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In April 1995, , then head of NeXT Computer, was interviewed by the Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation, producers of the Computerworld Honors Awards Program, as part of an Oral History project. The wide-ranging interview was conducted by Daniel Morrow, executive director of the awards program.
From his early years -- when he says except for a few key adults 'I would absolutely have ended up in jail' -- to how he felt about in the mid-'90s -- 'The Macintosh will die in another few years [under John Sculley]' -- to his predictions about how the Internet would change the world, this is a rare look at Jobs after his first string of innovations but before he returned to Apple.
Steve, I'd like to begin with some biographical information. Tell us about yourself. Steve Jobs (SJ): I was born in San Francisco, California, USA, planet Earth, February 24, 1955. I can go into a lot of details about my youth, but I don't know that anybody would really care about that too much.
Well they might in three hundred years because all this print is going to disintegrate. Tell me a little bit about your parents, your family; what are the earliest things you remember? In 1955, Eisenhower was still President. I don't remember him but I do remember growing up in the late 50's and early 60's. It was a very interesting time in the United States. America was sort of at its pinnacle of post World War II prosperity and everything had been fairly straight and narrow from haircuts to culture in every way, and it was just starting to broaden into the 60's where things were going to start expanding out in new directions. Everything was still very successful. Very young. America seemed young and naive in many ways to me, from my memories at that time.
So you would have been about five or six years old when John Kennedy was assassinated? I remember John Kennedy being assassinated. I remember the exact moment that I heard he had been shot.
Where were you at the time? I was walking across the grass at my schoolyard going home at about three in the afternoon when somebody yelled that the President had been shot and killed. I must have been about seven or eight years old, I guess, and I knew exactly what it meant. I also remember very much the Cuban Missile Crisis. I probably didn't sleep for three or four nights because I was afraid that if I went to sleep I wouldn't wake up. I guess I was seven years old at the time and I understood exactly what was going on. I think everybody did. It was really a terror that I will never forget, and it probably never really left. I think that everyone felt it at that time.
Those of us who were older, such as myself, remember making plans of where we would meet if the country was devastated. It was a strange time. One of the things we're trying to get a handle on is passion and power. What were the early things you were passionate about, that you were interested in? I was very lucky. My father, Paul, was a pretty remarkable man. He never graduated from high school. He joined the Coast Guard in World War II and ferried troops around the world for General Patton; and I think he was always getting into trouble and getting busted down to Private.
He was a machinist by trade and worked very hard and was kind of a genius with his hands. He had a workbench out in his garage where, when I was about five or six, he sectioned off a little piece of it and said "Steve, this is your workbench now." And he gave me some of his smaller tools and showed me how to use a hammer and saw and how to build things. It really was very good for me. He spent a lot of time with me . . . teaching me how to build things, how to take things apart, put things back together.
One of the things that he touched upon was electronics. He did not have a deep understanding of electronics himself but he'd encountered electronics a lot in automobiles and other things he would fix. He showed me the rudiments of electronics and I got very interested in that. I grew up in Silicon Valley. My parents moved from San Francisco to Mountain View when I was five. My dad got transferred and that was right in the heart of Silicon Valley so there were engineers all around.
Silicon Valley for the most part at that time was still orchards -- apricot orchards and prune orchards -- and it was really paradise. I remember the air being crystal clear, where you could see from one end of the valley to the other.
This was when you were six, seven, eight years old at the time. Right. Exactly. It was really the most wonderful place in the world to grow up. There was a man who moved in down the street, maybe about six or seven houses down the block, who was new in the neighborhood with his wife, and it turned out that he was an engineer at Hewlett-Packard and a ham radio operator and really into electronics. What he did to get to know the kids in the block was rather a strange thing: He put out a carbon microphone and a battery and a speaker on his driveway where you could talk into the microphone and your voice would be amplified by the speaker. Kind of strange thing when you move into a neighborhood but that's what he did.
This is great. I of course started messing around with this. I was always taught that you needed an amplifier to amplify the voice in a microphone for it to come out in a speaker. My father taught me that. I proudly went home to my father and announced that he was all wrong and that this man up the block was amplifying voice with just a battery. My father told me that I didn't know what I was talking about and we got into a very large argument. So I dragged him down and showed him this and he himself was a little befuddled.
I got to know this man, whose name was Larry Lang, and he taught me a lot of electronics. He was great. He used to build Heathkits. Heathkits were really great. Heathkits were these products that you would buy in kit form. You actually paid more money for them than if you just went and bought the finished product if it was available. These Heathkits would come with these detailed manuals about how to put this thing together and all the parts would be laid out in a certain way and color coded. You'd actually build this thing yourself.
I would say that this gave one several things. It gave one an understanding of what was inside a finished product and how it worked because it would include a theory of operation. But maybe even more importantly it gave one the sense that one could build the things that one saw around oneself in the universe. These things were not mysteries anymore. I mean you looked at a television set you would think that "I haven't built one of those but I could. There's one of those in the Heathkit catalog and I've built two other Heathkits so I could build that."
Things became much more clear that they were the results of human creation, not these magical things that just appeared in one's environment, that one had no knowledge of their interiors. It gave a tremendous level of self-confidence, that through exploration and learning one could understand seemingly very complex things in one's environment. My childhood was very fortunate in that way.


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MIAA championship seasons are being rewarded for the HopeCollege soccer teams as both will compete in the NCAA Division III tournament beginning this weekend.
In the men's tournament, the Flying Dutchmen (17-3) will play Gustavus-Adolphus, Minn. (12-2-3) at the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater on Friday at 1:30 p.m. CT in a first round match. In another Friday match, host Whitewater (14-2-1) will play Wheaton (15-5-1) beginning at 11 a.m. CT. The winners will meet on Saturday at 1 p.m. CT.
Competing in the women's tournament for a third consecutive year, the Flying Dutch (18-2) will travel to Granville, Ohio for a first round game against DePauw, Ind. at 5 p.m. ET Friday. In another Friday first round game, host Denison (14-3-3) will play Frostburg State, Md. (11-5-3) at 7:30 p.m. ET. Friday's winners will meet on Saturday night (6 p.m.) in Granville.
The Flying Dutchmen were outright champions of the MIAA this fall and received an automatic berth in the 57-team field. The Dutchmen will be competing in the NCAA for the eighth time in school history. The last appearance was in 2003 when they also traveled to Whitewater for the first two rounds.
Coach Leigh Sears' Flying Dutch were MIAA co-champions with Calvin this fall. Calvin received the league's automatic berth by virtue of the tie-breaker. Hope received an at-large berth in the 60-team field. Hope bowed to DePauw 1-0 in a second round match of the 2003 tournament.
The tournament continues with sectionals the weekend of November 18-19 and culminates with the final four in Greensboro, N.C. on November 25-26.


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Smart conveyor system employs distributed control
Bristol, CT--Competition forces manufacturers such as Warner Electric Linear and Electronics to constantly improve productivity and cut costs on the factory floor. Until recently, workers transported Warner's electric-motor parts from machining to washing and assembly cells by hand-stacking pallets and moving them with hand trucks.
Baskets weighing as much as 100 lbs were stacked on a pallet and wheeled to a manually loaded parts washer. To reduce manufacturing lead time, improve throughput and improve cell layout, Warner purchased an automatic parts washer from Terryville, CT-based Frank J. Coscina Associates, Inc. "What we needed was a conveyor system that would convey parts directly from the machining cells to the washer," says Warner engineer Paul DellaVecchia.
Engineers considered installing a line-shaft conveyor system to improve production flow. The problem: once installed, line-shaft conveyors are not easily moved. "We're always looking for ways to improve our process," says DellaVecchia, "most conveyor systems would only get in the way during future cell changes."
Line shaft conveyors require belts, pneumatic lines, mechanical actuators, and controllers. Five motors running 16 hours/day, 240 days/year would power the proposed line shaft conveyor. Noisy and difficult to move, this type of system also costs lots to maintain. Brian Walker of A-Lineo Material Handling (East Hartford, CT) proposed using Wilmington, NC-based Interroll Corp.'s INTELLIVEYORTM conveyor system to resolve these problems. Distributed controllers, sensors, and motors reportedly make the conveyor flexible, quiet, efficient, and simple to maintain.
Intelliveyor integrates several Interroll products into one system. Several 24-inch zones form the conveyor. Fastened to the floor with two bolts, each zone is easily installed or removed. Networked by ordinary phone lines, compact distributed-control modules mount into the conveyor frame. Onboard DIP switches allow customized control menu selections, eliminating the need for reprogramming in ladder logic or other control languages used by traditional conveyor systems.
Each zone includes at least one DRIVEROLLTM roller with its own self-contained power transmission system. The roller design eliminates the need for chains, line shafts, or other drive elements. It operates at 24 Vdc, and all rollers employ spring-loaded tapered shaft axles that are self aligning, self tightening, and prevent the rollers from rotating in their frames. O-rings connect the rollers to one another and transmit power from the DRIVEROLL roller to every roller in the zone..
The ZONEXTM module, a variable output speed and torque controller, uses a potentiometer to control output torque for minimal accumulation pressure. This eliminates parts-basket collisions and subsequent damage to fragile motor components.
