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Archive for the 'multiplatform' Category
A cool million
Tonight we hit a cool million tests taken on My MindChecker, my first project post-sabbatical at Channel 4. That's in just 8 days – it launched with the new (4th) series of Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the Clinic last Tuesday.
Today it made the front page of the Mail Online.
I like the last line of this coverage in the Evening Standard:
And here's a neat little piece from The Sunday Times:
The Autism Test we featured in last week's show was done 63,000 times during the hour of the show and by 11pm (3 hours in) that had reached 100,000. The total now stands at 350,000 completed tests. These anonymised results will go to the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge for their on-going work at the cutting edge of autism spectrum disorder research.
Links for Orna
Some concrete examples of multiplatform TV (factual)
The Great British Property Scandal (case study video)
Seven Days (case study video)
Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the Clinic (case study video)
Big Fish Fight (case study video)
D-Day as it happens (post-TX website)
Foxes Live (post-TX website)
The New Rules of Engagement
This extract from Broadcast is based on a roundtable discussion about the state of play of multiplatform and interactivity around TV.
The new rules of engagement
14 March, 2013 | By Alex Farber
What are broadcasters and producers bringing to the table in multiplatform projects – and how can they make them pay? Broadcast brought together the key players at a roundtable sponsored by Xbox
Alex Farber (chair) Web editor, Broadcast
Adam Gee Multiplatform commissioner of factual, Channel 4
Harvey Eagle Marketing director, Xbox UK
Paul Bennun Chief creative officer, Somethin' Else
Peter Cowley Managing director, Spirit Media
Victoria Jaye Head of IPTV and TV online content, BBC Vision
Anthony Rose Founder, Zeebox
Janine Smith Creative director, Zodiak Active
Why is innovation so important?
Paul Bennun All of us want to create wonderful services, products and content that is going to be enjoyed and used by as many people as possible. You can't just think about programmes any more; you have to use design-thinking, and that means employing more than one platform.
Do viewers want innovation?
Anthony Rose When there was only black-and-white TV, it's unlikely people were clamouring for colour; they didn't know it was possible. As a developer, you take bigger bets on things that you think have a high chance of succeeding and smaller bets on things that are fun to try. That's the joy of innovation.
How do they engage with content?
AR Once the BBC filmed beautiful things for TV, then it began producing programme pages online, then second- screen apps. Then Twitter arrived offering conversations around content. The nirvana is that some programmes could be completely interactive. Imagine The Voice where the audience is the fifth chair.
PB I disagree, I do not want to be calling the shots on a football match. I want a director to tell that story because they can do a better job than I can. Interactive dramas that try to work on a mass scale tend to be worse than a simple linear experience.
Adam Gee But Embarrassing Bodies: Live From The Clinic is exactly in that space. You can watch the show at 8pm and have been on it by 9pm. It throws the emphasis back on live TV, which is good for advertising. There is a sweet spot between TV and interactive where you can get mass participation and rewarding, new experiences.
Janine Smith We have reached a point where we can learn from things we have done, and develop new formats where the multiplatform element is integral and not just an extended add-on.
There is a sweet spot between TV and interactive where you can get mass participation and rewarding, new experiences. Adam Gee, Channel 4
Has the role of the broadcaster changed?
AG It's critical to ask what you can bring as a broadcaster that no one else can. Facebook, Twitter or Zeebox couldn't make Live From The Clinic. You want to get to a position where if you extract the digital from the TV, it's a lesser programme and vice-versa.
VJ Programming is still one of the key catalysts for social discussion. You've got to put something great out there for the audience to get excited about. Only we can bring Sir David Attenborough to Twitter for a chat about Africa.
AG I always ask if what is being proposed is better than a really good TV show and Twitter. Big Fat Gypsy Weddings is one of the biggest factual formats on Channel 4, but there's nothing much that we can usefully bring to the party in that case – so we don't…
Peter Cowley Editorially I agree, but if you were a purely commercial broadcaster you might have a different view.
PB When the BBC removed its multiplatform commissioning, it effectively started presenting itself to the world as a TV commissioner. Because the BBC measures itself on its performance with TV programmes, it isn't measuring the success of its digital formats.
AG We're in a different place at C4. The past 18 months has been about trying to find the passage from digital to television. I'm working on a panel show that started life as an online arts commission; it's a sign of maturity that this direction of travel is now possible.
How mainstream are multiplatform projects becoming?
VJ Media literacy is a big job for the BBC. The challenge is: how do you invite and choreograph 6 million people to download an app and play along with a 35-year-old programme such as Antiques Roadshow?
HE We are now trying to expand our audience beyond core gamers by creating content and entertainment experiences with broader appeal.
Who are the emerging players?
VJ Felix Baumgartner's space dive really showcased the mixed economy: a 10-minute live event, funded by Red Bull, with 8 million YouTube viewers, followed by a BBC documentary funded via a completely different model with National Geographic. It shows the new players that are bringing audiences content.
PB Red Bull has no broadcast infrastructure overheads. It will ask how something executes across the different platforms and won't draw any distinctions. We made Red Bull's Bedroom Jam, which included an online music competition and a live broadcast. A programme doesn't sum up what we're trying to achieve any more.
HE We're trying to go beyond the console model and become a service that exists across multiple devices.
AG The new YouTube channels are an area where TV baggage is damaging. Some have squeezed out everything that's really good about YouTube. You want that energy that comes from someone being able to record, edit and bang something out in three hours.
Extract published courtesy of Broadcast
The Next 30 Years of Channel 4
2nd November marked the 30th anniversary of Channel 4. Here's an extract from an article published by Broadcast to mark the event -
How C4 must approach its next 30 years
by Dr James Bennett of Royal Holloway, University of London, derived from a 2-year study he was involved in about the role independent production companies play in the cultures and economics of Public Service Broadcasting and "its multiplatform future".
But the cultural commitment from indies to C4's public service remit might be under threat. Decreasing production budgets from broadcasters and the imperative to sell formats overseas as a result of producers' retention of IP rights following the 2003 Communication Act have resulted in aversion to risk. This has the potential to undermine the creation of the kind of challenging, innovative, diverse and engaging programming that has been the hallmark of C4. Senior producers worried that younger generations lacked the skill set and training in public service modes of production that had been so pivotal to their success.
Yet a movement away from the 30 year cultural commitment to public service broadcasting would only harm UK plc: it is PSB that makes UK content unique, innovative, challenging and sellable around the world.
There remain grounds for optimism. Not least because of the cultural commitment to PSB found across so many independents, but also because of Channel 4's investment in multiplatform production and digital platforms.
From apps that increase our awareness of sexual health – Embarrassing Bodies – to successful multiplatform ethical fishery campaign – Fish Fight – C4 has taken some its pioneering, challenging and innovative approach to public service online. And it is taking a group of talented digital producers, committed and passionate about public service, with it. If it can balance profit and public service, and its commitment to diversity of independent suppliers with the need to foster a close relationship with digital indies, C4 can help create a digital public service sector that will ensure the broadcaster's continuing relevance for a multiplatform future.
{Extract published courtesy of Broadcast}
Clean Sweep – Broadcast Digital Awards 2012
C4 and BBC4 triumph at Broadcast Digital Awards
21 June, 2012 | By Catherine Neilan
Channel 4 made a clean sweep of the multiplatform categories at the Broadcast Digital Awards on Wednesday [20th June 2012], with four wins.
Indie-made projects for C4 won Best Game (The Bank Job), Best App (Facejacker), Best Website (Sexperience), Best Multiplatform Project (Live From The Clinic).
C4 also landed a fifth award, for Best News or Current Affairs, for the Sri Lanka's Killing Fields website.
{extract published courtesy of Broadcast}
My most recent project, released last week to mark the start of Series 2 of Live from the Clinic, is 3 Embarrassing Bodies-branded iPhone apps. Here's the story so far as related by Broadcast today:
Embarrassing Bodies apps near 400,000 downloads in one week
23 May, 2012 | By Balihar Khalsa
The new trio of Embarrassing Bodies iPhone apps have been downloaded nearly 400,000 times since the start of the new series of Embarrassing Bodies: Live from the Clinic last week.
The main app – My HealthChecker – has had over 300,000 downloads alone. The app includes new tests for eyesight, colour blindness tests, as well as memory and lung function tests. Users can track their results over time and compare them anonymously with the other users.
Sister app My MoleChecker has been downloaded 71,681 times since the launch of the new series, while My SelfChecker has been downloaded 15,061 times.
It is the first time the trio of apps have been made available on mobile and have been developed by Maverick Television, which is also producing the 8 x 60-minute show currently on air.
The MyHealthChecker app has topped the iTunes app store free download chart. C4 multi-platform commissioner Adam Gee, who ordered all three of the apps, said it represented an evolution of the show on mobile.
"Embarrassing Bodies has embraced mobile since the outset of the show but this represents a whole new generation of Embarrassing Bodies mobile through which viewers can do things which they can't do on a laptop or any other device," he said. "This trio of apps really makes the most of the portability, personalisation and privacy of smartphones."
The web version of My HealthChecker has seen 450,000 people register and the Live from the Clinic site is estimated to have helped save the NHS around £662,000.
{Republished courtesy of Broadcast}
Links for Ritva
(All Channel 4 unless otherwise designated)
Channel 4 Digital Personas
Street Style – a pilot: photoblogging street fashion (2006) – this is simply the vestiges of the site with no backgrounds/design stylesheets
Style the Nation – second screen aspects can be spotted in this vid (see background here and here, plus show here)
Fashion House – Euro fashion design
How to Start Your Own Country (BBC – Danny Wallace)
Chop or Not - game to cut the budget deficit
Sell or Not – variation for Selling Off Britain Dispatches documentary
X – youth election site (2005) – Election Machine (based on manifestos, matching user preferences to parties) – no longer online
Meet the Natives – viewing a nation from outside
Groovy Fellas (1988) Jools Holland wrote and performed in a six-part comedy documentary series with Roland Rivron, The Groovy Fellas, about a Martian visiting Earth. Basically the same premise as Meet the Natives. Not online.
Train Journeys from Hell – UGC listed on this page, also see YouTube presence
Empties are like chewing gum on pavements
Here's a telly review from The Observer last weekend which pretty much represents the reception of The Great British Property Scandal. I particularly liked the last line.
The Observer, Sunday 11 December 2011
There's too little time and space to get into the intricate successfulnesses of (Restoration Man) George Clarke's two programmes on The Great British Property Scandal but, trust me, he is now doing for empty homes what Jamie has been trying to do for food. National Low-Cost Loan Fund might not sound the foxiest soundbite in the den, but it's his answer, and it would work, by getting government and councils to let absent landlords (not all ill-intentioned) borrow £1,300 bloody quid and do up their empty homes to a lettable standard.
The angrier he got, the angrier I, and I hope you, got. The government/council lunacy of having families cooped in damp, rat-infested, poke-holes possessed of staggeringly dubious electrical safety, while round the corner lies a perfectly good "empty" which the owners, what with no one lending anything, can't afford to twitch up to a lettable standard, hurts in that very bad way that happens when your mind hears stupidity.
Clarke managed, eventually, to show how even a little money can turn it around: the family needing not to live in squalor did up the house themselves, more than willingly and actually rather tastefully; the nice owners/landlords got some rent rather than a crippling mortgage for emptiness and a whole family was newly happy. Simples? I have already joined the website which allows you to help in your own area, or at least find out who in charge locally is helping/ unhelping. Empties are like chewing gum on pavements. We never noticed them: now we do.
{published courtesy of The Observer}
And here's how the project was mentioned last week in the Scottish Parliament:
Motion S4M-01551: Joan McAlpine, South Scotland, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 08/12/2011
That the Parliament welcomes the Channel 4 series, The Great British Property Scandal, which, it believes, highlights the problem of long-term empty homes; understands that there are 25,000 long-term empty homes in Scotland; welcomes the Scottish Government's funding for the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, which is hosted by Shelter Scotland, and further welcomes the Scottish Government's ongoing consultation on extending council tax charges for such homes, with the intention that additional revenue raised is re-invested in affordable homes, including the re-use of empty homes.
Supported by: Adam Ingram, Sandra White, Fiona McLeod, Annabelle Ewing, Gil Paterson, Chic Brodie, James Dornan, Bill Kidd, Dennis Robertson, Margaret McDougall, John Mason, Marco Biagi, Margaret Burgess, Richard Lyle, John Finnie, Mike MacKenzie, Paul Wheelhouse, Mark McDonald, Colin Keir, Kevin Stewart, Drew Smith, David Torrance, Gordon MacDonald
4 highlights of work this year
As the debt burden of time edges towards the apocalyptic default of destiny, it's comforting to sit here by the fire with my Sobranie and peat single malt and reflect on the year that was for me at work. It was a fine year, nay a vintage one, and the 4 things that gave me most satisfaction were:
January: The Big Fish Fight with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall – the year started by taking online campaigning around TV up a gear
May: Live from the Clinic including My HealthChecker – using Embarrassing Bodies as a platform to experiment with Skype on live TV and data gathering, saving the NHS over 400 grand in the process
July: The Sexperience 1000 – given how cliched data visualisation has already become, an attempt to liven it up
December: The Great British Property Scandal with George Clarke – finished the year as I began with some full-on campaigning
So I'll sit on here, puff away, muse idly on the last twelve months, and watch the counter on The Great British Property Scandal tick over towards that 100,000…


