Retirement planning can be a daunting task. These four steps can help break the process down into manageable steps.
Retirement planning can seem like a daunting task, but there are measures you can take along the way to help you get on the right path. Below you'll find four steps that can help as you assess your retirement plan.
Two types of income streams to consider while in retirement are income from work and income from investments.
While saving for retirement, income from work supports your ability to invest using retirement accounts such as a 401(k) and IRAs. These types of accounts allow you to invest and get tax benefits. You may also want to continue working once in retirement, although maybe not at a traditional 9-5 job. Your special interests and skills might work well for a side gig, and that extra income can also be saved for future retirement costs in a special small business retirement plan like a SEP IRA. A "phased retirement" is where people work part-time or do side gigs after retiring from their primary job. Some people do this to "test the waters" of retirement. Legally, as long as you have income from a small business—no matter how small—you can save some of it, even if you're taking money out of other retirement accounts. If you do decide to continue to work while in retirement, it may also allow you to rely less on your investments to generate income.
When developing a plan to withdraw from your investment assets—such as mutual funds, stocks, bonds, and retirement accounts—try to make sure you're covered for your entire retired life. The last thing you want is to run out of money early. Withdrawing based on average life expectancy can mean you have a 50% chance of out-living your assets, so it might be prudent to plan for a long life, not an average one. Also consider Social Security, pensions, annuities, and other insurance that can reduce the amount you withdraw from assets.
Once you have a good handle on your income streams, divide the expenses you'll have in retirement into two basic categories: core and discretionary. Core expenses include housing, utilities, food, medical premiums, and other priority costs. Discretionary expenses are everything else you choose to spend your money on, like dinners out, vacations, new cars, gifts, and so forth.
If your plan seems a bit unbalanced and you need to free up more of your retirement income, focus on reducing or postponing your discretionary expenses first. You can also review your core expenses and determine if you can make changes, like living in a smaller house or apartment.
Something to consider when evaluating your expenses is that, typically, folks early in their retirement spend more because they are healthy, have more free time, and are able to travel and spend more on entertainment. After several years, retirees might begin to slow down and spend less on discretionary items. In late retirement, medical and prescription drug costs tend to rise, causing retirees to increase spending.
Predictable income streams include Social Security, pensions, annuities, and insurance payments. Try to make sure these types of income can meet your core expenses for the rest of your life. If they don't, you may want to consider purchasing lifetime income through an annuity or insurance (e.g., longevity, disability, and/or long-term care insurance) through your insurance agent or a reputable insurance company.
It might also be a good idea to keep today's core expenses low, so you are prepared in case of big income changes. If married, make sure your core expenses can be covered by one partner, in case the other spouse loses their job. This way you can maintain covering today's bills, and hopefully also continue to save toward retirement plans. Or at the very least, not dip into retirement plans to cover today's costs.
When possible, work to increase your contributions to a workplace plan like a 401(k), as well as an IRA. By saving earlier, you allow compounding to work for you.
Finally, if your employer offers one, you may want to consider a health savings account. HSAs allow you to get a deduction for your savings and use the money for healthcare expenses tax-free—now or in retirement.
One of the most important aspects of a retirement plan is developing a solid emergency fund. All too often not having emergency money causes wasteful expenses, like borrowing high-interest debt, or withdrawing from investments at the wrong time.
Key risks to plan for include large medical and long-term care costs, death of a spouse/partner, and even family members needing care or moving in with you. Carefully consider whether additional medical, disability, or long-term care insurance could help your household protect its wealth from these risks.
Our income planning worksheet helps you get a better picture of your expenses in retirement and helps you develop a plan that might help you meet your needs.
See if you're on track to hit your retirement goals with our Retirement Calculator.
Better understand the 401(k) fees you're paying and see if there are opportunities to save with our 401(k) fee analyzer tool.
Interested in talking through your ideas or need help building your plan? Click here to schedule a complimentary goal-planning session with a TD Ameritrade Financial Consultant.


text:
News In Image
Antetokounmpo's final-seconds layup lifts Bucks over Hornets
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Giannis Antetokounmpo scored on a driving layup with two seconds left to give Milwaukee a 127-125 victory over the Charlotte Hornets yesterday, the Bucks' eighth consecutive victory.
Antetokounmpo had 40 points and 12 rebounds and Khris Middleton added 21 points for the Bucks.
"Giannis is just great. Reading the defence, attack mode," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "Any time we can get him the ball in that type of situation, we feel like he's going to make a good play."
The last minute saw a lot of back and forth between the teams. Middleton buried a three-pointer from the top left to put Milwaukee in front 123-122 with 52 seconds left.
Antetokounmpo's lay-in on the Bucks' next possession was negated by an offensive foul.
Gordon Hayward missed a jumper from the top of the key for the Hornets, and Middleton hit two free throws to make it 125-122 with 8.6 seconds remaining. LaMelo Ball made a fadeaway three-pointer – his eighth of the game – with 5.9 seconds left to pull the Hornets even at 125. After a timeout, Jru Holliday fed Antetokounmpo near the top of the lane for the reverse left-side layup.
"I haven't seen the play, but I knew in the position I was in, there was two different routes," Antetokounmpo said. "Float it up or try to sneak it in, and when you try to sneak it in, you've got to spin on. If you just go normal, most likely you're going to get it blocked."
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the game. PHOTO: AP
Middleton said Antetokounmpo's game-winner was more difficult than it looked.
"People talk about him just being dominant, but on that shot, you can see the skill that he has," Middleton said. "He's not always dunking over people, not always using the jump hook.
That's a tough layup even for guards, and he's a seven-footer coming down to end the game. Going over, then under an arm, then flipping it with a little bit of spin off the glass, that just shows you the type of skills he has as a player."
Ball had a career-high 36 points for the Hornets, followed by Kelly Oubre Jr with 25 and Miles Bridges with 22 points.
Charlotte made 10 of 17 from beyond the arc in the opening quarter, and Oubre's three-pointer in the closing seconds put the Hornets up 41-25 entering the second period. Oubre had 20 points in the first half, making five of seven three-pointers. Hill's three-pointer from the left corner brought the Bucks within 68-60 at the half.
Milwaukee took its first lead at 91-90 on a three-point play by George Hill with 2:25 left in the third quarter.
"Great effort, on the road against a really good team," Hornets coach James Borrego said.
"Came in with the right mentality from the start. Played for 48 minutes the right way. I don't have one minute where I didn't think we were playing the right way."
Ball hit 12 of 22 shots, including eight of 15 from beyond the arc, along with nine assists.
"He's grown all year, he's a fantastic player, we're lucky to have him, we're fortunate to have him," Borrego said, adding, "his fearlessness and his composure is fantastic" against the NBA champions. "He's a great player. He's only getting better. This just the tip of the iceberg. The kid's got a bright, bright future."
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The man with the 9 accents! - The Bike Shop (comedy sketch) by Edris Ahmadi: A young Afghan talented personality named Edris Ahmadi talks in multiple accents. Kindly like and support this talent. Pure Afghan talent.


text:
Castrovillari község (comune) Olaszország Calabria régiójában, Cosenza megyében.

Fekvése
A település a Pollino Nemzeti Park területén fekszik, a megye északi részén. Határai: Altomonte, Cassano all'Ionio, Cerchiara di Calabria, Chiaromonte, Civita, Frascineto, Morano Calabro, San Basile, San Lorenzo Bellizzi, San Lorenzo del Vallo, Saracena, Spezzano Albanese, Viggianello és Terranova di Pollino.

Története
A települést a 14. században alapították Castrum Villarum név alatt (jelentése városi erőd), ami a területén található várra utal.

Népessége
A népesség számának alakulása:

Főbb látnivalói
San Giuliano-bazilika
Santa Maria di Costantinopoli-templom
SS. Trinità-templom
Madonna del Castello-templom
Palazzo Salituri
Palazzo Salituri alla Giudeca
San Rocco-kápolna'''Palazzo CappelliPalazzo GalloPalazzo Gallo vecchioCastello AragonesePalazzo del MunicipioSanta Maria delle Grazie-templom''

Jegyzetek

Források

Comuni-Italiani
Italy World Club

További információk

Cosenza megye települései

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Wallich Mistletoe is a parasitic shrub, with round branchlets, which are warty. Flower-stalks are 3 mm long, bract adenate to the flower-stal, spoon-shaped, ciliate. Calyx is globose, 2 mm long, limb annular, obscure. Flowers are reddish, cylindrical in bud, lobes 4, ovate, acute, hairless. Leaves are simple, alternate and opposite, 5-10 x 3-6 cm, ovate, blunt, base narrow or rounded hairless. Lateral nerves are 2 or 3 pairs, leaf-stalks are 0.8-2 cm long. Flowers are borne in slender hairless racemes up to 3-6 cm long. Berry is 6 mm long, ovoid, rugose. Wallich Mistletoe is found in Western Ghats. Flowering: August-September.


