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Five years after the start of the Great Recession, the toll is terrifyingly clear: Millions of middle-class jobs have been lost in developed countries the world over.
And the situation is even worse than it appears.
Most of the jobs will never return, and millions more are likely to vanish as well, say experts who study the labor market. What's more, these jobs aren't just being lost to China and other developing countries, and they aren't just factory work. Increasingly, jobs are disappearing in the service sector, home to two-thirds of all workers.
They're being obliterated by technology.
Year after year, the software that runs computers and an array of other machines and devices becomes more sophisticated and powerful and capable of doing more efficiently tasks that humans have always done. For decades, science fiction warned of a future when we would be architects of our own obsolescence, replaced by our machines; an Associated Press analysis finds that the future has arrived.
"The jobs that are going away aren't coming back," says Andrew McAfee, principal research scientist at the Center for Digital Business at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and co-author of "Race Against the Machine." "I have never seen a period where computers demonstrated as many skills and abilities as they have over the past seven years."
The global economy is being reshaped by machines that generate and analyze vast amounts of data; by devices such as smartphones and tablet computers that let people work just about anywhere, even when they're on the move; by smarter, nimbler robots; and by services that let businesses rent computing power when they need it, instead of installing expensive equipment and hiring IT staffs to run it. Whole employment categories, from secretaries to travel agents, are starting to disappear.
"There's no sector of the economy that's going to get a pass," says Martin Ford, who runs a software company and wrote "The Lights in the Tunnel," a book predicting widespread job losses. "It's everywhere."
The numbers startle even labor economists. In the United States, half the 7.5 million jobs lost during the Great Recession were in industries that pay middle-class wages, ranging from $38,000 to $68,000. But only 2 percent of the 3.5 million jobs gained since the recession ended in June 2009 are in midpay industries. Nearly 70 percent are in low-pay industries, 29 percent in industries that pay well.
In the 17 European countries that use the euro as their currency, the numbers are even worse. Almost 4.3 million low-pay jobs have been gained since mid-2009, but the loss of midpay jobs has never stopped. A total of 7.6 million disappeared from January 2008 through last June.
Experts warn that this "hollowing out" of the middle-class workforce is far from over. They predict the loss of millions more jobs as technology becomes even more sophisticated and reaches deeper into our lives. Maarten Goos, an economist at the University of Leuven in Belgium, says Europe could double its middle-class job losses.
Some occupations are beneficiaries of the march of technology, such as software engineers and app designers for smartphones and tablet computers. Overall, though, technology is eliminating far more jobs than it is creating.
To understand the impact technology is having on middle-class jobs in developed countries, the AP analyzed employment data from 20 countries; tracked changes in hiring by industry, pay and task; compared job losses and gains during recessions and expansions over the past four decades; and interviewed economists, technology experts, robot manufacturers, software developers, entrepreneurs and people in the labor force who ranged from CEOs to the unemployed.
The AP's key findings:
—For more than three decades, technology has reduced the number of jobs in manufacturing. Robots and other machines controlled by computer programs work faster and make fewer mistakes than humans. Now, that same efficiency is being unleashed in the service economy, which employs more than two-thirds of the workforce in developed countries. Technology is eliminating jobs in office buildings, retail establishments and other businesses consumers deal with every day.
—Technology is being adopted by every kind of organization that employs people. It's replacing workers in large corporations and small businesses, established companies and start-ups. It's being used by schools, colleges and universities; hospitals and other medical facilities; nonprofit organizations and the military.
—The most vulnerable workers are doing repetitive tasks that programmers can write software for — an accountant checking a list of numbers, an office manager filing forms, a paralegal reviewing documents for key words to help in a case. As software becomes even more sophisticated, victims are expected to include those who juggle tasks, such as supervisors and managers — workers who thought they were protected by a college degree.
—Thanks to technology, companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index reported one-third more profit the past year than they earned the year before the Great Recession. They've also expanded their businesses, but total employment, at 21.1 million, has declined by a half-million.
—Start-ups account for much of the job growth in developed economies, but software is allowing entrepreneurs to launch businesses with a third fewer employees than in the 1990s. There is less need for administrative support and back-office jobs that handle accounting, payroll and benefits.
—It's becoming a self-serve world. Instead of relying on someone else in the workplace or our personal lives, we use technology to do tasks ourselves. Some find this frustrating; others like the feeling of control. Either way, this trend will only grow as software permeates our lives.
—Technology is replacing workers in developed countries regardless of their politics, policies and laws. Union rules and labor laws may slow the dismissal of employees, but no country is attempting to prohibit organizations from using technology that allows them to operate more efficiently — and with fewer employees.
Some analysts reject the idea that technology has been a big job killer. They note that the collapse of the housing market in the U.S., Ireland, Spain and other countries and the ensuing global recession wiped out millions of middle-class construction and factory jobs. In their view, governments could bring many of the jobs back if they would put aside worries about their heavy debts and spend more. Others note that jobs continue to be lost to China, India and other countries in the developing world.
But to the extent technology has played a role, it raises the specter of high unemployment even after economic growth accelerates. Some economists say millions of middle-class workers must be retrained to do other jobs if they hope to get work again. Others are more hopeful. They note that technological change over the centuries eventually has created more jobs than it destroyed, though the wait can be long and painful.
A common refrain: The developed world may face years of high middle-class unemployment, social discord, divisive politics, falling living standards and dashed hopes.
In the U.S., the economic recovery that started in June 2009 has been called the third straight "jobless recovery."
But that's a misnomer. The jobs came back after the first two.
