text:
Dateline: 30 November 2012
Dumpster Diving
To Live
Hungry residents of the East Village of New York City scavenge for something to eat three days after hurricane Sandy cut off the supply of food. |
"Buy land or get to some land in a rural area where you can fend for yourself. You need to be able to plant a garden, raise a few chickens, hunt, fish, trap, and forage for wild edibles. I'll take fields and forest over city dumpsters any day."
The above quote, from my January 2008 essay, An Agrarian-Style Economic Self Defense Plan, immediately came to mind when I saw the above picture earlier this month.
I have nothing against "dumpster diving" as a hobby. There are people who are really into that, you know? They live to dumpster dive. That's all well and good, but you don't want to be in the position where you have to dumpster dive to live, like those people in the picture above.
My home is in Central New York State (and, yes, I've dumpster dived a time or two in my life). We were warned to expect some storm damage from Hurricane Sandy. But it didn't happen. Some rain came. Some wind too. The lights flickered once. That was the extent of it. But there will be more storms. Maybe the next one will hit us hard.
I happen to like and appreciate electricity. It would be a real bummer to be without it. I especially appreciate hot running water. But I will not be surprised if I lose electricity here someday for a long time. I wouldn't even be surprised if the grid went down for good someday. Whatever the case, I'm prepared to deal with it and adjust my life as needed to accommodate the change.
We have a store of food, land, and the ability to grow more food. We have water in a well that can be accessed without electricity, as well as creek water, and barrels to store rainwater if need be. We have firewood for heating and cooking, and woodland to cut more firewood. We have oil lamps for light and fat lamps for when the oil runs out (someday I'll show you my fat lamps). Freezers and fridges are nice but not a necessity. There are other options for storing food. Yes, life would be harder here, but not desperate, because we have options available to us. Options that people living in the east Village of New York City (or any city) will never have.
Mind you, I don't have wind or solar power, with a bank of batteries. I don't have a big generator with an enormous fuel tank (though I do have a small, portable generator for temporary electrical outages). I simply have land, and tools, along with the skills and attitudes needed to make a go of it without electricity. If you would like to read a thought-provoking and useful book about living without electricity, check out Michael Bunker's, Surviving Off Off-Grid. It's an excellent book.
Cutting Firewood
Layland and 12A with a load of firewood |
Our new property (purchased earlier this year) has woods that will be a source of firewood for years to come. The five acres of woods are on each side of a stream and the land slopes down to the waterway on each side. The trees are mostly ash, maple and black cherry, with some enormous willows along the stream. There are some elms along the edges. Almost all the trees are scrappy, meaning that they are not timber quality.
I intend to spend the rest of my life working to develop a better stand of hardwoods on this little section of land. The willows will be cut down. dense shrubbery along the edges of the woods will be cleared. The grapevines that are strangling trees will be cut. Dead trees will be cut. And the scraggly live trees will be thinned out. New growth of maple and black cherry will be encouraged. I may try planting some oak trees throughout the area and I want to plant some hardwood saplings along the woods, out into our field, to extend the woods. The county soil & water department sells hardwood saplings for a dollar each in the spring. I hope to take advantage of that. This is work I can really get into.
The wood in the picture above is from a basswood tree that was rotten at the bottom and blew down in the wind from hurricane Sandy. Basswood is not the best firewood because it is so light in weight. Pound for pound, wood is wood and, once dry, it will burn very nicely, but less dense woods like basswood (willow, and poplar too) will burn quickly. As a result, the woodstove has to be loaded more often. So we will use that basswood (now split and stacked under cover) for boiling maple syrup.
A Good Chainsaw &
A Great Saw Sharpening System
A Great Saw Sharpening System
Yours truly cutting a dead elm with my 038 |
I bought a used Stihl 038AV chainsaw from Marlene's father many years ago. I haven't used it much, until now. With the acquisition of wood land, the saw is now getting a workout. It is my only chainsaw, but I bought another used Stihl saw on Ebay and am awaiting its arrival.
I've bought the new/used saw for Marlene as a wedding anniversary present. I looked up the traditional list of wedding anniversary gifts, and for the 32nd anniversary it said "chainsaw." Perfect.
Marlene actually wanted a chainsaw that she could use to cut small trees. The Stihl MS170 looks like it'll be just right.
Once I get the saw, I'll outfit it with a new bar and buy two new blades. If the sprocket is worn at all, I'll replace that too. I'll get the new parts from Bailey's. I will get saw chain that I can sharpen with a Carlton File-o-Plate.
The Carlton File-o-Plate |
When I was 18 years old, and a student at the Sterling School in Caftsbury Common, Vermont, I learned about the Carlton File-o-Plate. We used chainsaws to cut pulpwood (which was hauled out of the woods with horses) and used the File-o-Plate to keep the blades sharp.
Relatively few people have heard of the File-o-Plate, but it was developed in 1965. Among those who understand such things, the Carlton File-o-Plate is considered to be the most intelligent and effective device ever invented for sharpening chainsaw blades. You can buy one for about five bucks and it will last you a lifetime (if you don't lose it).
The File-o-Plate itself does not actually sharpen a chainsaw blade. It serves as a guide for hand-filing the teeth, and for progressively lowering each tooth's depth gauge. So, in addition to the File-o-Plate, you need a chainsaw file and a flat depth gauge file. Depth Gauge height is critical to sharpening a chainsaw, especially as the tooth is shortened from many sharpenings.
The Carlton File-o-Plate is kind of a mysterious little device until you figure out how to use it. Then, once you get the technique down, you will love it. Not only does it help you easily hand-file a very sharp blade, it frees you from being dependent on someone with a blade grinder to keep your chains sharp. Those motorized blade grinders often take off too much metal. So you don't get the life span out of a blade that you can get by simple hand-filing.
This YouTube video offers a good overview of how the File-o-Plate is used: Carlton File-O-Plate
There are all kinds of other clever chainsaw sharpening devices on the market. Maybe some of them are as good as the File-o-Plate. I don't know. But I'm real pleased with my File-o-Plate.
