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Dr. Steven Metz
Senior Research Professor, Geostrategic Affairs
Area(s) of Expertise: U.S. national security strategy; military operations other than war; theory of military strategy; Sub-Saharan Africa; revolution in military affairs; and strategic futures.
Phone: 717-245-3822
Dr. Steven Metz is a research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute. He has been with SSI since 1993, previously serving as Director of Research; Henry L. Stimson Professor of Military Studies; Chairman of the Regional Strategy Department; Research Director for the Joint Strategic Landpower Task Force; Director of the Future of American Strategy Project; Project Director for the Army Iraq Stabilization Strategic Assessment; Director of the Strategic Studies Institute and Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Future Landpower Environment Project; and Co-Organizer (along with former Deputy Secretary of Defense John White and former Director of Central Intelligence John Deutch) of the Harvard-U.S. Army War College Symposia on Security Transformation.
Dr. Metz has also been on the faculty of the Air War College, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and several universities. He has been an advisor to political campaigns; testified in both houses of Congress; and spoken on military and security issues around the world. He served on the blue ribbon advisory panel for the Secretary of Defense Strategic Portfolio Review for Close Combat Capabilities; the RAND Insurgency Board; the Board of Advisors for the U.S. Army history of Operation Iraqi Freedom; the Senior Advisory Panel on Special Forces—Conventional Forces Interdependence; the Atlantic Council's Defense Austerity Task Force; the Central Intelligence Agency's External Advisory Panel for the Iraq Working Group; the Board of Advisers for the American Enterprise Institute's Defense Review; the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Defense Reform For a New Era Task Force; and the Lexington Institute's Grading Government Performance on Homeland Security Task Force. He has also been an Adjunct Scholar at the U.S. Military Academy's Modern War Institute.
Dr. Metz is the author of Iraq and the Evolution of American Strategy (2008) and several hundred articles, essays, monographs, reports, and book chapters. His research has taken him to 32 countries, including Iraq immediately after the collapse of the Hussein regime He holds a Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University, and an MA and BA from the University of South Carolina.
SSI books and monographs by Dr. Steven Metz
2010 SSI Annual Strategy Conference Report "Defining War for the 21st Century"
January 31, 2011
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz, Dr Phillip R. Cuccia, COL (Ret).
SSI's XXI Strategic Conference convened many of the world's top experts to assess and debate the definition of war and the strategic implications of how it is defined.
Decisionmaking In Operation IRAQI FREEDOM: The Strategic Shift of 2007
May 06, 2010
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
Was the 2007 decision to surge forces into Iraq effective in turning the war from a potential disaster to a possible success?
Decisionmaking in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM: Removing Saddam Hussein by Force
March 22, 2010
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz. Edited by Professor John R. Martin.
The Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) is pleased to initiate its latest monograph series, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM Key Decisions. SSI started this project in an effort to give leaders of the U.S. Armed Forces some important insights into how military advice was provided to the Nation's civilian leadership during the many years—including the months before the invasion—of the war in Iraq. Dr. Metz starts this series with an impressive review of the decision to remove Saddam Hussein by force. The Strategic Studies Institute hopes that this and the succeeding monographs will generate debate on just how the United States made decisions—some of them disastrous—about Iraq. The resulting better understanding of the decisions should lead to strengthening of the processes—where appropriate—so that the military and civilian leadership forge better decisions in the future.
Rethinking Insurgency
June 05, 2007
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
To be successful at counterinsurgency, the U.S. military and defense community must rethink insurgency. This has profound implications for American strategy and military doctrine.
Learning from Iraq: Counterinsurgency in American Strategy
December 22, 2006
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
In Iraq the U.S. Army has undertaken counterinsurgency, a type of activity it thought it had left behind with the end of the Cold War. In the long war against terror, counterinsurgency will remain a central element of American national security policy so it is important to assess the strategic implications of the Iraq campaign.
Insurgency and Counterinsurgency in the 21st Century: Reconceputalizing Threat and Response
November 01, 2004
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz, LTC Raymond A. Millen.
Modern insurgency warfare presents fresh challenges for the United States, which must re-conceptualize its approach to fighting such conflicts. Because the dominant characteristics of insurgency--protractedness and ambiguity--effectively stymie the American military's approach to war, the United States needs to reorient its strategic thinking.
Future War/Future Battlespace: The Strategic Role of American Landpower
March 01, 2003
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz, LTC Raymond A. Millen.
The trends in the strategic environment in the development of the Future War/Future Battlespace suggest that traditional warfighting has changed in the post 9-11 era. The strategic environment can be classified into four strategic battlespaces, within which future adversaries will operate to thwart U.S. strategic initiatives.
Revising the Two MTW Force Shaping Paradigm
April 01, 2001
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
One of the most important elements of U.S. military strategy for the past 10 years has been the belief that a force able to fight two nearly simultaneous major theater wars of the DESERT STORM type would be capable of dealing with the full gamut of security challenges that the United States is likely to face.
The American Army in the Balkans: Strategic Alternatives and Implications
January 01, 2001
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
U.S. strategy in the Balkans and the Army's role there is examined. The author recommends continued U.S. involvement, consideration of a long-term American military presence in the region, and some significant changes in role of the U.S. Army.
Asymmetry and U.S. Military Strategy: Definition, Background, and Strategic Concepts
January 01, 2001
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz, Dr. Douglas V. Johnson, II.
This report gives a simple and comprehensive definition of strategic asymmetry reflecting the need for military doctrine which transcends today's specific issues. The authors assess the strategic situation of the United States in terms of positive and negative asymmetry and offer five strategic concepts as part of the response to asymmetry: maximum conceptual and organizational adaptability, focused intelligence, minimal vulnerability, full spectrum precision, and an integrated homeland security strategy.
American Strategy: Issues and Alternatives for the Quadrennial Defense Review
September 01, 2000
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
The combination of a congressionally-mandated Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), a change of presidents, and shifts in the global security environment will force or allow American strategists to rethink some of the basic elements of U.S. strategy and decide if any changes need to be made.
Armed Conflict in the 21st Century: The Information Revolution and Post-Modern Warfare
March 01, 2000
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
Within the past decade, the U.S. military has implemented a number of programs to assess the changes underway in the global security environment and in the nature of warfare. Defense leaders and thinkers have concluded that revolutionary change is taking place and, if the United States develops appropriate technology, warfighting concepts, and military organizations, it can master or control this change, thus augmenting American security.
Refining American Strategy in Africa
February 01, 2000
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
The author provides a broad overview of the African security environment as a basis for recommendations on the refinement of American strategy in that region. He assesses both the opportunities for positive change which exist today, and the obstacles.
Nonlethality and American Land Power: Strategic Context and Operational Concepts
June 01, 1998
Authored by Professor Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr., Dr. Steven Metz.
Nonlethal technology, concepts and doctrine may provide the Army a way to retain its political utility and military effectiveness in a security environment characterized by ambiguity and the glare of world public opinion. To explore this, the Army is undertaking programs and initiatives which may make it the driving force in nonlethality.
The United States and the Transformation of African Security: The African Crisis Response Initiative and Beyond
December 01, 1997
Authored by COL Daniel W. Henk, Dr. Steven Metz.
Helping Africans develop a capability to avoid or solve their region's security problems has reemerged recently as an important goal of American strategy, and the African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI) is its centerpiece. Based on their testimony presented to the Africa Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on International Relations, this study by Dr. Steven Metz and Colonel Dan Henk of the U.S. Army War College examines the ACRI. Significantly, it does so by placing the ACRI in a wider, long-term strategic context.
Strategic Horizons: The Military Implications of Alternative Futures
March 01, 1997
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
A year ago the Chief of Staff of the Army initiated the Army After Next Project (AANP) as a means of stimulating constructive thinking about the Army's future throughout the service. AANP has quickly developed into a primary vehicle for long-range planning.
The Strategist and the Web Revisited: An Updated Guide to Internet Resources
October 01, 1996
Authored by LTC James Kievit, Dr. Steven Metz.
Every day of the "Information Age" makes more material available via the Internet. Yet simply "surfing the 'Net'," while perhaps enjoyable as recreation, is ill-suited for rapidly locating valid, salient information. This is particularly true for analysts or military professionals seeking to develop strategy, to research national security issues, or to provide policy advice.
Reform, Conflict, and Security in Zaire
June 01, 1996
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
U.S. foreign policy in Sub-Saharan Africa seeks stability, democracy, and economic development. Despite recent positive trends, it is clear that not all African countries will move in this direction; some will sink into greater violence and misery. In the central part of the continent, Zaire is the linchpin. Because of its great size and natural wealth, Zaire has the ability to serve as either the locomotive of development or an agent of destabilization.
The Future of American Landpower: Strategic Challenges for the 21st Century Army
March 01, 1996
Authored by Dr. William T. Johnsen, Dr. Douglas V. Johnson, II, Professor Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr., Dr. Steven Metz, LTC James Kievit.
Armies historically have been criticized for preparing for the last war. Since the early 1980s, however, the U.S. Army has broken this pattern and created a force capable of winning the next war. But, in an era characterized by a volatile international security environment, accelerating technological advances (particularly in acquiring, processing, and disseminating information), the emergence of what some are calling a "revolution in military affairs," and forecasts of increasingly constrained fiscal resources, it seems ill-advised to plan only for the "next Army."
The Strategist and the Web: Guide to Internet Resources
February 01, 1996
Authored by LTC James Kievit, Dr. Steven Metz.
Lieutenant Colonel James Kievit and Dr. Steven Metz begin the effort to construct guideposts for strategists to follow. They provide basic information explaining the most important features of the Internet, and a critical review of more than a hundred of the electronic sites most likely to be of interest to research analysts or military planners.
Armies and Democracy in the New Africa: Lessons from Nigeria and South Africa
January 01, 1996
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz, Dr. Kent Hughes Butts.
In October 1994, the Strategic Studies Institute sponsored a roundtable on democratization in Sub-Saharan Africa. Particular attention was paid to the role the U.S. military and Department of Defense played in democracy support. This study developed from a paper presented at the roundtable. Dr. Butts and Dr. Metz reject the notion that the political culture of African states allows or even encourages military intervention in politics.
The Principles of War in the 21st Century: Strategic Considerations
August 01, 1995
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz, Professor Douglas C. Lovelace, Jr., Dr. Douglas V. Johnson, II, Dr. William T. Johnsen, LTC James Kievit.
For nearly two centuries, the principles of war have guided practitioners of the military art. During the last 55 years the principles of war have been a key element of U.S. Army doctrine, and recently they have been incorporated into other Service and Joint doctrines. The turn of the 21st century and the dawn of what some herald as the "Information Age," however, may call into question whether principles originally derived in the 19th century and based on the experience of "Industrial Age" armed forces still hold. Moreover, despite their long existence, the applicability of the principles of war at the strategic level of warfare has not been the subject of detailed analysis or assessment.
Strategy and the Revolution in Military Affairs: From Theory to Policy
June 01, 1995
Authored by LTC James Kievit, Dr. Steven Metz.
A small band of "RMA" analysts has emerged in the military and Department of Defense, in the academic strategic studies community, and in defense-related think-tanks and consulting firms. To these analysts, the Gulf War provided a vision of a potential revolution in military affairs (RMA) in which Information Age technology would be combined with appropriate doctrine and training to allow a small but very advanced U.S. military to protect national interests with unprecedented efficiency.
American Civil-Military Relations: New Issues, Enduring Problems
April 01, 1995
Authored by Dr. Douglas V. Johnson, II, Dr. Steven Metz.
The authors were invited to prepare a paper for a conference on Civil-Military Relations in the fall, 1994. That paper was translated into an article for the Winter, 1995 edition of The Washington Quarterly under the title "Civil-Military Relations in the United States: The State of the Debate." Although the intensity of interest in this subject has fallen from the front pages of the newspapers, the authors have here suggested that the debate needs to continue and that it should start with identification of the right questions.
Counterinsurgency: Strategy and the Phoenix of American Capability
February 01, 1995
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
Dr. Steven Metz argues that the way the Department of Defense and U.S. military spend the time when counterinsurgency support is not an important part of American national security strategy determines how quickly and easily they react when policymakers commit the nation to such activity. If analysis and debate continues, at least at a low level, the military is better prepared for the reconstitution of capabilities. If it ignores global developments in insurgency and counterinsurgency, the reconstitution of capabilities would be more difficult.
Disaster and Intervention in Sub-Saharan Africa: Learning from Rwanda
September 01, 1994
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
Rwanda's horrific civil war suggests that human disasters requiring outside intervention will remain common in Sub-Saharan Africa. The American people want a prompt and effective response to human disasters when the United States becomes involved.
The Revolution in Military Affairs and Conflict Short of War
July 01, 1994
Authored by LTC James Kievit, Dr. Steven Metz.
The authors concede that the revolution in military affairs holds great promise for conventional, combined-arms warfare, but conclude that its potential value in conflict short of war, whether terrorism, insurgency, or violence associated with narcotrafficking, is not so clear-cut. Given this, national leaders and strategists should proceed cautiously and only after a full exploration of the ethical, political, and social implications of their decisions.
America in the Third World: Strategic Alternatives and Military Implications
May 01, 1994
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
The author examines the problems of the Third World and the debates that exist regarding the most effective U.S. response to these problems. He has concluded that the Third World is undergoing such significant change that most of the basic assumptions undergirding past and current U.S. policy are no longer viable. He urges a fundamental and radical revision of our national strategy toward the Third World, and recommends a future strategy that would see far more selective and discrete involvement in these staggering problems.
World View: The 1994 Strategic Assessment from the Strategic Studies Institute
April 01, 1994
Edited by Dr. Steven Metz, Dr. Earl H. Tilford, Jr..
Every year the analysts at the Strategic Studies Institute prepare current strategic assessments for their particular areas of interest. These assessments are the bedrock of the annual SSI Study Program. This year's assessments seem especially crucial as the strategic situation throughout the world is far more complex and fraught with danger than many may realize.
The Future of Insurgency
December 01, 1993
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
Security professionals and strategists are discovering the post-cold war world is as rife with persistent, low-level violence as its predecessors. In fact, many regions are experiencing a rise in the amount of conflict in the absence of restraints previously imposed by the superpowers.
The Future of the United Nations: Implications for Peace Operations
October 01, 1993
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
President Clinton has expressed clear support for greater U.N. effectiveness in the peaceful resolution of conflict and the organization of collective security. This entails finding ways to improve U.N. peacekeeping, peacemaking, and peace-enforcement.
Eisenhower as Strategist: The Coherent Use of Military Power in War and Peace
February 01, 1993
Authored by Dr. Steven Metz.
Few if any American officers performed a wider array of strategic functions as Dwight D. Eisenhower--he was a staff planner in the War Department, wartime commander of a massive coalition force, peacetime Chief of Staff, and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
SSI articles, editorial, and briefs by Dr. Steven Metz
Strategic Insights: Revolutionary Change Is Coming to Strategic Leadership
December 19, 2017
Strategic Insights: Thinking About Catastrophe: The Army in a Nuclear Armed World
December 14, 2015
Strategic Insights: The Landpower Robot Revolution Is Coming
December 10, 2014
Strategic Insights: America's Strategic Debate - And Why It Matters To The Army
September 25, 2014
Strategic Landpower Task Force Research Report
October 03, 2013
Junior Leader Professional Development — Who Has the Time?
March 28, 2011
Final Response to "America's Flawed Afghanistan Strategy"
October 14, 2010
America's Flawed Afghanistan Strategy
August 09, 2010
Expand the U.S. Military? Not So Fast
July 07, 2008
COIN of the Realm: U.S. Counterinsurgency Strategy
January 10, 2008
Grunts and Jarheads: Rethinking the Army-Marine Division of Labor
September 10, 2007
Unlearning Counterinsurgency
November 01, 2004
Security Transformation
December 23, 2003
The Trajectory of Security Transformation
December 01, 2003


