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We have heard rumors of the impending launch of a 7.85-inch "iPad Mini" for some time now, but none of those rumors have received as much attention as a recent report from iMore. Let's have a look at the veracity of these claims, specifically related to the rumored $200-$250 price, and the potential impact it could have on Apple's stock and the tablet market.
iMore, which has been accurate with its reports before, has claimed that launch of the iPad Mini is on track for October 2012, at a price point of $200-$250. This particular iPad Mini is said to be identical to the new 9.7-inch iPad, but scaled down to 7.85 inches and with 8 GB storage.
For the purpose of this article, I have assumed that the rumors of the launch of the iPad Mini are true. It is entirely possible, even likely, that they are not. So please do not construe this as an affirmation of those rumors. The point of this article is to analyse the potential price point an iPad Mini could hit, and at its impact on Apple's stock and the tablet market. So let's dive in.
In order to estimate the price the iPad Mini could launch at, we first need to get an idea about what it would cost to manufacture that product. Pricing is usually a function of demand and not cost, but in this case, since we are talking about a price point as low as $200, the gross margin expectation from Apple's investors becomes a constraint. Taking a look at iSuppli's estimates for the "Bill of Materials" (BOM) for the Kindle Fire, the new iPad and the iPad 2 is a good starting point.
BOM is essentially a list of components that are required to manufacture a product and their costs. Once we add manufacturing expenses to this cost, we have an estimate of how much it costs to manufacture this product and hence, in conjunction with the retail price of the product, we have an idea of the gross margins. Keep in mind, gross margins do not include advertising and marketing expenses, which are deducted from gross margin to arrive at an operating margin.
I've split the BOM projection of the iPad-Mini into two possibilities. "High-End" assumes the product is exactly as describes by iMore, i.e. essentially a scaled down version of the new iPad. "Low End" takes into account all the other rumors we've heard about the iPad-Mini, i.e. a less powerful device for the lower end market. Both of these assume that the iPad-Mini is a Wifi-only device. Now, let me explain how I've arrived at these projections.
Let's take a peak inside, shall we?
NAND Flash Memory
iSuppli's estimates show a linear relationship between price and storage capacity. Since practically all rumors have stated 8 GB of storage, the price would be half of the Flash memory in the iPad 2 snf new iPad.
High End Rumors assume 1GB of RAM, just as in the new iPad, while I have assumed 512 MB of RAM for Low End Rumors, with the same price.
Display & Touchscreen
This is where it gets interesting. iMore claims that the iPad Mini would have the same resolution as the new iPad, which means that the pixel density on the iPad Mini would be higher. This could actually increase the cost of this component for the same screen size, so I have taken this cost to be roughly 80% of the cost of the display and touchscreen on the new iPad, for the high end iPad Mini. For the low end iPad Mini, I have assumed the same cost as that for the Kindle Fire – While Apple does use higher quality and more expensive components than Amazon, Apple also enjoys greater economies of scale. Taking into account the difference in the date of these cost estimates (Kindle Fire BOM is as of Nov 2011), this should be a satisfactory estimate for the lower end of the price band for this component.
The high end iPad Mini would need at least an A5X processor (as in the new iPad) to drive the pixel density of the display, while the low end iPad Mini could do with an A5 processor (as in the iPad 2).
Camera & Power Management
I have assumed that new iPad's estimate on the high end iPad Mini and the iPad 2′s estimate be on the low end iPad Mini.
User Interface, Sensors & Combo Module
I have assumed a flat cost of $15, same as the new iPad and lower than the iPad 2.
Battery, Mechanical/Electro-Mechanical/Other
This would include the enclosure, buttons and other external components. I have assumed the same cost as the Kindle Fire. The rationale here is the same as that used for the Display and Touchscreen of the low end iPad Mini.
Box Contents
This includes all the add-ons Apple provides with a product (headphones, etc.). Since this seems to be the same across all iPads, I have maintained the same cost.
Manufacturing Cost
Manufacturing cost is approximately 3.4% of BOM for both the iPad 2 and the new iPad. I have used this same figure to arrive at the manufacturing cost of the iPad Mini.
Price Sensitivity of Components
The BOM estimates of the iPad are as of March 2012, so the only components likely to see any meaningful price reductions are semiconductor components (NAND, DRAM and Processor). But since these components account for just 15-20% of the BOM, it is unlikely to have much of an impact on the total cost. Even a 25-30% drop in price of those components would reduce the total BOM by just 5%. This should be balanced out by the fact that I have assumed the lower end of the potential price band for other components like battery, mechanical, display, etc.
Now that we have an idea of how much it costs to build an iPad Mini, what sort of gross margins would Apple make at various price points?
Now, as a benchmark to the above figures, the gross margins for the 16GB, Wifi-only models of the new iPad and the iPad 2 are nearly 40%. In fact, these are the lowest margin products among all iPhone and iPad models. Given this fact, it is very unlikely that Apple would drop these margins anywhere south of 30%.
iMore's report assumes a $200-$250 for a high end iPad Mini, which would imply a gross margin anywhere between -27% and -1%. I really have to marvel at the kind of fact checking that happens behind the scenes when these reports come out.
The information I've highlighted so far is all available in the public domain, so iMore has probably assumed that Apple would absorb losses to kill off competition. Let me shoot down this theory right here. Yes, Apple has enough cash to absorb losses, but Apple's core revenue drivers are device sales, not content sales (Amazon) and advertising (Google). Meaning whether consumers buy a Kindle Fire or a Nexus Tablet or an iPad Mini, Apple wouldn't be making any money. There is no direct or indirect benefit Apple can claim from selling an iPad Mini at a loss. In other words, it's not happening, unless Apple's business strategy goes something like this:
Step 1 – Launch high end Mini-iPad at $200-250
Step 2 – ???
Step 3 – Profit!
If an iPad Mini is launched, the most likely model is likely to be similar to the iPad 2 in terms of specifications and at a price point of $300.
Impact on Apple's Stock Price & the Tablet Market
Apple's stock price has been driven to current levels on the back of strong volume growth of high margin products. Now, we've understood that the low end iPad Mini gives Apple a gross margin of 30%. Now, since ~40% is already the lowest gross margin Apple makes on its major products, a drop to 30% is a major drop from the perspective of the stock market.
In addition to this, Apple has one of the largest advertising and marketing budgets in the consumer technology industry, in fact Apple spends more on marketing than R&D. In the last quarter, Apple spent 6% of its revenue on Sales, General and Administrative (SGA) expenses, of which the majority was most likely spent on advertising and marketing (my estimate would be 4-5%). These would have to be deducted from the already low gross margin to arrive at the operating margin. This would put even more pressure on Apple's stock price.
I've already mentioned before that low priced media tablets are going to make up the largest chunk of the tablet market going forward. This means that the iPad Mini would very likely cannibalize a large proportion of potential iPad sales as well. This fear, in conjunction with what I've mentioned above, would invariably cause a sharp stock price drop the moment this product is announced.
Given these implications, is it still a good idea for Apple to go ahead with the launch of an iPad Mini? Absolutely! Apple's current reliance on high margin products for volume is unsustainable and that is the reason why Apple's low valuation, in terms of multiples. As the father of disruption theory says – proprietary, high-priced models will always be overtaken by low-priced, modular approaches. This would be the first hint of a self-destructive instinct from Apple, which is required for truly sustainable growth.
The tablet market is still mostly concentrated in high income demographics in developed economies and among early adopters. With the upcoming launches of numerous low priced but capable tablets, the tablet industry will be going mainstream this year. If Apple doesn't launch an iPad Mini, it will be overtaken by low priced rivals very quickly – my prediction was the fourth quarter of this year. However, the launch of an iPad Mini could extend that window and give Apple a much needed weapon against the threat of lower priced tablet competitors.
It is extremely unlikely that the report from iMore is true, given the implications on Apple's gross margins. The most likely product would be a low end iPad Mini, at a $300 price point. Although this would be negative for the short term outlook of Apple's stock, it would be good for its long term prospects.
This article, iPad Mini rumors – a thorough analysis , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com – Your Android News Source.


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American Export/WSI Packing and Crating specialize in providing mil-spec packaging to meet the stringent demands of the US Armed Services, Department of Defense and US Government agencies such as NASA and JPL. We build standard and custom designed shipping containers, boxes, crates, and pallets that meet the following mil-spec packaging standards:
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subset: commoncrawl


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In a time when lots of iffy, not-so-factual stuff can pass in front of our skeptical, online-perusing eyes, we can emphatically state that the next two things are absolutely, look-it-up, we're-not-going-to-argue-over-it true.
One? The Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series in a bite-your-ball-cap thriller of a seven-game showdown with the Cleveland Indians. Done. Travel far into the future, crack open the dustiest of history books, and you'll read it there.
And two? While most towns known for frankfurters refer to them simply as "hot dogs," a person can accurately say "Chicago Dogs" in the Windy City while staying loyal to the local vernacular.
The Scene
What to do, where to go and what to see
That's how iconic these celery-salt'd, pickle-tangy wonders are: They arrive on your table proudly displaying their birthplace in their very name.
But where can a Cubbies fan find such a city-specific treat in Southern California? Make no ifs, buts, or goats about it: LA has some flavorful, straight-from-the-Loop Chicago Dogs.
Poppy seed bun buffs of SoCal best make for...
Taste Chicago: Are you even kidding? This is where a lot of transplants and Illinois aficionados go when the homesickness grows too great. Find lots of Chicago-style treats on the menu, including, of course, a true-to-its-origins Chicago Dog, which is "no ordinary dog!" You betcha.
The Stand: Will you find a bevy of zingy sport peppers, some diced onion (yellow, natch), the all-important celery salt, and a bun boasting the equally as important poppy seeds? You will, so head for Encino, Century City, Woodland Hills, or Northridge to get your chow-down on.
Pink's: Of course the super-iconic hot dog stand is going to do their own tribute to The City of Broad Shoulders, and it arrives in the form of a Chicago Polish Dog. Mustard and relish give this frankie extra kick. Now how many Cubs hats will be seen in the queue in the coming days? (One guess? Many.)
Vicious Dogs: If North Hollywood is your beat, and you want to find a spot to meet up with your other Cubs-loving pals for lunch, look to this Lankershim go-to and its classic Chicago, which has all of the stuff on it you want on it, including the gotta-crunch-it pickle as well as tomato wedges.
These four frankerfurteries, plus a caboodle of other eateries around the region, salute the Windy City on a regular daily basis, hot dog after hot dog.
But the day after a World Series win? Look for the Cubs fans to be out in full, festive, frankfurter-enjoying force, and all baseball mavens riveted by a seven-gamer for the books.