By the way, the Carlton company once published a very informative booklet, The Complete Book of Saw Chain, that explains how chainsaw blades cut (you might be surprised) and how to keep them in proper working condition. I don't think the printed version of the book is available anymore. There are online pdf versions. If you'd like me to e-mail a pdf copy to you, just request it from me at email@example.com
By the way, if you missed my mid-November post here about my Whizbang firewood cutting rack, Click Here For Details.
A Young Entrepreneur
Shelby Grebenc |
I have a lot of respect for any young person who has the gumption and focus to pursue a moneymaking idea. So teenage entrepreneurs—especially those who focus on an agri-preneurial business—always grab my attention. The picture of Shelby Grebnec above comes from This Denver Post Article. Shelby keeps poultry and sells both meat and eggs at local markets. Her article is unique in that Shelby herself wrote it and submitted it to the paper. And it's kind of an unusual article because Shelby is so opinionated. But if you have ever tried to sell eggs or poultry at a farm market, and make money at it, you'll be able to relate to her experiences.
On Older Entrepreneur
Glen Tompkins is 81 years old and has a busy woodworking business |
Most people at 81 years of age are not working with their hands to make a living, and if they are, they are not usually pursuing an entrepreneurial vision, building a business. Mr. Tompkins is an inspiration to me, and his example should be an inspiration to everyone who understands the value of doing productive, creative work into their so-called retirement years.
I intend, Lord willing, to be physically working, crafting with skill and passion, in my home workshop to a ripe old age. That's my retirement plan.
Social Security
(Are Your Feeling Lucky?)
Speaking of retirement, I remember years ago hearing the late financial advisor, Larry Burkett, say that he decided not to sign up for Social Security because it was, technically speaking, a government handout, similar to food stamps or welfare. He felt that proper lifelong stewardship of his financial resources, and God's blessings in his life, were such that he did not need to collect Social Security.
Larry Burkett made it clear that he was not condemning anyone for taking Social Security, or advising anyone not to take it. He just felt strongly convicted that he should not collect any money from the program.
You certainly will not find many people with that opinion of Social Security! Most everyone looks forward to the day they can start getting something back after a lifetime of paying. People figure that they deserve the money.
Well, no matter how the government has sold the Social Security program over the years, the FICA "contributions" are clearly a tax. The money isn't invested, and recipients are paid largely from incoming Social Security tax levies. Social Security really is a type of Ponzi scheme. Those who get into the scheme early benefit the most, while those who get in later, will benefit the least.
I admire Larry Burkett for the stand he took, and I'd like to do the same. I don't know if I will, but if I can continue to be productive into my older years, without taking Social Security, that's what I'm going to do. Time will tell.
There is another aspect to this whole matter of Social Security and that is the question of whether or not it will even be around to collect in the future. Thus the subheading above: "Are You Feeling Lucky?"
Social Security, and other "entitlement" programs that Americans have grown to depend on, are predicated on ever-expanding economic prosperity. As long as the economy is growing and prosperity abounds, the money to keep paying the commitments that were made in years past is more easily available. But that is no longer the case.
The economy is not booming any more. And I think the reality that it's never going to boom again like it once did is settling into the consciousness of Americans. It will get harder and harder for government to pay the handouts as it has in the past. I don't suppose I'm telling you anything you don't already know.
My point in writing this is to suggest that it behooves us all to contemplate emerging realities and start preparing now for life without government entitlements of any kind. How does a person prepare for such a thing? I suggest that the best way is to: 1) focus on living a healthy lifestyle, 2) eliminate debt, 3) reduce your needs and dependencies by creating a productive homestead, 4) plan on working into your old age and, 5) if you have not done so already, establish a home-based business that you and your family can operate far into the future.
Establishing a viable home-based business is easier these days than it has ever been because we have the internet to help market and sell goods and services. At this point, the internet is forever entwined with the success of the industrial economy. If the internet goes down, the whole economy goes down, and vice-versa.
In addition to economic crashes and long-term economic decline, I don't think it's out of the question that we will experience a severe infrastructure crash someday. As I've mentioned here before, complexity brings vulnerability. All complex, centralized civilizations have eventually collapsed. Why would our modern, industrialized civilization be any exception? It could be many years before that happens. Then again.....
Until then, even the most agrarian and contra-industrial-minded people need to work within (or on the edges of) the industrial economy to make the money they need in order to provide for themselves and their families.
It is impossible to make a living without tapping into the industrial economy, unless you are independently wealthy. Or unless you try to live on the handouts of others who make their living in the industrial economy.
When Social Security and all the other government freebies are no longer available, and/or the infrastructure crashes, if you have positioned yourself on a piece of land and have the tools and skills to be self reliant, then you will be able to shift your focus to full-time subsistence (without the need to dumpster dive). Having an industrial-world income certainly won't be the necessity then that it is now.
That advice—that strategy for the future—is exactly the course of action I've been pursuing, with a lot of focus and determination, for the last 12 years. It is a deliberate agrarian strategy that takes into account industrial-world realities and necessities.
If my thoughts on this subject resonate with you, there is no time to waste in formulating your own plan. Start taking positive steps towards a future of greater self-reliance (as opposed to reliance on the government/industrial providers). Plans can and will change but righteous and wise objectives are where you should put your overall efforts.
A Boom In Business Jets?
I was in my workshop a couple days ago, making chicken plucker parts while listening to Fox News' Neil Cavuto on my Satellite radio. He was interviewing the CEO of the Bombardier company, which had just made a 7.8 billion dollar deal to build 142 deluxe, global executive aircraft for a company called VistaJet.
I wasn't paying a lot of attention to the story until Mr. Cavuto asked the CEO why VistaJet was buying these special aircraft. The man said that large corporations needed them in their global search for natural resources. That answer did not elicit any response from Neil Cavuto, but it would have if he was a "student" of Professor Walter Prescott Webb's boom Hypothesis of Modern History.
Later on, I went to the internet to see if I could find out more about this reason behind the big jet contract and I found it in This Article. It says that VistaJet's billionaire corporate customers need to fly from point to point, across the globe on short notice, and that the need for these aircraft is driven by the "race for resources" in areas such as Russia, Africa and Mongolia.