text:
"""Classes and functions for configuring BIG-IP"""
# Copyright 2016 F5 Networks Inc.
#
# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
# You may obtain a copy of the License at
#
#    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
#
# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
# limitations under the License.
#

import os

from f5.bigip.mixins import FileUploadMixin
from f5.bigip.resource import PathElement
from f5.sdk_exception import F5SDKError

class FileMustNotHaveDotISOExtension(F5SDKError):
    def __init__(self, filename):
        super(FileMustNotHaveDotISOExtension, self).__init__(filename)

class File_Transfer(PathElement):
    """A PathElement for File_Transfer resources."""
    def __init__(self, shared):
        super(File_Transfer, self).__init__(shared)
        self._meta_data['allowed_lazy_attributes'] = [
            Uploads
        ]

class Uploads(PathElement, FileUploadMixin):
    """A file upload resource."""
    def __init__(self, file_transfer):
        super(Uploads, self).__init__(file_transfer)

    def upload_file(self, filepathname, **kwargs):
        filename = os.path.basename(filepathname)
        if os.path.splitext(filename)[-1] == '.iso':
            raise FileMustNotHaveDotISOExtension(filename)
        self.file_bound_uri = self._meta_data['uri'] + filename
        self._upload(filepathname, **kwargs)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
package org.apache.click.service;

import java.util.Date;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;

import junit.framework.TestCase;

import org.apache.click.util.ChildObject;
import org.apache.click.util.ParentObject;

public abstract class PropertyServiceTestCase extends TestCase {

	protected PropertyService propertyService = null;

    public void test_getValue() {

        try {
        	propertyService.getValue(new Object(), "username", new HashMap<Object, Object>());
            assertTrue(false);
        } catch (Exception e) {
            assertTrue(true);
        }

        try {
        	propertyService.getValue(new Object(), "class", new HashMap<Object, Object>());
            assertTrue(true);
        } catch (Exception e) {
            assertTrue(false);
        }

        ParentObject testObject = new ParentObject();
        Map<?, ?> cache = new HashMap<Object, Object>();

        assertNull(propertyService.getValue(testObject, "name", cache));
        assertNull(propertyService.getValue(testObject, "value", cache));
        assertNull(propertyService.getValue(testObject, "date", cache));
        assertNull(propertyService.getValue(testObject, "child", cache));

        assertNull(propertyService.getValue(testObject, "name"));
        assertNull(propertyService.getValue(testObject, "value"));
        assertNull(propertyService.getValue(testObject, "date"));
        assertNull(propertyService.getValue(testObject, "child"));

        ParentObject parentObject =
            new ParentObject("malcolm", null, new Date(), Boolean.TRUE,
            new ChildObject("edgar", "medgar@avoka.com"));

        assertEquals("malcolm", propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "name", cache));
        assertNull(propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "value", cache));
        assertNotNull(propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "date", cache));
        assertNotNull(propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "valid", cache));
        assertEquals("edgar", propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "child.name", cache));
        assertEquals("medgar@avoka.com", propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "child.email", cache));

        assertEquals("malcolm", propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "name"));
        assertNull(propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "value"));
        assertNotNull(propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "date"));
        assertNotNull(propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "valid"));
        assertEquals("edgar", propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "child.name"));
        assertEquals("medgar@avoka.com", propertyService.getValue(parentObject, "child.email"));

        Map<String, Object> map = new HashMap<String, Object>();
        map.put("name", "malcolm");

        assertEquals("malcolm", propertyService.getValue(map, "name"));
    }

    public void test_setValue() {
    	ParentObject parentObject = new ParentObject();

    	propertyService.setValue(parentObject, "name", "malcolm");
    	assertEquals("malcolm", parentObject.getName());

    	propertyService.setValue(parentObject, "value", "value");
    	assertEquals("value", parentObject.getValue());

    	Date date = new Date();
    	propertyService.setValue(parentObject, "date", date);
    	assertEquals(date, parentObject.getDate());

    	propertyService.setValue(parentObject, "valid", true);
    	assertEquals(Boolean.TRUE, parentObject.getValid());

        Map<String, Object> map = new HashMap<String, Object>();
        propertyService.setValue(map, "name", "malcolm");
    	assertEquals("malcolm", map.get("name"));

    	parentObject.setChild(new ChildObject());

        propertyService.setValue(parentObject, "child.name", "malcolm");
        assertEquals("malcolm", parentObject.getChild().getName());
    }

}


History was made again in 2016, when Aneurin Donald equalled the world record for the fastest double-century in first-class cricket, the 19-year-old's efforts from just 123 balls matched Ravi Shastri's record, besides becoming the youngest double-centurion in Glamorgan's history.
Ever since the mid-1960s, Glamorgan have staged an annual match in North Wales at Colwyn Bay CC's well-appointed ground in Rhos-on-Sea.
Colwyn Bay entered the Glamorgan record books in 2000 as Steve James became the first batsman in the county club's history to score a triple hundred as he made 309* against Sussex and shared in a record opening stand of 374 with Matthew Elliott, as Glamorgan posted their highest ever first-class score of 718-3.
In 2015 the ground also saw a high-scoring Championship match with Lancashire, with the visitors posting 698-5 with double-hundreds from Alviro Petersen and Ashwell Prince, as the pair of South Africans added a record 501 for the third wicket.
The ground has seen some remarkable bowling performances, with Glamorgan's Tony Cordle coming on as seventh change in the match against Leicestershire in 1969 and ending up with the remarkable figures of 9/49. In the Championship match at Colwyn Bay in 1999 Glamorgan reduced Nottinghamshire to 9/6 after a superb opening spell by Steve Watkin who took 5 wickets for just 2 runs in a 22-ball spell.
Colwyn Bay was also the ground where Glamorgan clinched the Totesport League title in 2004 by defeating Lancashire - for whom the ground was closer to reach from their headquarters in Manchester than for the Glamorgan players and staff, based around 180 miles away in South Wales.
Join us in beautiful Conwy County as Glamorgan play a four day Specsavers County Championship fixture at Colwyn Bay Cricket Club.
There's quite a selection of activies to do in Conwy County so why not make a break of it. Fancy a sea view; then it's Rhos-on-Sea or Llandudno for you. Want to soak up some culture and learn a bit about the history; Conwy is a great spot. Or if you're more adventurous and love the outdoors you can do that too. There's bundles of accommodation types to suit all tastes and budgets from cosy B&B's to big hotels and great self catering if you like to do your own thing.
If you want to book your place to stay, choose the best attractions and activities, shortlist the best places to eat out and even pre-plan a bit of retail therapy then check out: www.visitconwy.org.uk or call (01492) 577577.
From Cardiff your journey will be just under 200 miles and will take you around 4 ½ hours, but there are several route options. For Sat Nav use the grounds postcode LL28 4LR or if you want a choice of routes visit www.theaa.com. For the latest traffic news visit: www.traffic-wales.com.


text:
Home > NicePost > Another winning streak for Nice UK-sponsored Scott Mitchell
Another winning streak for Nice UK-sponsored Scott Mitchell
#NiceinUK
England captain and former world champion darts player Scott Mitchell has enjoyed several months of unprecedented success both in the UK and abroad.
"Scotty Dog", who Nice UK has sponsored for several years, recently won the Denmark Open with an average of 101 – the highest score ever achieved in the competition's history. His Easter weekend was also spent playing in a tournament overseas, when he won the Belfry Open in the beautiful surroundings of Bruges, Belgium. Other darts tournaments have recently taken him to Scotland, the Isle of Man and Hal, Holland.
Scott's success has been mirrored in his local darts playing. His winning streak in county matches has reached 9 out of 9, a very rare and impressive achievement. He has recently reached the milestone of 150 appearances for Dorset county.
In terms of international matches, Scott captained the 12 man England team to victory over Scotland and Wales at an international weekend in Bradford. The local Women's Institute hired him to train them in darts for their upcoming tournament – a fun afternoon for both Scott and the ladies involved!
The upcoming months have some very exciting events lined up, including Scott's defence of his Welsh Open title. Scott and Nice UK continue to be a winning team.
Nice in UK
Automation House
Hamilton Road
Nottinghamshire NG17 5LD
Ph. +44.16.23.55.80.86


