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16 Aug Musings on identity, art & Black Country risotto
I stayed in London this summer, and went instead on a day trip to Birmingham to find my identity and to catch artist Mahtab Hussain's exhibition Going Back Home to Where I Came From at The New Art Gallery in Walsall. The exhibition closes on 2 September, but there's still the book to buy.
Identity, personal and cultural, is a hot topic in today's world, and the exhibition received rave reviews in the likes of The New York Times, Vogue Italia and Dazed & Confused, which hailed the exhibition as one of the top summer picks on both sides of the Atlantic.
What I did not expect was to go on my own personal journey. First it was the visit to Walsall. Living in a global city such as London can cut you off from how other people live. Walsall reminded me of Remscheid in Germany. Both are post-industrial towns. Wolfgang Tillmans, one of the most famous photographers of our times, was born in Remscheid, but I don't know anyone of note born in Walsall, although I am sure there is.
Walsall is 30 minutes from Birmingham New Street station by train. It's in the Black Country region, which also includes the towns of Dudley and Sandwell. It was one of the most industrialised parts of the UK – and famous, until very recently, before bankruptcy struck, for making the Queen's riding saddles.
What I loved about Walsall was the sense of humour – could it be black humour? Then there's how they speak. It sounds so bubbly, so warm. When I was in the gallery, three people were huddled together talking. I couldn't catch their 'strange' language. Finnish, I thought? I edged closer. Nope, still couldn't understand. Being of a curious nature, I asked them what language they were speaking. "English," the older man replied. To be more correct, it was Black Country dialect.
"Going Back To Where I Came From"
Mahtab was born in the UK, in Glasgow, to parents who came over to Britain in the 60s and 70s from Kashmir. He was subjected to taunts of "go back home", in the streets, in the supermarkets; they followed him everywhere.
In 2016, he travelled to Kotli, his mother's hometown in Kashmir. During the two weeks he was there, Hussain created a visual diary of what his life might have been like if his parents had not migrated. He retraced his mother's footsteps through the cornfields and down by the well, and at the old family home, meeting relatives who previously had been strangers.
The exhibition is a series of intimate portraits, atmospheric landscapes and still lifes encapsulating this homeland. On returning to Britain, Mahtab's bubble "burst", and he returned to being "a lost boy living among lost generations, who are not able to call any place home".
He writes in the book: "I was beginning to fall in love with my motherland and was slowly letting myself fall under its charm, but as I began to fall, I was pulled back to reality, with a voice telling me that Kashmir would never be mine, that England was my home."
The main exhibit is of a view in Kashmir of the Mangla Dam Lake, which when built in the 1960s resulted in the displacement of 110,000 local people. With subsequent displacements, this figure has now reached a quarter of a million. In the early days, many of that Kashmiri community came to Birmingham, to work in the factories lining the canals.
Finding my identity
Mahtab's work is about identity, race, heritage and displacement. I've always lived with a confused identity. I am English born. My DNA puts me as being mainly from southern Ireland, and also from Scotland, England, France, Portugal and the Netherlands… with 5% African. My father was an engineer in the pre-partition Indian Army, before getting married late in life. He spent many years in Kashmir – I even have a photo on my kitchen wall of him skiing in Kashmir. As children, he would talk to us in Urdhu, the language of Pakistan.
What I learnt from Mahtab's exhibition is that identity, like history, is a richly intricate weave of different strands that produces one beautiful multi-coloured piece of cloth – your personal identity. And that personal identity is not just about geography; it is something far more complex and deeper.
Our journey is to uncover our personal identity, to be curious, to accept, to feel comfortable, to grow. With that confidence in who we are, to then accept who other people are – and where they are at on their journey.
In the book, Mahtab talks about the organic emergence of "one collective identity" underpinned by the youth of today: "…we can only hope that over time, their general enthusiasm for cohesion will be passed down through the generations to unify us all, and offer a more fluid understanding of what is meant by "home".
Walsall the town
Food wise I had lunch booked at Carter of Moseley, on the posh side of Birmingham, to the south. If I could have found a local place to have local fare, I would have stayed… as long as the produce was well sourced!
The Black Country is famed for its pork scratchings (roasted pork rind with salt and fennel seeds), faggots (meatballs), grey peas (traditionally maple peas with barley and bacon) and Groaty Dick pudding (this Black Country risotto, as it is called by The Guardian newspaper, is made of groats, another word for grains, with beef, leeks, onion and beef stock, and cooked for 16 hours; traditionally it's eaten on Guy Fawkes' Night on 5 November).
The local newspapers – and chats I had with the locals – revealed a town-wide depression about the imminent closure of the M&S store in the town's high street, and talk about local crime, mainly assaults.
Research shows that negative emotions narrow the mind and positive emotions open it up for you to see more possibilities. I would suggest to anyone in the area that they visit The New Art Gallery. It may just open up a whole new world of possibilities, like it did for me.
Mahtab Hussain is represented by East Wing Gallery.
Keep track of my latest posts by following me on my Facebook Page.


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Akron Radon Reduction Systems' main objective during an installation is to to remove the radon from the soils surrounding your home and discharge them above your roof-line. This technique is referred to as sub-slab depressurization (SSD). We will determine the optimal location for access (suction) points, fan installation, and exhaust. The most cost-effective option is what we call an "exterior installation". That is, the fan and exhaust pipes are installed outside of your home, like this:
Some homeowners prefer a more discreet installation, and want the fan/exhaust piping installed in an unfinished attic-space. This is what we call an "interior installation". A few images can be seen here:
In most interior installations, we are able to run pipe from your basement, to the garage, and out the garage roof. The configuration of your home, its finished areas, and roof will all dictate if an interior installation is possible. Sometimes, for example, there's no way to route the pipe through unfinished spaces into your attic. Occasionally, the pipe runs are so long that an upgraded fan is required. An interior installation is most aesthetically pleasing, but also takes longer to complete and carries an additional charge. You can review pricing guidelines here.
Call Akron Radon Reduction Systems for a quote today! 330-915-4999

subset: commoncrawl


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October 31st, 2017
By Your word everything was made that is in heaven or on earth or under the earth. You formed us from the dust of the ground, breathed Your breath into us, and gave us life. When we disobeyed, rebelled against You, and lived in bondage to sin, You sent the Deliverer to give His life to set us free. By Your great power, You raised Him from the dead so that through faith in Him we are rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of Your light and life and love.
October 30th, 2017
Anne Graham Lotz wrote a book, "The Daniel Prayer." In that book she wrote this prayer," A Prayer That IS Confident." I try to use it every day. I want to share this with you in parts as I did with the "I WILL FIGHT."
A Prayer That Is Confident
Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God? — John 11:40
Great God of Creation, Lord of the Universe, the God who parted the Red Sea, You are the God of the impossible who makes a way when there is no way. We worship You as our God. We exalt You as One whose Name is above every name. You have no equal. You stand in the solitude of Yourself.
Your righteous right hand hung the stars in space, shattered Your enemies, and holds us, Your children by covenant, safe and secure. Who is like You — majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
October 29th, 2017
Ultimately, the Bible says, the devil is the source of all temptation; he is called "the tempter" in Matthew 4:3. But he is only able to succeed because we let him- and we let him succeed because of our own weakness.
This is one reason why we need Christ. Only He can forgive us when we sin, and only when He can give us strength, by the power of His Spirit, to resist temptation. And in His encounter with the devil at the beginning of His ministry He pointed the way to victory: Using the truth of God's Word to counteract Satan lies.
" Jesus said to him,"Away from me,Satan! For it is written:' Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only." Then the devil left him." -Matthew 4:10-11
October 28th, 2017
The cross is before me, The world is behind me. I'll never turn back. I'll never give up. I'll never settle .I'll never stop short. I will press toward the mark for the prize that is already mine. For I am persuaded, that neither death, not life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, neither height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. And if God is for me, who can be against me. I WILL FIGHT.
Now for the last seven days I have been publishing this declaration of victory for you . If you will speak this out loud every day. You will begin to notice something. Your faith will began to increase as you place your trust in Him and know who you are.
October 27th, 2017
I have determined to build my life on the solid foundation of God's perfect Word. By faith I will activate every promise He has made, and I will aim these promises of mass destruction obliterating every opponent of Jesus Christ. The weapons God has given me have divine power. I defy and defeat sin because of the finished work of Christ my Savior. I am whole heartedly devoted to the cause God made me for I have no intention of letting the world define me because I know who I am. A humble warrior, a good soldier, a strong and mighty servant of the living God. In Christ I am courageous. In Christ I am confident. My heart is steadfast. My purpose is immovable. I am always abounding in the work of the Lord and my potential is unlimited because the limitless God lives within me. I WILL FIGHT.
Daily devotional written by Pastor Lynn Sasser.
May 2020


