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Welcome to our guide to the Border Aussie.
The Border Aussie is a mix of two different breeds, the Australian Shepherd and the Border Collie.
The DogExperts.info website aims to ask questions to breeders, vets and experienced owners to get the answers to your most frequently asked questions about the Border Aussie breed of dog.
You can also help too!
If you can answer any of the questions below, then please add your comments to the box at the bottom of the page or you can email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
We would love to feature your dog and publish any photos or pictures of your Border Aussie you would like to email us.
Are you looking to buy a Border Aussie – then see our list of Border Aussie breeders.
Why Choose a Border Aussie?
What type of owners buy a Border Aussie?
What in your opinion are the best things about the Border Aussie breed?
Why do you think the Border Aussie is special?
What are your favourite things about the Border Aussie?
Are you glad you choose to buy a Border Aussie and not another breed?
How would you describe the Border Aussie temperament?
What advice might you give to people thinking about whether they should buy a Border Aussie over other breeds?
History & Origins
What are the history and origins of the Border Aussie?
About The Breed
What colors of Border Aussie are most popular?
What does the Border Aussie look like?
What are the pros/cons of the Border Aussie breed?
What can a new owner expect in terms of differences between the Border Aussie and other breeds?
Do they attract a lot of interest and curiosity from the public?
What type of typical personality does the Border Aussie have?
Is it possible to describe a fairly typical Border Aussie?
What is the breed standard/description for the Border Aussie?
Were there particular colors people preferred and that maybe you focused on?
Are there any downsides to owning a Border Aussie that prospective owners should be aware of?
Is the Border Aussie breed of dog suitable for first-time dog owners?
Some breeds can be described as greedy and prone to weight issues, would this apply to the Border Aussie?
What are the key differences when compared to other breeds?
Is the Border Aussie breed suitable for a person or family that are out at work all day?
Some owners seek a breed suitable for barking and offering a guard dog role – how does the Border Aussie match up to that role?
Are there myths about the Border Aussie – in other words do new potential owners come to you with misconceptions about this breed?
We asked a number of breeders in the UK and America what essential advice they would give to new owners of Border Aussie puppies and this is what they said:
What types of questions do you get once owners get their Border Aussie home?
Can you tell us something most owners would not know – tips, secrets etc from your years of experience?
What is the typical temperament of a Border Aussie, so people know what to expect from their new pet?
When fully grown how much on average does a Border Aussie weigh?
When the Border Aussie is full grown in size what is the maximum height and length expected to be?
Is the Border Aussie ever crossed or mixed with other breeds of dog?
Does the Border Aussie smell or drool a lot?
Do you have a Border Aussie growth chart?
What breed group does the Border Aussie come under?
What type of coat do they have?
Can they swim?
What does the movement of the tail show, does it mean they are trying to 'talk to us' or give us some message?
Are there some types of people that you can suggest the Border Aussie is not suitable for, perhaps families?
How is the Border Aussie with children?
Do you think the Border Aussie is suitable for families with young children?
How does the Border Aussie get along with other (existing) pets and do you have any tips or advice for new Border Aussie owners in terms of successful integration?
Is it better to buy one Border Aussie or two?
Should prospective new owners be aware of any differences between males and females?
Would the Border Aussie be suitable as a guard dog?
Can I leave my Border Aussie during the day while I go to work?
What is the expected average lifespan of the Border Aussie?
In terms of life expectancy, how long on average would the Border Aussie breed live to?
Food & Diet
Do you have any special feeding routines or diet?
Do you have any feeding advice or brands that you prefer?
How to handle the Border Aussie puppy to start off – how much food, what type, how often?
What feeding routines and types of food/supplements do you recommend?
What to buy in terms of equipment? Bowls etc
Do owners need to consider supplements for their Border Aussie?
How about for older dogs?
Buying – How Much Do They Cost?
How much did your Border Aussie cost to buy?
Can you offer advice to people looking to buy a Border Aussie and how much should they spend?
What advice would you offer new Border Aussie owners?
What types of people are buying the Border Aussie and why?
Where can I buy Border Aussie rescue dogs or find a Border Aussie for adoption? Please note that buying or searching for a 'cheap' Border Aussie can be false economy as they may have health issues that cost you far more in the long-term – always buy from a good and responsible breeder!
Do I need public liability insurance or a license?
How would you describe the Border Aussie puppy to potential new owners?
What types of owners are best suited to owning a Border Aussie?
What colors and sizes are most popular?
Are there things new owners do that perhaps frustrate you?
What can people expect when they become a new owner?
What inspired you to become a breeder and did you start with the Border Aussie?
As a Border Aussie breed expert, are there any 'essential' tips you would like to share with new owners?
Are there specific times of the year that you breed?
Choosing a puppy from a litter, what advice could you offer potential new owners in terms of selecting 'the one'?
How long does it take to housetrain/potty train a Border Aussie?
When can you take them out in public and how do you handle them around other dogs?
Will they run off – when is it safe to let them off the lead?
We invite you to email us your Border Aussie's pictures, in particular we are looking for photos showing Border Aussie puppies at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 weeks old as well as early pictures such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 months old to a year old.
Do they have any nicknames or does the Border Aussie have popular names?
If my Border Aussie is pregnant what might the litter size be?
Could the Border Aussie be dangerous around young children?
Problem Behaviors
How do you deal with a problem barker – any tips and advice to new owners?
How do you prevent a Border Aussie biting?
How do you prevent a Border Aussie chewing?
How do you stop a Border Aussie jumping up?
Does the Border Aussie have an issue with excessive digging?
Why does my Border Aussie keep growling and barking?
Is there a reason my Border Aussie dog is often scratching excessively?
Do they suffer from separation anxiety and how can I prevent this?
In comparison perhaps to other breeds what can you say about the Border Aussie and their exercise needs and do you have any tips or advice for new Border Aussie owners?
As a breeder of the Border Aussie , do you prefer a collar or harness?
As an expert of the Border Aussie breed do you prefer a standard leash or retractable?
Can you offer any dog walking tips for Border Aussie owners?
Playtime & Tricks
What games and toys can you recommend for the Border Aussie?
Are there toys you suggest avoiding?
How intelligent is the Border Aussie compared to other dog breeds?
How much can they understand?
Do you have any special grooming routines or tips and advice for new Border Aussie owners?
How much time is involved?
What accessories are required to be purchased for grooming a Border Aussie?
Any advice/tips you can give concerning maintenance of nails?
How much do Border Aussie shed and how do I maintain their hair and how often?
How can I prevent or cure ear infections?
Do you have any tips for eye care?
Is the Border Aussie a hypoallergenic breed?
Any advice/tips you can give concerning cleaning and bathing your Border Aussie?
Can you offer new Border Aussie owners advice concerning fleas and maybe products you use in treatment and prevention?
What advice and tips could you offer to owners who might wish to follow your path in showing the Border Aussie?
What started your interest in showing the Border Aussie?
If a new owner perhaps wanted to meet other owners or find out more – perhaps they have an interest in joining a local club or maybe they wonder how they can start showing their Border Aussie – where would they begin?
Can you offer any advice to others who may be wondering if they can also start showing?
How would an owner know they have a show-quality Border Aussie and how would they start off?
Can you give away any of your secrets?!
Is showing very expensive and why do you think people like to do it?
What do judges look for in a winner?
What inspired you to become a breeder and did you start with the Border Aussie?
What official organisations are there for the new Border Aussie owner and what benefits or services do they provide?
In buying a Border Aussie, can you offer advice and tips to new owners?
How did you go from being an owner to getting into breeding?
Do you think the breed's popularity has increased, decreased or remains the same?
How did you progress to becoming a breeder and why focus on breeding the Border Aussie out of all the breeds you could have chosen?
What do you think makes the Border Aussie special to you?
Are there things that you see owners doing that frustrate you?
As a breed expert, are there any 'essential' tips you would like to share with new owners?
In comparison perhaps to other breeds what is it like to train a Border Aussie and do you have any tips or advice for new Border Aussie owners?
How should new owners approach bringing a new Border Aussie home, any advice and tips you can give?
Should I allow my Border Aussie to sleep in my bed or elsewhere in the house?
Do you recommend crate training and how long does this take?
Should my Border Aussie sleep in a kennel or crate?
Health is always a major concern when buying a dog, do you have any advice for new Border Aussie owners to be aware of in particular?
Are there any health-related tips you can give to owners?
What sort of health issues should owners be on the lookout for?
What is the recommended schedule for vaccinations for your Border Aussie?
Can you offer any advice on how to treat and prevent worms?
What type of health issues can a Border Aussie have and how do you deal with preventing these?
Why does my Border Aussie have diarrhea?
Do they suffer from itchy and sensitive skin and if so why?
Why is my Border Aussie vomiting and do I go to the vets?
When should I take my Border Aussie for vaccinations and which ones do they need and how often?
How often will my Border Aussie be in heat?
Should I consider getting my Border Aussie spayed or neutered and when and how much does this cost and what are the benefits?
My Border Aussie is limping, what should I do and should I go to a veterinarian surgeon?
Do they suffer from allergies?
Why is my Border Aussie not eating?
How much does it cost to insure my Border Aussie?
What healthcare issues or diseases might be excluded from companies that provide Border Aussie dog health insurance?
Old Age
What age would you class as an 'older or senior' Border Aussie?
Do you notice any changes in their behaviour?
