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Professor Gerard Goggin
Australian Research Council Future Fellow
Professor of Media and Communications
Member of China Studies Centre
Member of Sydney Southeast Asia Centre
Member of the Charles Perkins Centre
A20 - John Woolley Building
The University of Sydney
|+61 2 9114 1218
|+61 2 9351 5444
Full contact details
Gerard speaking about mobile media
Biographical details
Gerard Goggin is the inaugural Professor of Media and Communications at the University of Sydney, a position he has held since 2011. Previous appointments include Professor of Digital Communications at University of New South Wales (2007-2010), the University of Queensland, Southern Cross University, and, as visiting professor, the University of Barcelona.
Research interests
Gerard's research focusses on social, cultural, and political aspects of digital technologies, especially the Internet and mobile media and communication, and disability and accessibility. He has published 20 books and over 170 journal articles and book chapters.
As well as his academic roles, Goggin has had a twenty-year involvement in communications and telecommunications policy, including appointments as a board member of the Disability Studies and Research Institute (DsaRI), foundation board member of the peak organization Australian Consumer Communication Action Network (ACCAN), deputy chair of the self-regulatory body Telephone Information Services Standards Council (TISSC), and member of the Australian e-Research Infrastructure Council (AeRIC).
Teaching and supervision
Research Degree Completions
- Kate Alexander, DArts, Organisational change and communication: an investigation of the roles of internal communications in the implementation of effective change management programs (auxiliary supervisor)
- César Albarrán Torres, PhD, Encoding chance: a technocultural analysis of digital gambling (auxiliary supervisor, with Dr Chris Chesher)
- Annabel McGoldrick, PhD, The Evolving Case for Peace Journalism (auxiliary supervisor with Dr Wendy Lambourne, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies)
- Julie Lim, PhD, Race & Belonging in an International City: Overseas Chinese in 'new' Shanghai (auxiliary supervisor with Professor Stephanie Hemelryk Donald)
- Joseph Brennan, PhD, 'I am your Worst Fear, I am your Best Fantasy': New Approaches to Slash Media (auxiliary supervisor with Dr Fiona Giles)
- Kirsten McGregor, What is the role of a Public Service Broadcaster in a network society? A case study of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's preparation for the National Broadband Network (auxiliary supervisor with Dr Fiona Martin)
- Jian Xu, Revisiting Media Events in Web 2.0 China: A Critique of Chinese Online Activism, PhD, University of NSW
- Hamideh Molaei, Social Media and Politics: Indonesians' Engagement in Social Movements and Political Discussions on Facebook, PhD, University of Sydney
- Felicity van Rysbergen, Towards Transmodernism: Transcendence, Technospirituality, and Technoculture, PhD, University of NSW
- Christy Dena, Transmedia Practice: Theorising the Practice of Expressing a Fictional World Across Distinct Media and Environments, PhD, University of Sydney
- Alicia Cameron, Enabled to Engage in the Information Age: A Comparative Study of Broadband Take-up in Two Regions of Australia, PhD, University of Queensland
Current research students
|Project title
|Research student
|Lifeworlds for Player 2: Affective networks, affordances, and gender dynamics in gaming.
|Mahli-ann BUTT
|Exploring (in)visible disability in obesity prevention social media campaigns
|Stephanie MANTILLA
|Public Service Media (PSM) in Australia: Innovation, diversity and national identity in sports broadcasting
|Michael WARD
Current projects
Mobile Phones and Media
Gerard is a pioneering figure in mobile communication and media studies. His key books are Global Mobile Media (2011) and Cell Phone Culture (2006), as well as the edited collections Mobile Technology and Place (2012), Mobile Technology: From Telecommunications to Media (2009), and Mobile Phone Cultures (2008). In 2014, he will publish the Routledge Companion to Mobile Media (with Larissa Hjorth) and Locative Media (with Rowen Wilken). Gerard edits the Oxford University Press Studies in Mobile Communication series (with Rich Ling), and is on the board of the Sage journal Mobile Media and Communication. Currently, Gerard is working with Sydney colleagues Dr Tim Dwyer and Dr Fiona Martin on an international project researching mobile Internet and its implications for media policy (supported by an ARC Discovery grant).
Gerard has a longstanding interest in Internet cultures and histories, as seen in key publications Virtual Nation: The Internet in Australia (2004), Internationalizing Internet Studies: Beyond Anglophone Paradigms (2009; with Mark McLelland), and a special issue of Media International Australia on Australian Internet histories (co-edited with Jock Given).
Gerard is working on a comparative, cultural history of the Internet in Australia and Asia-Pacific, with colleagues Mark McLelland (Wollongong), Haiqing Yu (UNSW), and Kwangsuk Lee (Seoul Tech) ? a project supported by an ARC Discovery grant. He is also a chief investigator on the ARC Linkage project Spreading Fictions: distributing stories in the online age, led by Jock Given (Swinburne), in collaboration with ABC and Screen Australia.
A key area of Gerard's research is disability, an interest he has had since working with disability activists and organizations in the telecommunications in the early 1990s. Gerard has an international reputation for his work with the late Christopher Newell, especially the prize-winning book Disability in Australia (2005) and Digital Disability (2003), as well as many papers on aspects of disability, society, media and culture. Gerard's book Disability and the Media (co-authored with Katie Ellis) will be published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2014.
With Sydney colleague Dinesh Wadiwel, and Disability Australia Incorporated (PWDA), he is developing a disability rights research capacity, which aims to identify emerging rights relevant research needs within a changing political and social policy landscape, and share expertise between researchers and civil society practitioners (a project supported by the Sydney Social Justice Research Network).
PhD and master's project opportunities
Selected grants
- Smart publics: the social, design and governance implications of repurposing street furniture and pay phones with smart benches and smart kiosks; Humphry J, Wessels B, Maalsen S, Chesher C, Dowling R, Horst H, Goggin G, Merrington P, Gangneux J, Joss S, Hanchard M, Eriksen S; Office of Global Engagement/Partnership Collaboration Awards.
- Critical Public and Patient Involvement with Health Research.; Smith-Merry J, Stewart E, Goggin G, Llewellyn G, Baylosis C, Riches T, Chan S, Cavers D, Cunningham-Burley S, Mazanderani F, Smith K; Office of Global Engagement/Partnership Collaboration Awards.
- Media, Inclusion, & Disability: Resources for Attitudinal Change (MIDRAC); Villeneuve M, Goggin G, Wadiwel D, Evans D, Bonati M, Little C, Millington M; Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Federal)/Australia-Indonesia Institute.
- Digital Rights and Governance in Australia and Asia; Goggin G, Vromen A, Weatherall K, Ford M, Martin F; DVC Research/Sydney Research Excellence Initiative 2020 (SREI).
- Disability Awareness and Inclusivity (Open Learning Environment - Undergraduate); Bonati M, Spandagou I, Evans D, Little C, Spencer M, Goggin G, Hickey-Moody A, Stancliffe R, Villeneuve M, Wedgwood N, O'Brien P, Gadow F, MacDonald J; DVC Education/Small Educational Innovation Grant.
- Disability and the Performing Arts in Australia: Beyond the Social Model; Paterson E, MacDowall L, Goggin G, Pardo V; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP).
- Aligning technological advancement and regulation in the broadband mobile age: comparing digital media business and policy in Australia and South Korea; Dwyer T, Lee H, Spry D, Goggin G, Hutchinson J, Lee Y, Robertson J; Office of Global Engagement/Joint IPDF with Yonsei University (South Korea).
- Linked Data PolicyHub Stage II: Urban & Regional Planning & Communications; Phibbs P, Thomas J, Newton P, Rennie E, Meyer D, Watkins J, Dodson J, Wilson B, McShane I, Sinnott R, Goggin G; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF).
- Social Media and Digital Citizenship; Vromen A, Martin F, Goggin G, Hutchinson J, Sinpeng A; Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/SSSHARC Collaborative Projects Support Scheme.
- Cinema in the 21st Century: Multiplexes, Home Viewing and Digital Media; Aveyard K, Goggin G; DVC Research/Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Scheme.
- Power and Accountability Network; Enfield N, Bednarek M, Dar-Nimrod I, Goggin G, High H, Hobbins P, Lambourne W, Mahboob A, Martin J, Piper N, West C; Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Faculty Incentive Funding.
- Everyday Social Media Network; Goggin G, Vromen A, Martin F, Bednarek M, Bollmer G, Brevini B, Calvo R, Chen P, Chesher C, Driscoll C, Dwyer T, Elliot A, Hutchinson J, Mann A, Martin G, Michael M, Navarria G, Race K, Rolph D, Tormey S, Weatherall K; Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/FASS Collaborative Research Scheme.
- Disability and Digital Technology: Accessible Design, Global Media Policy, and Human Rights; Goggin G; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Future Fellowships (FT).
- Moving Media: Mobile Internet and New Policy Modes; Goggin G, Dwyer T, Martin F, Feijoo C; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
- Internet History in Australia and the Asia-Pacific; Goggin G, Kwang Suk L, Yu H, McLelland M; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
- Spreading Fictions: distributing stories in the online age; Goggin G, Brealey M, Cameron F, Given J; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Linkage Projects (LP).
- Young, Mobile, Networked: Mobile Media & Youth Culture in Australia; Goggin G, Crawford K; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Discovery Projects (DP).
- Youth Culture and Mobile Media: An Exploratory Urban Study; Goggin G; University of Sydney/Newly Appointed Staff.
- Engaging Canadian and Australian Information Technology Companies in Inclusion and Accessibility; Goggin G; Social Science & Humanities Research Council of Canada/Social Science & Humanities Research Council Research Grants Program.
- Mobile Culture: A Biography Of The Mobile Phone; Australian Research Council (ARC)/Australian Research Fellowship/Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship.
Selected publications & creative works
Location Technologies in International Context (Routledge, 2019)
Internet Histories (Routledge, 2018)
Normality and Disability: Intersections among Norms, Law, and Culture (Routledge, 2018)
The Routledge Companion to Global Internet Histories (Routledge, 2017)
What's Become of Australian Cultural Studies? The Legacies of Graeme Turner (Routledge, 2017)
Disability and the Media (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016)
Mobile Technologies: Critical Concepts in Media and Cultural Studies: Volume I From the Telephone to the Mobile: Communication, Coordination, and New Connections (Routledge, 2016)
Locative Media (Routledge, 2015)
The Routledge Companion to Mobile Media (Routledge, 2014)
Mobile Technology and Place (Routledge imprint of Taylor & Francis, 2012)
New Technologies and the Media (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012)
Global Mobile Media (Routledge imprint of Taylor & Francis, 2011)
Internationalizing Internet Studies: Beyond Anglophone Paradigms (Routledge imprint of Taylor & Francis, 2008)
Mobile Technologies: From Telecommunications to Media (Routledge imprint of Taylor & Francis, 2008)
Mobile Phone Cultures (Routledge imprint of Taylor & Francis, 2007)
Cell Phone Culture: Mobile Technology in Everyday Life (Routledge imprint of Taylor & Francis, 2006)
Disability in Australia: Exposing a Social Apartheid (University of New South Wales (UNSW) Press, 2005)
Virtual Nation: The Internet in Australia (University of New South Wales (UNSW) Press, 2004)
Digital Disability: The Social Construction of Disability in New Media (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc, 2003)