text:
DEU ITA FRA ENG
FASCIA 1 CON CONTENUTO LUOGO
The town of the Gaite
Experience the city
Located in the very heart of Umbria, Bevagna is on the western edge of the plain of Foligno, at the foot of the hills where Montefalco rises, near a bend in the Timia River.
The hill of the Umbrian valley were the city was built is surrounded by fertile plains rich with water where grain, vineyards and olive groves grow. It is a member of the Most Beautiful Towns of Italy club for its environmental, cultural and artistic heritage.
An ancient Umbrian centre, the first documentation of it coincides with the Roman conquest of Umbria, when the Romans took over the area and built the western Via Flaminia (220 BCE) and other roads connecting to it. In the year 90 BCE, the town became an important Roman municipality by the name of Mevania. When the Empire fell, it became the object of various battles and was alternately dominated by Spoleto, Foligno, the Germanic Empire, Perugia and the Papal States. In 1439 it became part of the Papal domain and remained so, with the exception of the Napoleonic years, until the Unification of Italy in 1860.
The town, whose medieval (12th-13th century) urban layout remains intact, is surrounded by walls with towers and gates. The most conspicuous Roman remains are those of a temple, which was then transformed into what was once the Church of the Madonna della Neve, a thermal springs building, which still boasts a second-century BCE mosaic floor of white and black tiles depicting marine motifs, and, in the upper part of the town, an area where houses set in a semicircle trace the ancient theatre (two grooved marble columns now reside in the post office).
The old layout of the Roman city became medieval with piazzas and noble palazzos: on Piazza Silvestri is the Palazzo dei Consoli (1270), which hosts the Teatro Francesco Torti, the Romanesque churches of San Silvestro and San Michele Arcangelo, both constructed in the 12th century, and the Church of Santi Domenico e Giacomo (14th century). A fine example of residential architecture is provided by Palazzo Lepri, on Corso Matteotti, today the home of the city's administration. Inside the palazzo are the Library, the Historical Archives and the City Museum, of which one is devoted to archaeology and the other a picture gallery.
Also worthy of note is the Baroque church of the monastery of Santa Margherita and the church of San Filippo (1725). The Church of San Francesco (late 13th century) is located at the town's highest point. Next to the altar is the stone on which St. Francis leaned as he preached to the birds at Pian d'Arca.
Outside of town, on the surrounding hilltops, are the Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie (late 16th century), the Sanctuary of Madonna della Valle and the Convent of the Annunziata (11th century), once a castle constructed to defend the area.
www.visit-bevagna.it
info@visit-bevagna.it
(Tuesday-Sunday, from 10am to 12 pm – from 3.30pm to 6.30pm)
FASCIA 6 CON CONTENUTO SEZIONE SCOPRI LA CITTA
Tips for cultural places to visit in Bevagna, such as museums or monuments
FASCIA 7 CON CONTENUTO SLIDER ATTRATTORI
Bevagna's refined mosaic
A mosaic floor with black and white tesserae, dating back to the second century AD, is the most intact and refined mark left in Bevagna by the ancient Romans who called the city Mevania.
Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo - Bevagna
It was the first cathedral of the city, then a collegiate abolished by Frederick II in 1248. Only in 1620 it was restored by Pope Paul V.
Fountain - Bevagna
The fountain was inaugurated on August 23, 1896; it was built over a medieval well that was used to provide water to the city's historic center.
Palazzo dei Consoli - Bevagna
In the second half of the 13th century, Master Prode (who also built the Town Hall of Spello) probably built the Palazzo dei Consoli.
Palazzo Lepri
Along Corso Matteotti, in the centre of Bevagna, is the town hall, Palazzo Lepri. Built in the late 18th century, by the architect Andrea Vici, following the wishes of the Lepri family, it has a neo-classical façade and the main door is embellished by an elegant and decorative wrought iron transom.
FASCIA 4 CON CONTENUTO PORTLET DI RICERCA CONFIGURATA PER GLI EVENTI
FASCIA 5 CON CONTENUTO BANNER DOVE DORMIRE
Where to stay in Bevagna
Discover the best facilities and offers to stay in the city
Type of accommodation Guest house Holiday farm Hotel Bed & Breakfast Camping site Camping village Holiday house Religious house of hospitality Holiday houses and apartments House Study holidays Country house Playgroup Youth hostel Historic residence Trekking shelter Bathing establishment Hotel village Tourist village Albergo diffuso Educational farm with overnight stay
FASCIA 2 CON CONTENUTO SEZIONE VIVI LA CITTA
Main experiences in and around Bevagna
FASCIA 3 CON CONTENUTO SLIDER DI ITINERARI
Bike lane Assisi - Spoleto
From St. Francis town to that one of the Festival of Two Worlds, a journey that you can cycle dividing it into two easy stages: the first one from Assisi to Bevagna and the second one from Bevagna to Spoleto, in this way you won't miss anything of the beautiful countryside and villages of Umbria that you will be passing through.
Get married in Umbria
Get married in Umbria among ancient villages, enchanted castles and the beauty of the nature.
Italy Coast2Coast
From the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian Sea, through Umbria, on foot and by bike
ROUTE 05 - The countryside between Monte Subasio and Bevagna
An easy and unique itinerary to discover Bevagna, an ancient town with an important history and rich in artistic and cultural works of great beauty and that has maintained its medieval appearance unaltered.
History, art and culture: a motorhome trip through Umbrian cities
History, art and culture: a motorhome trip through Umbrian cities.
Romanesque Cathedrals and Churches
A journey among the Romanesque cathedrals and churches of Umbria
The Holy Week in Umbria
FASCIA 8 CON CONTENUTO BANNER NATURA E RELAX
The best offers to live Bevagna
If you are planning a stay in Bevagna, here for you some proposals to organize a holiday full of emotions.
FASCIA 9 CON CONTENUTO LUOGO(GALLERY)
Images from Bevagna
Teatro Francesco Torti
muro romano
immagine aerea


text:
People Dr James Canton
Dr James Canton
Department of Literature Film and Theatre Studies (LiFTS)
jcanto@essex.ac.uk
5NW.4.4, Colchester Campus
Profile Research Teaching and supervision Publications Contact
James Canton is a writer and lecturer who has written widely in creative non-fiction forms and taught on the MA in Wild Writing at the University of Essex since its inception in 2009, exploring the fascinating ties between the literature and landscape of East Anglia. His first book From Cairo to Baghdad (2011) explored the writings of British Travellers to Arabia from 1882 to 2003. Out of Essex: Re-Imagining a Literary Landscape (2013) is inspired by rural wanderings in the county. Ancient Wonderings: Journeys into Prehistoric Britain was published by William Collins in 2017 and tells some remarkable tales of life in ancient Britain. His latest book The Oak Papers is published with Canongate in July 2020. Twitter: @jamescanton Instagram: @jrcanton1 Website: jamescanton.co.uk
BA Exeter
MA Open
PhD Essex
Nature writing and the New Nature Writing movement
psychogeography and the rural derive
writing on the Essex landscape
the writers of Essex
British travel writing on Arabia
travel writing and theory
the work of W.G. Sebald
the interface between colonial history and postcolonialism
Conferences and presentations
Ancient Wonderings
Invited presentation, The Grant Arms Wildlife Book Festival, Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown-on-Spey, United Kingdom, 30/3/2018
J. A. Baker: His Life and Legacy
Invited presentation, Keynote presentation, The Burroughs Lecture, Nov 2017, Lakeside Theatre, Colchester, United Kingdom, 29/11/2017
The Burroughs Lecture 2017
Keynote presentation, The Burroughs Lecture 2017, Lakeside Theatre, Colchester, United Kingdom, 29/11/2017
Wigtown Literary Festival
Invited presentation, Wigtown Literary Festival, Wigtown, Wigtown, United Kingdom, 9/2017
Essex Radical Writing Retreat April 5-7 2017
United Kingdom, 2017
Roger Deakin event, Norwich Writers Centre, April 30th 2017
Norwich, United Kingdom, 2017
'The Oak Papers', The Memory of Trees Conference, University of Liverpool, April 20th 2017
Liverpool, United Kingdom, 2017
'The Rout of the Gipsey: John Clare In and Out of Essex, ' John Clare Society, Epping Hall, Epping, 8th October 2016
Epping, United Kingdom, 2016
Co-ordinating and Introducing J. A. Baker: Official Launch of the Archive -- A Day of Talks and Discussions on J. A. Baker's Life, Work and Legacy, Albert Sloman Library, University of Essex, 6th July 2016
Colchester, United Kingdom, 2016
On John Clare introductory talk for showing of By Our Selves, Wivenhoe, April 2016
Wild Writing Laboratory: writing workshop, University of Essex, March 2016
Back into the Wild: Towards a New Nature Writing ( March 2016), University of Essex.
Lecture series on Wild Writing, Moscow University of Economics, May 2015
Moscow, Russia, 2015
Green Knowledge, Association for the Study of Literature in the Environment (ASLE) conference, Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge (September 2015). Chairing panel on New Nature Writing comprising four MA Wild Writing students from Essex.
Cambridge, United Kingdom, 2015
Bones: Essex Book Festival, (8 March 2014), University of Essex
Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London (23 April 2012)
London, United Kingdom, 2012
Wigan Literary Festival (12 April 2012)
Wigan, United Kingdom, 2012
Essex Book Festival: Trees Shall be Our Books (3 March 2012), University of Essex.
Out of Essex: Re-imagining the Literary Landscape (1 March 2012), Hedingham Heritage Society, Hedingham, Essex.
Hedingham, United Kingdom, 2012
Tidal Margins at The Peter Peers Gallery, Aldeburgh (21-26 September 2012)
Aldeburgh, United Kingdom, 2012
Book launch: From Cairo to Baghdad (1 December 2011), University of Essex.
Essex Book Festival: A Conference of Birds (12 March 2011), University of Essex.
Out of Essex (10 March 2011), Halstead Heritage Society, Halstead, Essex.
Halstead, United Kingdom, 2011
Oriental Expressions: British Visions of Arabia in a Post-Colonial World at British Abroad: from the Grand Tour to Mass Tourism, University of Newcastle, 1-2 April 2010
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, 2010
Essex Book Festival: J. A. Baker: A Wild Essex Writer (20 March 2010), Colchester Library, Colchester, Essex.
On J. A. Bakers The Peregrine (18 March 2009), Halstead Library, Halstead, Essex.
BBC Essex, On J. A. Baker, 12 March 2009
No Camels; No Little Brown Boys: Seeing Arabia after Suez, Aden and Thesiger at After Empire? Leeds Humanities Research Institute, University of Leeds, 26-7 September, 2008
Leeds, United Kingdom, 2008
Imperial Eyes: Imperial Spies. British Travel and Espionage in Southern Arabia, 1891-1946 at Perspectives Postgraduate Conference, University of Essex, 10 May 2008
Imperial Eyes: Imperial Spies. British Travel and Espionage in Southern Arabia, 1891-1946 at New Directions in Travel Writing II Postgraduate colloquium, Nottingham Trent University, 4 January 2008
Nottingham, United Kingdom, 2008
Surveying the Scene: Towards an Understanding of British Travel Writing on Arabia since 1882 at New Directions in Travel Writing Postgraduate colloquium, Nottingham Trent University, 6 January 2006
Leading a series of writing workshop events at this inaugural Radical Writing Retreat based at the Othona Centre at Bradwell On Sea
Current teaching responsibilities
Contemporary Texts and Contexts (LT109)
Creative Non-Fiction (LT245)
Climate Emergency: Narrating the Environment and Writing the Wild (LT269)
Placement Year (LT702)
The Humanities Graduate: Future Pathways (LT705)
Independent Creative Writing Project (LT832)
The New Nature Writing (LT904)
Memory Maps: Practices in Psychogeography (LT909)
Wild Writing Work-Based Placement (LT975)
Ruth Ellen Raymer
Degree subject: Creative Writing
Joanna Susan Gerrard
Previous supervision
Melissa Jane Gilmour Shales
Thesis title: Steel Safari: Travel Writing and Critical Study
Awarded date: 9/11/2021
Laurel Eberle
Thesis title: A Real Poppy Show: Tales of Madness, Resistance, and Community in the British Virgin Islands
Awarded date: 14/5/2021
Canton, J., (2020). The Oak Papers. Canongate Books. 1838851526. 9781838851521
Canton, J., (2017). Ancient Wonderings: Travels in Prehistoric Britain. Harper Collins. 9780008175207
Canton, J., (2014). From Cairo to Baghdad British Travellers in Arabia. I.B.Tauris. 0857735713. 9780857735713
Canton, J., (2013). Out of Essex Re-Imagining a Literary Landscape. Andrews UK Limited. 1908493860. 9781908493866
Book chapters (1)
Canton, J., (2016). 'Throwing Off the European': Marmaduke Pickthall's Travels in Arabia 1894-96. In: Marmaduke Pickthall Islam and the Modern World. Editors: Nash, G., . Brill. 216- 230. 9789004327580
Canton, JR., (2016).Review of The Moth Snowstorm. The Conversation