What changes in food and diet would you suggest making for an older Border Aussie?
Do you feed any supplements to an older Border Aussie – or anything else which helps them as they age?
Are there any health issues particular to a senior Border Aussie dog?
Do you have any advice for owners of an older/senior Border Aussie or tips you can pass on?
Here is an interesting video on the Border Aussie.


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You have seen the saga of the city's budget crisis play out online, on television, in the newspapers and on the street. The Council passes a budget. The mayor vetoes the budget. The city shuts down. The council passes a "compromise budget." The mayor vetoes the compromise budget. The city does not shutdown. Instead the Mayor declares a "so-called" emergency and says that the city will operate under his authority as mayor because it is an emergency. Mind you that the emergency was created by a veto signed by the mayor.
Many years ago, during our college days, there was a sign in the treasurer's office which read "Poor Planning on Your Part Does NOT Constitute an EMERGENCY on Our Part." Simply put, you need to get your stuff together and if not, you suffer the consequences of your own poor planning.
In city government where there is a ten (10) member city council, a majority of six (6) votes is needed to conduct business. Mayor Willis is well schooled in democracy with his 30 years of public service. He now calls the budgets that have been passed "illegal." He has not presented any legal alternative plan to keep the city operating.
The illegal claims are misplaced. He says that he must present the budget otherwise, the budget is illegal. Mr. Willis then quotes Arkansas Code Annotated (ACA) Section 14-55-401 as his emergency authority to operate "without a legal budget in place." Let us look to the language of the law ourselves. That section reads: "All laws, ordinances, resolutions, or orders, lawfully passed and adopted by the city or town council, not inconsistent with the Constitution or laws of this state, shall be, remain, and continue in force until altered or repealed by the council." Mayor Willis seems to be using this language to justify his claim of an emergency and his ability to operate under the 2010 Budget.
If the analysis of our laws of this state ended there, then Mayor Willis might be on good stable ground. However, the analysis must go further. Arkansas has three sections dealing directly with city budgets. Because this is an important point, we will quote the relevant language in its entirety:
- ACA - 14-58-201 - Submission Deadline: On or before December 1 of each year, the mayor of all cities and incorporated towns having the mayor-council form of government shall submit to the governing body of the city or town, for its approval or disapproval, a proposed budget for operation of the city or town from January 1 to December 31 of the forthcoming year. (Emphasis Added)
- ACA - 14-58-202 -Adoption Deadline: Under this subchapter, the governing body of the municipality shall, on or before February 1 of each year, adopt a budget for operation of the city or town. (Emphasis Added)
- ACA - 14-58-203 - Appropriations; alterations and limitations: (a) The approval by the municipal governing body of the budget under this subchapter shall, for the purposes of the budget from time to time amount to an appropriation of funds which are lawfully applicable to the items therein contained.
(b) The governing body may alter or revise the budget and unpledged funds appropriated by the governing body for any purpose may be subsequently, by action of the governing body, appropriated to another purpose, subject to the following exceptions:(1) Funds resulting from taxes levied under statutes or ordinances for specific purposes may not be diverted to another purpose;(2) Appropriated funds may not be diverted to another purpose where any creditor of the municipality would be prejudiced thereby. (Emphasis Added)
Budgets expire or term-out on February 1st at 11:59 p.m. At midnight on February 2nd, if there is no new budget or current year budget, the city cannot operate. The Attorney General of Arkansas has spoken to this question. See AG Opinion 2002-268. There the Attorney General summed it up this way "It is my opinion that state law does not authorize an automatic reinstatement of the most recently adopted budget. Rather, the city council must affirmatively act with regard to this matter. This conclusion follows from the fact that city budgets must be formulated on an annual basis, see A.C.A. § 14-58-201 et seq., and cities are prohibited from basing their proposed expenditures on the revenues from succeeding years. See Ark. Const., Art. 12, § 4." (Emphasis Added)
The mayor has five days, Sundays excepted, to issue a veto. This article does not deal with all of the particulars of a veto. However, the mayor could legally take five or six days to figure out whether he will veto an item and if so, what his plan going forward will be. Mayor Willis, even if he is right, has acted with such speed that no alternative plan could be lawfully engaged by him.
One prime example of this scenario is payroll on February 4, 2011. The city council met on Thursday, February 3, 2011 and passed what they call the Brown Budget because Larry Brown presented it as a compromise between the Willis and Jarrett budgets. The mayor had five days in which to veto that budget, Sundays excepted. Therefore, the mayor had up to Thursday, February 10th, on which to issue his veto. In the meantime, the city services could have legally operated for six days while the mayor made up his mind or tried to reach consensus.
Instead, on Friday, February 4, 2011, according to published documents, Mayor Arnell Willis vetoed the Brown Budget. See Willis Veto. Mayor Willis simply says that Brown's budget is illegal because under ACA 14-58-201 the "mayor . . . shall submit . . . a proposed budget." Mayor Willis contends that Brown's Budget is illegal because the mayor did not submit it.
Willis and City Treasurer Patrick Roberson went further on Friday afternoon. They spent $60,000.00 on Jimmie L. Wilson and Roosevelt Collins. According to published reports and statements made by both Mayor Willis and Treasurer Roberson, the city is in near financial ruins. Yet he has found money for $9,000.00 worth of ink pens, paper clips and boxers of highlighters, pay raises for Bobby Jones and Anthony Banks at nearly $10,000.00 each, over payments to employees that total nearly $7,000.00, increase salary for Allen Martin from $18,000.00 to $37,000.00 and increased the salary of the city attorney by $20,000.00.
Because the http://www.insidescooponline.com had the scoop on this matter when our program aired this morning, many of you did not believe we had the checks to which we referenced. Here are the checks.
Jimmie Wilson
Roosevelt CollinsIf a picture is worth a thousand words, then these two pictures are worth $60,000.00 words and fat meat is greasy too.

subset: commoncrawl


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As Credit Counsellors, we're often asked, can you consolidate debt into mortgage payments? The thought is that in doing so, you will reduce the overall interest you have to pay on your individual debts (because the mortgage rate should be lower) and free up potentially hundreds of dollars every month.
It's a win-win, right? Not so fast.
Sometimes, consolidating debt into a mortgage can cost you. But first, let's take a look at just how it works.
Consolidating Debt Into Mortgages: How It Works
Most homes have equity in them. Equity is the difference between the value of the home and what is owed on the mortgage.
For example, say your home is worth $200K and you only owe $125K on the mortgage. That means you have $75K worth of equity. Even better, as you continue to pay down your mortgage, equity continues to go up (a spike in property value also increases it, while a drop in property value, of course, decreases it). That $75K is a nice chunk of change, right? So in this case, you might consider using it to pay down some of your high-interest balances by choosing to consolidate your debt into a mortgage that you refinanced.
Consolidating debt into a mortgage in Canada means breaking your current mortgage agreement and rolling high-interest debts (such as credit card debt, payday loans, and other non-mortgage balances) into a new mortgage set at a new (hopefully) lower interest rate. This is sometimes given the shorthand name of "debt consolidation mortgage" or just "consolidation mortgage" by some (though a lender would probably balk at the term "consolidation mortgage.")
Once you've done this, your mortgage debt will increase by the amount of non-mortgage debt you rolled into it, plus a couple of thousand dollars more for the cost of breaking the old mortgage and a potential Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) premium on the increased mortgage balance. The upside is that, in theory, the interest you pay on your non-mortgage debt will decrease.
Factors to Consider When Consolidating Debt into Mortgages
Figuring out whether a debt consolidation mortgage will benefit you in the long-run depends on many factors. Every mortgage is unique, and there are just too many variables to provide a black and white answer—it's all grey!
For example, some people will have to consider whether they can even qualify for a new mortgage for consolidating debt depending on the new rules around mortgages today. You also have to consider the new mortgage rate you can get on the renewal.
Will it be more or less than your current rate? If it's more, does the decrease in interest that you'll pay on your non-mortgage debts outweigh the increase in the mortgage interest you'll end up paying? Before you consolidate your debt into a mortgage, these are all questions you really need to consider!
There's also the cost of the penalty for breaking your current mortgage, the potential new CMHC premium, as well as any legal fees involved. In some cases, your property might need to be assessed, and that will cost you some money too.
These are all things you'll need to think about to really know if consolidating debt into your mortgage is the best choice for you. If you want to know what the impact of choosing to consolidate debt into mortgage payments will really look like for you specifically, you might want to consider speaking with your bank or credit union.
Consolidating Debt Into a First-Time Mortgage
What if you're not a current homeowner, but are thinking about buying a home? You may be able to consolidate your debt into a mortgage when purchasing a new home. To be eligible, lenders will look at your loan-to-value (LTV) ratio to determine the risk you pose as a borrower. LTV is the size of your loan compared to the value of the home you intend to buy.
So, if your LTV is under a certain amount (typically 80% or less) your lender may allow you to roll high-interest balances into your lower-interest home loan. This can be a great way to get out from under high-interest rate loans or credit cards, but it does have its downsides.
The Downsides of Consolidating Debt Into a Mortgage
There can be many benefits to using mortgage consolidation and refinancing to move your unsecured, high-interest debts into your mortgage — in some cases, you could save a couple of hundred dollars a month over the life of your mortgage!
But it also has its downsides, such as:
1. You will be in debt longer
By rolling other debts into your mortgage, you'll be paying them off over a longer period of time, so you won't be debt-free any sooner.