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Nike previews three new renditions of its Air Max 1 sneaker set to drop next year. The trio comes wrapped in a hard-wearing two-tone canvas upper, and besides sticking to the tried and tested construction, reintroduces the "mini Swoosh" – a subtle design twist probably last seen on the Patta collab four years ago. However, as only the yellow/grey colorway seems to feature this small little detail, we can't tell for sure if we're actually looking at the final designs here. We'll let you guys know as soon as we've got more info.
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Tornadoes, flooding, high winds and hail – all have hit parts of the country's heartland, and all require cleanup of one sort or another.
Tractors will play a part in plenty of that cleanup, so keeping certain safety measures in mind will be important, said Kerri Ebert, who works with farm safety issues in Kansas State University's AgrAbility program. AgrAbility is part of K-State Research and Extension.
"Some tractors will be operated by the owner, but many will be operated by someone who has borrowed a tractor and is unfamiliar with its operation. The combination of inexperience and heavy workloads can be a recipe for disaster," Ebert said.
She provided several tips for safe tractor operation:
More tractor safety information is available from county and district Extension offices or at the K-State Extension Ag Safety Web site: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/agsafety.
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The Station
David Berry, 2002 Acrylic on canvas, 22" x 28"
Inspired by the style of Edward Hopper
This painting is an invitation to wonder about what has just happened and what might be. The scene is like the opening moment of a play before the action has begun. It is the instant in which you are brought into a story. At some point in our lives we turn and suddenly recognize God, but God seems to us to be a little distant and traveling in some other direction than we are.
I wanted to say something about my own spiritual journey. In the beginning I imagine myself as a one of many passengers at a busy station, a place where there are many people all there for the specific purpose of making the transition from and to someplace else. There are few places on earth where our individualism -- our personal egos -- can be more obvious than at a crossroads where everyone is from their own distant past and heading for a far away future. During the journey we are very much individuals among strangers. Usually people gather in a place because they have something in common and want to share an experience as part of a group, but at a crossroads the only thing we have in common with nearly everyone there is that we wish to be someplace else. Thus we share a moment of being isolated from other people.
A Life Changing Moment
I imagine that one day at a station I see The Christ, and suddenly all of the business, plans, originations and destinations seem irrelevant. What becomes important is following the glimpse of God, or at least examining my own life to see why I am not headed in the same direction. I no longer worry about going where I wanted to go. I no longer am concerned about leaving things behind and getting someplace on time. What I want is to follow God.
Is the train going to leave without me? Can I get on board -- do I have the right ticket? Where is everybody else? Where was I going? Is it really the right train? I find myself with all kinds of questions.
In the greater reality I find that the train has no engine, for it is the origination and the destination. No matter what train I get on, God is there. No timetable regulates the day, for in God's presence the station is timeless. No ticket is required, for the admission is free, and there is unlimited capacity. The train is the only train and all trains. At any crossroads, God is in every stranger that walks by -- there to be seen for anyone who has the heart.
About Edward Hopper
Edward Hopper is another painter whose work is a reflection of his own vision without consideration to popular taste. Hopper manages to be both bland and powerful in a way that is indescribable, inviting and intriguing.
Off Site Links for Edward Hopper
To see a gallery of Hopper's paintings, click here.
To read his biography, click here.
For a look at Hopper's paintings at the WebMuseum, click here.
Privacy Policy | ©
2002 David Berry
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Amazon acquires video game studio Double Helix Games
San Francisco, CA, United States (4E) – Amazon has thrown itself in the video game industry with its purchase of independent game studio Double Helix Games. Amazon and Double Helix confirmed the acquisition to CNET and TechCrunch. The financial details of the acquisition wasn't revealed but the purpose of the deal was to get talent.
"Amazon has acquired Double Helix as part of our ongoing commitment to build innovative games for customers," Amazon told TechCrunch.
Double Helix Games was founded seven years ago with the merger of two studios — The Collective and Shiny Entertainment. The two studios have a proven record with popular games such as Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Earthworm Jim.
Rumors of Amazon building a video game console are now legitimate. Amazon has a game studio in Irvine, California but it has been quiet since 2012 when it launched a social game development office.
According to rumors, Amazon plans to develop a video game console in the near future. The rumored console will run on Android and allow streaming games.
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I BELIEVE I'll have another beer!
after 18 hours in the smoker and 6 in the oven on low heat:
I BELIEVE I'll have another beer!
a bit dry. after 18 hours I couldn't get it up past 170, even had it wrapped for 5 hours when it hit 160 and the smoker going 300. at 1am I said **** it, took the butt to the oven and left it there in low heat. after 5 hours I woke up and checked that it read 205. took it out, let it sit then went back to bed.
I think I'm done doing anything that takes more than half a day. such a waste of coals for a smoker that leaks like a sieve.
I'm getting some fiberglass rope to plug up the holes soon.
I BELIEVE I'll have another beer!
Last shoulder I did took 24 hours. Thought it would never get done. It was the entire thing, butt and picnic together. Tasted awesome and fed an army of folks.
Doing some beef dino bones today.
24 hours??? holy schnikies.
I BELIEVE I'll have another beer!
Where to get good, fat, meaty (buffalo-sized) chicken wings for the grill?
Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Bullets are cheap. Life is priceless.
I use Bad Byron's Butt Rub and add a little heat (cayenne). 2 hours smoke, 2 hours wrapped with brown sugar, honey, Tiger Sauce and Parkay, apple juice @ 225. Then 1/2 hour with Bone Suckin' bbq sauce directly on the grill.
Something like this but no agave, laying it meat side down with tight wrap and a little apple juice