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Chicago Blackhawks Sell Melted Ice From Rink in Once-in-a-Lifetime Chance to Blow $100
This isn't the type of ice you'd normally get when dropping a lot of money.
The Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks are selling melted ice (aka, water) from the United Center for $99. And you thought Evian was overpriced.
Yes, the team skated on the ice. Yes, the money will to charity. And, yes, it's from the Stanley Cup season, but none of that changes the fact you'll be paying a benjamin for frozen water.
Fans who don't want to pony up the cash can take heart knowing they can all the free ice they want after the first snowfall of the season freezes.

subset: commoncrawl


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The official Widnes RUFC app
Widnes RUFC Heath Road Widnes Cheshire United Kingdom WA8 7NU View with Google Maps
This website is part of the Pitchero Rugby Union network. Create your own free Rugby Union club website with Pitchero.
Digital advertising by Minute Media
© Pitch Hero Ltd 2008-2019
Pitch Hero Ltd Registered in ENGLAND | WF3 1DR | Company Number - 636 1033


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One of the things I'm missing in the US is lack of easy access to spoken modern Hebrew. Can anyone recommend a good podcast featuring news (as well as possibly other subjects) in Hebrew for offline listening? So far, I've only found a handful of podcasts on Hebrew learning and on religious studies, whereas I'm really looking for something beyond that.
Thanks in advance.


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NEW YORK | Stocks moved solidly higher Friday, pushing the Standard & Poor's 500 index further into record territory, as investors focused on a report of surprisingly strong growth in manufacturing in the Midwest.
KEEPING SCORE: The S&P 500 rose 12 points, or 0.7 percent, to 1,867 as of 12:15 p.m. Eastern. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 114 points, or 0.7 percent, to 16,387 and the Nasdaq composite rose 18 points, or 0.4 percent, to 4,337.
EARNINGS JOLT: Monster Beverage jumped 4 percent, the most in the S&P 500 index, after the company reported higher sales of its energy drinks in the fourth quarter despite legal attacks alleging that the company's products cause health risks.
WARM SPOT: Manufacturing in the Chicago area rose in February more than economists had forecast. The Institute for Supply Management's regional index for the Midwest rose to 59.8 from 59.6 in January. Economists had expected a decline because of the winter storms that have hit much of the Eastern part of the U.S. in the past several weeks.
SLOWER GROWTH: The U.S. economy grew at a 2.4 percent annual rate in the October-December quarter, significantly slower than first thought, the government reported Friday. The reduced figure reflected slower consumer spending than what was initially estimated. The Commerce Department had estimated earlier that the economy grew at a 3.2 percent annual rate in the period.
PLAYING HARD TO GET: The drama between men's clothiers Jos. A. Bank and Men's Wearhouse continued. Jos. A. Bank rejected the $1.78 billion offer by Men's Wearhouse, but said it's willing to meet with Men's Wearhouse to discuss a higher offer. Jos. A. Bank rose $1.40, or 2 percent, to $61.70 and Men's Wearhouse rose $3.34, or 7 percent, to $53.76.
REBOUND FEBRUARY: After a 3.6 percent loss in January, the S&P 500 is up 4 percent this month, its best month since October 2013. The index closed at an all-time high of 1,854.29 on Thursday. It's up almost 1 percent for the year.
BONDS AND COMMODITIES: Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note increased to 2.68 percent from 2.64 percent late Thursday. Crude oil rose 16 cents to $102.57 a barrel and gold decreased $6.90 to $1,324.90 an ounce.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Academy basketball coach sees a win in 100-0 loss
By BARRY HORN / The Dallas Morning News
The final score of the high school girls basketball game was 100-0, and his team had the nothing. Still, a week later, Dallas Academy Athletic Director Jeremy Civello was chalking up the game in the win column.
"My girls never quit," he said. "They played as hard as they could to the very end. They played with all their hearts at 70-nothing, 80-nothing and 100-nothing. I was really proud of them. That's what I told them after the game."
The game took place Jan. 13, on the road, against The Covenant School. Civello didn't expect his girls to win. He never really does. His girls haven't won a game in his four seasons at the White Rock Lake-area school, renowned for its work with students with a variety of learning problems. In most games, they haven't come close.
The Bulldogs play, Civello said, for more than the final score. They play in hope of improving skills, learning teamwork and picking up whatever life lessons athletics may bring.
But they won't be playing Covenant again this season; they canceled their Jan. 30 game against the team. After the game, Dallas Academy informed the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools that it was withdrawing its girls team from the league for the rest of the season.
"We just said, 'The hell with it,' " said Jim Richardson, Dallas Academy's headmaster.
Against Covenant, Dallas Academy was surprised to see an obviously superior team keep the pressure on until it scored its 100th point in the fourth quarter. "I'm sure they could have won by 30 points and still had just as good a time," Civello said.
Civello, as is his custom, didn't say anything to anyone from the opposing school after the game. He always allows for a cooling-down period. A week later, he has not been in contact with anyone from Covenant.
In a brief e-mail statement Wednesday evening, Covenant coach Micah Grimes called his team's 100-point total "unfortunate."
"It just happened, and we are not happy about that," Grimes wrote. "Please know Covenant intended no harm against them. I see this as a real learning opportunity, so we can prevent this from happening in the future."
Grimes was not available for further comment.
Kyle Queal, head of school at Covenant, a North Dallas Christian school, was not at the game, but he said there have been internal discussions about it and that more are coming.
"It was poor judgment," Queal said. "I look at the box score and look at the box score, and it was not justified. It will never happen again."
Queal said he hopes his school will work "behind the scenes" with Dallas Academy to make sure the schools continue their "long-standing" relationship.
"I'll say this," Queal said of the Dallas Academy girls, "that was an amazing testimony to their tenacity and perseverance."
Edd Burleson, director of 236-member TAPPS, had a different description. He called the Class 2A, District 3 game an "embarrassing incident."
"Our motto is 'Competition With Honor,' " Burleson said. "I can't see how the one school can live up to that."
The box score that the Covenant head of school has been staring at reveals that his team scored 35 points in the first quarter before building a 59-0 lead at the half. The score after three quarters was 88-0.
"They are really good," Civello said. "Their point guard is terrific. This is what it came down to in the second half: steal at half court and layup. Steal and layup. Steal and layup. It was a layup drill. They finally eased up when they got to 100 with about four minutes left." Covenant's point guard had 48 points.
Dallas Academy is busy piecing together a new schedule of nonleague games. The school, which has final exams this week, played its final TAPPS game of the season Thursday night. The Bulldogs lost, 41-8, to Cambridge School of Dallas.
Cambridge Athletic Director Luke Yarbrough, the TAPPS district president, said he hired his basketball coach with the understanding "that it is possible to beat a team without attempting to demoralize it."
He said he could see the joy on the faces of the Dallas Academy girls when their team scored its points. He enjoyed the view. "I was so happy for those girls," he said.
Yarbrough said the 100-0 game will be among the first orders of business discussed when the district athletic directors meet next month.
Dallas Academy's Civello will be there. His school's boys team remains in the six-team TAPPS district. In fact, he was quick to point out that his boys, with a little extra motivation, beat Covenant, 50-38, immediately after the 100-0 girls game.
Then again, the boys team has about 120 students to choose from. There are about 20 girls in the high school. Some on the eight-girl team had never played before and will never play again.
"Most of these girls would never play on any other school in the state," he said. "But they can say they were high school varsity players here. And they can say it with a sense of achievement."
Later on the 100-0 night, Civello told his girls the life lesson they could take from their loss: "I told them someday they will be on top in a similar situation and they should remember how they felt when some people were cheering for a team to score a hundred points and shut us out. Hopefully, my girls all learned a lesson in sportsmanship that will last them a lifetime."
There's always a couple stories every year when a coach isn't smart enough to keep his kids from destroying another team. I'm sure this coach has had plenty of feedback to reconsider this stupid choice. Covenant has requested they be allowed to forfeit the win.[/u]