2. You may run out of equity
Some people begin seeing their home as a resource they can tap into whenever they need it, even for frivolous things like a vacation. And in some cases, they'll start treating their home like it's an ATM. But equity is not an unlimited resource. If you use up your equity, you may not have any left when you really need it, such as during a job loss or medical emergency.
3. You may rack up more debt
Many people continue to use their credit cards after consolidating their balances into their mortgage. So now, not only are they paying more on their mortgage, but they'll also be back in the hole with credit card lenders.
Too much credit card debt can also sink the loan. In some cases, it's possible to qualify if you agree to pay off your credit cards and close the accounts; however, closing the accounts could potentially lower your credit score.
Of course, there's also no guarantee you'll qualify to consolidate non-mortgage debt into your mortgage. If you're wondering, "How much can I borrow against my home," every lender is different and every borrower is different. It typically depends on the value of the home, how much debt you're looking to consolidate into your mortgage, how much equity you have in the home, and your credit score.
So, before you follow any ads that pop up after typing in something like "mortgage consolidation" or "consolidating debt into a mortgage in Canada," it's important to do some research or even speak with a financial advisor or debt management counsellor.
Other Debt Consolidation & Debt Help Options
If you're hesitant to use up some of your home equity to pay off your debts, that's understandable. Fortunately, there are a number of alternatives to getting a debt consolidation mortgage you may want to consider. Our debt consolidation calculator can give you a rough idea of how long it will take you to pay off your unsecured debts at their current interest rates using different repayment strategies. The calculator also provides different debt relief options that may be available to you, rather than consolidating your debt into your mortgage.
Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)
Similar to a home equity loan, but instead of getting a lump sum a HELOC is a revolving line of credit (similar to a credit card). That means you have access to a certain amount of money that you can use as needed, only paying interest on what you borrow.
The downside is that HELOC interest rates are variable, meaning they could go up and, as with a home equity loan, undisciplined spenders may tap out their home equity.
Debt Consolidation Loan
If you're not keen on borrowing against your home, you may be able to get a debt consolidation loan through a bank, credit union, or finance company. A debt consolidation loan can be used to pay off unsecured debts, leaving you with only one monthly payment to a single lender, hopefully at a lower interest rate.
But to obtain a debt consolidation loan you must have good credit, collateral, or a co-signer with good credit. In some cases, a stable source of income is needed as well.
As with home equity loans and HELOCs, some people can run into trouble if they continue to use their credit cards, while also owing to the debt consolidation loan lender. However, this may be preferable to signing a new consolidation mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage to cover high-interest balances for some.
Budget Planning and Expense Tracking
Okay, this isn't a debt consolidation option, but we'd be remiss not to include it! Often, rather than continuing to borrow, people can get a handle on their debt by practicing better money management skills. This includes budgeting and watching how you spend your money. You can do this online with our free, downloadable Budget Planner + Expense Tracker – it's easy to use and the instructions are included in the spreadsheet.
Get Debt Relief Today
If a debt consolidation mortgage and the other options mentioned above don't interest you, or you think poor credit will hold you back, a Debt Consolidation Program is another great debt relief option.
A Debt Consolidation Program involves rolling all of your unsecured debt into one monthly payment through a credit counselling agency (they should be a non-profit organization). A certified Credit Counsellor will then negotiate with your creditors, on your behalf, to lower your monthly payment and reduce or stop the interest on your debt.
The best part is that you don't need good credit to qualify for a Debt Consolidation Program. All you need to focus on is making your new, lower monthly payment every month on time and in full. Then after completing the program, you'll get steps on how to rebuild your credit and manage your money. It's win-win across the board and a great alternative to consolidating debt into your mortgage. You can hear from some of our clients here!
If you're looking for some free expert advice on what might be the best debt relief option specifically for you given your financial situation, give us a call at 1.800.267.2272 and we'll hook you up with a free counselling session with one of our certified Credit Counsellors. You'll get all the information you need to make the best decision for you!
Preparing to be Debt-Free Guide
Take the first step in getting out of debt with a few tips, interactive exercises, and new options to consider.


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Costa Concordia
Specifications of Costa Concordia
|Year of build
|2006 / Age: 11
|Fincantieri (Sestri Ponente, Genoa Italy)
|Costa CONCORDIA
|Building cost
|EUR 450 million (USD 570 million / GBP 372 million)
|Engines (power)
|Wartsila (42 MW / 56323 hp)
|23 kn / 43 km/h / 26 mph
|Length (LOA)
|290 m / 951 ft
|Beam (width)
|36 m / 118 ft
|Gross Tonnage
|114147 gt
|3002 - 3765
|Passengers-to-space ratio
|Decks with cabins
|Last Refurbishment
|Genoa-scrapped in 2017
|Costa Serena, Costa Pacifica, Costa Favolosa, Costa Fascinosa, Carnival Splendor
|Christened by
|Eva Herzigova
|Carnival Corporation & PLC
|Costa Cruises
Costa Concordia Review
Review of Costa Concordia
The 2006-built cruise ship Costa Concordia was a Carnival Corporation-owned Concordia-Class passenger liner identified by IMO number 9320544, MMSI number 9320544 (Italy-flagged) and CallSign IBHD.
The vessel was designed and constructed in Italy and by one of world's largest shipbuilding companies - Fincantieri - at its Sestri Ponente Shipyard (near Genova/Genoa).
The ship operator was Costa Cruises (one of Carnival Corporation's subsidiaries and its second-largest brand by fleet and annual passenger traffic).
Concordia was the first of all five Concordia-class liners operated by Costa Crociere - together with the sisterships and fleetmates Serena (2007), Pacifica (2009), Favolosa (2011) and Fascinosa (2012), plus the CCL-Carnival Cruise Line's vessel Carnival Splendor (2008).
This large-sized (115,000 GT tons) and beautifully designed vessel was wrecked off Giglio Island (Italy) on January 13, 2012. The accident was caused by a human error that resulted in a collision/allision with an underwater rock. Hours later, the vessel capsized and in the following year was declared a total loss (not usable). In July 2014, the wreck was towed to Port Genoa for dismantling.
The vessel's 3,5-years salvage operation turned out to be the most expensive and the riskiest ever conducted.
This page is mainly a review of the salvage operation and the accident's impact on the shipowner and the cruising industry in general. Here you can compare facts related to this ranked "worst cruise ship sinking disaster ever", learn all about the vessel's salvage plan and the wreckage removal operation procedures.
For details on the ship's collision and sinking read its CruiseMinus accident report. For your convenience, follows a navigation menu with shortcuts jumping down directly to salvage plan, removal operation and procedures, wreckage removal progress, Captain's wiki.
After reading all these details, you will understand why Concordia's sinking was declared the most "stupidly unique" passenger ship disaster of all time. The liner sank on the evening of January 13 (2012) - Friday 13th (this combination again) off Tuscany's West Coast, near Giglio Island. The vessel's sinking was a true disaster - both as lost lives and financial losses. It subsequently became a major cruise ship safety issue.
Costa Concordia salvage
On January 26, 2012, started the fuel-pumping preparations. Workers of the contractor SMIT International (a Dutch shipwreck salvage firm) hitched to the toppled vessel a craned barge and other equipment. Then started underwater inspections for the precise locations of all the 17 fuel tanks of the ship. These tanks had nearly 2 million liters of heavy diesel fuel. Experts identified the initial 6 fuel tanks (containing more than 50% of all fuel) to be worked on. The procedure took 4 weeks and generally consisted of drilling into the tanks and attaching valves onto them. Then the sludge-like oil was heated, hoses were attached to the valves. They vacuumed out the oil as seawater was pumped into to displace it.
The fuel extraction started on February 11, 2012. The position of the half-submerged cruise vessel offered some relief. It was on the coast side of Giglio, thus relatively sheltered from heavy seas. After pumping the fuel out, the next step was to upright the vessel, and when afloat to tow it away. The fuel-pumping job was completed successfully on March 25, 2012.
On February 3, 2013, was decided that the ill-fated ship will not be cut in pieces on the site but refloated and removed whole. The words of Costa Crociere's CEO (Pier Luigi Foschi) on the subject were "We believe that the wreck can no longer be put in use". The removal operation itself was a world record - the largest ever ventured.
Concordia ship's salvage was expected to take 12 months. Seven of the world's best marine salvage companies were bidding for the contract. Those were the US-based Donjohn Marine, Titan Salvage, Resolve Marine Group and T&T Marine Salvage, also Mammoet Salvage (Holland), Svitzer (Denmark) and Tito Neri (Italy). By the deadline, 6 working salvage plans were received. By the end of April 2012, Titan Salvage (now Ardent) (a company based in Pompano Beach, Florida USA) won the bid. The Italian "Micoperi" (an engineering firm) was contracted as Titan's local partner.
Salvage procedures involved sealing up all the holes in the hull (including the huge gash). All sections of the ship were sealed off into airtight compartments. Air was pumped into the compartments to give the ship buoyancy. Then cranes and huge pontoons were brought in to straighten the wreckage and tow it away to Port Genoa.
The estimated total cost (of all salvage operations) was expected to be ~USD 300 million (EUR 225 million) or about 1/2 of the vessel's building cost. In September 2013 was announced that the estimated cost for the cruise ship's removal reached EUR 600 million (~USD 800 million).