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August 1, 2016, New Delhi, Lenovo launched an new smartphone in India, the Vibe K5 Note along with an upgraded variant of Vibe K5 Plus. In early 2016, Lenovo Vibe K5 Note was launched in China but finally it made it's way to India. The Vibe K5 Note comes with a Full Metal body design and is available in Silver, Graphite Grey & Gold colors in India. Below you will the technical specifications of the device but before that, do note that Lenovo Vibe K5 Note will be available exclusively in India, starting from August 3, 2016 at 11:59 pm via Flipkart Open Sale, and is priced at Rs.11,999 for 3GB RAM variant & Rs.13,499 for 4GB RAM model. It's good to know that there will be no flash sales, you can straight away go ahead and buy the device.
Lenovo Vibe K5 Note
Coming back to the device, It comes with a 5.5 Inch IPS Full HD Display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and pixel density of 441 ppi. The display has 178 degree wide angle view and maximum brightness of 450 nits. The display uses scratch-resistant glass for protection. The Vibe K5 Note supports Dual Nano SIM, both of them support LTE. The device comes with a full metal unibody design, it is 8.49 mm in thickness and weighs 165 grams. Under the hood it packs MediaTek Helio P10 MT6755 Octa-Core 64-bit processor (Quad-Core 1.8 GHz + Quad-Core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) along with Mali-T860-MP2 GPU and with a choice of 3GB DDR3 or 4GB DDR3 RAM. The internal storage is 32GB eMMC and can be expanded up to 128 GB using microSD card.
For connectivity it offers 4G LTE, 3G, GPRS, EDGE, HSPA+, 2G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1 LE, GPS with A-GPS support and FM Radio. Sensors include Light sensor, proximity sensor, E-compass, gravitation etc. It comes with a 1.5 W Audio speaker for louder & clearer audio, there's a 3.5 mm lossless combo output jack for better music experience. It runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow & TheatreMax technology. There is a fingerprint sensor on the back which can also be used for clicking photos and accessing recent apps etc. The speaker is placed on the back.
Lenovo Vibe K5 Note has a 13 Megaoixel rear camera with Phase-Detection Auto Focus, f/2.2 aperture 5 piece lens with LED flash. On the front is an 8 Megapixel camera with 1.4 micron pixel size. A 3500 mAh Li-Polymer battery is housed inside the phone which gives it enough juice to last long. As I mentioned above, the device will be sold exclusively at Flipkart in India, there will be no flash sales, the device will be sold in open sale starting from August 3, 2016 midnight. The pricing on both the variants in as follows: 3GB RAM model will be available for Rs.11,999 & 4GB RAM model will be available for Rs.13,499. Along with Vibe K5 Note, Lenovo will also sell The ANT VR headset and the VR Controller (TheatreMax).
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
An upgraded version of K5 Plus was also launched along with the K5 Note today, the upgraded version comes with an extra gig of RAM at same price of Rs.8,499. Earlier, the K5 Plus came with 2GB RAM, now the upgraded version will come with 3GB RAM at Rs.8,499. Rest all the specifications are same as K5 Plus.
The competitors of Vibe K5 Note in Indian Market currently are Xiaomi Redmi Note 3, LeEco Le 2, Honor 5C, Panasonic Eluga Arc 2, Panasonic Eluga Note, Moto G4, Asus Zenfone Max 2016, LeEco Le Max and Mi Max. All these devices are priced similarly.


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Addie Zierman knocks it out of the park with 3 Things We Need to Stop Saying to Youth Group Kids at How to Talk Evangelical. I didn't even go to a church with a youth group for the majority of my teen years, but I still heard these awful truthisms regularly. Good riddance.
One of the recurrent themes in my Christian youth was the pressure to stay strong for God around peers and teachers who, I was told, would be antagonistic toward my beliefs. So many talks and sermons and rally-sessions wrapped tight around this topic, constricting my chest with the urgency of knowing how to accurately and compellingly disseminate the specifics of the Christian faith to others…even if they mocked me for it.But here's the thing. No one ever did.
Shannon Reed parodies the fraught way the media is covering Ava Duvernay's success making an Oscar-nominated film in If Critics Wrote About the Male Best Director Nominees the Same Way They Talk About Selma Director Ava Duvernay at McSweeney's.
Richard Linklater pretty much made up the film Boyhood as he went along, but because he had the story very clearly laid out in his head, he was able to keep at it for twelve years despite being a white man. His persistence is inspirational to other white men who want to take forever to make a movie.
Caris Adel continues her series on Empire: The United States and Walter Bruggerman with The Grind of Endless Production. She is asking some big, essential questions about the economic system we live in and are taught to accept as best and noble and just. I don't even know where to begin with all the information she's compiling, but, like all difficult truths, it does demand some sort of change.
What does it say about us, about the systems we inhabit, if poverty really is this huge oppressive sin? What does it say about our spirituality if we are willfully choosing to be ignorant about the things that anger God? What if we are Pharoah and the waves are beginning to crash in on us?
Jessica Huseman reports on The Rise of Homeschooling Among Black Families at the Atlantic. The movement is due to the racial prejudice black children experience in the classroom as well as the poor education students on the autism spectrum often receive. This is a shift from my experience in very white, fundamentalist homeschooling, and but I'm glad to see more people using home education to its full potential to meet individual students' needs. (And it reminds me of that recent Wired article on the tech community's unschooling trend.)
"Whenever there are mentions of African American homeschoolers, it's assumed that we homeschool for the same reasons as European-American homeschoolers, but this isn't really the case. Because of the unique circumstances of black people in this country, there is really a new story to be told."
Christine Montross calls for a revival of institutions — better, safer than their forebears — for not only people with severe mental illnesses, but also those with developmental disabilities in The Modern Asylum at the New York Times:
The patient with autism who has spent a year in a psychiatric hospital is analogous to the patient with schizophrenia who has spent a year in prison: Both suffer in inappropriate facilities while we pat ourselves on the back for closing the asylums in favor of community care.
My favorite tweet this week came from @NicestHippo. Who hasn't googled absurd phrases trying to remember a word, or the title of some movie? The struggle is real, kids. #windgarbage


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Sia Partners launched a market survey in 2016, on Claims management in Asia. We shared the lessons learnt during an insightful breakfast at the American Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong on November 22nd. Some of the results will be shared in this insight. Should you be interested in knowing more, feel free to contact Sia Partners Insurance Practice.
Over the last century, the world switched from a goods economy to an information one. Moving forward, our consumer society has shown significant interest in the Customer Experience era. Insurers and policyholders' visions of Experience may not be aligned yet, but they will eventually converge in the future. The good news being that the road has been paved by early-bird industries.
The era of experience has started
This translation from Product to Experience has come along with the commoditization of Services, irrespective of the industry:
Starbucks mission statement is no longer to sell good coffee, but "to inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time"
Insurance is no exception, but has yet to realize the right experience-driven business model. "We're the cheapest" is the most seen selling argument. In order to avoid the ineluctable commoditization of Services, insurers need to highlight the worth of their offer, not the cost. And this worth will stem from the customer experience.
Today in a mirror
Claims management is a powerful lever to activate the enhancement of the Customer Experience, ranked #11 among factors leading to client satisfaction; ahead of purchasing experience, call center interaction and underwriting. Insurers' claims strategy over the next two years reflect this trend: improving the customer satisfaction comes first1, before decreasing claim unit cost or scaling up operations to absorb growth.
In practice, customers associate claims to critical moments of truth, i.e. where they see if it was worth it for them to pay premiums. However, insurers still consider claims as a cost center. For years they have taken steps to build resilient organizations, with spotlights away from customers:
- Heavy IT investments;
- Design of lean organizations for short term cost savings;
- Renegotiation of supplier and claims handling arrangements; and
- To a lesser extent, investment in digital front-end.
As a result, Claim Managers are still pressured to reach more cost optimization and higher performance expectations. Figures confirm that there is room for improvements: up to 32%2 of policyholders are unsatisfied with their "claims" process (compared to 14%2 for "purchase"). As Claims are not managed as an experience yet, insurers have to leverage the momentum launched by other industries and early birds within their industry, such as direct players.
The journey to tomorrow
All is not lost though. Through an explosion in data volume and sources and given outdated technologies that limit the ability to gain integrated customer views and provide responsive service, the wind of change is blowing on Claims management, to evolve from a step in the policy lifecycle, to a part of the customer journey.
Before boarding the boat, insurers should take a look in the mirror – "Know thyself!" (Socrates advised). IT systems cannot be changed in one day, therefore insurers will have to rely on their IT strengths and know their weaknesses. Besides, fragmented governances over Asian locations or immature reporting toolkits will slow-down the transition. A specific governance will be required for customer-driven programs if the one in place cannot support disruptive projects.
Integrating Claims Management in the Customer Journey will be driven by four levers:
1. Service leadership - Differentiating from the competitors through servicing will foster insurers to put themselves into their customer's shoes, to understand that experience is (and only is) a matter of perception. A customer journey IS NOT an internal process. Instead, it consists in clarifying the customer promise, then building the Customer Journey by addressing the challenge of pushing the right channel to the right customer for the right claim. The following best practices will transform insurers to a superior service leadership
2. Data deciphering - Data Science and Internet of Things (IoT) have hidden treasures to enhance the combined ratio:
To get to this stage, insurers will have to rely on open data and machine learning, among others, that can be delegated to flexible partners to enable them to focus on their core business.
3. Operational Excellence - Robust operational excellence cannot be without automation. Automation allows Claims Managers to focus on added-value tasks, easing the life of staff and distributors and monitoring the activities. However, automation is shape-shifting and may take three formats:
a) Increase automation rates to reach Straight-through Processing (STP) on non-critic tasks;
b) Eradicate repeating tasks through Robotic Process Automation (RPA) or Artificial Intelligence (AI); and
c) Deflect manual tasks to customers by fostering self-service.
Standardization is key to avoid exception handling, meaning breaking silos between sales and operations to ensure alignment between product design and policy management.
4. Talent management - Last but not least, there will be no customer-driven culture without a talented work force. Having the right number of people, at the right time, on the right job, with the right skills sounds like a state of the obvious. However attracting talented people, retaining experienced staff and creating a sustainable customer-driven culture requires strong HR design and Change management capabilities.
Service leadership, Data deciphering, Operational excellence and Talent management - four levers to drive Claims management one step forward.
How does your company plan to reach the promise land of Customer Experience?
1 Sia Partners Asia Claims Management survey 2016
2 Morgan Stanley / BCG Global Consumer Survey 2014


