text:
import tensorflow as tf
import numpy as np
import os
import time
import datetime
import data_helpers
from text_cnn import TextCNN
import word2vec

# Parameters
# ==================================================

# Model Hyperparameters
tf.flags.DEFINE_integer("embedding_dim", 128, "Dimensionality of character embedding (default: 128)")
tf.flags.DEFINE_string("filter_sizes", "3,4,5", "Comma-separated filter sizes (default: '3,4,5')")
tf.flags.DEFINE_integer("num_filters", 128, "Number of filters per filter size (default: 128)")
tf.flags.DEFINE_float("dropout_keep_prob", 0.5, "Dropout keep probability (default: 0.5)")
tf.flags.DEFINE_float("l2_reg_lambda", 0.0, "L2 regularizaion lambda (default: 0.0)")

# Training parameters
tf.flags.DEFINE_integer("batch_size", 64, "Batch Size (default: 64)")
tf.flags.DEFINE_integer("num_epochs", 200, "Number of training epochs (default: 200)")
tf.flags.DEFINE_integer("evaluate_every", 100, "Evaluate model on dev set after this many steps (default: 100)")
tf.flags.DEFINE_integer("checkpoint_every", 100, "Save model after this many steps (default: 100)")
# Misc Parameters
tf.flags.DEFINE_boolean("allow_soft_placement", True, "Allow device soft device placement")
tf.flags.DEFINE_boolean("log_device_placement", False, "Log placement of ops on devices")

FLAGS = tf.flags.FLAGS
FLAGS._parse_flags()
print("\nParameters:")
for attr, value in sorted(FLAGS.__flags.items()):
    print("{}={}".format(attr.upper(), value))
print("")

# Data Preparatopn
# ==================================================

# Load data
print("Loading data...")
x, y, vocabulary, vocabulary_inv = data_helpers.load_data()
# Randomly shuffle data
np.random.seed(10)
shuffle_indices = np.random.permutation(np.arange(len(y)))
x_shuffled = x[shuffle_indices]
y_shuffled = y[shuffle_indices]
# Split train/test set
# TODO: This is very crude, should use cross-validation
x_train, x_dev = x_shuffled[:-1000], x_shuffled[-1000:]
y_train, y_dev = y_shuffled[:-1000], y_shuffled[-1000:]
vocab_size = len(vocabulary)
print("Vocabulary Size: {:d}".format(vocab_size))
print("Train/Dev split: {:d}/{:d}".format(len(y_train), len(y_dev)))

data = x_train.flatten()
iterations = 1000
data = data[data!=468]
w2v = word2vec.word2vec(data,vocabulary,vocabulary_inv,vocab_size,iterations)
final_embeddings = w2v.runWord2Vec()

accuracies = []
# Training
# ==================================================

with tf.Graph().as_default():
    session_conf = tf.ConfigProto(
      allow_soft_placement=FLAGS.allow_soft_placement,
      log_device_placement=FLAGS.log_device_placement)
    sess = tf.Session(config=session_conf)
    with sess.as_default():
        cnn = TextCNN(
            sequence_length=x_train.shape[1],
            num_classes=2,
            vocab_size=len(vocabulary),
            embedding_size=FLAGS.embedding_dim,
            filter_sizes=list(map(int, FLAGS.filter_sizes.split(","))),
            num_filters=FLAGS.num_filters,
            l2_reg_lambda=FLAGS.l2_reg_lambda, useWord2Vec = False,wordVectors = final_embeddings)

        # Define Training procedure
        global_step = tf.Variable(0, name="global_step", trainable=False)
        optimizer = tf.train.AdamOptimizer(1e-3)
        grads_and_vars = optimizer.compute_gradients(cnn.loss)
        train_op = optimizer.apply_gradients(grads_and_vars, global_step=global_step)

        # Keep track of gradient values and sparsity (optional)
        grad_summaries = []
        for g, v in grads_and_vars:
            if g is not None:
                grad_hist_summary = tf.histogram_summary("{}/grad/hist".format(v.name), g)
                sparsity_summary = tf.scalar_summary("{}/grad/sparsity".format(v.name), tf.nn.zero_fraction(g))
                grad_summaries.append(grad_hist_summary)
                grad_summaries.append(sparsity_summary)
        grad_summaries_merged = tf.merge_summary(grad_summaries)

        # Output directory for models and summaries
        timestamp = str(int(time.time()))
        out_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.curdir, "runs", timestamp))
        print("Writing to {}\n".format(out_dir))

        # Summaries for loss and accuracy
        loss_summary = tf.scalar_summary("loss", cnn.loss)
        acc_summary = tf.scalar_summary("accuracy", cnn.accuracy)

        # Train Summaries
        train_summary_op = tf.merge_summary([loss_summary, acc_summary, grad_summaries_merged])
        train_summary_dir = os.path.join(out_dir, "summaries", "train")
        train_summary_writer = tf.train.SummaryWriter(train_summary_dir, sess.graph_def)

        # Dev summaries
        dev_summary_op = tf.merge_summary([loss_summary, acc_summary])
        dev_summary_dir = os.path.join(out_dir, "summaries", "dev")
        dev_summary_writer = tf.train.SummaryWriter(dev_summary_dir, sess.graph_def)