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WASHINGTON - Jim Larranaga smiled and raised both hands to acknowledge the fans in green - those from both Miami and George Mason - as he walked onto the court where he become part of a national sensation seven years ago.
He signed autographs, posed for pictures and was about to turn his attention to practice when he spotted two special people: Lamar Butler and Tony Skinn, starters from the 2006 GMU team. Larranaga hugged them both and reminisced about "you guys running over to our section" of fans at the final whistle to celebrate the win over Connecticut that sent the mid-major Patriots to the Final Four.
"This is not just any other arena," the coach said.
No, it's not. This is the Verizon Center, where Larranaga convinced his players that the CAA on their jerseys stood for "Connecticut Assassin Association" instead of the Colonial Athletic Association. It's where it became believable again that an out-of-the-blue school could advance to college basketball's biggest stage, paving the way for similar runs by Virginia Commonwealth and Butler.
And, on Wednesday, it's where Larranaga gathered his players in a circle at midcourt after warmups and told them: "You know why they call it the Sweet 16? It's sweet! Let's go."
Yep, still the same ol' Larranaga.
"To them I'm kind of wacky, you know?" he said. "I say a lot of things to them and initially they don't understand. I use quotes and our thought of the day. I ask them to explain it, they have no idea, and I have to then educate them of what we're trying to get across. Coming into this building, to them it's just another venue, but to me and my staff, it's not."
He's now in a different league now, leading Atlantic Coast Conference champion and top seed Miami (29-6) against fourth-seeded Marquette (25-8) in today's East Regional semifinals, but no one else goes viral quite like this: Larranaga's version of the Ali Shuffle, meant to demonstrate the Hurricanes' fighting mentality, became an Internet must-see after he performed it for his players following Sunday night's win over Illinois.
"His approach to the game is different," senior forward Julian Gamble said. "It's very different to the coaching staff that we had previous to him arriving, but his charisma and the energy he brought, we knew it was going to be a really good thing for us, and it was easy for us to buy into that."
Busy Buzz
Meanwhile, Marquette coach Buzz Williams' arrival in the nation's capital was no match for his counterpart's homecoming, even though the Golden Eagles have been on a compelling run of their own.
Marquette won its first two games by a combined three points, both with wipe-your-brow late comebacks. Williams' wife had an appendectomy just before the start of the tournament. He was speaking his mind as usual Wednesday, saying that the opening statement at NCAA news conferences is "a waste of time" and telling a reporter who asked a repeat question to get the answer "off this lady here transcribing it" on the stenography machine.
But this was Larranaga's day.
"I have great respect for coach Jim Larranaga," Williams said. "I think he's pure in how he goes about things. I think he's a guy that someone at this point in my career can look up to, because I think he does it for the right reasons."
Williams leaves a manic impression when the clock is running, and Georgetown fans at the Verizon Center often chant "Off the court!" during Big East games because he strays so far from the bench. On Wednesday, he was relaxed and calm as he watched sons Calvin and Mason and daughter Zera mingle with his players during an easygoing practice.
"If you only see me on game day, probably what you think of me is - I wouldn't say diametrically opposed - but it's distinctly different," he said.
Which also makes him distinctly different from Larranaga, who is pretty much the same wherever he goes. Even when he's making a return trip to the scene of his greatest triumph.
"We have seen the highlights of it. It was a great run, it was magical," Miami guard Shane Larkin said. "Hopefully, he still has some left in him. Not saying that we need luck, but hopefully he still has a winning touch, and it's going to be fun playing out here in this arena."


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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham announced the following closure to recreational and commercial fishing in portions of inside waters east of Grand Bayou in Plaquemines Parish effective immediately today, June 8 due to reports of oil.
The portion of state inside waters west of the Mississippi River and south of 29 degrees 30 minutes 00 seconds north latitude and north of 29 degrees 20 minutes 00 seconds north latitude from the western shoreline of the Empire Canal westward to the western shoreline of Grand Bayou is closed to recreational and commercial fishing effective immediately today, June 8, 2010.
Precautionary closures of recreational and commercial fishing have been implemented based on the best information the Secretary of the Department receives from field biologists, staff and trajectory models from NOAA.
Once reports of oil are received, LDWF initiates a field survey and immediate seafood testing in the suspected areas. Closures are subsequently made with the intent to be as safe as possible, while not closing any fishing areas unnecessarily. As test results come back clearing the area, effected waters are then reopened.
All other closures remain in place.
For more information related to the oil spill, visit http://www.emergency.louisiana.gov. Connect with us on www.facebook.com/GOHSEP and on Twitter as @GOHSEP. View photos from the state's response efforts at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lagohsep.
For more information please contact Marianne Burke, LDWF Public Information Director at firstname.lastname@example.com or 225.765.2917


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Only The Name Is Strange
It's interesting and often a forgotten fact that the name given by a manufacturer to a vehicle during the dawn of its creation can be subject to change. Take, for example, the Chevrolet Camaro, early on it was known as the Panther and Chevrolet's Cameo Carrier was monikered the Suburban Pickup. On March 25, 1955 when General Motors released the "second series" trucks only the GMC retained the Suburban emblem, and the Chevy became known as the Cameo Carrier.
Since its introduction, the Cameo Carrier has retained a loyal following and Matt Togstad of Arlington, Washington considers himself to be among them. Owning one of 5,220 Cameo Carriers manufactured in 1955 Mark decided to rebuild his example street rod style with all of the modern amenities, and true to street rodder styling cues the truck was de-seamed inside and out. Mark attributes his dad, Chuck Togstad as being the guy that spent endless hours stitch-welding and grinding sheetmetal until it could be smoothed over with primer and rendered void of unsightly factory seams. Before the beige leather interior could be upholstered by Dick Davis, also of Arlington, the PPG Milano Red paint found on the exterior was used by the elder Togstad to cover every square inch of the Big Window cab's innards. Once all of the interior paintwork was completed the trick goodies started pouring in. A wiring harness from Route 66 was strung by Doug Udall and connected to a gauge cluster from Brothers of Corona, California. Then an A/C unit from Vintage Air was installed and custom A/C switches were mounted. A Lecarra steering wheel was perched on top of an ididit tilt-steering column. Dick Davis stitched more of his leather magic on a custom split bench seat frame sourced from No-Limit Engineering of San Bernardino, California. The sound system is based around a custom AM/FM stereo receiver with an iPod hookup stuffed into the stock '55 Cameo radio. From there Polk Audio handles the speaker chores with a massive subwoofer strategically placed to act as a headache inducer. To keep the rain from coming in Matt carefully reinstalled the original panoramic rear window, and deleted the stock wind-wings in favor of one-piece window kits from Brothers.
Hopping out of the cab and lifting the '55's hood there's a 385hp ZZ5 small-block motor from Street & Performance hooked to 700-R4 transmission. A Chevy Tuned Port Injection helps the ZZ5 to keep fuel consumption from the 12-gallon No Limit Engineering gas tank to a minimum. To upgrade the truck from its original straight-axle frontend, an '89 Monte Carlo front clip was grafted on to provide independent front suspension and power steering. The stock Monte Carlo disc/drum brake arraignment was pitched in preference to hanging all four corners with Wilwood disc brakes and suspending them with a quartet of QA1 coilover shocks. To give the Cameo a new-age look Matt popped (maybe that's not a good expression) for a mixed set of 18- and 20-inch Budnik billet wheels shod with 18 and 20-inch Toyo Proxes tires.
With the same fanatical approach Chuck Togstad applied to handling the Cameo's custom bodywork and paint on the interior he equaled it on the outside. Job one was to take care of 50 years of rust damage by patching-in new cab corners, and re-skinning the bottom of the doors. Next, the firewall was shaved and smoothed, and then it was on to repairing the Cameo's signature fiberglass bedsides and tailgate. Because the stock behind-the-seat gas tank location was eliminated with the No Limit aluminum rear-mount gas tank and the fuel filler neck was shaved, the spare tire well exclusive to Cameos (underneath the bed) was removed. After Chuck handled all of the bodywork he rolled the '55 into the paint booth at his home shop and laid down a super slick coating of PPG Milano Red. The finishing touch was to color sand and rub the paint out. The steel structure on the Cameo Carrier's bed is identical to any '55-66 Chevy shortbed. Nevertheless when it came time to lay down a bed floor Chuck went the extreme route and whittled out his own bed kit using Birdseye maple, and then burying it in 14 coats of PPG urethane clear. A lot of the parts used to restore the'55 Cameo were sourced from Brothers including the blind polished stainless steel bed runners
The truck has done real well at numerous custom car shows throughout the Northwest, but Matt and his dad knew they really hit the nail on the head when Blackie Gejeian bestowed a special honor upon them and invited the Cameo to appear at the 2008 Fresno Autorama.