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Made from 9-carat rose gold.
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For specific product measurements please email email@example.com


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"Aadhar", the unique identification card (UID) would open up a whole new dimension in healthcare in the country, according to Mr Nandan Nilekani, Chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Mr Nilekani was speaking on the theme "Aadhar and its role in delivering universal healthcare" at the special plenary session on the first day of the 8th India Health Summit organised by Confederation of India Industries (CII) at New Delhi.
Explaining the applications of the UID, Mr Nilekani said most Indians do not have birth certificates or any other proof of identity and added to this is the problem of migration or mobility. This poses a problem for an individual in availing any facility or service. The UID system being put in place in India would help eliminate this problem, Mr Niilekani said. With internet facilitating accumulation and analysis of large volumes of data, these records can prove of immense use both for the individual as well as the medical practitioners, the UIDAI chairman said.
Pointing out that 125 million persons have already been enrolled for UID and the figure going to grow by 600 million in the next two and a half years, Mr Nilekani said this would help keep and examine records. Explaining, he said it would enable and streamline delivery of healthcare facilities like immunisation. At present it is often not known what all has a child been immunised for, especially if he travels elsewhere with his parents. The records stored under his UIID would eliminate this problem. At the same time, with large volumes of data records of people, it would be possible to see trends of diseases, building up of any epidemic and monitor functioning of health care operators in real time, Mr Nilekani pointed out.


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Requires Jailbreak
Will Work with all iPhones except iPhone 3G.
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If you've been following these posts for the last couple of weeks, by now you know that a positive outlook and confidence in your own abilities are the two key parts of the "S" in the STYLE acronym (Start with Successes). In addition, those attributes are necessary ingredients for developing a plan based on your personal and organizational styles. And if you Take it Slow, using simple strategies like Give it Five! and Don't put it down, put it away! you'll see steady progress and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
Which brings us to Y: Yes, it Has a Home.
When it comes to getting organized, home is simply where an item belongs. Books have homes on bookshelves. Shoes may have a home on the floor of the closet. Pots and pans find homes in kitchen drawers, or hanging from racks over a kitchen island.
Very often, clutter develops because items lack homes. Consequently, things are left lying out (I need to see it or drop and run) or improperly stashed away (I know I put it somewhere, cram and jam), because we don't know what to do with them. Sometimes, an overload of stuff (I love stuff) or a dearth of time (I love to be busy) compounds the problem.
The key to successful retrieval (not to mention less clutter) lies in successful storage or finding homes that make sense.
Location rule #1: Store items where they are used. Storing an item close to where it's used (e.g., oven mitts near the oven) not only makes sense, but it also makes it easier to remember where we put things and, therefore, to find them when we need them. If we know our "somewhere" is limited to the storage spaces in the area where the item is typically used, we reduce our search parameters from "it could be anywhere" to "it's somewhere in this drawer." Quite a substantial reduction — and one that requires much less time and energy when we need to find something, even if that something is (still) just stuffed in a drawer.
Location rule #2: Store like items together. This key combines storage and retrieval. If we use Location rule #1 and store an item in a place that makes sense, we're more likely to remember where we put it, which makes it easier to retrieve it. Storing like items together piggybacks on Location rule #1, making it easier to find things because of the associations we make (e.g. I'm putting the oven mitts in the drawer with the cookbooks). These associations provide visual cues which act as retrieval cues. In other words, making a connection between, say, the cookbooks and the oven mitts, helps the I know I put it somewhere organizer to remember which somewhere is the one he or she chose for both items.
Use retrieval cues. Some things can be used in a variety of spaces, making Location rule #1 challenging. And while opening the drawer and seeing the cookbooks can provide the "aha" moment that reminds us where we stored the oven mitts, it's even better if we can figure out which drawer to open in the first place. To do this, the I know I put it somewhere organizer can benefit from taking a page out of the I need to see it organizer's book, and using strategies like labeling, color-coding and see-through storage. Unlike the I need to see it organizer, the I know I put it somewhere organizer can put these see-through, labeled or color-coded containers behind closed doors (because out of sight isn't out of mind for I know I put it somewhere folks), or they can simply use these strategies and containers in the first place. Clear plastic bins come in many sizes and colors and can be incredibly helpful in revealing those "safe" storage places to I know I put it somewhere organizers.
In organizing, as in real estate, location is key.
For printable information sheets
about containers and the styles,
go to Organizing by STYLE and
click on the CHARTS tab at the top of the page.
Copyright 2015 Lisa Hess
Logo background image: "Unageek color" by Unageek (2013) via Morguefile. Text added in Canva.


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I have the honour of writing the first post-Brexit blog for Proof. I couldn't really write it about anything else; I would look fairly out of touch. But where on earth to begin. From Friday onwards, the UK political scene became a smorgasbord of The Thick of It, Game of Thrones and House of Cards in a period that politicos will analyse for decades. But the responsibilities of the Proof blog mean that I don't have that kind of generous timescale to analyse, dissect and report, so I'm going to focus on what I deem to be an overwhelming takeout from this whole debacle: do not, under any circumstances, lie.
The sheer ubiquity of claims and counter claims, followed by falsehoods backed up by farce, meant that no one had any real idea what they were voting for outside of their own gut feel. That's not to say that gut feel isn't a bad thing, but that wasn't what the campaigns aimed for. Each side aimed for "facts", designed to remove any emotional connections with Europe from the equation and to drive a sane, reasonable debate. Did that happen? Of course not. Instead, we got an episode of Brass Eye: "NIGEL FARAGE AND BOB GELDOF FISHING FLOTILLA CLASH".
The outcome has shown that both campaigns were economical with the truth, and that's being generous. George Osborne warned of a Brexit budget to plug a £30bn "black hole" if the UK opted out of the EU. Once the vote was in, he retreated from that statement, saying the UK would tackle their new standing "from a position of strength". The infamous Brexit Battle Bus, emblazoned with a pledge to give the £350m-a-week we give to the EU (a number shown to be false) to the NHS, was backtracked on as soon as the result was in.
We began the campaign with a population not best pleased with our politicians. And we've ended it in no better state; one could argue it has got far, far worse. This lesson should be taken on board by all in the communication and campaigning industries. Don't. Lie. The short term gains from misconstruing evidence are never worth it. We are seeing that already with both Leave and Remain campaigners. While leave may have won, Boris Johnson has already knocked his bid for PM on the head. Jeremy Corbyn is facing a revolt from his own party, driven in part by an alleged poor showing for the Remain camp that may not have veiled his EU scepticism.
Successful organisations are built on truth and evidence-based achievements; something Proof's founders put at the heart of our business and our brand. But there is evidence out there to suggest others in the industry don't share the sentiment, and therefore its reputation is not as strong as its burgeoning head count suggests. This was hit home to me by a talk given by Robert Peston in 2014, the BBC Economics Editor at the time. What was his take on PRs?
"If they are not paid to bullshit, to present their clients in the best possible light, what are they being paid to do?"
This is just one quote from a fairly scathing look at the media world as it stands. Regardless of whether you agree with this, it's the opinion of one of the most high profile journalists in the country and so must be taken on board (the response from the Director General of the PRCA, I think, says volumes).
The communications industry has a responsibility to represents those it works for truthfully. If it doesn't, it will harm it in the long run. I have been treated with not just scepticism but rudeness and hostility by journalists at national papers because I'm a PR and they see me as a problem. That situation, as far as I can tell, is not going to improve any time soon.
Being untruthful has eroded trust in politicians to the point where no one believes them anymore. PR's aren't trusted by journalists because the industry has been known to cover up information or divert attention. Even the media is starting to come under fire for its relationships with PRs and marketers.
How am I going to do my job in the long run if no one trusts me? And if no one trusts the media, why will people want their companies talked about by them? It's a downward cycle that we need to stop. Communications can be a huge force for good. Work from Proof just in the last few weeks has showcased intelligent prosthetics for those who have lost a limb and raised awareness around poor access to online services for rural communities. We wouldn't be able to do this if we weren't believed. This is what the referendum should teach us. Communications strategists, PRs, marketers, all of us – be truthful. It'll pay in the long run.
If you're on the same page as me, get in touch: firstname.lastname@example.com/ 020 7193 2849 / @ramblingdmc