        # Checkpoint directory. Tensorflow assumes this directory already exists so we need to create it
        checkpoint_dir = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(out_dir, "checkpoints"))
        checkpoint_prefix = os.path.join(checkpoint_dir, "model")
        if not os.path.exists(checkpoint_dir):
            os.makedirs(checkpoint_dir)
        saver = tf.train.Saver(tf.all_variables())

        # Initialize all variables
        sess.run(tf.initialize_all_variables())

        def train_step(x_batch, y_batch):
            """
            A single training step
            """
            feed_dict = {
              cnn.input_x: x_batch,
              cnn.input_y: y_batch,
              cnn.dropout_keep_prob: FLAGS.dropout_keep_prob
            }
            _, step, summaries, loss, accuracy = sess.run(
                [train_op, global_step, train_summary_op, cnn.loss, cnn.accuracy],
                feed_dict)
            time_str = datetime.datetime.now().isoformat()
            print("{}: step {}, loss {:g}, acc {:g}".format(time_str, step, loss, accuracy))
            train_summary_writer.add_summary(summaries, step)

        def dev_step(x_batch, y_batch, writer=None):
            """
            Evaluates model on a dev set
            """
            feed_dict = {
              cnn.input_x: x_batch,
              cnn.input_y: y_batch,
              cnn.dropout_keep_prob: 1.0
            }
            step, summaries, loss, accuracy = sess.run(
                [global_step, dev_summary_op, cnn.loss, cnn.accuracy],
                feed_dict)
            time_str = datetime.datetime.now().isoformat()
            print("{}: step {}, loss {:g}, acc {:g}".format(time_str, step, loss, accuracy))
            if writer:
                writer.add_summary(summaries, step)

        # Generate batches
        batches = data_helpers.batch_iter(
            list(zip(x_train, y_train)), FLAGS.batch_size, FLAGS.num_epochs)
        # Training loop. For each batch...
        for batch in batches:
            x_batch, y_batch = zip(*batch)
            train_step(x_batch, y_batch)
            current_step = tf.train.global_step(sess, global_step)
            if current_step % FLAGS.evaluate_every == 0:
                print("\nEvaluation:")
                dev_step(x_dev, y_dev, writer=dev_summary_writer)
                print("")
            if current_step % FLAGS.checkpoint_every == 0:
                path = saver.save(sess, checkpoint_prefix, global_step=current_step)
                print("Saved model checkpoint to {}\n".format(path))

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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text:
Belval (Ardenes), municipi al departament de les Ardenes (regió de Gran Est, França)
 Belval (Manche), municipi al departament de la Manche (regió de Normandia, França)
 Belval (Vosges), municipi al departament dels Vosges (Gran Est)
 Belval-en-Argonne, municipi al departament del Marne (Gran Est)
 Belval-Bois-des-Dames, municipi al departament de les Ardenes (Gran Est)
 Belval-sous-Châtillon, municipi al departament del Marne (Gran Est)
 Luxemburg:
 Belval (Luxemburg), barri a l'oest d'Esch-sur-Alzette, al sud-oest de Luxemburg
 Belval-Lycée, estació de trens a Belvaux al sud de Luxemburg
 Belval-Université, estació ferroviària al barri de Belval
 Estació de trens de Belval-Rédange, estació ferroviària al barri Belval a l'oest de la ciutat d'Esch-sur-Alzette, al sud de Luxemburg