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XC: At the Iona Meet of Championships (9/21), crossed the line in 27.30.3 for 99th place...covered 8k in 27:35.3 at Lehigh's Paul Short Run (10/5)...posted a PR of 25:59.4 at the Pre-National Invitational (10/19), finishing in an impressive 24th place overall...97th place in 26:25.2 at the ACC Championships (11/1)...covered 10k in 31:44.2 to place 77th at the NCAA Division 1 Northeast Regional Championships (11/15).
Indoor T&F: Opened the season with a 7th place finish in the 3,000m (8:41.13) at the Battle in Beantown (1/18)...clocked a season best time in the mile (4:20.13) at the BU John Thomas Terrier (1/24-25)...placed 48th in the 5,000m at BU David Hemery Valentine (2/7-8), crossing the line in 14:59.93...PR of 8:40.67 in the 3,000m at the BU Scarlet and White (2/15)...competed in the 5,000m at the ACC Championships (2/27-3/1), placing 34th in 15:00.28...at the IC4A Championships (3/7-9), helped the DMR place 14th in a time of 10:16.10.
Outdoor T&F: 2nd place finish in the 10,000m at the Raleigh Relays (3/28-29), posting a PR of 31:16.75...ran a season best in the 5,000m (14:57.44) to place 40th at the ACC Championships (4/17-19)...12th in the 1,500m (4:02.43) at the Stonehill Skyhawk Invite...won the 10,000m at the New England Championships (5/8-9), covering the distance in 31:17.08...recipient of the Athletic Director's Award for Academic Achievement.
XC: Season debut at Lehigh's Paul Short Run (9/28), crossing the line in 27:38.5 for 314th place...posted a personal best time of 25:54.0 at the New England Championships (10/7)...102nd place in 27:52.0 at the ACC Championships (10/27).
Indoor T&F: Crossed the line in 8:59.99 for 3,000m at the Dartmouth Relays (10/13)...placed 20th in the mile (4:26.91) at the BU Multi-Team Meet (1/17)...posted a PR of 4:15.91 in the mile at the BU Terrier Classic (1/25-26)...2nd place finish in the 3,000m (8:45.28) at the Tufts Cupid Challenge (2/11)...ran a PR of 8:41.50 in the 3,000m at the ACC Championships (2/21-23), placing 27th overall...concluded the season at the IC4A Championships (3/1-3), DMR placed 13th in a time of 10:02.97.
Outdoor T&F: Clocked a 5,000m PR in the first meet of the season at the Raleigh Relays (3/29-30), finishing 7th in 14:44.17...34th in the 1,500m (4:03.10) at the Sam Howell Invitational (4/5-6)...placed 30th in the 5,000m (15:00.31) at the ACC Championships (4/18-20)...ran the 1,500m in 4:02.04 at the Skyhawk Invitational (4/26)...doubled at the New England Championships (5/9-11), posting a PR of 4:00.26 in the 1,500m and crossing the line in 15:27.31 for 23rd place in the 5,000m.
AS A FRESHMAN (2011-12) XC: Scored fourth for BC at the NCAA Northeast Regional (11/12), clocked at a 10K PR of 33:40.3...turned in a personal record of 26:04.0 at the ACC Championship (10/29)...scored fifth for BC at the New England Championship (10/8), crossing in 27:17...clocked a 27:14.90 in the Iona Meet of Champions (9/17). Indoor T&F: Set a personal record of 8:43.51 in the 3,000-meter run at the ACC Championship (2/25)...posted a 4:27.06 in the mile and a 10:08.26 with the distance medley at the BU Valentine Invitational (2/10-11)...lowered 3,000-meter run PR to 8:43.93 at the BU Terrier Classic (1/27)...took seventh in the mile (4:19.59) at the BU Multi-Team Meet (1/19)...finished in sixth at the Dartmouth Relays (1/8) 3,000-meter competition at 8:46.11. Outdoor T&F:Contested the New England 5,000-meter Championship in 15:10.71 (5/10-12)...ran 15:43.04 in the 5,000 at the ACC Championship (4/20)...set a PR of 4:05.26 in the metric mile at the Princeton Sam Howell Invitational (4/6-7)...took third in the 5K with a personal-best of 14:59.01 at the Raleigh Relays (3/30-31).
BEFORE BCTwo-time All-California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section honoree, earning honors in junior and senior seasons...earned First-Team All-League honors in cross country and outdoor track as a junior...ran four years of cross country, indoor track and outdoor track under Jon Sutherland and Joe McNabb at Notre Dame High School...was a captain for the Running Knights'...as a senior: led Notre Dame to a fourth place finish at the CIF State Championship, took third at the CIF Sectional Meet and led the Knights to victory at the prestigious Mt. Sac Sweepstakes with the third fastest time ever by a D-III program...graduated Magna Cum Laude.
PERSONAL The younger of Jane and Christopher Lucas' two children...has an older sister, Cristina...enrolled in the College of Arts & Sciences.
4:00.26 - New England's (5/8/2013)
10:06.74 - Raleigh (3/29/2013)
14:44.17 - Raleigh (3/28/2014)
31:16.75 - Pre-National Invit. (10/19/2013)
31:55.2 - NCAA Regional (11/15/2013)
PRs at Notre Dame 800: 1:59 1600: 4:18.5 3000: 8:42 3200: 9:24


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|Jendaya Lee
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|Member Since
|Aug 08, 2011
|Votes Received
About me ,# 1 I love reading and writing # 2 I love perving jokes but think they are disgusting # 3 I luv singing # 4 rhianna and nikki minaj are my idols fire music # 5 if I could marry any famous person it would be taylor lautner (yummy) # 6 I <3 twilight saga # 7 I luv werewolf and vamps # 8 werewolf genes should run through me cause that's how much I luv them # 9 luvin on people from yo brothers bed with him on top yum (hahahaha) # 10 will be kind to friends all loves that im me
e.s.m.e.w- sequel to (cyjbcwdb)the war is over or is it? the people of goungela are at peace or are they ? take a journey through Conner and Haliey's childrens eyes. for the first time in h... read more
cant you just be calm werewolves don't bite!?OK so two people who are bad asses are mates and one is the next in line but cant tell anyone and the council is out for their heads so the... read more


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8 Benefits of Spinach
1. Loaded with Vitamins: like A, K, D, and E and a host of trace minerals.
2. Good Source of Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
3. Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Antioxidants: Researchers have identified more than a dozen different flavonoid compounds in spinach that function as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents.
4. Alkalizes the Body: All those minerals helps to balance off the highly acid diet which most of us subject our bodies to and which drains our energy, increases obesity and a creates host of other health problems.
5. Nourishes the Eyes: The carotenoids found in spinach protect against eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
6. Strengthens the Bones: One cup of fresh spinach (or 1/6 cup of cooked spinach) contains TWICE your daily vitamin K needs. This along with the calcium and magnesium in spinach is essential to maintain healthy bones.
7. Perfect for Green Smoothies and Salads: If you haven't yet tried a green smoothie yet and think they might taste yucky then try one with the main ingredient as spinach. Spinach is so sweet, I guarantee you will be impressed.
8. Spinach is FRESH! Studies have shown that even the artificial light in the grocery store shining on those plastic tubs of spinach can actually help keep the leaves from spoiling. This indicates the spinach is still metabolically active and fresh.
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Topping out on a new line at Shitlington
© SteveSBlake, May 2011
Route: Old Dog
Climbers: Steve Blake
Camera used: Nikon D80