Most recessions since World War II were followed by a surge in new jobs as consumers started spending again and companies hired to meet the new demand. In the months after recessions ended in 1991 and 2001, there was no familiar snap-back, but all the jobs had returned in less than three years.
But 42 months after the Great Recession ended, the U.S. has gained only 3.5 million, or 47 percent, of the 7.5 million jobs that were lost. The 17 countries that use the euro had 3.5 million fewer jobs last June than in December 2007.
This has truly been a jobless recovery, and the lack of midpay jobs is almost entirely to blame.
Fifty percent of the U.S. jobs lost were in midpay industries, but Moody's Analytics, a research firm, says just 2 percent of the 3.5 million jobs gained are in that category. After the four previous recessions, at least 30 percent of jobs created — and as many as 46 percent — were in midpay industries.
Other studies that group jobs differently show a similar drop in middle-class work.
Some of the most startling studies have focused on midskill, midpay jobs that require tasks that follow well-defined procedures and are repeated throughout the day. Think travel agents, salespeople in stores, office assistants and back-office workers like benefits managers and payroll clerks, as well as machine operators and other factory jobs. An August 2012 paper by economists Henry Siu of the University of British Columbia and Nir Jaimovich of Duke University found these kinds of jobs comprise fewer than half of all jobs, yet accounted for nine of 10 of all losses in the Great Recession. And they have kept disappearing in the economic recovery.
Webb Wheel Products makes parts for truck brakes, which involves plenty of repetitive work. Its newest employee is the Doosan V550M, and it's a marvel. It can spin a 130-pound brake drum like a child's top, smooth its metal surface, then drill holes — all without missing a beat. And it doesn't take vacations or "complain about anything," says Dwayne Ricketts, president of the Cullman, Ala., company.
Thanks to computerized machines, Webb Wheel hasn't added a factory worker in three years, though it's making 300,000 more drums annually, a 25 percent increase.
"Everyone is waiting for the unemployment rate to drop, but I don't know if it will much," Ricketts says. "Companies in the recession learned to be more efficient, and they're not going to go back."
In Europe, companies couldn't go back even if they wanted to. The 17 countries that use the euro slipped into another recession 14 months ago, in November 2011. The current unemployment rate is a record 11.8 percent.
European companies had been using technology to replace midpay workers for years, and now that has accelerated.
"The recessions have amplified the trend," says Goos, the Belgian economist. "New jobs are being created, but not the middle-pay ones."
In Canada, a 2011 study by economists at the University of British Columbia and York University in Toronto found a similar pattern of middle-class losses, though they were working with older data. In the 15 years through 2006, the share of total jobs held by many midpay, midskill occupations shrank. The share held by foremen fell 37 percent, workers in administrative and senior clerical roles fell 18 percent and those in sales and service fell 12 percent.
In Japan, a 2009 report from Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo documented a "substantial" drop in midpay, midskill jobs in the five years through 2005, and linked it to technology.
Developing economies have been spared the technological onslaught — for now. Countries like Brazil and China are still growing middle-class jobs because they're shifting from export-driven to consumer-based economies. But even they are beginning to use more machines in manufacturing. The cheap labor they relied on to make goods from apparel to electronics is no longer so cheap as their living standards rise.
One example is Sunbird Engineering, a Hong Kong firm that makes mirror frames for heavy trucks at a factory in southern China. Salaries at its plant in Dongguan have nearly tripled from $80 a month in 2005 to $225 today. "Automation is the obvious next step," CEO Bill Pike says.
Sunbird is installing robotic arms that drill screws into a mirror assembly, work now done by hand. The machinery will allow the company to eliminate two positions on a 13-person assembly line. Pike hopes that additional automation will allow the company to reduce another five or six jobs from the line.
"By automating, we can outlive the labor cost increases inevitable in China," Pike says. "Those who automate in China will win the battle of increased costs."
Foxconn Technology Group, which assembles iPhones at factories in China, unveiled plans in 2011 to install one million robots over three years.
A recent headline in the China Daily newspaper: "Chinese robot wars set to erupt."
Candidates for U.S. president last year never tired of telling Americans how jobs were being shipped overseas. China, with its vast army of cheaper labor and low-value currency, was easy to blame.
But most jobs cut in the U.S. and Europe weren't moved. No one got them. They vanished. And the villain in this story — a clever software engineer working in Silicon Valley or the high-tech hub around Heidelberg, Germany — isn't so easy to hate.
"It doesn't have political appeal to say the reason we have a problem is we're so successful in technology," says Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize-winning economist at Columbia University. "There's no enemy there."
Unless you count family and friends and the person staring at you in the mirror. The uncomfortable truth is technology is killing jobs with the help of ordinary consumers by enabling them to quickly do tasks that workers used to do full time, for salaries.
Use a self-checkout lane at the supermarket or drugstore? A worker behind a cash register used to do that.
Buy clothes without visiting a store? You've taken work from a salesman.
Click "accept" in an email invitation to attend a meeting? You've pushed an office assistant closer to unemployment.
Book your vacation using an online program? You've helped lay off a travel agent. Perhaps at American Express Co., which announced this month that it plans to cut 5,400 jobs, mainly in its travel business, as more of its customers shift to online portals to plan trips.
Software is picking out worrisome blots in medical scans, running trains without conductors, driving cars without drivers, spotting profits in stocks trades in milliseconds, analyzing Twitter traffic to tell where to sell certain snacks, sifting through documents for evidence in court cases, recording power usage beamed from digital utility meters at millions of homes, and sorting returned library books.
Technology gives rise to "cheaper products and cool services," says David Autor, an economist at MIT, one of the first to document tech's role in cutting jobs. "But if you lose your job, that is slim compensation."