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Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Valentine's Day is Stupid
Let me tell you, that donut was just an excuse to eat four pounds of frosting. And I enjoyed every morsel. These goodies were courtesy of two fine ladies I work for.
I was managing to maintain a suitable level of indifference about this stupid "holiday" until daycare got on my very last nerve. Yesterday at 1:56 PM they sent a note with the names of the 12 kids in my son's class so we could bring Valentine's for the exchange today. This was the first mention of any such activity and no more detail was provided. So obviously, my poor child showed up empty handed today because I can ONLY shop on the weekends. There is ABSOLUTELY no way around this fact. So I appear to have failed my child when in fact it is daycare that dropped the ball. Thanks for making me look (and feel) like a bad parent, assholes.
And a very Happy Valentine's Day to you!
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(WARNING: the following post is super long but hopefully interesting.)
I may be the only one but I really enjoy reading screenplays. It's fun to compare what I imagine based on them to what the director came up. And when you're looking at an old draft as opposed to the final one, it gives an interesting glimpse into the evolution of the writers' ideas for the story. The 2003 draft for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe screenplay is a great case in point. http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/Chro ... Narnia.pdf Here's my analysis.
This scene starts out on the ground rather than in the air as it would in the final script. Honestly, I kind of think it makes more sense this way. We don't really need to see the bombers and it was probably an extra expense for the moviemakers to show them. But it's not like I dislike how it plays in the movie. The whole mood of this scene is a lot more quiet and tense here than it is in the movie where it's more frenetic. We don't see any explosions until Edmund is in the house. There's hardly any dialogue. (Maybe the actors were supposed to adlib.) In this script, Mrs. Pevensie guilts Peter into going after Edmund where ultimately he would go voluntarily and even against her will. The girls stop their mother from going after Edmund herself but apparently they don't stop Peter. Glad they changed this. It makes it look like no one cared about Peter dying in this old script.
Train Station
In this version, we see the Pevensies leaving their house and heading to the station. We actually see some burned out houses getting hosed down which I don't feel was necessary. There's some excessively heavy handed foreshadowing when Lucy sees a lion statue which I'm also glad was cut. Mrs. Pevensie doesn't give individual goodbyes to all her children here as she does in the movie. I'm glad they added that though I understand why the writers initially felt it would make the scene too slow. She tells Edmund to be good rather than to listen to his brother. I think the brother line helped establish that Edmund doesn't like having older people in charge which is important to his character though they could have established that in other ways. After initially refusing to hug his mother, Edmund runs back and does so. This was a bad idea. It made Edmund seem too nice.
Arriving at the Professor's
The dialogue when they meet Mrs. Macready is a bit different. Lucy speculates that the professor has forgotten them and when Edmund sees Mrs. Macready, he says he wishes he had. I don't get that line. Is Edmund just embarrassed about riding in a buggy? Mrs. Macready explicitly says that she is professor's housekeeper here which is sort of nice for people who haven't read the book. And book fans can appreciate that she talks about tourists coming to see the house. Susan's reaction ("Really? Why") is kind of ridiculously rude though. A sensitive actress could have made her seem genuinely curious and not incredulous, I guess. The scene in Lucy's bedroom was changed a lot in subsequent drafts and, I must say, for the better. In this version, Edmund seems too cheerful and the humor, such as Peter telling Lucy that her bed is so big because she's shrunk, isn't very funny. (Too be fair, a lot of the jokes we tell kids to comfort them probably aren't that funny.) I do wish they had kept Peter's line "there's no telling what we'll find."
Hide and Seek
This scene was mostly unchanged through the writing process, it seems. The main changes were for the better. Peter's agreeing to play the game was shown with a really cliché cinematic joke. Edmund also supports Lucy's idea for what to do which makes him seem too nice. Also here, they have him actually get to his hiding place ahead of Lucy instead of pushing past her. They really don't do a good job of establishing Edmund as a jerk early on. It's like he changes into a different character after Lucy returns from Narnia.
Lucy Meets Mr. Tumnus
This section was definitely the most improved in the final movie. The pacing of it here is too fast. We don't really feel like the characters are developing a bond between them and we don't get a feel for the what Narnia is like as we do in the book and the movie. It's so obvious that Tumnus is tricking Lucy and feels guilty about it that we can't really relax and enjoy the scene. There are also some really awkward lines, mainly Lucy asking Tumnus if the world around her is real. I do like Tumnus's line "It's not every day I get to have tea with a human" better than the corny "It's not every day I get to make a new friend." Interestingly, Tumnus smashes his pipes here which could imply that they are evil. (In the book, I got the impression that the fauns' music was good, just not what Tumnus was doing with it.)
Lucy's Return
They cut a good bit of dialogue from the beginning of this scene for the final script. Edmund sarcastically thanks Lucy for ruining his hiding place and we hear a more detailed description of Narnia from Lucy. Cutting these lines was a good idea; we really didn't need them. Peter's reaction to the ordinary wardrobe is closer to his reaction in the book which is nice. ("Good one, Lucy. Had me going.") Lucy runs out the room immediately after Edmund makes fun of her. Peter and Edmund's confrontation is very brief here. (The dialogue from this part of the movie actually appears a little later in this script.) I really like how this version of the scene ends with Susan firmly closing the wardrobe door, symbolizing how the door to Narnia has been closed for the characters, though I prefer the scene from the movie on the whole.
Edmund Meets the White Witch
There's a dumb joke about Susan snoring when Lucy sneaks out to search for Narnia. (Good call cutting that.) Edmund's dialogue when he tries to tease Lucy is a little bit different too. I like the way the final dialogue emphasized him trapping himself in the wardrobe, unlike Lucy, but both versions are fine. The staging of the White Witch's first appearance is a little different. Here Edmund sees her right before she tells Ginarrbrik to let him go. In the movie, he sees her right after. Personally, I think the final version is better. It allows us not to be worried about Edmund while we're taking her in for the first time. As in the book, Edmund tells the Witch about his brother and sisters and Tumnus while he's eating Turkish Delight. I like this better than having him just blurt everything out when he first speaks with her. Feels less awkward. Lucy says, "The others will have to believe in Narnia now that we've both been here." I know that line was from the book but I really don't feel it was necessary.
Edmund Lies About Narnia
Mrs. Macready is in this scene which feels...weird to me. It kind of makes it seem like Edmund lies because he doesn't want her to know about Narnia rather than to hurt Lucy. Peter and Edmund have their argument here rather than after Lucy's first visit to Narnia. While this way is closer to the book, the pacing of the final film works better for me.
Advice From the Professor
This scene is staged closer to the book. Peter and Susan go to the professor deliberately during the day instead of accidentally meeting him at night. (In both versions, Peter doesn't want to talk to the professor. I kind of wish that was closer to the book.) The professor's line that accusing someone of lying is a serious charge comes across as glib here rather than serious as it does in the book. That kind of bugs me though a thoughtful actor could have avoided that. The professor has a dumb line about the word impossible being bad. Other than that this very close to the final scene. Afterwards, we get a brief but unnecessary bit of Peter and Susan reacting to the professor's advice in private.
Mrs. Macready Chases the Children
This scene is very different from its counterpart in the final movie. Instead of playing cricket, Susan and Peter cheer Lucy up by playing ping pong with her. This makes it feel closer to the book where the Pevensies were starting to make up with each other before they all went to Narnia. This version of the chase is halfway through the metamorphosis from the book version to the movie version. The Pevensies both try to avoid Mrs. Macready's tour (Peter has a funny line about the group seems to be following them) and accidentally break the suit of armor. Actually, the suit is broken by Edmund who briefly goes crazy and tries to kill Peter. That was a bit overdramatic. But in general I think I like this scene here a little more than I do the final version.
The Pevensies in Narnia
Peter not only insists that Edmund apologize to Lucy but twists his arm to make him do so. I feel like this was a little overdramatic. Edmund doesn't suggest that they take a look around Narnia. That was a good addition to the final script because it showed that Edmund wanted to bring the others to the White Witch. Lucy suggests that they take the fur coats as well as Peter. (Poor Susan doesn't get to suggest it in either script like she does in the book.) Edmund has an insensitive line about Mr. Tumnus's trashed home. This is similar to a line from the book but I feel like it would have been awkward on screen with no one reacting to it. I don't like Lucy's line "Mr. Tumnus has been arrested for not handing me over!" I don't know why. It just sounds clunky to me. The Pevensies actually meet Mr. Beaver inside Tumnus's house instead of outside. While she seems suspicious, Susan isn't vocally opposed to following Mr. Beaver like she is in the movie. Edmund and Peter have a conversation about the credibility of the Narnians which is very similar to the book. I wish it had been kept because it provides insight into how Edmund justifies his actions.
The Beavers' Dam
Mrs. Beaver's introductory joke is a little bit different. Instead of "If I find you've been out with Badger again, I'll...those aren't badgers," she says, "It'd better be those fish I asked you to get. Those aren't fish." I think the joke in this version is funnier though neither is hilarious. But I like that they introduce the Badger earlier in the movie because it gives his "stoning" more emotional impact. This version includes Edmund asking whether Aslan can be turned to stone and the beavers give a response similar to the book. This really should have been kept because it explains in part why the Narnians are excited about Aslan returning. Weirdly, the beavers don't explain about the prophecy in this scene. This makes their expectation of four random kids helping them fight the Witch initially awkward. There's an extra bit of dialogue between Peter and Mr. Beaver as they search for Edmund which doesn't add anything. I don't like that Lucy is the one who decides that they seek help from Aslan rather than Peter or Susan, mainly because I feel like the Narnia movies idealize Lucy too much. That is especially true of this draft.
The White Witch's Castle
The lion which Edmund scribbles on is actually the first statue he comes across. (And it's a tiger.) This makes his graffiti feel more like a natural reaction. Edmund doesn't actually sit on the Witch's throne here; he just looks at it. That was a good addition to the final movie. This scene changed little in the creative process except for the Witch sending the wolves before Edmund asks for more Turkish Delight. In a way, it makes more sense that way. She would naturally want to kill or capture the humans as soon as possible. But ending the scene with wolves leaving makes more pacing sense, I feel. What do you think?
Escape Through the Beavers' Tunnel
Mrs. Beaver is the one who asks about jam and Mr. Beaver is the one who responds in this version instead of Susan and Peter. Peter gets the cliché, and happily cut, line "if there is a later." Upon hearing where the secret tunnel leads, Mrs. Beaver says, "And his barrel of ale, I shouldn't wonder" instead of "You told me it led to your mum's!" I like the joke in this script better though again neither joke is any great shakes. It takes a while for the characters to realize that the villagers have been to stone here which I think would have come across as really awkward in the movie. There are two satyr characters in this version who use Susan's coat to throw the wolves off the trail. I suppose this makes the story more believable but it's also rather complicated and I can't blame the writers for cutting it eventually.
The animals tell the Pevensies about the prophecy here instead of at the dam. I guess the writers felt the atmosphere would be cooler around the campfire than the dinner table. The idea of the Deep Magic is established here rather than later. Since it's the weirdest part of the story I can understand why they wanted to get the audience used to it as soon as possible. I like that the characters are seen eating the bread and jam that Mrs. Beaver packed. A nice bit of continuity. After Lucy and the animals are asleep, Peter and Susan have a private conversation about their situation. While quiet scenes exploring the characters' inner lives can be good, I think the writers realized that they could convey every idea in this scene through the prior dialogue. One thing in this scene that wouldn't be in the final movie is the idea that Peter and Susan are worried that the animals will attack them if they don't agree to fight the Witch. I'm glad that was cut. It made the story unnecessarily unpleasant.
The White Witch's Dungeon
This scene is actually intercut with the scenes of the Pevensies and the beavers. The way it plays in the movie is closer to the book and I like that though I can understand why the writers had it way they originally did. Both Edmund's bread and water contain bugs. I think this would have been a good detail to include though I understand that it would have been expensive. This scene is very close to the movie version except that Ginarrbrik is the guard rather than an ogre. (And he is reluctant to unchain Tumnus for some reason.)
The Dryad
OK, this is just the dumbest scene! Peter somehow wakens the spirits of the frozen trees and one them encourages him and tells him that Edmund is still alive. It may not sound so bad when summarized but, trust me, it's hilariously cheesy. If I were the estate, I would refuse to approve this draft solely on the basis of this scene. And if I were in charge of Walden Media, I would fire the screenwriters because they wrote it. Anyway, the fox accompanies the children to rock bridge from which they can see their destination. Before he leaves, he and Mr. Beaver, who still hasn't warmed up to him at this point, share a cliched moment of bonding. Mrs. Beaver, incidentally, doesn't nurse the fox after his neck was clamped by the wolf. While the bath day line was dumb, I like that they added that to the final movie. It increased the wolves' menace and Lucy's interest in it foreshadowed her getting the healing cordial.
Father Christmas
Peter seems more genuinely annoyed when he complains about Mr. Beaver telling them to hurry where his tone would be more humorous in the movie. (And he threatens to use his tail for a cricket bat instead of making him a big fluffy hat.) The order in which Father Christmas hands out the gifts is different from both the book and the movie. In the book, he gives in order of the oldest to youngest. In the movie, he gives in order of youngest to oldest. In this script, it's...a totally random order. I think the movie order worked best especially since it allowed Susan to ask "what happened to battles are ugly affairs?" I do wish they could have kept the line where he tells the beaver that their presents are waiting for them at home. Interestingly, Lucy asks about Edmund's gift. I wonder if Edmund not getting a Christmas present was something that really bugged the writers since his torch ended up practically becoming his gift in the later movies. Instead of Peter immediately realizing that the bridge is melting, the scene ends with the line "I told you he was real."
