of coastal populations, to increased world hunger as a result of depleted fisheries and other forms of food production, not to mention the decreased availability of fresh water in many parts of the world.
Ocean acidification is a critical warning sign of just how perilously close we are to destabilizing the earth's vital systems. And yet this ecological drama has not received much attention in the climate negotiations. What we do right now in terms of global efforts to reduce carbon emissions will affect the oceans for thousands of years to come. If we do not change our CO2 emissions trajectory, by 2050 the level of ocean acidity could increase three times above pre-industrial figures. At those levels, all coral reefs will stop growing and start dissolving and it would take thousands of years for the Earth system to re-establish ocean chemical conditions that even partially resemble those found today.
This is why it is so urgent for global leaders to take bold steps to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and to set reduction targets based on the latest science on ocean acidification and the vulnerability of marine ecosystems.
Losing the natural carbon functions of both the green and blue biospheres of our planet is not an option. By protecting the oceans, we protect ourselves.
Top Photo: © Karen Keltner, Ocean Futures Society.
Bottom Photo: © Richard Murphy, Ocean Futures Society.
Donate to Two Futures Society
Yes! I want to support the field work, projects and mission of Jean-Michel Cousteau and the OFS team. Make a tax-deductible donation now!
Become a Member
Yes! Sign me up for a free membership!


text:
Assume Alice and Bob communicate over an insecure channel using one-time perfectly-secret encryption together with one-time secure message authentication code. Say Eve has the ability to eavesdrop and to inject messages into this insecure channel, but not to block or delay messages (i.e. Eve can mostly only replay authenticated encrypted messages).
Of course we can design scenario damaging to Alice and/or Bob. How can they protect themselves against such replay attacks?