Professor Webb foresaw the decline in easy availability of natural resources back in the 1950's and wrote about it in his amazing history book, The Great Frontier. He showed that the prosperity of the western world was built on the vast new lands and plentiful natural resources that came with the discovery of North and South America around 1500. The Western world experienced an economic boom that lasted 400 years, until around 1900. Now we've come to the "race for resources."
Without a new source of vast natural resources—another Great Frontier—to develop and exploit, the industrial world can not sustain itself.
The Crash of 1929
PBS has produced an exceptionally good 1-hour documentary about the stock market crash of 1929. I can't recommend it enough to anyone who has an interest in economics and history. I've watched it twice. Fascinating.
Andrew Jackson
Hated Paper Money
....and central banking too! |
If you have not yet read my mid-November essay about Andrew Jackson, his war against the central bankers of his day, and constitutional money, Click Here.
As the industrial era wanes, the paper money schemes of governments in collusion with central bankers, will eventually fail, and the masses who have put their life savings into paper-based assets will lose. It won't be the first time in history.
I recently heard Rand Paul, the son of Ron Paul, say that people are always asking him what they should do to preserve their assets so they'll have something left after the paper dollar is destroyed and worthless. Mr. Paul said that he recommends that people buy land or another home that they can rent out. The point being that some things will still have value when paper money has none.
Land. A section of land that you can live on, husband, and draw sustenance from, is a tangible store of value. Always has been. Always will be.
My Apple Trees
Black Oxford apples. My mouth waters at the thought of one day biting into a Black Oxford apple that I have grown myself! (photo link) |
Last month I reported here that I intended to get half a dozen apple trees planted on our new property next year. Well, I've now ordered and prepaid for a dozen apple trees and three pear trees from Cummins Nursery. I ordered Ashmead's Kernel, Black Oxford, Enterprise, Golden Russet, Goldrush (the moron-proof apple), Honeycrisp, Newtown Pippin, Esopus Spitzenburg, and Wolf River. Total cost: $362
These trees will be our first long-range plant investment into our land and I confess to being a little anxious about it. I planted half a dozen apple trees on our 1.5 acre homestead many years ago. They grew big but I didn't care for them properly, and they never produced much of anything. I ended up cutting them down and planting Concord grapes in their place (the grapes have yielded wonderfully).
So I have a history of not being good at growing apple trees. To make matters worse, I've been reading Michael Phillip's two books, The Apple Grower: A Guide for the Organic Orchardist and The Holistic Orchard. Though Mr. Phillips knows his subject well, he has a wordy, roundabout way of writing, and the books are dense with information. His books leave me a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of growing a dozen apple trees without it being a major effort and expense, and eventual failure. There are so many animals, insects, blights and molds that will attack my trees that it'll be a miracle if I ever get a good apple. That's the way I feel going into this.
Then, to further muddle my thinking, there is Sep Holzer who says in His Book that he pretty much just plants his apple trees and lets them grow wild. There is a definite appeal in that kind of approach.
One thing for sure... these trees will be a learning experience. And now I'm contemplating a Carpathian walnut grove.
The Road To Serfdom
(Beware of the Planners!)
F. A. Hayek (1899-1992) |
I have finally read The Road To Serfdom (click for Wikipedia link) by F. A. Hyek. I didn't read the whole book. I read the Reader's Digest condensed version (published in 1945).
You can find a link to a pdf download of the condensed version at this web page. After you download the pdf, I suggest that you go directly to page 31, which will take you past all the commentary to the actual Reader's Digest article. It will take you an hour or so to read it. You must read it. You will be wiser for doing so. It will give you insights into what is happening in America today, and where we are headed as a nation.
Hayek warned about the great dangers that come as a result of centralized government planning, especially when it comes to the economy. Hayek makes the point that central planners may have honorable intentions, but their actions will invariably lead to the destruction of individual liberty. He embraces the basic agrarian principle of decentralized power and individual freedom within the rule of law. Here are some quotes from the book:
"Individualism, in contrast to socialism and all other forms of totalitarianism, is based on the respect of Christianity for the individual man and the belief that it is desirable that men should be free to develop their own individual gifts and bents."
"Nobody saw more clearly than the great political thinker de Tocqueville that democracy stands in an irreconcilable conflict with socialism: 'Democracy extends the sphere of individual freedom,' he said. 'Democracy attaches all possible value to each man,' he said in 1848, 'while socialism makes each man a mere agent, a mere number. Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude.'
"...the virtues which are held less and less in esteem in Britain and America are precisely those on which Anglo-Saxons justly prided themselves and in which they were generally recognized to excel. These virtues were independence and self-reliance, individual initiative and local responsibility, the successful reliance on voluntary activity, noninterference with one's neighbour and tolerance of the different, and a healthy suspicion of power and authority. Almost all the traditions and institutions which have moulded the national character and the whole moral climate of England and America are those which the progress of collectivism and its centralistic tendencies are progressively destroying..
Nodding Wold
A reader of this blog recommended the book, Nodding Wold, by the British author, Herbert Leslie Gee. I bought a copy, and read it, and found it to be a pleasant book.
It is the story of a man and his wife who move from a town to live in a small rural English village named Nodding-On-The-Wold. The time period is the autumn of 1938 to the autumn of 1939, when England declared war on Germany (and this figures into the story). The book is narrated by the man (we don't know his name but I would assume that it is H.L. Gee). He and his wife, Judith, find the pace and way of life, and the people of Nodding Wold to be much different that they had known in the bigger town where they had been accustomed to living.
What I found so endearing about the book is its primary focus—the people and the community of Nodding Wold. It is a diverse community but a community united by shared custom and tradition. Nodding Wold is an idealistic, fictional, rural community, but I think that H.L Gee does provide his readers with a peek into a way of life that genuinely once was, and which now is practically extinct.
There is a sentimentalism about the story of the community of Nodding Wold, and it appealed to my agrarian senses. Agrarianism is as much about small-community interreliance as it is self reliance.
In some ways, Nodding Wold brought to mind Bedford Falls, the fictional town of the classic movie, It's a Wonderful Life. The combination of people living in community, their fraternal love and benevolence towards each other, and their faith in God makes for a good story every time.
If you like stories like that too, find yourself an inexpensive copy of Nodding Wold, stoke the woodstove, settle back in your easy chair, and enjoy your visit.