The Fox Is Turned to Stone
This scene takes place here rather than after the melting river scene and we see the wolves catch the fox rallying the witch's enemies instead of just hearing about it. I'm kind of torn about this change. I feel like the pacing in the movie works a lot better. But I like the fox's dialogue when he pretends not to know what the Witch is talking about. And it makes more storytelling sense for the Witch to find out the location of Aslan's camp here. It's what tells the wolves how to cut our heroes off from Aslan. I don't understand why it would be a bad thing for her to find out about when she does so in the movie. If he's raising an army, I doubt he intended to keep it a secret for long.
The Melting Waterfall
A lot of the dialogue in this scene is annoyingly hammy. ("We'll never make it." "Not if we keep talking about it." "I'm not losing them again.") But the dialogue in the final scene was annoyingly hammy too so it's hard for me to decide which version is better or worse. Susan doesn't listen to Maugrim's offer which I know some people prefer since it was out of character for her to be so irrational in the movie. (My interpretation was that she had been trying so hard to be sensible in the movie that the stress had made her snap and go completely insane. Not sure whether that was what the moviemakers had in mind but it works for me.) Unlike in the movie ("Your brother's got you well looked after"), Mr. Beaver is angry at Peter for not killing Maugrim. In general, Mr. Beaver is a lot crankier in this script than in the movie. (Maybe he's hungry. ) This makes the arrival of spring more of a comical moment than you would expect. Not sure why they wanted that and I guess they didn't either since they ultimately changed it.
This is longer in this script. We see the Witch being unable to use her sleigh and having to walk. The wolves being able to survive the river is presented as a twist here. I suppose that's nice though the way they reveal them strikes me as cliché. Instead of having the wolves summon the Witch's army, a bunch of harpies do it. It's admirable how much more efficient the final script would be, accomplishing in one scene what the script takes three scenes to do. The book fan in me really likes seeing the White Witch and Edmund be forced to walk though.
The Stone Table
The beavers and the Pevensies reach the Stone Table and are surprised not to find Aslan. It turns out that his camp is below the hill. While this scene isn't amazingly well written, I wish it had stayed because it's weird how in the movie they say Aslan's army is at the Stone Table but we don't see the Stone Table until Aslan's sacrifice. It's nice that they also explain what the carvings on the Stone Table are in this scene. In the movie, they're kind of a subtext.
Aslan's Camp
The Pevensies see naiads instead of dryads and there's no dialogue when they arrive at the camp. The way Aslan is revealed is more like a jump scare. I think it might have been cool that way in the movie but I loved the scene as it turned out. As in the book, our heroes argue about which one of them will address Aslan. That's nice. But I don't like that Lucy is the one to do so. You can have characters besides Lucy do something positive, scriptwriters. Lucy is also the only one who can look Aslan in the eye. I'm not a fan of that since everyone is supposed to be intimidated by Aslan. The dialogue between Peter and Aslan is different though the content is basically the same. I think I like how it sounds better in the movie though I'm not crazy about either version.
The White Witch's Camp
The Witch tells Ginarrbrik that she doesn't want Edmund to die unless it's on the Stone Table. I think this should have stayed because it explains why the Witch doesn't do the sensible thing and immediately kill Edmund. Especially since that would have stopped the prophecy from being fulfilled or at least slowed it down until the good guys could find another potential king.
Maugrim Attacks
Susan and Lucy's dialogue is a little bit different. I think the final draft was an improvement though this version isn't bad. We also see more of their struggle to get to the horn. Like in the book, Peter doesn't immediately know what the horn sounds like. I feel that's more believable. (Maybe he just knew Susan's general location in the movie.)
Edmund's Rescue.
In this version, the White Witch's army is not wholly assembled when Edmund is rescued. This makes it a lot more believable that the centaurs would be able to grab Edmund and get away. This version includes the Witch using magic to protect herself and Ginarrbrik (though they don't look like a tree and a boulder.) The harpy massacre is a bit much. We see Vardan, the non-Maugrim wolf, die, something we don't see in either the book or the movie. I'm neutral on that. The Pevensies actually see Edmund being brought back at night rather than waking up and finding him back in the morning. Lucy runs over and gives him a hug before he talks with Aslan. Peter's dialogue with Edmund afterwards (also at night) is very similar to the movie but the tone here implies that he's still angry with him. The final scene felt a lot more true to the book.
The Pevensies Decide to Stay and Fight
Unlike in the movie, Peter doesn't advocate the others going back and himself staying. I think the movie version made his character development more interesting. Susan vocally advocates them returning here. I actually like that she doesn't in the final version because it's different from what you'd expect based on her character up until now. I like it when things are a little different from what you expect. Also having Peter, Edmund and Lucy advocating the same thing makes it feel like Susan agreed out of peer pressure rather than because of a genuine change of heart. The unicorn talks in this version which is nice because unicorns talk in The Last Battle. It's also nice that Peter expresses concern with riding a creature with human intelligence even if he still does it. This version includes the detail about Aslan insisting the Witch leave her wand behind. Part of me wishes that was in the film though I appreciate the dramatic impact of cutting immediately from hearing about the parley to it actually happening.
The Meeting
The main difference between this scene and the movie version is that Lucy vocally criticizes Aslan for acquiescing to the Witch's claims. I really don't like this. It downplays how intimidated everyone is supposed to be by Aslan. (In the book, all Susan can do is hesitantly ask if they can do anything against the deep magic.) Mr. Beaver is the one who says, "try and take him then" and Aslan gets a line from the book in response. Another interesting change is that the White Witch taunts Edmund with the details of the bargain the two of them made. I wouldn't have minded if that had stayed in the script. On the whole, this scene wouldn't change much during the creative process.
Aslan and Peter Prepare for the Battle
In this deleted scene, Aslan preps Peter for the next day. I really wish this had stayed. It's a nice scene that's similar to the book and I really like the joke that Aslan makes. The only thing I dislike is Aslan saying that Peter's suggestion of moving the camp in case of a surprise attack is "worthy of a general." That's a pretty obvious thing to worry about. Peter doesn't deserve that much praise. (Maybe Aslan meant a thought worthy of a mediocre general.)
Aslan's Sacrifice
This scene wouldn't be changed that much in between drafts. The details that are different from the finished movie in this script tend to be closer to the book (like the hags being the first ones to attack Aslan.) I wish the beginning of the White Witch's speech had remained the same. "And now, Aslan, who has won?" sounds better to me than "You know, Aslan, I was a little disappointed in you." However I like that "Narnia is ours" went back to "the great cat lies dead." This script includes the moment from the book of the Witch's army going past the girls. That was a cool moment though it was probably too expensive to include in the final movie. Lucy trying unsuccessfully to revive Aslan with her cordial would be added later in the writing process. I liked that addition. The scene ends as soon as the girls realize that the mice are cutting the cords. It feels too abrupt for such a dramatic scene.
Before the Battle
In this version, Peter and Edmund don't hear about Aslan's death. They just wake up and find the girls and Aslan gone. I wish they could have kept Edmund's line to Peter, "you're sure a better choice (for a leader) than me." That would have been a good way to show Edmund's character development. There's a humorous moment where Peter forgets one of his shoes. I don't think that would have fit at all especially since we cut back from it to the dead Aslan. There's a nice conversation between Oerius and Edmund which I like but don't mind its deletion. There's also a moment where the Witch offers to withdraw her troops if Peter and Edmund give themselves up to her but the Narnians refuse. It's so obvious that the Narnians aren't going to agree that this is really pointless and I'm glad it was cut.
Aslan's Resurrection
Aslan's explanation for his non-permanent death is a little different here. He says that the deeper magic goes beyond rules to what is right and wrong. I'm not sure if that's profound or ridiculous. (Aren't rules supposed to be about right and wrong? ) Susan and Lucy's reunion with Aslan is actually its own little scene. We then cut back to Peter and Edmund and then return to Aslan and the girls. I kind of like that Aslan's return is a separate scene. It gives it a greater impact than it has in the movie when the focus quickly turns back to the conflict with the Witch. But I'm not a fan of Aslan returning to camp, finding the army has already left and then going to free the statues. Having him go directly to the Witch's house makes it seem like he was planning this along.
Unenchanting the Statues.
Man, I wish the movie could have ended up being more like this! When Lucy and Susan are riding Aslan, we get the see the beavers' dam thawed which is cool. And we get to see Aslan leap over the wall or at least imply it. The freeing of the statues is slower paced and feels more like the book scene. This appeals to me since it's one of my favorite descriptions in the book. I also like how they intercut it with the battle here. (They go from Lucy being shocked at the sight of the stone Tumnus to a whole battlefield of the Witch's victims.) We even get Rumblebuffin smashing the walls.
The Battle
We explicitly see Peter's unicorn die. (I'm assuming it died in the movie too since it got shot but here we see it.) It's actually the one who kills the White Witch's general. (I believe Oerius does that in the movie.) The part where Edmund's siblings find his body is a little longer here, needlessly so. Both Aslan telling Lucy she has to leave Edmund and help other wounded soldiers and Edmund being knighted are included here. As a book fan, I appreciate this especially since it makes Lucy slightly less idealized compared to the other Pevensies. But I feel like the movie's pacing makes more cinematic sense.(That's a great thing about books. They don't have make cinematic sense.)
Coronation Celebration
This part is slower paced than the final movie would end up being. There's a pleasant scene of the characters walking towards Cair Paravel before the coronation. And afterwards, we see more of the ensuing celebration including a humorous moment with Edmund. I like these scenes (though Susan dancing with the fox would have looked weird) but I'm not choked up about them being cut. Instead of Tumnus being the one to crown all the kings and queens, each one is crowned by a Narnian with whom they have had a special relationship. An interesting idea but perhaps an overcomplicated one.
Before the Pevensies hunt the White Stag, we get a brief scene of them as adults hanging out at Cair Paravel. Oerius and Tumnus are also present. Weirdly, they talk about the White Stag as if it's really important but they never say why. (A line from Susan implies that instead of granting wishes to its captors, it gives them great wisdom. Don't ask me why they made that change.) This script follows the book by having the adult Pevensies speak more formally than their young selves though the dialogue isn't from the book for the most part. This slower paced look at their adulthood might have been nice but I think the movie turned out fine without it.
Back at the Professor's
The dialogue between Peter and the professor is very similar to the movie's. But the tone is humorous rather than serious. I love the ending in the movie but I don't think I'd have minded if they'd kept with the comedy. After all, the book's ending is pretty humorous. This script doesn't include the professor's line about the Pevensies most likely returning to Narnia when they aren't looking for it. I'm glad they would add that to later drafts because it makes his advice more like that of his literary counterpart.
Final Thoughts
There are some things that I prefer about the old script and some things I prefer about the movie. On the whole, I think they made the final script was an improvement because the overarching characterizations were superior. But sometimes I still wish parts of the movie were closer to this version.
Now that the Netflix series has been announced, no one is going to bother to read this topic. All that typing for nothing!
The Old Script for the LWW MovieTalk about any aspect of the films.
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The Old Script for the LWW Movie
For better or worse-for who knows what may unfold from a chrysalis?-hope was left behind.
-The God Beneath the Sea by Leon Garfield & Edward Blishen
-The God Beneath the Sea by Leon Garfield & Edward Blishen
- Col Klink
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Re: The Old Script for the LWW Movie
Thank you for the link! I didn't know a previous draft was out there available to read! So cool! And thank you for the run down as it may be a while before I take a look at it myself.
There's so much Netflix discussion right now that I feel a little overwhelmed!
Col Klink wrote:P.S.
Now that the Netflix series has been announced, no one is going to bother to read this topic. All that typing for nothing!
There's so much Netflix discussion right now that I feel a little overwhelmed!
Formerly The Lady Arwen Undómiel
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Our Story
We have been executing important, collaborative and awesome office furniture projects up and down the front range of Colorado since 1984! We also go where our clients ask us to go. We have delivered project across the United States and into Canada!
Think of us as custom furniture builders. We have a massive kit of parts and immense experience. Every project we do is custom and uniquely designed to meet our customer's needs. We are an integral part of the project team working together to deliver the optimal workplace experience.
Our workplace strategy tool set leads the industry in correlating your culture to your space. Our change management tool set enables you to transition your team into your new space. Our Pear project team's role is to both communicate the promise of the space, and to deliver on our promises!
It's no longer just about furniture; It's about what the furniture can do for you! Join us on our journey to create the future-state of work, NOW!
Our Founders
John and Della Robbins keep it fresh! Just because our founders have grown up in the office furniture industry, doesn't mean they don't have vision for the future. The importance of office furniture and our industry's impact on companies and their cultures is the basis for their ever-renewed energy and focus on their customers. John and Della both started their careers with Haworth and have owned Pear since 2002. With each of them bringing 30 plus years each on both the manufacturer and dealer worlds, John and Della are uniquely qualified to have their team perfectly positioned to deliver their customers exceptional results.
Our Showroom
Not just a showroom, but Pear's take on workplace. We walked the walk and took a dose of our own medicine. Utilizing Haworth's competing values culture survey, Pear was able to diagnose our current culture and our preferred culture. This combined with surveys on current workplace satisfaction gave us the basis to transform our company and our culture! Our office was no longer all about furniture, it was about our team! Our showroom enables us to show companies how we can help transform the workplace from an obligation to a destination. Our showroom is all about helping our clients understand the art of the possible!