Because zones "sleep" once a load passes downstream, the conveyor system reduces energy consumption and noise levels. Upon receiving a load, each zone automatically turns on until the load moves downstream.
Prior to conveyor installation, a two- to three-day lag time existed between machining and washing. "Now the parts are washed within two hours of machining," says DellaVecchia.
Additional details...Contact Mike Gawinski, Interroll, 3000 Corporate Dr., Wilmington, NC 28405, (910) 799-1100.
Other Applications
- Materials handling
- Manufacturing
Amplifier protects motors for maximum output
Device safely pushes the output torque and power limits of drive components
John Lewis, Northeast Technical Editor
Pittsburgh, PA--As environmental compliance standards become more stringent, tank inspection and maintenance requires more resources. Responding to this need, RedZone Robotics Inc. has built a prototype cylindrical robot called "Fury." Designed to navigate an underground fuel tank's interior surface, Fury can measure the tank's wall thickness with an ultrasonic transducer.
Deploying a robot through a 4-inch ID pipe to inspect fuel tanks is no easy task, says RedZone engineer Frank Robb. Space constraints and harsh operating conditions limit design options. In this case, a power amplifier with Drive Protection Monitor (DPM), made by Advanced Actuators, Bradfordwoods, PA, enabled RedZone engineers to meet their high-reliability objectives. The result: maximum safe output torque and power from the drive components.
The initial wheel-drive design employed two simple power supplies with fixed current limits, providing energy for the ironless-core electric motors driving the robot's magnetic wheels.
Each magnetic wheel produces 200 lbf between the robot and the low-carbon steel plates that comprise the tank. When the robot attempted to climb over the tank's welded lap joints, the magnetic force proved to be too much for the wheel drives to overcome, says Robb.
To increase the motor's torque output, Robb considered several options. Larger motors wouldn't meet size constraints. Increasing the gear ratio between motor and drive wheel would reduce the robot's speed and increase overall inspection time. Temporarily increasing the motor's current would increase output torque, but would also risk motor damage.
"By using the PC L40 'smart' amplifiers with DPM, we got higher peak torques from the small motors," Robb explains. The DPM's ability to calculate motor winding and power amplifier transistor-junction temperature al-lows safe motor current increases. Its motor case temperature sensor provides data for calculating motor-winding temperature, even on brush-type motors where the rotating armature is not accessible.
Directly mounting the PC L40 into the 51/4-inch disk drive bay of the controlling PC eliminated the need for a separate mounting chassis. Adding the DPM required an investment of only a few percent of the total motor and amplifier cost. Users input the motor's thermal resistance and cooling time constant to the DPM. Then ambient temperature, motor current and voltage measurements are used to continuously calculate the motor's winding temperature and the semiconductor-junction temperature. If one of these values exceeds the programmable setpoint, the system shuts down.
"Other drive-component thermal-protection systems' temperature calculations don't come close to the accuracy of DPM's techniques," says engineer Bob Anticole of Advanced Actuators. For example, ignoring the motor's ambient temperature can cause plus or minus 20C error, and an additional plus or minus 20C error can arise because the thermal time constants depend on the magnitude of motor currents. Another plus or minus 50C error can result because motor heating depends on the temperature-dependent motor resistance.
"Realizing you only have 100C between a cold motor and one at its maximum limit, and the potential for error, makes me appreciate the accuracy of the DPM's temperature calculations," says Anticole. Patents are pending on the motor winding temperature and semiconductor junction sensing, as well as the programmable fuse, brush and bearing protection, power sharing, current-output drive stage, and configuration.
"If you need the maximum safe output torque and power from drive components, or cannot tolerate a failure, you need a DPM," says Anticole. If the application doesn't need maximum output from the motor and power amplifier, then oversize them. If you can tolerate a failure, replace them when they fail.
Additional details...Contact Bob Anticole, Advanced Actuators, 19 Commons Dr., Bradfordwoods, PA 15015, (412) 935-3702.
Other Applications
- Servo systems
- Industrial robots
- Film drives


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Editor's Note: Faisal Al Yafai is chief columnist for The National newspaper, and an award-winning essayist and journalist. His book about liberalism and feminism in the Arab and Islamic worlds is forthcoming from IB Tauris London. Follow him on Twitter @FaisalAlYafai. The views expressed in this commentary are solely his. This is the second of four opinion articles giving readers a snapshot of major issues in the Middle East. Follow the discussion this Ramadan on Connect the World with Becky Anderson as it travels from Abu Dhabi to Cairo, Beirut, Istanbul and Sharjah. Weekdays 4:00pm London time 7:00 pm Abu Dhabi time.
Story highlights
Iraq's borders were mapped out by the British and French colonial powers during WWI
Faisal Al Yafai writes that the borders -- though contentious and flawed -- have broadly held
Plans for an Arab caliphate or dividing Iraq into statelets are not realistic, he says
Seeking to change them now is a recipe for a generation of war, Al Yafai writes
Ever since the 2003 invasion of Iraq exposed deep-rooted religious and ethnic divisions, analysts have suggested giving up on the colonial-era borders of modern Iraq and dividing the country.
Jihadists have felt the opposite, that the region should be united into a new caliphate – indeed that is precisely what the militant group the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) declared this week. Both are wrong.
The lines drawn by the British and French colonial powers in 1916 became, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the borders of new Arab states. Over the years, these lines splitting the Levant into Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq have been enormously contentious, to the extent that it is often argued the region might be better without them. Either removing these lines altogether and returning to the world of the early 20th century, or drawing them smaller and tighter still.
Certainly the idea of closer union among the Arab countries has been tried, in various forms, over the decades since the close of the Second World War. But what should work in theory hasn't worked in practice – the most ambitious attempt, the United Arab Republic, practically destroyed liberal, secular politics for a generation.
Conversely, the lines in the sand of Sykes-Picot, which should not have worked in practice, have held, broadly, for decades. That doesn't mean they are perfect. But at a time of immense upheaval in the Middle East, they may be better than the alternative.
The end of the caliphate necessitated a new search for political organization in the region. But if the joining together of all the Arab lands in a new caliphate is not a realistic answer to the real political questions of the Middle East, nor is the oft-proposed division of Iraq into smaller statelets.
Dividing Iraq
Ever since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the division of Iraq into three parts – roughly, a Kurdish north, a Sunni middle and a Shia south – has been proposed earnestly, often by people with barely any knowledge of the region, its peoples and societies.
The casualness with which the suggestion of such an immense change is made mirrors the callous approach taken by the colonial surveyors who first drew these borders, seeking to change the lives of nations with the stroke of a pen.
As recently as 2006, the U.S. vice-president Joseph Biden argued that Iraq should be partitioned, and even the German foreign minister, two weeks ago, in a tone that suggests he was simply exasperated with the complexity of the situation, said it might be difficult to prevent Iraq splitting apart.
Such a project, however, faces immense technical as well as human challenges, which are rarely addressed. Any division of Iraq has to take into account people, politics and economics.
In the most often suggested scenario, the northern Kurdish region would take the oil-fields around Kirkuk in the north, the Shia state would take the capital Baghdad and the main port in the southern city of Basra, leaving a Sunni rump state in the west, denuded of resources with which to survive. Moreover, the new smaller Shia state in the south would come under Iran's influence, extending Tehran's reach into a state that would now border Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The idea that this division would solve anything is a dangerous fantasy.
As things stand today, an attempt to divide Iraq would not occur calmly but would be a furious scramble for the country's resources, as well as a rush by Iraq's neighbors for influence over the three new states in their midst. It would not solve the problem. Rather it would entrench the failures of politicians, writing failed policies across the lines of a map.
Mass migration
Moreover, drawing new borders along religious lines would mean a mass movement of hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people. An estimated one million Iraqis are already on the move within Iraq, internally displaced from their homes. Any attempt to divide Iraq into different countries would mean many more.
To ask or force so many to move, even from, say, Baghdad to Basra, would mean uprooting them from jobs, friends and families. It would need a strategy to ensure that there are sufficient jobs waiting, that there are schools for the children to attend, that there are apartments and houses for people to live in. Mass migration cannot be accomplished safely by speeches alone.
Even with the most extensive planning, the results would likely be chaotic. As Feisal Istrabadi, former deputy Iraqi ambassador to the United Nations, pointed out two weeks ago: "If Iraq falls apart, it will not fall apart into three neat pieces. What you're much more likely to see is a Somalia in Iraq."
Iraqis are simply too mixed together. Even today, more than a decade after the invasion of Iraq, the same mistakes of understanding are made.
One is to imagine a neat division of Sunnis, Shia and Kurds, mixing up ethnic and religious categories. The Kurds, after all, are mainly Sunni Muslims and both Sunni and Shia Muslims and Christians are Arabs. Add to that mix the other minorities of Iraq, the Yezidis, the Armenians, the Circassians. In a divided Iraq, where would they go? If the answer is that they could stay as minorities in the areas they currently live, why couldn't that formulation equally apply to Sunnis in Shia areas and Shia in Sunni areas?
Another is to imagine that such neat distinctions continue in real life. In fact, until the Iraq war unleashed political forces that fanned the flames of sectarianism, the idea of division along sect or religion was broadly unknown in Iraq. Baghdad, like most of the big cities, was religiously mixed.