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
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S.W.A.T. is a 2003 American action crime thriller film directed by Clark Johnson and written by David Ayer and David McKenna. The film details the escorting of a drug kingpin/international fugitive to prison by Hondo (Jackson) and SWAT team after the kingpin offers $100 million to anyone who can break him free. city.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Coal Tattoo
Subscribe to the Coal Tattoo
About Coal Tattoo
The politics of why Don Blankenship isn't a felon
What politicians could say when coal miners die
Merry Christmas from Coal Tattoo
The real story of the Hobet project and how lax mountaintop removal regulation has held back coalfield development
The Don Blankenship Senate campaign: Asking the wrong question about the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster
This Charleston Gazette blog attempts to build on the newspaper's longtime coverage of all things coal — with a focus on mountaintop removal, coal-mine safety and climate change.
Staff writer Ken Ward Jr., a native of Piedmont in Mineral County, W.Va., has covered the Appalachian coal industry for nearly 20 years.
More about Coal Tattoo
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Blankenship Trial
Coal ash
Coal business
Coal pollution
Mine Safety
OSMRE
Peak coal
Protest actions
Slurry impoundments
Strip mine science
Upper Big Branch Disaster
MSHA to families: UBB mine kept 2 sets of books
June 28, 2011 by Ken Ward Jr.
U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration officials have wrapped up their meeting with the families of the miners who died in the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, and the briefing seems to have revealed a few new pieces of information.
First of all, the meeting apparently kicked off with a recorded video from Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, who again expressed her sympathy to the families, thanked them for allowing her to spend time with them during the vigil that week in April 2010, and also promised the government would "leave no stone unturned" in prosecuting any criminal activity found to have occurred at Upper Big Branch.
But the biggest piece of news, according to numerous people who attended the briefing, is that MSHA revealed that agency investigators believe Massey's Performance Coal Co. subsidiary was essentially keeping two sets of books about safety problems and hazards at the UBB operation. One set was called the "official" book, and that's what was shown to government inspectors. The other set was called the "production" book, but it also included notations about safety problems or hazards discovered at the mine.
Shirley Whitt, whose brother Boone Payne died in the disaster, said that MSHA coal administrator Kevin Stricklin told the families that there was, "One set of books that had what problems they'd run into. That set was for Massey. Then other set was for MSHA so MSHA wouldn't have any idea of the problems they were having." Whitt said Stricklin told families that it was very unusual, but not necessarily illegal to have two sets of mine examination books.
But Whitt told the Gazette's Gary Harki tonight:
I think that it makes it obvious that they (Massey) were trying to hide something. Why else would you do that?
When family members pressed on the question of the legality of the two sets of books, MSHA's top lawyer, Patricia Smith, told the families that both MSHA and the U.S. Department of Justice were closely examining the two sets of books for potential violations of civil and criminal statutes that require accurate recording of hazards.
Several sources who attended tonight's meeting also told me that MSHA officials told families that they have found Massey routinely did not record the required methane readings and airflow readings that were supposed to be part of regular mine safety examinations by company officials.
MSHA officials spent a fair amount of time at tonight's meeting explaining in some detail why they believe that Massey Energy's "natural disaster" theory of the explosion is just wrong, and more details on that issue will likely be forthcoming during the MSHA media briefing scheduled for 10 a.m. tomorrow.
MSHA investigators have apparently completed a more than 200-page draft of their report on the disaster, but don't expect to make it public in final form until sometime late this fall, according to sources who attended tonight's meeting.
Celeste Monforton June 28, 2011
Thanks for providing this very timely report. I look forward to reading more from you after tomorrow's public briefing.
Paula l June 29, 2011
Ken – Is MSHA/DOJ investigating whether or not other Massey mines kept 2 sets of books?
New age Miner June 29, 2011
Absolutely unbelievable! Massey Energy (along with Don Blankenships cronies) have done nothing but give the nations coal industry a "black eye". And what's also sad is that the "Massey Management culture" is still present. Don't be fooled by the Alpha buy-out. The buy-out was nothing more than a change of company name. Alpha has yet to go around to each of the coal mines and down play the "Massey-mentality" of production 1st, safety 2nd, and litigate every violation. Don's way of mining coal and trying to hide all the hazardous conditions has done nothing less than destroyed the nations perseption of how the coal industry does business.
Thanks for the up-date Ken!
Mark June 29, 2011
Good Article Ken! All I can say is WOW!
coalminer June 29, 2011
Well it appears that msha invesigators lack mining experience as far as supervision. Many large mines keep construcion books, production logs where more detail iskept so they can properly manage the mine. There is absolutely nothing wrong with 2 or more books. That is why the state team did not mention it. Now it makes u wonder what in the world have they been doing all this time. Chasing rabbits in a dark hole!
Ken Ward Jr. June 29, 2011
coalminer,
The problem with keeping multiple books is that in this instance, the production books indicated hazards that weren't noted on the required examination books — a possible indication that the exams were inadequate or that those books were falsified, which is a felony.
old one June 30, 2011
I wasn't going to comment on this one however I think we are making much ado about nothing over the record books. It doesn't matter if there is 1 book or a 100 books. If the correct information is not recorded all are useless to the miners, mine foremans, and the mine inspector. This is where you need a well trained person that can examine the mine and cite the hazards found and then the record books when he come back to the surface. All mine inspector do this the books are a tool used by them and most times the first citation issued. If for example the mine is liberating methane and is on the 103i spot and the books says 0.0 found in all areas of the mine this should throw up a red flag and then the inspector be he state or federal starts looking.