Even the most commonplace technologies — take, say, email — are making it tough for workers to get jobs, including ones with MBAs, like Roshanne Redmond, a former project manager at a commercial real estate developer.
"I used to get on the phone, talk to a secretary and coordinate calendars," Redmond says. "Now, things are done by computer."
Technology is used by companies to run leaner and smarter in good times and bad, but never more than in bad. In a recession, sales fall and companies cut jobs to save money. Then they turn to technology to do tasks people used to do. And that's when it hits them: They realize they don't have to re-hire the humans when business improves, or at least not as many.
The Hackett Group, a consultant on back-office jobs, estimates 2 million of them in finance, human resources, information technology and procurement have disappeared in the U.S. and Europe since the Great Recession. It pins the blame for more than half of the losses on technology. These are jobs that used to fill cubicles at almost every company — clerks paying bills and ordering supplies, benefits managers filing health-care forms and IT experts helping with computer crashes.
"The effect of (technology) on white-collar jobs is huge, but it's not obvious," says MIT's McAfee. Companies "don't put out a press release saying we're not hiring again because of machines."
What hope is there for the future?
Historically, new companies and new industries have been the incubator of new jobs. Start-up companies no more than five years old are big sources of new jobs in developed economies. In the U.S., they accounted for 99 percent of new private sector jobs in 2005, according to a study by the University of Maryland's John Haltiwanger and two other economists.
But even these companies are hiring fewer people. The average new business employed 4.7 workers when it opened its doors in 2011, down from 7.6 in the 1990s, according to a Labor Department study released last March.
Technology is probably to blame, wrote the report's authors, Eleanor Choi and James Spletzer. Entrepreneurs no longer need people to do clerical and administrative tasks to help them get their businesses off the ground.
In the old days — say, 10 years ago — "you'd need an assistant pretty early to coordinate everything — or you'd pay a huge opportunity cost for the entrepreneur or the president to set up a meeting," says Jeff Connally, CEO of CMIT Solutions, a technology consultancy to small businesses.
Now technology means "you can look at your calendar and everybody else's calendar and — bing! — you've set up a meeting." So no assistant gets hired.
Entrepreneur Andrew Schrage started the financial advice website Money Crashers in 2009 with a partner and one freelance writer. The bare-bones start-up was only possible, Schrage says, because of technology that allowed the company to get online help with accounting and payroll and other support functions without hiring staff.
"Had I not had access to cloud computing and outsourcing, I estimate that I would have needed 5-10 employees to begin this venture," Schrage says. "I doubt I would have been able to launch my business."
Technological innovations have been throwing people out of jobs for centuries. But they eventually created more work, and greater wealth, than they destroyed. Ford, the author and software engineer, thinks there is reason to believe that this time will be different. He sees virtually no end to the inroads of computers into the workplace. Eventually, he says, software will threaten the livelihoods of doctors, lawyers and other highly skilled professionals.
Many economists are encouraged by history and think the gains eventually will outweigh the losses. But even they have doubts.
"What's different this time is that digital technologies show up in every corner of the economy," says McAfee, a self-described "digital optimist." "Your tablet (computer) is just two or three years old, and it's already taken over our lives.
Peter Lindert, an economist at the University of California, Davis, says the computer is more destructive than innovations in the Industrial Revolution because the pace at which it is upending industries makes it hard for people to adapt.
Occupations that provided middle-class lifestyles for generations can disappear in a few years. Utility meter readers are just one example. As power companies began installing so-called smart readers outside homes, the number of meter readers in the U.S. plunged from 56,000 in 2001 to 36,000 in 2010, according to the Labor Department.
In 10 years? That number is expected to be zero.
AP researcher Judith Ausuebel contributed to this story from New York. Paul Wiseman reported from Washington. You can reach the writers on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BernardFCondon and www.twitter.com/PaulWisemanAP. Join in a Twitter chat about this story on Thursday, Jan. 24, at noon E.S.T. using the hashtag (hash)TheGreatReset. EDITOR'S NOTE: First in a three-part series on the loss of middle-class jobs in the wake of the Great Recession, and the role of technology.