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Chapter 4:
Besides roads other traditional themes in visitor services commanded attention in the first decade of the park's management. In national parks, visitors had come to expect lodging and other amenities. The demand for them and their related costs varied widely throughout the park system. In some areas the Park Service has constrained private businesses and investors, while in others it has encouraged them or even provided its own services. By the 1960s, the national parks provided visitor services under a number of schemes: 1) by private construction, ownership, and operation of hotels and other facilities; 2) by government ownership and private operation; 3) by government ownership and operation; or 4) by government ownership and non-profit or cooperative operation. [1] The concessions in North Cascades followed the first and second schemes.
In 1965, several years before the creation of North Cascades, Congress passed the National Park Concession Policy Act that mandated stricter controls and uniformity of national park concessions. The law grew out of a lingering suspicion that somehow it is wrong for the federal government to grant a business exclusive rights to provide services in a park and to profit from it. The 1965 law directed that park concessionaires would contract with the Park Service to offer prescribed services to the public at rates set by the agency. In doing so, Congress formally established a controlled marketplace in which concession owners worried less about business competition than they did about their contractual rights and obligations. The law assured concessionaires a "reasonable opportunity" for making a profit "commensurate with the capital invested," but all too often the Park Service seemed to dictate their profit margins. [2]
Generally, the Park Service and those who owned or ran concessions within the park complex have not clashed in the same way that well-entrenched concessionaires have in older parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite. At the same time, when the Park Service took over management of the North Cascades from the Forest Service, it inherited concession-type operations, most of which had been there for some time. There were three in Ross Lake NRA: Ross Lake Resort, Diablo Lake Resort, and Newhalem Resort; and one in Lake Chelan NRA: the Stehekin Landing. These were existing businesses that operated under Forest Service special use permits, rather than concession contracts, since the bureau did not have a concessions policy. While it was Park Service policy to convert these permits into concession contracts, park managers did not attempt this change immediately. According to the park's enabling legislation, park managers were to honor these permits and essentially live with what came with the new parkland. [3]
This state of affairs did not mean that the agency assumed a passive role when it came to concessions in the park complex. The relationship between the Park Service and concession operators was mutually beneficial. The Park Service relied on the services concessionaires provided to make the remote region more accessible and enjoyable for tourists. In the Skagit Valley this took on added importance when Highway 20 opened and large-scale visitor accommodations at Roland Point and the Ruby Mountain tram were delayed. The most critical area was Stehekin, a tourist destination since the turn of the century where visitors were dependant almost entirely upon services provided by the local community. In the early 1970s, for example, the Park Service worked with operators to upgrade facilities and make sure concessions met agency standards. On the one hand this meant that the agency supplied the Diablo Lake Resort with a new septic sewer system and the Stehekin Landing with a new sewer and new water system. On the other hand, it terminated the permit for the shabby Newhalem Resort. [4]
The success of these concessions and their relationship with the Park Service were a rather mixed lot. In some cases, the Forest Service legacy posed problems. The Ross Lake Resort, for example, was a sound business. It was located on the southern shore of Ross Lake just above the dam. In operation since the early 1950s, the resort was entirely afloat financially and physically. It maintained a collection of floating cabins, docks, and a fleet of small rental boats, among other facilities, and offered its clientele lake sightseeing and fishing opportunities. Its owner, Wayne Dameron, had managed to succeed by maintaining a rather small operation and attracting patrons who returned on an annual basis. Dameron and the Park Service clashed, however, when Dameron wanted to expand with an eye to taking over the concession at Roland Point. [5]
In 1970, Dameron insisted that his previous negotiations with the Forest Service in the mid-1950s and his subsequent 1962 permit granted him the right -- without seeking Park Service approval -- to build sixteen new floating cabins and to set up operations at May Creek (near Roland Point) as the sole concession, to which he claimed he had "prior rights." Park managers were skeptical that the Roland Point development would become a reality because of City Light's High Ross plans, and because they doubted he could handle such a large operation. They also worried that the agency would be legally obligated to buy the cabins from Dameron should it cancel his permit to prevent his expansion. [6]
Underlying these matters was something more important than Dameron's abilities or the future of Ross Lake. The exchange revealed the Park Service's attempt to exercise its authority over concessionaires in the park complex, especially those, like Dameron, who were under old Forest Service permits. After consulting with the agency's solicitor and concessions division, park officials successfully resolved the issue in their favor. In January 1971, Superintendent White notified the concessioner that he did not have "previous approval to construct any cabins or facilities without written permission" from the Park Service, and for that matter without an approved site plan. (Apparently, the agency also revoked any rights Dameron may have had to the Roland Point concession.) Simultaneously, White overturned an earlier decision denying Dameron's request to construct two new floating cabins. Confident now in his ability to control the concessioner, the superintendent was willing to sanction plans for improving overnight lodging. [7]
The Park Service had a slightly different relationship with the Diablo Lake Resort. Like the Ross Lake Resort, the Diablo Lake Resort began its operations in the mid-1950s under a Forest Service special use permit. It was a family-owned and operated business, run by Howard Bradley, his wife and son. Bradley's concession was located on the northern shore of Diablo Lake, just below Ross Dam. The site, buildings, and facilities had been a construction camp for Seattle City Light's dam-building projects, all of which Bradley had converted into a modest business that offered housekeeping cabins, a small marina, and a grocery store. Open in the summer, Bradley's resort was a small operation that supported his family. Its size and secluded atmosphere attracted families seeking a quiet and restful summer weekend or longer vacation. In season, hunting and fishing were the resort's primary attractions.
Unlike Ross Lake Resort, the Diablo Lake Resort was never a strong business after the establishment of the park in 1968 and came close to failing entirely throughout the 1970s. The reasons for the business's decline seemed to be linked to poor planning and overextended finances. Both Bradley and the Park Service anticipated increased visitation once Highway 20 was completed and that the resort would play a major role in providing visitor accommodations and services in the new park. For this reason, Bradley appears to have been anxious to expand and improve his resort. He wanted to construct a restaurant, store, and new cabins (thirty). He also wanted to add a swimming pool, kid's trout pond, and playground; provide rental horses; renovate the twenty existing cottages; and upgrade the water system, among other general and related improvements. The Park Service supported Bradley's plans and produced a development concept plan in 1971 that essentially covered these proposals and projected their completion. [8]
There were questions, however, about just how much the resort should expand and what its long-term role in serving park visitors would be. The Park Service's plan, for example, suggested that after the highway was completed, the resort would serve an "immediate need for accommodations and services in the recreation area." In the future, though, other Park Service projects -- those at Roland Point and Newhalem -- would become the major centers of visitor services, and thus Diablo Lake Resort would continue to function as a small vacation retreat. Bradley, though, seems to have thought his business would continue to grow and be central to the park's visitor services. For this reason, perhaps, in the early 1970s he financed the initial phase of his expansion, a new restaurant, for a large sum of money -- $180,000 -- which after construction delays (brought on by an environmental impact statement and poor plans) and other financial obligations increased to $250,000 by 1973. As it turned out, Bradley's restaurant, which opened in June 1975, never produced the revenues necessary to make his loan payments, and by the late 1970s Bradley was putting his failed business up for sale. [9]
Bradley and the Park Service apparently made poor assumptions about what the new park and renovations to the resort would bring. Although agency officials questioned the size of Bradley's restaurant (which would seat seventy-five people) and its related costs, they supported Bradley's plan and converted his special use permit to a concession contract in 1974. Superintendent White believed, as Bradley did, that the restaurant was generally a sound idea; it would serve the resort's overnight guests as well as bus tour groups and other travelers on the new highway. An estimated 10,000 people a day would pass over the new road. With his closest competition being in Marblemount, Bradley could also expect to attract local residents employed by Seattle City Light and living in Newhalem and Diablo. Finally, as the resort expanded, the restaurant would come to rely less on highway business and more on its overnight guests. Needless to say, these expectations fell short of reality. Poor signing and difficult highway access, among other things, plagued the business, and in the coming years park officials would work with Bradley and the resort's subsequent owners to resolve these problems. [10]
Of all the concessions in the park, Stehekin's was the most important. Stehekin's popularity increased dramatically once the park complex was established. But it was also remote, accessible only by boat, small plane, foot, or horse, and visitors depended more on the services offered here than elsewhere in the new parkland. Most summer visitors, for example, traveled uplake from Chelan on the vessel Lady of the Lake, a four hour trip, and returned the same day, spending less than two hours in the valley. Some two hundred passengers arrived at the landing together and toured by bus or other means as many sights as they could see in a limited amount of time. Others, planning longer trips, ventured up the valley and into the backcountry for extended backpacking or horseback trips, or simply spent the night at Stehekin Landing where they could find lodging and food. In short, Stehekin was the central gateway for all visitors entering or leaving the southern section of the park complex, and thus its services were a key management concern.
Agency officials decided that their best option for controlling and managing visitor services in Stehekin was to acquire some of the existing businesses at the landing and lease them to concessionaires. By 1970, the Park Service purchased the landing's three private resorts: the Golden West Lodge, the Stehekin Boatel and Cafe, and the Swissmont Lodge. [11] The agency's master plan called for improving the landing area to handle the larger numbers of visitors expected to arrive as the reputation of the new park spread. The long-range goal was to reserve the landing area -- with its limited space -- for existing day-use activities of the Stehekin community and incoming tourists, and relocate overnight accommodations away from the village. However, in these early years, the agency continued the services much as they were to meet the immediate needs of park visitors.
At the same time, agency officials worked to consolidate and improve the lodging, food, and other services available at the landing. By the early 1970s, they had reached an important step in this process when the use-and-occupancy leases retained by the owners of the Swissmont and Golden West lodges expired. The owner of the Boatel, Curt Courtney, had sold his property outright to the Park Service. Afterwards, the Park Service closed the Golden West to overnight lodging; the old hotel and its related cabins and outbuildings required extensive renovations to meet Park Service standards for which the agency did not have the funding. Instead, it was converted into an interpretive facility and visitor center.
Perhaps the most significant change came when park managers combined the Boatel and Swissmont into one concession, which came to be known as the North Cascades Lodge. As Superintendent Lowell White recalled, it seemed to be a practical and efficient way to operate the visitor services at the landing. Both park managers and a number of Stehekin residents believed that a single concessioner would help bring some sense of order and decorum to the landing. Prior to the Park Service assuming control of the businesses there, the landing had the atmosphere of "a three-ring circus" or "a zoo," some residents complained. "One summer," according to one account, "the competing businesses installed loudspeakers at the landing, and each tried to outdo the others in luring the boat passengers in for lunch and lodging. Lodge employees were sent out to greet passengers and direct them to one lodge or another." [12] As one park staffer observed, this type of activity hardly impressed upon the visitor the atmosphere of a national park; to the contrary, the whole appearance conjured up images of one's arrival in "Shang-Hai, or some other similar city!" [13]
Finding the right concessioner for the landing also figured prominently in consolidating services at the landing. The landing's early concessionaires, Stan Hutson who operated the Swissmont (or Stehekin Landing Concession) and John O.E. Moore who operated the Boatel, seemed to have performed poorly in the close-knit Stehekin community and the limitations imposed by the valley's physical environment. [14] By 1972 both had sold their operations to Robert Byrd, a long-time Stehekin resident. In his selection of Byrd for the Stehekin Landing concession, Superintendent White noted that Byrd had the experience to operate the concession. He had been operating the shuttle bus and rafting trips down the Stehekin River for two seasons. He had innovative ideas for improving and adding public services, and he "worked extremely well with the National Park Service." Above all, White stated, Byrd's familiarity with Stehekin life was central to his decision. (Byrd's uncle was Ray Courtney, an influential and respected valley resident.) According to the superintendent,
At first, White's faith in Byrd seemed well placed. In addition to food and lodging, Byrd offered a variety of services, including a shuttle bus, bicycle rentals, float trips, boat rentals, gasoline, and a Rainbow Falls bus trip. Byrd also complied with the Park Service's desire to keep the restaurant open throughout the year as a service to local residents, as a way to strengthen community relations, though often at a financial loss. But in 1976 Byrd's relationship with the Park Service soured, and the main reason White valued Byrd as a concessioner -- his local connections -- became the source of tension. Rather than acting as a unifying force in the community, Byrd seemed intent on dividing the community and pitting it against the Park Service.
On the surface, the rift was triggered by the Park Service's decision to take over the shuttle bus system from Byrd. The Park Service based its decision on a 1976 transportation study that, in general, recommended improvements in the valley's shuttle system to both expand the service and make it more efficient. In doing so, the agency could accomplish two things: provide better transportation for visitors and attempt to decrease residential traffic. The agency would charge a nominal fee to visitors and provide the service free to residents. [16]
Byrd, however, interpreted the agency's actions as an infringement on his rights as the owner of a private business. Moreover, he believed that the Park Service's plans portended more serious threats to the unique way of life in Stehekin. As the federal government slowly and, in his mind, secretly wrested control from individuals, their livelihoods and independence (namely the freedom to drive where and when they pleased) would be restricted. Byrd expressed his views at public meetings and in regional newspapers. What began as a critique of the Park Service's plans for the shuttle system soon extended to include nearly every aspect of the agency's presence in, and its plans for, the valley. Ultimately, he concluded that the federal government's only virtuous act would be for the Park Service to relinquish control of most services and management tasks to valley residents and businesses. [17]
Regional Director Russell Dickenson assured Byrd that the Park Service would work to improve its communications with him and other Stehekin residents as well as include them in the agency's planning efforts. For his part, Superintendent White agreed with Dickenson, but he also thought that Byrd's complaints stemmed from his inability to deal with a bureaucracy and a general misunderstanding of how the relationship between the Park Service and a concession operator functioned. It was mutually beneficial; each one helped the other and one depended on the other. White noted, for example, that nearly all of the Stehekin District's operations and development funds had been spent on the landing itself and valley road and directly aided Byrd's concession. Among these improvements were two sets of public docks at the landing, a remodeled restaurant and restrooms, a new sewer and water system, improved cold storage facilities, alternate power and energy sources (propane gas), landscaping, and general road maintenance and renovations of the valley road. In return, the North Cascades Lodge provided park visitors modest amenities that would enable them to enjoy the park for short or long periods of time.
Despite attempts to resolve their differences, the Park Service and Robert Byrd parted ways in the late 1970s. [18] Byrd apparently did not renew his temporary concessions permit and negotiations for a five-year concessions contract, begun in November 1976, failed. Thus, it seems, Byrd walked away from the business, and in October 1977, the North Cascades Lodge closed. By the following spring, however, the Park Service had awarded a new concession contract to Gary Gibson and Randall Dinwiddie, who reopened the lodge on a limited schedule in March 1978 and by the summer visitor season had it open full time. [19]
Last Updated: 14-Apr-1999