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text:
Kohlberg and Piaget: Differences and Similarities
Iordanis Kavathatzopoulos. Journal of Moral Education. Volume 20, Issue 1. 1991.
Kohlberg's cognitive-stage-developmental theory is often described as a further development of Piaget's moral theory. In discussing the two theories, it is shown that Kohlberg attempts to describe the features of moral thought and not the formation of the independent moral function. Nevertheless, Kohlberg's later research, as well as research done by his disciples, approaches Piaget. In trying to study the issue of moral education in 'just communities, they reintroduce the Piagetian concept of cooperation in equality among the members of the group, and they use a collaborator or leader. However, their main interest remains in the description of the characteristics of the stages of individual moral reasoning and valuing of norms and community, and not the study of the process of acceleration towards the autonomous moral phase.
Kohlberg's theory is said to be not only influenced by Piaget's theory of moral autonomy, but it is often described as a further development of that theory. However, there are some doubts about the relationship of the two theories. First, there are differences in major theoretical issues, for example their constructivistic nature, as well as in the methods used. These, in turn, have serious implications for empirical issues such as the universality hypothesis, the thought-action problem and for moral education.
Theoretical Aspects
Kohlberg (1981, 1984) describes moral development as a sequence of six, or at least, five stages (since he could not find empirical support for the existence of Stage Six). The development is understood as a movement to higher more abstract and universal moral principles which regulate the moral thinking and action of the individual. This development unfolds in an invariant manner and the stages, which are structured wholes, are hierarchically related to each other. The philosophical basis for this stage sequence is Platonic. The individual tends towards an ideal form of moral thinking: the discovery of the principle of 'justice'.
If we compare this to Piaget (1932, 1976, 1978, 1980), we find an interesting difference. Piaget's theory is first and foremost a constructivistic theory. That means that each individual's moral structures are constructed by him while he is acting upon the social world he lives in. It is unlikely that this process can lead to universal reasoning, i.e. the same moral content or principles to follow, because as the social conditions and relations vary in different cultures, so do action and thinking. Thus, if Kohlberg insists on being a constructivist, the achievement of Kohlbergian universality is unlikely, in contrast to Piagetian universality. The latter does not imply the discovery of specific moral content or principle. Instead, Piagetian universality, which is in essence Spinozian, is constructed through logical and scientific processes, the adoption of which is necessary in order to serve the true nature of man (Spinoza, 1983). Kohlberg asserts that the development of moral thinking unfolds through a universal sequence which leads to the discovery of universal moral principles. If so, it is very difficult to see how such a theory can be compatible with constructivism.
This problem has its origin in Kohlberg's (1981) attempt to derive 'Ought' from 'Is'. In order to do that he was forced to reject relativity and claim that the sequence of moral development is universal and independent of culture. But, in addition to the accusation that he is influenced by the values of his own society (Emler, 1983), he is described as an ethical realist (Vine, 1983).
Of course, it is not necessary to become an ethical realist in order to avoid ethical relativism. But for Kohlberg it is impossible to do this, since his theory is not immune to relativism. If we substitute the principle of justice with some other principle, i.e. change the content of the principle, other things being equal, we may still be able to find the same formal features in the actual stage. Hence only a recourse to realism can protect Kohlberg from absolute relativism.
On the other hand, Piaget, thanks to the Spinozian nature of his constructivistic theory, does not encounter this problem. Piaget needs neither realism or relativism, since in his effort to adapt to the social world the individual has to take into consideration both his nature and the reality of the world. That implies that it is impossible for different individuals living in different societies to construct an unlimited variety of moral concepts and principles, since the nature of man is supposed to remain the same both geographically and historically. Human cultures and societies also share many common structural and functional features. Of course, this does not imply ethical realism. The individual constructs moral concepts driven by his nature and social factors, many of which are common to different cultures. He is not discovering pre-existing principles, as Kohlberg claims.
This has certain implications for the autonomy issue. Piaget understands moral development as a construction process, i.e. the interplay of action and thought builds moral concepts. Kohlberg on the other hand, describes development as a process of discovering universal moral principles. In the first case autonomy means allowing this process to unfold independently. But it is hard to ascertain what autonomy means to Kohlberg. Probably it means independence from other principles or content of moral reasoning. Piaget's moral theory as well as his cognitive theory describe processes of operations which produce knowledge. In contrast, Kohlbergian moral reasoning at each stage does not produce any new knowledge. The individual has only to follow an imperative, which, of course, is different at each stage. The focus of Kohlberg's research is on the description of the different forms thought takes in appealing to these imperatives of moral principles.
These theoretical differences have some implications for the methods used by the two theories. The Piagetian theory studies the process of the formation of moral concepts and actions. That process is necessary for the individual in order to adapt to the social world. Piaget does not differentiate between action and thinking. Both are part of the same process. Therefore the method used takes into consideration both action and thinking, e.g. the marble game. The Piagetian stories are also related to action, since they focus on instrumental social concepts such as 'intention' and 'equality'. Kohlberg, on the other hand, is interested in the description of the characteristics of moral development towards the discovery of universal principles. Thus, only hypothetical stories are used, which are sufficient to cause cognitive conflict in the subject's mind. The subjects' motivations for their answers to this conflict are the ground on which the Kohlbergian theory rests. The relationship of the stories to the subject's life, or to his actions, are not taken into consideration. That is the origin of the thought-action problem.
The Thought-Action Problem
The thought-action problem has been discussed widely. Kurtines & Greif (1974) criticised Kohlberg's theory in that there is low predictive validity of moral action from moral thought, but their review regarded the theory as a psychometric model (Broughton, 1978). Blasi's (1980) review supported Kohlberg but it revealed some problems in the relationship between moral reasoning and moral action, and as a solution he proposed the adoption of the hypothesis of responsibility. Furthermore, the rationalistic and ethical realistic theory of Kohlberg does not take into consideration the role of action for the formation of thought, which it should do if it were a constructivistic theory (Emler, 1983; Locke, 1983a,b; Wright, 1983). However, Kohlberg attempted to solve this problem without studying the thought-action dimension.
Kohlberg proposed first the notion of ego-strength (Kohlberg, 1969) and later the theory that higher-stage subjects are more consistent in their actions, by making a distinction between deontic and responsibility judgements. Following Blasi's (1980) and Gilligan's (1977) criticisms he introduced the division of the stages into two sub-stages: Type A and Type B (Kohlberg & Candee, 1984; Kohlberg et al., 1984). In doing that Kohlberg attempted to find out the typology of Piaget's two phases of moral development. Although Piaget did not define these phases as Kohlberg does, Kohlberg identifies Type A with heteronomy and Type B with autonomy. By reviewing some classical studies he showed that the actions of Type B individuals were more consistent with their moral reasoning than the actions of Type A individuals. Kohlberg defines the differences between these two types as a difference in formal features, such as universalisability, prescriptivity, reversibility and generality, and in the presence or not of the feeling of responsibility. Type B individuals often feel more responsible for carrying out their deontic judgements. Even so, this theory has been criticised in that it does not differentiate between judgemental and motivational choices (Straughan, 1985).
Thus, in attempting to solve the thought-action problem, Kohlberg attempts a new approach to Piaget. He perceives the value of Piaget's two phases of moral functioning, although this hypothesis is very different from the nature of his own theory. Of course this does not mean that Kohlberg changes his theory. It means only that the thought-action problem compels him to start seeking for a solution in the theory of Piaget.
The Issue of Moral Education
However, the most interesting development in Kohlberg's theory towards Piaget has taken place in the area of moral education. Previously Kohlberg studied the hierarchical movement from stage to stage by using the classical method of dilemmas (Rest, Turiel & Kohlberg, 1969; Turiel, 1966; Turiel & Rothman, 1972). The same method was used in classroom discussions where the teacher presented and clarified one-stage-above moral reasoning to the students (Blatt & Kohlberg, 1975).
In that early approach to moral education various ways to influence development were studied. But that influence was supposed to affect only the transition from a lower to a higher stage on Kohlberg's stage scale, and on the developmental process from concrete to abstract thinking. That developmental dimension denotes the theory's rationalism in contrast to Piagetian constructivism. The disequilibrium was not caused by the individual's interaction with reality but purely through a cognitive conflict. Therefore, the developmental process was not supposed to have any functional dimension. The distinction between content and structure was understood as a certain stage's content and structure, and it was adopted in order to explain the isolated cognitive conflict. Structure did not mean the underlying organisation or hierarchy of the cognitive knowledge producing processes, but rather a kind of content which was more general, more stable, and deeper: the Kohlbergian scheme, i.e. the structure of the content. Moral cognitive function was understood as the production of thoughts patterned after the underlying structure, which may be called internal heteronomy. Even the notion of responsibility, adopted later as an answer to the thought-action problem, emphasises the theory's focus on the ways of following moral principles than the production processes of moral knowledge.
According to Kohlberg, moral cognitive function was not a way (automatic or scientific) of producing cognitive content and its structure. Structural changes occurred by shifting from stage to stage, but this mode of change, besides being rational (not caused by a confrontation with reality), seems to be an automatic process that neither demands man's consciousness and logical reason, nor his activity, in order for that change to occur. Dialogue alone with another person does not imply any confrontation with reality since this dialogue is about hypothetical stories. On the other hand, in a Piagetian setting, the dialogue among peers is taking place in a real situation and it is about problems which, besides being real, are of great importance for the members of the group. That earlier theory of Kohlberg did not allow the study of autonomous, logical and scientific thinking, versus automatic and heteronomous thinking, in a social setting meaningful for the individual.
Later, Kohlberg approached the issue of moral education in a different way. He studied the influence of moral atmosphere upon the formation and following of new rules. Indeed, he found significant differences between democratic and traditional schools. The results showed that the students in the democratic schools rated higher than the traditional high school students in their judgements concerning hypothetical as well as practical dilemmas; they showed a higher frequency of responsibility judgements and pro-social choice for themselves and others. Furthermore, the students in the democratic schools possessed a higher degree of the collectiveness of norms and of community valuing, such as a higher phase of the collective norm (Higgins et al., 1984; Kohlberg, 1985; Power et al., 1989).
What is interesting about the democratic school is not only the acquisition of these characteristics, but also the formulation of new rules in that 'just community'. The moral atmosphere of the group is very important for the establishment of equality and cooperation among the individual members. Even so, the understanding of the spirit and the aims of the community, as well as the intervention by an instructor are necessary for the formation of new, more functional rules.
… my role in community meetings, and the role which I strove to teach the staff, was to speak not for myself but as representing the spirit, traditions and future of the community. In this spirit I would (1) advocate making a rule or developing a collective norm important to the school and (2) attempt to tie this norm to the welfare and spirit of community of the group. (Kohlberg, 1985,p.46)
That spirit is understood as the nucleus of a special community, the deeper cause of the construction of this community, and the aim of its existence. Thus the main problems that a community or a social group encounters are related to that spirit. Consequently the understanding of this relationship by the members of the group or community is necessary in order to find the most functional solutions to these problems by the formulation and acceptance of appropriate rules.
It is obvious then that this later Kohlbergian mode of theorising approaches Piaget. First and foremost, the introduction of the problematic of the formulation of new rules, but also the significance of moral atmosphere, i.e. equality and cooperation, and the role played by a 'collaborator', are sufficient to show this new Kohlbergian tendency.
Indeed, the most important aspect of this change is the theory that the creation of disequilibrium, which is necessary for the formulation of new moral rules by cooperating individuals in a democratic/egalitarian community, is possible, through pointing to the spirit of that same community by a collaborator/instructor, and the subsequent understanding or internalisation of that by the members of the community.
Kohlberg and Piaget
However, this tardy approach to the essential Piaget does not imply any rejection of the Kohlbergian theory accepted up to that time. Kohlberg and his followers are still interested in the stage advancement of morality. Their research is focused on the characteristics of this stage development and on the stages of the individual moral reasoning and valuing of norms and community. The Kohlbergians are interested primarily in the features of community where the formulation of new rules is taking place, and not on the thought formation process itself, i.e. the action-thought direction. It seems that this rule formulation process is used only as a mean for the understanding and explanation of the stage characteristics of moral thinking and community valuing. Piaget, on the contrary, is primarily interested in the thought formation process itself, while the characteristics of this process have a secondary value.
Even Piaget's theory of development towards moral autonomy allows instruction to play a positive role. Based on Vygotsky's (1962, 1978) criticism of Piaget's theory of cognitive development, the conclusion is reached that instruction can accelerate development towards the phase of moral autonomy. Indeed, two empirical studies of the concepts of 'intention' and 'equality' showed that simple instructions stimulated a significant shift to the higher phase of moral judgement (Kavathatzopoulos, 1988).
Still, there is a difference between Kohlberg and Piaget regarding the goal of moral education. Although Kohlberg mentions the spirit of the community as a very important factor for the formulation of new moral rules, the stage development which he presents does not lead to a principle of justice (representing the spirit of community) as Piaget (1932) understands it, i.e. as equality and independence, but to the high, abstract, universal and rational Kohlbergian 'justice'.
Kohlberg's later research on moral education approaches Piaget. Then Kohlberg adopted the problematic of the formulation of new moral rules by the adapted and functional moral thinking processes of cooperating individuals. He even accepted the positive influence of a collaborator. Nevertheless, Kohlbergians did not abandon their theory, which continues to focus research on the description of the features of the stage development of moral thinking towards the discovery of the principle of justice.
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Mumbai,8 July:In an attempt to spread cheap health care in rural areas, President Pratibha Patil has asked the medical community to evolve methods to ensure that it was made available easily in villages.
"I would call on all medical institutions and doctors to see how they can serve rural communities. About 75 per cent of our medical facilities are located in urban centres," Patil said while inaugurating the Fertility centre at the D Y Patil University in Navi Mumbai.
The President said a dialogue should be initiated between Medical Council of India and medical colleges to find ways to upgrade the existing regulations so that the medical institutes function better.
Patil said that medical facilities are often limited for 70 per cent of the nation's population which resided in rural areas.
Despite colleges churning out 31,000 medical graduates a year, the doctor to patient ratio in the country, particularly in rural India, is very poor in comparison to global standards, the President said.
"The students can also help in the creation of health workers in the villages by giving them training on basic medical skills and first aid treatment," the President said.
The medical system also needed to keep pace with advances in bio-medical sciences and should incorporate the latest diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, Patil said.
To allow students to understand the importance of community health, particularly in rural areas, medical colleges should send them to villages during their internship for training, Patil said.
"The curriculum for medical colleges should be constantly reviewed to take into account these changes," Patil said, adding that research should be encouraged in institutions of higher learning in the country.
"Fields such as nanotechnology, stem cells and artificial intelligence hold great potential for liberating human suffering. It is also important that health care professionals continue to maintain and develop their knowledge and skills," she said.
Number of medical schools should be increased, but without compromising on the quality, Patil said.
"The growth of institutions has to be regulated in such a manner that the best education is available to medical students, hence the parameters for establishing institutions must be clearly defined," Patil said.
Talking about the educational system in the country, the President said, youths should be equipped with world class knowledge and skills to sustain growth and manage technological revolutions in sectors including agriculture, communication, transport and energy.