LINK: http://news.yahoo.com/practically-human-smart-machines-job-052642993–finance.html


text: Angela, 10, describes the day she found out she was moving: "I was 7 years old when my dad told me we were moving out of the city. I was really excited to finally be getting my own room and maybe even a dog. But I was also very scared I wouldn't make any friends or find my way around my new school." Evan remembers the day he found out he was moving a little differently: "When I had to move at the end of the sixth grade, it was because my parents were getting divorced. It stunk. In one summer, I had to go from Connecticut to California and get used to everything being new — including living just with my mom." Angela and Evan are only two of the many thousands of kids who move each year. And the way they felt about the moves — scared, excited, angry — are just a few of the feelings kids have about moving. Moving isn't easy for anyone, even for adults. And while moving can be a time for some great new things — like your own room or a new place to explore — it can also be a time that's sad and stressful, too. Here are some ways to make a move a little easier. Talk It Out When you find out that you're moving, a million thoughts may race through your head. The next place those thoughts should go is simple: out of your mouth! If you're afraid that you won't make new friends, nervous about riding the bus with 30 new kids, or upset because you have to give up your position as captain of the soccer team, don't keep it to yourself. Whatever you're feeling, talk to your mom or dad about it. They'll probably have some good ideas and suggestions. If you're moving because your parents are getting divorced or because someone died, your family might be under a lot of stress. It's tough to see a parent who's upset, so you might think the best thing would be to keep your feelings to yourself. But the truth is that it's always better to talk about your feelings, even if your parent seems to have a lot of his or her own worries. Your parent will be glad you shared your feelings — and so will you. Check Things Out Finding out about the new place you'll be living can make you feel better for a couple of reasons. First, you'll feel less nervous when you know what to expect, and second, you may start getting a little excited about the new place you're headed to. If you are going to be moving to a town or city nearby, ask a parent to drive you around so you can check things out. Or check out the new place online! The first thing you'll want to do is see your new house or apartment. If the house or apartment is new, or if nobody is living there, your parent may be able to show you around. This will give you a chance to think about how you want your room to look. And if you run into any kids who live on the street or in the apartment building and you feel like it, say hi to them and introduce yourself. Maybe they'll be future friends. Your new school is another important stop on this tour. Maybe your mom or dad can arrange a visit, so you'll know what it looks like inside. You might even be able to ask a teacher or school aide to give you a tour so you'll be able to find your way around the school on your first day. If you're into band, sports, or other clubs, ask which activities are offered at your new school — and what to do if you want to join. If you're moving far away to another part of the country, or even a different part of the world, you'll need to check things out in a different way. Try an Internet search to find out about your new town. You also can visit your library and check for books on that city or state. Pack It Up Before you move, your house will probably be full of chaos and boxes. You might want to ask your parent if you can pack a special box of your favorite stuff — stuff you'll want to have as soon as you get there. This can include personal items, such as stuffed animals, photos, and other stuff that will make you feel at home. It's also a wise idea to include stuff you'll need the first night, such as sheets for your bed, a pillow, pajamas, toothbrush, and other must-haves. Ask that this box be marked with your name on it, so you can grab it when it comes off the moving truck. Once you've taken care of your most precious stuff, ask if you can help with other moving tasks. Your parents will just love you for it! There's so much to do when a family moves. Preparing for Goodbye It's sad to say goodbye to friends, family, and neighbors. You can make it less sad if you load up your cellphone with e-mail addresses, home addresses, and phone numbers. You also can get a big blank book and ask your friends to fill it with messages. If you have a camera or video camera, take lots of pictures or videos of your friends, your favorite places, and your neighborhood. You can even put together a scrapbook or shoebox full of things that remind you of your hometown and all your friends. Moving Day When moving day finally comes, it's OK to feel sad. Many people cry when they leave to move somewhere new. Don't be surprised if grown-ups cry a little, too. But what do you do when you get there? The grown-ups will probably be pretty busy trying to unpack and set up the new household. When you get to your new house, unpack your special box of favorite stuff. That will help you feel more at home. You can even hang up pictures of your friends and favorite places to remind you of them. Once again, if you offer to help with the unpacking, your mom or dad will be glad for the help. Getting Adjusted Settling in might take a little while. You might wake up in your new room and think, "Where am I?" Take it slow and give the new place a chance. Once your house is growing on you, it will probably be time to start at your new school. You need patience there, too. You might feel funny if you're the new kid, especially if you start school during the year instead of in the fall. Little by little, you'll make friends and feel at home in your new town. Maybe you were taking karate before, so you'll want to find a new karate school where you can keep working on your green belt. Or maybe being in a new place will inspire you to try something new — like art classes, guitar lessons, or the basketball team. The more kids you meet, the more your new town will feel like home. And don't forget to keep in touch with your old pals. It can be fun to text and video chat — and it can even be fun to send letters or postcards. Maybe your best friend from your old town will be able to visit you sometime. Then you can show off your new city and introduce him or her to your new friends. Old friends and new friends — what a great combination! Back to Articles Related Articles Living With a Single Parent Millions of kids live with just one parent. Are you one of them? Find out more in this article for kids. Read More Living With Stepparents Do you have a stepmom or stepdad? Lots of kids do. Find out more in this article for kids. Read More Going Back to School There's a lot of "new" in the first day of school. New teachers, new friends, new shoes, new notebooks, and sometimes, a new school. Find out more about going back to school in this article for kids. Read More Why Am I So Sad? Feeling down? Got the blues? Everyone feels sad sometimes. Find out more in this article for kids. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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TAB INFORMATION Artist Guns N' Roses
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Conflicting Claims On Cause And Death Toll After Explosion In Syria
While activists inside Syria say government forces are responsible for an explosion today in the city of Hama, and that about 70 people were killed, President Bashar Assad's regime has a much different story. It says about 16 people were killed by an explosion at a bomb factory used by "armed terrorist groups," the BBC reports.
According to al-Jazeera: "The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a U.K.-based rights group, said that it was not sure what had caused the explosion, and it asked U.N. monitors in the area to investigate."
The U.N. estimates that more than 10,000 people, most of them civilians, have died in Syria over the 13 months since anti-Assad regime protests began.


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G-Star - Still Cutting Edges in Fight to End Poverty
If you know your top fashion names that you know G-Star, one of the slickest and most cutting edge names out there. If you dig a little deeper you'll find out that far from just being fashion floozies, G-Star is a brand that takes its social responsibilities seriously.
As a brand, G-Star has only been around for a little over 20 years but already it's one of the big players with must-see shows at London and New York fashion week. Their catwalk presence is legendary, always providing a fresh new look for each season and the fashionistas of many a fashion magazine have fallen for their modern lines and vibrant imaginative tailoring, especially when it comes to jeans and denim. But as it became more successful G-Star's big wigs paused for thought and formed a foundation aiming to make sure that every part of their business took a long hard look at how it was operating.