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Watercolor Grateful Feathers Free Fall Printable
A free fall printable is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to decorate your home for autumn. Try this grateful watercolor printable in your home this fall!
I could always always always use more gratitude.
If there's anything that these recent devastating hurricanes have taught me, it's that.
Gratitude for our home when so many have lost so much, surely, but even more gratitude for the non-material things. For life. For the lessons it provides. For the sweet and beautiful sacrifices that people are making for others each and every day.
Especially when it's hard.
So I couldn't think of anything more appropriate for a fall printable this year than this reminder of how I should feel each and every day.
For a tutorial on how to create a wall hanging like this (including my favorite place and way to print things like this), visit this post.
To gain access to the free printable, just subscribe to the Maison de Pax newsletter (it's totally free and you can unsubscribe at any time). When you become a subscriber, you get access to this printable PLUS my entire library of free printables. If you are already a subscriber, you can access the printable library here (remember, your password is in your subscription welcome email). If you are not yet a subscriber, join the party here:
Become a VIP newsletter subscriber and gain access to our exclusive free resource vault!
The printable is sized to 8.5×11 so you can print it straight from your home printer, but the resolution is high enough to print as a larger poster as you see here if you want. Feel free to pin it for later, too!
And for more free fall printables, you can visit any of the links below.
"They Broke Bread" and Watercolor Pumpkin Place Cards by Ella Claire | Vintage Bird Printables by Town and Country Living | Bread Wrap by TIDBITS | Fall Feather Printable by Taryn Whiteaker | Apple and Eucalyptus Free Fall Printable by So Much Better with Age | Block Printed Leaves by Shades of Blue Interiors
Fall Has Always Been My Favorite by A Burst of Beautiful | Fall Floral Plate Chargers by Zevy Joy | Starting over in fall by anderson + grant | Watercolor Honey Crisp Apple by Finding Silver Pennies | 4 Fall Feather Prints by Refresh Restyle | The Deer King by My Someday in May
Autumn is the Hush Before Winter by Clean and Scentsible | Watercolour Succulent Pumpkins by The Happy Housie | 4 Watercolor Wreaths by My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia | Gather Here with a Grateful Heart by Craftberry Bush | Fall Fun by My Sweet Savannah | Watercolor Grateful Printable by Maison de Pax
Autumn Tea Tag Printables by Paint Me Pink | Leaves Falling by Lolly Jane | Happy Fall Watercolor by Kelly Elko | Heirloom Pumpkin Watercolor Series by Nina Hendrick Design Co. | I Never Met a Pumpkin I Didn't Like by Live Laugh Rowe | Bountiful Blessings by Unskinny Boppy
Autumn My Cozy Friend by In My Own Style | Fall Chalkboard Tags by Home Stories A to Z | Thankful Grateful Blessed Printable Tags by Nest of Posies | A Happy Pillow Made Just for You by Happy Happy Nester | Fall Botany Art Gallery Wall by Bless'er House


text: The Roots percussionist Stro Elliot follows up his 2016 self-titled debut with a new EP featuring a variety of "Moods", from the downtempo flip of Bilal on "Hey Slim", to the bang-your-fucking-head-off slaps of "FTL". Tributes are paid to lost greats and classics of old are made new again. Kanye West fucks with Stro. You should too.


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Fire on the Mountain
Written by Robert Hunter and Mickey Hart.
All instruments played by Mark Urso
This is a Reaper screenshot video, to let you see what Reaper looks like in action! I'm also making this into a music video, with footage of me playing, and an instructional video, on how to use Reaper. Enjoy!
Mark Urso


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Return to Home Page
Ride begins at the Courthouse, 100 Court St. in Marion with rides up to 45 miles with the long ride going over Big River Crossing to Memphis. Lunch at the end.
Info: email Madison
Address: P.O. Box 250817, Little Rock, AR 72225-0817
Phone: (501 912-1449
email Jim


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Also, blogger Union Apparel is holding a Barry M Giveaway open until December 18... Click here to go and enter :)
Wednesday Wishlist #2
Also, blogger Union Apparel is holding a Barry M Giveaway open until December 18... Click here to go and enter :)
22 comments:
Oh my! I've wanted the house of harlow necklace for SOOO long but it's so expensive :/ Maybe I should buy the replica..no..yes.noo...hsdj!! haha.. Decisions :(ReplyDelete
@iemilyw: Go for it! :) xReplyDelete
love the leggings, both of them. I too need some of these in my wardrobe. xxReplyDelete
Tangle Teezers are amazing, I dont know what I'd do without mine now. I can never get hold of the Sleek blusher either :[ReplyDelete
I bought a tangle teaser of ebay and they are sooo good! I have really thick hair and it does wonders, not quite sure how but definitely worth the money =)ReplyDelete
- Anonymous14 December 2011 at 21:54
Love the fairilse print leggings! xReplyDelete
@Danielle: I think I'll have to wait until after Christmas before I can add them to my wardrobe :( xReplyDelete
@Been There, Done That: Boooo :( I might just buy it online haha x
@Lulu: Wow, I definitely need to get one :) x
@ForeverGlitter: So do I! :) x
Oh I love the Leather Panel Leggings & Bralet. I've wanted both for ages but can never find ones that fit me right xxReplyDelete
@Misseblog: Aww yeah, I think I would have the same problem with bralets :/ xReplyDelete
i have the rose gold its amazing i could never find it store so i bought it off ebay its worth a look and i think you can buy it off their websiteReplyDelete
@Beauty Fiend: :) Yeahh, I think I'm just going to buy it online if I can't find it in store soon :) xReplyDelete
The necklace and the leggings look gorgeous!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous15 December 2011 at 23:20
Great wishlist, really want those print leggings :)ReplyDelete
@Sandra and Vivian: Gorgeous, aren't they! :) xReplyDelete
I love the tangle tweezer. It sort of looks like a cute bar of soap! And of course I love the leggins since that's all I wear. LOL!ReplyDelete
Anyway, I just found your blog and I really like it. You definitely have a new follower in me. If you'd like, you can check out my blog as well.
love these! really want some leather leggings, think thez look great and are warm for winter night outs and stuff!ReplyDelete
thanks for the mention of my giveaway! good luck!
That Sleek Blush looks cute! :)ReplyDelete
I love tangle teezers, they're perfect for me because my hair is so thick!ReplyDelete
Laur x
@Ashley: Haha, it does look a bit like a bar of soap, doesn't it? Thank youu, I'll check out your blog :) xReplyDelete
@Union Apparel: I agree, I like the ones with leather panels because they can be dressed up or down a bit easier :) Thank you! x
@Mateja: It's such a pretty colour swatched! x
@Laur: So is mine! I need to get one! x
Hi! I've been wanting to try the tangling teezer out too!! But I only saw it once and when I got back to buy it it was out of stock..so now I have to wait.. When you try it out, could you do a review on it? That would be great!!ReplyDelete
xoxo Rose
@Rose: Yes, of course! I think I might be getting one for Christmas so I'll try it out for a bit and then do a review :) xReplyDelete
I'm wearing Sleek Blush in Rose Gold today for the first time! I'm liking it :)ReplyDelete
Please leave a comment, I read every single one and they absolutely make my day! I try to answer all questions but please allow me up to 48 hours to do so! If you have a question you want answering straight away, feel free to email me or contact me via Twitter :) x


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United Nations Conference on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties
(Vienna, 4 April — 6 May 1977 and 31 July — 23 August 1978)
The succession of States and its relation to treaty obligations was considered by the Commission its twenty-second, twenty-fourth and twenty-sixth sessions, in 1968, 1970 and 1972 respectively. In 1967 Sir Humphrey Waldock (United Kingdom) was appointed Special Rapporteur for the sub-topic, and was in 1973 succeeded by Sir Francis Vallat (United Kingdom). A first reading of the draft articles was held at the twenty-fourth session, and the provisional draft articles were subsequently transmitted to Member States for their observation. The General Assembly in Resolution 2926 (XXVII) of 28 November 1972 recommended that the Commission continue its work in the light of comments received by Member States. The final text of the draft articles was adopted by the Commission at its twenty-sixth session and referred to the General Assembly with the recommendation, inter alia, that the Assembly convene an international conference of plenipotentiaries to conclude a convention on the subject. The General Assembly invited Member States to submit further comments and observations in resolution 3315 (XXIX). The following year, it was decided in Resolution 3496 (XXX) to convene an international conference with the purpose of concluding a convention based on the draft articles.
The Conference, attended by eighty-nine States, was held in Vienna 4 April to 6 May. The Conference was however unable to conclude its work in the time available, and a second session, approved by the General Assembly in Resolution 32/47 (8 December 1977), was subsequently held from 31 July to 34 August 1978. The second session of the Conference, attended by ninety-four States, adopted, on 22 August 1978, the Vienna Convention on Succession of States in Respect of Treaties (status). Several resolutions were also adopted by the Conference. One related to how the Convention was to be interpreted in conformity with United Nations resolutions concerning Namibia, affirming that South Africa was not the predecessor State of the future independent State of Namibia. Another resolution was adopted with regard to incompatible treaty obligations arising from the unification of States. The Convention was opened for signature at the Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs if the Republic of Austria from 23 August 1978 until 28 February 1979, and subsequently at the United Nations Headquarters until 31 August 1979.
According to its Article 73, the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, of 1969, is not applicable to questions relating to the succession of States. The Vienna Convention on Succession of States in respect of Treaties regulates the effects of such a succession of States in respect to treaty obligations of the successor State. It was adopted considering the profound transformation of the international community brought about by the decolonization process, but is applicable also to other cases of succession of States. The preamble emphasizes the importance of a consistent observance of multilateral treaties which are of interest to the whole international community, in order to strengthen peace and international cooperation. The Convention further aims to ensure greater judicial security in international relations.
The Convention is applicable to cases of replacement of one State by another in the responsibility for the international relations of territory. It is however only applicable when the succession has taken place in conformity with international law and, in particular, the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. When a part of the territory of one State becomes part of the territory of another, treaties of the successor State become applicable also in the territory concerned. With regard to newly independent State, the successor State is not bound by treaties concluded by the predecessor State. A newly independent State may however by notification of succession establish its status as a party to a multilateral treaty to which the predecessor State was a party. The Convention furthermore establishes a procedure for the settlement of disputes.