text:
Police confirm rape case opened against DJ Fresh and Euphonik
Drama at TTM leaves coach frustrated.
SA's Covid-19 dead are supposed to be buried fast but even cremations are taking weeks.
For the people, by the people!
BBR Community Forum
SA records 2 563 new COVID-19 cases
November 30, 2020 Ndlovu
South Africa on Sunday reported 2 563 new COVID-19 cases and 38 deaths.
The latest figure is down from the 3 198 cases recorded on Saturday.
This brings the total number of cases since the outbreak to 787 702, while the death toll stands at 21 477.
"We extend our condolences to the loved ones of the departed and thank the healthcare workers who treated the deceased patients," said Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize.
KwaZulu-Natal COVID-19 cases rise
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal province is monitoring resurgence indicators very closely.
According to Premier Sihle Zikalala, the province has not reached the resurgence threshold, although the number of cases has been fluctuating in the past week, with the province recording the highest number of 353 cases on Friday.
"These indicators are monitored daily, and if the resurgence indicators are triggered, the provincial resurgence plan will be implemented.
"Sadly, we have lost 3 340 people, while thankfully, 117 964 have recovered," said Zikalala on Sunday.
KwaZulu-Natal has the third-highest COVID-19 cases, with 6 212 still active.
The Western Cape and Eastern Cape already experiencing the second wave of infections.
The Premier said the provincial government was extremely concerned about the spike in new infections over the past four weeks.
Meanwhile, he said the cases have jumped to 1 652 in the last week, while the cases have increased by 30% in the past two weeks.
"As of yesterday [Saturday], we had 287 new cases, and no deaths," he said.
eThekwini metro continues to record the highest number of new cases daily, contributing to about half the total of laboratory-confirmed cases.
Also, the number of deaths reported in the province has been declining in the past four weeks.
"The case fatality rate, therefore, remains at 2.6% and the mortality rate was 30 deaths per 100 000 population," said Zikalala.
The Premier said Amajuba and eThekwini districts have the highest mortality rate, at 42 deaths per 100 000.
Meanwhile, 7 132 KwaZulu-Natal healthcare workers have been infected with COVID-19 in the public sector since the beginning of the pandemic.
Of the total infected, 88 or 1% have succumbed to the disease.
"The majority of the infected healthcare workers were nurses, who make up 58% of these statistics.
"No new health care infections or deaths have been reported as of 27 November."
Globally, the World Health Organisation is reporting 61 869 330 confirmed cases, including 1 448 896 deaths. – SAnews.gov.za
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text:
Uzbek Language
Get Uzbek Language essential facts below. View Videos or join the Uzbek Language discussion. Add Uzbek Language to your PopFlock.com topic list for future reference or share this resource on social media.
Turkic language spoken in Central Asia
O?zbekcha, o?zbek tili,
?, ?,
, ?
Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Russia, China
Uzbeks
27 million (2015)[1]
Common Turkic
Karluk[2]
Early forms
Karakhanid
Khorezmian
Perso-Arabic[a]
Uzbek Braille
(Uzbek alphabets)
Official language in
Recognised minority
language in
Afghanistan[b]
Language codes
uzb - inclusive code
Individual codes:
uzn - Northern
uzs - Southern
Glottolog
uzbe1247
Linguasphere
44-AAB-da, db
Dark blue = majority; light blue = minority
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.
Uzbek is a Turkic language that is the first official and only declared national language of Uzbekistan. The language of Uzbeks is spoken by some 27 million native speakers in Uzbekistan and elsewhere in Central Asia, making it the second-most widely spoken Turkic language after Turkish.
Uzbek belongs to the Eastern Turkic or Karluk branch of the Turkic language family. External influences include Arabic, Persian and Russian. One of the most noticeable distinctions of Uzbek from other Turkic languages is the rounding of the vowel to , a feature that was influenced by Persian. Unlike other Turkic languages, vowel harmony is completely lost in Standard Uzbek, though it is (albeit somewhat less strictly) still observed in its dialects, as with sister Karluk language Uyghur.
In the language itself, Uzbek is o?zbek tili or o?zbekcha. In Cyrillic, it is ? or ?. In Arabic script, ? and .
Turkic speakers probably settled the Amu Darya, Syr Darya and Zarafshan river basins from at least 600-700 CE, gradually ousting or assimilating the speakers of Eastern Iranian languages who previously inhabited Sogdia, Bactria and Khwarezm. The first Turkic dynasty in the region was that of the Kara-Khanid Khanate in the 9th-12th centuries,[4] who were a confederation of Karluks, Chigils, Yaghma and other tribes.[5]
Uzbek can be considered the direct descendant or a later form of Chagatai, the language of great Turkic Central Asian literary development in the realm of Chagatai Khan, Timur (Tamerlane), and the Timurid dynasty[6] (including the early Mughal rulers of India). The language was championed by Ali-Shir Nava'i in the 15th and 16th centuries. Nava'i was the greatest representative of Chagatai language literature.[7][8] He significantly contributed to the development of the Chagatai language and its direct descendant Uzbek and is widely considered to be the founder of Uzbek literature.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Ultimately based on the Karluk variant of the Turkic languages, Chagatai contained large numbers of Persian and Arabic loanwords. By the 19th century it was rarely used for literary composition, but disappeared only in the early 20th century.