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Top Five Toys Every One-Year Old Should Own
We've been keeping a list of things we'd like our daughter to have for her first birthday, so we were interested in this article we found over at Celebrations.com. Just what is on their list of the top five toys every one-year old should own and how does it compare with ours? Take a look...
They've got:
1. Ikea Ekorre Walker. Yup- that made our list too!
2. School of Fish. It's bath toys. That didn't make our list, but probably because we've already got a few of the latest bath toys from Boon.
3. Alphabet Blocks from Land of Nod. Yes! We did have a quality set of first wooden blocks on our list.
4. Dwell Soft Stacker. This one didn't make our list, but it's a nice idea- though we feel it could be introduced sooner than 1.
5. Bubbles. The author of the article recommends non-toxic bubbles available from Gymboree. Another nice idea that hadn't made our list.
A few other things we have on our own list:
1. A chair that's all her own, most likely something like this.
2. A growth chart- haven't decided on this one yet.
3. A first dollhouse- something small and soft.
4. A bookshelf that allows her to easily take out her books or put them away.
What about you? What's was or is on your list?
Thanks to Celebrations.com for their roundup.
22 Comments
wooden blocks
table and chairs
wooden train
soft balls (ikea has some plush balls just the right size!)
fisher price ring stacker
I'd say any stacker would fit the bill.
We're really happy with this one from Fisher Price:
Endless possibilities!
For both my children, I used a storage tub for the books. I have a bin that is 21 long x15 wide x6 deep. The children flip through them and they can put them away themselves easily. I recently got a bookshelf for my daughter (5) and she has so many of those thin scholastic books, I bought some magazine holders to put them in. My toddler still uses the bin system and is quite good at cleaning up his books.
My first one love her push cart and played with it daily from 8 months to 2 years. My daughter received a big bin of quatro sized legos and a wooden train set on her first birthday that have seen lots of action with both children over the past 5 years.
My first wasn't so keen on balls, but my littlest can't seem to get enough of them.
Both children received growth charts as gifts. My 5 year old loves hers. I regularly see her studying it seeing how she's changed. The 2 year old hasn't noticed his really. It is probably something they'll enjoy as they get older.
I agree with the children's table and chairs. It is nice for them to have a place of their own like that. Both our kids have bean bags in their rooms in their reading nooks which they to go and have some quiet time so I have to say a chair of ones own is nice too.
Yes there are plenty of things for 1 year olds. I would not call anything an essential bcs every child is different. Some like certain things more than others.
Regarding the chair on the list, I bought one from Piccolino which is a modern looking one (prefer to the PB one) I have to let you know that they are for children over 2 years old, bcs what a year old can do with it, can endanger themselves. I let my son sit in it and now after having it for two months he understands that it is for sitting in, but a few weeks back he thought it was for climbing up the walls and therefore fall. Anyways, a good rule of thumb is never leave your 12 month old unattended, which I am sure you do, so you should be good.
my daughter is almost 1 and these are her faves:
brightly colored wooden blocks
a good solid push toy with a place for her "baby"
letter and number flashcards
books, books and more books
In response to Anusha73, we have purchased PB My First Anywhere Chair for both of our girls when they turned one, and have never had any problems. The girls both love them, my oldest is now 5 and still sits in hers. The smaller size is perfect for a toddler. I would completely disagree that they are for 2 years and up, at least in reference to the PB Anywhere Chair.
The growth charts from Rag and Bone Bindery are lovely.
Re: the IKEA walker
We have one for our kids, and it is a cool retro design, but terrible as a walker. It is too light, and tips if the beginning walker grips the handlebar too hard unless it is weighted down with something very heavy (we found we had to use hardcover books).
We eventually got them a heavy wood walker, and saved the IKEA one for later.
I would add a Wheely Moo or Wheely Bug to that list, as well as Spiel and Holz stacking toys (the rainbow, waves, etc.).
Eeboo has lovely wall charts.
DS just turned 2.
His (and our) top five favorites from the last year, most of which are non-Chinese, non-toxic and high quality:
Haba Jumbo Pegboard
Stacking and Nesting Blocks
Cheaper version: http://www.amazon.com/eeBoo-Read-Me-Tot-Towers/dp/B001FND36O/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1246311916&sr=1-9 or wooden version http://www.amazon.com/Square-Color-Sorting-Creative-Blocks/dp/B000Y2IQ2S/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1246311822&sr=1-8
Blocks with alphabet & animals
He still uses all of the above.
Plus honorable mentions for:
push toy like this
animal figurines like Schliech or Safari (both MIC but phylate free)
and some beautiful building blocks
Besides the basics?
One of the BEST, and I mean BEST BEST BEST, purchases I ever made was a modular soft climber. You could just use pieces separately on the floor as an obstacle course for crawlers, bigger configurations for cruisers, and a one-set like a pyramid for toddlers to climb, walk, sit, and slide on. Or build blocks on.
I later paired it with a beginner's slide to make an indoor play gym.
Play food!
My son got the Ball Track Roll 'N Roll 'N Roll from Haba when he was just able to sit up. He "got" the idea of it immediately and has enjoyed it so much ever since (he just turned 3 and still loves it!)
I love the foam mats that link together. Once he got older I made a cube out of them and cut a hole for him to crawl into. We now have pit balls in those. Thought about getting more to make a bigger space for him. He also loves blocks, bats, balls and play phones. I heard that the PB chair flips over eaisly. My son also loves...and has for a long time.... PLAYSKOOL BUSY BASICS BUSY BALL POPPER
http://www.hasbro.com/shop/browse/?N=0&Ntk=All&Ntt=06104&Ntx=mode matchallpartial
my daughter was the lucky recipient of the little tykes yellow plastic shopping cart that my grandmother has had in her home for many years. that cart has been through several of my grandmother's grandkids and great-grandkids and has been a huge help in the just-learning-to-walk stage for all of them. added bonus - my now 3 year old is into "shopping" with her play food and taking her baby dolls to target in the cart.
Etsy.com has some of the best growth charts I've seen, you might have to search a little to go past the cheesy ones, but you will definitely find really cool growth charts, lI personally like this one for my 14 month old
my 1 years olds newest favorite toy is an empty bottle of Boost (with extra protein). She can sit for (what seems like) hours and just put the lid on and off.
She also loves light switches. And shoes.
...Perhaps I should take a closer look at the suggestions above. :-)
but how does she reach the light switches?
I'm super-pleased to see that no one is recommending anything involving batteries, obnoxious noises, etc. (I work in a child development clinic, and it drives me CRAZY that parents of all classes and educational levels have bought in to the idea that toddlers need videos and beeping toys rather than hands-on stuff).
Sophia, by a little over a year, an average kid should figure out to use a simple tool, such as using a ruler or similar object to turn light switches on! (Also to retrieve items from under or behind something.) Right around a year, they'd likely need to have the tool visible in order to think of it. Closer to 18 months, most will think to get tools to do something they're really motivated to do.
Oh, I'd also add good-quality musical instruments that can be played correctly by a tot. Westmusic.com is my favorite source. African or Latin American drums are great, maracas, tambourines, a pentatonic xylophone. Go for low-end professional instruments and skip the toy instruments (which cost the same or more as real ones and are usually pieces of crap) as well as anything like a guitar or diatonic glockenspiel that they're not going to be able to play correctly. Toddlers love start/stop activities and soft/loud activities using instruments.
Oh, and this bookshelf:
is great for toddlers, since the covers are all in view and it doesn't involve fine motor skills above their level like putting books in a shelf does. Also easy to make, if you want to use different wood or fabric.
When I was little, I loved light switches also, so my dad made me a toy that was basically a cube with light switches on three sides and three little lights on the others. It was the best thing ever!
eeka- the tool my daughter has found that helps her get to the lightswitches is my husband. She points and yells "light- light-light" over and over again and raises her arms in the air to him until he picks her up to reach them. I love jancolas idea. Sounds like a science project I did in 4th grade. She'd probably love it. I doubt my hubby would be able to figure out how to make it though. He's not so handy. maybe I'll get her a flashlight though!