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Reflecting on Pastels
Chesterman Beach - near Tofino, B.C.
Chesterman Beach
Grey Bones
A fog shrouded pathway that leads down to Seal Bay Nature Park near Comox, B.C.
Pastel Posts
Sepia Morning - Comox B.C.
Winter Light - Comox B.C.
Whose Woods These Are
Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, near Parksville.
Sunlight Chasing Shadows
Sooke Potholes, near Sooke, B.C.
Winter light, Chesterman Beach.
Chesterman Beach.
Reflections on Surfing
Chesterman Beach, near Tofino.
Colour Contrast
Moon Glow
Sunset Point, Cox Bay.
Moon Steps
Cox Bay and Sunset Point.
Pastel Moonset
Cox Bay, near Tofino.
Storm Watching
Winter Waves
Winter Waves
Cox Bay.
Winter Seascape
Chesterman Beach,.
Chesterman beach.
Cox Bay. Note how the sand patterns match the cloud patterns.
Vertical Lines
Schooner's Cove, near Tofino.
The Inner Journey
Cathedral Grove, B.C.
Chesterman beach, near Tofino.
Curved Lines
Schooner's Cove, near Tofino.
Colour Tones at Cox Bay, near Tofino.
Catching the last few rays
Ecola State Park, near Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach, Oregon


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RSS Feed
This week we go through the news and results from this week, and then go through how to read swiss standings at tournaments. We go through an example standings set from a recent MCQ to help explain some of the concepts we are discussing. These examples can be found over on StandardIntelligence.uk.
News: 1:30
Local Results: 9:20
Deep Dive: 25:30
Intro and Outro Music: Bit Quest by Kevin Macleod
News Theme: NewsSting by Kevin Macleod
Art: Mass Manipulation by Anthony Palumbo.
This podcast is supported by our patreons at Patreon.com/SIcast, as well as our sponsors, Axion Now. Head to AxionNow.com to find out about upcoming events and find singles on sale.


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Give a Touch of Creativity to Your Resume
It doesn't matter if you are looking for a job in a corporate world or if you are working as a freelancer. When on a job hunt, you need to standout in order to find a perfect job for yourself. Now, we all know that resume is the first impression of yours so you need to have a very impressive resume. When you are in the design field, your designing skills should not be limited to brochures, flyers, post cards or business cards only. Your creativity should do wonders with you resume and this will help you in setting your resume apart from the lot.


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Get the Flash Player to see this player.
rules the third month of the solar year, and the third and final month
of spring. Spring is moving into summer, and the tell tale signs are there,
yet it hasn't happened yet. The Gemini energy is dual in nature,
having both qualities of spring and summer built in. They are great at
seeing all sides of anything they pursue, and the ability to move with
the times. Being so flexible can bring a restlessness that can stop the
Gemini from staying with anything after its newness wears off.


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Thanks to Microsoft your productivity will be boosted
I love technology because it makes my life easier and I adore it when it makes me work more efficiently. As I work in SEO and in particular link building, I am always looking for new tools and software that can speed up my tasks while improving my overall results. I strongly believe this is a key aspect of everyone's work and nowadays it is essential to be competitive in the market.
Microsoft has launched a great tool called Outlook Social Connector that can help you in different tasks (from online PR to sales) and boost your productivity. As soon you type an email address in the receiver form, the software enables you to check the social activity of the receiver . In particular it pulls out data available in two main social networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn so you can see the name of your contact and her/his conversations.
As sometimes I need to email hundreds of bloggers, this has helped me to craft bespoke emails and has saved me a large amount of time which I would have spent checking their profiles or searching for their real names. I am now tailoring better emails without wasting time and I am also increasing my connections on LinkedIn, the main platform for business purposes.
As people have lost their confidence with their privacy and have extended their personality online with public profiles, I bet this kind of tool will become more popular so early adopters, be aware!


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There is no typical day in the field I guess…so this might be a recurring feature of the blog.
But what we do on any given day depends on a few things:
1. Which project goal we're trying to accomplish
2. If our gear is cooperating
3. If the weather is cooperating
4. If our guts are cooperating
So here it is…one random field day during the Mahale excursion:
Monday, 2 July 2012
7:30am – Wake up. Head to breakfast and see what Hassan has cooked up.
8:30am – Start packing up the gear we'll need for the day (snail quadrats, fish quadrats, plum lines, whirl pacs, dive tanks, BCD's, regs, snorkel stuff, wetsuits-that-reek-of-urine, our lunch!) into the smallest space possible and walk it down to the water.
8:45am – Head down the beach to boat storage with Pete. Watch in horror as Dakota (one of our trusty park staff) mouth-siphons fuel from the 200L barrel into our 25L tank. Mix in the 2-stroke oil and haul it and our motor down to the Zodiac. Pump up the keel of the Zodiac again because it's always flat (must find mysterious small leak…). Guts feel…off. Take 2 Pepto and pack 2 more into dry bag Just In Case.
9:30am – Finally leave camp with Pete and Vanessa and attempt to get the Zodiac to plane (Aside: Pete is OBSESSED with getting our boat to plane. It usually involves asking us to move a few inches towards the bow or stern 100 or so times until we are moving as quickly as possible to save transit time.)
[FBN: "If you want Pete to go fast, put him in a boat." –Yvonne Vadeboncouer]
9:45am – Stop at park headquarters so Pete can show me where the freezer is located for future sample dumps. Keeping stuff frozen here has been a real challenge, and in the end we had to bring our own freezer from Kigoma. Seriously.
10:05am – Arrive at Site 4. Pete dons dive gear to deploy the sonde. Sondes are Very Expensive pieces of field equipment that record the temperature, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen of the water at each of our study sites at a set logging interval. Pete picks a spot, I lube up the bike lock and key, Pete locks the sonde to some rocks, and we hope against hope that we'll be able to find it again when it's time to leave (more on that in a later post…)
|A successfully deployed sonde!
[FBN: Pete's notes on where it's located: "40m off from big white rock. Flat mix of boulder and sand. Should be pretty darn easy to see."]
10:45am – Arrive at Site E. Deploy sonde.
11:35am – Encounter the WSU team on their way back to camp because they forgot a crucial piece of field sampling gear. Whoops.
11:48am – Arrive at Site E since Site C is deemed unusable. Deploy sonde. Ho hum.
12:20pm – Eat Clif bar (shameless plug for Clif bars. Please send Clif bars, Clif company…). Feel nauseous. Begin mentally playing out various scenarios of how to deal with soiling my wetsuit should it occur.
12:27pm – Arrive at Site D. Deploy new Onset logger.
1:10pm – Motor to Site B but turn around when we realize how late it is. Drive back to Site D to start sampling, but tons of fisherman have set nets since we left and we can no longer be discreet. Head to Site E instead.
1:52pm – Pete gears up again and stashes the rest of the sondes in the water until we can deploy then at a later date. I am most assuredly going to crap my pants.
2:00pm-ish – FINALLY start fish counts and snail collection. Pete lays out an 8m x 7m quadrat, identifies each fish to species, and records the number of each. It's actually pretty incredible since there are over 300 species of cichlids in this lake. Attaboy, Pete.
Meanwhile Vanessa and I don dive gear and get ready to descend. This is her Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) project, and I'm her dive buddy. She lays out 1m x 1m quadrats and I come along and pick up every snail I see in said quadrats. Sampling design: 8 quadrats at 3 depths (2m, 5m, and 10m; that's ~6ft, 15ft, and 30ft for the non-metric folks reading this).
|Me...pickin' snails...
[FBN: "There are a SHIT-TON (of snails) and it takes FOREVER. Giant eel has been watching me work."]
|I found this awesome green spiky sponge growing under one of the cobbles.
3:00pm-ish – Vanessa ran out of air after the 10m snails, so I finished all the 5m quadrats solo. My head hurts (Bad air or dehydration? Hard to say…).
4:00pm-ish – Surfaced and Pete was finished with fish counts, so he snorkeled and helped Vanessa finished up the 2m snails. I descend back to 5m to collect 4 cobbles and surface to discover that a giant leech has attached itself to my hand and is in no hurry to leave.
(Vanessa: "HOW AREN'T YOU FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW!!!).
We need to quantify the amount of periphyton available for the fish to graze upon at each site, so basically I pick a rock, scrub off all the algae except for a small bit I cover with a centrifuge tube cap. I then scrape the remaining algae into a pan, collect it in a whirl pac, and spin it down back in the lab when we return to camp. It's not fun, this scrubbing algae off rocks…but whatevs. That's why I get paid the big bucks… ;).
|Voila! A nice circle of algae!
|Vanessa, Pete, and their entourage
6:30pm – Arrive at home. Unload all the gear on shore. Vanessa moves things up the beach while Pete and I take the boat and motor to the shed to be locked up for the night. Things seem safer here, but we still need to make sure they don't walk away… Rinse smelly wetsuit in the lake or there will be consequences.
7:00pm – Dinner! Guts feel marginally better. Recount everyone's adventures for the day.
8:30pm – Start spinning down algae with hand-crank centrifuge that frankly scares the crap out of me (and no eye protection in site…). Leslie helps me acidify half of the samples with 1N HCl since in the past, half of our samples have turned to tar when we tried to analyze them for Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus content. Pete and Vanessa scrub algae off all the snails we collected today (so they can later be identified) until well after midnight. There is NO WAY I'm helping with that…
11:00pm – To bed (finally)! Fall asleep immediately.