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|Image taken from page 20 of 'A larger history of the United States of America to the close of President Jackson's administration ... Illustrated, etc'
Unfortunately, software developers have yet to understand that all of these devices function together as a single computer. The main differences between the devices has evolved into being a concern focused on the convenience of inputting data by means of a keyboard and the size of the monitor. Obviously, I prefer entering data on my 27 inch iMac over my iPhone. The iPhone is convenient and suitable for reference purposes, but it is slow and awkward to enter much data. This could change with even further development in the voice recognition area. There are a already a variety of keyboards available for tablet computers and with the introduction of the Microsoft Surface, the keyboard is already a part of the device.
Another limitation of the mobile devices is the mind set of the developers who view the "apps" for mobile devices to be cut down versions of the full program on a desktop computer. At some point, developers will realize that tablets are not cut down computers, but the real thing and software will become more sophisticated. The market is already moving this direction as more people avoid the issue altogether by working entirely on the Web with web apps. The online family trees are essentially web apps waiting to displace traditional desktop programs. Most of the objections to abandoning a desktop program begin to disappear if the data can be maintained locally on a variety of devices.
Presently, in genealogy in you can purchase a program that will run on your desktop computer. But evidencing extremely sort shortsightedness, the genealogy software developers have historically been entirely Windows centric. Only a very few programs presently support both Windows and Apple OS X and an even smaller number, allow data entry from iOS and Android devices as well.
So we presently have the following possibilities of synchronizing data between devices and operating systems:
- You can install the genealogy database software on your desktop computer and synchronize the data with a handheld device through a separate app.
- You can install the genealogy database program on your desktop computer and also put a copy of the same program on a removable flash drive and synchronize any changes made to the data, it's flash drive with the data kept on the desktop computer.
- You can build a family tree online and synchronize the online family tree with a desktop genealogy database program.
- You can build a family tree online and synchronize the online family tree with both a desktop computer running a genealogy database program and a handheld device.
- You can synchronize data with your separate devices including smartphones, tablets and other devices which are running variations of the main genealogy database program.
- You can install genealogy database program on your desktop computer and synchronize the file with any other device, even between operating systems.
What needs to happen in a situation is that all of these various iterations of data sharing need to be consolidated into one data interchange model. First, software developers need to recognize that many people will begin to rely entirely upon a tablet as their main computer device. Therefore, the programs written for tablet computers need to be as robust as the present desktop computer programs or in the alternative operate by being entirely web based. This will be possible as tablet computers become more and more sophisticated with faster processors. Secondly, the software developers need to recognize that there are different standards for operating systems and that in order to continue to sell programs they are going to have to seriously consider expanding their now somewhat insular programs and to other operating systems. This is particularly true with both the Apple OS X and the Android and Chrome systems from Google, although it also be a good idea to include LINUX.
As a computer user of genealogy software, I have already come to expect that any program that I'm using to record my genealogical data will let me access that same data from other devices. In my own case, I use both Apple OS X, iOS and Windows devices. It may be entirely possible that I would also want to interface with Android and Chrome operating system devices.
If we are to involve the upcoming generations of computer savvy younger people in the genealogical community, we need to recognize the dramatic shift in computer usage and accommodate any computer input device. I believe that any software developer who ignores this marketing reality is basically resigning to an early retirement. When you purchase a genealogy software program, you need to focus on how you are going to use the program and if you expect to merely see the data on a mobile device or actually input data. I would be wise to look for programs that support data input from multiple devices. Promises of this functionality being added by a developer in the future ring hollow with me, by the way. I have been hearing how some software companies have been working on an Apple OS X product for years with no results. It looks like Microsoft is about to adopt an operating system that will work on both mobile and desktop devices. What effect with this have on the future of computing?