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Mali: Not a Fragile State, Yet | allAfrica
Drissa Keita, 42, fled south to Bamako, the capital of Mail, with 18 family members when Islamist extremists overran Gao in the northeast in early April. Once a civil servant, he now lives eight to a room in his brother's house, without electricity. "Conditions are very difficult… I want to return - all of my children were born in Gao - but we can't go back [while it is] under the current regime."
Thousands of families in Bamako and other cities are facing the same challenge: how to accommodate and care for dozens of extra relatives, mostly children, when they are already struggling to cope with high food prices and too little income. Conflict across the north has displaced some 70,000 Malians, who are now mainly living in Bamako and Mopti, an inland port on the Niger River in central Mali.
Photo: Arensond/ wikimedia commons


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Johanna. 25. Chicago. Warrior-writer and adventure-nanny. Gryffindor. Connosieur of mermaid myths and bargain champagne. Narrative junkie. Possibly a swamp monster. Has fallen off more than one stage. Once walked six miles through Kumamoto, Japan without any shoes on because I was too proud to ask for directions home. Good at getting lost. Can make a cocktail out of anything. Arbiter of Fry Law. Namesake of the Sexy Strouse. Fluent at flirting in French. Fluent at apologizing in Japanese. Overthinks. Overdresses. Oversleeps.
My fic // My 8tracks // Theme Songs
I think it's about time for someone to mention that the actors dress themselves on TLBD. So like not only did DVG (maybe) choose these clothes himself: they are clothes he already owned. IDK just felt like someone should mention it so we're not all surprised by whatever eldritch horror he comes up with next.


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Based on the Pool Night map from Counterstrike, map includes five spawn points and twenty player starts. The map has movable toilet doors and working toilets, the large pool contains a LAM and there's also a kid's pool which contains a gas grenade!


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Brooklyn, New York
Word to Method Man. Hey, we love ya, but it's time to go to Maui and take some time away. Is there any guest on the mic you've turned down? Next year do we get the Pete Seeger duet, "This Land Is Your Motherfuckin' Land"?
Ken Capobianco
Brighton, Massachusetts
If one in 10 people is gay, and there are at least 10 members of the Wu-Tang Clan, does that mean that one of the Wu rappers is queer? Who is it? Raekwon the Chef? Ol' Dirty? The RZA?
Jay Ruttenberg
Highland Park, Illinois
Dead: Biggie
Bitchslap me Jesus through the goalposts of life: Puffy
Just a gigolo: Kid Rock
Rob Sheffield
Charlottesville, Virginia
Suge Knight, anyone?
Jon Caramanica
Once artists like Stevie Wonder and EWF wrote magical songs, jammed live, and toured. Now Mint Condition is the only r&b band on a major label, three guys write damn near all the songs, and nobody toursnot that anyone under 25 gives a damn.
Franklin Paul
Kew Gardens, New York
Destiny's Child and She'kspere have taken jungle's fierce nervous-wreck rhythms and made actual pop out of them, whilst not sounding remotely like jungle.
Scott Woods
Toronto, Canada
By redefining cool away from mere beauty and becoming the first "girl group" not to let cutting-edge r&b production overwhelm their message, TLC made the year's most subversive record.
Britt Robson
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Got no money, got no car, got no womanthere I are. Hate to come off as a huffy, downwardly mobile, voluntarily bike-riding, involuntarily celibate man-as-victim, but "No Scrubs" is classist just as sure as Jay-Z is sexist.
Keith Harris
Minneapolis, Minnesota
True Divaness arrived in the form of Angie Stone, who's always been around, but never quite appreciated, like most good women. Black Diamond was the last great makeout record of the millennium. But the righteous sister award is shared with Meshell Ndegéocello's Bitter. I could come home totally content from an evening's merriment at 2 a.m., put it on, and by 2:20 be in a fit of anguishchain-smoking, drinking rotgut left over from the Christmas party, running up my long-distance bill.
Lissa Townshend Rodgers
Macy Gray is the exact opposite of what a black female singer is expected to sound like, almost abrasively so, and I like that. She's also not whining about scrubs or bills.
Greg Casseus
Cesaria Evora's voice is a plaintive wonder that carried me across oceans and into a better understanding of the world and myself. Her Town Hall concert this fall made me flash on the freeze-dried performances that are passed off these days as soul. This was the real thingsimple, direct, as warm as a lover's eyes.
Nelson George
Brooklyn, New York
Mos Def Black on Both Sides (rawkus) 20
Femi Kuti Shoki Shoki (barclay) 14
The Roots Things Fall Apart (mca) 13
Styles of Beyond 2000 Fold (ideal) 12
Mobb Deep Murda Muzik (loud) 11
Tony Allen Black Voices (comet) 10
Prince Paul A Prince Among Thieves (tommy boy) 5
Kelis Kaleidoscope (virgin) 5
Breakbeat Era Ultra-Obscene (xl) 5
Ol' Dirty Bastard N***a Please (elektra) 5
If Fiona Apple was a black girl, she'd be considered the second coming of a choirload of soul giants.
Dimitry Elias Léger
Brooklyn, New York
With the exception of Mary, the best soul singer out there is Fiona, whose support in that so-called urban community is the great secret of the industry. I am offering my not-so-cheap-anymore time to Epic Records. It's the Fiona Apple Street Team. Our goal: Get that skinny white bitch on Hot 97.
Amy Linden
Brooklyn, New York
I hate to give such props to a white boy, but the second-best MC in hiphop is Eminem. He spits gory and funny little narratives with details and adjectives and long strings of badass, demented thoughts like no one since Big.
Brooklyn, New York
If hip hop is indeed the new rock 'n' roll (and has Timeever been wrong before?), then Eminem and Elvis differ in more than their taste in pharmaceuticals. Eminem's pale face remains an oddity in an umptillion-dollar industry. History never repeats itself exactly, and the differences are as instructive as the similaritiesa fact that those who toss around the word "minstrelsy" should remember.
Keith Harris
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Roots "You Got Me" (mca)
Lauryn Hill and Bob Marley "Turn the Lights Down Low" (columbia)
D'Angelo "Untitled" (virgin)
Dr. Dre "Still D.R.E." (aftermath/interscope)
Lauryn Hill "Everything Is Everything" (ruffhouse/columbia)
Common "1-9-9-9" (rawkus)
Angie Stone "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" (arista)
Jay-Z "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)" (def jam)
OutKast "Rosa Parks" (laface)
Mos Def "Ms. Fat Booty" (rawkus)
Rage Against the Machine are enemies of the hip-hop party. They're betraying the basic principles of DJ-lectic materialism: "All sounds made by guitar, bass, drum, and vocals." Didn't Comrade Chuck D reify Run-D.M.C.'s postulation that a DJ could be a band? This group is undoing the labors of 20 years! Reactionary swine! How dare they rock such bells!
Chris Norris
I don't get the complaints that Beck is making fun of the love-man mode. All the great love men got off on being funny. Prince knew he was funny ("Well, maybe not that ride"). Al Green knew he was funny ("Let's get married today, might as well"). Isaac Hayes knew he was funny ("If some chump would rip you off me, I wouldn't be responsible for my actions thereafter"). And Barry Whitewell, Barry White. Humor added to their vulnerability, their friendliness, their intimacy. Being funny is how Beck amplifies his cheesecake appeal.