G-Star and the GSRD FoundationThis is something they took very seriously, looking at the supply chain that supplies their cool looks to the High Street, making sure it was working at minimal impact to the environment and making sure their products were ethically manufactured, just like the fair trade coffee you might be swigging while you read this. With this in mind, it brought into being the GSRD Foundation which funds projects to reduce poverty, educate children and support entrepreneurs in developing countries. The foundation even linked up with the United Nations to expand their Millennium Campaign. G-Star is pitching in to reduce poverty in line with the UN's Millennium Campaign goals, not just changing the way it runs its own business but in helping to publicise the project and get us all involved. So why not pitch in yourself, and with G-Star you can make your own contribution to bringing a little more hope to those that need it.
Looking for G-Star Clothing? Speak to Foot AsylumFoot Asylum is one of the UK's leading suppliers of top class fashion labels ranging from Adidas to Lacoste. Foot Asylum also prides themselves on their excellent service and providing an enjoyable shopping experience.


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Understanding digital audio – an A-Z guide
Confused by some of the language used to describe audio equipment? We've created a quick guide to help you out.
The basics: how digital audio is recorded
Because real-world sound varies continuously, digital recording is always an approximation of the full range of sound in the world. However, advances in recording technology are constantly expanding the range and accuracy of what can be recorded digitally.
When a digital recording is made from an analogue source - such as a live concert or musicians in a recording studio - the sound is sampled at regular intervals. The amplitude of the sound is recorded as a number, creating a digital record of the analogue audio source as a series of discrete numbers.
How much of the original analogue sound is captured by the digital recording depends mainly on the sampling rate and the bit depth (how many samples are taken in a second, and how much information each sample contains).
Saving and storing digital audio
Once a digital recording is made, it can be stored in a number of different formats. Each format has a different way to balance sound quality with the size of the digital file being created: extremely high quality recordings have not historically been practical in small music players, for example.
But as digital storage becomes more easily available with portable devices boasting many gigabytes of storage space, very high-quality digital audio is becoming a practical reality for millions of people.
A-Z guide to audio features
Short for 5.1 channels, this is a way of providing surround sound to give a theatre-like experience. Five speakers plus a subwoofer are positioned around the listener, with each receiving a different channel as follows:
- Two front channels
- One front center channel
- Two 'surround' channels
- One low frequency effects (LFE) channel
The subwoofer, which receives the LFE channel, can be placed anywhere in the room. Compared to a surround sound system without a subwoofer this saves space: because all the low frequencies are sent to the subwoofer, the other speakers can be smaller as they don't need to produce bass. See also 7.1ch
A 7.1 channel surround sound system uses 7 speakers plus a subwoofer. It is similar to a 5.1ch system but with two additional 'surround back' channels.
An analogue recording stores the original sound by making changes to a physical medium, such as a magnetic tape or vinyl record. This is different to the way a digital recording is made.
Bit depth
The bit depth of a digital recording describes how many digits are used to store each sample of the analogue signal. The standard bit depth for CD audio is 16, with a sampling rate of 44.1kHz - this means that 44,100 samples per second are taken and each sample stores 16 bits of information. In general, a higher bit depth means greater sound quality but also a larger file size
Hi-Res Audio has a bit depth of at least 24 bits, with a sampling rate of 96kHz or above.
When sound is digitally it passes through a coder / decoder, or 'codec' for short. This is a piece of software or hardware that takes the analogue sound signal and 'codes' it into a digital format that can be stored electronically. When the audio is played back, the codec 'decodes' the digital file to produce sound.
Each audio codec uses a different method to encode the analogue signal, so they have different benefits and drawbacks when it comes to storing and reproducing sound.
Making a digital audio recording can lead to very large file sizes, which limits the practical uses of the technology - for example, how many songs can fit on to a digital music player. For this reason most audio file formats use some form of compression, stripping out certain sound information to reduce the size of the stored file.
The way that sound is compressed and decompressed when played back affects the final sound you hear. File formats where information is lost are called lossy. File formats that keep all the sound information or allow it to be reconstructed when played are called lossless.
Unlike an analogue recording, a digital recording changes the sound into a string of numbers that can be stored electronically (for example on a CD or hard drive) and then converted back to sound when played. MP3 is a popular digital file format.
Dolby Digital
A standard lossy audio format used for DVD and as a basic format for Blu-ray. Although it is a lossy format it is still good enough for use in cinemas. Compared to DTS Digital Surround the sound quality is lower, but the higher compression rate also means files are smaller and so Dolby Digital is more widely used.
Dolby True HD
A lossless audio compression format similar to DTS Master Audio. Both are used as optional sound formats for Blu-ray Disc.
DSD (Direct Stream Digital)
Direct Stream Digital (DSD) is a digital recording method with an extremely high sampling rate, beyond that of Hi-Res Audio and 64-128 times higher than CD audio. For some sound engineers this is as close as a digital file can get to the original analogue source. Some Sony Hi-Res Audio models are also capable of playing DSD format audio.
Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE) HX is Sony's unique upscaling technology. When digital audio in a compressed format is played back, DSEE HX replaces lost high frequencies in real time, giving near high-resolution sound quality. All audio played on DSEE HX equipment is enhanced, making you feel as if you're really there at the recording studio or concert.
DTS Digital Surround
A standard lossy audio format used for DVD and as a basic format for Blu-ray. Compared to Dolby Digital DTS Digital Surround has better sound quality, but it is less widely used because it produces larger files.
DTS Master Audio
A lossless audio compression format similar to Dolby True HD. Both are used as optional sound formats for Blu-ray Disc.