The term Uzbek as applied to language has meant different things at different times. Prior to 1921 "Uzbek" and "Sart" were considered to be different dialects:
"Uzbek" was a vowel-harmonised Kipchak variety spoken by descendants of those who arrived in Transoxiana with Muhammad Shaybani in the 16th century, who lived mainly around Bukhara and Samarkand, although the Turkic spoken in Tashkent was also vowel-harmonised. It can be called old Uzbek and it's considered to be related to that specific group of people.
"Sart" was a Karluk dialect spoken by the older settled Turkic populations of the region in the Fergana Valley and the Qashqadaryo Region, and in some parts of what is now the Samarqand Region; it contained a heavier admixture of Persian and Arabic, and did not have vowel harmony. It became the standard Uzbek language and the official dialect of Uzbekistan.
In Khanate of Khiva, Sarts spoke a highly Oghuz Turkified form of Karluk Turkic. After 1921 the Soviet regime abolished the term Sart as derogatory, and decreed that henceforth the entire settled Turkic population of Turkestan would be known as Uzbeks, even though many had no Uzbek tribal heritage.[]
However, the standard written language that was chosen for the new republic in 1924, despite the protests of Uzbek Bolsheviks such as Fayzulla Khodzhayev, was not pre-revolutionary "Uzbek" but the "Sart" language of the Samarkand region. Edward A. Allworth argued that this "badly distorted the literary history of the region" and was used to give authors such as the 15th-century author Ali-Shir Nava'i an Uzbek identity.[16] All three dialects continue to exist within modern spoken Uzbek.
Writing systems
A 1911 text in the Uzbek Arabic alphabet
Uzbek has been written in a variety of scripts throughout history:
Pre-1928: the Arabic-based Yaña imlâ alphabet by literates, approximately 3.7% of Uzbeks at the time.[17]
1880s: Russian missionaries attempted to use Cyrillic for Uzbek.[17]
1928-1940: the Latin-based Yañalif used officially.
1940-1992: the Cyrillic script used officially.
Since 1992: a Yañalif-based Latin script is official in Uzbekistan.
Despite the official status of the Latin script in Uzbekistan, the use of Cyrillic is still widespread, especially in advertisements and signs. In newspapers, scripts may be mixed, with headlines in Latin and articles in Cyrillic.[18] The Arabic script is no longer used in Uzbekistan except symbolically in limited texts[18] or for the academic studies of Chagatai (Old Uzbek).[17]
In the western Chinese region of Xinjiang, where there is an Uzbek minority, Arabic is still used.
In Afghanistan, the traditional Arabic orthography is still used.
Standard Uzbek has six vowel phonemes:[19]
e o
æ ~ ? ?
/i/ and /u/ can have short allophones of [?] and [?], and central allophones [] and [?]. /?/ can have an open back allophone [?].
Uvular
m n ?
Plosive/
Affricate
p t? (t?s) t k q (?)
voiced
b d? d ?
Fricative
? s ? ? h
w~v z (?) ?
Approximant
Rhotic
Morphology and syntax
As a Turkic language, Uzbek is null subject, agglutinative and has no articles and no noun classes (gender or otherwise). The word order is subject-object-verb (SOV). Words are usually oxytones (i.e. the last syllable is stressed), but certain endings and suffixal particles are not stressed.
In Uzbek, there are two main categories of words:
nominals (equivalent to nouns, pronouns, adjectives and some adverbs)
verbals (equivalent to verbs and some adverbs)
Uzbek uses the following verbal suffixes:
-moq infinitive kelmoq to come
-di past tense keldi came
-ing imperative keling! come!
The present and future tenses are both expressed with the -a and -y suffixes.
Nouns take the -ni suffix as an indefinite article. Unsuffixed nouns are understood as definite.
men I
biz we
sen you
(informal singular)
siz you
(formal singular and plural)
u he/she/it
ular they
Word order
The word order in the Uzbek language is subject-object-verb (SOV), like all other Turkic languages. Unlike in English, the object comes before the verb and the verb is the last element of the sentence.
I see the book
Men kitobni ko?rdim
subject direct object transitive verb
1.SG. book see-PRES.IND.
Estimates of the number of speakers of Uzbek vary widely, from 25 up to 30 million. Ethnologue estimates put the number of native speakers at 27 million across all the recognized dialects. The Swedish national encyclopedia, Nationalencyklopedin, estimates the number of native speakers to be 30 million,[20] and the CIA World Factbook estimates 25 million. Other sources estimate the number of speakers of Uzbek to be 21 million in Uzbekistan,[21] 3.4 million in Afghanistan,[22] 900,000 in Tajikistan,[23] 800,000 in Kyrgyzstan,[24] 500,000 in Kazakhstan,[25] 300,000 in Turkmenistan,[26] and 300,000 in Russia.[27]
The influence of Islam, and by extension, Arabic, is evident in Uzbek loanwords. There is also a residual influence of Russian, from the time when Uzbeks were under the rule of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. Most importantly, Uzbek vocabulary, phraseology and pronunciation has been heavily influenced by Persian through its historic roots. Uzbek has been significantly influenced by Persian and it also influenced Tajik (a variety of Persian).[28][29] Of the Turkic languages, Uzbek is perhaps the one most strongly influenced by Persian.[30]