Salvage plan - the wreckage removal operation's procedures
A dynamic, complex, unique project, Concordia's salvage plan included the following steps:
- (Anchoring and stabilization). 4 submarine anchor blocks were fixed to the seabed between the wreck's center and the coast. 12 retaining turrets were installed for use during the uprighting (parbuckling). Strandjacks mounted on the tops of the turrets were attached to a total of 24 chains (2 per turret) passing under the hull (fixed to the port side). This is a hold-back system used for balancing during the rotation (uprighting).
- (Submarine supports and portside caissons, installing a false bottom for the ship to rest after rotation). Grout bags were positioned and filled with a special eco-friendly cement to fill the empty space between the 2 rocks, the stern area and the hull's bow, thus creating a stable base for the hull. After positioning the bags, a total of 6 platforms (3 huge and 3 smaller ones, on which the wreck will rest) were fixed into the granite ground by drilling a 2 m / 6,6 ft hole. No waste was dispersed in the sea, ever. This operation was performed by the UK's Frugo Seacore (offshore drilling company). After the false bottom was done, the Micoperi 30 huge crane installed 15 re-floating sponsons on the ship's left side. They were welded onto the wreck.
- (Parbuckling/rotation/uprighting) This was an extremely delicate procedure. It was done using strand jacks tightening all cables attached to the platforms and the caissons' tops. They were pulled seawards, while the starboard turrets cables were used for balancing. The main goal was to upright the vessel without deforming its hull.
- (Starboard caissons) 15 more re-floating sponsons were attached starboard side (landside), caissons to be used during the refloating phase.
- (Re-floating) - when the hull rested on the false bottom (at depth of ~ 100 ft / 30 m), the water from the caissons on both sides was gradually pumped out. However, even on completion, a big section of the ship (~ 60 ft / 18 m) remained submerged.
- (Ecosystem restoration) - the sea bottom was thoroughly cleaned. Marine flora was replanted.
- (Defueling, caretaking) right after the accident, a protection perimeter was established around the vessel using booms. On January 14, 2012, Costa contracted "Smit Salvage BV" together with the Italian "Tito Neri" to remove the oil from the ship as quickly and cleanly as possible. This was done by a team of ~100 experts (international) and a total of 20 marine vessels (including transport ships, tug boats, crane barges, tankers, etc). Defueling was completed on March 24, 2012. Followed a process of cleaning significant quantities of debris from the seabed and the whole area around the ship. Caretaking ops were performed by Titan and Micoperi personnel.
Jobs and money facts: at the Giglio's site there were ~500 workers (of 18 different nationalities), with active engineers and divers 24/7, plus ~30 diverse marine vessels. The salvage project's total estimated budget soared to ~USD 400 million.
The following YouTube video (Nat Geo documentary) explains all the details and procedures related to the ship's salvage.
Salvage operations progress (2013)
- (April 5, milestone) The largest of all 5 underwater support platforms was positioned onto the seabed. "Platform No1", as they call it, provided secure support when the process of uprighting started. The weight of the platform was ~1000 tons (measuring 40x33 m or 131x108 ft, and 22 m / 72 ft tall). It was supported by 5 huge pillars (each 2 m / 6,5 ft in diameter). The enormous structure was lifted from a barge and positioned into place below the sunken ship by the heavy-lift marine vessel "Svenja" (owner/operator SAL Heavy Lift).
- (April 10) Costa Crociere accepted a fine of USD 1,31 million (EUR 1 million). The fine was close to the max allowed by law and settled all "potential criminal charges" following the accident. While many survivors accepted the line's initial compensation offering of EUR 11,000 (~USD 14,000) per pax, plus the reimbursements, hundreds of the cruise passengers declined and pursued civil lawsuits against the line. According to an Italian class action lawyer (representing Italian passengers only), the negotiations reached EUR 27,000 per pax as a last offer from the company. However, he and his clients were aiming much higher - 1 million euros per passenger.
- (April 15) In an Italian court began hearings to determine whether the Concordia's Captain Schettino and 5 other ship officers faced trial for charges related to the cruise ship disaster. The infamous captain faced trial for charges of 1) multiple manslaughter, 2) causing a shipwreck by unauthorized and unapproved deviation from the course and 3) abandoning his ship before all passengers and crew were off. Manslaughter indictments were also requested for 4 other crew, including the ship's helmsman Jacob Rusli Bin (misunderstanding a direct command moments before the crash). The 6th with a possible indictment (manslaughter and delaying rescue, which is the main cause of the loss of so many lives) was the chief of the line's crisis unit Roberto Ferrarini. There were 40 pre-trial hearings scheduled in the town of Grosetto through July. Survivors were allowed to attend all hearings.
- (April 17) the 1st of the portside sponsons (p10) was installed.
- (early-June 2013) the 2nd platform (weight ~1000 tons, dimensions 40x22 m / 131x72 ft) was installed. It was the 5th out of 6 platforms designed to secure safe support for the wreck after parbuckling (when the ship is rotated into a vertical position). During that time, there were 25 marine vessels and ~460 workers on the site.
- (July 22) At the "Civil Protection" headquarters (Rome), representatives of Titan-Micoperi and Costa Cruises presented a report on the removal progress. Detailed technical documentation was provided to the "Observatory for Concordia Removal" for evaluation of the parbuckling (the wreck's vertical rotation) project.
- (July 23) 4 Concordia crew and 1 Costa Cruises official were sentenced to prison for their part in the disaster. They received sentences between 18 to 34 months, just because they all pleaded guilty, thus avoiding a lengthy trial. The five sentences were: Roberto Ferrarini (director of the company's crisis unit - 2 years 10 months), Manrico Giampedroni (hotel service director - 2 years 6 months), with sentences from 1 year 8 months to 1 year 11 months are Ciro Ambrosio (1st officer), Jacob Rusli Bin (helmsman) and Silvia Coronica (3rd officer). Reuters reported Italian judicial sources commenting that none is likely to go to jail as in Italy sentences under 2 years are usually suspended, and longer sentences is possible to be appealed or replaced with community service. The ship's Captain was next - his trial was adjourned after he requested electrical tests to be conducted on the wreckage.
- (September 17, 2013) the vessel's uprighting was accomplished. The ship was stable on its artificially made seabed. The so-called "parbuckling" operation started on September 16th at ~9 am, and was completed in 20 hours. All 22 hydraulic pumps were used to raise the ship.
- (October 10) - the "winterization" plan. Salvage workers started securing the shipwreck for the winter of 2013. Bad weather conditions required the following procedures: 1) The ship's bow was secured from moving via an additional stopping system. 2) An additional set of grout bags were installed between the ship and the island rocks. 3) The ship was connected by tube-shaped structures to all 6 underwater platforms and was additionally attached to the sponsons tops. The sponsons were prepared in the Genoa and Livorno shipyards. The sponsons' positioning was scheduled for April 2014.
- (December) The salvage operation's chief engineer Porcellacchia announced that the wreckage will be removed from the disaster site and towed away in June 2014.
Alternative wreckage removal (Boskalis-Dockwise Vanguard)
Initially, Costa contacted Boskalis for the removal of the Concordia wreckage. Dockwise is a Bermuda-based holding (a branch of Boskalis) specializing in marine transport, including "Oil and Gas" services. Royal Boskalis is a Netherlands-based marine company, and one of the world's leading providers of dredging services.
On October 10, 2013, Costa Crociere took a USD 30 million (~EUR 22 million) wreck removal option with Dockwise for using its heavy-lift marine vessel BOKA Vanguard. This was an alternative to the conventional towing.
Dockwise Vanguard (later renamed BOKA Vanguard) is a huge semi-submersible lift ship - currently ranked the world's largest by DWT (deadweight tonnage). The ship is able to lift and carry heavyweight cargoes of up to 110,000 tons. It was initially designed to load and move offshore platforms (marine facilities) serving the oil and gas industry. This lift ship is also capable of carrying other ships (often several hulls stacked one over other) and also is used as an offshore dry-docking facility (read more in the wiki-section of Carnival Vista). Vanguard ship's specifications include:
- DWT weight - 116173 tons
- LOA length overall - 275 m (902 ft)
- width - 79 m (259 ft)
- combined power output - 27 MW (36208 HP)
- speed (when unloaded) 26 kph / 16 mph
- speed (when loaded) 24 kph / 15 mph)
- operational crew - 40
Dockwise's wreckage removal operation phases included:
- The Vanguard ship's ballast tanks are filled with seawater, causing it to partially sink/submerge.
- The Concordia shipwreck to be pulled over the Dockwise vessel.
- The Vanguard's ballast tanks are to be emptied (water pumped out) thus lifting up and transporting the wreckage safely.
The ship's last voyage (float-out and towing to Genoa)
The towing operation started on July 22, 2014. Concordia's last voyage ended in Genoa, on July 27. The dead cruise liner was accompanied by a fleet of 14 marine vessels, including two tugboats towing from the front. They both were attached to the ship by 70 mm / 2,8-inch chains. Group's leader was the Blizzard tug.
The leading tugboats were towing the floating wreckage from a 700-800 m distance, at a fixed speed of 2,5 knots (4,6 kph / 3 mph). The vessel's last ever "crew" on board included salvage experts and some environmentalists from Greenpeace. The final voyage was from the accident site (Giglio Island) to the scrapping shipyard in Genoa. This was done in 4 days, covering a distance of ~280 km (170 mi). The ship had to be stripped of enough material to allow the passage over Port Genoa's (PSA Voltri Pra) breakwater - the vessel's final destination.