DTS:X is a surround-sound audio format designed to compete with Dolby Atmos format. It is an immersive audio standard, created to let you feel closer to the action with the help of Height Channels, providing an effective visualization seeming to surround the audience, so that they can feel completely involved.
Hi-Res Audio
High Resolution Audio typically refers to digital recordings with a sample rate of 96kHz / 24 bits or above. This gives sound quality that is much higher than that of CD or MP3 recordings - the standard CD audio format is sampled at 44.1 kHz / 16 bits.
When you see the Hi-Res Audio logo on a Sony product, you know that product has been designed to maximize the sound performance of High Resolution Audio. From portable music players to headphones, speakers and full home cinema systems, you can set up a full Sony Hi-Res Audio system.
Find out more about Hi-Resolution Audio
LDAC is an audio codec from Sony that allows you to enjoy high-quality wireless audio over a Bluetooth connection.
When audio is transmitted over Bluetooth, it normally uses the standard Bluetooth SBC codec, which can result in a loss of quality. LDAC transmits 3 times as much data as the SBC codec, maintaining high quality audio over Bluetooth and giving you an enhanced wireless listening experience for all your music.
A Low-Frequency Effects (LFE) channel is a separate audio track used for low-pitched sounds of between 3Hz and 120Hz - such as low, rumbling sound effects in film soundtracks. In a surround sound system this channel is usually sent to the subwoofer.
A lossless audio format stores digital audio in a way that either retains all the original digital information or allows it to be reconstructed when playing. Lossless audio formats include:
A lossy audio format deletes some information from the original digital recording in order to save space, while trying to preserve as much of the original sound quality as possible when the recording is played back. Each format strikes a different balance between compression to save space and retaining information to preserve sound quality.
Lossy audio formats include:
Linear Pulse Code Modulation (LPCM) is the basis of digital sound recording. An analogue signal is sampled at regular intervals and its amplitude is recorded as a point on a digital scale. Because there is no processing or compression of the data, sound quality can be as high as professional studio masters - however, very large files are produced and so LPCM is not practical for everyday use.
The sampling rate determines the accuracy of the original digital stream
S-Master HX
Sony's digital amplifier technology, uniquely developed for Hi-Resolution Audio to reduce distortion and noise at wider frequency ranges. Because S-Master amplifies digital signals directly - rather than converting them to analogue signals first - it maintains the purity of the original signal for more faithful reproduction.
Super Audio CD is a recording format developed by Sony to record sound in DSD format, surpassing the dynamic range that can be captured on a CD. Whereas the dynamic range of standard CD audio is 96db, that of an SA-CD is 120db. The sampling rate of SA-CD is 2.8MHz, 64 times that of standard CD.
Unlike normal CD audio, SA-CD supports 5.1ch surround sound as well as 2-channel (stereo) sound. SA-CD audio is encrypted for copy protection purposes, meaning it can be played through analogue, HDMI or i-Link output cables, but not through optical or coaxial cables.
Sampling rate
When a digital recording is made from an analogue source, the sampling rate is the time interval between samples, and the higher it is the less is missed out. CD audio, for example, has a standard sampling rate of 44.1kHz, meaning 44,100 samples are taken each second.
In general a higher sampling rate means a higher quality recording. Hi-Res Audio has a sampling rate of 96kHz or above and a bit depth of at least 24 bits.
The standard audio codec for transmitting digital audio over Bluetooth. Because SBC is designed to prioritize efficient use of bandwidth above sound quality , it is not ideal for transmitting high-quality audio. Sony's LDAC carries three times as much data as SBC, allowing high-quality audio to be transmitted over Bluetooth.
In a 5.1ch or 7.1ch surround sound system, a subwoofer is a speaker that reproduces only low frequency sounds or the dedicated LFE channel. Because our hearing can't easily tell which direction low frequencies are coming from, a subwoofer can be placed anywhere in a room.
Because all the low frequencies are sent to the subwoofer, the other speakers can be smaller - so the overall system takes up less space.
Surround sound
5.1ch and 7.1ch surround sound are systems for sending separate audio channels to speakers positioned all around the listener, giving a richer listening experience. The .1 refers to the use of a subwoofer as an additional low-frequency speaker.
When a digital audio recording in a lossy format is played back, it is sometimes possible to fill some of the 'gaps' in the original sound by mathematically estimating where the original information would have been. This is called 'upscaling', as it can enhance the sound of lower-quality recordings to approximate high-quality audio.
Sony's unique DSEE HX algorithm upscales existing sound sources to near Hi-Resolution Audio sound quality.


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Many customers like to know about the company and people behind the products they buy. Here we will tell you a little about ourselves and our company.
Our Business Philosophy
The objective of our business is to provide a high quality product and reliable service for our customers. We hope you will enjoy visiting our web site and using our products as much as we enjoyed providing them for you.
Our Employees
Employees play an important role in any business. Here is where we get a chance to tell you a little about ourselves. We may talk about our families, interests, and what we do in our free time. We try to bring our passion for life to you through our business and this web site. We may even provide a link to our personal web site to tell you more about ourselves.
Our Company
This is where you can learn about our company and its history. We have been interested in starting our own business for many years and are excited to finally have reached that goal. Taking our business to the web makes the process even more exciting.
Our Shop
Here is a picture of our shop.
Our Company * Any Street * Anytown * US * 01234


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Drilling Threatens Africa's Oldest National Park
19 Aug 2013
In the heart of Africa, the first area to be protected in the continent is now at risk. The biodiversity-rich Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on the verge of being overrun by oil drilling. This ancient reserve, home to over 3,000 animal species, including rare mountain gorillas, could be turned into a barren land of oil fields.