'Iraqis must make decision'
It wasn't a utopia – it was, after all, ruled by Saddam's iron fist – but to imagine that life, for decades, was merely a bubbling cauldron of resentment waiting to explode is to do a great disservice to Iraqi society, defining it solely by its divisions, as if the lines of religion or ethnicity could never be surmounted. In fact, they were, both individually – Sunnis and Shias married each other, as did Christians and Muslims – and city-wide. Divisions in Iraq were, as in most countries of the world, more about economics than race or religion.
None of that means that partitioning Iraq should not be considered. But it has to come with the understanding that it is Iraqis themselves who must make the decision and that rearranging what were lines in the sand is a serious business, because the new borders will have to be drawn across the bodies of real people.
It is always easier to speak of division than to speak of good policy. But that is what is needed now. The colonial-era divisions were a mess. But seeking to change them now, at this moment, is a recipe for a generation of war. For better or worse, the Middle East is stuck with the lines drawn by Sykes-Picot.
Read: Why Middle East's borders will never be the same again
Read: ISIS establishes 'caliphate'


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50 Free Things to Do in America from Coast to Coast
Planning to travel to North America? Want to know how to visit New York attractions like MoMA for free? Or why you should go to Stanley Park, one of the top attractions in Vancouver? Regardless of which city you visit, our rundown of free things to do in America will give you plenty of options for adventure.
Don't forget, if you're planning to visit North America, we've got a great selection of hostels in the USA and Canada, all available on the Hostelworld mobile app.
1. New York: Visit MoMA on a Friday night
Save $20 by waiting until Friday night to visit New York's incredible Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Every Friday from 4pm to 8pm the usual admission fee is waived during Target Free Friday Nights. Keep in mind that you can't book tickets in advance, instead just show up at the museum and join the queue. Admission is given on a first-come first-served basis. Don't worry if there's a pretty big crowd there before you, as the whole thing is really well-organised and the line tends to move quickly. When you get inside, join the steady stream of visitors marvelling at the modern and contemporary art on display. This includes paintings, photography and lots more by famous artists from around the world like Dalí, Picasso, Pollock and Van Gogh.
Location: 11 West 53rd Street between 5th & 6th Avenues, Midtown.
Opening hours: Sat-Mon & Wed-Thurs 10.30am-5.30pm, Friday 10.30am-8pm, closed Tuesdays.
2. Los Angeles: Stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame
One of the the classic things to do in America, not to mention one of the most iconic attractions in Los Angeles. You can't visit LA without wandering along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and checking out the stars beneath your feet. Stretching along Hollywood Boulevard between Vine and Brea Avenues, the Walk pays homage to stars of the silver screen, musicians and many more. Keep an eye out for Marilyn Monroe's star on the southern corner of Hollywood and Highland. The diverse collection of honourees also includes Charlie Chaplin, Stan Lee, Michael Jackson and even Kermit the Frog.
Location: Hollywood Boulevard between Vine and Brea Avenues.
3. Boston: Enjoy a free guided tour of 'The Freedom Trail'
Without a doubt, the Freedom Trail is one of the top things to do in Boston as it brings you past 16 of the city's most significant landmarks. To learn all about this famous trail, why not take one of the free walking tours led by National Park Service Rangers. Along the way you'll visit Freedom Trail sites, learn about Boston's role in the American Revolution and lots more. Tours can accommodate 30 people, with tickets given out on a first-come first-served basis half an hour before the tour begins.
Location: Boston National Historical Park Visitors Center, 15 State Street.
Opening hours: Apr 19th-June 20th & Sept 1st-Nov 28th – Weekdays at 2pm, weekends at 10am & 2pm; June 21st-Aug 31st – Daily at 10am, 2pm & 3pm.
4. Miami: Get around using the Metromover
In operation since 1986, Miami's Metromover is a free automated rapid transit system and it's a great way of getting to some of the city's main attractions without spending a cent. Initially using just one line, today the Metromover runs on three different Loops and serves 20 stations located in Downtown Miami and Brickell. The American Airlines Centre, Cultural Plaza and Bayside Marketplace are just a few of the cool spots served by this hugely popular public transport service.
Opening hours: Daily from 5am to midnight – cars arrive in stations every 90 seconds during rush hour & every three minutes during off-peak hours.
5. Toronto: Go for a stroll along Woodbine Beach
The list of things to do in America goes beyond the 50 states in the USA. One of the highlights of The Beach neighbourhood in Toronto, Woodbine Beach has been awarded a prestigious Blue Flag. Go for a swim, sunbathe on the sand or wander along the strand and look out across the expanse of blue that is Lake Ontario. This is also where you'll find the start of the Boardwalk, a 3-kilometre stretch popular with joggers and walkers.
Location: Lake Shore Blvd East.
6. San Francisco: Check out the Cable Car Museum
Cable cars are synonymous with San Francisco, and what better way of learning about them than by visiting the free Cable Car Museum. This is where you can actually watch the huge wheels and engines pulling the cables that the cars run on. Established in 1974, the museum is located inside the Barn and Powerhouse on the corner of Washington and Mason Streets. Antique cable cars, tools, photographs and more can also be seen at this unique San Francisco attraction.
Location: 1201 Mason Street.
Opening hours: Daily; Apr 1st-Sept 30th 10am-6pm, Oct 1st-Mar 31st 10am-5pm.
Book hostels in San Francisco |
7. Chicago: Chill out in Millennium Park
There's a lot to see in Millennium Park, which is arguably one of the coolest parks in the US and a must-see on your trip to Chicago. The park's most notable landmark is Cloud Gate, better known as 'the Bean'. Designed by Anish Kapoor, this unusual statue attracts large numbers of snap-happy visitors. Other attractions include the Crown Fountain, gardens, sculptures and more. The park is also home to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a breathtaking outdoor concert venue.
Location: 201 E Randolph Street between Michigan & Colombus Avenues.
Opening hours: Daily from 6am-11pm.
8. Washington DC: Visit some of the Smithsonian Museums
The Smithsonian is a huge organisation consisting of various museums and research centres, and at least three of its free museums should definitely feature on your Washington DC itinerary. The National Museum for American History is a treasure trove of 3 million artefacts spanning all of US history. During your visit, keep an eye out for the original American flag and Abraham Lincoln's hat, along with quirkier pieces like Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. Another Smithsonian-run institution is the National Museum of Natural History. This popular museum was opened back in 1910 and today features a huge variety of exhibits, from dinosaur bones to sparkling gems. To see the world's biggest collection of aircraft and spacecraft head to the National Air and Space Museum. Its impressive exhibits include the Wright Brothers' plane, Apollo 11 and samples of lunar rock which visitors can actually touch.
Location: National Museum of American History – 14th Street & Constitution Ave NW; National Museum of Natural History – 10th Street & Constitution Ave NW; National Air and Space Museum – Independence Ave at 6th Street.
Opening hours: National Museum of American History – Daily 10am-5.30pm/7.30pm; National Museum of Natural History – Daily 10am-5.30pm/7.30pm; National Air and Space Museum – Daily 10am-5.30pm/7.30pm.
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9. Las Vegas: Catch the Bellagio Fountain Show
An all-out weekend to Las Vegas is one of the most popular things to do in America. Attracting thousands of spectators every day, the Bellagio Fountain Show at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino is a spectacular display of water, light and music. It's one of the most iconic events in Las Vegas, earning its place in pop culture history with appearances in films like Ocean's Eleven. To get a good view of the free show, make sure to show up about 10 minutes before the spectacle begins to claim your place at the railings.
Location: 3600 Las Vegas Blvd.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 3pm-8pm every half hour & 8pm-midnight every 15 minutes, Sat-Sun noon-8pm every half hour & 8pm-midnight every 15 minutes.
10. Vancouver: Explore beautiful Stanley Park
Stanley Park is one of the top things to do in Vancouver and is visited by around 8 million people every year. Covering a substantial 400 hectares, this huge urban park is home to an array of attractions. Stroll along the 8.8km-long Seawall and you'll find stunning views of the Vancouver skyline just waiting to be photographed. You can also wander through the beautiful Rose Garden, explore the forest and marvel at the towering totem poles. As it's such a big spot, it might be a good idea to stop off at the information booth inside the Georgia Street entrance and pick up a free map of the park.
Location: Georgia Street, Downtown Vancouver.
Opening hours: Daily, dawn until dusk.
11. New Orleans: Enjoy a free walking tour of the French Quarter
Looking for some French influence in the US? Then taking a stroll through the French Quarter has to be on your list of things to do in America. To learn more about this famous New Orleans neighbourhood, head down to the French Quarter Visitor Center for one of the free walking tours. 25 tickets are dispatched on a first-come first-served basis half an hour before the tour starts. On this hour-long tour you'll walk to the Mississippi River and learn how the city of New Orleans came into being. Don't worry if you miss the tour; there's still plenty to learn about the French Quarter from the free exhibits in the visitor's centre.
Location: 419 Decatur Street.
Opening hours: Daily, 9am-5pm; tours depart daily at 9am.