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I. The Torture Debate
-Empirical Proof
-Normative Analysis
-The "Ticking Bomb" Scenario
-The "Train Switch" Hypothetical
-"Torture Warrant" Theory
-What Constitutes Torture?
-The Problems With Criminal Prosecutions As A Matter Of Law
-Bybee, Pelosi, Attorneys, Officials, Agents, New York Times Article.
II Trolls
-The Psychology Of Trolls
-The Ravings Of Lunatics
-How To Send A Troll Back Under Their Bridge
-Tunnel Vision And Myopia
-Protecting Your Privacy
III. Obama And The Case Of Shaken Baby Syndrome
IV. Glen Becks' Tea Party At The Alamo
-Minute By Minute Account As LiveTeaBlogged By Yours Truly
VII. Ziegler!
VI. Tommy Chong
VII. Not Tommy Chong And Other Real People
Leave suggestions in the comments. Other guests may show up, and like last week, The lineup is subject to change. And when the show changes and gets naked, you guys watch. Like perverts. Yeah. Perverts.
Tags: Defining Torture, Tea Parties, Toddlers, Tommy Chong, Torture, Torture Prosecutions, Torture Warrant Requirement, Trolls, Unusable Signal


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A remodeling or renovation always seems so much problems with it and that scares a lot of people off. Consequence: the renovation is postponed and the State of your House is any better. Here 5 helpful tips for when you renovate your home or remodeling:
1. can you don't own? Select help in!
To ' Help my husband is handyman-like scenes can I prevent everyone recommend: hire someone in. Is your man himself contractor or expert? Then he can, of course, itself. Not only is it for the quality of your home remodeling or renovation smart to hire someone, even for your own stress level and your relationship, it is often many times better.
2. create a realistic planning together with the contractor
Have you adopted someone? Ask first to a planning! Some contractors want to make the job seem brighter than he is actually is. This can result in unexpected costs and huge spout times. Specify to want to be well prepared and that's OK for a few days longer, as long as it is done correctly.
3. Be aware of setbacks
Working, errors are made. So it is well once. I've never heard of a conversion which is all completely went well. Is it against? Anticipate, create a new plan and look forward. Continue mugs to something happened doesn't make sense.
4. unpack right away, as much as possible, to
You've finally handymen in your House? Let them right away, as much as possible! You may be better in a short period do, then all that you have people all over the floor again and again. Let them above the bathroom remodel, downstairs a kitchen unit immediately outside the hard and necessary refresh facade renovation or façade cleaning. Though as fine as all good tackled!
5. Major conversion? Find a temporary living place
It seems that you have work the next few weeks men all over the floor? Try to find a temporary living space! It is for both you and their much finer. You know not to the gang annoys you and you run no one in the way.