In recent years, the Congolese government has granted concessions to various multinationals to carry out the necessary explorations and start exploiting potential oil resources. The agreements have not spared the park: 85% of its surface area (covering almost 800,000 hectares) has been allocated for these oil explorations.
The park was founded in 1925 by King Albert I of Belgium and in 1979 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its green valleys and dramatic volcanoes shelter okapi, elephant, hippopotamus and a quarter of the world's surviving mountain gorilla population.
In May, the French company Total committed to respecting the park's boundaries, but British company Soco could soon assert its rights inside the protected area, seriously threatening the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
The WWF has denounced the situation, launching a campaign and petition. The environmental charity also commissioned an independent study, The Economic Value of Virunga National Park, to show the park's economic potential. According to the report, the development of sustainable activities like eco-tourism and artisanal fishing could generate an annual revenue of over a billion dollars as well as up to 45,000 jobs, all without harming the environment.
The Slow Food network is present in the Democratic Republic of Congo with five active convivia, one of which is based near the protected area. "We're very worried about the danger threatening the park and we would like to be able to do something," said the leader of the Slow Food Butembo convivium, Samson Kakule Mulengya. "Biodiversity is essential to guaranteeing our future and with the convivium we are doing everything possible to promote its protection. Our activities only started a year ago, but we already have several initiatives, including participating in the Thousand Gardens in Africa project."
"The well-being of the local communities cannot be trampled in the name of immediate profit for big foreign companies," said Piero Sardo, the president of the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity. "In a country already tormented for years by a terrible war, Virunga Park must absolutely be protected. We must encourage a careful and shared management of the resources, based on the fundamental principle of safeguarding the environment."
To promote this objective, Slow Food is carrying out a number of activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the Thousand Gardens in Africa project. Around 20 community food gardens have already been created in the country; in each of them, the cultivation of traditional fruit and vegetable varieties serves as a kind of small, symbolic bulwark, affirming the value of food sovereignty for every community.
Find out more:
The Economic Value of Virunga National Park
Slow Food's Thousand Gardens in Africa
Find out more about Slow Food's campaign against land grabbing:
Translation: Carla Ranicki
Blog & news
Change the world through food
Learn how you can restore ecosystems, communities and your own health with our RegenerAction Toolkit.


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After Oregonian editorial page editor Bob Caldwell died Saturday, the report from the newspaper on Sunday said he had suffered a heart attack.
That does appear to be the 63-year-old journalist's cause of death. But the circumstances surrounding his last moments were considerably more complicated.
On Monday, The Oregonian followed up to say that Caldwell "was in the Tigard apartment of a 23-year-old woman when he went into cardiac arrest Saturday afternoon. The woman called 9-1-1 at 4:43 p.m. to report that Caldwell, 63, was coughing and then unresponsive after a sex act."
She also told authorities that Caldwell had been giving her money "for books and other things for school in exchange for sex acts at her apartment," the newspaper wrote.
Oregon Public Broadcasting adds that:
"Sergeant Dave Thompson of [the] Washington County Sheriff's office ... says the woman told officers Caldwell had previously given her cash for sex. But officers decided not to press charges against her." 'Technically we probably could have charged her with prostitution because there was an exchange of something, books and maybe tuition money for sex. But it's a misdemeanor crime and the circumstances of the guy dying in her apartment, we felt like it was probably not the most important arrest to make,' " Thompson said.
His widow, Lora Cuykendall, has put this gracious note on her Facebook page:
"To all of our friends and family:"I fear today's news about the circumstances of Bob's death may have caused you more sadness. I apologize on his behalf. Bob was a kind, loving and fair man. He would have understood why The Oregonian needed to print the story and he also would have regretted the anguish that it caused to those he loves — both outside and inside of the newspaper. We love him unconditionally. Thanks to all of you for your loving support."
For background on the better known side of Caldwell's life, The Oregonian also posted this appreciation. As it notes, "under his leadership, the newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize in 2006 for editorial writing."
Copyright 2016 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.


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Earnhardt Jr. wins 2nd Daytona 500
Published 2:37 am Monday, February 24, 2014
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Through rain and wrecks, on Daytona's longest day, this was a drought Dale Earnhardt Jr. was determined to end.
NASCAR's most popular driver won the Daytona 500 on Sunday night for the second time — a decade after his first victory — to snap a 55-race losing streak dating to 2012.
The victory ended a streak of futility at Daytona International Speedway, where he finished second in three of the previous four 500s.
"Winning this race is the greatest feeling that you could feel in this sport besides accepting the trophy for the championship," said Earnhardt, who climbed from his car in Victory Lane and hugged every member of his Hendrick Motorsports crew. "I didn't know if I'd ever get the chance to feel it again and it feels just as good."
As he crossed the finish line in his No. 88 Chevrolet, the few who withstood a rain delay of 6 hours, 22 minutes screaming their support, Earnhardt euphorically radioed his crew, saying: "This is better than the first one!" He was met by Rick Hendrick after his victory lap, and the team owner climbed into the driver's window for a ride to Victory Lane.
"The world is right right now — Dale Junior just won the Daytona 500," teammate Jeff Gordon said. "That's a sign it's going to be a great season."
Rain stopped the race about 45 minutes after it began for a delay of more than six hours. When it resumed, Earnhardt dominated at the track where his father was killed in an accident on the last lap of the 2001 race.
He led six times for a race-high 54 laps — all after the rain delay — and seemed to have it under control until things got chaotic near the end. There were 42 lead changes and four multi-car accidents as the field closed in on the checkered flag.