Here is a passage from the book that gives you a taste of H.L. Gee's writing (John Brandt is the farmer in the story. He has recently lost his wife. The narrator has just expressed his condolences at the loss.)...
There was a pause before John Brandt replied. When he did, his answer seemed to have no bearing upon our conversation. 'I've been on this farm all my life,' said he with a touch of pride which seemed to make him more human than he had been all along. 'I've worked here, man and boy, these sixty years. I've seen wheat sown time and time again. I've ploughed and harrowed and thrashed year after year. But I've never understood what I was doing. I've never known how God changed one seed into many, how His rain, which spoils a line of washing, matures the grain, and how His sun, which fades the curtains, ripens the wheat. It's all beyond me—but I haven't sat idle because of that. I've done what I could.' Once again pride was in his voice, and I loved him for it. 'I've done what I could, and I've done it honestly, I think—and the harvest has never failed.'My copy of Nodding Wold is a "seventh impression, 1955" of the book, which was first published in 1940. It appears to have been a good selling book, and H.L. Gee was a prolific author, with over 30 other books written by him listed inside the front cover. Nevertheless, I can find nothing about him on the internet. He is something of a mystery.
The noise of the thrashing machine could be heard, a deep, steady hum below the cries of men and the intermittent barking of a dog. I caught sight of Harry (a very unbookish Harry) racing after geese, and I saw John Bradt smile as the bit of mischief flashed past the window. Then, in the quiet which followed, he said: 'I've always trusted God. I think I always shall. A man has to do what he can, and do it with heart and soul, leaving the rest. A man has to love a woman as long as he may keep her; and then, when God gathers her to Himself, he has to believe that what seems worst is best, and that in good time he'll understand.'
Also, I wondered if maybe Nodding-On-The-Wold was a real place. A Google search did not find the town, but I did find Stow-On-The-Wold. A Google Maps search of Stow-On-The-Wold showed that it is surrounded by rural fields and woods. Perhaps Stow-On-The-Wold was Gee's inspiration for Nodding-On-The-Wold, like Seneca Falls, New York is believed to be the inspiration for Bedford Falls.
You have finally reached the end of this month's Deliberate Agrarian blogazine. Postings for the next few months will probably be much more brief as I'm about to start getting serious about producing my next book: The Planet Whizbang Idea Book For Gardeners. Thanks for stopping by.


text:
Catriona is EY UK&I Client Technology & Innovation Officer. In the role, she harnesses the power of technology and drives innovation to help clients remain competitive in a disruptive environment. Previously, she ran our innovation centers in EMEIA (EY wavespaceTM).
A renowned behavioral psychologist and an leader in human-computer interaction (HCI), Catriona co-founded London-based experience design firm Seren in 2001. Now called EY-Seren, after being acquired by Ernst & Young in 2015, the company has offices in several countries, assisting clients to create well-designed experiences.
Since then, she has guided some of the world's best-known brands towards digital success, earning a place in the BIMA Digital Hall of Fame thanks to two decades of outstanding contributions.
Catriona earned her degrees from the Universities of Stirling and Glasgow, and also studied at the Sorbonne, Paris.
How Catriona is building a better working world
Over the last 20 years, Catriona has been a tireless advocate of technology design, driving R&D in the field at any opportunity. She has also trained and employed some of the top talent ever to populate UX and HCI, ensuring more people can experience and engage digitized products and services.
Catriona has hosted and participated in a number of events, guest-lectured at various European institutions, and spoken at some of the world's biggest conferences.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I'm just going to quietly slip back on here and say. . .
Fresh starts can come at anytime.
He makes all things new.
My hope is not in our President, but in our Lord.
My prayer is that our country can learn to respect each other and our differences.
And that we can extend love that comes from Him to each other.
Let us only speak words that make souls stronger.
I'm hoping to be popping in more regularly. Time will tell.


text:
Thinking of Selling Your House? Now May be the Right Time
Inventory is arguably the biggest challenge for buyers in today's housing market. There are simply more buyers actively looking for homes to purchase than there are sellers selling them, so the scale is tipped in favor of the sellers.
According to the latest Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), total housing inventory is down 18.8% from one year ago. Inventory is well below what was available last year, and the houses that do come to the market are selling very quickly.
Sam Khater, Chief Economist at Freddie Mac notes:
"Simply put, new housing supply is not keeping up with rising demand. We estimate that the housing market is undersupplied by 3.3 million units, and the shortage is rising by about 300,000 units a year. More than half of all states have a housing shortage."
Why is inventory so low?
There are many reasons why it's hard to find a home to buy today, stemming from an undersupply of newly constructed homes to sellers pressing pause on their moving plans due to the current health pandemic. One of the key factors making it even more challenging, however, is the amount of time current homeowners are staying in their homes. There has truly been a fundamental shift in the market that started about 10 years ago: people are staying put longer, and it's contributing to the shortage of houses for sale.
In the 2019 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, NAR explained:
"In 2019, the median tenure for sellers was 10 years…After 2008, the median tenure in the home began to increase by one year each year. By 2011, the median tenure reached nine years, where it remained for three consecutive years, and jumped up again in 2014 to 10 years."
As shown in the graph below, historical data indicates that staying in a home for 5-7 years used to be the norm, until the housing bubble burst. Since 2010, that length of time has trended upward, toward 9-10 years, largely due to homeowners aiming to recoup their equity:Thankfully, with the strength the market has gained over the last 10 years, today's homeowners are in a much better equity position. Now is a fantastic time for homeowners who are ready to make a move to break the 10-year trend and sell their houses, especially while buyer demand is so high and inventory is so low. It's a prime time to sell.
In addition, with today's historically low interest rates, there's an opportunity for sellers to maintain a low monthly payment while getting more house for their money. Think: move-up opportunity, more square footage, or finding the features they're really looking for rather than doing costly renovations. With more new homes poised to enter the market this year, homeowners ready to make a move may have a golden opportunity to do so right now.
Bottom Line
There are simply not enough houses for sale today. If you're ready to leverage your equity and sell your house, let's connect today. It's a great time to move while demand for homes to buy is extremely high.