subset: commoncrawl


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Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you to the Lithuanian Presidency for inviting the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights to address you all here today, on this important day.
The band Depeche Mode in their song 'People are people' once sang:
"I can't understand
What makes a man
Hate another man
Help me understand."
Which is partly why we are here today. We are here to look back, understand and learn from the past to build a better future. But we are also here to remember the tragic loss, the tremendous suffering and the incalculable damage that totalitarian Nazi and Soviet regimes inflicted on the people of Europe all those years. This is vital because, as the former Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, Franco Frattini, once said:
"We can only understand what Europe's common future is, if we understand what Europe's common past is."
Already we can say that Europe today, undoubtedly, is a better place. The Nobel Peace prize awarded to the EU in 2012 acknowledges that and the efforts we have all made – governments and citizens alike - to rise out of the ashes of war, conflict and tyranny. We share common values of human dignity, freedom, fundamental rights, the rule of law, respect for each other and democracy. And the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights guides our governments to ensure that rights are promoted and protected for everyone in the EU.
But none of us can pretend that everything is perfect. Suffering persists. Fear persists. Violence persists.
Take these words from a young woman in London as an example:
"As a visible Muslim woman, I know I'm an easy target. But it's cowardly to pick on a woman just because of what she is wearing.... These men saw me as a weak target, and tried to assert their masculinity over me. I wish people could understand you can't blanket an entire faith just because of a few individuals who had nothing to do with us."
Too many groups in our EU society continue to suffer discrimination, hate crime and harassment. Let me give you some further examples:
- This month neo-Nazi gang members have been imprisoned in Hungary for attacks against Roma.
- In Germany the so-called 'kebab murders' of immigrants over a period of 10 years caused widespread shock.
- And from our own work, we found out that about three in 10 of all transgender respondents to our Europe-wide survey into lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender hate crime and discrimination said they were victims of violence or threats of violence more than three times in the past year.
- And our antisemitism survey, to be presented on the eve of progrom night, points to massive problems online and in social media; three out every four respondents indicated that this was where they most felt the hand of antisemitism today.
Ordinary citizens brutally persecuted in the past by totalitarian regimes. And still suffering today.
So what parallels can we draw with the past? As in former times, the socio-economic crisis in Europe is fuelling prejudice and, in some cases, violence against the most vulnerable groups of our society, such as Roma, migrants, and ethnic and religious minorities. We are also witnessing extremist ideology and populist policies in political and public speech, as in the dark past.
That's why this year our Fundamental Rights Conference, on 12-13 November, here in Vilnius, hosted together with the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, will focus on combating hate crime in the EU. It aims at giving a voice and putting a face to victims of hate crime.
But, ladies and gentleman,
We have learnt from the past: It was the aftermath of two World Wars that led to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Then there came international treaties which were signed by Member States to uphold and protect the rights of people across the globe. Europe's founding fathers created the European Union, and based it on common values of democracy, dignity and rights. And since then the European Parliament and European Commission, as well as governments in the 28 Member States and national human rights bodies are working hard to ensure that human rights are universal. They serve human beings, no matter their colour, creed or where they came from.
And let us not forget the many organisations across Europe that work ceaselessly to preserve the memory of totalitarian regimes and their victims. Together with remembrance days, they remind us of what happened in the past. But, importantly they can and should also provide a bridge to the future. They play a crucial role in developing educational programmes that allow young people to reflect on contemporary human rights issues - such as equality and dignity - viewed through the prism of the past. They form an important part of our work to build a more inclusive society, based on respect for and understanding of fundamental rights and European values. And they help raise awareness of rights. You should know you have the right to get a job, go to school or simply be yourself, just like everyone else, regardless of the colour of your skin, your sexual orientation or the faith that you adhere to.
Today, we are here to pay homage to all those who fell victim or fought valiantly against totalitarian regimes. Underlining the importance of why we are here, let me conclude with the words of one Danish student who witnessed the shock and horror of the atrocities committed by such regimes:
"[Remembrance days and] visits to memorial sites can provide a broader understanding of what human rights are. They help you to understand how important it is to create a world with room for everyone."
Thank you.


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Once the center of a mighty empire, the Portuguese capital was nearly wiped out in the 18th century, only to rise again and establish itself as one of Europe's most beguiling cities, rich in beauty, grace and melancholy
Author Chris Wright Photography Pedro Guimaraes
It isn't the perkiest music in the world. Its performers sing in tortured tones about love and loss, set to the strum of acoustic guitars. But Lisboans are fiercely proud of their fado—more so since last year, when it was listed as a global cultural treasure by UNESCO. This urban peasant music is, in fact, enjoying a revival, thanks to artists like the dashing Duarte, who wouldn't look out of place in a hip indie rock band. Courted by fashion designers and lauded on YouTube, Lisbon's young fadistas are the hot new thing— even if their material is a couple of hundred years old.
If there's a redundant institution in Lisbon, it's the Tile Museum. The entire city serves as a permanent exhibition of tilework, or azulejo. Tiling was brought to the region by the Moors in the 15th century, but Lisboans have run with the idea. You'll find tilework on houses, bars, benches, churches, barbershops. Entire streets are swathed in multicolor geometric patterns; the interiors of bakeries spin elaborate visual narratives. The best way to see this stuff is just by walking around. To buy some, visit Loja dos Descobrimentos on Rua dos Bacalhoeiros, and ask for Josefa Ribeiro.
Diogo Noronha Andrade
"Miradouro de Santa Catarina, near Bairro Alto, has one of the most beautiful views of Lisbon, plus a nice mix of tourists and locals. Sometimes there are people playing instruments. I usually walk my dog over there and hang out with my friends."
Cláudia Candeias
"I go to a typical tasca—a traditional spit-and-sawdust wine shop—in Santa Catarina. The senhora who keeps it is Rosa, so she calls it Taberna da Rosa. It has marble tables, wooden stools, no frills—just good, very cheap wines, made by small producers."
Rui Viana
"I like to go hiking in the hills of Sintra, a 20-minute drive from Lisbon. It's very peaceful, with lots of trees and palaces. From the top you have a nice view of the sea. I walk along the beach or, if it's cold, go to one of the fish restaurants. It's lovely."
View Three Perfect Days: Lisbon in a larger map
Great three days. Only the fine dining restaurants are wrong. The three best in town are Belcato, Assinatura and Bocca
Thank you so much Chris,
I really enjoyed reading your article about Lisbon. You made me to revisit places that I have been in this lovely city and you made me to want to discover the ones that I missed. I am from Brazil. Have you wrote anything about our cities?
Kind Regards,
Cristina Cavoto
I had read your article on one of my flights and taken the magazine home. Many moons later, I was able to finally come to Lisbon – I had a head-start through your lovely writings…. good work – I wish I could pack in as much as you did – but I had a great time.


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Experiment #2 in game promotion: Press Release Results
The Experiment:
In my second experiment I wanted to test the effectiveness of press releases. I figured this would probably be my best bet at getting my game noticed as I had been lucky enough to have a few sites review my game already without me asking. Considering they gave it good reviews, I felt positive that I could get a couple more to respond to my emails.
After sending the emails out, I let them run for a little over a week. A few of the sites I emailed a second time with a follow up email. Of the 15 or so places I emailed I was expecting a pretty low rate of reply. I figured that due to the nature of email I might get lucky with 2 or 3 sites, but that might be enough to drum up a little bit of attention. I felt more positive about the sites that cater to giving indies exposure, but also knew that they must get 50+ submissions per day.
The Result:
The final result of the number of sites that reported on my game are:
Number of places that reviewed my game: 0%.
Number of places that mentioned my game: 0%.
Number of places that looked at the press release: 6%
Number of places that downloaded the free copy of the game I sent: 0%.
Overall result: Level 5 Catastrophic Failure.
But my inbox was flooded:
Now here's the interesting part. While I didn't get any coverage from these sites, I did start getting one very specific type of email: sites started asking for a paid review.
It turns out that there is a large number of sites out there who will charge anywhere from $50-$200 to review your game. In exchange they'll give you a text review for a base price or a video review for a premium price. I don't know how your supposed to have an objective review when someone gave you $200 to do it, but that might be why several of these sites had nearly every game rated 5 stars. All these emails were followed up with very optimistic traffic numbers, the validity of which I don't know.
This seems to me like a pretty terrible industry that is, in my opinion, just exploiting indie devs who want to get their game out into the world. I'd like to think that most people would turn down these sites, but if their huge catalog of reviews is anything to go by that's not the case.
The lessons:
1) Sending out press-releases might be useful, but you really do need contacts first. Mike Rose mentions it fairly often in his article but it only now dawns on me how true that is. I don't really know anyone in the industry and I'm not sure how I would solve this. I see lots of articles online about how to get your game noticed, but not many articles of how to get the developer noticed first. It's a bit of a chicken/egg problem - How does one get their own name out without having a cool game to be noticed, but how does one get their cool game to be noticed without having a name? It sounds like that could be an article in itself.
2) While my press-release experiment was a terrible result, it was still extremely worthwhile process and I highly recommend it. In my case I thought I was ready to go once I had a full version, a demo version and a email to contact me at. It wasn't until I was reading the checklist that I realized how unprepared I was. So while the actual press release submission stage might be a bust, I highly recommend you actually send out at least a few for no other reason that it forces you to get prepared.
3) Without knowing anyone to contact in advance, sending out press-releases comes down to a lot of luck. That being said, there's always a chance you might get lucky! As a form of cold-calls I found press releases less effective, but these sites do cover a lot of games so you might be the lucky one that day.
Next Experiment
For the next experiment I'm going to try taking out some ads on sites like Facebook. I won't be spending much money, but I'll be interested to see what kind of conversion rates happen. I'll be making a blog post starting that experiment in the next few days,