A man speaking Uzbek
Uzbek can be roughly divided into three dialect groups. The Karluk dialects, centered on Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and the Ferghana Valley, are the basis for the standard Uzbek language. This dialect group shows the most influence of Persian vocabulary, particularly in the historically Persian cities of Bukhara and Samarkand. The Kipchak dialect, spoken from the Surxondaryo region through north-central Uzbekistan into Karakalpakstan, show significant influence from the Kipchak Turkic languages, particularly in the mutation of [j] to [?] as in Kazakh and Kyrgyz. The Oghuz dialect, spoken mainly in Khorezm along the Turkmenistan border, is notable for the mutation of word-initial [k] to [g].
In Turkmenistan since the 2000s the government conducted a forced "Turkmenization" of ethnic Uzbeks living in the country.[31][32][33] In the Soviet years and in the 1990s, the Uzbek language was used freely in Turkmenistan. There were several hundred schools in the Uzbek language, many newspapers were published in this language. Now there are only a few Uzbek schools in the country, as well as a few newspapers in Uzbek. Despite this, the Uzbek language is still considered to be one of the recognized languages of national minorities in this country. Approximately 300,000-600,000 Uzbeks live in Turkmenistan. Most of the Uzbek speakers live in Dashoghuz Velayat, as well as in Lebap Velayat and partly in Ashghabad.[34]
Uzbek is one of the many recognized languages of national minorities in Russia. More than 400 thousand Uzbeks are citizens of the Russian Federation and live in this country. Also in Russia there are 2 to 6 million Uzbeks from the Central Asian republics (mainly Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan) who are immigrants and migrants. Large diasporas of Uzbeks live in such large cities of Russia as Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Kazan, Volgograd, Samara, Rostov-on-Don, Perm, Nizhny Novgorod, Chelyabinsk, Vladivostok, Ufa, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, Krasnodar, Voronezh, Saratov and Tyumen. Signs in Uzbek are often found in these cities. Signs refer mainly to various restaurants and eateries, barbershops, shops selling fruits, vegetables and textile products. There is a small clinic, where signs and labels in the Uzbek language. There are also illegal signs in Uzbek on the streets of these cities with underground sex services ("Call girls"). Uzbeks in Russia prefer to use the Cyrillic Uzbek alphabet, but in recent years Uzbek youth in Russia are also actively using the Latin Uzbek alphabet. Small newspapers in Uzbek are published in large cities of Russia.[35][36][37] Some instructions for immigrants and migrants are duplicated, including in Uzbek. Uzbek language is studied by Russian students in the faculties of Turkology throughout Russia.[] The largest Uzbek language learning centers in Russia are located in the universities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. There are also many Russians who are interested in and love the Uzbek language and culture and who study this language for themselves. Uzbek is one of the most studied languages among the many languages of the former USSR in Russia. Native speakers of Uzbek in Russia usually use in their vocabulary a lot of words from Russian.[38]
Chagatai language
Southern Uzbek language
^ Used in Afghanistan and China
^ Third official language in areas where Uzbeks are majority[3]
^ Uzbek at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
Northern at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
Southern at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
^ Scott Newton (20 November 2014). Law and the Making of the Soviet World: The Red Demiurge. Routledge. pp. 232-. ISBN 978-1-317-92978-9.
^ [1] From amongst Pashto, Dari, Uzbeki, Turkmani, Baluchi, Pachaie, Nuristani, Pamiri and other current languages in the country, Pashto and Dari shall be the official languages of the state. In areas where the majority of the people speak in any one of Uzbeki, Turkmani, Pachaie, Nuristani, Baluchi or Pamiri languages, any of the aforementioned language, in addition to Pashto and Dari, shall be the third official language, the usage of which shall be regulated by law.
^ "The Origins of the Uzbek Language" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 September 2013. Retrieved 2013.
^ Golden, Peter. B. (1990), "Chapter 13 - The Karakhanids and Early Islam", in Sinor, Denis (ed.), The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-24304-1
^ Allworth, Edward (1994). Central Asia: 130 Years of Russian Dominance, a Historical Overview. Duke University Press. p. 72. ISBN 0-8223-1521-1.
^ Robert McHenry, ed. (1993). "Nav?'?, (Mir) 'Al? Sh?r". Encyclopædia Britannica. 8 (15th ed.). Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. p. 563.
^ Subtelny, M. E. (1993). "M?r 'Al? Sh?r Naw?'?". In C. E. Bosworth; E. Van Donzel; W. P. Heinrichs; Ch. Pellat (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam. VII. Leiden--New York: Brill Publishers. pp. 90-93.
^ Valitova, A. A. (1974). "Alisher Navoi". In A. M. Prokhorov (ed.). Great Soviet Encyclopedia (in Russian). 17 (3rd ed.). Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia. pp. 194-195.