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Blenders Presents The Royal Foundry
- January 12, 2019 - Doors at: 7:30pm / Showtime: 8:30pm
227 Central Avenue North, Swift Current, SK, CA
- Advance Cost: $30.00
- Door Cost: $30.00
The Blenders Music Series is pleased to present The Royal Foundry on Saturday, January 12th at the Lyric Theatre in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Jared and Bethany had no intentions of starting the electric quartet that is now The Royal Foundry but after the release of "All We Have" received international exposure through the John Lennon Songwriting Competition and ABC's Rookie Blue they knew they had discovered something special.
The Royal Foundry make the kind of up tempo folk pop that comes from harmonious alignment. It makes sense, then, that band members Bethany and Jared Salte are married. As the duo write music inspired by their marital life along with life lessons and challenges, they embark hand-in-hand, creating thought provoking lyrics, mesmerizing melodies, and a charming, unforgettable chemistry. This amazing live show will not disappoint, get your tickets today!
Tickets for the Saturday, January 12th show are $30 and are available at Pharmasave. Doors at the Lyric Theatre will open at 7:30pm and the music begins at 8:30pm.


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Sunday, January 27, 2008
Red Bull, motherfucker.
Spread this one around, peoples. (Yo, Bill... don't start none, won't be none, bruh.)
9 comments:
This is why my mother hates sitting up in the pulpit. It's boring, it gets hot and you're all exposed and can't fidget or take an unintentional '10-second nap.
I ain't mad at Bill either! Boring is boring! This generation of Kings are incredibly underwhelming, to say the least. There is no there, there.
- January 27, 2008 at 9:31 AM
- Undercover Black Man said...
This generation of Kings are incredibly underwhelming...
Daughterofthedream, you keep it real. I've always felt bad for Marty in particular, having to carry the name. (I interviewed him in 1988, when he served on the Fulton County Commission. There was definitely the sense back then that he couldn't fill his father's shoes. But who could?)
- January 27, 2008 at 9:36 AM
- Ann Brock said...
I can understand how Bill felt. Boring is Boring I don't care who it is. He needs a Red Bull.
- January 27, 2008 at 11:21 AM
- Undercover Black Man said...
^ You too, JJ? Everybody feeling all bad for Bill.
It ain't like he never gave a long, boring speech. ;^)
- January 27, 2008 at 11:41 AM
- bklyn6 said...
No one ID'd MLK III?
I've seen this posted, but haven't dared to watch it.
Now, had it been Dexter King reading telephone book listings, he'd have had my full attention. :P
- January 27, 2008 at 12:10 PM
- Safari said...
Two ways to look at this one.
1) Bill has a hectic schedule and cat naps just sneak up on ya.
2) Ask to sit out of the camera shot if you are feeling 'tired' or wear the shaded reading glasses..
He got TMZ'd.. hah
- January 27, 2008 at 4:56 PM
- justjudith said...
it don't matter whether he's boring or not. your wife is running for president, you are blasting her chief rival, a black man -- you are proud to be looked on fondly by black people and you are asleep behind mlk's son on mlk day. it's just not a class move. i don't care if it was bobby brown talking -- stay awake or excuse your self.
- January 27, 2008 at 7:14 PM
He (or she) that is without sin among you, let him (or her) cast the first stone. I'm just sayin'...
- January 28, 2008 at 5:49 AM
He's on a hectic schedule and he's old. Yeah, he could have excused himself, but then what the commentary have been like? He can't catch a break.
- January 28, 2008 at 10:13 AM


text:
Thompsons solicitors' online library offers advice on all sorts of issues from problems with flooding or goods to taking time off for a major sporting event. These legal updates should not be used as a substitute for legal advice and if you have a problem which requires legal assistance, you should consult a solicitor for advice specific to your individual case.
Click here for Thompsons information and resources pages
Click here for Thompsons Everyday Law page


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Two of the finest North American guitaristsKen Emerson and Jim Kimo Westjoined forces for the 2016 CD release of Slackers In Paradise: Slack And Steel Guitar Duets. Early in 2016, Kimo released Guitar Stories: Slack Key & Beyond and in 2014 Ken Emerson released Sacred Slack & Steel Guitar. Each of those previous CDs were and are highly influential among fans of Hawaiian and Americana instrumental music so its quite fulfilling to note that Slackers In Paradise is also bound to be quite a hit album among their fans. Slackers In Paradise fittingly includes 16 tracks of Hawaiian folk, blues, jazz and ragtimeall played with the finesse and expertise worthy of these modern day guitar masters. Speaking about Slackers, Ken Emerson tells mwe3.com, We wrote and recorded in between my traveling and Kimos. He was going out with Weird Al on tour, and I was traveling all over the West Coast and Hawaii. Then my Dad had a stroke so things got pretty heavy for me, and I can say working on the record with Kimo was good for me as I spent a lot of time in Oregon under a lot of stress and then would come down to LA and get a respite from it all by jumping into the music production. It turned out to be very therapeutic. Kimo has a nice home recording set up, as well as a road rig, he worked on a lot of the editing and mixing while he was on the road with Al. Discussing the origins of the Slackers CD Jim Kimo West tell mwe3.com, We put this record together over the last couple years, 2015 and 2016. We did it mostly at my studio but Ken contributed a few basic guitar tracks that were recorded at Ron Pendragons studio on Kauai and I actually did the basic track for Mango Season in a hotel room when I was on tour with Weird Al. Both Ken and Kimo have busy lives so its more than incredible that they not only had the time for an album of Hawaiian instrumental guitar music that is superbly relaxing. Highlights of Slackers are the many fine original instrumentals here but theres also a very cool cover of the Rolling Stones classic Ruby Tuesday that almost sounds like a Hawaiian meets Baroque instrumental of one of the most beloved pop songs of the late 1960s. With hardly a note out of place, Slackers In Paradise is an instrumental guitar classic befitting the sound and vision of these two superb musicians. www.jimkimowest.com / www.cordinternational.com
mwe3: Jim, what can you tell us about Aloha Al Yankovic on accordion playing on the Slackers CD? Whats new with Weird Al these days?
Kimo West: Yes, Aloha Al played accordion
on the Slack Key Polka which of course was very appropriate.
Ken had suggested we try a polka so I came up with a demo track which
ended up being the record track after I got Ken and Als parts
recorded. Im of the road with Al this year but 2015 and 2016
were very busy. We played over 200 shows in support of our CD, Mandatory
Fun which debuted at number 1 on Billboard and won the Grammy
for Best Comedy Recording. One of the tour highlights was playing
the Hollywood Bowl two weekend nights with the 70 piece orchestra!
|CD Reviews
|Reviews & Features Archive
|Photo Archive
|MWE3 Home
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C heers and Jeers
A big fat cheer…
To the hardy soles who have stomped out a cross country ski loop inside the confines of Mettowee River Park.
I skied there for the first time in the storm Tuesday night and it was pretty nice especially versus the Rail Trail. While the RT gives you plenty of groomed space to ski on, long stretches without fresh snow combined with cold temps makes for some icy skiing – still pretty good.
But back to the park, it was hard to get much glide with the deep snow all around – poles kept going in pretty deep and it was easy to get off the trail and into the deep stuff but it was also nice to get off to a pretty quiet, nearly deserted chunk of land and get my sweat on.
It was good, tough work.
I forgot to take my GPS so I'm not sure how far I went, although I think it was about 1.5 miles, give or take.
Find the loop, now under all of this new snow unfortunately/fortunately, park just down the hill off of Church Street near the bridge.
The village plows a little lot for about three or four cars and the trail starts right there.
It takes you around the perimeter of the cleared area and into the woods near where Eagle Scout Scott Chapman created a trail as his Eagle Project – what? Two years ago now? – and into his trail system bringing you out to the river before taking you out near the water treatment plant and back into the wood for the return. Nice workout, varied terrain and no big hills. When I'm out I'm looking for flat and glide or hill climbing, I don't want to go downhill.
It looks like the recent snowfall will have the tracks all filled in again so I'm thinking about chipping in some effort and snow shoeing out at least part of the trail to help pack it down…more on that later.