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Composer Bernard Rands sits down with CIM's Head of Composition, Keith Fitch, to discuss Bernard's education, formative years, and Luigi Dallapiccola.
Bernard Rands
Keith Fitch currently heads the composition department at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he holds the Vincent K. and Edith H. Smith Chair in Composition and also directs the CIM New Music Ensemble. Called "gloriously luminous" by The Philadelphia Inquirer, his music has been consistently noted for its eloquence, expressivity, dramatic sense of musical narrative, and unique sense of color and sonority. Reviewing a performance of his work Totem by Wolfgang Sawallisch and The Philadelphia Orchestra (chosen by Maestro Sawallisch to celebrate the orchestra's centennial), The Wall Street Journal praised "the sheer concentration of his writing, and its power to express a complex, unseen presence shaping the course of musical events." His works have been performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan by such ensembles as The Philadelphia Orchestra, the American Composers Orchestra, the New York Youth Symphony, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble, the Da Capo Chamber Players, and new music ensembles around the country. Additionally, his music has been heard at the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, the June in Buffalo Festival, the Midwest Composers' Symposium, the Atlantic Center for the Arts, Milwaukee PremiereFest, New York's Carnegie and Merkin Halls, and in university settings nationwide. Highlights of recent seasons include the premieres of 'Tho Night Be Falling (commissioned by the Fromm Music Foundation for the Colorado String Quartet); Midnight Rounds, written to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the Da Capo Chamber Players; and Mean Fiddle Summer, composed for the acclaimed violinist Lina Bahn. The 2012-13 season brings the premieres of Knock on Wood (for the harp/guitar duo of Yolanda Kondonassis and Jason Vieaux); Cascade, a fanfare commissioned by Cleveland's Museum of Contemporary Art for the inauguration of their new building; and In Memory, a new chamber orchestra work commissioned by the League of Composers Orchestra (NY).
A native of Indiana, Keith Fitch (b. 1966) began composing at age eight and began formal musical training on the double bass at age eleven. While still in high school (age sixteen), he received his first professional orchestral performance. Subsequently, he attended the Indiana University School of Music, where he completed his Doctorate in 1995. At Indiana, he studied composition with Frederick Fox, Eugene O'Brien, and Claude Baker, double bass with Bruce Bransby and Murray Grodner, and chamber music with Rostislav Dubinsky, founder of the Borodin Quartet. He also counts Donald Erb and Joan Tower among his compositional mentors. Among his many awards are the annual Dean's Prize for Composition at Indiana (1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994), the Kate and Cole Porter Memorial Fellowship at Indiana (1993-1995), three ASCAP Young Composer Awards (1988, 1989, 1993), the ASCAP-Raymond Hubbell Scholarship (1988), three National Society of Arts and Letters awards (1990, 1992, 1993), an Individual Artist Grant from the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts (1994), and a Fromm Foundation Commission (2005). He has enjoyed multiple residencies at The MacDowell Colony (1998, 2001) and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007), as well as at The Charles Ives Center for American Music (1991), and the Atlantic Center for the Arts (1989), and he has twice served as Resident Composer and faculty at the Chamber Music Conference and Composers' Forum of the East (2002, 2006). He has also served as guest composer at California Summer Music (2010) and at the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music at Bowling Green State University (OH, 2010). Most recently, he was the recipient of a 2012 Individual Excellence Award from the Ohio Arts Council.
Highly regarded as a teacher, chamber music coach, and conductor of new music, he has taught at Indiana University (2001), Bard College (2005-2006, 2007-2008), and for eleven years served on the faculty of the Mannes College of Music in New York (1997-2008), where he founded the new music ensemble, CIRCE. His students regularly win awards from such prestigious organizations as ASCAP, BMI, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Fulbright Foundation, as well as attending leading summer festivals around the world. Students interested in studying with Dr. Fitch are strongly encouraged to contact him at The Cleveland Institute of Music (www.cim.edu) prior to auditioning.
His music is published by Non Sequitur Music (www.nonsequiturmusic.com).
Through more than a hundred published works and many recordings, Bernard Rands is established as a major figure in contemporary music. His work Canti del Sole, premiered by Paul Sperry, Zubin Mehta, and the New York Philharmonic, won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize in Music. His large orchestral suites Le Tambourin won the 1986 Kennedy Center Friedheim Award.
Conductors including Barenboim, Boulez, Berio, Maazel, Maderna, Marriner, Mehta, Muti, Ozawa, Rilling, Salonen, Sawallisch, Schiff, Schuller, Schwarz, Silverstein, Sinopoli, Slatkin, von Dohnanyi, and Zinman, among many others, have programmed his music.
Rands served as Composer in Residence with the Philadelphia Orchestra for seven years. The first three years were funded by the Meet The Composer Residency Program, with four years continued funding by The Philadelphia Orchestra. Through this residency Rands made a wonderful and dedicated contribution to the music of our time.
Rands' works are widely performed and frequently commercially recorded. His work Canti d'Amor, recorded by Chanticleer, won a Grammy Award in 2000.
Born in England, Rands emigrated to the United States in 1975, becoming an American citizen in 1983. He has been honored by the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters; Broadcast Music, Inc.; the Guggenheim Foundation; the National Endowment for the Arts; Meet The Composer; the Barlow, Fromm, and Koussevitzky Foundations, among many others. In 2004, Rands was inducted to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Recent commissions have come from the Suntory Concert Hall in Tokyo, the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Internationale Bach Akademie, the Eastman Wind Ensemble, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Many chamber works have resulted from commissions from major ensembles and festivals from around the world. His chamber opera, Belladonna, was commissioned by the Aspen Music Festival and School for its fiftieth anniversary in 1999.
Rands is currently composing a full-scale opera, Vincent, based on the life and work of Van Gogh, with poet J.D. McClatchy.
A dedicated and passionate teacher, Rands has been guest composer at many international festivals and Composer in Residence at the Aspen and Tanglewood festivals. Rands is the Walter Bigelow Rosen Research Professor of Music at Harvard. He has received honorary degrees from several American and European universities.
The originality and distinctive character of his music have been variously described as 'plangent lyricism' with a 'dramatic intensity' and a 'musicality and clarity of idea allied to a sophisticated and elegant technical mastery' – qualities developed from his studies with Dallapiccola and Berio.
Musical America has referred to Rands as "a composer with a poet's sensibility and a painterly love of color and line."


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As-salām 'alaykum! Welcome to InterNations Rabat. We are sure you're eager and excited to embrace all that Rabat has to offer, from strolling along the palm-lined boulevards to sampling the traditional pastilla. However, it is also normal to have questions, such as "which district of Rabat should I live in?", "what work permits do I need?", or "where can I locate an English speaking school?". Our experienced Rabat expats are available to help you with any concerns you might have, allowing you to focus on embracing the full potential of your adventure, anxiety free.
With InterNations, you never stand alone. Whether you move to another city or go on a business trip somewhere — our communities are there to make you feel at home wherever you are in the world. Feel free to also check out our other vibrant InterNations Communities like the ones in Shanghai or Hong Kong.
Attend our monthly events and activities for Rabat expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
Get trustworthy advice and local insights from fellow members in our Rabat expat forums.
Rabat is a modern city, known as Morocco's political and economic capital. Many of our expats are drawn there for work, enjoying the business opportunities available in this cosmopolitan city. However, it is also a city that offers ocean views, hidden art galleries, and stunning colonial architecture. Rabat Beach is considered one of the best locations for a day off in the sun, or, if you prefer something more active, the El Jadida Golf Club offers immaculate greens to a backdrop of jasmine flowers and turquoise seas. Whatever your reason for relocating to Rabat, our expat community can help you make the most of your new life.
InterNations is the largest global network for expatriates, with communities in 420 cities across the globe. Get to know fellow internationals in your city, before you're moving, or when traveling somewhere and never feel like a stranger. InterNations makes it easy for you to stay in touch with your expat friends, both online and offline, so you can grow your network of friends and contacts from all over the world. Whether they live in Dubai or Riyadh, InterNations allows you to be close to them even if they are miles away.
The members of our Rabat Community come from all over the world, but they all have one thing in common; they have chosen to settle in Rabat, and are experienced and understanding of the complexities of locating to a new country. That's why access to their knowledge base and advice, through our community, proves to be so vital to new Rabat expats. Additionally to the online-aspect of our network, our members have the option to meet other like-minded expats face-to-face; our members in Rabat regularly organize groups and get-togethers following a range of interests or hobbies, which are a great opportunity to begin carving out a social life. Groups in Rabat cover sports, dinner, lunch, or brunch get-togethers and more. If you have an interest or hobby not represented in one of the groups, why not create your own? Lastly, InterNations also regularly hosts larger events that are open to all our members in Rabat; a great opportunity to network and meet like-minded people.