^ A. M. Prokhorov, ed. (1997). "Navoi, Nizamiddin Mir Alisher". Great Encyclopedic Dictionary (in Russian) (2nd ed.). Saint Petersburg: Great Russian Encyclopedia. p. 777.
^ "Alisher Navoi". Writers History. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 2012.
^ Maxim Isaev (7 July 2009). "Uzbekistan - The monuments of classical writers of oriental literature are removed in Samarqand". Ferghana News. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 2012.
^ Kamola Akilova. "Alisher Navoi and his epoch in the context of Uzbekistan art culture development [sic]". San'at Magazine. Retrieved 2012.
^ "Uzbek Culture". UzHotels. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 2012.
^ "Alisher Navoi - The Crown of Literature". Kitob.uz Children's Digital Library (in Uzbek). Retrieved 2012. [permanent dead link]
^ Allworth, Edward A. (1990). The Modern Uzbeks: From the Fourteenth Century to the Present: A Cultural History. Hoover Institution Press. pp. 229-230. ISBN 978-0-8179-8732-9.
^ a b c Batalden, Stephen K. (1997). The Newly Independent States of Eurasia: Handbook of Former Soviet Republics. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-89774-940-4.
^ a b European Society for Central Asian Studies. International Conference (2005). Central Asia on Display. LIT Verlag Münster. p. 221. ISBN 978-3-8258-8309-6.
^ Sjoberg, Andrée F. (1963). Uzbek Structural Grammar. Uralic and Altaic Series. 18. Bloomington: Indiana University. pp. 16-18.
^ "Världens 100 största språk 2007" ("The World's 100 Largest Languages in 2007"), Nationalencyklopedin
^ "Uzbekistan". CIA. Retrieved 2012.
^ "Languages of Afghanistan". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2012.
^ "Languages of Tajikistan". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2012.
^ "Ethnic Makeup of the Population" (PDF). National Statistics Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic (in Russian). Retrieved 2012.
^ "National Census 2009" (PDF). Statistics Agency of Kazakhstan (in Russian). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 2010.
^ "Languages of Turkmenistan". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2012.
^ "National Census 2010". Federal State Statistics Service (in Russian). Retrieved 2012.
^ Ido, Shinji (21 March 2014). "Bukharan Tajik" (PDF). Journal of the International Phonetic Association. 44 (1): 87-102. doi:10.1017/S002510031300011X.
^ Hickey, Raymond 2010. The Handbook of Language Contact. Malden, MA: Wiley- Blackwel page 655
^ "AZERBAIJAN ix. Iranian Elements in Azeri Turki - Encyclopaedia Iranica". www.iranicaonline.org.
^ memohrc.org -- "?" ?
^ iamik.ru -- ? ?
^ vb.kg -- ? ?
^ 365info.kz -- ? ? ?
^ fergananews.com -- ?
^ vesti.kg -- ?
^ caravan.kz -- ?
^ the-village.ru -- , , ? ? ?
Mamatov, Jahangir; Kadirova, Karamat (2008). Comprehensive Uzbek-English Dictionary. Hyattsville, Maryland: Dunwoody Press. ISBN 978-1-931546-83-6. OCLC 300453555.
Csató, Éva Ágnes; Johanson, Lars (1936). The Turkic Languages. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-41261-7. OCLC 40980286.
Bregel, Yu (1978). "The Sarts in The Khanate of Khiva". Journal of Asian History. 12 (2): 120-151. JSTOR 41930294.
Bodrogligeti, András J. E. (2002). Modern Literary Uzbek: A Manual for Intensive Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Courses. München: Lincom Europa. ISBN 3-89586-695-4. OCLC 51061526.
Fierman, William (1991). Language Planning and National Development: The Uzbek Experience. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. ISBN 3-11-085338-8. OCLC 815507595.
Ismatullaev, Kha?rulla (1995). Modern literary Uzbek I. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University, Research Institute for Inner Asian Studies. ISBN 0-933070-36-5. OCLC 34576336.
Karl, A. Krippes (1996). Uzbek-English Dictionary (Rev ed.). Kensington: Dunwoody Press. ISBN 1-881265-45-5. OCLC 35822650.
Sjoberg, Andrée Frances (1997). Uzbek Structural Grammar. Richmond: Curzon Press. ISBN 0-7007-0818-9. OCLC 468438031.
Waterson, Natalie (1980). Uzbek-English Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-713597-8. OCLC 5100980.
Republic of Uzbekistan, Ministry of Higher and Middle Eductation. Lotin yozuviga asoslangan o?zbek alifbosi va imlosi (Latin writing based Uzbek alphabet and orthography), Tashkent Finance Institute: Tashkent, 2004.
A. Shermatov. "A New Stage in the Development of Uzbek Dialectology" in Essays on Uzbek History, Culture and Language. Ed. Bakhtiyar A. Nazarov & Denis Sinor. Bloomington, Indiana, 1993, pp. 101-9.
Uzbek Cyrillic-Latin converter
Uzbek Cyrillic-Latin text and website converter
Uzbek Latin-Cyrillic text and website converter
Dictionary of the Uzbek Language Volume I (?--?) (Tashkent, 1981)
Dictionary of the Uzbek Language, Volume II (?--?) (Tashkent, 1981)
English-Uzbek and Uzbek-English online dictionary
Russian-Uzbek and Uzbek-Russian online dictionary
Uzbek<>Turkish dictionary (Pamukkale University)
Ole Olufsen: "A Vocabulary of the Dialect of Bokhara" [2] (København 1905)
Grammar and orthography
Introduction to the Uzbek Language, Mark Dickens
Principal Orthographic Rules For The Uzbek Language, translation of Uzbekistan Cabinet of Minister's Resolution No. 339, of August 24, 1995
Uzbek alphabet, Omniglot
Learning/teaching materials
Ona tili uz, a website about Uzbek
Uzbek language materials, Uz-Translations
UZICUL Uzbek Language Class Day 1
Uzbek_language