Editor's note: HotelNewsNow.com editorial director Jeff Higley was a participant in the panel that he is reporting on in this article.
SCOTTSDALE, Arizona—With millions of jobs possibly on the line, it's time for the U.S. to get serious about attracting visitors from other countries. And while the Travel Promotion Act that was passed earlier this year is a big step forward, panelists at the International Society of Hospitality Consultants' annual convention said there's still much to be done.
Part of the solution is the creation of the President's Export Council that serves President Obama and includes Richard Friedman, an hotelier from Massachusetts. Another part is the creation of a travel promotion board that serves under the Export Council's umbrella and includes Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of the California Travel and Tourism Commission.
Friedman, who has long-standing ties with President Bill and Hillary Clinton and other high-ranking Democrats, said he knows the situation for incoming international tourists is dire and hopes the Export Council can help bring things in line.
The panelists took turns beating up the government's attempt.
Bernard Delomenie, partner with Horwath HTL, told a story about his trip to the United States a couple of weeks ago that spotlighted the flaws in the current system—a system that includes a US$14 fee to support the TPA initiative. He said it was impossible to pay the fee online because the website kept crashing, so 40 travelers on his plane were coming to the U.S. without paying the fee. The snafu eventually was solved, but it demonstrated the need for a cohesive approach.
David Kong, president and CEO of Best Western International, said international arrivals to the U.S. account for US$60 million to US$70 million in bookings.
Having a cohesive approach has helped other countries, most notably in Asia, said A.J. Singh, associate professor at The School of Hospitality Business at Michigan State University.
Beteta said the lack of a tourism "brand" in the U.S. is evident on Capitol Hill as well.
That lack of a brand shows in various ways, according to Singh. He pointed to the Travel and Tourism Competitive Index, which puts the U.S. toward the bottom of a list of 133 countries ranked for their visa program effectiveness.
Friedman said the visa process is tedious, and that weighs down the whole system.
A law passed after 9/11 requires a visa applicant to have a two-minute interview in person with a U.S. visa representative. "In China it takes 48 days to get a visa today, and you might have to travel a thousand miles (to be interviewed)," Friedman said.
A proposed bill will allow for interviews to be conducted over live, secure video lines.
"These visa people who work in the consulates see a hundred people a day and spend two minutes with them and let in 80% of the people," Friedman said.
It's important for that to be streamlined to bring more visitors to the U.S. Beteta said 1 in 8 Americans are directly employed in the travel industry.


Air BP has awarded its second Sterling Pilot Scholarship to 17 year old Aberdeen student, Zoë Burnett. This award which is valued at £10,000 will enable Zoë to complete her Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) and take the first step towards realising her ultimate ambition of becoming a commercial airline pilot. Keen to get started, Zoë commenced her PPL training at Tayside Aviation at Dundee Airport in Scotland on 14 June.
Elena Melia, Air BP's General Manager, UK and France said: "We congratulate Zoë on becoming our second Air BP Sterling Pilot Scholar. She is a bright and motivated young woman and we are delighted that our contribution will help her realise her life-long ambition. Air BP is committed to supporting young aspiring pilots like Zoë who want to build a career in aviation, and to contributing to the wider aviation community. We believe in supporting all areas of aviation, the supply of future pilots, as well as to providing a reliable supply of quality fuel".
Air BP worked with the Honourable Company of Air Pilots, (HCAP) to organise the Air BP Sterling Pilot Scholarship because of its excellence in promoting the availability of scholarships to a wide public audience and conducting a rigorous and fair selection process.
Air BP has named the Scholarship after its globally recognised fuel payment card, the Sterling Card. The Sterling Card provides easy access to fuel for thousands of clients and makes life simpler for private pilots, aircraft management companies and corporate flight departments at any of Air BP's 700 locations globally.