In Genoa, the wreckage was dismantled by "Ship Recycling Consortium" (Saipem Company and San Giorgio del Porto Shipyard). Around 70% of all the materials were fully recycled and sold as scrap.
Probably the saddest cruise ship you will ever meet at sea was Concordia's wreckage in motion - for the last time, sailing to her grave. On July 27, 2014, the wrecked vessel entered Port Genoa. The 3-year operation was one of the world's biggest maritime salvage operations ever. Next step was the ship's dismantling, scrapping and recycling in accordance with Italy's Ministry of Environment prescriptions. This operation was expected to take ~22 months. The transfer of the vessel ownership (from Costa to Saipem) was signed on July 27, at 3:40 pm.
Was this so unbelievably stupid disaster really an accident? How about the plausible hypothesis of a stock market game, or an industry's global media publicity game? With this USD 2 billion "scrapping budget" you could do so much more to benefit humankind, so much more for Nature itself. Yet, it's pretty small money if you want to introduce cruising to 5+ billion people worldwide - continuously, for a period of 2 years. Or what if the name of the game was buying out cheap Carnival stocks from the general shareholders? Still, it could be simply the accident that became a profitable business for the big players. Excepting, of course, the ship insurance companies.
Costa Concordia was a triple disaster. So many lives were lost. The cruise industry suffered bad publicity. And a bunch of money was wasted on an epic salvage - money that could've been spent on building a brand new vessel. This is also the worst cruise ship accident of all times simply because all that happened started with stupidity.
Costa Concordia - user reviews and comments
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Costa Concordia Wiki
The vessel (yard number 6122) was ordered by Carnival Corporation on January 19, 2004. It was launched on September 2, 2005, and delivered to Costa Cruises on June 30, 2006. Ship's Godmother was Eva Herzigova (1973-born luxury brand fashion model).
The "jinxed" cruise ship - facts to fiction
- The disaster date was Friday 13th, and the year was 2012. Some noticed that RMS Titanic sank almost exactly 100 years ago - on April 14, 1912.
- The ship's name was "Concordia". Some remembered the Concorde plane crash accident. On July 25, 2000, a total of 100 Peter Deilmann cruise passengers booked on the MS Deutschland ship died when the chartered Concorde aircraft crashed on takeoff from Paris France.
- The inauspicious launch- the failure on the christening ceremony, when the ceremonial Champagne bottle failed to break on the bow of the new vessel on September 2, 2005.
- On November 22, 2008, the Concordia ship was involved in a pier collision accident. The vessel hit the dock while maneuvering for berthing in Port Palermo (Sicily) and sustained bow-hull damages.
On the shipwreck remained ~18,000 bottles of wine and ~6900 liters (~1820 US gallons) of ice cream, amongst all other food and beverage provisions stored onboard.
The money disaster
Among the most expensive big-sized liners (cost to build USD 570 million / US$149,000 per berth), Concordia also became "the biggest insured loss in maritime history" as the vessel was insured for USD 513 million (EUR 405 million). The list of its insurers included XL, RSA, Generali, Allianz. When the disaster happened, experts expected the insurance loss from the ship to be between USD 500 million and 1 billion.
While these numbers were big enough, they could have grown even bigger if the over 2300 tons of diesel fuel on the ship had started to leak. In such a case, a substantial pollution liability claim would have been issued. This possibility was the sole reason Carnival stock prices to plummet by 18% on the London Stock Exchange.
Carnival Corporation officials expected Concordia's sinking to cost the company between USD 155-175 million (EUR 118-133 million), including insurance deductibles and loss of use. Because of the disaster, Carnival Cruise Lines (Corporation's largest brand company by fleet capacity) lowered its prices fleetwide just to keep up bookings. This additionally lowered its net revenue for FY2012 (fiscal year) and the earnings per share.
In 2015, Costa Crociere announced that the wreckage removal operation's total cost soared up to EUR 1,5 billion (GBP 1,2 billion / USD 2 billion). This is nearly the combined building cost of two Royal Caribbean units from the Oasis-class (currently world's largest passenger liners).
Costa Concordia and the Mafia
The UK's "The Independent" (using materials from the Italian online news media "La Repubblica") reported in March 2015, that Costa Concordia was carrying, quote, "huge shipment of Mafia-owned cocaine" when the disaster happened.
The "Concordia Mafia Drug" story was based on tape recordings of communications between Calabrian Mafia members. They revealed that the Ndrangheta syndicate had hidden large quantity of cocaine aboard the Costa cruise liner. The incident was related to the Mafia's Transatlantic cocaine-traffic business. According to Italian investigators, drugs were stowed on the ship most likely by crew members.
After the accident, Captain Schettino's hair was tested positive for cocaine. In mid-March 2015 was reported 3 crew members arrests on Costa Pacifica. The arrests were done upon disembarkation, and for possession of 16+ kg / 35 pounds of cocaine. The drug bust was made in Malaga (Spain) where Costa Pacifica was docked after the Transatlantic repositioning crossing from South America to Europe (Mediterranean). A curious fact is, that the police investigation said the drug cartel uses for its trafficking operations also MSC and NCL-Norwegian cruise liners with scheduled Transatlantic crossings between Europe and Caribbean and South America.
Concordia's Captain Francesco Schettino
Born 1960 in Castellammare di Stabia (a coastal town south of Naples), Concordia's Captain was aged 52 in the time of the accident. Captain Schettino worked for Costa Crociere for 10 years (since 2002). His parents were also sailors. He attended the naval academy in Piano di Sorrento, worked on a tourist boat, then on superyachts, starting his career with Costa in 2002.
He was initially appointed a Chief Security Officer, then promoted to Captain in 2006 (second-in-command officer). He was the Master of Costa Concordia for 5 years. In 2012 he became one of the world's most infamous Captains. Read here some of the most popular online reviews from renown news media sources on the subject of his guilt.
- "He probably saved many many lives". Some have come to his defense (there's a Facebook page with over 10,000 fans, most of them sailors themselves. They strongly believe Francesco Schettino have made the right decision to steer the Concordia towards port (after the collision) which saved dozens of lives.
- "In the face of danger self-preservation is an instinct, a most natural reaction". This is simply the psychology's "fight-or-flight response", where the "flight" impulse usually means blind panic accompanied by (probably) a sense of depersonalization (when "reality" around is so unreal) and myriads of disorganized feelings and thoughts of great fear or even terror intruding into the mind. Still, according to facts, the captain abandoned his ship, then denied he had left; later he claimed he "tripped and fell into a lifeboat" by accident. This is an example of someone who panicked (big time) in the face of danger, and traditionally the captain's first and utmost priority is to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew. In moments of stress, ordinary people could become cowards, and some could become heroes – but how to foretell who will become which? The simplest answer - staff evaluation and better training. Cruise ship crew/staff need to be trained to cope with dangers and the basic instincts of self-preservation, to learn to evaluate risk and danger. After all, cruise ships are not supposed to sink, but to provide fun experiences at sea.
- "The Costa Concordia captain is a Daredevil Captain who likes to take risks". Shirt - permanently unbuttoned, revealing a groomed chest hair. Skin - deeply tanned. Hair - slicked back in a mullet (looking confident and elegant). Reputation - a huge ego person, womanizer, insubordinate, and "He drives a ship like a Ferrari". According to the Marseilles Port Authority, just a month before the sinking accident, Schettino left with Concordia Port Marseilles in 60 knots (70 mph / 111 kph) winds against the port authority's orders.
- "He's been encouraged 'by his superiors to sail-past Giglio and other beauty islands". According to the Costa's officials, the decision to take the ship so close to Giglio was unauthorized. However, other captains had executed many of such "salutes (stunts?) as well, sailing very close to beautiful islands, like Capri, for example. It surely sounds like fun - the cruise liners sounded their sirens, all decks are lit up, passengers are happily excited. And this practice was good publicity for the Costa company. According to the captain Schettino's 135 pages of testimony, the very last Costa Concordia "cruise salute" had been planned and authorized before the Civitavecchia departure. And other Costa captains had done the same thing, quote, "all around the world".
Concordia's Captain was on trial and charged with manslaughter and loss of the ship. According to the accident report, the main cause for the disaster was attributed to, quote, "the Master's unconventional behavior". On February 11, 2015, Concordia's "Coward Captain' Francesco Schettino was sentenced to 16 years in jail on charges for manslaughter (10 years), wrecking the ship (5 years) and abandoning ship (1 year). He also had to pay all court costs. On May 12, 2017, the Court of Cassation upheld Schettino's lower court convictions and ruled a 16-year prison sentence.
Schettino is married to Fabiola Russo and they have a daughter. When the collision occurred, present with Schettino on the Navigation Bridge was Domnica Cemortan (Moldovian dancer) who later admitted having a love affair with him. She was not a crew member and without ticket.


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Although the UK had some European Union fanatics the intelligent consensus prevailed and the UK refused to join the Euro-Zone, we told them it would not work and was dangerous, now we may be about to see the consequences!
The European Union, there is no accounting for the zealots of the European Union and despite the intervention of our old friend common sense, dire warnings from the UK and every economic theory going the European Union ploughed on toward their impossible dream of Monetary without Political Union, they should have followed the advice of one of their top commissioners at the time, can't remember his name, who said "without Financial Union there is no Political Union and without Political Union there is no Financial Union", of course they could never have sold Political Union at that time but they carried on regardless. Further reading
They could never have sold Political Union at that time but they carried on regardless and have put the whole worlds financial system in danger.