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Perilously set on an outer bend of the River Vltava, Karlin suffered terrible damage during the floods of 2002. But this blue-collar industrial zone has rapidly recovered. The Karlin Music Theatre is the largest of many local nightspots providing light entertainment.
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On March 29th, children and parents filled the kindergarten for the pre-opening event where children full of excitement and energy will soon be running around.
On March 21st, the Besongabang Football for Hope Centre in Cameroon opened its doors with a grand opening ceremony. The whole community of Besongabang was here and the site could hardly fit everybody. The event featured local singers, dancers, and dignitaries as well as representatives of regional and national government, FIFA, streetfootballworld and others.
The MakiBiz Request for Proposal (RFP) program provides architectural and business support to help small and medium businesses build a sustainable and resilient future in Tohoku. Read about the 5 completed projects, and 4 more on their way!
The launch of our current MakiBiz Business Seminar Series: Using Design to Expand Your Market was held in February and has been a great hit! Participants have requested more sessions, and we are ramping up the seminars this month!


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shazzi's Event Journal
NY Harbor Tall Ship Cruises
Friday June 3, 2011 / 2:15pmNY Harbor Tall Ship Cruises
2 tickets
General Admission Special (Limit 2)
Battery Park and State Street
New York City, NY 10004
How was your experience?
It was wonderful. It helped that we had perfect weather and a less than full boat with plenty of room to move around, but it would have been great fun anyway. Friendly crew, lots of photo ops, great escape from the city streets.


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Did everyone just miss the line that Sherlock was helping John learn to dance in Baker Street and John remarked that Mrs Hudson walked in on them? I demand fanart.
I was re-watching 'The Sign of Three' and towards the end Sherlock mentions something about tutoring John how to dance. Waltz, if I'm correct.
And then, John said this:
John. Sherlock. Dancing together
I don't know how either
(Was he joking or did they really dance?)
My heart is torn apart.
Sherlock vulnerable, suffering, human.
Hiding his deep emotions.
Feeling things.
Feeling lonely.
Realizing John is everything he has.
And John, just moving on.
Ignoring Sherlock's loneliness.
This episode is so heart-breaking. First Sherlock dances, he worries about a speech, he abandones cases to prepare the wedding, John declares Sherlock is his best friend, they realize this wedding is an important step in their relationship, Sherlock pronounces the most beautiful speech ever, he resolves a case, he plays violin for John & Mary, he tells them he'll always be there for them, he deduces they'll have a child, he tells them they'll be the best parents ever and just leaves the wedding alone in the night because there's nobody to dance with him.
And this is just the second episode. The third will kill me.
I want to die now.
One week ago, I didn't think I could love Sherlock more than before.
I was wrong.
Girls, never cry over a guy.
Ok.. You just have the right to cry over Benedict Cumberbatch.
The Graham Norton Show S14E01
(Source: darlingbenny)
There's an international electricity failure, no network, nothing. Just the day of the Sherlock season 3 premiere.
No one can successfully kill Sherlock.
Not even Sherlock.
Not even Sherlock.
J: Back to bed. You'll be fine in the morning. Just sleep.
(Source: darlingbenny)
Take my dic-
Sherlock won't let anybody touch his dictionary. You can just as well forget about it.
Xl Patience isn't my speciality.
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ONCE UPON A TIME - "Good Form" - Emma Swan and Captain Hook share a passionate kiss. But does it mean more for either of them?
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Joel Graber's Fisher Classic was the sole airplane to fly in to Saturday's meeting at Starkville (August 30). A rainy forecast no doubt played a role. But we had the meeting and then drove to Mi Hacienda for lunch.
See more Oshkosh pictures (thanks to David Johnson and Austin Haney) under Photo Gallery / 2014 The oil temp gauge on the Taylorcraft quit working. Since I had to partially remove the panel to remove the old one I decided to do something about the flaking paint. It was a job to remove all the instruments, especially in the hot hangar, but it'll be worth it. The black wrinkle paint was coming off in big patches. While I was at it I installed new vinyl on the glare shield. I'm pleased with the final result.
Joel Graber has been flying his Fisher Classic, judging from the pictures he emailed. Someone else was enjoying the ride too. Joel and Sheila now have three daughters with the arrival of Delta Joy, born on Jule 30. He didn't say if she's flown yet, but I bet it won't be long. We had a good turnout Saturday at Paul Spurgeon's place (See minutes). See photos (thanks to Thomas Sippel, David Johnson, and Austin Haney); scroll down in Photo Gallery / 2014 to the Spurgeon fly-in. (New: See full-page Powerpoint presentation. The regular gallery presentation is there also.) Got to 'Videos' in main menu to see Avid Flyer doing a loop Saturday.
We helped Aero English celebrate his birthday Saturday, and it's always good to see Alan Henley. And we had three airplanes and four visitors from the Jasper, Alabama area. I know Ed Banks, who has visited with us several times over the years, but didn't get the others' names. And it is worth mentioning that we had two Octagenarians who flew in, and we also celebrated, with Andy and Nancy Fultz, their 28th Wedding Anniversary!
Part of the outside crowd Menu additions:
The A & P's, etc that were listed in this spot have been moved to the "Technical Assistance" category.
New: "Directions to Private Airstrips". This is a work in progress; let me know of any corrections that need to be made. Below: I rode in the front seat of Carey Hardin's Stearman in 2008 in formation with these three other beautiful ships. At right you see what Warren Arter calls his "Mississippi Wing Load Tester". Whatever works. Someone counted 92 at Saturday's fly-in at West Point. The weather was great – blue skies and white cumulus clouds. We enjoyed crawfish cooked in the best Louisiana tradition by Shane Lamkin. We thank the City of West Point and everyone connected with the event for making our fly-in a success. We were welcomed by West Point Mayor Robbie Robinson and Selectmen William Binder and Gary Dedeaux. Gary, as most of you know, is a Chapter 1189 member.
Eating crawfishAllen Pepper sent in this photo showing progress on his Challenger project. He hopes to fly it this summer. The Challenger XL-65 should be a good performer with an empty weight less than 600 lbs. It is an LSA; cruise speed is 90 mph.
Below: Artercub? Warren Arter is designing and building his version of the venerable Piper Cub. He has built several RV's and a Carbon Cub, and this appears to be a combination RV and Cub. Note all-metal wing. See 'Artercub' photo album (2013) for more pictures.
Chapter President Joel Graber sent me the following project updates: Billy and Greg at Lowndes County are deep into an RV-8 project. Shane at Lowndes Co is building a Legal Eagle. Seems to be working on it every day. Project can be seen at Tom's Paint (aka The Floor Gallery) on Gardner Blvd. Columbus. Kedric Borntrager at Macon just ordered a set of Double Eagle plans. Quinten worked all last week assembling the engine and installing it on his Pitts. Should be back in the air soon. There is work every Thursday evening at Paul Grabers hangar where we are restoring the Protech Prostar. Additionally, on Thursday evenings Gabriel Barnhart is building a Legal Eagle at Paul Grabers Daryl Schrock is every weekday working on the Glassair III at Macon. Bill Page and company appear to be still working hard on 2 legal eagles and 2 double eagles at Starkville.
Chapter member Darryl Schrock is building a Glasair III (below). See more photos in Photo Gallery menu (2013/glasair project). Note big 300 hp Lycoming. The Glasair III cruises well over 250 statute MPH.
Abolish third-class medicals? You've probably seen the EAA and AOPA sites this week. The big news is a bill introduced in the U.S. House Wednesday by Reps. Todd Rokita (R-IN) and Sam Graves (R-MO) that seeks to abolish the third-class medical certificate for many pilots who fly recreationally. The General Aviation Pilot Protection Act of 2013 (HR 3708), co-sponsored by Reps. Bill Flores (R-TX), Mike Pompeo (R-KS), Collin Peterson (D-MN), and Richard Hanna (R-NY), would require pilots who fly recreationally to hold a valid driver's license in lieu of a third-class medical certificate and operate under specific limitations. EAA and other aviation associations worked with Rep. Rokita to develop and promote this legislation as part of a continuing commitment to lowering barriers to aviation participation. Some of the limitations: Not for compensation Conducted in VFR operations only, at or below 14,000 feet MSL No faster than 250 knots In aircraft with no more than six seats and no more than 6,000 pounds gross takeoff weight. "The third-class medical certificate does little to evaluate the day-to-day fitness of pilots flying recreationally," said Sean Elliott, EAA vice president of advocacy and safety. "There are better ways to maintain high medical standards for aviation and allow individuals the freedom to enjoy the world of flight."
The EAA and the AOPA had petitioned the FAA to allow such a provision but the FAA has failed to act.