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The Gas Pedal Might Put A Grin On Your Face, But A Baer Track-4 Brake Kit Is What Will Keep You Coming Back For More.
In every gearhead's mechanical life, there are certain "aha" milestones. A few of mine: The revelation that a numerically higher set of gears will accelerate the car faster without any engine work. Then there was the discovery of throttle oversteer when I gassed it hard while making a right-hand turn in a busy intersection. Or how about the first time I put a blower on a V-8, then christened it on the street with a felony burnout? Some of my "aha" moments are fond memories, others are embarrassments, and still others are downright dangerous.
There are three particular "aha" moments in my hot rodding life that were both embarrassing and dangerous at the same time. All of them have to do with inadequate brakes. In all three instances, I could've gotten hurt or wrecked my car, but I was lucky enough to come out unscathed. (Actually, there were a lot more incidences, but these are the scariest.) See if any of these rings a bell.
Has This Happened To You?
The year was 1982, and the car was a four-door '72 Malibu-with manual drum brakes all around. I'd had the car for a few months, and found the brakes adequate, but not great. They worked OK, so I never gave them a second thought. Then driving to work one day in a gully washer downpour, I rolled through a deep puddle, then tried to stop for a red light. No freakin' brakes! It was like someone smeared axle grease on all the brake shoes. I ran the red light, and thank goodness no one was in the intersection. I burned one of my nine lives that day.
A few years later, I bought a brand-new '87 Mustang 5.0L LX. It was awesome fast for its day, and I had a weakness for being goaded into high-speed hooligans on the highway. When a Nova pulled up beside me on the last light out of town, we hit it. I got out on the guy, but he was still dogging me. This went on for a few miles, and by the time my exit came into sight, the speedo was buried. I started braking, and by the time I got it down to 70, the brakes were spent. The car shuddered violently, the rotors were warped, the fluid was boiled, and I was along for the ride. Being a young idiot, I still tried to make the exit, and slid the car sideways across three lanes of traffic. I dodged a bullet again. Heart racing, I pulled to the side of the road, got out, and looked at the stupid 11-inch brakes. They were ticking, and glowing cherry red.
Fast-forward to 1999. I was running my '93 Firebird at Watkins Glen in a late-day session. My lap times were going down with every circuit, and the stroked 396 LT1 underhood was pulling uphill through the esses like a freight train. I was feeling like Neil Bonnett as I hit 140 at the top of the backstretch. Somewhere between the 400- and 300-foot brake markers, I stabbed the brake pedal, and it went straight to the floor. I plowed through the "bus stop" cones going about 120, and brought out the yellow flag to end my session.
It took these instances, and a few more "minor" ones to convince this hardheaded editor that good brakes aren't a luxury; they're a necessity. As my examples show, the power underhood clearly dictates what you need for brakes, and it doesn't even matter if you're road racing or autocrossing, because let's get real, you're going to "hit it" just like I did. More snot underhood is clearly a shout-out for better brakes. In the case of Project Laguna, we were clearly headed for a déjà vu experience: with a 560hp solid-roller small-block underhood, 4,000 pounds of curb weight to manage, and dinky 15-inch wheels, I had set myself up unwittingly to star in the next Jackass movie. I gave Baer Brakes a call.
The Baer Difference
With help from Baer's Rick Elam, it dawned on us that our 15-inch Bassett steelies were out of the question. We needed real estate inside those rims, plain and simple. New rims and tires would be required, so we hooked up with Year One for a set of their new bitchin 17×9 Rally wheels, and Continental for some Cross Contact 275/55R17 meats. (Check out the "Wheel & Tire Fitment" sidebar for details.) With the wheels on hand, we were able to do a virtual test-fit of several Baer brake systems by using bitmap templates that we printed out. (You can download them from the Baer website.) We mounted these on stiff cardboard, cut them out, and stuck them inside the Year One wheel to see if anything fit.
When it comes to brakes, bigger is truly better. That thought in mind, we wanted to put Baer's new six-piston Pro Plus system up front, but the sheer size of the six-piston caliper was just too large. Baer says the Pro Plus will fit on some 17-inch rims, but the template didn't clear the drop center of the Year One rim. The next size down was the Track-4 kit, which uses Baer's new four-piston T4 caliper. This was what we chose, being that it was the largest we could fit. The Track-4 kit combines the T4 caliper with 13-inch one-piece rotors, performance pads, billet hubs, spindles, and brake lines. Our Baer Claw Track-4 front kit also had the optional nickel plating on the calipers (an extra $100), which brought the system to $1,645.
It warrants pointing out that although many brake manufacturers have excellent hardware, the biggest advantage we've come to appreciate with Baer is the depth of their technical support. An effective brake system goes beyond pretty parts-a manufacturer has to understand the engineering principles and know what fits on a case-by-case basis. Right off the bat, Baer suggested we change master cylinder on the Laguna. Our large 1 1/8-inch diameter bore would not be able to provide sufficient pressure for the increased piston volume, so they supplied us with a 15/16-inch bore master cylinder from Classic Performance Products (PN 6150012, $115).
One of the reasons Baer has such good technical support is that they install and test their systems on a multitude of cars in-house. That task is largely the job of Baer technician, Dutch Miller. Baer's R&D installation center is colocated with Baer's manufacturing headquarters in Phoenix, an arrangement that allows Baer's engineering and manufacturing departments to work out potential real-world problems before they hit customers. Miller's unique position made him the perfect guy to install our Track-4 front system and CPP master cylinder. It's always a pleasure to work with Miller, and our Laguna's Track-4 kit was no exception. He was ready for us, and had us out the door in about a half day, including the time it took to replace the standard wheel studs with race-spec ARP studs.
With the Baer Track-4 system installed, we got no unexpected surprises on the 400-mile drive back to Southern California. Compared to our stock single-piston D52 calipers and 12-inch rotors, the four-piston T4 calipers and 13-inch rotors felt like throwing a grappling hook from the rear bumper-all while providing an evenly modulated braking force. These binders are truly as good as the name implies; we will have no problem beating on these brakes all-day long at the track, and that's an "aha" moment we'll be proud to experience!
Wheel & Tire Fitment
The '73-77 GM A-body-particularly the Chevy Laguna-is known for its large, tank-like body, huge wheelwells, and bulging wheel arches, so the smaller performance tires that fit Chevelles, Camaros, and Novas just don't look large enough for the proportions of the car. Looking through various manufacturer tire size charts, we quickly came to the conclusion that we needed something along the lines of a performance sport truck tire size. General Tire makes a very good one-the Cross Contact UHP (ultra high performance)-in a 275/55R17 (UTQG 420 treadwear rating, AA traction, A temperature), which fits a 17×9 rim perfectly, and has a 28.9-inch diameter and an 11.2-inch section width. That's a tad taller than our old 275/60R15s, and about the same width.
With the old wheel/tire combo (275/60R15 tires on 15×8 Bassett steel rims) and cut Global West springs, it was a snug fit, but we never experienced any rubbing. Our new Year One wheels are an inch wider with a 5-inch backspacing, compared to our 8-inch-wide steelies with a 4.5-inch backspacing. The new wheels would essentially put the outside of the rim a half-inch closer to the fender, and a half-inch closer to the inside, thus splitting the extra width evenly between outside and inside.
It was a really close fit at full wheel lock, but there was no rubbing at all with the full turning range of the steering explored. Taking a ride around the parking lot revealed that there was some minor rubbing at full lock, but a few weeks later at the Goodguys autocross track, we had no problem hammering the two-ton beast through the cones at full gallop.
For '73-77 GM A-body fans out there, here's what we've got: Global West springs (cut to lower the car 2.5 inches in front), 17×9 Year One five-spoke Rally alloy wheels with a 5-inch backspacing, General Cross Contact UHP 275/55R17s at all four corners, and 1/2-inch ARP wheel studs with 1-inch NASCAR-style lug nuts. Fitment of the 275/55R17 tires on the 17×9 wheels is fine in the rear, with plenty more room to spare. If Year One made a 17×10 with a 5-inch backspace, it would easily fit, and we would've put a 315 tire on that.
The stance of the car is sweet. To look at the profile, you'd swear the car was 'bagged, but it isn't. In fact, with the front lowered 2.5 inches, there's still more than 5 inches of ground clearance. Moreover, there is plenty of room on top of the front tire wheelhouse, and in the area of the wheel lip. These cars just have tons of space for big tires. That's the combo, folks.
As for cost, this particular setup will run you about $800 for the Year One Wheels, and about $520 for the General Cross Contact UHP tires (pricing them through Tire Rack). Figure just over $1,400 total after tax and balancing.


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The appealing pic is segment of Cheer Bows for Team document which is categorised within , , and published at December 25, 2015 4:35:26 pm by Sport Reviewer
Cheer Bows for Team: Diy Cheer Bows
Team promoters are upbeat and vigorous and their outfits ought to be, as well. This incorporates their cheer bows.
Do you know the significance of looking great and resembling a group in cheerleading?
Whether they are obtained or high quality, cheer bows ought to include shimmer and set the group separated from the rest.
On the off chance that you choose to make your own, this is not just a brilliant thought as a result of the expense funds, yet it is likewise a magnificent group building action. Every one of the team promoters and their Moms can take part, as well.
There are numerous free cheer bows making directions out there that are anything but difficult to take after. This article will talk about the consideration and cleaning of cheer bows and also a few tips on the off chance that you choose to make your own.
An extraordinary kind of fabric for cheer bows is grosgrain lace. This is an in number, substantial, firm, firmly woven lace with a ribbed appearance. It is anything but difficult to work with as it doesn't slip out of your hands and it holds its shape pleasantly.
You ought to consider how the team promoters will wear their hair before choosing on the off chance that you need to run with a versatile band or a clasp.
On the off chance that they will be wearing their hair in pig tails or twists, then a versatile band is less demanding. In the event that they will simply be pulling it move in an opposite direction from their confronts, then a clasp will work fine.
The inspiring digital imagery is segment of Cheer Bows for Team has dimension 1280 x 985 pixel. You can download and receive the Diy Cheer Bows images by click the download button below to get multiple high-res versions.
Here is necessary clue about Cheerleading. We have the source for more digital imagery about Cheerleading. Check it out for yourself! You can acquire Cheer Bows for Team and read the Cheer Bows for Team in here.
Back to Cheer Bows for Team


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Notice to Members 02-21
NASD Provides Guidance to Member Firms Concerning Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Programs Required by Federal Law
On October 26, 2001, President Bush signed the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (PATRIOT Act). Title III of the PATRIOT Act, referred to as the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 (Money Laundering Abatement Act), imposes obligations on broker/dealers under new anti-money laundering (AML) provisions and amendments to the existing Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) requirements.
Among other things, the Money Laundering Abatement Act requires all financial institutions, including broker/dealers, to establish and implement, by April 24, 2002, AML programs designed to achieve compliance with the BSA and the regulations promulgated thereunder. The NASD reminds members that violations of the AML laws could lead to criminal prosecution.
On February 15, 2002, the NASD filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a rule proposal to prescribe the minimum standards required for each member firm's AML compliance program. A copy of this rule filing can be found on the NASD Regulation AML Web Page. (See www.nasdr.com/money.asp.) NASD Regulation's AML Web Page also provides links to other sites and documents to assist members in understanding their obligations under the AML rules and regulations.
On February 25, 2002, the SEC published the proposed rule change in the Federal Register. The SEC received four comment letters in response to the Federal Register publication. Before becoming effective, the proposed rule change must be approved by the SEC.
The Securities Industry Association Anti-Money Laundering Committee recently released a preliminary guide for firms to use when developing their AML programs (SIA Guidance). The SIA Guidance generally discusses key elements for broker/dealers to consider in developing effective AML programs. NASD Regulation's AML Web Page provides a link to the SIA Guidance.
The NASD is issuing this Notice to provide guidance to assist members in developing AML compliance programs that fit their business models and needs. A table of contents has been provided for readers' convenience.
Because the Department of Treasury (Treasury) is still developing AML rules, the NASD will update its guidance as new rules become final. In the interim, firms must comply with the current requirements of the BSA and the provisions of the Money Laundering Abatement Act that now apply to broker/dealers and should familiarize themselves with the proposed rules that Treasury has issued to date. (For links to Treasury's proposed rules, see http://finra.org/industry/issues/anti-money-laundering.)
Questions regarding this Notice to Members may be directed to Nancy Libin, Assistant General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, NASD Regulation, at (202) 728-8835; Grace Yeh, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 728-6939; or Kyra Armstrong, Senior Attorney, Department of Member Regulation, at (202) 728-6962.