12. Orlando: Check out the CityArts Factory
Wander through the free CityArts Factory in Orlando and you'll see intriguing works of art from local and international artists. A number of different galleries are housed in the Factory and the exhibits change on a monthly basis. If you're looking for something a bit different after spending time at the city's theme parks, this is a great choice.
Location: 29 South Orange Avenue, Downtown Orlando.
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 11am-6pm, closed Sundays and Mondays.
13. Honolulu: Visit the Hawaii State Art Museum
Also known as HiSAM, the Hawaii State Art Museum in Honolulu is a relatively new gallery which was opened in 2002 and is completely free to visit. Its three main galleries house a collection of paintings and sculptures, and many of Hawaii's best artists are well-represented. On the first Friday of each month HiSAM's opening hours are extended until 9pm, with a variety of different events taking place.
Location: 2nd Floor, No 1 Capitol District Building, 250 South Hotel Street.
Opening hours: Tues-Sat 10am-4pm, closed Sundays and Mondays.
14. Philadelphia: Visit the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
Perhaps best-known for spooky works like The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart, Edgar Allan Poe was a famous poet and author. At this unusual (and free) Philadelphia attraction, you can visit the house where Poe lived and wrote. As well as learning about his life and works, you'll also see a cool collection of rare books and plenty more.
Location: 532 North 7th Street, near 7th & Spring Garden Streets.
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 9am-5pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
15. Montreal: Spend some time in Mont Royal Park
Another Canadian destination to consider when looking for places to visit and things to do in America. Found on the hard-to-miss mountain in the middle of Montreal, Mont Royal Park dates back to 1876 and was designed by the same man who planned Central Park. This is where you'll find the 40-metre Cross of Montreal, which is lit up at night. For incredible views of the city spread out below, make sure to visit one of the three lookout points. Popular activities in the park include jogging, walking and cycling.
Location: Ave Cedar & Ave des Pains, Plateau Mont Royal.
16. Atlanta: Check out the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site
Located in the Sweet Auburn Historic District, this popular Atlanta attraction is free to visit. This is where you'll find the house where Martin Luther King Jr was born, as well as other buildings related to his life including the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. While at the site, make sure you check out the King Center and the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame. To see inside his birth home, you'll have to take one of the guided tours led by the onsite rangers. These are also free of charge; they last 30-minutes and depart on the hour throughout the day.
Location: 450 Auburn Avenue.
Opening hours: Daily, 9am-5pm.
17. Memphis: Watch the March of the Peabody Ducks
To enjoy this unusual attraction you'll have to head to The Peabody Memphis, a swanky hotel in Downtown Memphis. Twice every day – once in the morning and once in the evening – the Peabody Ducks march along a red carpet to and from the Grand Lobby. It's a great spectacle and draws lots of onlookers to the hotel. When these five real live ducks aren't waddling around or splashing away in the lobby's ornate marble fountain, they live up on the hotel's roof in their 'Royal Duck Palace' and after a three month stretch at the hotel, it's back to the farm where they were raised.
Location: 149 Union Avenue.
Opening hours: Daily at 11am & 5pm.
18. San Diego: Stroll through Balboa Park
Covering around 1,200 acres, Balboa Park is one of the top attractions in San Diego. Entrance to the park won't cost you a cent and it's filled with things to see and do, many of which are also free of charge. The Botanical Building and the very photogenic Lily Pond are well-worth a visit, as are the Rose Garden and the California Native Plant Garden. After checking out these gorgeous gardens, you can stroll through open green spaces, picnic under a tree or even test your skills at one of the outdoor chess tables.
Location: 1549 El Prado.
Opening hours: Daily, 24 hours.
19. New York: See a TV show being filmed
If you've always wanted to sit in the audience of a TV show but you don't want to pay for the privilege then New York is the place for you. In the Big Apple, you'll be able to get free tickets for a mind-boggling array of shows including everything from Good Morning America to the Daily Show with Jon Stewart to Saturday Night Live. So whether you're looking for a chat show, political commentary or belly-aching laughter, check out www.nytix.com to get your hands on these first-rate freebies.
20. Quebec City: Check out Les Délices de l'Érable
Also known as Canadian Maple Delights, this Quebec attraction is the place to go if you want to find out more about Canadian favourite, maple syrup. It might seem touristy and it is, but it's also definitely well-worth a look. Why? Well, there's the free museum upstairs which chronicles the production of maple syrup and, once you've found out how it's made, you can had downstairs to the shop area and sample different variations of the sweet treat.
Location: 1044 rue Saint-Jean.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-6pm.
21. Washington DC: Watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Visited by around 4 million people each year, the Arlington National Cemetery is home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which was initially built to house the remains of a WWI soldier. Each day you can witness a solemn changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb. From October to March this ceremony takes place every hour, and from April to September it happens every half hour.
Location: Arlington, Virginia – over the Memorial Bridge across the Potomac River from Washington DC.
Opening hours: Daily; Apr 1st-Sept 30th 8am-7pm, Oct 1st-Mar 31st 8am-5pm.
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22. Miami: Take part in free classes at Bayfront Park
Just taking a stroll through beautiful Bayfront Park is a great free thing to do; however, if you're looking for something extra, check out the regular schedule of free classes held at the park. Every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday free yoga classes are held in this Miami park. These classes are open to anyone over 18; all you have to do is bring your own yoga mat. On Monday and Wednesday, the classes take place from 6pm-7.15pm. You've got to get up earlier on Saturdays, when class is held between 9am and 10.15am. A black belt instructor leads a self-defence class for women every Monday and Wednesday from 7.15pm-8.30pm. A variety of things are covered in these free classes, from martial arts techniques to nutrition information. All of these yoga and self-defence classes are held at the Tina Hills Pavilion in the park.
Location: 301 North Biscayne Boulevard.
Opening hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset.
23. Boston: Visit the USS Constitution Museum
First launched back in 1797, the USS Constitution is an important part of US naval history and is a popular Boston attraction. The museum offers free admission and is located beside 'Old Ironsides' herself. Inside you can check out a number of interactive displays covering everything from the ship's part in the Civil War to the diets of sailors to how she got her nickname.
Location: Building 22, Charleston Navy Yard.
Opening hours: Daily; Apr 1st-Oct 31st 9am-6pm, Nov 1st-Mar 31st 10am-5pm.
24. Fort Lauderdale: Stroll along the Hollywood Oceanfront Boardwalk
The list of free things to do in America isn't limited purely to museums – especially with so much natural beauty spread across the continent. Stretching out for just over two miles, this popular promenade is a favourite with locals and visitors in Fort Lauderdale. While walking along the Boardwalk, you'll be able to look out across Hollywood Beach towards the ocean. As a result, it's a pretty great spot for people watching.
Location: Between Sheridan & Hollywood Streets.
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25. Toronto: Visit the Art Gallery of Ontario on a Wednesday
If you can, try and visit the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) in Toronto during its free admission hours which take place every Wednesday from 6pm to 8.30pm. One of the most impressive art galleries in Canada, the AGO boasts a remarkable collection of artworks by national and international artists. Pieces by popular Canadian artists are displayed alongside masterpieces by the likes of Van Gogh and Monet.
Location: 317 Dundas Street West.
Opening hours: Tues & Thurs-Sun 10am-5.30pm, Wed 10am-8.30pm, closed Mondays.
26. Seattle: Check out the Pike Place Market
Covering an impressive nine acres, Seattle's Pike Place Market was established back in 1907, making it one of the oldest markets of its kind in the US. It's free to enter this farmer's market, and while you wander around you'll be able to enjoy free samples at many of the food stalls. On top of that, the market attracts a large number of buskers and street performers who provide a diverse selection of entertainment.
Location: 1st Avenue & Pike Street, Downtown Seattle.
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm.
27. Flagstaff: People watch on Heritage Square
A popular meeting place for locals and visitors, Heritage Square is a great spot to indulge in a spot of people watching. Make sure to check out the unusual set of benches dotted around the square, each boasting a unique design illustrating some part of Flagstaff's history. Various events are also held at the square including a series of free concerts during the summer months.
Location: Aspen Street.
Opening hours: Daily; Apr 1st-Sept 30th 10am-6pm, Oct 1st-Mar 31st 10am-5pm.
28. Chicago: Take advantage of Free Second Mondays at the Field Museum
One of the top attractions in Chicago, the Field Museum offers free admission on every second Monday each month. This huge natural history museum boasts a diverse collection including everything from gemstones to dinosaur bones, while other displays cover Ancient Egypt, the evolution of the planet and more. Make sure to say hello to Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton yet discovered.
Location: 1400 S Lake Shore Drive.
Opening hours: Daily; 9am-5pm.
29. New Orleans: Check out the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
Covering nearly five acres, this impressive New Orleans sculpture garden was opened to the public in 2003 and is completely free to visit. It features more than 50 different sculptures created by artists from around the world including both 20th century masters and more contemporary sculptors. As well as admiring these intriguing artworks, you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings, from the garden to the lagoon.
Location: 1 Dueling Oaks Drive, City Park.
Opening hours: Sat-Thurs 10am-4.45pm, Fri 10am-8.45pm.