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I am selling at Artisans on Second, 175 S Second St, Hamilton, MT 59840 - 406.961.9600 Visit Facebook aMontanaView on Facebook Please leave comments! You can also email me at firstname.lastname@example.com. About me: I live south of Missoula, Montana on the west side of the Bitterroot valley. Many of my photos are taken here in western Montana, but also around the world. I love being outdoors. I hike, bike, fish, hunt, ski and ALWAYS take photos. I use a Canon 7D and 5D Mark III (with a few lenses and tripods) and shoot in RAW. I process my photos into JPG with Adobe Lightroom with as few adjustments as possible.
Kootenai Fire on Sept 19, 2009
Lightning caused fire began on July 12 in very rocky, steep, dangerous terrain - basically an avalanche shoot - about two miles into the wilderness. It had been monitored and some helicopter water bucket load dropped on the edges nearing more fuel. This weekend the wind came up A LOT, it grew from over 2000 acres to over 4000 acres quickly and started spot fires on ridges both north and south of it. I personally think it did a lot good reducing fuels, but now it is nearing private property so they are more aggressively working at putting it out. To read more about it see InciWeb Fire Information for the Kootenai Fire.Read More


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Acceleron's Sotatercept Receives FDA's Orphan Drug Status for PAH
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug status to sotatercept for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), according to Acceleron Pharma, the therapy's manufacturer.
The FDA's designation encourages and supports the evaluation and development of therapies to treat rare diseases — those that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S., and are often overlooked by pharmaceutical companies.
If the medicine is approved, orphan drug status provides incentives by offering tax benefits for clinical research costs. It also grants the drug developer a seven-year license for exclusive marketing in the U.S.
"We're pleased that the FDA has granted this designation for sotatercept," Janethe de Oliveira Pena, MD, PhD, vice president of pulmonary medical research at Acceleron, said in a press release. "In preclinical studies, sotatercept has demonstrated an ability to target the underlying mechanisms of PAH, which is a rare disease of high unmet medical need. We believe that if similar effects are seen in a clinical setting, sotatercept has the potential to become an important addition to the standard of care in PAH."
Sotatercept, formerly known as ACE-011, is an investigational molecule designed to bind and trap members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family. These control various cell functions, including the bone morphogenetic protein, or BMP signals in the lungs.
Interested in PH research? Check out our forums and join the conversation!
The BMP signaling cascade is an important player in the maintenance of blood vessel structure in the lungs. It has been found to be critical for the process of vascular remodeling that contributes to PAH development and progression.
Preclinical studies in animal models of PAH showed that treatment with sotatercept could effectively reduce pulmonary arterial pressure and prevent enlargement of the heart's right ventricle — hallmarks of PAH. It also was shown to have the potential to prevent cell proliferation, and to reverse the stiffening of pulmonary blood vessels.
Acceleron is currently exploring sotatercept's impact in PAH patients with moderate physical limitations (functional class II-III) in two Phase 2 clinical trials — PULSAR (NCT03496207) and SPECTRA (NCT03738150).
PULSAR trial is a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in which people with PAH are randomly assigned to receive one of two doses of sotatercept or placebo by subcutaneous (under the skin) injections, every 21 days for six months, in addition to standard-of-care therapy. Study participants may continue treatment for an additional 18 months as part of an extension study.
The trial's goal is to evaluate changes in vascular resistance before treatment, and after the first six months of therapy. Researchers also will assess participants' exercise capacity by evaluating changes in the total distance covered in the 6-minute walking test.
Participants are currently being recruited for the SPECTRA study — an open-label, one-arm, exploratory trial of sotatercept. That study is expected to enroll about 25 participants who will receive treatment with sotatercept plus their PAH standard therapy for 24 weeks (almost six months). During this period, and the following 16 weeks, researchers will evaluate changes in respiratory function, vascular resistance, and exercise capacity, as well as combo therapy safety and tolerability.
For more information about SPECTRA locations and contacts, visit the study page here.


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One Ring to Rule Them All? The HR, Talent and Learning Ecosystem Debate
As the range and diversity of HR, talent and learning solutions continues to grow, creating the right digital ecosystem is becoming increasingly mission critical to organisations today. Full suites that offer modules for each different discipline of learning, performance, talent management, workforce management, retain their appeal, but specialist solutions with deep expertise in particular areas continue to rise in popularity. This expanding range of options makes system choices more complex and riskier, but more exciting than ever before. David Wilson, CEO of Fosway Group, Europe's number one HR industry analyst, joins us to explore the pros and cons of these different approaches and helps us understand just what kind of impact your HR technology choices need to make in order to transform your people and your organization's performance.
Understanding your people priorities
Ask almost any CEO what their most critical people related challenges are and you will get a few standard responses – increasing performance, recruiting enough good people with the right skills, being more agile as a business, increasing the productivity of their staff, and so on. CEOs are focused on outcomes and therefore acutely aware of how their employees impact those outcomes at a macro level.
HR leaders get this too. In Fosway's HR Realities research, the top three business challenges identified by HR leaders as major challenges are: increasing organisation performance and profitability (58%), increasing business agility (50%) and increasing customer satisfaction and service quality (47%). All of which is reassuring but is frequently not reflected in the priorities of the HR function as a whole – especially when it comes to systems and technology buying decisions.
The lure of HR suites vs the impact of specialists
The world of HR systems has changed a lot within the last five years. Often locked into legacy enterprise HR systems with glacially slow innovation, companies realised that they needed to transform their systems as well as their people. They also realised that putting those systems into the Cloud accelerated their improvement as well as reduced the overheads (IT and HR) of managing those solutions. This change was actually driven by the sub-functions rather than core HR; learning and development, performance, recruiting all moved to new Cloud solutions five to ten years ago. Then core HR followed, with many companies now moving or intending to move to new Cloud HR solutions.
Going back to our CEO priorities, one thing you can guarantee you won't get as a priority from them is "having one system of record for HR" or even "moving HR to the Cloud". These are enablers not outcomes. If the biggest CEO challenges are about recruiting staff, reskilling the organisation, increasing performance, or improving staff productivity, then, in theory, the highest priorities for HR systems investment should reflect this. And our research shows these priorities are focused on key HR specialisms in the chart below, including analytics (60%), learning and development (59%), recruiting / talent acquisition (56%) and onboarding (52%).
So why have HR leaders become so fixated on full suites of HR processes and solutions rather than 'best of breed' or specialist systems that are dedicated to these individual areas? Is it the influence of the CIO / IT function driving a preference for HR suites? In reality, both have become very oriented towards a single suite solution at the expense of their more specific people challenges. But why?
Are we learning from history, or repeating it?
I hate to say it, but this has happened before. Twenty years ago, when the original HR and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) suites appeared, companies soon realised that far from helping them to fix specific talent and learning priorities, the suites were actually preventing their progress! Hence the origins of the specialist best of breed solutions for learning and development, performance and recruiting etc in the first place. They sprung up to address the challenges that the suites couldn't fix.
Today, just because HR suites are now in the Cloud, doesn't mean this dynamic has changed. Given historic experience, it should be up to the suite vendors to prove they can do a better job of, for example, supporting learning and development, than a specialist vendor. But unfortunately, the bigger clout of HR buyers (and IT) means that history is repeating itself. It seems in the current market that it is instead up to the specialist talent and learning vendors to prove they can do a better job, otherwise, their best of breed systems will get replaced by HR suites too.
Is proving their worth a difficult job? Not necessarily, but it does require specialist vendors to up their game. By focusing on a particular HR specialism such as recruitment, for example, they will naturally have deeper domain knowledge and experience. They also have a much more targeted focus for their R&D efforts. Functional innovation is nearly always driven by specialist companies, as the R&D investment of suite players has to be more distributed across their broader product portfolio.
As well as faster innovation, specialist solutions can also be more targeted in their deployment and configuration, designed to address specific nuances and needs which broader suite vendors struggle to understand or be nimble enough to solve. Time to impact is a critical factor here. If fixing recruitment or business agility and reskilling is the priority, how can it be acceptable to wait two-three years to fix them in order to deploy a new core HR system first? If that's happening in your organisation, why and how are you justifying it?
What is Fosway's View?
Our analysts see this story play out again and again. Companies say one thing and do another. They say their people priorities are specific, but then take decisions to implement generic suite solutions that actually make it harder to impact those priorities and delay the time to impact. By all means, change your enabling systems too, but surely not at the cost of impacting business-critical problems as soon as you can!
In reality, all HR, talent and learning technology is ultimately about an ecosystem of solutions not a single platform. That is true for HR as a whole, as well as being true within individual functions, such as learning or recruiting. Companies need to be more discerning about their ecosystem, as well as being more demanding of the solutions they deploy – especially for business-critical issues. This means understanding their critical people challenges and prioritising them properly. As an HR, talent or learning leader, go back to those business-critical priorities and make sure your HR technology strategy is actually helping to solve them as a priority.
If that's what we say to customers, what's Fosway's message to vendors? This is simple – prove you do a better job! To the specialist vendors, we say prove you can deliver more value faster, and do that repeatedly. To the HR suites, we say the same. A business case purely calibrated on reducing multiple solutions to a single solution or a single system of record is fool's gold. Real value and impact come from fixing critical people priorities, not from ignoring them.
To further explore this area, we are launching a joint research project in partnership with SumTotal next month and would value your input. Stay tuned for more details.
About Fosway
Fosway Group is Europe's #1 HR Industry Analyst focused on Next Gen HR, Talent and Learning. Founded in 1996, we are known for our unique European research, our independence and our integrity. And just like the Roman road we draw our name from, you'll find that we're unusually direct. We don't have a vested interest in your supplier or consulting choices. So, whether you're looking for independent research, specific advice or a critical friend to cut through the market hype, we can tell you what you need to know to succeed.
Talk to us today on +44 (0) 207 917 1870 or via firstname.lastname@example.com, or visit us at www.fosway.com