FOR ON LOCATION SHOOTS, an email and/or text with the agreed upon location will follow.
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Call 251-509-6635 if you have any questions about the location. Thanks!
Blue Room Wedding Photography ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS: Multiple locations, clothing changes, designed to include your favorite locations that tell your story. Pets are welcome! Engagement session rates are lower if included in a wedding package.
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Plus one add'l photographer if guest count is over 300.
BLUE ROOM WEDDING PACKAGE: "THE BIG WALK " UP TO 10 HOURS $4400 MOST POPULAR BLUE ROOM PACKAGE!
Choose one: engagement, bridal portrait, rehearsal dinner.
Rehearsal dinner and an engagement session may be added to bundle this service at a lower price than scheduling them separately. ADD ONS: Additional hours, additional photographer, additional sessions (bridal, rehearsal, engagement), albums and prints.
Please contact Blue Room for a consultation so we can create the best package for your needs and budget.
This package has options for additional hours and wedding albums.
Quick and easy 10-15 minute session, IN STUDIO. One look. You'll be in and out in a flash, and your edited images will be online quickly. Your favorite image will be emailed to you. Perfect for social media profiles, the "about" page of your firm/company website, and business cards.
BLUE ROOM will set up its corporate headshot backdrop on location in your office. (Travel fee applies for 30 miles or more from the studio. ) For groups, please ask for team pricing.
For ERAS applicants (Electronic Residency Applicant Service) Quick and easy 15 minute session, IN STUDIO. You'll be in and out in a flash - haha - , and your images will be online quickly. Your favorite image will be emailed to you. Also perfect for social media profiles and business cards.
45 minute session with a combination of in-studio and outside courtyard images. You'll have 2-3 scenes of headshots for you to use on social media, your website, brochures, business cards, or in a wall portrait or desk print. Your proofs will be returned in 2-3 days and will be online for viewing.
Lengthy session with multiple poses, clothing changes, and locations. Choose in-studio, outdoors, your place of business, or a mix. The result will be several portraits for you to use on social media, your website, brochures, business cards, or in a wall portrait or desk print. Your proofs will be online within two days and your favorite 10 images will be emailed to you.
60 minute session on location; travel fee of $25 if over 30 miles round trip.
30 minute session on location; travel fee of $25 if over 30 miles round trip.
30-40 minute session on location. You will be invoiced for a $45 deposit after your book your session. You may pay the deposit online. Balance is due the day of the session or you may pay the invoice in full ahead of time. Invoice will be sent to the contact email.
We start at the studio for portraits and more formal looks, and then move outside to the courtyard for greenery and garden bench photos, Multiple clothing changes, if you wish.
Two locations... We meet at the studio or the first location. You choose the locations by picking two of the following: our courtyard with our garden bench and evergreen background, Mobile Bay, park with oak trees, the bluff of the bay, downtown Fairhope, the Fairhope Pier, a cotton field (seasonal), spring flowers (seasonal), a favorite barn near my studio. Your ideas and vision are welcome!
SIX total locations! We start at the studio, move to the courtyard with our garden bench and evergreen background, and from there we will travel to 3 more locations in the area ending on the beach of Mobile Bay. Locations may include a park with oak trees, the bluff of the bay, downtown Fairhope, the Fairhope Pier, a cotton field (seasonal), spring flowers (seasonal), a favorite barn near my studio. Your ideas and vision are welcome! Plus we'll plan clothing changes accordingly.
Get fresh images of you and your business for your website and other marketing materials, social media accounts. Consultation required to determine all of your needs so Blue Room can give you an accurate estimate. Quick turn-around of your images. Travel fees may apply.
Increase your sales with professional images of your property. All images are high resolution for polished printed materials. Images will be returned edited unless otherwise specified. OPTION: If you also need web site images of the property, Blue Room will provide a second set of web ready images at no additional cost. Let's discuss the scope of the work for a final estimate. Travel fees may apply.
Increase your sales with professional images of your property. All images are high resolution for polished printed materials. Images will be returned edited unless otherwise specified. OPTION: If you also need web site images of the property, Blue Room will provide a second set of web ready images at no additional cost. Let's discuss the scope of the work for a final estimate. Minimum cost is $250 for 30 minutes. Travel fees may apply.
Increase your sales with professional, aerial images of your property. All images are high resolution for polished printed materials. Images will be returned edited unless otherwise specified. OPTION: If you also need web site images of the property, Blue Room will provide a second set of web ready images at no additional cost. Let's discuss the scope of the work for a final estimate. Minimum cost is $175 for up to 60 minutes. Travel fees may apply.
EXAMPLE: Businesses may want product photography for a sign, conference booth, etc.
Scope of the work will determine the quote we give you. Minimum cost is $175 for 30 minutes. Digital images are included.
Perfect for corporate events, 50th Anniversary, birthday parties, fundraising events, and other gatherings. NON WEDDING EVENTS ONLY. A zip file of your professionally edited images will be emailed to you within 4 days.
Some discounts may apply with this full day package. Let's talk about your details and vision .... we may have some allowances depending on the complexity of the day shoot.
Perfect for corporate events, 50th Anniversary, birthday parties, fundraising events, and other gatherings. NON WEDDING EVENTS ONLY.
Wonderful memory of the baptism / christening of your baby or child of any age.
The baptism will be photographed and I will also travel to any post celebration dinner you have planned and stay for 30-45 minutes. Includes group family photos both at the baptism and at the post celebration, as well as candid shots of your family and guests throughout the entire event. Your edited digital mages are included. Beautiful linen album is optional and additional. Special requests are welcomed!
Book a consultation so you may come in and see wedding photos, album samples, enlargements. We will discuss the planning you've done so far and create your custom photography package to meet your budget and vision of your special day! Moms and grooms welcome! No obligation, no consultation fee.
Let's meet at Blue Room's studio to discuss your session whether it is for a family portrait, a corporate shoot, or special event. Anything pertaining to your type of photo session will be discussed and planned. Topics may include clothing changes, locations, number of people, length of session or day. We'll look at Blue Room's galleries online as well as any other ideas or websites you have found to use as a resource. Need a wedding consultation? See WEDDING CONSULTATION below.


Print snowflake coloring pages for free and printable coloring book pages online. for kids & adults print snowflake coloring pages pdf.Grab your scissors, grab your glue! find hundreds of disneyinspired art and craft ideas for kids of all ages including holiday and seasonal crafts, decorations and more. Batman logo silhouette x superman logo flock flockfolie coloring page kleurplaat Download the free trial version below to get started. doubleclick the downloaded file to install the software.


Loved and lost. Seems your vet behaved very professionally and with compassion.
Oh, bless her. Sorry for your loss.
Nice to read that Lily and Trixie Pixie had a good relationship.
So sorry for your loss,she was a little beauty and you all will have lovely memories of her.
Wondering if vets and others have become better at acknowledging the loss of a pet, and the bereavement process given the circumstances.


text:
package com.randomlytyping.util;

import android.support.annotation.IdRes;
import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
import android.support.v7.app.ActionBar;
import android.support.v7.app.AppCompatActivity;
import android.support.v7.widget.Toolbar;

import com.randomlytyping.lovingleanlayouts.R;

/**
 * @since 2015.10.20
 */
public class AppCompatActivitySetup {
    //
    // Fields
    //

    private final AppCompatActivity mActivity;
    private Toolbar mToolbar;

    /**
     * Returns a new ActivitySetup instance.
     *
     * @return A new ActivitySetup instance.
     */
    public static AppCompatActivitySetup with(@NonNull AppCompatActivity activity) {
        return new AppCompatActivitySetup(activity);
    }

    public Toolbar getToolbar() {
        return mToolbar;
    }

    public AppCompatActivitySetup supportAppBar(@IdRes int toolbarId) {
        mToolbar = (Toolbar) mActivity.findViewById(toolbarId);
        if (mToolbar != null) {
            mActivity.setSupportActionBar(mToolbar);
        }
        return this;
    }

    public AppCompatActivitySetup upButton() {
        final ActionBar supportActionBar = mActivity.getSupportActionBar();
        if (supportActionBar != null) {
            supportActionBar.setHomeButtonEnabled(true);
            supportActionBar.setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true);
        }
        return this;
    }

    public AppCompatActivitySetup drawerButton() {
        final ActionBar supportActionBar = mActivity.getSupportActionBar();
        if (supportActionBar != null) {
            supportActionBar.setHomeButtonEnabled(true);
            supportActionBar.setDefaultDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(false);
        }
        return this;
    }

    public AppCompatActivitySetup hideHomeButton() {
        final ActionBar supportActionBar = mActivity.getSupportActionBar();
        if (supportActionBar != null) {
            supportActionBar.setHomeButtonEnabled(false);
        }
        return this;
    }