The financial markets are tough and unforgiving, this current situation is the inevitable conclusion to a group of low-grade politicians getting involved in something they did not understand relying on a wing and a prayer, if they actually did understand it was an enormous gamble with the whole worlds success and prosperity which could swamp the effect the banking crisis had!
The European Union Elite knew they could not sell political union to their member states but decided on a risk strategy of forcing through the euro which they hoped would then lead, through the back door to, to political union – a United States of Europe.
But where were the people in all this, what about democracy, well the European Union is not about democracy and when it does allow a member state to vote in a referendum it only allows one result, if it doesn't get that result it keeps the member state voting until it does!
The UK has done as much as any country actually in the Euro-Zone, particularly when taking into account our own financial situation, now we need action fast because it is not just Greece, a financial markets total loss of confidence in the euro-zone could also bring Italy and Spain into play and they are really big economies.
But where were the people in all this, what about democracy, well the European Union is not about democracy.
The way this is dealt with is a decision for the euro-zone but if wrongly handled its impact will be worldwide so it is in everyone's interest that they act decisively and get it right and the main action has to come from Germany, backed up by France, Germany is probably the only country in Europe with the financial muscle to sort this out, the UK has helped but it can't afford to bail out a bankrupt club it doesn't belong to.
So let us watch with bated breath because if the Euro-Zone gets this wrong we are all going to suffer in a big way but let us have your views, comment and join in the debate, your involvement is the lifeblood of the internet!
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From co-founding Apple Computer in the '70s to his continued work in groundbreaking new technologies right up to the present day, Steve Wozniak is a pioneer in the field of personal computing. His current project, however, hopes to meld a love of science fact with the worlds of science fiction and fantasy, with this weekend's second annual Silicon Valley Comic Con.
Bringing together such diverse luminaries as astronaut Buzz Aldrin and NASA scientists to cast members from TV's The Walking Dead, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and more, the three-day gathering in downtown San Jose hopes to showcase the ingenuity and diversity of geek culture via a showcase of colorful costumes, fan favorite productions, and scientific innovation.
I had the pleasure of chatting with the spritely and gregarious "Woz" during his recent swing through San Francisco, and we discussed his own roots in geek culture and what he hopes the Silicon Valley Comic Con will become in the future. Read on for some highlights of our conversation:
You came up in the '50s and '60s, when science fiction was nowhere near as mainstream as it is now. What were the particular geek cultures that you identified with?
I can pinpoint specific books, or movies or TV shows that I saw, and I just know that they were important to me. I don't know if they made me a geek as much as the fact that I was smart in math, and I was very shy. And other people - by the time I got to middle school, no other kids would talk to me. I couldn't speak their little small talk; social language just didn't get to me. So I was very much out of the social culture, wasn't like my choice, but I was bright in electronics, and I was building projects, and doing things that I knew nobody else was doing in school.
You didn't get these subjects in school. My projects were huge - nobody knew, but nobody cared. It wasn't like I got credit in terms of a grade, or popularity, or something written down. I just did it because I fell in love with technology, I fell in love with the fact that I could know something, and get from beginning to a result. I could have a goal, and I could start hooking wires together and end up reaching that goal even if it was far off, and I was very tiny, very young. Elementary school, I had huge projects, with hundreds of parts, that I look back and I can't believe the sorts of things I was doing back then. I just thought it was my fun thing, that I knew, I couldn't share with others.
To me, just the mere fact of saying, "I can make this fantasy concept into a reality," that's a step that a lot of people don't cross.
You know, it started with simple little kits where you follow the instructions to build it. Even my ham radio transmitter and receiver, but not that many people get a ham radio license at 10 years old, and get out there and use a Morse code key and all this stuff, and couldn't really share that with anybody in school. So I just felt like electronics is something I'm good at, and whatever you're good at, you value.
So at what point did you cross that Rubicon into...
...building something of my own idea that didn't exist? I'd go back to an early house-to-house intercom that myself and a couple of other electronics-minded kids in my neighborhood, we just ran a ton of telephone wire down the fences, walked down the fences, stapling them into place, hooking our rooms up so we had a little intercom. No parents ever talked to us about it, really knew what we had built. It was all on our own -- when you do something all on your own, it has a bigger meaning to you than anything else.
That was probably an early start, but also I thought science fair projects, and I created things that were not out of a book. I remember in 5th grade actually, before the house to house intercom, my dad had been teaching me about electron orbits and atoms, built a huge project with 92 lights for the possible electron orbits, and 92 switches for the possible elements, natural elements. You flip a switch, and the right lights would come on - it was a little bit trickier than just wires - had to have some relays, had to some logic in there, and some diodes because hydrogen has one electron orbit, helium has another, then adds on.
But then you get to lithium, and sometimes you lose ones that were on before. It doesn't just add a new electron each stage. That was a great project, and I understood it all. The important thing was I understood, and I went up this little staircase. Then, by sixth grade, I learned that you could build, you could make decision like where to make a move in Tic-Tac-Toe, with electrons.
So, science fiction became reality.
Science fiction is more like, I grew up with Dick Tracy watches in the comics. Of course, superheroes can see through walls and fly, set off flaming bursts that take things out. All those things are starting to become reality. It takes many, many decades, a long time. But you realize, this is something, if we could do, has value. Seeing the imagination, seeing the science fiction -- "This would be really great if we could do it" -- it's that it's sort of a motivation, an inspiration.
The real fantasy is taking the step, you started on a question, how did you take this step? A lot of it was deciding I loved what I was "good" at: designing computers. I told my father, I'm going to own a 4K computer someday. He said it costs as much as a house, and I was stunned. I answered back, I'm going to live in an apartment. In other words, this thing that was unreal, that you could never achieve, an impossible dream, just like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, this impossible thing, I'm going to have one someday, somehow. And eventually, when it was possible, I could - I created one. But you know, the motivation, having the want is the important thing. It's much more important than even having the brains.
We're here talking about the Comic Con, what is it about comic culture that makes you want to associate yourself, and put your name on it loud and proud?
Comic culture is just like what you described - having things that meant things to you emotionally. "Wow, this is incredible," and putting your mind in that sphere of, "Wow, wouldn't it be neat, that someday you're near enough to technology, you can make it real." Look at Silicon Valley. Why was there no Comic Con? Comic Con has been in other cities, but not Silicon Valley. Why? We are the people who make fantasies real. We do take old science fiction, things we see in movies, and we do try to make them real and we succeed sometimes. We're all here in Silicon Valley, we should have that.
So I wanted to build not just a Comic Con with the popular culture, and a lot of the stars that meant a lot to us growing up with our science fiction lives, but also some scientists talking about the realities of where we are going, how we're going to achieve things that were only dreams. I mean, obviously in my life, we did land on the moon. That was one of those things. Now we're talking about Mars. We've got our space village [here], and NASA's gonna have some incredible presentations on a lot of the sciences involved in that journey.
This is the 30th anniversary of Star Trek: The Next Generation, with the cast coming here. As someone who I'm assuming grew up with the original series of Star Trek, what was your thought when the Next Generation first started? Did you embrace it, or were you hesitant?
I was very hesitant. My kids went for it, but it was around a time in my life when I stopped watching television, as odd as that sounds. I had lots other things going on in my tech life, so I missed out on a lot of it, other than just seeing it; it was being played in my living room.
It was more part of your awareness, because your kids were watching.
Yeah, and Star Trek had done so much for me. I'm not sure I would've had the inspiration that I had to ever start Apple, and do all these technical things and I don't think I would've had the meaning in my life if I hadn't gone to Star Trek conventions when I was young, and had a car, and could drive to Southern California to attend them. I mean, that was...these were such important things to me, I want to duplicate that with the Comic Con, that other people can, who like that sort of thing, that experience is just worthwhile.
I'm going through The Next Generation series with my boys, my older two are 10 and 8, and what strikes me is how it's pointing them in this direction of not only engagement with science, but also morality.
And psychology.
Yeah, just - being a decent person, because when you look at the characters on that show, they're driven by decency. I think that's a powerful lesson to give to kids. And my 10-year-old was looking at my iPad the other day, and he said, ""We should call it a tricorder.""
(laughs) Yeah, we're gonna have the finalists for the 2.5 million dollar X-Prize award to build a tricorder. How many decades ago, we saw that on Star Trek, anyone that saw it thought that it'd be a neat device, but we don't have them, they don't exist. But some people in their technology, eventually spotted little breakthroughs by scientists: physics, and chemistry and saw the ways to actually make such a device.
Point it at your body, measure your health, so that's gonna be part of our show. We're also gonna have a lot of steam exhibits for young people going into technology, engineering fields, to interest them. We're going to have science fairs too, in our outside part. You know, our outside part is the one part of Silicon Valley Comic Con that is open to the public. The science march is going to be there. March for science.
This is the second year for the show. What would you like to see it blossom into in years and decades to come?
We don't talk about making it bigger, like in terms of more money, more tickets or anything like that. We only talk in terms of making it better among ourselves. We're privately held, and we just say, what would make this a great show that I'd love to go to? What kind of science exhibits can we have, how can we get the best of popular culture, and just be the best of this kind of show there is? And we're just going to keep working towards that.