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Fort Romeau continues to roll out thoughtfully detailed productions for Ghostly in 2013. In March, the London-based producer released the Chicago house influenced "SW9" single on Ghostly's sub-label Spectral Sound, and showed his versatile house rhythms in July with its follow-up, the Jetée / Desire single. 2014 will see his debut album for Ghostly — it's his second full-length record, with his debut album Kingdoms being released last year on LA outsider dance institution 100% Silk.
In the meantime, Fort Romeau continues to forge masterful house on this four-track EP, entitled Stay / True. The title track is perhaps the producer's most memorable track yet, a languorous seven-minute slow-burner that moves away from classic house territory in a more experimental direction, cruising along on a leisurely arpeggiated synth figure and a simple but effective kick/clap pattern. The more classically house-influenced "Your Light" is all tight kicks and vocoder-laden vocals, while the "Together" starts with the sound of field recordings and then drops a heavy 4/4 kick and even heavier bassline. The 12" version comes with an exclusive track ("Trust Me"), as does the digital version (the dancefloor-focused house belter "And Now").


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I have a general idea where I'm gonna go with this, but - leave you cats out of the loop? That'd be mean.
I'm looking to get a tiny tube combo amp to rule a tiny kingdom - for recording in the 5 x 3.5 x 7' environs of the Cube - sometimes with an acoustic guitarist and singer inside, with the amp being played by someone outside the Cube. So - small is beautiful.
Suggestions? Experiences? Thoughts? Threats?


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Rooh Afza, Summer Drink of The East
I've featured sharbat (the South Asian equivalent of the Western chocolate milk for kids) in the past. The key ingredient in sharbat is a product called Rooh Afza, which is a syrup made of flower petals such as Gulab (Rose), coriander seeds, kewra and watermelon extract. It literally translates to "that which tempts your soul".
Rooh Afza is fairly versatile and is used in many other drinks and desserts. One such recipe is similar to sharbat, but without the milk and nuts. I often make this drink when I need to cool off a bit. It's very refreshing and light.
Yields: 12 servings2-1/2 cups Rooh Afza syrup
1 quart ice cubes
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
8-3/4 cups water, to taste
For the simple syrup: In a saucepan, dissolve the sugar in 3/4 cup of water. Bring to a near boil, lower the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes. Let the syrup cool completely.
Assembly time: Combine the simple syrup and Rooh Afza syrup. Dissolve the syrup with water.
Serve over ice in tall glasses; stir and enjoy with pink cookies.
You can omit the simple syrup and just use the Rooh Afza, if you're health-conscious.
I prefer using superfine sugar. It's fine-grained sugar and it dissolves much more quickly than regular granulated sugar.
If you like a lemony taste, add the juice of 10 lemons (about 1-1/2 cups) and reduce the same amount of water.
The girls like to make the drink fizzy by adding seltzer water (or even Coke), in place of water.Published By: on October 2, 2009.


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The Digital Skeptic: Terms of Service Could Shatter Google Glas
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Chris Castle sees a broken future indeed for Google's (GOOG_) latest uber-gizmo, the eyeglass-mounted PC called Google Glass.
"It is hard to see a case where someone who uses this thing outside their home can use it without potentially violating some law," Castle told me over the phone. We'd been going back and forth in recent weeks on the startling legal ramifications of the wearable computer that, if early demos are any indication, will enable just about anybody to record, store and share anything they see, hear or say -- copyrighted or not -- with anybody on earth.
Castle has deep experience in the legal ramifications of disruptive technologies. He is the managing partner of Christian L. Castle Attorneys, an Austin, Texas, digital music and content law firm. Castle says that over his 25-year legal career he's been in the content rights trenches providing advice for Last.fm, Liquid Audio, MySpace Music and even Napster. And he spins a heck of a convincing legal yarn that the 24/7 media world Google Glass will almost certainly create poses almost limitless legal exposure for the company -- and headaches for investors.
"This is major litigation waiting to happen," he said. "And not just civil litigation. I could see states attorneys getting involved, too."
Terms of service get ugly
What's surprising about Google Glass is that, even though it's not yet available to the general public, it doesn't take much spying to see what investors will be looking at with it.
Several Google executives, including co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, have made high-profile public appearances wearing the thing. There's a slick, branded Glass website and an army of so-called Glass Explorers acting as beta testers, among them actor Neil Patrick Harris, politician Newt Gingrich, Foursquare's Dennis Crowley and Thomson Reuters social media editor Anthony De Rosa.
For the record, Google Glass is a tiny computer married to a video camera, small display and sound recorder. It's voice activated and can up- and download audio and video content and record images. It will display Web content, get directions and offer Glass versions of Google apps. Once it does that, it can broadcast the whole shebang to anybody with a Web connection.
And it does it all in a unit about the size of a hip pair of sunglasses.
"It is about our relationship to technology," Timothy Jordan, developer advocate for Google Glass, said in a video grabbed at the last South by Southwest music and tech conference in Austin conference last month. "You can still have access to the technology you love. But it won't take you out of the moment."


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Condon doesn't know Kluge
At the Kluge Estate and Albemarle Farm, our land is bustling with life. Over the last 20 years I have worked hard to create an environment of sustainable agriculture. In response to Marlene Condon's letter [July 3: "How natural can Klugeville be?"] (http://www.readthehook.com/93677/letter-how-natural-can-klugeville-be), let me introduce you to my 1,300-acre world.
1) Woodlands date back to Jefferson's day, bursting with trees, wild grasses, and woodland flowers. 2) Four acres of orchards produce several varieties of fruit. 3) A two-acre berry patch flourishes by the pool. 4) An assortment of fish, turtles, various amphibians, a beaver, swans, ducks, a Canadian goose, a pair of herons, and a pair of resident Bald Eagles inhabit over 13 acres of ponds surrounded by black bears, turkey, and deer.
5) Fifty acres of vineyards use herbicides, not pesticides, to protect the fruit, leaving the vineyard thriving with life, not sterile. 6) The Conservatory houses a collection of rain forest plants for lifecycle study, viewing, and enjoyment. 7) The herb garden next to our farm shop and woodland walk displays a collection of native plants.
Our development will maintain the spirit of the estate. We will reforest with deciduous hard woods and native plants, build fewer homes than it is our right to, build a 10-acre pond, and preserve the streams. We will also create meadows, orchards, and of course, vineyards. All the homes will have rain collection cisterns, conserving well water. Only environmentally friendly building materials and architecture with classical dignity that inspires will be used in construction.
In civilizations throughout history, literature, and music, naturalists and natural philosophers had one idea in common: Evolution is growth. The more one uses her land, the more it will thrive. Using land in a thoughtful way provides generations a reason to stay, jobs, careers, a community to enliven and enrich, well-funded schools, police, firefighters, churches, farming, and cultural festivals.
Most importantly, thoughtful land use creates an educated community that appreciates the fact that this place is not just for them, but also for all who come through here.
As a member of the Virginia Endowment for the Environment for seven years, I can assure you that this farm is not a farm that is contributing to the pollution of the Chesapeake Bay. The Bay has been making a comeback for the last 15 years. Not only are you not a farmer, but you are no environmentalist, either. Perhaps if you feel a loss of wildlife where you live, you are experiencing an exodus.
Patricia Kluge


text: I am using C# to create a word document from a template (Word) that contains several bookmarks. My application generates different tables and paragraphs at specific bookmarks. However, there is a blank page created in the end of the document which I am not sure how to get rid of. I searched on the internet but could not find much help. Will appreciate if anyone could provide some guidance.


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John Varvatos Clothes For Boys
John Varvatos Brings Rock 'n' Roll Style to Little Boys
John Varvatos Brings Rock 'n' Roll Style to Little Boys
Ready to add a little edge to your son's wardrobe, without it going overboard? Just in time for holiday picture-taking, John Varvatos is extending his signature rock 'n' roll style to boys. The Fashion Star mentor and all-around bad boy of fashion has added designs for boys from 4-14 to his John Varvatos Star USA label, and they'll have lil boys looking picture-ready in no time.
While henleys ($73), hoodies ($86), and t-shirts ($50) make up a bulk of the collection, standout pieces include a tailored three-piece suit ($285), a corduroy sport coat ($160), and a velvet two-button jacket ($175) that would be perfect for New Year's Eve. We got a peek of the collection earlier this Fall and it's as cute (and soft) in person as it looks online. Best of all, Varvatos designed it to be interchangeable, so if you need a more casual look, swap a t-shirt for the vest in the suit or pair the velvet blazer with dark jeans. Either way, your son will be looking stylish in a snap!


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Elder M. Russell Ballard's broadcast on May 4 included students in their last year of seminary.
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to young adults about the proper use of technology, the dangers of pornography, and the Church's doctrine on marriage in a CES devotional broadcast on May 4. Those leaving seminary this year and eligible for institute next year were invited to join the live broadcast.
"You are the future of the church, and the Lord has many wonderful blessings for you as you live your lives … Today, you do not know what a remarkable future is before you," he said.
The devotional is available at mormonchannel.org in English or at cesdevotionals.lds.org in American Sign Language, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
The broadcast will be available in other languages within three weeks of the devotional at cesdevotionals.lds.org.