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Portugal. The Man
Church Mouth
First Appeared in The Music Box, July 2007, Volume 14, #7
Written by John Metzger
Sun July 22, 2007, 05:30 AM CDT
Freedom is an inherent part of the indie rock scene, and it is both a blessing and curse. More than ever, bands rise and fall in plain view, and most attract sizeable followings and a wealth of attention long before they are ready. The early stages of careers are known for being periods of rapid evolution, and where a group begins is not necessarily where it winds up making its mark. Everything from current trends to personal taste tug and pull at an outfit, but if it catches a break too soon, it can be locked into a game plan that it doesn't necessarily want. Many ensembles are ripped apart by the process, and successful leaps into the mainstream are due as much to a group's talent they are to a perfect alignment of cosmic forces.
The Alaskan trio known as Portugal. The Man stumbled out of the gate with its 2004 effort Waiter: "You Vultures!". The band's ambitions were apparent, but its execution did little to mask its pretentiousness. Portugal. The Man's subsequent EP It's Complicated Being a Wizard provided no reason to change this perspective, though the set did serve both to highlight the ensemble's grand aspirations as well as to signal that perhaps it had not yet solidified its sound. In crafting its sophomore effort Church Mouth, Portugal. The Man swapped the drum machines and sequencers that defined Waiter: "You Vultures!" for the more traditional constructs of a power trio, and in effect it has set its sight upon the niche market that has been dominated by The White Stripes. As last year's buzz band Wolfmother proved, there's room for more than one outfit at the top.
Throughout Church Mouth, Portugal. The Man turns the blues into a heavy metal stomp of crashing drums, thrashing guitars, and orgasmic squeals. While the music frequently feels as if it sprang from a Led Zeppelin revival, it also is more heavily shaded with southern gospel textures. The call-and-response vocals that dot its landscape combined with the religious imagery that runs rampant through its lyrics pave a path that leads, perhaps, to salvation, though the stench of death — and the uncertainty about what it actually means — seems to linger around every corner. Electronic effects drift in and out of the picture like wraiths, adding an eerie, Beck-ish quality to the proceedings.
The problem, however, is that while Portugal. The Man has found its focus, it hasn't yet discovered a way of making an album that is engaging from start to finish. Its use of dynamics is considerably flawed. As a result, the songs on Church Mouth melt into a blurry, nondescript haze. Loudness, after all, doesn't necessarily translate into conviction. In the end, Portugal. The Man doesn't quite find the transcendence it is seeking, but if the ensemble doesn't get locked within a vicious cycle of its own hype, it ought to be able to find the time to refine its craft. One day, it might even succeed in parlaying the ideas it has outlined on Church Mouth into something it can call its own.
Of Further Interest...
Cold War Kids - Robbers & Cowards
Robert Plant - Sixty Six to Timbuktu
Church Mouth is available from Barnes & Noble.
To order, Click Here!
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2007 The Music Box


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Limassol Castle in Cyprus
Journey to the beautiful marina located in the old town to enjoy a bit of prehistoric architecture. The exact date when the castle was built is unknown but the first official reference to the fort dates back to 1228, during affairs with Germany.
Additionally, legends say that the castle was where King Richard I married Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England in 1191. From battles and earthquakes the fortress suffered a great deal and was rebuilt by the Ottomans in 1590, which is the interesting structure you can see today. Explore the castle's remains and walk through the ground floor halls down the steps to the prison cells.
The Medieval Museum of Cyprus is located in one of the fort houses. Learn about the history of the castle and see all the unearthed artefacts that they have on display. Some findings have religious significance, which indicates that the castle could have been the city's first cathedral.
More Things To ideas
Find more Things To Do in Limassol: Ancient Kourion | Aphrodite's Rock | Cyprus Motor Museum | Fasouri Watermania Waterpark | Limassol Old Town | Nightlife Limassol


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Store and manage digital currencies with ease
Be your own bank
UQUD is an implemented system that ease the use of cryptocurrencies. UQUD system provide debit cards for USD, GRP, and EUR and also several cryptocurrencies ATM's around the world. In 2016, it was distinguished as "the top debit card of the year". The UQUD team will now leverage the Ethereum blockchain to empower their services and provide new features to improve the user experience. The new features will be, visa credit cards, a wallet, an exchange, a Social Fund Management Campaign where traders will be able to create an portfolio and share it with other users, and a marketplace.
UquidCoin (UQC) is an ERC-20 token that will work as a medium of exchange within the platform.
Sorry, detailed technology about UquidCoin (UQC) is not currently available
Sorry, detailed features about UquidCoin (UQC) is not currently available