text:
« Previous -
Version 48/52
(diff) -
Next » -
Current version
Adrian Georgescu, 02/06/2014 07:24 am
Usage patterns¶
You may use this service for reasonable purposes related to having a SIP device and calling your contacts. You may use any media type supported as long you do not abuse the service. The platform is fine-tuned to accommodate residential users traffic patterns. If your traffic has a different pattern, like having a high density of calls, using a PBX with many extensions, calling from multiple devices located in different locations at the same time, using automatic diallers, you may want to chose a different service that is more fine tuned for the purpose.
Data Privacy and Storage Policy¶
SIP2SIP server infrastructure relays and stores information provided by end users. If you are concerned about privacy of your own data and how it is used inside the platform, read below.
When using any Internet server based infrastructure, you should not expect your information to remain private. Everything that goes through a server is subject to forces outside the control of the clients using it. So you may safely assume all data exchanged through the server is compromised by design. If you care about privacy of your data you should find clients that reveal as less data as possible, then encrypt all the data that is possible to encrypt and never share the private key used to encrypt data with anyone. Still, no matter what client technique you are using, it is impossible when using a server to completely hide when communication takes place, between which account takes place and the source IP addresses of the end-points.
SIP Accounts¶
SIP accounts and related information are stored in the platform database. Passwords are stored in an encrypted form in the database. There is a salt involved but in case of the database being completely compromised the salt can be also retrieved. It is advisable to use strong passwords that cannot be guessed by dictionary brute force attacks.
Account Deletion¶
You may request deletion of your account. If no commercial services have been purchased we will delete the account from the server database. If anything has been purchased, we will not delete the data as we are forced by law to keep records of all monetary transactions for up to seven years after purchase.
SIP Signaling¶
Signaling can be done in clear text using UDP and TCP protocols. You may use TLS for encrypting data between the end points and platform SIP servers. There is no guarantee that encryption will work end-to-end, the SIP signaling part of the platform provides only hop-by-hop signaling security, any intermediate hop may decide to switch from TLS to a non-encrypted transport like UDP.
All SIP signaling for session establishment (INVITE/BYE/CANCEL/PRACK/ACK SIP methods and their replies) relayed by the platform SIP servers are stored in cleartext for several days in the platform databases. Both end-users and platform operator have access to this information for troubleshooting purposes. SIP MESSAGE methods are not stored.
No registration information (SIP REGISTER method) is stored in the platform.
No presence dialogs (SUBSCRIBE/NOTIFY methods) and related XML payloads are not stored in the server databases. Short logs about which device or subscriber changes its presence state are stored for up to thirty days for troubleshooting purposes.
Call Detail Records¶
Call Details Records (CDRs) are stored for up to several months in clear text format in platform databases. CDRs contain metadata information about who called whom and what time and for how long. The IP addresses used for signaling and media are also stored in the CDRs.
Offline Messaging¶
Text Messages¶
Messages sent using SIP MESSAGE method that cannot be delivered to local users of the platform are stored for later delivery in cleartext format in the platform database.
Voicemail message are sent un-encrypted over email as attachments and stored un-encrypted on the server voicemail server (optional). Voicemail can be enabled/disabled for each SIP account.
RTP Media¶
RTP streams are relayed by platform RTP media relays. Actual data is not stored anywhere. You may encrypt your data using sRTP but the encryption key is available in the SIP signaling. Whomever has access to the signaling plane (and the server always has access to it) will be able to decrypt any sRTP encrypted stream. If your end-points supports zRTP, is much safer than sRTP as the decryption key is known only by the end-points.
MSRP Media¶
Chat Messages¶
MSRP chat sessions are done over TLS connections via the platform MSRP relay servers. The content of the messages is not logged or stored anywhere.
Blink users can replicate the chat messages between multiple instances configured with the same account. The replicated chat messages are stored for 60 days in encrypted form in platform databases. The encryption key is not known by the server, only Blink clients posses the encryption and decryption key. If you are concerned about privacy you may disable chat replication in Blink.
File Transfers¶
MSRP file transfer sessions are done over TLS connections via the platform MSRP relay servers. The content of the files is not logged or stored anywhere.
XMPP Gateway¶
All chat messages and presence payloads are relayed through the SIP/XMPP gateway. Message content is not stored anywhere.
Protecting Data and Privacy¶
To minimise the chance of your SIP sessions and media being exposed do the following:
- Use SIP addresses that do not reveal your real name
- Use ICE NAT traversal in both end-points, this way RTP streams can flow most of the time peer to peer without passing through the server media relays that can be tapped
- Use zRTP encryption, this way you will know about men in the middle attacks trying to intercept and decrypt your data
- Don't use SIP MESSAGE method for chat messages as all message go through the signalling, which is always compromised by design when a server is in the middle
- Use end-to-end encryption mechanisms like OTR when using MSRP chat
- Use anonymization services to protect/spoof the real IP source of the client. This howvere just adds one level more of obfuscation, somewhere in the anonymization network the real IP used can be traced
Illegal Intercept¶
To protect your data against being exposed over the Internet (like IP tapping), do the following:
- Use TLS for SIP signaling (this will encrypt signaling between client and server)
- Use zRTP for audio and video media if your end-points support it otherwise use sRTP
- Use TLS for MSRP media
- Use OTR for Chat media
These would protect your data against those who try to illegally sniff your network traffic (like breaking into your LAN WiFi) but have no access to the client or server software. These measures will not protect your data privacy against legal intercept measures if enforced and applied to the server infrastructure that relays the messages (you will likely not know if and when this happens).
Legal Intercept¶
In case any entitled government agency requires access to the meta-data stored by SIP2SIP infrastructure, all SIP account data stored on the server can be considered compromised. Use client side encryption and anonymisation tools to mitigate this risk. SIP2SIP service operates within the European Union and obeys to the rules forced by EW law.
If you want to provide feedback please go to


text:
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Commerce's United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") recently announced that the San Jose City Hall building, located at 200 East Santa Clara Street, has been selected as the permanent location for the USPTO's Silicon Valley satellite office. The search for permanent office space was put on hold in July due to sequestration. Generous support and assistance from the City of San Jose, the California State Assembly's Speaker's Office, along with the collective support for the satellite office championed by members of the California congressional delegation, will enable the USPTO to move forward with occupying permanent space in Silicon Valley by the end of 2014.