We were talking about science fiction of the past, you mentioned how for a while you weren't watching a lot of TV and stuff, do you have a chance to engage with TV and movies today?
No, when shows like the Big Bang Theory, or Dancing with the Stars called me, I said, "What is it?" (laughs) I pick up a lot, of course, you know, reading. Especially internet resources about what's on people's minds, and what they're going to see, and saying about it.
Given the fact that you have played such an integral role in so much of our technological life, if people come to you for advice, what would you tell somebody, if they want to, not just succeed, but excel in this area?
I never really cared about excelling in an area, just enjoying doing it, having fun. That's what Comic Con is about. It brings up the element of all technology, even science fiction and where we might go. The thing is, there's a fun, there's an emotional value to, I just feel like, I want to be a part of this, I want to be with other friends. I want to go to a concert, and hear music with other people that like that music. I want to go and see stars from a TV show, that I want to be around other people that admire them and love them and get a chance to finally see them. That's an important part of life.
I grew up being inspired by those sort of things, like I said, going to Star Trek conventions, concerts in my life. I still do that as much as I can. Don't close yourself off to having fun. If you're worth something, it's very likely to come your way. Some kind of level of success. But that should never be your end goal. Like you mentioned before, some of these characters, like on Star Trek: The Next Generation, it's all about being good people morality-wise, and my ethics have been extreme my whole life. I would never, ever do anything somebody could call me, "You're unethical" or "You're trying to make something off of me" or "You're trying to deceive me." No, that is so important to me, to be doing things for a good reason.
When you look at how artificial intelligence and things like that have progressed so rapidly, are we tampering with something that we might not understand?
Some people that know that the technological elements that build artificial intelligence, and can sort of visualize the future where it might go, we're trying to bring more people in shows like Comic Con, to be exposed to some of that early thinking, and let them come up with a little bit more of a basis to make their own opinions on. I don't buy into "All humanity is going to be ruled by artificial intelligence."
The Matrix, kind of.
I don't buy into that. Maybe, a hundred years from now, but I won't be around, so I don't have to say. A human being learns over years. A machine can learn in half an hour how to play these games better so we think that's intelligence? But, they've never sat down and said, "What should I do? How do I teach myself to learn it?" They've never gotten to that stage, and we've never talked about building that machine yet, so our concept -- we don't know how the brain is wired. That's why artificial intelligence is kind of a farce. Kind of a joke. Someday we could break through. And then all the Stephen Hawkings of the world, and Elon Musks could be all totally right, because it's possible, but that breakthrough hasn't happened.
That chestnut, where you ask the supercomputer if there's a God, and it says, "There is now."
That's better for the movies.
Speaking of movies, you've been portrayed by many people. Have you seen the films that have you as a character in them?
I saw Pirates of Silicon Valley. I saw Jobs, and I saw Steve Jobs.
What is that experience like, to see a version of yourself?
I haven't tried to look at it and say, "Do they look like me?" because in every single one, they were smart and nice. So, I don't...I'm not gonna complain! (laughs)
Many thanks for Steve Wozniak for being so generous with his time. The Silicon Valley Comic Con will be from April 21-23 in downtown San Jose, and you can get more info on it here.


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Arconic to Be Acquired by Apollo Funds
May 04, 2023
PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Arconic Corporation (NYSE: ARNC) ("Arconic" or the "Company") announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO) ("Apollo"), in an all-cash transaction that values the Company at an enterprise value of approximately $5.2 billion. The transaction includes a minority investment from funds managed by affiliates of Irenic Capital Management ("Irenic").
The agreement provides that Arconic shareholders will receive $30.00 per share in cash, which represents a premium of approximately 36% to the Company's undisturbed closing stock price on February 27, 2023. Upon completion of the transaction, Arconic's shares will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange, and Arconic will become a private company.
"This transaction represents a realization of value for Arconic shareholders at a meaningful premium and enables the Company to execute its long-term strategic vision. We are pleased to reach this agreement with Apollo," said Fritz Henderson, Chairman of the Arconic Board of Directors. "The Board decided to approve this transaction after thorough and thoughtful review of a range of value creation opportunities for shareholders."
Tim Myers, Chief Executive Officer, said, "In the more than three years since we became a standalone company, we have shown the capabilities and potential of Arconic's employees and assets. Our unique product portfolio in an industry with significant potential for growth across the markets we serve positions us to deliver substantial value to our customers and the end users of our products. This transaction will provide Arconic with the backing of one of the world's premier investment firms and will allow us to leverage Apollo's industry expertise and relationships to pursue our long-term strategic goals. I look forward to working with their team to create opportunities for our employees and provide value to our customers."
"Arconic's talented management team and employees operate a set of premier global assets serving markets that are growing. We are committed to investing significant capital in the Company to secure its competitive position and world-class product offering to continue building on Arconic's journey," said Gareth Turner, Partner at Apollo Global Management.
Strategic investments are expected to include:
1. Upgrades to key machine centers to maximize the full potential of the Company's unique production capabilities
2. Technology upgrades to bring the Company's plants and process controls to state-of-the-art standards
3. Investments in projects that will provide for a cleaner environment in the communities in which the Company operates
Mr. Turner also commented, "As aluminum continues to win share in markets seeking sustainable, high-performing material across a wide variety of applications, we believe there is a strong runway for growth in markets throughout the world. We are looking forward to supporting Arconic's experienced team with our resources and knowledge in the sector to help the Company achieve its long-term goals."
Itai Wallach, Partner at Apollo, commented, "We have tremendous respect for Arconic and its people and are fully committed to continuing Arconic's unwavering support for its employees throughout the world through a strong culture of employee engagement, respecting and protecting the collective bargaining process and by focusing on strengthening the security of the Company's pension plans, such that the Company's commitments remain secure. We look forward to partnering with the Company in its next phase of growth."
Approvals and Timing
The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Arconic shareholders and receipt of regulatory approvals.
Arconic First Quarter 2023 Results
In a separate press release issued today, Arconic announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. A copy of that press release is accessible by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Company's website. In light of the announced transaction, Arconic has cancelled the earnings conference call previously scheduled for today.
Evercore Group L.L.C. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are serving as financial advisors to Arconic, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is serving as legal counsel to Arconic.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel to the Apollo Funds.
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP and Lowenstein Sandler LLP are serving as legal counsel to Irenic.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as co-lead financial advisors to Apollo. BMO Capital Markets, Mizuho Securities USA LLC and TD Securities are also serving as financial advisors to Apollo.
Additional Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It
This release relates to the proposed transaction involving Arconic Corporation (the "Company"). In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company will file relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the Company's proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the "Proxy Statement"). This release is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or for any other document that the Company may file with the SEC and send to its stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. The proposed transaction will be submitted to the Company's stockholders for their consideration. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, THE COMPANY'S STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
The Company's stockholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the Proxy Statement, as well as other filings containing information about the Company, without charge, at the SEC's website (www.sec.gov). Copies of the Proxy Statement and the filings with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to Arconic Corporation, 201 Isabella Street, Suite 400, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15212-5872, Attention: Investor Relations; telephone (412) 315-2984, or from the Company's website at www.arconic.com/sec-filings.
Participants in the Solicitation of Proxies
The Company and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding the Company's directors and executive officers is available in the Company's definitive proxy statement for its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 5, 2023, the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which was filed with the SEC on February 21, 2023, and in other documents filed by the Company with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction when they become available. Free copies of the Proxy Statement and such other materials may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph. Investors should read the Proxy Statement carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions.
Forward-Looking Statements and Information
This release contains statements that relate to future events and expectations and, as such, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include those containing such words as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "goal," "guidance," "intends," "may," "outlook," "plans," "projects," "seeks," "sees," "should," "targets," "will," "would," or other words of similar meaning. All statements that reflect the Company's expectations, assumptions, projections, beliefs or opinions about the future, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements, relating to the condition of, or trends or developments in, the ground transportation, aerospace, building and construction, industrial, packaging and other end markets; the Company's future financial results, operating performance, working capital, cash flows, liquidity and financial position; cost savings and restructuring programs; the Company's strategies, outlook, business and financial prospects; share repurchases; costs associated with pension and other post-retirement benefit plans; projected sources of cash flow; potential legal liability; the impact of inflationary price pressures; and the potential impact of public health epidemics or pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic. These statements reflect beliefs and assumptions that are based on the Company's perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors the Company believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) continuing uncertainty regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the businesses of our customers and suppliers; (ii) deterioration in global economic and financial market conditions generally; (iii) unfavorable changes in the end markets we serve; (iv) the inability to achieve the level of revenue growth, cash generation, cost savings, benefits of our management of legacy liabilities, improvement in profitability and margins, fiscal discipline, or strengthening of competitiveness and operations anticipated or targeted; (v) adverse changes in discount rates or investment returns on pension assets; (vi) competition from new product offerings, disruptive technologies, industry consolidation or other developments; (vii) the loss of significant customers or adverse changes in customers' business or financial condition; (viii) manufacturing difficulties or other issues that impact product performance, quality or safety or timely delivery; (ix) the impact of pricing volatility in raw materials and inflationary pressures on our costs of production, including energy; (x) a significant downturn in the business or financial condition of a key supplier or other supply chain disruptions; (xi) challenges to or infringements on our intellectual property rights; (xii) the inability to successfully implement or to realize the expected benefits of strategic initiatives or projects; (xiii) the inability to identify or successfully respond to changing trends in our end markets; (xiv) the impact of potential cyber attacks and information technology or data security breaches; (xv) geopolitical, economic, and regulatory risks relating to our global operations, including compliance with U.S. and foreign trade and tax laws and other regulations, potential expropriation of properties located outside the U.S., sanctions, tariffs, embargoes, and renegotiation or nullification of existing agreements; (xvi) the outcome of contingencies, including legal proceedings, government or regulatory investigations, and environmental remediation and compliance matters; (xvii) the impact of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine on economic conditions in general and on our business and operations, including sanctions, tariffs, and increased energy prices; (xviii) the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the proposed transaction that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the proposed transaction; (xix) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement entered into pursuant to the proposed transaction; (xx) the possibility that the Company's stockholders may not approve the proposed transaction; (xxi) the risk that the parties to the merger agreement may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all; (xxii) risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; (xxiii) the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of the Company's common stock; (xxiv) the risk of any unexpected costs or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; (xxv) the risk of any litigation relating to the proposed transaction; (xxvi) the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of the Company to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, stockholders and other business relationships and on its operating results and business generally; and (xxvii) the other risk factors summarized in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC. The above list of factors is not exhaustive or necessarily in order of importance. Market projections are subject to the risks discussed above and in this release, and other risks in the market. The statements in this release are made as of the date set forth above, even if subsequently made available by the Company on its website or otherwise. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether in response to new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
About Arconic Corporation
Arconic Corporation (NYSE: ARNC), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading provider of aluminum sheet, plate, and extrusions, as well as innovative architectural products, that advance the ground transportation, aerospace, building and construction, industrial and packaging end markets. For more information: www.arconic.com.