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3 Machinery Companies that You Must Buy as the Economy Improves
Madhukar is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinion of the blogger and are not formally edited.
Global economic recovery provides better future prospects for the machinery industry. According to the IMF, the world economy is expected to grow at a rate of 3.3% in 2013 and 4% in 2014. With this growth, the U.S. machinery industry is projected to grow at 1.9% this year and 3% in 2014. I have analyzed three machinery companies in this article, looking at their growth prospects for the long term.
New crane orders and Joint venture
The Manitowoc Company's (NYSE: MTW) crane segment reported net sales of $547.4 million in the first quarter of 2013, up 7.8% year-over-year. The sales were mainly driven by continuous growth in the American market and the rising demand in the emerging markets. This segment's growth prospects remain positive in North America.
ALL Erection and Crane Rental, the largest mobile and crawler crane rental operator in North America, placed orders for 10 new crawlers in March 2013. This was the largest crawler order for Manitowoc after the financial crisis in the U.S. ALL Erection also recently ordered 20 grove rough terrain cranes in addition to the 10 crawlers. The overall benefit to the company from the above orders will range between $30 million and $40 million.
On Jan. 29, 2013 Manitowoc entered into a joint venture with Shantui Construction Machinery, a Chinese construction equipment maker company for building mobile cranes. The joint venture will operate under the name Shantui Manitowoc Crane. In the newly formed entity, Shantui and Manitowoc will hold a 51% stake and a 49% stake, respectively. Operation of the joint venture will begin after approval by the government.
Initially the joint venture will produce four cranes: the GT8, GT10, GT20, and GT25. This venture will boost the sales of the Manitowoc Grove All Terrain and Rough Terrain cranes in China through Shantui's established dealer network. It will also result in the exit of Manitowoc's previous partner Tai'An Dongyue Heavy Machinery. Tai'An Dongyue's absence will boost Manitowoc's earnings before interest and tax by around $20 million annually.
Capacity expansion and dealer network progress
On May 8, 2013 AGCO (NYSE: AGCO) announced plans for an expansion of its manufacturing centre located at Jackson, MN to meet the growing demand of its high-quality tractors and equipment. AGCO reported that tractor sales in North America were up 13% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2013.
Under the expansion plans, the company will invest $42 million over the next three years. This investment will result in increasing its production capacity of tractors and sprayers by 25% while maintaining the quality of its products. The investment is planned in seven project phases. The first phase is planned to be completed by the end of this year, which will include expansion of the components manufacturing area by 30,000 square foot. This expansion will result in improving efficiency by reorganizing the flow of material to assembly stations and in increasing the capacity by 20%.
AGCO acquired GSI Holdings, manufacturer of grain storage and protein production systems, in 2011. GSI's acquisition has helped AGCO extend its reach in the agriculture industry by providing its customers with a wide range of products and services. Recently, a GSI grain storage dealer survey indicated that the demand for grain storage will be high in the second half of 2013. The combination of weaker grain prices along with an increase in chicken and hog prices are signs of good profitability for protein producers. If this trend continues, it will create a tailwind opportunity in the second half of 2013 for AGCO. Given the demand for grain storage and development in the protein space, GSI will contribute around 10% of AGCO's consolidated earnings in 2013.
Strong segment growth and restructuring plan
TEREX (NYSE: TEX) is present in more than 170 countries with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Asia, Australia and Europe. It has a dominant position in North American market due to the strong equipment rental channel demand in its Aerial Work Platform (AWP) segment. The company provides AWP equipment like scissor lifts and telescopic booms on a rental basis. The equipment rental market is growing because of consumer shifts toward renting equipment rather than owning it.
The revenue from the AWP segment increased 21% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2013. Furthermore, it is expected that this segment's revenue will grow 15% to 25%, with sales of $2 billion to $2.2 billion this year.
The Material Handling and Port Solutions (MHPS) segment of Terex is not performing well, due primarily to weakness in the Europe market as well as in other parts of the world. The company is planning to restructure its MHPS segment, resulting in the closure of production in Spain. Due to this restructuring plan, Terex will incur a cost of approximately $30 million to $50 million in the MHPS segment in the next quarter.
Terex's AWP segment's outstanding performance and its restructuring plans in the MHPS segment will provide better prospects for its future growth.
Manitowoc's increasing crane orders in North America and its joint venture with Shantui to increase its footprint will boost the company's revenue.
The Jackson manufacturing plant's expansion due to the growing demand and GSI's contributions provide a positive outlook for AGCO's growth.
I recommend buying all these stocks.
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That last one is me!
Tom Hiddleston with his body doubles in the background, for the multiplication scene in The Avengers. Taken from Alex Kip's (one of the body doubles) website.
godessfae asked: "Does Nick Fury's eye patch make Thor feel more at home, since Odin has one too?"
Yes … Maybe a little too at home.
My Avengers Comic Script (That I'm too lazy to draw)
- Narrator: In the interest of preventing city-wide panic (given Thor's inablility to remain unseen) S.H.I.E.L.D. had decided on a preemptive media event to establish his human identity, Donald Blake, as a physist working within the federal government to face the inter-planetary menace. Coached by his fellow Avengers, Thor bravely faced the press.
- Reporter #1: "Dr. Blake, how long have you lived in New York?"
- Thor: "Only recently. My origin is that of Scandinavia. Many years have I dreamed of one day migrating to New York."
- Hawk-Eye's Thought-Bubble: "Nailed it. Just like we rehearsed."
- Reporter #2: "Dr. Blake, what are your plans for the future?"
- Thor: "I hope to continue my research into wormhole phenomina...."
- Bruce's Thought-Bubble: "Yes! Word-for-word!"
- Thor: "...To one day attain union with an endearing woman of a no particular ethnic origin and begin a settlement."
- Black Widow's Thought-Bubble: "The fuck is he talking about...?"
- Thor: "And to then own several children, socially engineer them to resemble me, and educate them in the ways of the Mighty Christson, Jew of Immortality!"
- Nick Fury's Thought-Bubble: "End. The End, stupid! I swear to god, if you don't shut the fuck up-."
- Reporter #3: "Dr. Blake, what are your thoughts on the mutant crisis?"
- Thor: "The mutants appear to be a highly evolved race of supermen. And if there is one thing the German people know,-."
- Captain America: "Crap, I better stop him."
- Iron Man: "Wait a second, I wanna see where he's going with this."
#The actor who actually is the character who plays the actor.
I told you.
Avengers Minimalist Posters
Part 8 - "Abilities & Weapons"
Requested by supersnazzy
[Click to enlarge]
A commission for quigonejinn, who asked for pre-serum Steve and Bucky killing time in 1943 New York!
Loki's Debut Album.
Chis, about a 3 a.m. encounter. (x)


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Enterprise Relationship ManagementEnterprise Relationship Management (ERM) relates to solutions allowing an enterprise to share customer, product, competitor and market information to accomplish goals of meeting long-term customer satisfaction and increased revenues.
The future remains, well, cloudy. But either way: Amazon, look out. Microsoft is gaining fast. Read More »Hype Versus Action in the Developer's World
Often times technologies start as hype but with time become adopted. As a developer or technologist, it is worth reading the hype and knowing the... Read More »Microsoft Hyper-V Network Virtualization Q&A
The top 5 Hyper-V questions with answers provided by Nirmal Sharma, a MCSEx3, MCITP and Microsoft MVP in Directory Services. Read More »
Webopedia Polls: Is iPhone 6 or iWatch on your list? Read More »How to Create a Desktop Shortcut to a Website
This Webopedia guide will show you how to create a desktop shortcut to a website using Firefox, Chrome or Internet Explorer (IE). Read More »Flash Data Storage Vendor Trends
Although it is almost impossible to keep up with the pace of ongoing product releases, here are three recent highlights in the flash data storage... Read More »
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A Designs P1 Single Channel Microphone Preamp Module
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A Designs P1 Single Channel Microphone Preamp Module
In recording, there are certain things that you can only know through years of experience, such as which preamp works best on vocals, which one rules on guitar, or what preamp to use if you have a dark-sounding instrument or mic that needs some brightening. With A Designs Audio's EM series preamps you can let the 60 years of combined experience and super tone-sensitive ears of Jon Erickson and Pete Montessi save you years trying eek secrets out of pro engineers and lurking on forums. Each preamp in the series is designed to handle specific recording chores with the remarkable sound quality that A Designs Audio is now famous for. (Read the buzz on the forums, you'll find nothing but raves.) Best of all, you get high-quality audio in a space-saving and affordable package. Custom transformers, the key to a big punchy sound In solid-state preamp design, the key to a big punchy sound rests in the input and output transformers. (That's where you get what is known as the "big iron" sound of the '70s). To ensure top-quality sound, A Designs has their transformers custom-built by Tom Reichenbach of Cine-Mag, whose lineage extends back the days when his father Ed built transformers for Altec-Lansing in the '40s. Not only are the transformer hand-made, they're also "ear-made" by Jon (who spent years rebuilding vintage gear for LA studios), and Peter (longtime LA musician and preamp guru), who won't okay a transformer design until they get exactly the sound they're looking for. With the A Designs P1, you can put those ears and 60 years of combined experience to work for you and bring your recordings to new sonic heights. A single, affordable channel of the incredible Pacifica for your A Designs lunchbox According to A Designs owner Peter Montessi, the P-1 was created in order to make the sound of the Pacifica, which has garnered nothing but rave reviews, accessible to more people. For those not familiar, the Pacifica has the sound of the already legendary Quad Eight console as its inspiration -- and that's a very important distinction. The P-1 and Pacifica are NOT clones of the Quad Eight. They have a sound all their own that's reminiscent of the Quad Eight (used to mix Pink Floyd's The Wall and Boston's "More Than a Feeling"), and according to Quad Eight owners, the Pacifica sounds better. Like the Pacifica, the P-1 rules on guitars, is excellent for vocals and makes acoustic guitars shimmer. It's one of the most versatile preamps there is. This affordable high-end solid-state pre features 48V switchable phantom power, -20dB pad switch, and phase reversal. Custom wound output and input transformers, and direct inject hi-Z input for instruments. As with all A Designs Audio Modular preamps, the P-1 is VPR Alliance compliant. Requires the A Designs R52 (product # 180038) dual slot external power supply (See accessory box below).
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