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Multi-media and Event Production
T.O. MEDIA DESIGN has built a solid reputation for producing dynamic events with creative staging and premier technical expertise for our many corporate and non profit clients.
From concept through performance, we work with you every step of the way to ensure your event exceeds expectations.
Our services include:
Concept Development
Budget Planning
Branding / Communication
Event Planning and Design
Audio / Visual
Equipment / Staging Rental
Staging and Set Design
Creative Lighting
Audio Engineering
Digital Creative: graphics, signage, speaker support, and presentations


text:
The Cargo web site provides a good explanation of how to use Cargo with external libraries found on GitHub but it does not give any examples of how to use libraries or crates which are local projects.
Today I came upon a question on StackOverflow asking how to do this. I had also created an issue on GitHub relating to this, so I decided to write this post.
Basic project structure
These instructions assume that you are using the default Cargo project structure which is initialized when you call
cargo new project-name.
If you added your Cargo.toml file after creating your project you can conform to the Cargo structure by moving your sources in a src/ folder, creating a lib.rs in project-name/src/ and putting your Cargo.toml file under project-name/.
For the project's structure here's what you'll end up with where project is the name of your project and local_dependency the name of your component/sub-project.
├── Cargo.toml
├── src
│ ├── local_dependency
│ │ ├── Cargo.toml
│ │ ├── lib.rs
│ │ └── source_file.rs
│ ├── lib.rs
│ └── main.rs
Your Cargo.toml in your main project's root should look like this:
[package] name = "project" version = "0.0.1" authors = ["That guy over there!"] [dependencies.local_dependency] path = "src/local_dependency"
Since your local dependency is a separate project it will need it's own Cargo.toml file which will should like this:
[package] name = "local_dependency" version = "0.0.1" authors = ["Somebody else"] [lib] name = "local_dependency" path = "lib.rs"
The lib.rs in src/local_dependency/ will contain the public declarations of your modules.
pub use source_file::SomethingUseful; pub mod source_file;
For reference here is source_file.rs:
pub enum SomethingUseful { Really, Nah }
The lib.rs file in src/ is the library file for your main program which you leave empty until you need it.
Finally, in your main source file (src/main.rs) you can reference parts of your local dependency likewise:
extern crate local_dependency; use local_dependency::SomethingUseful; fn main() { println!("Hello world!") }
Here you go.


text:
Investigations and CAPA Web Based Training:
Introduction to CAPA
The Investigations and CAPA online training module discusses a high-level understanding of why the Investigations and CAPA Quality System is important and supports your business. The course provides an overview of the Investigations and CAPA system and process. It also highlights the key compliance drivers and regulatory requirements.
The Investigations and CAPA web based training is done through e-path, the PathWise online learning management system. ePath is on-Demand e-learning for targeted knowledge-based learning. It focuses on terms, definitions, regulations and expectations.
The Investigations and CAPA Introduction web based training module is also now available in SPANISH!
The Investigations and CAPA Introduction Web Based Training will ensure attendees:
- Identify and distinguish between a correction, corrective action and preventive action.
- Understand the regulations governing corrective and preventive action.
- Understand the terminology surrounding Investigations and CAPA.
- Define the basic requirements.
- Identify best practices.
- Optimize productivity and training time
- Flexible mobile learning using a desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device
- Fulfill annual FDA training requirements
Investigations and CAPA training is appropriate for all employees involved in the manufacture or support of the biologic, medical device or pharmaceutical industries.
Training is through ePath. ePath is the PathWise on-Demand electronic training platform targeted for knowledge-based learning. Our knowledge-based CBT focuses on terms, definitions, regulations and expectations, rather than skill-based learning.
The training lasts 1-2 hours.
Consistent training across the organization is key to a successful organization.
For group and corporate rates for our Web Based Training, please fill out the form below, and a PathWise representative will be in touch shortly!
* These fields are required.
Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)
Quality System Regulation (QSR)
Looking to increase your individual knowledge about Investigations and CAPA?
ePath Log In
Already have access to ePath? Log in here to continue your online learning experience!


text:
A Long Night in Paris
Chinese gangsters and Israeli intelligence face off in Paris - Israel's bestselling book of 2017, perfect for fans of Homeland, John Le Carre and Mick Herron
- Format
- Paperback
- Category
- Fiction
- Publisher
- Hachette
- Publish Date
- January 2019
When an Israeli tech entrepreneur disappears from Charles de Gaulle airport with a woman in red, logic dictates youthful indiscretion. But Israel is on a state of high alert nonetheless. Colonel Zeev Abadi, the new head of Unit 8200's autonomous Special Section, who just happens to be in Paris, also just happens to have arrived on the same flight.
For Commissaire Leger of the Paris Police coincidences have their reasons, and most are suspect. When a second young Israeli is kidnapped soon after arriving on the same flight, this time at gunpoint from his hotel room, his suspicions are confirmed - and a diplomatic incident looms.
Back in Tel Aviv, Lieutenant Oriana Talmor, Abadi's deputy, is his only ally, applying her sharp wits to the race to identify the victims and the reasons behind their abduction. In Paris a covert Chinese commando team listens to the investigation unfurl and watches from the rooftops. While by the hour the morgue receives more bodies from the river and the city's arrondissements.
The clock has been set. And this could be a long night in the City of Lights.
Other titles you should consider ...
Fair Warning
Michael Connelly
Nothing Ventured
Jeffrey Archer
Roddy Doyle
The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside
Jessica Ryn
Not all products are available in all stores.


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The Price of a Civilized Society for Workers
Americans should let corporations know we're willing to pay to help workers
This article originally appeared in the Huffington Post on November 26, 2012.
By Laura Beth Nielsen
Denny's franchise owner John Metz told Fox News recently that our Grand Slams soon will come with a side of surcharge to pay for Obamacare. Walmart and other retailers pushed Black Friday earlier into Thanksgiving (Thanksgetting?) even as many of their employees threatened to strike on the most profitable day of the year. And, according to Hostess Brands, Inc., they went into bankruptcy recently not because Americans are reluctant to stuff our children's lunch boxes with hydrogenated oil and high fructose corn syrup or because the CEO took massive pay increases the last time they were in bankruptcy, but because bakers would not accept an 8 percent decrease in pay and cuts to their health insurance.
Away from the door busting stampedes, protests and skirmishes from last week, as we enter the more civilized part of the holiday shopping season, it is time to consider those who work so hard to make our holidays happy and keep our economy churning.
It is time for Americans to let the corporations we patronize and depend upon know that many of us want all workers -- especially low-wage workers -- to have civilized working conditions and access to health care. And we are willing to pay.
Demonizing Obamacare and the low-wage workers who will benefit from it underestimates Americans' commitment to a social safety net. Most Americans are with workers because most Americans are workers. We are willing to pay a small charge for our Papa John's pizza and wait a day to shop so our friends and neighbors can enjoy a civilized life where everyone is able to enjoy family holidays and access health care when they (or their children) are ill.
Most Americans, I presume, are happy to pay to help protect the real job creators: our waiter at Denny's, our cashier at Walmart and the guy who bakes our Ding Dongs.
In October of 2011, in the absence of Obamacare, the rising cost of providing health insurance forced Walmart to cut back on modest health insurance benefits they provide to some of their employees. In fact, employees who work fewer than 24 hours per week are no longer eligible and full-time workers began having to pay more to keep their benefits, shifting uncovered workers onto Medicare if they needed health insurance.
When workers at companies like these are not receiving health care, the price of our flapjacks and household goods were artificially underpriced. It's time for Americans to pay up and Obamacare is an inexpensive way to do it.
The annual fee that large employers are required to pay for choosing not to provide health care for an employee under Obamacare is $2,000. (Note to Mr. Metz: I just finished my open enrollment and my employer's portion is closer to $20,000 annually. To be sure, providing nothing is less than paying $2,000. But it is far less than the current market price for health care.)
Universal health care also enables mobility which is good for workers and employers. For a worker, it means that she can take advantage of better opportunities when they are available without worrying about the binding ties of health insurance. This is especially important for white women and people of color who face the most durable glass ceilings in low-wage jobs. For employers, universal health care means firing someone is not a death sentence if they or someone in their family relies on health care to treat chronic conditions.
The $2000 fee per employee per year is a modest price for companies and, as some business-owners have been telling anyone who will listen, business owners will not just "absorb" these costs; they will pass them along to consumers.
But so what? Consumers already pay for the uninsured. Since we don't let people die on the hospital steps, low-wage workers not eligible for health care at companies like Wal-Mart use Medicare. Everyone's income taxes, higher insurance premiums for those of us who have it, and even charitable donations already are subsidizing health care expenses. Obamacare simply reallocates these costs and collects them from businesses who will collect them from us.
But how much will we have to pay? When I waitressed at Denny's in college in the early 90s, I served about 50 meals per shift. At five shifts a week and 50 weeks per year, that's 12,500 meals annually. An extra 16 cents per meal would more than cover this former waitresses' Obamacare fee.
When all workers have decent working conditions and universal health care, we become a more civilized society. And if our pancakes, pizza or household goods cost a few cents more, many of us are happy to pay. Certainly some Americans will say it is up to the individual to pay for his or her own health care, but in the absence of affordable individual coverage for low-wage workers, a small tax on business is an efficient and fair way to guarantee civilized working conditions for all workers.
- Laura Beth Nielson is associate professor of sociology and director of the Center for Legal Studies at Northwestern University.


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