30. Banff: Chill out in Central Park
A popular spot at the heart of Banff, Central Park is a beautiful open green space beside the Bow River. Check out the gazebo, stroll around the park, hang out at the picnic areas or stretch out on the grass and relax. Free outdoor concerts are held in the park during the summer months.
Location: 1201 Mason Street.
Opening hours: Daily; Apr 1st-Sept 30th 10am-6pm, Oct 1st-Mar 31st 10am-5pm.
31. Washington DC: Check out the Lincoln Memorial
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, is still seen as one of the country's most influential leaders. Honouring the assassinated president, the Lincoln Memorial is one of Washington DC's most iconic landmarks. Located in the West Potomac Park area of the National Mall, a towering statue of Lincoln is housed inside a temple-like structure and is accompanied by two of his most famous speeches which are inscribed on the walls.
Location: National Mall, 900 Ohio Drive SW.
Opening hours: Daily, 24 hours.
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32. Los Angeles: Visit some of the city's free museums
If you're looking for something to do in LA that won't cost a dime, check out a couple of the city's free museums. Both the Getty Museum and the Hollywood Bowl Museum are free to visit all year round. At the Getty you'll see a wonderful collection of art including classic paintings and modern sculptures, while the Hollywood Bowl Museum plays host to a variety of exhibits covering music and more. Don't forget that many other LA museums including MOCA (the Museum of Contemporary Art) and the Long Beach Museum of Art also offer free admission on specific days or at specific times.
Location: Getty Museum – 1200 Getty Center Drive; Hollywood Bowl Museum – 2301 N Highland Avenue.
Opening hours: Getty Museum – Tues-Fri & Sun 10am-5.30pm, Sat 10am-9pm, closed Mondays; Hollywood Bowl Museum – hours vary depending on season & live concerts.
33. Boston: Explore Boston Common
One of the oldest public parks in the US, Boston Common was established all the way back in 1634. This free park covers an impressive 50 acres and is located at the start of the Freedom Trail. What better way to while away a sunny afternoon in Boston than by strolling through this beautiful park. Check out the gardens, fountains and monuments, and don't miss Frog Pond. As you wander around, you'll notice that the park is also home to quite a number of extremely tame squirrels.
Location: Park area surrounded by Tremont, Beacon, Charles, Park & Boylston Streets.
Opening hours: Daily, 24 hours.
34. Orlando: Relax in Lake Eola Park
Located in Downtown Orlando, Lake Eola Park is a brilliant place for a stroll. Take the path circling the lake and you'll be able to look out across the water as you walk. It's a popular spot with joggers and also with people who come to enjoy a picnic, feed the birds or check out the flowerbeds. You may have noticed the recurring theme of parks and green spaces on our rundown of the best free things to do in America. When you consider the vast amount of natural beauty in the US, hopefully we don't have to explain why…
Also, if you're in town on Sunday, visit the Farmer's Market and try some of the free samples offered by many of the food vendors.
Location: 195 N Rosalind Avenue.
Opening hours: Daily, 6am-midnight.
35. Vancouver: Make your way to Kitsilano Beach
A local favourite, Kitsilano Beach is a great spot for swimming or simply strolling along the strand. Affectionately known as Kits Beach, it also has its own beach volleyball area where you'll often find a spirited game taking place. On top of all that, this popular Vancouver beach also provides visitors with fantastic views of the city and surrounding areas.
Location: North end of Yew Street, Kitsilano.
36. New York: Take a trip on the Staten Island Ferry
For a cheap and cheerful way to see some of the top New York attractions, hop on the Staten Island Ferry. From the deck of this free ferry you'll see stunning views of Manhattan's towering skyline, plus the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and plenty more. If you visit New York, be sure to make this 50-minute round trip to get a remarkable look at the city.
Location: Whitehall Terminal, Lower Manhattan.
Opening hours: Daily, services operate almost every half hour throughout the day (with more services during peak times) and on the hour at night.
37. San Francisco: Spend some time in Golden Gate Park
San Francisco's Golden Gate Park covers an impressive 1,017 acres and attracts around 13 million visitors each year. It's free to get into the park and, once inside, you'll find that many of the best attractions won't cost a thing. There's the San Francisco Botanical Garden, which boasts a huge collection of colourful flowers, towering trees and more. Free guided tours of this beautiful spot are offered on weekdays at 1.30pm and on weekends at 10.30am and 1.30pm. Other attractions to check out include the windmills in the west part of the park and the Buffalo Paddock where you can see a herd of American bison. Strawberry Hill is another great part of the park to visit. Not only is it home to Stow Lake and some gorgeous gardens, it also provides fantastic views.
Location: 9th Avenue off Lincoln Blvd.
Opening hours: Daily, 5am-midnight.
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38. Honolulu: Go on the Waikiki Historic Trail walking tour
Waikiki Beach is one of the most popular attractions in all of Hawaii, and Waikiki is one of the most visited neighbourhoods in Honolulu. There's a lot more to this area than just golden sands and high-rise hotels. To find out about the history and cultural significance of the Waikiki area, why not take one of the free walking tours of the Waikiki Historic Trail which covers a two-mile route. Two different tours are offered, each taking in a different selection of local sights.
Location: Queen's Tour – Information kiosk at Kapahulu & Kalakaua Avenues; Kalia Tour – Information kiosk on 2nd floor of Kalia Tower at Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Opening hours: Tours operate Mon-Sat from 9am-11am.
39. Chicago: Stroll along the shores of Lake Michigan
Wander east from Downtown Chicago and you'll come to what looks like the open sea but is, in fact, Lake Michigan. This massive body of water is one of the 'Great Lakes' and is definitely something you should check out during your Chicago trip. Stroll along its shores passing beaches and yacht clubs along the way, and keep your camera at the ready as the lakeshore offers some unforgettable views of Chicago's impressive skyline.
40. Montreal: Visit the Museum of Fine Arts
Montreal's Museum of Fine Arts or Musée des Beaux-Arts boasts an impressive collection which is actually housed in two different buildings across the street from each other. These are connected by means of an underground tunnel. The main collection is free to visit at all times and consists of paintings, sculptures, decorative arts objects and much more. Don't leave without seeing the iconic hat that belonged to famous French ruler, Napoleon.
Location: 1380 Sherbrooke Street West.
Opening hours: Tues-Fri 11am-5pm, Sat-Sun 10am-5pm, closed Mondays.
41. Los Angeles: Check out Griffith Park
Covering in excess of 4,100 acres, Griffith Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the US. It won't cost you a thing to get into the park, and once you're there you'll find that it's filled with things to see and do. For those who prefer to be active, there are numerous trails for hiking, jogging and walking. If you're looking for something more relaxed, why not chill out at one of the many picnic areas. Don't leave the park without checking out some of its other attractions including the Griffith Observatory which boasts pretty incredible views of Los Angeles. The building and grounds of this popular observatory are free to visit; however, there is a small fee if you want to see one of the shows in the planetarium. This should be on everyone's list of things to do in America, especially if you time it just right to watch the sunset over Los Angeles and experience a visual spectacle of pinks, purples and reds.
Location: Griffith Park – 4730 Crystal Springs Drive; Griffith Observatory – 2800 East Observatory Road.
Opening hours: Griffith Park – Daily 5am-10.30pm; Griffith Observatory – Wed-Fri noon-10pm, Sat-Sun 10am-10pm, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
42. Miami: Explore the Art Deco District
In the South Beach area of Miami Beach you'll find the city's Art Deco District, which is home to a wonderful collection of art deco architecture. To see some of the most striking examples, stroll along both Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive. Not just focused on pastel-coloured buildings and much photographed spots like the Carlton Hotel, this style even extends as far as the flamboyant lifeguard stations which have to be seen to be believed.
43. San Diego: Hang out at Mission Beach Boardwalk
Stretching along for some 3.5 miles, the Mission Beach Boardwalk in San Diego is an excellent place to indulge in a spot of people watching. Start out at the main lifeguard tower at Ventura Place, making sure to follow the lane guides as the boardwalk is popular with cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers. Along the way, keep an eye out for the many characters found in the area or take a seat on the wall and look out at what's happening on the beach.
Location: Pacific Beach & South Mission Beach.
44. Portland: Check out Forest Park
Take a break from the city and escape to the natural setting of this giant park. Covering over 5,000 acres, it boasts more than 70 miles of trails. This huge expanse of parkland is a popular place for walking, jogging and cycling. It's also a great place to spot a wide variety of local plants, birds and mammals. Best of all, it won't cost you a cent to explore this Portland park.
Location: NW 29th Ave & Upshur Street to Newberry Road.
Opening hours: Daily 5am-10pm.
45. Toronto: Check out the Allan Gardens Conservatory
The Allan Gardens Conservatory is filled with a colour collection of flowers, along with a wonderful array of palm trees and cacti. Striking seasonal displays can also be enjoyed at this Victorian-style building located at the heart of Toronto's beautiful Allan Gardens. Both the Conservatory and the Gardens are free to visit.
Location: 19 Horticultural Avenue.
Opening hours: Daily, 10am-5pm.