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If you are reading this feature from the discomfort of a plane, train or automobile on your way to the office, it would probably be better for you to switch back to Fruit Ninja for the sake of your ever deteriorating mental and physical health. Don't believe me? Check out a few of the more depressing statistics on life for the typical commuter:
Told you so.
However, before you start furiously composing your letter of resignation and planning a life of self-sufficiency from your apartment in the suburbs, why not reconsider your options by rethinking your daily journey? With plenty of alternatives to choose from, it might be worth mixing up how you cover the miles to make life a little more interesting, energising and inspiring. And of course, we wouldn't dream of advising you not to do it in style. Check the slides, below, to see MR PORTER's guide to the best commuting gear right now...


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Google has a huge challenge in mobile: Most Android users aren't using the latest version of its software.
That's hobbling its efforts to compete with Apple, since older versions of Android don't have the bells and whistles and performance improvements.
The Next Web noticed that Google recently updated statistics about its Android user base. While it's made some progress, the most recent version, Jelly Bean, only has a 10% share of usage. Ice Cream Sandwich, the next oldest version, has 29%. And Gingerbread, a two-year-old version, still dominates, running 48% of Android devices.
Those numbers have improved marginally since last month, when more than half of all Android devices ran Gingerbread. But they are not improving quickly enough to suggest the problem of slow adoption will go away anytime soon.
Gingerbread lacks many key features in Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean, like a fast Web browser and an appealing, consistent user interface. And that may be the best explanation for why Android lags behind Apple's iOS in most metrics of mobile usage, despite having a market-share lead: They are using less-capable devices which frustrate them when they try to buy things, read articles, or watch videos.
Google must surely be aware of this, which likely forms part of the reasoning behind the creation of a dedicated team for apps that run on Apple's iPhones and iPads. It is far less important, after all, that people use Google's free mobile operating system than that they run Web searches on Google, get directions on Google Maps, and watch videos on YouTube.
But in the long term, Google's better off if it doesn't have to work through Apple to get its apps out in the marketplace.
The biggest obstacle to upgrading the Android user base are Google's own partners—the wireless carriers and handset makers who have allied with it. They are understandably hesitant to roll out new software before thoroughly testing it on their networks. But sometimes they seem needlessly slow in pushing out upgrades.
Which is why Google is slowly taking more control of its hardware, through its Nexus brand of devices commissioned by Google from hardware partners and its acquisition of Motorola Mobility. (Ironically, Motorola was one of the Android manufacturers most infamous for its slow updates.)
Meanwhile, you can still find lots of Ice Cream Sandwich smartphones and tablets for sale.
What can Google do? Besides cajole partners into approving updates faster and making more of its own latest-and-greatest devices, not much.
And when the long-rumored Key Lime Pie upgrade finally comes out, this cake will get another layer.
Get the latest Google stock price here.


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- About us
- Blogs
- Funding/Donations
- Challenges
- Chapters
- Papers
- Projects
- Code of Conduct
- Google SoC
- Recent posts
- Security Workshops
Well folks, just a few days and the workshops will kick off ! Registrants, please remember to bring your printed tickets !
The on-line registration was closed on May 8th and tickets are almost sold out. Just a few tickets are left for on-site registration. No promises, but if you are in the area. Check it out !


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The future is taking shape – in the form of the new BMW i8 Coupé. Full of verve, fascinating and ready to newly define mobility. For unconditional driving pleasure, as far as the road goes. A mere glimpse of this iconic design elevates adrenaline levels. The tachometer shoots up just as fast: the innovative plug-in hybrid engine generates 374 hp and 570 Nm. Plus, it accelerates the new BMW i8 Coupé in just 4.4 seconds from 0 to 100 km. The fastest route to a new era.
The BMW i8 Coupé reveals itself as futuristic right down to the last detail. Its progressive lines speak a formal language that can hardly be more dynamic. The most striking feature: the imposing lightweight carbon-fibre gull wing doors, which can be opened comfortably. The athletic front continues to display the individual character of the car and proudly bears the BMW double kidney, flanked by full-LED headlights and redesigned Air Curtains. Starting at the bonnet, the distinctive V-shaped black belt stretches along the entire car, underscoring its flat silhouette. The impressive streamflow design also optimises airflow and creates unprecedented aerodynamics. Thus, the BMW i8 Coupé is a perfect symbiosis of form and function that knows only one direction: forward.
The interior of the BMW i8 Coupé also underscores its unique character. This is immediately apparent from the exclusive feature line Accaro Amido/E-Copper. The interior also reflects the dynamic lines of the exterior design, creating a futuristic dynamic throughout the cockpit. The centre cockpit is inclined to the driver and the controls are arranged intuitively – ensuring maximum driver orientation and clarity. Optimum lateral support and maximum comfort are provided by the new electrically-adjustable sport seats. In the dark, the LED interior lighting ensures a high-quality ambience. The contour lines of the doors, the instrument panel and the centre console and the steering wheel can be optionally and alternately dipped in the colours EfficientDynamics Blue, Amber Yellow and White.
The BMW i8 Coupé takes even the headwind's breath away. This is not only due to its athletic appearance, but also its streamlined body, the extreme lightweight construction and the layered design of the LED tail lights, which the wind flows through.
Take the lead. It's easy with the new BMW i8 Coupé. One of the reasons is its exceptional lightweight concept: the LifeDrive Architecture. It consists of the Drive module – an aluminium chassis and the Life module – an ultralight passenger compartment made of high-strength carbon-fibre. Both components are weight-optimised down to the last gram in order to take thought-out sustainability with perfected sportiness efficiently to the road.
All information, representations, illustrations, specifications and prices is general in nature only and may show overseas product features, specifications or models which may change without notice and should always be read in conjunction with other specific materials and information available from BMW Group Australia and its respective dealers.


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MLB reminds fans to go green on Earth Day
Baseball is the one North American sport that most clearly co-exists with Mother Nature, as we can see from a typical sunny summer day during the regular season, or a drizzly night like Tuesday's at Citi Field in New York, or a most cloudy and chilly day expected for Wednesday's 100th anniversary celebration at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Then there is Earth Day, a time when everyone around Major League Baseball is reminded of a much greater personal involvement with our planet. This is the 44th anniversary of an event born of environmental concern in 1970, and it is a time to take stock of one's individual role but also to explore the continued emphasis by all 30 clubs as part of the overall MLB Greening Program.
Baseball is the one North American sport that most clearly co-exists with Mother Nature, as we can see from a typical sunny summer day during the regular season, or a drizzly night like Tuesday's at Citi Field in New York, or a most cloudy and chilly day expected for Wednesday's 100th anniversary celebration at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Then there is Earth Day, a time when everyone around Major League Baseball is reminded of a much greater personal involvement with our planet. This is the 44th anniversary of an event born of environmental concern in 1970, and it is a time to take stock of one's individual role but also to explore the continued emphasis by all 30 clubs as part of the overall MLB Greening Program.
"I am very proud that our 30 clubs have demonstrated a wide-ranging commitment to sustainable practices," Commissioner Bud Selig said, "and we will continue to strive to set a positive example for all those who love our game."
Look to Cleveland as just one example. Before their home game against Kansas City, the Indians planned on giving 5,000 flower seed packets to fans to help celebrate the annual event. The club also invited Craig Butler, the director of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
"Ohio EPA is proud to bring awareness about the importance of recycling on Earth Day with the Cleveland Indians," Butler said. "We are asking fans to support recycling on Earth Day and every day because it saves energy and valuable landfill space, conserves our natural resources and creates jobs."
The Ohio EPA has partnered with the Indians and provided a grant to help with recycling at the stadium. This season, there are more than 60 new recycling cans throughout Progressive Field to aid that process. The Indians have run their "Our Tribe is Green" campaign for several years, and the Ohio EPA plans on doing its part to expand the team's efforts.
The Yankees and Red Sox resumed their storied rivalry with the start of a three-game series at Fenway Park, and before the game, Boston celebrated Earth Day in ceremonies presented by National Grid. U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz, EPA administrator Gina McCarthy and president of National Grid Massachusetts Marcy Reed were expected to be present for those ceremonies.
As a nod to Earth Day, the Yankees said that they will be giving away herb seed packets to the first 18,000 fans in attendance for Friday's game against the Angels at Yankee Stadium.
In celebration of Earth Day, the Cardinals are hosting their fifth annual Green Week (#4aGreenerGame) now through April 30, with activities designed to promote recycling, both inside and outside of Busch Stadium.
Events include the MERS/Goodwill Computer E-Cycling Drive on Tuesday; a shoe collection from Friday through Sunday at the gates, part of a partnership with Shoeman Water Projects that creates clean drinking water for developing countries by selling shoes to exporters for resale; Operation Food Search to recognize concessionaire Delaware North Companies and its involvement in diverting nearly 13,000 pounds of unused food; and an alliance with Ameren Missouri Pure Power to offset energy consumption by purchasing renewable energy credits (recs) for the duration of Green Week. By purchasing recs, the Cardinals will offset 100 percent of the energy used at Busch Stadium for the games during Green Week. Look for Green Team volunteers at the ballpark after the Redbirds return home.
Since the launch of 4 A Greener Game in 2008, the Cardinals have diverted nearly 2,400 tons of solid waste from local landfills, and Busch continues to become more energy efficient through participation in Ameren Missouri's Business Energy Efficiency Program. The team has reduced energy use by 20 percent and water use by 10 percent since the new stadium opened in 2006; 34 percent of the team's waste was diverted from landfills in 2013; on average, four tons of trash are recycled at Busch Stadium each game; and 550 recycling bins are located throughout Busch.
"It's important not to be wasteful, and for all of us it's important to recycle," Cardinals right fielder Allen Craig said in the clubhouse before Tuesday's game at Citi Field. "Whether it's Earth Day, we are in the public spotlight and it's definitely good to make an example of doing things the right way. We have a platform and it's important to take advantage of those opportunities."
While the Phillies were away for their series vs. the Dodgers, front-office employees took part in a "Red Goes Green" cleanup at FDR Park near the future site of the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Philadelphia. Last Thursday was Citizens Bank Red Goes Green Day. Fans received an MLB Network reusable tote and were able to engage with local "green" vendors at the entrance gates. They learned more about the Phillies' Red Goes Green sustainability initiative throughout the game. There was an on-field recognition of the winning teacher in the Phillies Red Goes Green Sustainability Initiative Contest.
The Twins also are on the road this Earth Day, but one of the many ways Target Field green efforts thrive today is a custom-designed rainwater recycle system provided by Minneapolis-based Pentair. Through that, the Twins have captured, purified and reused more than 3.1 million gallons of rainwater -- drastically reducing the amount of municipal water there. If you want to follow that example, rain barrels are commonly available at home-and-garden stores to capture water from rooves.
"The Twins organization believes our future success both on and off the field is built on a business model that embraces operational efficiency, environmental stewardship and social responsibility," said Twins president Dave St. Peter. "While we are far from perfect, we are making a conscious effort to be kind to the Earth. This Earth Week and every day, we hope you'll take a moment to ask yourself: What can I do to be better to the environment?"
At Citi Field, the Mets, in partnership with Action Carting Environmental Services and ARAMARK, are composting food waste in all kitchens, suites, clubs and restaurants. Grass clippings from the field are also being composted. In addition, recycling receptacles are located throughout Citi Field, helping the Mets achieve an equal number of recycling containers to trash bins. Cans, plastic or glass bottles and cardboard will continue to be recycled. The Mets save more than four million gallons of water per year by using 414 hands-free faucets, 635 automated toilet flush-valves, and 270 waterless urinals.
The Nationals teamed up with the EPA and Coca-Cola to celebrate Earth Day around their home game against the Angels. EPA deputy administrator Bob Perciasepe threw out the ceremonial first pitch and also participated in an interview that was shown pregame on the video board. Also shown were a public service announcement from the EPA promoting action on climate change and trivia segments in honor of Earth Day and promoting recycling and other green strategies. The popular Presidents Race also was set to incorporate a pro-recycling message.
In addition, members of the Young Activist Club -- a student group from Takoma Park, Md., that is trying to get rid of Styrofoam and other polystyrene to make their community more green -- made up the night's Starting Nine, meeting Nationals starters at their positions before the first inning. And Coca-Cola's recycling education vehicle also was parked in front of the center-field gate, offering fans information about recycling as they entered Nationals Park.
The D-backs, in partnership with Arizona Public Service, teamed up for the fifth annual APS Green Series during their last homestand. The club gave out 30,000 recyclable "Beat L.A." placards; 25,000 MLB Network recyclable bags; and 10,000 compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, courtesy of APS. On Sunday, they offered free parking at the Chase Field Garage for all electric-powered vehicles.
The D-backs purchased green energy from APS to power Chase Field for the entire three-game series. The total average consumption for the series was about 750,000 kilowatt hours (kWh). APS had educational items on display, including a 1915 electric car, near the north end of the APS Solar Pavilion (a 17,280-square-foot structure that generate 100,000 kWh of solar energy annually), located in the Gila River Casinos Plaza, educating customers about APS energy efficiency programs that can help fans reduce energy use and save money.
The Tigers' efforts to become more environmentally conscious date back to 2007, when they installed new seats in the Tiger Den made of recycled plastic milk jugs. When the Tigers installed their high-definition LED video board at Comerica Park in 2012, they looked for energy efficiency as a side benefit. Around the ballpark, the club placed large, bottle-shaped recycling containers last season for fans to toss their plastic bottles. Other garbage has recyclables filtered out at a transfer station and sent to a recycling company.
Mark Newman is enterprise editor of MLB.com. Read and join other baseball fans on his MLB.com community blog.