About Apollo
Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade to private equity with a focus on three investing strategies: yield, hybrid, and equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of December 31, 2022, Apollo had approximately $548 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.
About Irenic
Irenic Capital Management was formed in 2021. The firm invests across the capital structure in unique special situation opportunities. To learn more, please visit www.irenicmgmt.com.
Dissemination of Company Information
Arconic intends to make future announcements regarding Company developments and financial performance through its website at www.arconic.com.
Investor Contact
Shane Rourke
(412) 315-2984
Media Contact
Tracie Gliozzi
(412) 992-2525
Media Assets Download
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There must be few of us who haven't heard of Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1935 movie The 39 Steps, starring Robert Donat. It's the tale of "everyman" Richard Hannay who becomes entangled in a conspiracy and ends up fleeing for his life while being chased by both the baddies and the police – a plot that served Hitchcock well in several movies.
Regarded as one of the best British films of the 20th century, it has been imitated but never bettered. However, in 1995 a stage version premiered to an audience of just 90 people in Yorkshire that took the story into a different direction – as a riotous, irreverent parody.
Performed by just four actors playing 150 parts, it demanded lightning-fast quick changes and used a few simple props and the audience's imagination to recreate iconic scenes from the original movie. Slick, clever and hilariously funny, it became the fifth longest-running play in West End history and has won awards across the world.
This production by Northern Ireland's Bruiser Theatre Company does not disappoint. The four-strong cast display the comic timing and sheer stamina required to keep the energy levels at 100% and drive the show on to its destination like a speeding locomotive.
And their prop-handling skills are as good as their acting as they push, slide and fling furniture and scenery across the stage. Three tea chests become a steam train hurtling through the countryside, while ingenious shadow-play creates the illusion of a fugitive on a Scottish heath being strafed by biplanes.
The script mixes John Buchan – who wrote the original novel – with Monty Python and is performed at a breakneck speed with a knowing wink to the audience and the occasional deliberate theatrical "blunder".
Michael Johnston is an excellent Hannay, possessing an upper lip so stiff it could prise the caps off beer bottles. Hannah Brackstone-Brown is, by turns, sultry and mysterious as spy Annabella Schmidt, downtrodden and yearning as a Scottish crofter's young wife and feisty and sexy as the woman literally handcuffed to the hero as they flee across moors.
Meanwhile, Michael Condron and Benjamin Stratton play every other part – a bewildering variety of roles requiring quick costume changes and a limitless selection of comedy accents. Condron, in particular, gets the opportunity to ham things up disgracefully.
There are knowing nods to other Hitchcock movies, including North By Northwest and Rear Window, and a surprise appearance by The Master of Suspense himself. Oh, and there's a hard border-bashing reference too that got one of the loudest cheers of the night. See if you can spot it.
I thought an overdose of slapstick in the early stages of the first act threatened to swamp the story but things soon settled down and it was really a case of clinging on and enjoying the ride.
To quote the title of another Hitchcock classic, The 39 Steps left me Spellbound.
The 39 Steps is at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, until March 31.


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The internet is full of advice on just about everything, including plant care.
As the director of a plant diagnostic laboratory and expert on plant medicine, I help people manage their plants' health. Here are four trends I've seen online recently that have stood out as being especially misleading or potentially damaging to plants.
Watering orchids and other plants with ice cubes
Multiple sites claim ice cubes can be used to give orchids a "just right" amount of water. The fact is tropical plants hate cold temperatures. Leaving ice near an orchid's roots may damage them.
Nearly all houseplants, including orchids, will prefer lukewarm or room temperature water, about 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). Use fact sheets from educational institutions and reputable organizations to determine the correct amount of water and watering schedule for the types of plants you're growing, and then set a reminder on your phone.
Use a potting medium that drains well and quickly. For orchids, a mix of bark chips and sphagnum moss is much better than 100% soil or coco coir.
'No Mow May'
Many campaigns have sprung up recently promoting "No Mow May." The idea is to delay regular mowing for the month of May to provide more feeding sites for pollinators, which are trying to shore up calories after their winter hibernation.
Unfortunately, this practice usually does not benefit pollinators and could damage your lawn's health. Here's why:
Mowing more than 30% of a grass leaf at once is never a good idea. Grasses depend on their blades to photosynthesize and meet their energy needs. When more than 30% is lost at once, the plants may not have enough remaining leaf surface area to photosynthesize properly.
Overgrown lawns have overgrown root systems, which require more energy. Failure to provide it leads to increased susceptibility to disease, poor water management and potential collapse. Such damage is pretty much unavoidable after a monthlong "no mow" period.
Few lawns actually contain enough flowers to be beneficial to pollinators, anyway. For many people, the "perfect lawn" is an unwavering green carpet. But that uniformity is useless to bees and other pollinators that require pollen and nectar that other plants can provide.
It's great to prioritize pollinator health, but the "no mow" trend is best implemented in prairie, field and wetland environments, where there is a lot of plant diversity and flowering plants.
If you're looking to support pollinator health in your own yard, plant native wildflowers that pollinators will actually want to visit. Most require less water and management compared to grass lawns. Replace your entire lawn or even a small strip. Any amount of lawn replaced is beneficial – and will save you water and money.
Make sure not to mow the wildflowers until they've finished flowering. A wildflower patch usually only needs to be cut once or twice a year. Mowing after the last frost in early spring will spread the previous year's seeds and provide a home for insects to spend the winter.
Using hydrogen peroxide to 'cure' plant diseases
Hydrogen peroxide does sterilize surfaces and can reduce bacteria and some fungi. But the rapid reaction that gives hydrogen peroxide its sterilizing properties occurs almost immediately after coming in contact with other compounds. This does not permit hydrogen peroxide to move throughout a plant.
So most pathogens – the organisms that cause disease – will not be affected if they are in a plant's tissues rather than on its exterior. Applying hydrogen peroxide excessively or improperly may even make plant health issues worse by drying surfaces and killing beneficial microbes.
While there is certainly a time and place for sterilizing surfaces in plant care – like with your pruners and propagation tools – the best defense against plant diseases is proper care.
Water your plants only when necessary and provide proper light and nutrition. Research what your plant likes best from educational institutions or other reputable sources. Routine pruning to increase airflow, proper plant spacing, avoiding single-crop planting and crop rotation are just some examples of chemical-free techniques to reduce plant stress and decrease disease susceptibility.
Diagnosing diseases using phone apps
Many apps exist that use photographs submitted by the user to identify plant diseases and offer solutions.
The truth is, to diagnose most plant diseases, a scientist needs to culture plant tissue to correctly identify pathogens. Only after an accurate diagnosis can they recommend management solutions. I have a pretty strong opinion here, since disease identification is what I do every day. Plant symptoms that accompany one disease may be practically identical to those of another.
For example, herbicide exposure, viruses, insect feeding and fungal infections can all cause twisted and deformed leaves. To properly diagnose an issue, the plant's own history, location, site history, time of year and other factors need to be considered before I can take a guess as to what may be contributing to symptoms.
Don't rely on an app to guess at what disease your plant may have – and don't act on bogus recommendations. Instead, reach out to your local university diagnostic lab or extension office for support.
Not sure where to go? Start with the National Plant Diagnostic Network's lab directory. Many, including mine, offer free consultations and recommendations. If you end up submitting a sample to a diagnostic lab, most are affordable – my lab's fee is US$20 – and will be worthwhile, especially when you consider the cost of replacing the plant with something that could eventually have the same issue.
Nick Goltz (UConn Plant Diagnostic Laboratory) receives funding from the USDA-NIFA and the state of Connecticut.
* This article was originally published at The Conversation