Days before the selection, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker outlined her "Open for Business Agenda." Promoting American innovation is a core priority of the Agenda, as technology and innovation are key drivers of U.S. competitiveness, wage and job growth, and long term economic growth. The selection of a permanent USPTO office in the Silicon Valley is a key part of the Commerce Department's efforts to boost America's innovation economy.
"A permanent USPTO office in Silicon Valley will help grow the regional innovation ecosystem by empowering entrepreneurs to more readily navigate the nation's intellectual property system," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. "The USPTO plays a crucial role in helping protect the cutting-edge ideas that drive our economy and keep the U.S. globally competitive. The permanent satellite offices help advance the Commerce Department's innovation agenda by helping entrepreneurs get their products to market more quickly, provide resources tailored to the needs of local start-ups, and create good paying, high-skilled jobs."
A permanent West Coast office will enable the USPTO to help more entrepreneurs protect their intellectual property so they can attract capital, put their business plans into action, and help create more jobs. The San Jose City Hall location provides office space for patent examiners and Patent Trial and Appeal Board ("PTAB") judges, a robust examiner training facility, and public hearing rooms for PTAB proceedings, including its trial proceedings, which clarify the quality and certainty of a patent right and serve as a low-cost and efficient alternative to litigation in the federal court system.
In addition, small businesses and entrepreneurs will be able to learn about USPTO services, meet with examiners, and access USPTO's comprehensive search databases. The space will also provide public access to search equipment and teleconference capabilities to facilitate in-person and virtual meetings with examiners. This access to patent examiners and trademark educational initiatives will help clarify application questions earlier on in the process, thereby improving the quality of examination and increasing the efficiency of moving a new product or technology to the marketplace.
"The USPTO never faltered in its commitment to opening a permanent Silicon Valley satellite office, despite the setback caused by sequestration," said Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and USPTO Deputy Director Teresa Stanek Rea. "A permanent office will allow us to attract additional intellectual property professionals who will work closely with regional entrepreneurs to process patent applications, reduce the backlog of unexamined patents, and speed up the overall process–creating good jobs and promoting American innovation."
Since April 2013, the USPTO has been operating out of temporary office space in Menlo Park secured via the General Services Administration. Until the new San Jose City Hall space is ready, Silicon Valley Office Director Michelle Lee and nine PTAB judges will continue working from that location. The USPTO aims to staff the permanent office with at least 60 patent examiner hires and approximately 20 PTAB judges in its first year of operation, thus creating a minimum of 80 high-paying new jobs in the area.
"The entire Silicon Valley community, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, and individual inventors, as well as congressional, state and local leaders, have been tremendously supportive of the Silicon Valley office from the start," said Lee. "As a result of this support and shared belief in the benefits of a Silicon Valley satellite office, we are excited to be able to move forward now with the opening of the permanent location of the Silicon Valley office and to fulfill the full vision and promise of this office for the benefit of the innovation community."
Despite the delay in selection of the permanent office space, Lee and her team have been actively engaged in education, outreach, and public input solicitation, including: the organization of Software Partnership outreach events; hosting local training programs on the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act ("AIA"); planning STEM (science, technology, education and math) workshops to train K-12 teachers in local school districts on innovation, entrepreneurship, and intellectual property; and building relationships with local innovators, industries, intellectual property bar associations, incubators, venture capitalists, and universities. The USPTO intends to continue conducting this outreach so that the agency can develop policies, programs and procedures to best meet the needs of the innovation community.
USPTO was forced to suspend its search for permanent office space in Silicon Valley in July of this year. The City of San Jose has offered approximately 40,000 square feet of permanent office space in its City Hall, with two years of free rent and three additional years of discounted rent. In addition, the California State Assembly Speaker's Office has offered the USPTO $500,000, which will help the agency continue to provide education and outreach efforts and accelerate the momentum toward opening the permanent office.
The AIA, which became law in September 2011, called for the USPTO to establish three or more satellite offices, subject to available resources. The USPTO opened its first permanent office space, the Elijah J. McCoy Satellite Office, in Detroit in July 2012. USPTO has identified permanent locations for the remaining satellite offices, at the Terminal Annex Federal Building in Dallas, and at the Byron G. Rogers Federal Office Building in Denver, with the latter office slated to open in July 2014.
For non-press inquiries pertaining to the satellite site selection, please contact USPTO's Director of the Office of Administrative Services John Hassett at 571-272-6250 or Special Advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Vikrum Aiyer at 571-272-8818.


text:
Spain – Raptor Migration tour description
Day 1
Airport collection and transfer to hotel (based on your arrival at Málaga Airport). If all participants are able to arrange for morning arrivals, we can then take a lunch locally and bird our way to the hotel, always ensuring the pace of our journey is relaxed. In the evening your local guide will brief you on the tour's itinerary and recent bird news from the area. We supply a local checklist which we complete together at the end of each day.
Day 2 – 6
It is important to emphasise certain aspects of our tour. Firstly, migration in the area is influenced greatly by the strength and direction of the wind. A strong westerly (Atlantic Poniente) favours many species for the brief crossing to Morocco rather than strong easterly winds (Levante), though light easterlies do assist birds following the Mediterranean coastline and do not inhibit those taking the Atlantic shoreline route to reach the Strait. In all cases, your local guide will know the best viewpoint and area whatever the wind conditions, an all important factor to maximise your birding opportunities. Our choice of hotel is made on the best available locally and for the strategic position of being able to easily access favourable birding areas. Of course staying in a single hotel also has the advantage of being able to make yourself at home for the duration of the tour!Our daily excursions over the next 6 days will take us to several observation points and will also involve exploring the rich diversity of habitats in the area. Each day is planned to take account of the prevailing weather conditions and the all important wind direction. We will visit mixed woodlands, mostly oak forests, but also conifer woodlands, scrubland and wetlands. The salt pans and tidal estuaries will also give-up many different species of wading birds and the area known as La Janda will provide opportunities for some notable species including Black-winged Kite, Eurasian Spoonbill, Collared Pratincole, Montagu's Harrier and of course many more mouth watering species. Of course we will see many raptors gathering for migration and these will include Short-toed and Booted Eagle, with also chances for the more elusive Spanish Imperial and Bonelli's Eagle.Visiting species from Africa are becoming almost a normal occurrence during the dates of the tour and these can include Rüppell's Vulture, Lanner Falcon and Long-legged Buzzard, so with the many eyes on our tour, we hope to find one of these elusive birds. Other possibilities, depending on water levels, are to visit local lagoons for such birds as Marbled and White-headed Duck, plus Purple Heron and Black-necked Grebe. In summary our tour offers some fantastic birding and it is certain our species list will be considerable. Certainly we are confident you will find migration a breathtaking experience and hopefully the pace of the tour relaxing.