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RY2 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 69 diseños de 21 diseñadores freelance.
Pat Henning Custom Tailor
Mr. Pat Henning has been making individual cutting custom made suits, sport coats, slacks, outer coats, and tuxedoes since 1969 and custom made shirts since 1974.
Fine fitting of our clothing is our forte! Our personal visit to your office has given us many clients from all over Canada and the USA. Being so busy, our clients like the idea of 'no hassle' purchasing and fitting of garments in the office or home with rare alterations or refittings required.
We travel all of western Canada to bring this exclusive service to your home or office! See the Travel section for more details.
Another feature is the selection of cloth from the finest Italian and English mills. Over 6000 different fabrics to chose from, plus our ability to narrow the selection to those that will suit you in weight, color, and style.
Existing market has been mature business people, but now wants to get into the new market of younger professionals 25-35. They're full of energy, drive, fashionable, very trendy.
Simple, timeless, classic logo, that conveys trust, quality, and fashion. We would like to see a typographic calligraphy logo, emblemic logo, or iconic logo. Also would be great to see more san-serif display type typographical logos.
Pat Henning should be main focus of the logo. It would be great to see some logos that also has Henning as a main focus. Custom tailor should be an underlying font.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Jimmy Fallon was at the MTV Video Music Awards. So was Jack Black, in character, as Brutal Legend's Eddie Riggs. Rolling Stone caught up with them as they asked the obvious questions.
Sadly, Rolling Stone's video player isn't embeddable, so you'll have to hit the link below to watch it. It's about, oh, a third of the way in.


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Tag Archives: bali
You are Eating Poison every Day! 0 Comments
You don't know it, but it's true. We are consuming some sort of Chemical every day, making us sick! What can you do about it?Read More
The Miami Heat! 0 Comments
Is the name of Miami's famous NBA basketball team, and now I know why! It's so damn hot here right now in south Florida; it's not even funny. I've lived in a few "hot weather" places in my time; being Bali (very hot at times), South of France and Barcelona, Spain, both can be baking […]Read More
Is Dining out really Keto? 0 Comments
The simple answer is yes and no! I did a bit of a stupid thing recently, I forgot to pay my gas bill so ended up with no gas to my stove and oven for four days. Don't ask me how I forgot, but I did… Four days, that's how long it takes in Florida […]Read More
My 30 Steps to Beating Depression. 0 Comments
There is a Light at the End of the Tunnel! Prologue. In the wake of "Mental Health Month," I decided to add my thoughts on the subject of depression. I went through a period of serious depression a few years ago. Unfortunately, as I had left my support system in Europe for my now ex-wife […]Read More
Keto versus Vegan! 0 Comments
Let's Speak the Truth about Keto & Vegan Diets. When I say the truth, I mean scientifically, going back hundreds of years, not emotionally born out of a moral belief system. But first, who am I? I'm Rob, former Olympic Athlete, certified Health Coach and Keto Expert, Fitness Coach, Thai Boxing, and Meditation Trainer. And […]Read More


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It's about you, the surfer.
Surfing is a personal pursuit. We all have different paths into the ocean with different experiences and feelings, hopes and passions. But the differences don't stop there - like anything in life, we are all surfers of varying abilities. Some of us prefer cruisy sessions with mates in easy waves, while others are happy to compete for surf. Some aren't comfortable in big waves, while others thrive on challenging conditions. There is no right and wrong. No better or worse. There is virtue in all approaches and importantly, there's room for everyone.
That's what makes surfing so special.
It's for this reason that I have taken such a personal perspective about the way I create surf equipment. For me, it's about connecting with you on a range of levels to understand what you want from your boards - and it's a process I thoroughly enjoy. Once I've tuned into your mindset, I set about creating a customised piece of equipment that will perform at its best. No matter what your standard, your age or the size of waves you'll tackle.
As a shaper, nothing beats feedback that someone has just had a magical experience on a board you've created for them. This spurs me on to design surfboards that go faster, carve harder and showcase a continual evolution of performance virtues. Along the way, I've been pushing the boundaries of high-speed tow surfing, have worked closely with the world's best surfers to feed their information back into the design process and have constantly strived to develop manufacturing credentials that are both sustainable and world's best practice.
I've been tremendously fortunate to be a surfer and a surfboard designer at a fascinating time in the history of this unique surf culture. Over the last half century, I've had a wealth of experiences that have influenced innumerable shapes, ideas and visions and am proud to be able to share all this with the next generation of surfboard craftsmen. With this in mind, we have created The Surfer Designer Collective that provides the opportunity for me to personally mentor future designers.
The goal is to create a new, environmentally friendly Sustainable Surfboard manufacturing base – to draw on the latest technology to create longer lasting surfboards - and to allow me to pass on knowledge and experience that helps the shapers of tomorrow shape boards for you - the surfer.


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We love Gawking at cars. But since Jalopnik's staff is mostly comprised of a bunch of heterosexual (most of the time) males, we also notice the lovely booth professionals who show up at automotive trade events.
SEMA is usually home to the least professional booth professionalism, but what we saw this year is tasteful compared to what we've seen in the past.
Photo credit: Curtis Joe Walker