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Since my last blog post we have been thrilled to be sharing with a thousand other people in our International Conference, God of the Breakthrough, at Blackpool in the UK. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and teaching from a fantastic team of guest speakers! It was amazing to see how so many different speakers were all sharing a similar message from the heart of God – this is a time for BREAKTHROUGH in the lives of God's people and His Church.
In the opening session of the conference I referred to what happened when, in 2 Samuel 5:17-25, the Philistines twice came against David after he had been established by the Lord as King over Israel. The enemies of Israel were not pleased!
It certainly seems as though today, that the enemies of God are ranged against the Body of Christ in a similar way. In those days, David immediately took the problem to the Lord in prayer and God showed him what to do on both occasions. Scripture records that the effect of what God did on the first occasion was like waters breaking out with an unstoppable force – and the Philistine attackers were defeated.
This reminded me of what happened during the last war when the RAF targeted the hydro-electric dams of the industrial heartland of Germany. They had an amazing and unprecedented new weapon – a bouncing bomb! This bouncing bomb, devised by an extraordinary British engineer, Barnes Wallis, was designed to bounce across the surface of the reservoirs before sinking right at the wall of the dam and then exploding with devastating effect deep beneath the water.
As a student at University I was privileged to meet Barnes Wallis and share a meal with him. I didn't know then that he was a devout Christian, but that meeting was one of those moments when I knew I had met and shared hearts with an extraordinary genius. His biographer described him as "a man of deep faith who was happy to produce experimental proof for unbelievers".
The film, "The Dam Busters", which many of you will have seen, made Barnes Wallis a household name in the UK, and has recently been re-released in a digitally re-mastered version. It's a remarkable film which I first saw when I was at school.
I recently watched the film again and as I did so God began to speak to me about some very important spiritual principles:
1. The Bouncing Bomb principle. The 5 tons of bouncing bomb explosive were powerless to do any serious damage to the industrial targets of the Ruhr. But what the bouncing bomb could do, if exploded deep under the water by the edge of the dam wall, is destroy the dam. And then the waters would break out and do the damage to the industries below which no bomb at that time could have done. David said, "As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me." (2 Sam 5:20). The waters of the dam broke out with extraordinary force and effectiveness. This reminded me that the things we do in obedience to God are a bit like the bouncing bomb. What we do when we are on target with our obedience to Him may seem small to us, but in the hands of God the result of our obedience is like the waters of a massive dam breaking out. The consequences of what wedo are far greater than we could ever imagine!
2. The Converging Lights: For the bouncing bomb to work it had to be released from the plane at exactly the right height (60ft). To achieve this accuracy, two angled spotlights were mounted on the front and the rear of the plane. When the two spotlights converged, the pilot knew that the plane was at exactly the right height. The spirit of man and the Spirit of God are like the two converging spot lights. When the spirit of man is in harmony with the Spirit of God, then we know that we will be on target to fulfil our destiny in God.
3. The Bomb Sights: Not only had the bomb to be dropped from the plane at the right height – it also had to be at the right distance from the dam wall. To get this part of the operation right, two nails were mounted on a sight guide – the bomb had to be released at the precise moment when the two nails were seen to be exactly in line with the twin turrets of the dam. In David's second encounter with the Philistines, God told him to wait for a precise moment before attacking – when he heard "the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees". David waited and listened and because he got the timing right, the Philistines were once again defeated. When the Lord shows us something He wants us to do, there is often a timing in God for the moment of action. We need to listen to His voice and only act when He gives us the go ahead.
4. Perseverance: One of the things that most impacted me personally about Barnes Wallis was his quiet determination to press through with the vision until completion – no matter who stood in the way or what problems he encountered. In the film he is quoted as saying "If you believe in a thing as much as I believe in this, there isn't really any other work worth doing until you've seen it through." The fact is the enemy will always try and make us give up on what the Lord asks us to do. But be sure of this, if we know that we are doing the work of God, then there is no other work worth doing until we've seen it through!
My encounter with Barnes Wallis was a significant and God-ordained moment in my life. One of the messages from Blackpool was that now is the time for the people of God to begin releasing many spiritual bouncing bombs into His world. We desperately need the waters of God to break out against the powers of darkness and for the Body of Christ, the Church, to rise up and re-take the ground that has been lost in our nations.
Note: To obtain copies of the audio or DVD versions of all the teaching from the God of the Breakthrough Conference, please go to: www.ellelministries.org/shop.


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"The art of the Brick' is an art exhibit currently showing at the Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri USA. The artist uses LEGO to recreate paintings, sculptures as well as original artwork.
The great stained glass window at Chartres Cathedral
It even reflected like a real stained glass windows
The swimmer
The exhibit is being hosted at Kansas City's Union Station through May 28th Admission is $15.95 for Adults and $12.95 for Children. These are definitely one of a kind recreations. I photographed a lot of the exhibits because I really like his work, but there are over 100 works in the exhibition so there is still much to see on your own.