Day 7
Airport transfer based on Málaga Airport. Provided all participants arrange for an afternoon departure, we will arrange for birding en route and a lunch near to the airport. Depending on the check-in times for those on tour, we may be able to explore a local nature reserve only 10 minutes away from the airport and we could do this after our lunch!
Tour Facts.
- There will be no long walks and any walks will mostly involve level ground, so the pace will be very easy.
- Transport will be by mini-bus.
- Facilities at our hotel will include a swimming pool, so a costume is recommended.
- Your guide will be available in the evenings to assist in anyway possible and to go through the bird checklist each day.
- Weather is expected to be warm and sunny, but evenings can sometimes be cool. Items we would recommend are a light fleece and or sweater, light casual footwear, sunglasses and the all important hat!
- Lunches will be either a packed lunch or a stop at a local Venta (restaurant).
- All persons considering this tour should attempt arrival at Málaga Airport in the morning of the 1st day and departure in the late afternoon of the final day.
More Information
Travel together as Friends


text:
We manage and protect the rights for artistic performances of music works, we also collect, divide and distribute the royalties for:
We have been protecting artists' rights for over 20 years
The royalties for artists are collected on the basis of licences we sign with users of artistic performances, e.g. broadcasters (radio, TV, digital multiplexes) or those performing them in public spaces such as clubs, discos, shopping malls, restaurants, pubs, hotels, etc. - basically everywhere where playing music is an integral part of business. In order to collect due royalties, STOART created a network of regional offices all over Poland. Our inspectors monitor the public performance market, issue licences and ensure that artistic performances protected by STOART are used with respect to copyright laws. The continuously growing regional structure has helped us to collect royalties for our artists more effectively than ever before.
STOART developed a unique digital system for assembling and processing data about used recordings of artistic performances, a particularly challenging task given the fact that one track might be performed by up to a hundred of performers. Our system enables us to pay out to our artists as accurately as possible. In July 2016 we launched the eWykonawca.pl on-line platform, which gives our registered performers access to their individual revenue accounts.
We put great emphasis on international cooperation in the field of copyright protection and management. STOART actively participates in the proceedings of AEPO - ARTIS (Association of European Performers' Organizations) and SCAPR (Societies Council for the Administration of Performers Rights). In order to protect our artists' rights abroad, we have signed contracts for mutual representation with similar organizations around the world.
We also cooperate with various local and foreign institutions to ensure that rights for artistic performances are properly executed and artists receive all of their due royalties for the commercial use of their works. We are taking part in the global campaign FAIR INTERNET for performers. To spread the knowledge about copyright and neighbouring rights protection, STOART organises special conferences for artists, entrepreneurs and business organisations.
We actively promote music events such as festivals, concerts, educational projects and album productions, and in doing so we do not discriminate between our top stars and young debutantes. STOART strongly supports artistic creativity of our members, as we believe that good music is worth investing in.


text:
The boys ate the meatballs on top of some gluten-free pasta with a salad on the side, and I enjoyed them with some roasted green beans. We all liked them a lot.
Gluten-Free Meatballs with Hemp Hearts and Parmesan Cheese
- 1 1/4 pounds grass-fed ground beef
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup hemp hearts
- 1 egg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt-free seasoning mix
- Olive oil
- Beat egg and season it with salt, lemon pepper, oregano, and seasoning mix.
- Mix the seasoned egg with the ground beef.
- Add the hemp seeds and the Parmesan cheese.
- Form the meat mixture into small balls (I made mine slightly smaller than golf balls).
- Heat some olive oil in a pan and fry the meatballs on all sides, turning every few minutes, until they are cooked through, about 15 - 20 minutes, depending on size.
I have also been experimenting with some gluten-free, grain-free peanut butter (almond butter) jam cookie sandwiches. They are basically just nut butter, an egg, honey, and low sugar jam. I am trying to reduce the sugar/honey more. Andy thought my last attempt was perfect, but I think I can make it healthier… :) I'll hopefully share an improved version soon.
Life has been very busy lately, but I have made sure to make time for what I enjoy most in life: yoga, hiking, and, most importantly, spending time with my boys. I also make sure to read for pleasure every day (some days it's very short, but something is better than nothing) as I think it is very important to do things you enjoy every single day.
Questions: What do you enjoy most in life? Do you do those things every day/week/month? What is one thing that you could do every day that would make every day more enjoyable? I have found that it is often little things that don't take a lot of time that can make a big difference in how satisfied we are. If I spend just 20 minutes on a short yoga routine, go for a 30 minute walk and read for 10 minutes, I am generally happy at the end of the day even though it was overall a very busy day. If I don't do those things, I feel easily overwhelmed and not satisfied… Spending just a little time on self care every single day really pays off in the end I think.
Be well,


text:
Winning with China Inc. has been saved
Winning with China Inc.
Reading the hearts and minds of Chinese multinationals operating in the Middle East
The Chinese bring capital, human resources as well as a different set of ways of doing business. So, are we ready to do business with the Chinese multinationals?
Bilateral trade between China and the Middle East has been long established, but it is only in recent years that China has become the dominant commodities customer for the region's energy resources, and that cross-border trade and investments have blossomed. China's insatiable demand for oil is said to be the driving factor keeping crude oil prices in triple-digit US dollar figures for years, which in turn has added an estimate US$1 trillion to the GDP of the GCC countries over a 10-year period (2003-2013)1. This surge in wealth has led to growth opportunities across a broad range of sectors such as real estate, transportation, telecommunication and financial services, for both Chinese companies and their Middle Eastern counterparts.