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TCSD Conversation by Craig Zelent
Recently I talked triathlon with Tri Club member Deborah Jones. Since becoming a triathlete a few years ago Deborah has already contributed so much to our sport and this year will be no different. Please join me and get to know this very dedicated lady.
Craig: What was your athletic background before you got involved in triathlon?
Deborah: Not much actually. In high school I was picked for the basketball and volleyball teams because I'm tall but when they found out I can't jump very high, seriously it's like 6-8 inches off the ground, I spent most games on the bench. Which I didn't mind really – all that running around made me tired. Hahahaha. With my family I spent a lot of time in the water, namely water skiing at the Colorado River. I love being in the water!
I didn't start running or doing triathlons until recently. In fact this past Sunday at the San Dieguito run, I "celebrated" my 7 year anniversary. That's when I started running, at the 5k in 2006. I did more walking than running but it was a first for me and I was so proud. Running or just getting some cardio in was part of my "get fit" campaign when I turned 40. That's when I took a long hard look at myself and my lifestyle and realized I just can't go on like this. I was unfit, overweight, smoking a lot and drinking even more. Yikes!
So, the San Dieguito 5k turned into more 5ks, then an 8k Race for Literacy and so on. My first ½ marathon was quite memorable too – especially how I even considered doing that kind of distance (yeah right, in my wildest dreams). Shortly after the 8k I received an email from Katie at InMotion Fit. I know it was just a mass email blast but it really "spoke" to me. It basically said – "if you can run an 8k, you can run a ½ marathon." I thought, "I can? You mean you believe in me and that I really can run a half marathon?!?" Wow – it was so powerful. It was an advertisement for their AFC training program. I signed up with a friend and come August I had my first ½ marathon finisher's medal. I was so darn proud and empowered. That's when I fell in love with running!
Craig: How did you get introduced to triathlon?
Deborah: It's kind of funny actually. A few years ago friends of ours invited us to visit and celebrate a milestone birthday of theirs at their home in Noosa, Australia that coming October. While the invitation was very inviting in and of itself, I'd been planning on running a marathon in October. I mentioned this to my friend and she said "There's a marathon in Noosa in October!" Like a dream come true, the prospect of doing an international marathon with such perfect timing set the ball rolling… until, I found out that the Noosa marathon is actually in March. Their triathlon is in October. To my friend Jennie, a marathon and a triathlon are the same thing!!
Still, this whet my appetite. Doing a triathlon … in Australia. How cool is that? The more I read about the race, the more I wanted to do it. The Noosa Triathlon is Australia's oldest and largest triathlon. It's part of a multi-day, multi-sport festival that attracts over 8,000 athletes, swimming, biking, running, golfing and "tri-ing" in the beautiful town of Noosa (approx. 90 miles north of Brisbane). After talking about it with hubby Brian, we decided to go for it! We'd have 5 months to train for this Olympic distance race, if we could get in. It's a very popular race that sells out in a matter of hours. June 1st Aussie time the registration opened. Luckily we got in!
This was the first triathlon we registered for but in our training did a few pre-race races. The Tri Club's beginner races were our first and more formative. We're so grateful to the club for enabling us to learn all there is to learn about triathlons AND practice for free putting it all together. Awesome! We also did the Tri Classic and Mission Bay, just for training. By the time the Noosa tri came along, we were ready!
Craig: How did the Noosa Triathlon go for you?
Deborah: It went well, but boy those Aussies are fast! It was pretty cool to be woken up by laughing Kookaburras birds and I loved the novelty of riding on the left side and saying "on your right" to pass. Riding around round-abouts was also new and novel. Speaking of the bike, that was also the most stressful. Not racing, but bike transport. Or, non-transport in our case as I just ended up renting road bikes instead of flying ours over. I did the math and it would have cost more to ship them than our bikes are worth. Luckily the bikes we rented were excellent quality and had a good fit.
I got a couple of shout-outs from fellow cyclists "hey San Diego" when they saw my Tri Club gear. That made me feel good! Would we do it again? While it was definitely one of the best races ever, it was quite a pricey venture. Naturally, if I was a sponsored elite athlete, it would be a different story. We're just in it to have a good time and meet great people. We can do that right here at home!
Craig: What are your favorite benefits of membership in the TCSD?
Deborah: After hubby Brian and I signed up for the Noosa Triathlon, we went to the Club's Newbie meeting at HiTech Bikes (great information from Jonathan Jefferson and Dean Sprague!) and to the Tri 101 meeting at B&L (Steve Tally answered all our questions and demystified the sport!). We joined shortly after and fell in love with the Club! From there we tried nearly every club workout, went to all the club meetings and raced two out of three beginner races. We felt so welcome and learned so much about the sport, both from the veteran members and fellow newbies. You know, it's such a complex sport and it can be pretty intense, but what's amazing to me is how forthcoming everyone is with how to race, what equipment to use, swim techniques, workout schedules, bike routes, etc. etc. I don't know how to explain it – TCSD just gives off good vibrations and is a very positive environment. I'm constantly recruiting my friends and colleagues to join, volunteer and race! I think I must have recruited about twenty people by now. Speaking of friends, we've made so many new and lasting friendships through TCSD. It's wonderful!
The other thing that has truly impressed me from day one, is the sheer number of members the club has and the incredible number of FREE events it puts on. All volunteer-run: AMAZING! My favorite has to be the Aquathlons. They are so fun! It's such a thrill to see 200+ athletes competing after work at beautiful La Jolla Shores. Last year my dad came down from LA to watch one of them. He was really impressed and I think that's when he really "got it", and could see from his own eyes what Brian and I love about the sport and the club.
Craig: What volunteer jobs have you done on behalf of the TCSD?
Deborah: For the last two years I've been a regular swim buddy at the Thursday night beginner open water swims. The first year was with Bobbie Solomon and the second year with Ian Kelly. Both are fantastic workout leaders and are model volunteers. I'm so grateful to Bobbie and her team of volunteers who helped me. I wanted to pay it back. I picked this workout in particular to be a volunteer because it was instrumental for me when I first got into the sport getting comfortable in the water, in a wetsuit and swimming with others. I remember those first sessions very well and can empathize with the newbies coming on Thursdays to learn. I think that's important, to feel what they feel and help them through perhaps a new technique, the fear-factor, or to simply share tips and tricks to make open water swimming fun and efficient. That's the name of the game!
Another way I've volunteered for the club was at last year's swap meet. I actually initiated it for two reasons, first because I had a lot of tri-gear that needed a new home and I thought other club members were probably in the same boat; and second, to make it a charity-fundraiser for TCSDCares. It was a real success, raising over $1,000. I'd like to do another one this year, but clearly when I have more time after ITU is over.
Like I said, I love the Club and am amazed at how all of its programs, services, workouts, races, etc are managed and staffed by volunteers, passionate volunteers at that. That's the key for any volunteer program, to ignite the passion. The Club has done that for me. It's also given me opportunities to meet more Tri Clubbers and make new friends.
Craig: How did you get selected for the 2013 ITU San Diego Triathlon Volunteer Director position?
Deborah: Ever since this race came to town, I've been immensely interested in doing whatever I could to make it a success. It is such an honor to have an ITU race here in our own backyard! So, last year I volunteered as a Packet-Pickup Captain. I have a lot of experience working with and leading volunteers from my non-profit work, and wanted to lend a hand in that capacity. Last year's race was a success but it was also a learning experience for me and the event leadership. At a post-race lessons-learned meeting, my fellow Volunteer Captains and I passed on a lot of constructive feedback so that the next race, 2013 ITU, would be even better. I think it was at that point I got interested in possibly stepping up to a bigger volunteer role, if it became available.
Fast forward to this past November, I started talking with John Hill about volunteering to become this year's ITU – SD Volunteer Director on behalf of the Club. It seemed a good fit and a commitment I could make. Shortly after that I started working with Franzi Petermann, Event Director and the TCSD board on the details. I was particularly interested in getting our expectations in line with one another; just to make sure I wasn't biting off more than I could chew. I also wanted assurance that I'd have the resources and backing from the Club to do the job well. I also wanted to make sure that the feedback received last year from the Captains team was going to be addressed and certain benefits were going to be guaranteed. After a couple of weeks of negotiation, we were there and I got the job. It's an honor to volunteer in this capacity and to represent the Club like this. I want to do everything I can to help make the ITU race a success!
Craig: How does the local community work with the Event Director to put on a successful internationally recognized event?
Deborah: Part of what intrigued me last year was watching all the moving parts and interested parties come together for the races. There were ITU officials, USAT event managers, contracted event-production staff, media, SD police and traffic control officers, and loads of volunteers. The other local races I'd participated in, either as an athlete or volunteer, seemed so small in comparison. Well, I came to find out the ITU race series is really run by a complex web of partnerships and event specialists. From my understanding, the ITU series itself includes 8-races in cities all over the world. The overall marketing rights and event management is done by Franzi's company based in Hamburg Germany called La Lagardère Unlimited. For ITU races in the US (San Diego is the only one at the moment), Franzi's company has a partnership with USAT who actually runs the event itself. It's all kind of 'behind the scenes' stuff but for the Volunteer Captains, it matters especially on race day. For example, when I was Packet Pick-up Captain last year my on-site direction actually came from the USAT folks, whom I'd never met or worked with until that day. For the elite services volunteers, they got instructions, etc. from ITU officials and event production staff. During our volunteer planning, that was never spelled out. But in hind-sight it was important, from a big picture point of view. So learning from this, I'm making sure that all of the captains know the who-what-when and how of their jobs, including who is their line-manager on race-day. They are also getting a comprehensive job description and detailed listing of all the volunteers they need to recruit and what they all need to be doing during their shifts. This will be a significant improvement from last year. I've been working with Franzi to "institutionalize" or formalize this type of info so we have it for this year but also for years to come.
Craig: How can people volunteer for the ITU San Diego Triathlon?
Deborah: It's easy. Anyone, not just TCSD members, can volunteer. Folks need to simply go to the ITU San Diego website and click on Volunteer. There is a link to "Volunteer Local" which is the online registration site. It lists all the shifts available and includes a small description of what the job they are volunteering for is all about. There is something for just about everyone.
Right now, the Event and Race Directors and I are looking at recruiting about 1,100 people. That's about 400 less than last year due to changes in the bike course. The bulk of the volunteers will be needed on Saturday, April 20th, since that's when the age group races are going on and the men's elite race is being held. Friday will also be a busy volunteer day as age groupers pick up their packets and the women's elite race is held in the late afternoon. Other volunteers are needed on the days, weeks and sometimes months leading up to race-days, including the fantastic team of Volunteer Captains I've recruited. There are over 30 captains that have stepped up to be volunteer leaders and are taking responsibility for their particular area. In the January 2013 newsletter, I listed them all in part to point out who's doing what this year but mostly to recognize them for volunteering for such an important race and taking on such an important role.
We need lots of volunteers so if you or someone you know is interested, please sign up!
Craig: You had mentioned earlier that you were a smoker. How long did you smoke and how were you able to quit?
Deborah: Yes, that's right. I smoked for 23 years. It's embarrassing actually. I started when I was a teenager. I was just 17 and it was cool to smoke in my small circle of friends. As the years went on I continued to smoke but my "cool" friends parted as we all went off to college. Often times I was the only, lonely smoker after that. I should have just quit but it had a stranglehold on me. I called it my love-hate relationship. I loved it when I was smoking a cigarette, but would hate it afterwards – the smell, the taste, the sight of it, the cost, and I hated hiding out to smoke. Over the years, I tried quitting many, many times but it didn't work. It was pretty pathetic actually.
As my fortieth birthday approached, I thought this is it! I've got to change my life around or I will never live another forty years. So, like I said I developed a "get-fit" plan that included a personal trainer, healthy eating (essentially cutting out Mexican food), and above all quitting smoking. The challenge was how to make the quitting part stick this time?!? Well, I tried hypnosis and it worked. After 23 years of smoking I quit in one-hour. I know it's crazy and when I think about it, it doesn't make sense but it's the truth.
I found this ad in the Reader for a hypnotist specializing in smoking cessation, gave her a call and scheduled an appointment. She asked me a series of questions like how I got started, if I thought it was cool when I started to smoke and it would make me feel popular – you know those things you really worry about when you're a teenager. She also asked me about when I smoke, and about triggers. That's when I mentioned that I smoked when I drank alcohol and drank alcohol when I smoked, realizing how symbiotic they were as I described it to her. I think she picked up on that too.
Then the key question came, and I remember it very well: "Do you want to quit smoking"? My answer was the logical one I'd told myself all those years, "I know it's bad for me. I've got to quit. I can't go on like this. Etc., etc." This is where she paused and asked me slowly, "do – you – want – to – quit – smoking?" She explained that I had to want it. It had to come from me, no one else. Then she said plainly that she wouldn't even hypnotize me if I, Deborah Jones, didn't want to quit.
That was one of the most powerful moments in my life. It made me think and dig deep inside. No lying, no tricks, no secret agendas … with myself. I needed to want to quit. I thought about it some more and told her I did. From there she hypnotized me, reaching my sub-conscious. I was aware and awake but don't remember a lot of details other than a lot of repetition and a sort of chanting about how I was a non-smoker.
An hour later, she brought me back, told me to have some water when I got home and to make the check payable to …
That was that. No more smoking, no urges, no desire, and no regrets. It's a permanent change too. I can tell. It's hard to explain but smoking doesn't even register in my head anymore. Whereas before, I'd see or smell smoke or have a stressful day in the office and my first thought was "Ah, I can't wait to have a cigarette". Now, when I'm around those same instances, they are a nothing – they don't register, compute or trigger any type of thought or feeling whatsoever. It's just not there anymore.
Whatever she did, it worked. It's been about 7 years now; the end of January is my anniversary. Interestingly, I also stopped drinking cold-turkey too after this 1-hour session. I believe it was a consequence of the session. Since my smoking was so closely tied to my drinking and vice versa, when the smoking went so did the drinking. I haven't had a drink in 7 years either. That's equally as amazing to me.
Craig: Who do you most admire in the endurance sports community and why?
Deborah: I'd have to say Meb Keflezighi. He's a hometown hero with a very inspiring story. I heard him talk a few years ago at the San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon Expo. I didn't realize he was from San Diego and went to San Diego High School. How cool is that? As he described running at Mission Bay, through Florida Canyon, at the track in sunny San Diego, I felt really close to him. I've run in those places too. How cool is that? But when I got his book and read about his family's incredible journey from Eritrea, that's when I could not relate. I could only admire how far he'd really come. I was and am still moved by the role Meb's father played in helping him achieve his goals and to be one the world's best runners. I watched him on TV during the summer Olympics and was so proud of him. This top American, and San Diegian, and former Olympic medal winner represented the US well with his fourth place finish. Way to go Meb!
I'm also in awe of the ITU Elite athletes. Remember me talking about the Noosa triathlon? Well that was one of the events where I saw for the first time elite athletes competing. The winner at that race, Courtney Atkinson, actually was here in San Diego last year competing in ITU. The winner of the women's race was Caroline Steffen, who was second at this year's Ironman Championships. How cool is that? My other exposure to ITU competitors and competitions has been through a magazine I subscribe to out of the UK, Triathlon Plus. They always feature ITU races and I've gotten to "know" various world competitors like the Brownlees for example, and Javier Gomez. To have Jonny Brownlee here last year and to see him win was a real highlight for me. I even got his autograph and got to talk to him for a bit at before the race!
Craig: What do you do for a living?
Deborah: I work at SANDAG, the regional planning agency, as a Project Manager doing marketing for the iCommute employer program. I like my job for many reasons but mostly because I help people and the environment. And I get to work in the field with companies of all sizes and from different industries all over San Diego County with their alternative commute programs. I've been at SANDAG for 6 ½ years and I really like it. I get to use my varied educational and work-experience background in unique ways. When I work with employers I get to use my business background (I have a BS in business from Long Beach State and a certificate in Marketing from UCSD Extension, and my 8+ years of experience working in the corporate world). When a company I work with is trying to go green, I can rely on my environmental quality background (I have a master's in Geography with an emphasis in Environmental Quality from SDSU.) I also know what it's like to work with limited resources, which a lot of companies have limited staff time and money to help their employees commute to work (from my 6+ years in non-profit management). The transportation industry is something new though; but I've found I am uniquely attracted to the concept of alternative commuting, in other words car-less commuting. When I lived and worked in Holland in the 90s, I didn't have a car. I just had my bike, the tram and walking. Coming from the LA area where I grew up, that was quite a lifestyle change. But it worked and I loved it! I wish I could do it more here in SD but things are so spread out and I usually have so much stuff with me on a daily basis (triathletes have a lot of stuff!!), I can only manage to commute by train and bike a couple of days a week.
Craig: What are your future triathlon goals?
Deborah: Well, it's not an Ironman. Hahahahaha. I love endurance sports and love to be out there training and racing for hours and hours but the thought of running a marathon after cycling for 112 miles and after being horizontal in the water for 90+ minutes sends my head spinning! It's such a super human feat to do an ironman. My friend Betsy Mehlrose just did her first and I'm in awe of her fortitude and determination. For me, I'll stick to half-iron distances.
It's just a matter of finding the right course: Not too hot or humid, not to hilly on the run and water that's not too cold or has a strong current. I know that's a lot of conditions, but I know myself and my "melt-down" point. Hahahahaha. There aren't a lot of races out there when you consider my specs. Last year I thought I found the perfect half distance race, the Rev3 race in Portland Oregon at the end of July. But wouldn't you know it? They were having a major heat wave during race weekend and it was 90 degrees on the run. Ugh! I finished the race but it was a very, very long and hot day. You may have read my race report back in the August, 2012 Newsletter.
This year I plan on doing all of the Club's Aquathlons and as many club races as possible. I'll also do San Diego International and either the TriClassic or TriRock, plus Mission Bay. Those are becoming my tri-standards each year. As for longer distances, I may sign up for Orangeman and do the whole half-distance this time. Last year I did the Aquabike (which I "down-graded" to avoid another very hot run). I have my eye on another couple of half-distance races to consider, the Rev3 in Maryland and Miami 70.3. If I do a half-ironman this year, it'll be one of those. It just depends on how much time I have to train. These puppies take a lot of training time, as you know. They are all at the end of the year though, so my ITU volunteer gig will be over by then and I should have more time to train.
Craig: Deborah, thank you so much for sharing your story. Overcoming an addiction like smoking is so impressive. You really are a special lady. With your gifts I am certain the ITU San Diego Triathlon is in very good hands. Good luck with all you do!
Craig Zelent is a USA Triathlon Level 1 Certified Coach. Craig can be reached at 760-214-0055 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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French Polynesia Master is a professional dive yatch runs by Master Liveaboard Fleet, it offers dive liveaboard trips all around the French Polynesia, each trip it can accommodate up to 25 guests.
|11/08/20 to 21/08/20
|10 nights
|French Polynesia Master
|French Polynesia
French Polynesia Master is an amazing liveaboard built during 2015 - 2016, and launched in late december 2016. The build was overseen by the experienced yacht building team of Siren Fleet, Jan & Frank Van Der Linde. It is a 42.6 meters long, 10 meters wide professional dive liveaboard, cruises at 11 knots, it has 110v and 220v power with US plugs onboard.
French Polynesia Master's communal relaxation areas are split between the main deck and upper decks, comprising of a spacious indoor lounge/dining area, camera set up station, guest storage drawers, lounge bar with comfortable bench seating, as well as plasma screen TV, music system, library.
There are also shaded outdoor lounging lounge area to the rear of the upper deck with more comfortable seating. Finally, for those who enjoy the sun, there is a sun deck deck on the upper level with to jacuzzi's where you can literally soak up the stunning views of the French Polynesian islands.
Onboard, the chef offer a choice of international and local cuisine, all meals are served in buffet style. In between the meals, there is always some tasty treats for you to pick up. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let our booking agents know, so we can put an note for you.
There is a range of fruit juices, balck/green herbal teas, carbonated soft drinks available any time of the day, as well as instant and freshly brewed coffee. Guests may also select beer, wine or spirit from the cocktail bar for an additional fee, in accordace with local law, we have a "Ship-Only" bar policy.
French Polynesia Master also has a dedicated shaded diving deck, with individual set up station, under bench storage for masks, fins and other personal items. A central camera table can be used to store prepared equipment ahead of the dive, with dedicated rinse tanks provided. There is also an deck shower hoses.
French Polynesia Master has 13 comfortable guest cabins, it can accomodate up to 25 guests per trip:
All cabins have en-suite bathroom, wall fan, A/C, storage area, safety box, bathrobes, hiardryer, shower gel, US plug outlet etc.
1 Single Premium Cabin (# 8):
Located on the upper deck, this is the only single cabin onboard, comes with a double bed, seaview windows.
5 Premium Cabins (# 9, 10, 11, 12, 13):
Located on the upper deck, each cabin comes with two single beds side by side upon request, it can be converted into one king size double bed, seaview windows.
2 Standard Cabins (# 6, 7):
Located on the main deck, each cabin comes with two single beds side by side upon request, it can be converted into one king size double bed, seaview windows.
2 Standard Cabins (# 1, 2):
Located on the lower deck, each cabin comes with two single beds side by side, upon request, it can be converted into one king size double bed, portholes.
3 Standard Cabins (# 3 - 5):
Located on the lower deck, each cabin comes with two single beds side by side, portholes.
4 dives per day, depending on conditions and route.
No dive provided on the day of arrival and departure.
Only 2 dives will be provided on the day before departure.
All diving will provide experienced guide to lead the dive.
Other Informations
- Nitrox:Available with additional charge
- 15L Tanks:Available with additional charge
- REBREATHER Dive:Not available at the moment
- Technical Dive:Not available at the moment
- Dive Equipment Rental:Available with additional charge
- Dive insurance:Divers must have valid dive insurance
- Wi-Fi Internet :Satellite internet available with extra cost
- Laundry Service:Available with additional charge
- Massage Service:Available with additional charge
- Payment on board:Cash (EUR/USD) or credit card
- Crew Number:16, include 4 - 5 dive guides
Cabins & prices
|Single Premium
- Air tanks & weights & weight belts
- Daily housekeeping service
- Land transfer on arrival/depature date
- All meals & complimentary beverages (water & tea & coffee)
- Soft drinks in bottles and/or cans
- Dive guide service
- Fuel surcharge
- Dinner on final evening
- Land tour & Island visit
- Boat accident insurance
Not included
- Alcoholic beverages (beer or/and wine)
- Dive courses on board
- Crew gratuity
- Dive equipment rentals
- Dive insurance
- Travel insurance ( cancellation insurance)
- Larger tank (15 L)
- Nitrox fills
- Marine park fees/Port fees
|French Polynesia
|Nitrox support, Camera station, Internet, Jacuzzi, Water Toys, Massage or Spa
|Languages spoken
|English, French