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I was reading the MarketingCharts newsletter today and saw a headline: "What Brings Website Visitors Back for More?" The data was based on a survey of 1000 people, and they found the top 4 reasons were, in order:
1) They find it valuable
2) It's easy to use
3) There is no better alternative for the function it serves
4) They like it's mission / vision
I thought about it for a second and had a realization – this is why people are loyal to ANYTHING! And achieving these 4 things should be precisely our goal as marketers:
1) Clearly demonstrate value
2) Make your offerings – and your marketing – accessible
3) Show why your particular thing is the best. (Hint: If it's not the best you probably need to refine your positioning to find the market segment that it is the best for.)
4) Tell your audiences WHY. Get them to buy into it. Don't just drone on about the what, but sell them on an idea. Captivate them with a belief!
Do those 4 things well, you win.
BTW, the MarketingCharts newsletter is a really good, easy to digest newsletter – mostly B2C focused but there's some great stuff in there even for a B2B audience and you can get most of the key points in each day's newsletter under a minute.
Principal Consultant Carlton Hoyt recently sat down with Chris Conner for the Life Science Marketing Radio podcast to talk about decision engines, how they are transforming purchasing decisions, and what the implications are for life science marketers. The recording and transcript are below.
CHRIS: Hello and welcome back. Thank you so much for joining us again today. Today we're going to talk about decision engines. These are a way to help ease your customer's buying process when there are multiple options to consider. So we're going to talk about why that's important and the considerations around deploying them. So if you offer lots and lots of products and customers have choices to make about the right ones, you don't want to miss this episode.
First it was open access, then pure and simple pirating (Sci-Hub), and now preprints, as this recent New York Times article outlines. The business model of the major scientific publishers is under attack.
This probably doesn't come as a surprise to many of us. For one, it's been a slow and steady process occurring over the course of many years. Secondly, it's something that scientists have openly complained about for a long while. The system of publishing in the biomedical sciences is slow, arduous, and by and large hasn't been improved upon in centuries. The cost to institutions of obtaining subscriptions is huge.
That said, many of the large scientific publishers are some of the most entrenched, disruption-shielded companies in all of the sciences. Not only have they had a near-monopoly on the mass dissemination of scientific information for centuries, they have also been the de facto method by which scientists are evaluated. For any academic and many industry scientists, how many articles you publish and in what journals has the power to define the course – and the fruitfulness – of your career. Almost all generally accepted methods for measuring the impact of a scientist's contributions are based around citations from publications in scientific journals. Deviating from the system would be a massive professional risk for all but the most respected and recognized scientists.
With such massive forces reinforcing the system of scientific publishing, escaping it would seem intractable. Now, perhaps for the first time, it seems vulnerable.
Understanding the Points of Weakness
The scientific publishing industry is something of a dinosaur, built for a world in which information had to be transmitted through the dissemination of physical objects. While it adapted rapidly to digital distribution in the internet age, it failed to accommodate for a number of other changing realities which altered its value to scientists.
Primarily, scientists no longer had an inherent need for publishers in order to effectively disseminate information. While publishers still helped organize and prioritize information, the dissemination of information has become easy, near-immediate, and free. This both decreased the value of publishers and also decreased barriers to pirating, since the unit-cost of disseminating any given article (or a great many articles) is effectively zero. Sci-Hub may be an unsolvable problem for publishers, and it's not the only one of its kind. Scientists who don't want to partake in such blatant piracy can use the #icanhazpdf hashtag on Twitter and have an article sent to them by a peer with access. This leads to a downwards spiral effect on the value that publishers add from an information dissemination standpoint – easier access to information leads to more pirating, which in turn provides easier access to information, all the while making publishers roles less as couriers and more as gatekeepers, trying to ensure that information can only be seen by those who pay for the privilege.
Additionally, while digital technologies were being used to make many aspects of life easier and faster, and scientific technologies continued to evolve at a rapid pace, innovations in publishing were extremely limited. Aside from eliminating the need to physically mail manuscripts, the arduous peer review process remains largely unchanged. While there is no immediately obvious replacement for peer review, the overall experience of submitting articles for publication remained very slow in a world that was becoming very fast, making the perception of the process feel slower even though it was no slower than before. This increasingly negative perception also erodes value, as it makes the traditional publishing process seem more flawed.
Costs, however, have not been reduced. Each publisher has, in essence, a monopoly on the information which they own. They do not compete to provide access to any given journal or article, so there is relatively little competitive pressure to decrease prices, aside from the constraints of institutional libraries' limited budgets. Therefore the present situation is really not at all surprising. The perception of value has decreased – perhaps significantly so – yet prices have not decreased to match. The market believes it is overpaying, and it is revolting against the industry in a search for both a better value, a better experience, and a structure which is more in line with scientists' own values.
Important Lessons for All Industries
Nothing exists in a vacuum. It was easy for scientific publishers to get comfortable with their seemingly irreplaceable status as the couriers of knowledge, but as the would changed around them they shifted from facilitating the spread of knowledge to inhibiting it. However, big publishers still have yet to substantially alter their business models to adjust to a very different reality. We must learn from this.
- Get what you give. Just because the products or services which you are providing remain unchanged, that doesn't mean that your value remains unchanged as well. Benefits are relative, and your pricing should adapt to the benefits provided – even if you're massively entrenched.
- Fighting your customers' values is a losing battle. Scientists largely believe in sharing information. Once technology evolved to allow instant sharing of information at any scale, publishers became inhibitors to the flow of information. Not only were they inhibitors, but they were profiting from limiting access to knowledge. This made them a big target for scientists' discontent.
- Customer experience always matters. Even if there are no alternatives, consistently poor customer experience will drive customers to seek alternatives. It creates an environment which is ripe for disruption.
- Anyone can be unseated, no matter how entrenched. The traditional scientific publishers haven't been dug out yet, and they still have some time to adapt, but they are in desperate need of business model innovation. If they cannot adapt their business model, they will eventually fail.
No company, no matter how large it is, how much market share it has, how long and storied its history, or how entrenched it has become, is invulnerable. Eventually, everyone must adapt. It has become increasingly clear that one of the pillars of maintaining a successful company in today's dynamic environments is agility. Time will tell whether publishers have the necessary agility to survive.
Marketers are used to seeing a lot of data showing that improving personalization leads to improved demand generation. The more you tailor your message to the customer, the more relevant that message will be and the more likely the customer will choose your solution. Sounds reasonable, right?
In most cases personalization is great, but what those aforementioned studies and all the "10,000-foot view" data misses is that there are a subset of customers for whom personalization doesn't help. There are times when personalization can actually hurt you.
When Personalization Backfires
Stressing the points which are most important to an individual works great … when that individual has sole responsibility for the purchasing decision. For large or complex purchases, however, that is often not the case. When different individuals involved in a purchasing decision have different priorities and are receiving different messages tailored to their individual needs, personalization can act as a catalyst for divergence within the group, leading different members to reinforce their own needs and prevent consensus-building.
Marketers are poor at addressing the problems in group purchasing. A CEB study of 5000 B2B purchasers found that the likelihood of any purchase being made decreases dramatically as the size of the group making the decision increases; from an 81% likelihood of purchase for an individual, to just 31% for a group of six.
For group purchases, marketers need to focus less on personalization and more on creating consensus.
Building Consensus for Group Purchases
Personalization reinforces each individual's perspective. In order to more effectively sell to groups, marketers need to reinforce shared perspectives of the problem and the solution. Highlight areas of common agreement. Use common language. Develop learning experiences which are relevant to the entire group and can be shared among them.
Personalization focuses on convincing individuals that your solution is the best. In order to better build consensus, equip individuals with the tools and information they need to provide perspective about the problem to their group. While most marketers spend their time pushing their solution, the CEB found that the sticking point in most groups is agreeing upon the nature of the solution that should be sought. By providing individuals within the groups who may favor your solution with the ability to frame the nature of the problem to others in their group, you'll help those who have a nascent desire to advocate for you advocates get past this sticking point and guide the group to be receptive of your type of solution. Having helped them clear that critical barrier, you'll be better positioned for the fight against solely your direct competitors.
Winning a sale requires more than just understanding the individual. We've been trained to believe that personalization is universally good, but that doesn't align with reality. For group decisions, ensure your marketing isn't reinforcing the individual, but rather building consensus within the group. Only then can you be reliably successful at not only overcoming competing companies, but overcoming the greatest alternative of all: a decision not to purchase anything.
There's a lot of noise coming from some fairly reputable sources extolling the virtues of publishing as the next generation of content marketing (I'm sure you'll be very familiar with this if you follow the Content Marketing Institute at all). For instance, let's take a look at a recent article from the Harvard Business Review website – "Content Is Crap, and Other Rules for Marketers" – which makes some great points, but misses some equally if not more important points.
To begin, let's summarize his 4 rules, which are all extremely valid points…
Rule 1 – Recognize that content is crap. This is best highlighted by the author: "We never call anything that's good 'content.' Nobody walks out of a movie they loved and says, 'Wow! What great content!' Nobody listens to 'content' on their way to work in the morning. Do you think anybody ever called Ernest Hemingway a 'content creator'? If they did, I bet he would punch 'em in the nose." He goes on to state that marketers need to be more like publishers.
A bit of a side note before we move on. The author is appealing to emotion a bit and is forgetting that content is a somewhat technical term – no one says they drink "dihydrogen monoxide" either. What this is more illustrative of is the mentality of many content marketers. What's important isn't, for example, that the people who watch great movies don't refer to it as "content" but that the producers, writers, directors, and actors who set out to make a great movie don't refer to it as content. It's the mentality of content – making "stuff" that begs for attention – which gets people stuck in a losing paradigm and it's a paradigm that needs to be dropped.
Rule 2 – Hold attention, don't just grab it. "Marketers need to build an ongoing relationship with consumers and that means holding attention, not just grabbing it. To get people to subscribe to a blog, YouTube channel, or social media feed, you need to offer more than a catchy slogan or a clever stunt. You need to offer real value, and offer it consistently." The author argues that publishing solves this problem.
Rule 3 – Don't over-optimize metrics. It's too easy to confuse measurement with meaning. He uses the example of Buzzfeed, who no longer uses clickbait titles as they've realized that they optimize for pageviews, which are just clicks, but betray the reader's trust. By under-promising and over-delivering, you create more engagement with the content and make it more likely that the reader will return to read another article later. It's the long game vs. short game conundrum. You can make the numbers look good if you pretend not to care about your numbers a year from now.
Rule 4 – Understand that publishing is a product, not a campaign. In brief, the author makes the point that one of the keys to being successful in being more like a publisher is to treat it with more permanence and seriousness.
There are some great points here… Content is not enough. You can't simply interrupt your way to success; you need a way to build an audience. Ensure your metrics are effectively measuring value creation. And publishing has serious merits, but the answer is bigger than publishing.
The Inherent Problems With Publishing
Yes, publishing is often superior to more basic forms of content marketing, but it's not for everyone. Not every company has some amazing, inherently compelling story to tell, and not every company has the resources to continually deliver pieces of that story through carefully crafted content consistently over a long period of time. That's a massive effort. Assuming publishing is a magic bullet ignores reality and ultimately falls victim to the same problems plaguing other iterations of content marketing: if it becomes well adopted, it's very quickly going to become much more difficult to do effectively.
The audience's attention is inherently limited, and while publishing tries to occupy more of that attention, it doesn't solve the attention problem and it falls into the same trap as more "generic" forms of content marketing. It's actually a natural response to the lack of supply of customer attention which follows basic economic principles: If the supply of something is limited and demand increases the result is an increasing cost. As more and more content competes for limited attention the "cost" of the customers' attention increases, meaning you need higher quality content to obtain it. Treating content marketing more like publishing doesn't change that fact, it simply throws more resources at the problem so higher quality content can be produced – a necessity to continue to compete for customers' attention in an environment where it is in ever-increasing demand. It's not like audiences couldn't do things such as subscribe to blogs almost two decades ago, it's simply that it takes a better content effort to grab and hold attention than it used to.
Should You Be a Publisher?
Publishing cannot be the answer for everyone. It is literally impossible for 100% of brands to be successful publishers because the audience does not have enough attention to go around. How can you tell if you should be a publisher? Answer these two questions:
- How interesting are you? Take a good honest look at your brand and figure out how interesting you are. Some have great stories to tell. Some do amazing things. Some would make highly impactful thought leaders. Others simply aren't so captivating. If your brand simply isn't all that interesting compared to others in your space, you might want to consider something else.
- Can you – and will you – sufficiently resource the effort? Putting out top-quality content on a regular basis is no easy job by itself, and publishing requires more than that. The amount of time and resources that will need to go into planning, editing, graphic design, etc., will be significantly greater. At the same time, publishing still won't provide a short-term payoff. Do you have the resources and the necessary leadership buy-in to be a publisher?
The Real Focus
If you're not in the upper echelon of brands with regards to your ability and willingness to be a publisher, all is not lost. After all, being a publisher is not the goal. The reason that taking on the role of publisher is being touted as superior to content marketing is because it's more effective at delivering meaningful value to customers. That's also the underlying reason why it better holds the audience's attention. At the end of the day customers gravitate to value, and there's a lot more ways to provide value than just being a publisher.
Shift your paradigm from thinking about content to developing actual resources that solve genuine customer problems. Ask yourself what problems customers are having that they might not pay for a solution to, but are readily solvable with a bit of time and effort. Analyze them, prioritize them, and solve the most critical ones that provide the best opportunity for long-term value creation and evolving the customer relationship beyond a transactional one.
Double down on customer experience. Make it easier, faster, and simpler for customers to obtain value from you. Look at some of the juggernauts of tech – Google, Facebook, Uber, Amazon – they didn't get to where they are because of content marketing. Most of their content marketing efforts aren't even on people's radar. What they do is solve problems quickly and simply. You know what's a great experience? When you can type a question and an answer appears, when you press a button and a cab simply shows up, or when you can instantly be connected to any of your friends. There's are myriad examples out there, and while it may be easier to do in tech than in the life sciences, it's certainly not impossible in any industry.
If you're existing content marketing efforts are becoming less effective, one option is certainly to hunker down, take it more seriously, and spend the resources to become a highly effective publisher. But that's expensive, difficult, and only delays the onset of many of the underlying problems plaguing content marketing. Publishing treats the symptoms, not the disease. Rid yourself of all paradigms but the one which relies on this one fundamental truth: customers will favor those brands which contribute the most value to their lives. Let that reality guide your actions and you'll soon find your audiences flocking to you.
Content marketers in the life sciences have reached a critical point. The traditional paradigm of content marketing is becoming ineffective. Content marketers have endeavored to create, publish, share, and then repeat this cycle to the point where there is far too much noise. It is becoming ever more difficult to win the battle for attention. Quite simply, content marketing is no longer enough.
We need to shift from a simple content marketing paradigm to a resource marketing paradigm. We need to stop thinking about creating more stuff and start thinking about how to build things of utility that meaningfully help solve our audiences' problems.
It's not just the life sciences that are experiencing this, either. It's everywhere. This is a pandemic problem across almost all industries. We have recently been honored to have our solution, as elaborated by BioBM's Carlton Hoyt, recognized by the Content Marketing Institute. You can read about how to take your content marketing program beyond the traditional paradigm and start creating transformational value for your audience which will both captivate them and build genuine value for your brand in the CMI article "Stop Thinking Content, Start Thinking Resources"