46. San Francisco: Visit Grace Cathedral
Destroyed in a fire in 1906, Grace Cathedral was rebuilt and is now one of the largest Episcopal Cathedrals in the US. Designed in the French Gothic style, the current cathedral was completed in 1964 and features a gorgeous collection of stained glass windows. Famous for its 'Gates of Paradise', Ghiberti-style bronze doors, the cathedral is also home to a labyrinth and an impressive array of artworks. Located in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighbourhood, this fascinating building is well-worth a look.
Location: 1100 California Street.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7am-6pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 8am-7pm.
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47. Las Vegas: Enjoy the Fremont Street Experience
A carnival-like atmosphere awaits you at this pedestrian mall on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas. Home to a remarkable array of street performers, the mall is enclosed by a huge canopy. As you wander along, you won't be able to stop from gazing upwards at a glittering display of some 12 million lights. You can enjoy free shows on the gigantic overhead screen starting at dusk and taking place every hour until midnight.
Location: 425 Freemont Street.
48. Seattle: Visit the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
Watching boats of various sizes navigate the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks is one of the top things to do in Seattle. During the summer months, you'll also see salmon making their way up stream by way of the fish ladder. When the salmon are plentiful, sea lions can often be seen congregating near the ladder in the hopes of catching an easy meal. The area boasts some gorgeous gardens, which are a great spot for a stroll after you've spend some time watching the commercial fishing boats and pleasure crafts at the locks.
Location: 3015 NW 54th Street.
Opening hours: Daily 7am-9pm.
49. Minneapolis: Visit the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
The collection at the Minneapolis Institute or Arts includes around 80,000 different objects covering 5,000 years of world history. Exhibits include everything from African art to contemporary photography. Paintings, decorative arts, sculptures can also be seen at this fascinating and free Minneapolis museum and art gallery.
Location: 2400 3rd Avenue South.
Opening hours: Tues-Wed & Fri-Sat 10am-5pm, Thurs 10am-9pm, Sun 11am-5pm, closed Mondays.
50. San Luis Obispo: Hang out at Mission Plaza
Close to the Old Mission, another of the top things to do in San Luis Obispo, Mission Plaza is a cool open space covering a two-block area. Boasting a number of different paths to explore and picnic areas where you can chill out, the Plaza is also home to an outdoor amphitheatre. A regular programme of free entertainment can be enjoyed in and around this area, with the majority of these taking place during the summer months.
Location: Broad Street & Monterey Street.
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If you're planning a trip to North America, hopefully these tips will help you save some money along the way. So whether you're visiting New York or Los Angeles, Toronto or Vancouver, make sure to check back on the best things to do in America if you're ever stuck for ideas.
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The road north across the Golden Gate leads to some of the prettiest counties in North America. Yet behind the lovely rolling hills, wineries, ranches and picturesque once-rural towns lies a demographic time bomb that neither political party is ready to address.
Paradise is having a problem with the evolving economy. A generational conflict is brewing, pitting the interests and predilections of well-heeled boomers against a growing, predominately Latino working class. And neither the emerging "progressive" politics nor laissez-faire conservatism is offering much in the way of a solution.
These northern California counties--which include Sonoma, Napa, Solano and Marin--have become beacons for middle- and upper-class residents from the Bay Area. These generally liberal people came in part to enjoy the lifestyle of this mild, bucolic region, and many have little interest in changing it.
"The yuppies have insulated themselves here for the long term," notes Robert Eyler, a director at the Center for Regional Economic Analysis at Sonoma State University. "The boomers have blocked everyone else different in age and skill from rising up and making their place."
Nowhere is this more evident than in the "green," anti-growth movement so prevalent in these places. Strong restrictions of business growth, bolstered by California's draconian land-use regulations, have turned these areas into business no-go zones. This has become increasingly clear after the collapse of the real estate boom, which created thousands of jobs for agents, mortgage brokers and construction workers.
Hard times have come to paradise. Unemployment in Sonoma now tops 10%, up from barely 3% two years ago, notes Eyler. The rate is slightly higher in neighboring Solano County but a bit lower in wealthy Marin and Napa. Across the region, vacancy rates for offices and other commercial buildings have reached as high as 30%. Overall, by some estimates, the vacancy rate is higher in Sonoma than in Detroit.
These conditions, local business leaders suggest, seem to have no effect on the region's well-organized and well-financed greenies, who often see any growth as a threat to their quality of life
Of course, economic reversal can sometimes hurt the balance sheets of wealthy yuppies and early retirees, but Eyler suggests the change could prove most devastating to the next generation of residents. In 2000 these counties were almost 70% white; Eyler projects that by 2030 they will be majority minority, with the Latino percentage more than doubling to almost one-third the population.
At the same time, the predominant white population will be getting older and even less supportive of economic growth. The boomers who moved to paradise may not have "put up a parking lot" as much as rooted themselves firmly into the ground. Already Marin, the wealthiest county, is among the oldest in California, vying with other high-end places like San Francisco and Orange and Ventura Counties.
Today in Marin, there are still more people aged 40 to 55 than over 65. But by 2025 the over-65 crowd will be as large as the prime working-age population (which comprises those in their 30s and 40s) and should be larger than the under-25 population. The old and young also will diverge greatly in their ethnicities. In virtually all North Bay areas, the bulk of the codgers will be white, while most young people will be Hispanic or other minorities.
In the past, besides construction, these young workers might have found employment in the area's once-burgeoning electronics and telecommunications industry. But many of these companies have moved operations to more business-friendly regions or overseas. "When these kids who are in school now grow up, we are going to have a huge job crisis here," Eyler warns. "But when the boomers are gone, what happens when all the jobs have moved to Des Moines?"
Of course, the widely accepted solution to this dilemma comes in the color green--that environment jobs will provide the new employment. Indeed by some accounts, most embarrassingly in a recent Time magazine cover, the shift to green technologies has already created a "thriving" economy.
This would be news to a state that suffers 12% unemployment, massive outmigration and among the worst business climates in the country. Time extols
Not surprisingly, California's middle class is getting hammered, and has for years. Since 1999, according to research at the California Lutheran University forecast project, the state has experienced a far more dramatic drop in households earning between $35,000 and $75,000, than the national average. At the same time California's poverty rate has grown at a more rapid pace than the national average, with a huge spike since 2006.
This reflects a strange disjunction between the optimism of the top-tier boomers--venture capitalists, academics and the self-described progressives--and the realities facing most Californians. For Apple's Steve Jobs, Google's Eric Schmidt and venture capitalists connected to Al Gore, these could well be the best of times. Fed policy prints money for investment bankers to speculate; stock prices rise as people have nowhere else to invest. And for the much celebrated venture community, there's also an Energy Department that pours hundreds of millions into "green" start-ups that build things like expensive electric cars.
California's high-tech greens may talk a liberal streak in terms of diversity and social justice, but their prescriptions offer little for those who would like to build a career and raise a family in 21st century California. Their policies in terms of land use regulation and greenhouse gas emissions will make it even harder for existing factories, warehouses, homebuilders and other traditional employers of the middle- or working class. "In effect," Eyler notes, "the progressives have become regressives."
In the real world hype and enthusiasm are not sufficient to create a sustainable economic model. In order to grow a "green" economy, you first have to have an economy. To be sure, there are potential opportunities in the development and implementation of energy-saving technologies in the next decade, including wind and solar energy, but it's doubtful that many jobs can be generated without a major shift in the economic climate here.
One key problem, as suggested in a recent analysis by Rob Sentz at Economic Modeling Specialists, is that green is not really about "what" you make but about "how" you make it. Green jobs, for the most part, will come from growth in construction, manufacturing and warehousing industries.
Yet the "greenest" parts of the country--places like the northern end of the Bay Area--are among the toughest places to build or manufacture anything, without huge public-sector subsidies. Indeed, California's new green requirements, compared with places like Texas or China where manufacturing has other advantages, would further undermine an already struggling sector. Few businesspeople see much growth in the near future in office or residential construction.
This leaves "green" industries reduced to largely improving the energy footprint of existing structures, an effort that will no doubt be further undermined by the deteriorating picture for many commercial mortgages. At best, Eyler notes, this may create a small temporary surge in jobs, but the long-term effects will likely be limited.
Ultimately, the only way out of this looming crisis lies with the boomer gentry doing something totally out of character: getting past their self-interest and self-love for the good of the next generation. In the process, they do not have to give up preserving paradise, but focus as well on creating economic opportunity for the emerging working and middle class majority. If not, their Eden will end up as a green version of a gated community.
This article originally appeared at Forbes.com.
Joel Kotkin is executive editor of NewGeography.com and is a distinguished presidential fellow in urban futures at Chapman University. He is author of The City: A Global History. His next book, The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050, will be published by Penguin Press early next year.


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Are you ready for Google's Page Experience update?
10 March 2021
I am often asked if I have found a secret – or at least a consistent answer – to successfully building businesses over my career.
So I've spent some time thinking about what characterizes so many of Virgin's successful ventures and, importantly, what went wrong when we did not get it right. Reflecting across 40 years I have come up with five secrets to business success.
Because starting a business is a huge amount of hard work, requiring a great deal of time, you had better enjoy it. When I started Virgin from a basement flat in West London, I did not set out to build a business empire. I set out to create something I enjoyed that would pay the bills.