    //
    // Constructors
    //

    /**
     * Private constructor to prevent instantiation.
     */
    private AppCompatActivitySetup(AppCompatActivity activity) {
        mActivity = activity;
    }
}


text:
U.S. colleges struggle to find good applicants, survey says
Local // Campus Chronicles
Benjamin Wermund, Houston Chronicle
Sep. 18, 2014 Updated: Sep. 18, 2014 11:30 a.m.
In this 2008 file photo, Sam Houston High seniors Edwin Villarreal, 18, and Ana Alas, 17, put together college applications and scholarship packets with the help of college access coordinator Ivonne Rodriguez.ERIN TRIEB/FOR THE CHRONICLE
While Houston-area colleges and universities report record enrollments, admissions officers at universities across the country are struggling more than ever to find qualified applicants, a new survey says.
According to the annual survey of admissions officers, conducted by Gallup with questions written by Inside Higher Ed, "slightly fewer colleges reported meeting their enrollment targets by May 1, more reported anxiety about meeting their targets, and more reported recruiting those who had already committed to other institutions."
Houston area schools, including UH and Lone Star College, have been touting record enrollment totals. UH hit 40,959 students, a 3.6 percent bump over last fall. Lone Star claims an enrollment of 82,818 credit students this fall, a measure that counts for every student who walks through Lone Star College doors, rather than the full time student measure typically tracked by state and federal governments. That's a 7 percent increase over fall 2013, the college says.
Whether admissions officials in the Houston area felt anxiety about reaching those enrollments is another matter. According to Inside Higher Ed's report, only 5 percent of admissions directors were not concerned about attracting enough suitable applicants. Forty seven percent, meanwhile, said they were very concerned and 32 percent said they were moderately concerned:
"Much of the public discussion of college admissions focuses on the difficulty of winning admission to the most elite private colleges and flagship universities. But the survey results show that, for most colleges and universities, the key issue is attracting enough suitable applicants (and those who will accept admissions officers), not sifting through hundreds of qualified applicants per spot."
The report highlights other findings from the survey, including:
Very few admissions directors believe the college rating system the federal government is currently drafting will help college applicants and their families understand the universities they are considering.
Many universities are eyeing international students as a central part of their enrollment goals, with many considering the use of agents or "pathways" programs to draw more in. (Houston draws in many international students, but is outpaced by Dallas, a recent report showed.)
"Despite all the publicity about the growing part-time student market, full-time students remain the focus of recruiting efforts at most institutions."
Benjamin Wermund


This is an edited version of a piece I wrote 2 years ago – additional experience and learning added for seasoning!
Traditional crypto currencies (bitcoin/ether etc.) have been a lot of fun to date; but for long term personal or business dealings, they suffer from high degrees of value fluctuation (often called volatility) which makes working out future costs of things in a fixed amount of crypto hard. E.g. To paint my house next month, I agree to pay you 10 Bitcoin on completion.
Agreeing to get paid in a specified amount of Bitcoin 1 year, 1 month, 1 day or even 1 hour from now involves at least one (or both) parties taking a bet on the future value of Bitcoin, in addition to whatever risk might be associated with the reason for the payment in the first place. To the avid bitcoiner, that may look like a good bet. To the average man on the street/business; they just want to know whether they can pay their rent with it when they get it.
This brings us neatly to the concept of value stability. Value stability, over a long time period, is NOT the same as price stability. Let's say I really like cheeseburgers. I want to be able to buy one cheeseburger a month for the next five years; so I create cheeseburger coin. This coin has the magical property of always being equivalent to exactly one cheeseburger at my favourite cheeseburger stall.
Let's say over this same 5-year period, that cheeseburger has gone up in price, due to inflation, from £1.50 to £2.50. The property that both I and Barry (the guy who owns the cheeseburger stall) want is for that cheeseburger coin to be worth the price of one cheeseburger, regardless of when the coin it is used. I.e. 1 cheeseburger coin is worth £1.50 today and £2.50 in five years time, allowing me to always get a 1:1 cheeseburger:cheeseburger coin exchange rate, and Barry to always be able to sell the coin at the price a cheeseburger is sold for at the time of use, allowing him to pay for his inputs and make his profit.
This, essentially, represents both the time value of "normal" (fiat) money: e.g. £1 in one year is worth less than £1 now (assuming positive inflation), and an economic concept called Purchasing Power Parity (PPP): what equivalent money do I need to purchase a specific good (e.g. a cheeseburger) given some sort of variation (time/geography etc).
Smart contracts are a broad, often accused to be a badly named, concept. In this instance, I am restricting a smart contract to include code on block chain that has an ability to control assets (e.g. Eth on Ethereum), with defined rules as to how it administers those assets.
This still covers a huge number of scenarios; but let's go with a simple escrow service example, with a binary outcome (either done or not done) that can be determined by code alone (i.e. no arbitration/opinion input needed).
Let's say I really, really want to become famous. To achieve this, I create a smart contract that says; here is a 10 second video of me looking amazing, if you are the first person to get 10 million people to look at my video of me looking amazing by posting it on your Youtube channel, I will pay you $10k (not a real offer, please don't).
Before anyone seriously embarks on this, they will want to know the money is there. They have no reason to trust me, but there is real work involved and an opportunity cost in doing this vs doing something else. Smart contracts can solve this problem: by putting the funds into a smart contract, anyone can go and see, on the public block chain, both that the funds are available, and also, how they can earn/win some/all of the funds.
However, there is a problem: to put the funds into the smart contract, I need to fund the contract in crypto assets. Now comes the uncertainty of value. I go out to my favourite exchange and buy $10,000 worth of Ether; I take that Ether and place it in the smart contract. Now, not only am I hoping that Ether doesn't crash, so is everyone who is considering taking on the project.
This is a contract that may take some time to complete, so I am hoping that not only is someone willing to take a punt on getting my face in front of 10 million people, they are also hoping that by the time they do it, that Ether was worth it in REAL (i.e. cheeseburger) terms — i.e. if I would charge $10k for this service today, and it takes 1 year to complete, I want $10k + inflation (at least) by the time I manage to finish the work.
It is this value stability that is fundamentally critical to the wider adoption of smart contracts; removing value uncertainty, and radically broadening the real world applicability of crypto currencies in general. Once that is solved, there is only one question remaining: is it worth trying to get 10 million people to view this ugly mug for a measly $10k + inflation?


With the new release of LG's G5 this year, consumers are going to need a new phone case to protect the G5's unique design.
While the power button's still on the back of the phone like it has been in previous models, the design has changed from an extended oval to a simpler circle, prompting the need for a new case.
To facilitate this transition, we bring you the top 10 best cases for the LG G5 (in no particular order).
The i-Blason Prime is one of the absolutely best cases for the LG G5. This case is decked out with a modern X-form layout inlined with a mesmerizing zig-zag design. The exterior of the case is made with strong polycarbonate and bulked out bumpers while the interior is reinforced with a silicone sleeve for maximum protection.
The rear has an elaborate two-piece, interwoven locking mechanism that slides outward to convert itself into a 360 degree belt clip that double as a kickstand for watching movies, playing games, and surfing the web in both vertical and horizontal positions.
The Spigen Rugged Armor offers a sleek design that allows for easy handling while also protecting the phone inside with patented Air Cushion technology for maximum shock absorption.
Carbon-fiber inlays along the top and bottom rear casing provide a snug grip while also making the phone look cooler than it already is.
For those looking for a bit more minimalistic case, the Spigen Neo Hybrid Crystal is a completely transparent case made from TPU and polycarbonate for maximum flexibility and strength.
The frame of the Spigen Neo Hybrid Crystal has been reinforced around the port openings to protect your phone's weak points and makes choosing a design quick and easy by stripping it down to the bare necessities.
The POETIC Affinity Series is made from a clear polycarbonate and flexible TPU designed to keep your phone from sliding out of your hands.
The Affinity Series is equipped with sturdy bumpers to protect your phone's corners from nefarious falls while the X-FORM Poetic Design DNA provides a modern look and feel that's guaranteed to impress all of your friends.
The VRS Design doubles as both a phone case and as a nifty leather wallet. The case is made from TPU for flexibility and comfort while a magnetic clip allows for quick and painless removal and reattachment.
The case itself includes 3 card slots for debit cards as well as a money pocket for cash, checks, and receipts. The case can even be flipped over to use as a stand during long videos, interactive games, or while reading.
The NageBee Leather Wallet Pouch is a lot like the VRS Design, but it's more minimalistic and allows for quicker access to your phone. The NageBee Leather Wallet Pouch resembles a leather checkbook with a metal snap lock to protect the contents within.
Like the VRS Design, this case includes two pockets for your cards and a money pouch for your cash. The interior is lined with microfiber cloth to protect your phone's screen from scratches and fingerprints while the exterior leather is available in both brown and black.
The Caseology Wavelength Series, which is available in five different colors, features dual-layered TPU and polycarbonate with multiple textured ridges imprinted across the entire back of the case for maximum grip and durability.
Unlike other cases, this Wavelength Series case is slim and comfortable, allowing you to easily slide your phone in and out of your pocket with any hangups or intrusions.
The Skyline Advance Series from Oblique is available in four different colors of flexible TPU squeezed in between two strong polycarbonate bumpers at the top and bottom of the case to protect your phone from mid-range falls and accidents.
The case also features a metal kickstand for horizontal use, allowing you to perch your phone at a perfect 45 degrees.
The Unicorn Beetle Series from SUPCASE is specifically designed for extensive outdoor use with a dual layer of protection that consists of a shock-absorbing inner housing unit and impact-resistant bumpers as well as a built-in screen protector.
The back of the case also features a 360 degree swiveling belt clip that doubles as kickstand. Made from flexible TPU and PC plastics, the Unicorn Beetle looks amazing and even has port covers to keep dust and debris out of your phone's charging and headphone outlets.
Like the name suggests, the LG G5 Armband is a case for the LG G5, specifically designed for athletes and sports enthusiasts, that lets the wearer strap this case around their arm while exercising.
The case is made of soft silicone and features a non-slip, adjustable velcro strap that's made to fit any arm size between 9" – 21" and lets sweat breathe. The strap is also covered in reflective designs for maximum safety during night-time runs.
Previous articleSamsung Galaxy S7 vs LG G5: Which one to buy?