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New Disney Theme Park Opens in Shanghai
The American entertainment giant Disney has opened a new theme park in Shanghai, China. The new park cost a total of 5.5 billion dollars and is Disney's biggest theme park outside the United States. It took over 5 years and a series of negotiations with Chinese authorities to open the park. Disney will compete against a number of Chinese theme parks that have been emerging in the Communist country.
The Shanghai entertainment centre has a total size of almost a thousand acres and includes restaurants, toyshops, hotels and everything else you would expect in a theme park. It also has many Chinese elements. Disney characters wear Chinese silk jackets, Jack Sparrow, legendary figure in Pirates of the Caribbean, speaks Chinese and restaurants are in Chinese style. Even 70% of the food is Chinese.
About 30 million visitors are expected to visit the Shanghai park every year, making it the most visited theme park in the world. The new park is aimed at attracting especially China's rising middle class. Disney estimates that up to 300 million people live within a three-hour ride of the new theme park and could be potential visitors.
The opening of the new Disney park comes at a time in which economic growth is slowing down in China. However, the Communist country has been experiencing a rise in tourism from all over the world. The Hong Kong Disneyworld , which was opened in 2005, started slowly, but in the past years has grown steadily. Disney leaders hope the same will happen in Shanghai.
Related Topics
- Amusement parks
- Ferris wheels
- Hong Kong
- China Opens Free Trade Zone in Shanghai
- Shanghai Expo Sets New Visitor Record
- Disney's New Jungle Book Starts in Cinemas
- acre = a unit for measuring how big something is; an acre is about 4000 square meters
- aim = plan to
- attract = here: to get people to visit the park
- authorities = group of people who make decisions and have power
- billion = a thousand million
- character = a person in a book or movie
- compete = to try to be better than other companies
- economic growth = when a country produces more and more goods and services
- emerge = come up, appear
- entertainment = things that amuse people or let them have fun
- especially = above all
- expect = here: the people who run the theme park think that …
- experience = undergo, face
- however = but
- include = to have in it
- legendary = well-known
- negotiation = official discussion between two groups of people who try to agree on something
- potential = possible
- rise = increase, growth
- series = many
- silk = smooth soft cloth made out of thread that is produced by a silkworm
- steadily = slowly


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Here are 8 quick travel tips to make it a smooth and enjoyable trip that you'll remember long after you return home.
So you've planned your next trip and chosen a destination that calls to you!
Here are 8 quick travel tips to make it a smooth and enjoyable trip that you'll remember long after you return home.
Often, the best discoveries are those made when you least expect it (certainly not while you're rushing or stressed).
It's such a great feeling to skip a massive line!
Staying hydrated is important, and a reusable bottle avoids plastic waste. Just don't fill it up until you're past security at their airport to avoid delays or them confiscating it!
You'll learn more about local life if you shop and prepare your food rather than always eating out. You'll save some money too!
If you should ever lose your documents, having a copy can speed up replacing them, especially since we tend not to know our card numbers or other info by heart.
In case one pair gives your feet a hard time. Painful feet can be a real nuisance when traveling. Love your feet because they take you places!
If your battery dies and you don't have access to a charger on the go, these inexpensive packs can save you and get you to the end of your day.
Remember that a place is not your personal playground. Respect the locals, nature, architecture, language, culture and any rules of the place you're visiting.
Got a tip to share too? Leave a comment below!
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Kristina Kasparian
Thanks for stopping by! #OnTheBlog are the stories behind my prints, posts about my travels, glimpses into my daily life, news about my shop, events in the Montreal community and tips on travel, home and photography.
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Most of us live in a bubble called the "comfort zone". That's where people and things are familiar, and where we feel most anxiety-free.
But changes are unavoidable, and the transition from the comfort of our bubble to some unknown territory can be difficult and stressful. It is therefore better to embrace a new paradigm early than to fight an angry and futile rear-guard battle.
For the last 2 or 3 years I have been using an Apple application to produce this website, but due to fact that this program will soon be obsolete, I have decided to migrate to another piece of software.
As I said, changes can be painful and I am now compelled to tackle an unfamiliar program and relearn once familiar routines. It is not easy and (like Saint Michael) I am struggling to tame the dragon.
But the most satisfying undertakings in life are self-taught; when you are not coerced to walk in step and when instead, you take it upon yourself to learn and master a new discipline.
That's why at "la rentrée" (when people in France–including government- are returning home after a long summer vacation) this website will have a new look. It will be more functional, easier to navigate, and have among many new features an "archival" capability. It means that you will be able you to look at articles, editorials, etc. that were published in the past and are not accessible on this site anymore.
Mastering a new program can be an arduous task and I am still struggling with a few features. But I am an obstinate bastard and the recalcitrant components are falling in line one by one.
I hope that very shortly now you will be able to feast your eyes on my new blog.
In the meantime, share this site with your friends and keep comments and suggestions coming. It is always greatly appreciated.
Hasta la vista!


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1. BE SPECIFIC: Be clear about what you want. God may be waiting for you to ask for what you want.
2. EXPECT AN ANSWER: God answers all prayers. It's easier to hear and see God's answers when you are expecting and trusting that you will hear from Him. Learn to go within for guidance and answers.
3. LISTEN CAREFULLY: God may answer you in a piece of music, a song, a book, another person. If you are busy running around, you may be missing God's answered prayer.
4. BELIEVE: You must "see" your prayer answered on the inside before it manifests on the outside. Change your thinking and your life will change. Practice affirmations of a daily basis.
5. BE PATIENT: God's timing is perfect. You must learn to wait for His perfect plan for your life. Trust the answers will come.
6. STAY GRATEFUL: Gratitude is the key to make things manifest quickly. Don't focus on what's missing, but focus on what you already have.
7. HAVE FAITH: Your prayers are being answered. Faith is believing when you can not see. Be open and receptive.
8. FORGIVE: Do a daily inventory, let go of resentments and judgements. Holding onto resentments blocks the energy flow and prevents or slows your ability to manifest your desires.
9. SHOW UP: Pray, meditate and visualize daily. When you "show up" God "shows up" and the "HOW" shows up in the perfect time and perfect way. Pay attention to your dreams. Journaling is a form of prayer.
10. INTERNAL HOUSE CLEANING: Be honest with yourself and ask yourself – What old thoughts and beliefs are blocking communication with God? Fasting or cleansing your diet will help detoxify your mind, body and spirit.
5 Comments »
Thank u so much for the key points highlighted on how to get results when praying…..,it really worked …..,…..,tnx i love u
Comment by Anonymous — May 30, 2011 @ 4:13 pm
Hi I wonder about god and I talk to him a lot I feel lost though sometimes and I am at your site trying to learn to pay can you help me?
Comment by Barbara — October 17, 2011 @ 11:06 am
Hi Barbara, please email at firstname.lastname@example.com and I would be happy to help. Pat
Comment by admin — October 19, 2011 @ 12:29 pm
I need a job, I lost my job in December of 2010. I really want to get a job helping people or animals. I volunteer at the local animal shelter right now and I LOVE IT. But there are no jobs, so I volunteer. There is also a little dog there I have fell in love with. I really want to give this little dog a home, Cynderella is her name and she is just the sweetest little dog. I don't think God is listening to me. WHY would he not help me? Thank you for your time. God bless you.
Comment by Francis Akaki Obae — September 7, 2019 @ 3:34 am
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No, no, no I'm not pregnant, but I recently went to a baby shower and my friends, the parents, chose not to find out the gender of their baby. I actually like that. My first three were born that way...a total surprise!
I wanted to make a name banner for the baby's room, but since that would have to wait until after the baby was born, I decided to make this baby blanket to give at the shower.
I figured mint green would be the perfect choice for a baby boy or girl. Soft and snugly with silky satin.
I made this gift certificate for the name banner to wrap up with the blankie. I made some fabric flowers with the leftover materials...one I used on a the "sweet Love" tag and the other I made as a flower clip to attach to the package.
Surprise, Surprise! Brenna Marie was born. A girl, a sweet little girl with a head full of strawberry blond hair! I wish I had a picture to show you. She's adorable! And blessed to be born into such a beautiful, faith filled family!
Here is her name banner. I just love this paper I found. So sweet and delicate!
Sparkle Mod Podge of course! And I had so much fun adding all the embellishments.
flowers, rhinestones, pearls and ribbons and velvet ric-rac
God Bless little Brenna Marie!
xo ~ xo ~ xo
What about you? Did you or would you prefer to know the gender of your baby before the birth? It sure is tempting and there are many practical reason to find out, but a lot less fun...I think.
Blessings xo,