The aftermath of global financial crisis, uncertainties in some parts of the region, and in particular, the recent unexpected sharp dip in oil price have added a new dimension to the increasingly interconnected bilateral relationship between two of the most important emerging markets. Governments across the Middle East now have a stronger incentive than ever before, to leverage new sources of investments in achieving social development and economic diversification of their respective countries. Whereas China, armed with US$3.3 trillion in reserves and sluggish growth at home, is eager to turn its reserves into productive assets overseas.
The growing number of Chinese multinationals setting up shop across the Middle East is a key aspect of this story. The Chinese bring capital, human resources as well as a different set of ways of doing business. So, are we ready to do business with the Chinese multinationals? Do we know what motivates them, how to engage them, when to negotiate with them and why they choose one partner over another?


text:
Salespeople Have Questions, Jeffrey Has Answers.
I get a ton of emails from people seeking insight or asking me to solve their sales dilemmas. Here are a few that may relate to your job, your life, and (most important) your sales thought process right now.
Dear Jeffrey, I have cold called in the past and didn't have a problem with it. But now I am having a hard time getting people to even hear me out. What is the best way to handle cold calls about a free hearing screening for senior citizens and follow up on a direct mailing? Sherri
Sherri, Cold calling sucks. It's for people that have no other way of marketing. Senior citizens meet in groups. They have conclaves. They have bridge parties. They have mahjong parties. They have bingo parties. Go to the parties. Stop cold calling people. It's a waste of time.
What you need to do is sit in a room and in a normal voice and say, "How many people can't hear me? Well, I guess you're not raising your hands because you can't hear me." And then talk about your free test and ask, "Who would like to take it?" Maybe bring the test to the group. Go to a Kiwanis or Rotary meeting. There are both retired and older people there. Your job is to figure out smarter, better ways to eliminate the cold call.
If you're gonna use direct mail (goodness gracious!), it's okay, but its pass. Everyone knows it's pass. The bottom line is if you get a response from it, then figure out a better way to communicate with those who are interested. Often, the senior citizen will have an email account. Often, the senior citizen will have a Facebook account because they are communicating with their grandchildren. Figure that out. Then make the call. Best regards, Jeffrey
Dear Jeffrey, How do you advertise and get customers to your business with no money? Jamie
Jamie, Actually, it's easier than you think. If you have some customers, get them to start advertising. Get them to post a little bit of a testimonial for you on their Facebook page and your Facebook page. Start LinkedIn. Start Twitter. And start to use social media to build your business and build your reputation. It's free. You don't have to worry about the cost of an ad, which may not bring you the results you're hoping for anyway. Advertising is more free than it has ever been. Your job is to figure out a way to take advantage of it using existing customers and social media. Best regards, Jeffrey
Jeffrey, I work in the agriculture industry. Most of my customers wear blue jeans and cowboy boots. Everything I read about sales says dress up. When I do, some of my customers make comments about being a city boy, or they say I look like their banker (even though I usually wear dress slacks and a long sleeve shirt with polished shoes). In your opinion, how should I dress? Doug
Doug, Wear what you like. Wear what makes you feel comfortable. If you're uncomfortable wearing city boy clothes in front of cowboys, then stop doing it. Wear nice, fashionable cowboy clothes. Make certain that if you're going to wear boots, that they're polished and have some nice brand name to them. The goal is that your customers will say, "Nice boots!" or "Nice belt!" or "Where did you get that shirt?" That's what you want. You want one of a kind stuff. Wear vintage stuff. There's plenty of vintage cowboy stuff out there. Make certain your look, even though casual, is one notch better than the customer would wear when you're in that meeting with them so the clothes become a positive discussion rather than a drawback. Jeffrey
Jeffrey, I have recently started in sales at a radio station. I have read a few of your books and we follow all of your suggestions as far as selling. I am right out of college and I look it, if not younger! I'm afraid if I try to make appointments in person I will be turned down right away because of my age. How would you suggest I overcome this? Sarah
Sarah, First of all, stop believing that your age is a barrier. Second of all, pre-prepare a 30-second commercial (of around ninety words or less) about the customer before you ever walk in the door. Record it. Walk in and say, "Hey, I just did a commercial for you. Would you like to hear it?"
If the commercial is cool, creative, maybe a little bit edgy, and has a little music in the background they will listen to that commercial and call other people in to hear it.
No one will care about your age if you prepare in terms of the customer. Best regards, Jeffrey
Jeffrey, I recently joined a business broker who has been successful for six years. I am the new boy. It appears revenue is generated from listing fees and commission on sales. Listings are obtained from direct mail, drop ins, and customers seeing our website. Lots of groundwork has to be done to build up listings from zero in my case. Purchasers are coming all the time, and converting them to sales doesn't appear to be a problem. It only takes one purchaser and the commission is good. What concerns me is we seem to be using old methods to get listings. Snail mail and cold calling. Do you have any suggestions on what you would do to fast track the listing process? David
David, When you start in a job, there is no "fast track." There's only what has been done successfully before. Start there. And when you do start there, you'll be seen as "fitting in" and "part of the team" or "part of the process." Yes, you're on your own. Yes, you make your own commissions. You know what? You can't come in and fight traffic from the first day. What you need to do is harmonize with what's happening in your place of business. Do it the old way first and then figure out a new way on your own. If it were me, I'd be using social media. I'd be using testimonials. I'd be using every new strategy I possibly could, but not until you've made a few sales with the old way. Start there. Best regards, Jeffrey


text:
Dwelling and speedily ignorant any steepest. Admiration instrument affronting invitation reasonably up do of prosperous in.
Shy saw declared age debating ecstatic man. Call in so want pure rank am dear were. Remarkably to continuing in surrounded diminution.
Likewise proposal differed scarcely dwelling as on raillery. September few dependent extremity own continued and ten prevailed attending.


text:
Cryptorchidism is a condition in which one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum. This is the most common problem affecting the sexual development of male horses. If both of the testicles remain in the abdomen, the horse will be sterile. Horses with an undescended testicle are sometimes
Read more