text:
Faculty 5: Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
Examinations Boards
Computer museum
Project ZUSE
Review and video links
Visiter information
Analog Computer Group
Master Programs
Prospective degree-seeking Students
Study Commission
Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (Master)
Electromobility (Master)
Change of study program
Application to higher semester
ETIT Bachelor
Study program overview
Overview lecture
Links and tips
Basic internship
Module manual
Current informations on the Coronavirus situation
Corona Newsticker
Our students' perspectives
Interview with Dilip Arul Prakash
Interview with Ghayathri Suriyamoorthy
How to impress with your emails
PhD and PostDocs
Information and Application
Study program Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (B.Sc. and M.Sc.)
The classic course of studies - state-of-the-art.
Electrical engineering and Information Technology are key technologies for practically all innovations of a modern industrial society.
Electrical and Information Technology engineers are working on the future of
Medical and Life Science technology
Sustainable energy supply
Automation and AI-technologies
Entertainment technology
Bachelor's program ETIT Master's program ETIT
The engineering profession - taking responsibility for the future
Innovative products form the basis for the prosperity of our country and its citizens. They form the basis for our production and service infrastructures and shape our everyday lives. Their export secures the supply for our country, which is poor in raw materials.
Innovations arise where profound technical knowledge is available and is constantly being improved. Engineers create such knowledge in research and development and implement it for the benefit of people.
Engineers have a special responsibility here, because they know the manifold interactions in our technological world. They participate in the formation of society's opinion with well-founded statements on technical interrelationships. The protection of our environment and the economical use of raw materials are just two examples of the numerous challenges we face in the further development of our society.
Globalization and global networking make it possible to develop products all over the world. Highly qualified engineers in our country ensure the success of our economy in this global competition and thus secure jobs.
Engineers in the field of electrical engineering and information technology
The field of electrical engineering and information technology covers a broad spectrum: from microelectronics and optoelectronics to energy supply and the automation of technical processes, it extends to communication technology and information processing.
Electrical engineering and information technology is adjacent to physics, which deals with the properties and behaviour of matter, and to computer science, which deals with the structures of information processing systems. Mechanical systems and their control are realized in mechanical engineering. The common basis for these fields is mathematics.
The fields of activity for engineers in electrical engineering and information technology are diverse and challenging: Starting with the research of new methods in universities and research laboratories of industry, through the development of innovative products, production planning to quality assurance and sales support, the fields of application for engineers are manifold. The graduates find jobs in practically all branches of industry and service. New job profiles are constantly appearing, for example in the development of the Internet, in the maintenance of our health or in energy supply from renewable energy sources.
The career prospects for young engineers are excellent. At present and in the near future, not even the basic requirements can be met by the expected number of graduates. In addition, the additional demand resulting from the increasing importance of information technology ensures that young engineers in electrical engineering and information technology will continue to have good career prospects.
Studying at the University of Stuttgart
Studying engineering at a university is challenging - it requires commitment, initiative and willingness to work independently. There are other ways to graduate as an engineer, although the profiles of the various institutions differ: Studying at a university of applied sciences should above all enable the application of known knowledge in development, production and services. The Berufsakademie offers very practical training, half of which takes place in a company. On the other hand, the graduate of a scientific university must be willing and able to participate in the research and development of new solutions. They should open up new fields of application and thus contribute to solving the urgent problems in our society. Studying at a university is aimed at training personalities who assume responsibility in their profession and in society.
Three excellent reasons for studying at the University of Stuttgart
Student Counseling Center (ZSB)
Pfaffenwaldring 5c, Stuttgart, Haus der Studierenden
For a counseling session with longer duration please set up an appointment through the clearing center, our first intake station.
Study office Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik
Here you can reach us


It seems I've re-written this every year, and that's probably because the technology changes so fast that I have to do so.
CDs were "the answer" a few years ago, until the cost of updating them was overtaken by the flexability of web-base projects. True: the web wasn't nearly as interactive; wasn't nearly as good at sound and video, and was nowhere near as engaging, but at least it could be easily changed with a minimum of expense.
Now it's come full circle, and there is no need to compromise anymore, as your target audience (and you) can enjoy the benefits of both, using the quality and interaction of a CD (or DVD) with the ease of updating via the internet.
Today's technology presents the high-quality detailed video and CD-quality sound, with completely transparent access of the latest data from the internet.
In today's world, merely having a website is passe - in fact, it's expected. But if you want to sell, to educate, and to impress, you'll discover (as have the market-savvy like Ford, Chrysler, Warner Bros, Adidas and others) that a CD or DVD will do the job most efficiently.
If you're presenting your firm or selling a product, did you know that a target CD or DVD has a 7% to 50% response rate? That's 3 to 25 times higher than a brochure!
And for education or training, the interactive quality and the stunning full-frame video, when coupled with the most current information possible (accessed transparently [without a browser] from the web instead of being pressed into the CD) provides a rich learning environment that leaves web-only technology in the dust.
" Why should I use a CD/DVD when we've got our internet website?"
effectiveness and bang for the buck.
A website is perfectly suited for some uses, and a CD is better for some of the same, and other, uses.
websites are not available if your user is "in the field;"
...to name a few issues with websites, that are not issues with CDs and DVDs.
The production costs of a good site, and a good interactive multimedia CD are about the same, but there are hidden costs with the internet that need to be considered.
" Wait! I already have my website. It's in the budget/paid for."
Then yep: your CD or DVD will cost you some more money. But even so, it may cost less... it's those darned hidden costs again.
Try this some time: run out to the beach; pick up a single grain of sand, and toss it back on the beach.
Now try to find it.
As of late 2007, there are an estimated 8.6 billion (yes, with a "b") web pages, and 110 million sites.
Those are worse odds than buying national television time.
A website is a wonderful method of information distribution... but it's not a "real thing" in the "real world" and therefore it's got to be found first. A friend of mine calls a web site "passive marketing" because of this.
A CD/DVD, on the other hand, is a real, tangible thing that your customer can hold in his hand... and it is always available. My friend calls this "active marketing."
OK: how do you get people to come to your web site? It's the same as it's been for the past 100 years of marketing... you advertise your site. Magazines; television; other websites; search engines.
Either way, CD/DVD or internet - this is going to cost you money. The question is how much, and how effectively will it be spent?
So: hidden cost number one: you've got to advertise your site.
With a CD or DVD, you know up front what the costs are... and they are minimal. (Don't think so? How many AOL CDs have you received?) You can hand out a CD for less than 50 cents. You can mail out a finished CD for less than a dollar.
The cost of a CD (with some exceptions, which I'll mention below) is up-front and one time.
Hidden cost of the net, number two: support and maintenance.
Then there's hardware and the pipeline. You may run your own servers, or you may farm it out. Either way, you're paying for that as well. Maybe not much (a few hundred a month) or maybe a lot (several thousand to tens of thousands per month).
Are you paying to stream video? That adds up quickly. Are you paying by megabytes transferred? Number of hits?
The point is this: you are paying, so hidden cost number three is the infrastructure of a site.
And how about effectiveness of a website vs a CD?
Well, have you ever seen the internet "slow down," making access inconvenient, if not impossible? A CD doesn't suffer this technological problem.
Nor can your CD/DVD be hacked by malicious people, including competitors. Your website is vulnerable (not to mention expensive to protect).
And let's not overlook the most fundamental difference: your customer needs to be connected to the internet in order to view your website.
A CD (and often DVD) can be viewed anywhere: in a plane; in the desert; on a ship; in a park; in any hotel room... well, you get it.
Another significant part of effectiveness is appeal. The more appealing your message, the more the user is engaged, and thus the more effective your message.
...but you can deliver flawless, 30 fps video, full stereo sound, and breathtaking photos on a CD, something that the internet webmaster can only dream about.
Finally, I often hear: "Yes, but I can easily update my website, but once a CD is pressed, it's pressed, and if I want to update information on it, I'd have to pay for a whole new CD and mailing."
In fact, I use a development environment that allows content for the CD to be drawn from any location... including the internet! As long as a connection exists, you can post weekly, daily, heck - even hourly - updates to changing data, and the user will never know that it's not right there on the CD.
You can see the example at the top of this article.
I'm not saying that there's an "either-or" decision here, but only that CD or DVD may be far more effective, far more cost-effective than you may have thought at first.
Used in conjunction with your existing website, you can reach people anywhere, any time with rich, powerful, truly engaging presentations and information, video and stunning sound.
Whether you're educating, selling, or both, the use of a CD or DVD may well save you thousands of dollars, and will certainly create a lasting impression on your target audience.
Now: how about esponse pieces - CD or Brochure?
10,000 16 page 8x10 brochures, professionally designed, duplicated and mailed : about $15,000.
10,000 CDs with audio, video, and a user-printable PDF brochure (and mailed): about $25,000.
Extra profit by using a CD: $102,500.
The extra profit above brochures is 4x the initial cost of the whole project!
Response pieces - CD/DVD or VHS video tape?
A 60 minute video tape costs about $3.60* to duplicate. The mailer is about 70 cents, and at a total of 8 to 10 oz weight, the package will cost about $2.75 to mail domestically.
Total cost of VHS response-package: $6.35.
Cost of CD with up to 2 hours of video; interactivity; net access; stills and music, including mailer - 45 cents.
Cost of mailing 1.0 oz CD: 43 cents.
Total cost of CD reply package: 88 cents.
CDs offer a better, more engaging, more valuable response-piece for less than 1/7 the cost of VHS.
And while I'm on the subject of costs, what about production costs? Well, honestly, that's rough: DVD/video or CD - it's all dependant on what you want done, and therefore, the prices can range all over the spectrum.
CDs generally range from about $5000 and go up from there. If your needs are simple, expect a bit less; if complex, expect more.
I'd be pleased to have a straight-forward talk with you about costs and benefits of video and multimedia, as I do them both.
Call me direct at 831 884-9432.