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When lawmakers listen, it�s news. Today we offer a THUMBS UP to Republican House representatives Steve Ross and Dennis Riddell of Alamance for their work in derailing a measure in the General Assembly that would�ve given local governments the option to hide information about meetings and other legal notices on their own websites where fewer people look for information. Action by Ross and Riddell helped end a bill passed by the state Senate that would have removed the requirement that such notices be placed in newspapers. We won�t deny that it�s a win for newspapers in our state, but it�s a bigger victory for the public.
THUMBS UP to Gibsonville native Torry Holt, who went on to a stellar college and NFL career after graduating from Eastern Guilford. He�s been picked as one of 10 honorees in the North Carolina State Athletic Hall of Fame class in the fall. It�s a stellar group that includes former basketball coach Norm Sloan and his star player Tommy Burleson. Pretty good company for the school�s all-time leading receiver.
THUMBS UP to Burlington�s free bulk waste collection campaign this year, held from Feb. 4 through April 16, which saw 883 tons of material collected. Of that volume, 265 tons were �bulk junk� including appliances, furniture and rolled carpet. The popular event was even more of a hit than it was last year, when 576 tons were collected. This may be one of the most important events of the year for folks in Burlington.
THUMBS UP to Schae Stewart, John Ange Kernodle, Owen Gold and Brian Gold, area home school students who spent five months building a robot they nicknamed �Atlas.� They competed in a state robotic tournament in February, and last month in an international robotics tournament held in St. Louis against 127 other robotics teams.
THUMBS UP to Matt Matheny from Elon University. He, Tad Boyle of the University of Colorado, and Jim Kessler of Grace College, were announced this week to assist the 2013 USA Basketball Men�s World University Games coaching staff during the June 24-July 1 training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The 2013 World University Games will be played July 6-17 in Kazan, Russia, led by Davidson College�s Bob McKillop.
THUMBS UP to the Saxapahaw United Methodist Church, which is opening the doors of a new food pantry, Southern Alamance Family Empowerment, or S.A.F.E. Helped in its start-up by the Loaves & Fishes Christian Food Ministry, the newest food bank in the county will officially open Tuesday after a blessing of the building and ministry as well as a tour of the facility at 5950 N.C. 87 South Sunday at 4 p.m. Those interested in applying for groceries can visit the food bank at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays for an interview.
THUMBS UP to Delores Butler and Tractor Supply Co. Butler is the one-woman charity operating as Feed-A-Pet NC, which collects pet food and supplies, gift cards and cash donations for pet owners who may be struggling to properly care for their animals. She is getting some help from the business community through Tractor Supply, which has agreed to accept pet supply donations to the charity. You can make cash donations at any Wells Fargo branch, send checks to PO Box 596 in Haw River, 27258 or call Butler at 336-405-2168.
And THUMBS UP to the pluck of Frank Kuczkowski, an 18-year-old Southern Alamance High School student who managed something the federal government has struggled with for years � putting people to work. As his senior project, he put together and staged a job fair at the school gym. He solicited 10 businesses as well as the U.S. Navy to be represented at the fair. At last count, about 15 of Frank�s classmates had secured jobs through the fair � and that number is likely to grow even higher. Putting people to work is what it�s about these days and Frank took action rather than just talking about it.
Anyone in politics out there paying attention?


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The Maker's Roadmap - Planner - Green Cover - Volume 2
A Planner for Makers and Handmade Shop Owners
by Deborah Engelmajer
This is the price your customers see. Edit list price
About the Book
NB: THIS IS VOLUME 2 (covering Months 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) of the Maker's Biz roadmap planner. If you are looking for Volume 1, please visit my profile to order Volume 1 instead. The Maker's Roadmap is designed to help you start, grow and profit from your handmade shop by providing you with: ♥ A step-by-step plan based on the 4 main stages of handmade business growth, so you know exactly what you need to focus on next; ♥ An implementation system to finally beat the overwhelm, set goals you can achieve, and be more productive than ever. ♥ This planner comes with over 20 coaching videos available online (password in the planner) and covers 6 months of the year.
Author website
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About the Creator
Sydney, Australia
Helping makers and handmade shop owners start, grow and profit from their handmade shops.


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Tetra Tech to Acquire Parkland Pipeline, Expanding Services to North American Energy Market
Tetra Tech to Acquire Parkland Pipeline, Expanding Services to North American Energy Market
PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Tetra Tech, Inc. (NAS: TTEK) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Parkland Pipeline (Parkland), an Alberta-based company that serves the oil and gas industry in Western Canada. The company specializes in the technical support, engineering support, and construction of pipelines and oilfield facilities. Parkland has about 900 staff and approximately C$140 million in annual revenue.
"Like other previous acquisitions, Parkland enables Tetra Tech to provide additional core water, environmental and engineering work to the pipeline industry while better serving these customers," said Tetra Tech's Chairman and CEO Dan Batrack. "We will be able to offer pipeline clients a cross-border, full-service solution. Parkland significantly expands our services to the North American energy market, and has consistently produced double digit operating margins."
Parkland will be joining Tetra Tech's Remediation and Construction Management (RCM) segment. The transaction is expected to be completed in Tetra Tech's fiscal 2013 second quarter, pending approval from the Competition Bureau of Canada. Tetra Tech plans to reflect Parkland's net revenue contribution and earnings accretion in its 2013 guidance after the transaction closes. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
About Tetra Tech (www.tetratech.com)
Tetra Tech is a leading provider of consulting, engineering, program management, construction management, and technical services. The Company supports government and commercial clients by providing innovative solutions to complex problems focused on water, environment, energy, infrastructure, and natural resources. With more than 14,000 employees worldwide, Tetra Tech's capabilities span the entire project life cycle.
Any statements made in this release that are not based on historical fact are forward-looking statements.Any forward-looking statements made in this release represent management's best judgment as to what may occur in the future.However, Tetra Tech's actual outcome and results are not guaranteed and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions ("Future Factors"), and may differ materially from what is expressed.For a description of Future Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, see the discussion under the section "Risk Factors" included in the Company's Form 10-K and 10-Q filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Tetra Tech, Inc.
Jim Wu, Investor Relations
Talia Starkey, Media & Public Relations
(626) 470-2844
KEYWORDS: United States North America Canada California
The article Tetra Tech to Acquire Parkland Pipeline, Expanding Services to North American Energy Market originally appeared on Fool.com.Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


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Hi Jared, I just noticed your message and wish I'd seen it sooner. Are you still interested in hitting? I usually play at Coachman Ridge Park in Clearwater but if we could find a place in Palm Harbor (like a halfway point between Clearwater and Tarpon) to hit that'd be great. Let me know.--Tasha
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I blogged about white film on dishes from dishwashers about a month ago, and the post has gotten an unusual amount of hits.
And then I read in the New York Times that dishwasher users complain new no-phosphate dishwashing detergents are causing dishwasher film.
Which is funny, because we've often suggested environmentally friendly cleaning products, such as Seventh Generation dishwashing detergent, to customers because we've foundits lack of phosphates actually prevents cloudiness and etching.
(For what it's worth — maybe not much — Consumer Reports found that seven phosphate-free detergents worked pretty well.)
My suggestions?
1. Stop pre-rinsing your dishes
Residual proteins from leftover foods activate the detergent's cleaning enzymes. So if you've cleaned all or most of the food off your dishes, the detergent can't activate and stays in its crystal format, scratching your dishes on a microscopic level.
3. Stop using so much detergent and run a vinegar cycle
4. Before starting your dishwasher, run the tap water until it's hot
Not only does this save energy, but older dishwashers don't run as long as new dishwashers — better designed for less-harsh detergents – – and so every minute counts. Don't waste it with lukewarm water that's being heated up.