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Stealing this question from the You Made It Weird podcast. It can be anything and don't worry about it not making sense due to context. Also don't worry about it being mean because often those are the funniest things since we feel bad about laughing.
I think mine might be this thing that happened in high school. I was in gym class and, since this is Texas and the gym teachers are also football coaches who are planning for the football season, there was nothing to do. So I'm sitting there with my two friends in total, bored silence. Out of nowhere, one of them picks up a hair on the other's gym shorts and flicks it away. He says "Jacob has hair on pants."
To this day, I cannot tell you why this was so fucking funny but there you go.


text: With the temperatures cooling down, I'm really getting in the mood for fall-flavored drinks. Everywhere I look, "fall flavor" seems to mean pumpkin, but for me, it means apple cider (which always reminds me of fall as a kid). I put together a couple of my favorite apple-cider drink recipes […] Read More »


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For the second time in three years, Michael Oher has started all 16 regular-season games at left tackle. The organization's top pick in the 2009 NFL draft, Oher has yet to miss a start in his NFL career, stringing together a remarkable run of avoiding serious injury. The 26-year-old also leads the Ravens offensive line in total snaps played this season (1,058), according to Football Outsiders. But Oher finished the regular season ranked 39th among offensive tackles in pass-blocking efficiency and surrendered 10 sacks, nine hits and 26 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound Oher will meet one of his tougher challenges in Sunday's AFC Wildcard playoff game against Colts outside linebacker Dwight Freeney. The 11-year veteran is Indianapolis' all-time leader in sacks and ranks fifth in the NFL among active players. Oher reviewed his performance in last Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, during which he played both the left and right tackle positions, and his history against Freeney.
How did it feel to return to right tackle during the game against the Bengals after starting all 16 games at left tackle? Did it feel like getting on a bike again?
"I was just blessed with the talent to do things like that. Just being a team player. Those are the kind of guys that the Ravens bring here. When you've got to do something like that, it's not problem for us. As for getting on a bike, I would say that it's totally different. I would say it's like being right-handed and going to your left hand."
In two career meetings, Dwight Freeney has recorded just two sacks and that's it. To what do you credit your success against him?
"Dwight's a great player. He's fast, very explosive. He has that great spin move, and I'm looking forward to playing against him."
When Freeney begins his move, what's the first impulse to race through your mind in terms of trying to slow him down and impede his progress?
"He's a great player overall. He's been great for a long time. But you've got to do different things against a guy like him to slow him down. You're not going to slow him down just by doing one thing. I think it's going to take more of an offensive effort more than anything. If you can slow down these great rushers, it comes with the offense, the entire offense slowing those guys down."