There was no great plan or strategy. The name itself was thought up on the hoof. One night some friends and I were chatting over a few drinks and decided to call our group Virgin, as we were all new to business. The name stuck and had a certain ring to it.
For me, building a business is all about doing something to be proud of, bringing talented people together and creating something that's going to make a real difference to other people's lives.
A businesswoman or a businessman is not unlike an artist. What you have when you start a company is a blank canvas; you have to fill it. Just as a good artist has to get every single detail right on that canvas, a businessman or businesswoman has to get every single little thing right when first setting up in business in order to succeed. However, unlike a work of art, the business is never finished. It constantly evolves.
If a businessperson sets out to make a real difference to other people's lives, and achieves that, he or she will be able to pay the bills and have a successful business to boot.
Whether you have a product, a service or a brand, it is not easy to start a company and to survive and thrive in the modern world. In fact, you've got to do something radically different to make a mark today.
Look at the most successful businesses of the past 20 years. Microsoft, Google or Apple, for example, shook up a sector by doing something that hadn't ever been done and by continually innovating. They are now among the dominant forces.
Businesses generally consist of a group of people, and they are your biggest assets.
As a leader you have to be a really good listener. You need to know your own mind but there is no point in imposing your views on others without some debate. No one has a monopoly on good ideas or good advice.
Get out there, listen to people, draw people out and learn from them. As a leader you've also got to be extremely good at praising people. Never openly criticize people; never lose your temper, and always lavish praise on your colleagues for a job well done.
People flourish if they're praised. Usually they don't need to be told when they've done wrong because most of the time they know it. If somebody is not working out, don't automatically throw him or her out of the company. A company should genuinely be a family. So see if there's another job within the company that suits them better. On most occasions you'll find something for every single kind of personality.
A good leader does not get stuck behind a desk. I've never worked in an office – I've always worked from home – but I get out and about, meeting people. It seems I am traveling all the time but I always have a notebook in my back pocket to jot down questions, concerns or good ideas.
If I'm on a Virgin Atlantic plane, I make certain to get out and meet all the staff and many of the passengers. If you meet a group of Virgin Atlantic crew members, you are going to have at least 10 suggestions or ideas. If I don't write them down, I may remember only one the next day. By writing them down, I remember all 10. Get out and shake hands with all the passengers on the plane, and again, there are going to be people who had a problem or have a suggestion. Write it down, make sure that you get their names, get their e-mail addresses, and make sure the next day that you respond to them.
Of course, I try to make sure that we appoint managing directors who have the same philosophy. That way we can run a large group of companies in the same way a small business owner runs a family business – keeping it responsive and friendly.
When you're building a business from scratch, the key word for many years is "survival." It's tough to survive. In the beginning you haven't got the time or energy to worry about saving the world. You've just got to fight to make sure you can look after your bank manager and be able to pay the bills. Literally, your full concentration has to be on surviving.
Obviously, if you don't survive, just remember that most businesses fail and the best lessons are usually learned from failure. You must not get too dispirited. Just get back up and try again.
By Richard Branson, for the Entrepreneur
© 2010 Richard Branson
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Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple is located at Elluru Kothakota, Banaganapalli Mandal in Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh. This Temple is dedicated to Anjaneya Swamy.
Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple,
Elluru Kothakota, Banaganapalli Mandal, Kurnool District,
Andhra Pradesh, India,
Pin Code : N/A
Phone Number : N/A
Fax : N/A
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Official Website : N/A


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Israel's 19th KnessetWritten by Stephen Lendman Subject: Israel
by Stephen Lendman
On January 22, Israelis elected 120 19th Knesset members. Over 80% of its members are extremist hardliners. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) assessed prospects ahead.
Israel's current body is its most extremist. Future prospects look worse. Polls suggest "we may be heading towards a more hardline" body.
Current legislators enacted numerous anti-democratic laws. Warning flags are raised. Flashing red lights signal worse times ahead.
Civil liberties and human rights are on the chopping block for elimination. Few people have a clue about what's coming. They have themselves to blame. Others more informed are dismissive.
Governments unaccountably get away with murder.
ACRI calls anti-democratic legislation "laws that risk damaging Israel's basic democratic structure."
They're game-changers. They erode or eliminate what should be constitutionally guaranteed. Anti-democratic 18th Knesset bills were outrageous.
They violated Israeli Arab rights. They delegitimized them. They eroded free expression and assembly. They weakened protest rights.
They delegitimized civil society organizations. They targeted civil and human rights for elimination. They challenged Supreme Court independence and authority. They want its rulings bypassed.
They tried delegitimizing the Justice Ministry and Attorney General's office.
Some bills were enacted. Others got Netanyahu's approval. Public and international pressure slowed their advance. Measures that didn't pass scored political gains.
Serious damage was done in the process. Past, ongoing, and prospective anti-democratic legislation are worrisome. "We expect to see" worse from the 19th Knesset.
Israel's legislative process requires completing several Knesset plenum readings. Preliminary steps include:
For government-sponsored bills:
Relevant ministries propose measures. Government ministers discuss them. If approved, they're submitted to the Knesset's Speaker. A first plenum reading follows.
If passed, a relevant committee prepares it for second and third readings.
For private bills:
One or several MKs draft them. The Speaker must approve them. A preliminary plenum reading follows. Before it's done, it's presented to the Ministerial Committee on Legislation.
It decides up or down on government support. If approved, it's forwarded to the relevant committee. Members discuss it. Changes are made. If approved, it moves on for first plenum reading.
First Reading:
The minister or MK responsible for proposing the bill presents it. Plenum members discuss it. Amendments are made. It advances for second and third readings.
The process takes time. If committee approval is achieved, plenum readings complete the process.
Second and Third Readings
Both occur in sequence. In second readings, plenum members vote on what the committee approved. Reservations, if any, are raised. If accepted, they're included in final legislation.
If final passage is achieved, it's signed by the president, prime minister, and minister in charge of its execution. It's published in Israel's law books. After publication, it becomes law.
Bills failing first readings don't advance. Relevant parties must reintroduce them. Doing so restarts the entire process.
First reading passage advances it. It picks up where it left off earlier. Sponsors must request continuity motions.
For government-sponsored bills, a relevant official requests it. A plenum vote follows. For private bills, sponsors must have been reelected. They're permitted to request continuity.
"The government has 21 days to establish its position, and then it goes to a continuity vote in the plenum."
Society and Freedom of Expression
Anti-Boycott Law:
It's officially titled "Preventing Harm to the State of Israel by Means of Boycott." It permits filing civil lawsuits against individuals calling for boycotting settlement products.
In June 2011, it was approved. It includes sanctions targeting NGOs or companies participating in boycott activities.
On December 10, 2012, Israel's High Court issued an "order nisi." It's an order to show cause. It requires the state to justify the law's legality.
The ruling followed Adalah's petition. It's the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights. ACRI joined it on behalf of eight civil society organizations.
Lawyers, lawmakers, the Knesset's legal advisor, and others harshly criticized the law. It permits aggrieved entities to demand civil court compensation from individuals and organizations unjustly. Damages don't have to be proved.
Government authorities have until April 2013 to respond to the High Court's order nisi.
Funding from Foreign State Entities:
Officially it's titled "Law on Disclosure Requirements for Recipients of Support from a Foreign State Entity." It requires NGOs supported by "foreign state entities" to submit quarterly financial reports on funds received.
If foreign state entities fund advertising campaigns, it must be explained within its framework. Promoters claim legislative provisions promote transparency. In fact, they delegitimize and curtail organizational activities. In February 2011, it passed final reading.
Bill on Foreign Funding of NGOs - Hybrid Version
It combines two NGO foreign funding bills. New provisions are added. It divides NGOs receiving funding from foreign state entities into three categories:
(1) Those banned from getting it.
(2) Those permitted to receive it by virtue of receiving Israeli government contributions.
(3) Others to be taxed at a 45% rate of income. Knesset waivers exempt it if received.
In November 2011, the bill was drafted. First reading approval didn't follow. Local and international criticism killed it. The 19th Knesset may restart the legislative process.
Libel without Proof of Damages
Two separate Anti-Defamation Law amendments were combined in one bill. It authorizes judicial authorities to order those who published libel (including media outlets) to pay punitive damages.
They total NIS (New Israeli Shekel) 300,000 - NIS 500,000 without proof of damages. Current Israeli law assesses NIS 50,000. A shekel equals about one-fourth of a US dollar.
In November 2011, the bill passed first reading. A 19th Knesset continuity motion is needed to advance it.
Pardoning Protesters of Gaza Disengagement
Originally it was introduced in the 17th Knesset. It was approved by 18th Knesset members. Those arrested and charged during 2005 anti-disengagement protests are pardoned except for the most severe offenses.
Offenders without prior criminal records qualify. Punitive easing is welcome. Legislative provisions remain problematic. They distinguish between political and ideological activists as well as various groups.
In February 2012, Israel's High Court rejected a petition against inequality provisions. In January 2010, the bill passed final reading.
Undermining the Courts
Civil Damages (State Liability) (Amendment No. 8)
In 2005, 17th Knesset members approved a Civil Damages Law amendment. It denied Palestinians the right to receive compensations for damages caused by Israeli security forces. It applies under all circumstances.