An accident with seven laps to go triggered by pole-sitter Austin Dillon, driving the No. 3 — Earnhardt's father's number making its return to the Daytona 500 for the first time since 2001 — set up a final two-lap shootout to the finish.
Earnhardt got a great jump past Brad Keselowski on the restart, and had Gordon behind him protecting his bumper. But Denny Hamlin came charging through the field and Earnhardt suddenly had a challenger with one lap to go.
Then an accident farther back involving former winners Kevin Harvick and Jamie McMurray brought out the caution and the win belonged to Earnhardt.
"We could fight off battle after battle. We got a little help at the end there from Jeff to get away on the restart," Earnhardt said. "This is amazing. I can't believe this is happening. I never take this for granted, man because it doesn't happen twice, let alone once."
Hamlin was second in a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, followed by Keselowski in a Team Penske Ford.
Hendrick took fourth and fifth with Gordon and last year's race winner, Jimmie Johnson, in what quickly became a company-wide celebration.
"He's been knocking on the door of the 500 for a lot of years. He got it done tonight — did an awesome job," said Johnson, who beat Earnhardt to the finish line a year ago.
The win means Hendrick already has one of his four drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Under the new win-and-get-in format announced last month, Earnhardt is now eligible to race for the title and can spend the next 25 races preparing for the postseason.
"We might be in the Chase — I ain't going to worry about that," Earnhardt said from Victory Lane. "Trust me, man, we're going to have a blast this year."
Rain wreaked havoc on the event for the third time in six years, and this year's race was stopped after 38 laps as a strong storm blew into the area.
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning in the area and advised people to take shelter, and fans fled from the grandstands.
NASCAR rolled out the track drying system Air Titan for several failed attempts over the delay. It was the only on-track activity for more than six hours, but there was plenty of behind-the-scenes fun as drivers desperately tried to stay entertained.
David Ragan made a pizza run in his firesuit, Hamlin played basketball, Clint Bowyer answered fans questions on Twitter and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s crew practiced tornado drills.
It hit absurd levels as Fox Sports tried to fill the air time with a replay of the 2013 race that hundreds of thousands did not understand wasn't a live broadcast. Social media exploded with congratulatory tweets for last year's winner, Johnson, who posted on his account: "I hear I won the (hash)Daytona500? Haha! I also have friends confused and texting congratulations to me."
Fellow drivers had fun with the widespread error, too.
"Wait a minute! I'm confused, did (at)JimmieJohnson win or not?" Bowyer tweeted.
Plenty of fans on Twitter were confused throughout the replay, tweeting along as if the race was live. Deadspin ran some of them under the headline, "Scores Of Idiots Don't Realize Fox Is Airing Last Year's Daytona 500."
Even NASCAR couldn't resist jokingly weighing in on the confusion.
"Congrats (at)JimmieJohnson amazing," tweeted Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's senior vice president of racing operations.
Piling onto the strange story line, Fox's rain-delayed coverage was sponsored by the movie "Noah," which opens March 28 and stars Russell Crowe as the title character who builds an arc to save creation from a massive flood.
When the cars finally got back on track, Earnhardt took off. He had some challenges, particularly from the Roush Fenway Racing duo of Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards, but he managed to break free every time it mattered.


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Though there was a 7.3 percent drop in sales of new homes in December from November, sales were up a healthy 8.8 percent from December 2011, the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development report.
Homes sold at a annual rate of 369,000 last month.
Over the whole year, the agencies estimate, there were 367,000 new homes sold — up 19.9 percent from the 306,000 sold in 2011.
Reuters says that despite the dip in December from November, housing "still appears set to be a bright spot in the country's economic recovery." And, it notes that:
"Government data for new home sales are subject to substantial revisions. Indeed, the Commerce Department raised its estimate for sales in November by 22,000 to a 398,000-unit rate, making the pace of sales in November the fastest since April 2010."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Le Querce, Brockley Rise, SE23
Frustrated by the fact that Lewisham's representation in the latest Time Out restaurant guide amounts to little more than the address of Nando's, reader Zoe has attempted to set the record straight by recommending a restaurant we'd not heard about before: Le Querce.
It may not be SE4, but it's only a few minutes up the road from the Brockley Jack and sounds very promising. Zoe says:
"I just wanted to let you know that you may want to add a new restaurant to any future posts about places to eat in the area. Le Querce is a family run Italian restaurant with really high quality food. They make their own gelato and serve wonderful, fresh pasta, meat and seafood. I had a fantastic fresh lobster and tagliatelle when I was last there.
"I only heard about it because I was waiting for a take away in Longtime Cafe and some women started chatting with me. They said they'd had amazing lobster (!) at an Italian just off the roundabout near St Hilda's church. I love this area to bits and try to do what I can to support local places, but even I was surprised to hear that you could get a great lobster dinner in SE4 [BC says - unfortunately, until we claim that stretch of Brockley Rise for our own, we still can't boast that accolade].
"I honestly think it's the best restaurant in our area and it's not just local pride clouding my judgment. They really care about what they serve and the prices are very fair. A comparable meal in central London could easily cost double. I want to help get the word out because I hope they are able to stay in business for a long time, like Babur Brasserie, its neighbour. I get really fed up when people take the area for a wasteland or ignore it altogether."
For more information, click here.
In our experience, the best Italian restaurants are always the worst-looking. We were recently dragged to a place in Uxbridge that looked like a 70s airport lounge but served incredible food, so Le Querce's "unassuming" decor is a plus as far as we're concerned.
Thanks to Zoe for letting us know about it. The poor quality of information about this area was one of the driving forces behind the creation of this blog, so please email us with any other recommendations.


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