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Physical Fitness Award
From MeritBadgeDotOrg
Award requirements
- 1. Complete a cardiovascular fitness evaluation/consultation with your personal health care provider. (This can be done as part of the examination required by any council-approved class 3 medical evaluation.)
- 2. Using the BSA references listed after the seven major components, give a presentation to a BSA or other community youth group (at least eight youth participants) on cardiovascular fitness, diet, the health benefits of regular aerobic exercise, exercise recommendation for the Scout-age group, and healthy lifestyles.
- 3. Review the BSA guidelines for the Athletics and other physical activity or personal fitness-oriented merit badge and explain steps you have taken to follow each of the guidelines for the fitness goals. Explain precautions to be taken for a physical fitness activity in each of the following: woods, fields, facilities, and waterfront.
- 4. Explain to your mentor the symptoms of dehydration and hypothermia. Explain the special considerations for preventing dehydration and hypothermia.
- 5. Properly outfit for physical activities with proper equipment, clothing, and footwear. Know your own capabilities and limitations. Illustrate how you would prepare for the physical fitness goals included in the award program.
- 6. With supervision from your mentor or other qualified persons, set up a fitness goal-oriented plan using the seven major components of fitness.
- 7. Demonstrate your ability to improve your strength, posture, endurance, agility, speed, accuracy, and balance with your own goal-oriented fitness plan.


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Ping, ping, ping. Software should stay out of the way so I can get stuff done.
I have trouble focusing on certain types of work and need to turn notifications off and use alarms and timers to stay on task. I've written about my constant pursuit of focus. To give you an idea of how obsessive I am about this, take a look at what my desktop looks like. The desktop wallpaper is by Hector Simpson.
These are some of the apps I use to put the blinders on.
Notational Velocity and nvALT
Notational Velocity is my do-it-all notebook. It functions as my commonplace book and stores ideas and notes I want to recall later. I love this tool above all other note-taking tools because it's a minimal text editor with virtually no interface--the flow from launch to search/open or create/edit is a seamless text-only experience. It syncs with Simplenote, so I can access/edit on my iPhone and iPad. I also use Evernote for longer text.
iA Writer
I love the simplicity of the iA Writer and that is has some simple text formatting using Markdown. The focus mode is nice, although I rarely use it. Uses Markdown and can sync with DropBox and the iPad version. See also OmmWriter.
I use Mailplane so I never have to have a Gmail window open in a browser tab. I can turn notifications on and off, switch between email accounts, and drag and drop attachments into messages. Best of all, it feels more like a single-purpose mail app than a web app.
Quicksilver was my launcher for years. Alfred has replaced it. Minimal and there when I need it, and does much more than I expect it to.
This is an unobtrusive Pomodoro timer that sits in the menubar so you can set it when you start a task. The Pomodoro Technique uses 25 minute increments for focusing on tasks.
Todo.txt is a shell script for managing a simple text file-based task list. There's a command line interface that you can use with the iPhone App if you're saving your file to Dropbox. Super simple and does all I need it to do, including handling projects, priorities and dates. I've been adding tasks with this Alfred workflow so I never have to open an app or terminal window most of the time.
I'm a single-application mode Mac user. I use Cmd-Opt-Click to view apps in single app mode, so when I do, I like to position app windows front and center, or sometimes pinned to one side or expanded to full screen. Divvy lets me click Cmd-Shift-Space to do this in a split second.
I like to hide as much as possible on my screen when I'm in "focus mode." Bartender let's you make the menubar quiet without having to use apps in full screen mode.
Default Folder
When I save something, I usually want to quickly navigate to my most recent, most used, or favorite locations. This utility makes it a piece of cake.
It makes me happy to see nothing on my desktop. Unclutter tucks away my desktop files into a drawer that I can access with a 2-finger downward swipe gesture at the top of my screen. It can hold files, a multi-clip clipboard, and a scratchpad for notes.


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The vote in the House of Representatives is over, but a key debate about the new health care bill remains: Will it cut America's medical bill?
Here's a look at the pros and cons of how the reforms might affect the pocketbooks of Americans as taxpayers and as health care consumers.
By the broadest measure – the overall amount of money America spends on health care – the reforms will result in only a minor change compared with the rise that's expected to happen anyway, according to some official forecasts.
That's good, say the backers of reform. It shows that more than 30 million Americans can get health insurance by that year without adding to federal budget deficits.
But to critics, that's bad. It shows that the reforms won't fundamentally change the runaway pace of US health spending – including both public- and private-sector dollars.
With or without reform, the overall US medical bill will account for about 21 percent of gross domestic product in 2019, or 3 percentage points higher than today, according to a recent analysis done within the Health and Human Services Department. (See story with graphic on "How Obama plan might work".)
Pro: Reform will push costs down
Backers of health care reform say it will expand insurance coverage to more Americans while also tightening the reins on medical inflation. A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report on Saturday, just before the House narrowly approved the reform bill, said the measure will insure 32 million more people in 2019.
The expansion of coverage would cost the government an extra $172 billion in that year, the CBO says, or about $5,375 per person newly insured. Most of that spending is the result of a boost in eligibility for Medicaid or of subsidies to help families comply with a new mandate to buy insurance coverage if they don't have it.
Supporters say the expanded coverage is a bargain if you consider the reform's wider framework, including curbs on the growth of Medicare spending. In 2019, when the law's key provisions have taken full effect, the nation's overall spending on health care will be just $25 billion more than if no health care bill had been passed.
In effect, the plan would be covering many more people at about the same price: $4.7 trillion in that year. That estimate comes from Richard Foster, chief actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
President Obama and congressional Democrats planned their package to be "deficit neutral," with additional federal spending on health care offset by either tax hikes or the Medicare curbs.
So much for government costs. What about individuals and families?
The cost of a given amount of insurance coverage could fall by 10 to 30 percent due to the reforms, for people who don't have employer-sponsored coverage, the CBO estimated late last year. The agency, a nonpartisan scorekeeper for legislation, said premiums probably won't change much for people in employer-based plans.
Mr. Foster's analysis, meanwhile, saw no big change in the out-of-pocket costs that families pay on top of insurance premiums, compared with what they'd be paying without the law.
Con: Reform won't cut costs
Mr. Obama's critics say his plan will follow a familiar pattern seen since the introduction of Medicare in the 1960s: Extend a new entitlement without clear cost-control mechanisms and the result will be that spending exceeds expectations.
In this case, "entitlement" may not be quite the right word. But the government will be expanding Medicaid to millions of families just above the poverty line, and extending subsidies to help millions more comply with the mandate to buy insurance.
Even neutral observers have raised questions about whether Obama's planned Medicare savings – vital to keeping his plan deficit-neutral – will materialize.
Reform proponents have cited the CBO analysis as evidence that the reforms will bring federal budget deficits down substantially in the decade beginning in 2020, for example. But CBO itself is careful to qualify its forecast.
"It is unclear whether such a reduction in the growth rate of [Medicare] spending could be achieved, and if so, whether it would be accomplished through greater efficiencies in the delivery of health care or through reductions in access to care or the quality of care," the agency says in its report.
Foster, the Medicare actuary, offers a similar dose of skepticism in his analysis. He says the planned squeeze in federal payments may prompt many hospitals to drop out of the program. "Simulations by the Office of the Actuary suggest that roughly 20 percent of [Medicare] Part A providers would become unprofitable within the 10-year projection period as a result of the productivity adjustments," Foster wrote in January.
Another big uncertainty is how many employers will choose to pay a penalty rather than offer insurance as an employee benefit. The more firms do that, the more people will be looking to the government to subsidize care purchased on a new insurance exchange.


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The lockout? Totally worth it. Because it seems the tallest people on earth spent that extra time getting even taller.
• Paul George grew two inches in a "late growth spurt," and the Pacers are excited about designing some plays for him to attack the basket. But at 6'10", and 10 new pounds of muscle George might literally have outgrown his swingman role.
• Christian Eyenga also grew two inches, and is now listed at 6'7". This can only help an undersized Cavs team: Byron Scott joked that if he grows another three, "we can play him at center."
• George turned 21 this summer, and Eyenga 22, so it's not out of the realm of possibility that they're still growing. But Amar'e Stoudemire is 29, a grown-ass man, and even he put on an extra inch in the offseason. He credits it to stretching out his back and improving his posture, but we noticed all three of these players are Nike guys. Look for the Nike Platform Shoe soon.