In December 2006, Israel's High Court struck down the amendment. It ruled it unconstitutional. Six months later, legislators prepared a new bill. They reintroduced the amendment.
First reading approval followed. In July 2012, final reading passage was achieved. Doing so grants authorities sweeping immunity from tort suits.
It's gotten under all circumstances pertaining to West Bank and Gaza offenses. Orphans, widows, the disabled, and impoverished Palestinians have no means of redress. Israel never says it's sorry. It's exempt from penalties for what it caused.
Restricting Public Petitions to the High Court of Justice
Proposed Basic Law Amendment:
The Judiciary seeks substantially limited human rights/social change groups' ability to petition Israel's High Court of Justice. It wants fewer sensitive public issues reaching it. It restricts public petitioners whether or not they're directly harmed.
In February 2011, the amendment was tabled. Netanyahu opposed it. So far it hasn't advanced.
The 18th Knesset saw other bills introduced to influence the High Court's composition and limit its authority. None passed. Reintroducing them may follow in the 19th Knesset.
Arab Citizens of Israel
The Prawar Plan:
In 2011, government authorities approved it. It calls for limited Bedouin villages recognition. It leaves 30,000 Bedouins vulnerable to relocation. The plan drew international rebuke.
In March 2012, the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination urged withdrawing the discriminatory law.
Following government approval, a law memorandum was published. The 18th Knesset dissolution meant the bill wasn't presented for approval.
Renewed legislative attempts will be made. Precise details and timing may differ. Prower leaves tens of thousands of Bedouins vulnerable to relocation. Doing so violates their rights.
Acceptance to Communities Law
In March 2011, it was approved. Village and community acceptances committees may deny candidates admission. They can do so if they "fail to meet the fundamental views of the community."
Ethnic minorities are targeted. Jewish communities want religious and ethnic purity. In December 2011, nine High Court justices heard ACRI's petition against the law.
Adalah filed its own. A decision remains to be rendered.
Abu Basma Bill on Regional Council Elections
The measure includes an amendment concerning regional council elections. It lets the Interior Minister postpone democratic elections indefinitely.
It relates to Abu Basma. It's a Negev Bedouin regional council. Six years ago it was recognized. It's being administered by an appointed Interior Ministry representative. It denies community members the right to self-government.
In November 2009, it passed final reading. In February 2011, Israel's High Court ruled Abu Basma elections may be held on December 4, 2012. Interior Ministry action prevented them. ACRI continues to follow the issue closely.
The Nakba Law
In March 2011, it was enacted. It lets the Finance Minister fine public bodies benefitting from public funding. Doing so targets commemorative Nakba events or calling Israel's Independence Day a day of mourning.
Fines apply to denying "the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state."
ACRI and Adalah petitioned Israel's High Court for redress. In January 2012, they were denied. Justices said they couldn't rule. The law hadn't been implemented.
ACRI and Adalah responded. They said "the High Court ignored the chilling effect of this law, and missed the opportunity to tell legislators that there are limits to their anti-human rights actions. The law encourages discrimination against Arabs in Israel."
Extending Arrest of Persons Suspected of Security Offenses
The measure extended the emergency ordinance two years. Suspects in security related cases may be arrested. They can be detained longer without judicial oversight.
Doing so severely infringes due process. It violates fundamental Israeli criminal law. Fair interrogation guarantees are spurned. Mistreatment is permitted. Innocent people are vulnerable to conviction.
In December 2010, the law passed final reading. The 19th Knesset will likely extend it.
Revoking Citizenship for Persons Convicted of Terrorism and Espionage
The Interior Minister and courts may revoke citizenship unjustly. Doing so denies basic rights. The Knesset Interior Committee approved the measure.
Two amendments were added:
(1) No one may be left stateless.
(2) Citizenship revocation requires Attorney General approval.
Shin Bet opposes the measure. It denies basic citizenship rights. Other Israeli laws deal adequately with persons convicted of terrorism and espionage.
In March 2011, the bill passed final reading.
Creeping Area C Annexation
Levy Committee for the Arrangement of Outposts
Former Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy's international law revisionism spurned it. He recommended legalizing illegal outposts. It said zoning officials should authorize them without further political approval.
It urged no restraints on settlement construction. He ignored occupation harshness.
He claimed Israel is entitled to all parts of Judea and Samaria it wishes. ACRI and independent jurists condemned him. The 19th Knesset may enact his recommendations into law.
Bills for Arrangement of Outposts
In June 2012, two proposed bills were scheduled for preliminary readings. At issue is authorizing illegal outposts on private Palestinian land.
They want retroactive authorization granted. Doing so spurns Palestinian rights. Passage didn't follow. Expect similar bills introduced in the 19th Knesset.
Amendment to the Prohibition of Discrimination in Products, Services and Entry into Places of Entertainment and Public Places Law
The original law sought to advance equality. It wanted discrimination on grounds of nationality, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation or political ideology prevented.
In July 2012, the Economic Affairs Committee approved first reading. It was based on place of residence. Occupied Territories were included.
Equating them with Israel is unacceptable. Preliminary reading passed. Draft approval followed. Expect 19th Knesset members to reintroduce the bill.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Law to Prevent Infiltration
In January 2012, it passed as an amendment to existing Law to Prevent Infiltration legislation. Asylum seekers, refugees, and their children entering Israel from Egypt face arrest, imprisonment without trial, and minimum three years incarceration.
For some, it could be indefinitely. Every "infiltrator" could be tried in criminal court. They could be imprisoned another five years.
Six human rights organizations petitioned Israel's High Court. They did so on behalf of themselves and five Eritrean asylum seekers. They're held indefinitely.
The Law to Prevent Infiltration "renders the right to liberty meaningless for many thousands of people," said ACRI. They're deprived of effective legal defense.
Israel's law isn't to deport. It's to make asylum seekers suffer. It's to deter others from coming. It inflicts enormous physical and emotional harm. It violates fundamental international law. It spurns Israel's Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty.
In March, Israel's High Court will hear petitioner arguments.
The Slavery Law: Amendment 21 of Entry into Israel Law
It limits work permits given migrant workers. It binds them to one employer. Israel's Supreme Court ruled earlier. It called doing so "a modern form of slavery."
In May 2011, the measure passed final reading.
Amendment Criminalizing Employment, Providing Shelter or Renting Accommodation and Transporting Asylum Seekers
In June 2012, two bills sought to penalize Israelis knowingly or unknowingly assisting asylum seekers by providing employment, accommodation or transportation.
Preliminary readings passed. Both measures were combined for first reading. During Knesset Internal Affairs Committee discussions, the prohibition applied only to employment.
The law becomes binding when construction of an asylum internment camp is completed. Innocent people are criminalized for acting humanely.
Racial profiling and discriminatory harshness loom. Immigrants and Israelis are affected. Israel's 19th Knesset will consider it.
Amendment Forbidding Asylum Seekers to Send Money Abroad
Last July, Israel proposed amending the Law to Prevent Infiltration. It passed first reading. Infiltrators sending money abroad face three months imprisonment.
Persons helping them face 12 months. Israel's 19th Knesset will continue the legislative process.
ACRI is justifiably concerned. It expects the worst of 18th Knesset anti-democratic measures to be exceeded ahead. Israeli democracy is more hypocrisy than real.
It's on the chopping block for elimination. It may entirely erode ahead. Hardline extremists are up to no good. They have other priorities in mind.
Israel isn't fit to live in now. Imagine how much worse ahead is planned.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.
His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.


text:
Kitsap County received $55,706.21 for its share of last year's election to replace Jay Inslee in Congress for a month.
Jerry Corn at the (Everett) Herald has the story revealing the final amount the state paid to local counties to add an election to replace Jay Inslee in Congress.
Inslee resigned for his seat in Congress early in 2012 to focus on the governor's race, which I'm guessing most of you know he won.


text:
UK cardinal quits amid inappropriate behaviour claims
Britain's most senior Catholic cleric has stepped down after allegations of inappropriate behaviour were made public.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien had been due to retire from his position as Archbishop of Edinburgh and St Andrews in a few weeks' time.
Instead, he is resigning after a UK newspaper made public allegations of inappropriate behaviour.Loading...
Three priests and one former priest made the allegations, saying the misconduct took place in the 1980s.
Cardinal O'Brien has denied the allegations and says he was stepping down for health reasons.
"For any good I have been able to do, I thank God. For any failures, I apologise to all whom I have offended," he said in a statement, which made no reference to the recent allegations.
Cardinal O'Brien had been Britain's only cardinal elector, and his departure means Britain will not have a representative in the papal conclave which will soon meet to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI.
In his statement Cardinal O'Brien confirmed he would not be heading to Rome.
"I do not wish media attention in Rome to be focused on me - but rather on Pope Benedict XVI and on his successor," he said.
The Vatican issued a statement confirming the Pope had accepted Cardinal O'Brien's resignation.
Furthermore, the Pope has amended Roman Catholic church law so the conclave to elect his successor can be brought forward.
The change means the College of Cardinals will no longer have to wait 15 days after the papacy becomes vacant before beginning conclave.
Pope Benedict's resignation is due to take effect later this week.


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