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I've never been so impressed with any company's customer support as I was today with ParetoLogic's. Great job!
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Russell Southwood
Publisher: APC JOHANNESBURG, 22 November 2010
African countries are committed to migrating to digital broadcasting by June 2015. This will be a costly process both for government and citizens and it is currently unclear who will benefit from it or where the resources needed to make the transition will come from.
Only a minority of African countries have started the policy work needed to create the transition and most of the discussion is focused on technical questions.
Arguably, it is one of the most fundamental changes in African broadcasting for over a decade and raises wider questions about how the "public interest" is expressed in broadcasting and its relationship with interactive, converged media. With certain exceptions, African public broadcasting has tended to express the needs and interests of the ruling party rather than a country's citizens.
A new initiative from the Association for Progressive Communications and Balancing Act aims to help policy-makers and others make the best decisions.
Issues raised by the transition
The proponents of the transition have argued that it will yield up a "digital dividend" and that its benefits will include: more television channels; improved signal; potentially increased coverage; and the freeing up of scarce spectrum. However, these benefits come at a cost and it includes subsidising those who are unable to afford the new digital equipment and finding the resources to create programming for new channels.
In terms of subsidy, the scale of the issue can be judged from two very different statistics. In South Africa the Government has announced that it will spend US$300 million to provide a 70% subsidy to five million households. In Kenya 46% of televisions owned are still black and white.
Given the undoubtedly substantial costs involved in this transition, how can Africa do two key things?
Firstly, lower the costs of the transition.
And secondly, maximise the benefits it gains in terms of greater access to more diverse content and discussion?
Whilst the transition from analogue to digital will eventually be universal, it will nonetheless be achieved at different rates by countries within regions and between regions. For example only a few countries worldwide are anywhere near completing the switchover to digital broadcast television (excluding satellite delivery) and many countries (globally) are only in the early stages of the transition. However, in the majority of African countries, the switch over to digital by 2015 cannot be considered a realistic target. At present only South Africa has switched on a digital signal and other African countries that have done any substantial work on the issue are still very much in the minority.
Given the economic and social consequences of migration and the low response of African countries to the process – be this as a result of lack of awareness, limited resources and/or cost implications – it is important that approaches and progress towards digitalization be studied and reported on a country-by-country basis.
It is important to create research and policy tools that allowed countries to address issues relating to things like public interest media, the cost of subsidy and the resources required to programme additional channels, and that´s what APC and Balancing Act aim to do.
"A study of this kind will help countries in analysing and understanding the full socio-economic implications and opportunities of digital migration," says Balancing Act's Russell Southwood. More importantly, they could act as the trigger point for a policy discussion about wide range of public interest media and access issues, allowing a range of different solutions to be presented.
Costs and benefits of the transition
The research study will develop a set of policy and research tools that allow those involved in the discussions to understand both the costs and potential benefits of the transition.
On the cost side, it will look at: the likely costs of subsidising digital equipment for those unable to afford it; the costs of providing different types of equipment and how it might be lowered; the cost to broadcasters of making the transition both at a production and transmission level; the costs associated with additional programming; and the costs of extending to additional transmission areas.
On the benefits side, it will look at: the likely income to be raised from freeing up spectrum and where it might go; how increased programming output can meet a wider range of needs and help encourage local programming; the potential for public interest or community channels or slots; the financial benefits to be gained by having one or more signal carriers; and increasing the ability of broadcasters to engage with their different audiences.
The research study will raise and outline the range of issues below that can best be described as the public interest opportunity.
Identifying the "Public Interest" opportunity
Although the transition offers the possibility of more broadcast channels, the assumption thus far has been that these channels will simply be divided up amongst existing broadcasters. In some countries existing broadcasters (both public and private) already struggle to fill the channels they have: often airtime is simply sold off to those who can afford to pay. In financial terms, government-run broadcasters are particularly vulnerable as most do not have the resources required to fulfil their "public interest" mandate and rely heavily on advertising in what are increasingly competitive markets.
It is currently assumed by policy-makers that the government-run broadcaster is responsible for meeting any "public interest" mandate but existing practice shows that the evidence does not necessarily bear this out. Therefore it would be helpful to open a debate about how best the public interest might be met and whether there are new models that would allow for more plural outcomes in terms of both content and governance.
Potential options for discussion might include among other things: revitalising the public interest mandate of existing Government-run broadcasters; opening up broadcast television more widely for community use; and privately run regional stations with clear public purpose license targets.
Increased access and coverage
The transition to digital broadcast transmission offers the opportunity to separate transmission from content production. Traditionally, broadcasters have been vertically integrated organisations combining both production and distribution. In some countries, the government-run broadcaster has controlled the transmission network and sold access to it as a service. In other countries, privately owned broadcasters have built their own networks and the "what the market can bear" approach has tended to justify a focus solely on the more populated areas. Therefore few privately owned African broadcasters can lay claim to being national stations.
In the few African countries that have done detailed policy work on the digital transition (for example, Kenya and Tanzania), they have decided to separate out the "signal carrier" function. This is either done on the basis that there is a single, independent signal carrier (government or privately-run) or there are two or more competitive carriers. But however it is done, there need to be clear rules governing access to the MUX (the transmission device) that carries multiple signals from different broadcasters to a household.
This creates the opportunity for broadcasters (both public and private) to share transmission infrastructure and this sharing will allow an extension of all broadcasters' coverage areas. Those previously marginalised in terms of access to television will be able for the first time to receive a signal. However, there are broader issues of electricity transmission that will also have to be addressed.
At the set-top box and television level, the study will look at which channels other carriers are obliged to carry and how the costs of these obligations will be met. The use of "conditional access" also highlights concerns about the ability of government and broadcasters being able to "shut people out" by cutting their signal.
Diversity of content
The digital transition offers a key moment to address the generation of local African content, both within particular countries and across the continent. It offers the opportunity to review the effectiveness of local production quotas and of Government schemes that support local production.
Over 2,000 languages are spoken in Africa and many of them represent different cultures within countries. Whilst the growing number of African "vernacular" radio stations has begun to cater for some of this diversity, African television broadcasting has not always been capable of providing the same degree of language and cultural diversity.
Although there are some notable exceptions, as much as 80-90% of content on African television stations comes from US, European and Latin American international content providers. These international content providers produce programmes for their own markets but offset the costs through selling global rights. However not surprisingly, locally generated programmes across the globe are nearly always more widely watched than international ones.
Nollywood has demonstrated that fiction programmes from one African country can be watched widely by people in other countries. Fiction output of this kind shapes how Africans see themselves. Several other African countries have also started to produce programmes that are more widely seen outside of where they were made.
The impact of convergence
Broadcasting and telecommunications are in many African countries treated as separate, vertical markets. Digital convergence means that telecoms operators have become involved in broadcasting and broadcasting companies are looking at how they might deliver Internet and voice services. The continent's first real Triple Play offer (with the customer receiving television, voice and Internet) has been launched in Kenya by Wananchi. But often the two sectors are separately regulated or spectrum is regulated by the telecoms regulator and other broadcasting issues by a separate body. Integrated regulators dealing with both broadcasting and telecommunications are in the minority.
Many telecoms regulators will be able to generate a new stream of income from the sale of spectrum released once the digital transition is complete. There remain considerable arguments over whether this released spectrum should remain with the broadcasters or be released for telecoms use. But whatever happens, there will be a new stream of income but where will it go?
Elsewhere in the world, public broadcasters are increasingly using their funding to create complementary Internet platforms that make use of the more interactive forms of content creation (for example, blogs and citizen journalism). The equivalent development in Africa has been the much narrower use of SMS for programme voting and the equivalent of letters. However, as the Internet grows in Africa, both public and private broadcasters will begin to develop a more interactive approach to broadcasting and its relationship to audiences. Should this interactive approach to media be encouraged by public funding?
As mentioned earlier, it is currently assumed by policy-makers that the government-run broadcaster is responsible for meeting any "public interest" mandate but existing practice shows that the evidence does not necessarily bear this out. A study and discussion around digital migration is important because it creates opportunities to deliver real benefits to the public be these through:
- the balancing (out) of the costs and benefits of the transition, and thereby contributing to increasing the range and choice of service providers for the public
- delivering on increased access and coverage, and thereby increasing the scale and scope of public-orientated services that can be delivered (e-government, e-health, e-education etc.)
- increasing the diversity of content available to the public, including the opportunity to increase participation of the public through community channels etc.
"Such benefits are important to the creation of and/or strengthening of open societies," concludes APC's executive director, Anriette Esterhuysen.
The project is supported by the Open Society Institute.
Photo by Andy Rennie. Used with permission under Creative Commons license 2.0.