A country house with a lot of charm, in a quiet area and with views to the mountains.
Outside there is a terrace with several areas for eating and resting, hammocks at the back of the pool, beautiful palm trees and plants typical of the Mediterranean climate, outside shower… There is space to park several cars inside the plot.
The house retains its rustic style with details such as natural stone on the walls and wooden beams, but during the last years have made some reforms to adapt the house with all amenities.
In the living room there is a nice fireplace, the kitchen is very practical with an island in the middle and space for small family meals. Both bedrooms have large beds and wardrobes. The bathroom has a bath and plenty of space.
There is also a separate apartment with living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom with shower.


1. What is the name of your program (as you would like it displayed)?
2. What is your name and role in the program?
Please also provide an email address or phone number at which to contact you.
3. From what date to what date does your program operate? How many days a week and for how long each day?
4. Where does your program take place? What is the address?
5. How many students do you serve? What are their ages?
6. In what neighborhoods, school districts, towns, or areas do your students live?
List organizations you work with – other non-profits, school district, funders, sources of volunteers, etc.


text:
c. 1337 – April 4, 1406
Robert III was born around 1337 as the eldest son of Robert Stewart. Christened John, the future king descended from King Robert I through his maternal grandmother, Marjorie. In 1362, John joined his father in a rebellion against his great-uncle, King David II. The revolt failed, and the king imprisoned John. Despite John's attempt to overthrow him, David created his grand-nephew the earl of Carrick in 1368. The king later reconciled with Robert and named him his heir.
Upon the childless David II's death in 1371, Robert succeeded him as Robert II. Over the following decade, Robert increasingly delegated ruling to his heir. By 1384, John actively ruled on behalf of his aging father. Despite John's increased importance, his political rise proved short-lived. In 1388, the prince suffered a kick from a horse. The injury crippled John and his brother, Robert, earl of Fife, replaced him at court.
King of Scotland
On April 19, 1390, the elderly Robert II died. Despite losing his standing after being crippled, John succeeded his father. Although named John, the new king sought to avoid association with a past king named John Balliol. During the Scottish Wars of Independence, Balliol had been a puppet ruler for King Edward I of England. In turn, the Scots viewed Balliol as a traitor. To prevent any connection to Balliol, John took the regnal name Robert III.
Although king, Robert III was content to let others rule for him. The king's disability never improved and caused him to experience depression. In turn, Robert increasingly allowed the earl of Fife to govern without interference. By the late 1390s, the king had withdrawn from the public and become a recluse. In recognition of his service, the earl of Fife became the duke of Albany in 1398.
During Robert III's reign, the duke of Albany served as his primary regent. However, the king's heir, David, would rule from 1399 – 1402. The prince proved to a reckless and impulsive man. Due to his behavior, David quickly became an ineffective and unpopular ruler. Seeking his arrogant nephew's downfall, Albany began a propaganda campaign against David. The duke later imprisoned his nephew and neglected David until he starved to death in March 1402.
Prince James (James I of Scotland)
Due to Albany's growing power, the king couldn't punish him. Alarmed by his son's death, Robert III feared for his younger son's safety. To prevent James from being harmed, the king had his son sent to King Charles VI of France's court. Aware of Robert's plan, Albany attempted to capture his nephew. However, English pirates would intercept James' ship before it could make it to France. The captured prince would be handed over to King Henry IV of England and imprisoned.
Final Years
Robert III eventually learned of his son's capture by the English. Shocked by the news, the king's depression worsen. Robert's insecurities, his lackluster reign, and crippling depression took a significant toll on his health. Over the next two years, the king's physical health gradually declined. On his deathbed in 1406, a bitter Robert requested that he not be buried beside other Scottish kings. Finally, on April 4, the pitiful king died.
Robert III had an ineffective reign. Although king, Robert's disability forced him to rely on others to govern for him. As a result, the nobility's power increased at the monarchy's expense. The king also failed to prevent his son David's death and couldn't keep his son James safe. Aware of his short-comings, Robert summed up his reign with his epitaph, "Here lies the worst of kings and the most miserable of men."
Oram, R. (2006). The Kings & Queens of Scotland. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Tempus.
Rattle, A., & Vale, A. (2008). Mad Kings & Queens: History's Most Famous Raving Royals. New York, NY: Sterling.
Robert III. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-III
James I of Scotland: The Captive King Early Life James I was born the youngest son of King Robert III around 1394. The prince experienced a dangerous childhood. His father's younger brother, Robert Stewart, was a calculating and treacherous man. As the powerful Duke of Albany, Stewart aspired to have his sons succeed to the Scottish throne....
Malcolm III of Scotland: The Raider King Early Life His reign established a dynasty that ruled Scotland for centuries. Malcolm III was born in 1031. As the son of King Duncan I, Malcolm was the heir apparent. However, his status as heir would be threatened by a relative named Macbeth. Macbeth was Duncan's cousin. In 1040, Macbeth...
Malcolm IV of Scotland: The Maiden King Early Life Malcolm IV was born during 1141 to Prince Henry of Scotland. At the time of his birth, Malcolm's paternal grandfather, King David I, reigned. The first of Henry's sons, the young prince was initially third in the line of succession. However, the unexpected death of his father in...
Margaret of Scotland: The Saint Queen Early Life Margaret of Scotland was born around 1045. A member of England's ruling dynasty, the Anglo-Saxons, Margaret's grandfather was King Edmund II. Instead of inheriting the throne, Margaret's father, Prince Edward, would be exiled to Hungary. While in exile, Edward married Princess Agatha and had three children: Edgar, Margaret,...
Andy Tree
I'm a European history enthusiast who seeks to share his passion with others. I hope to inform and inspire readers with my posts!


I know a lot of you will be more prepared than I am and will have nearly done all your Christmas shopping.. If not you'll be nearly at the end! So I thought I'd share with you my top 5 stocking filler gifts for girls in case you are in need of a few more little treats!
1. Beauty Products - now most girls these days follow YouTubers and love all things make up so you'd be silly not to add a small beauty gift to your list of stocking fillers. I think MUA and Make up Revolution are great affordable brands that stock fun girly gifts. Make up Revolution have got some great brush and eyeshadow palettes on offer in Superdrug at the moment too so go and pick them up now while you've still got chance!
2. Christmas Pj's - Everyone must have a new pair of Christmas Pj's when it's Christmas time. I mean, it's just the rules isn't it! I love getting new Pj's every year and in our family we usually all wear new Christmas Pj's on Christmas eve! Primark are great for affordable Pj's and there are lots of different styles and patterns to choose from too!
3. Smelly Candles - I'm a sucker for a good candle. My absolute favourite of all time is the Yankee Candle in Cranberry Ice. It smells soooooo good and is such a warm, wintery, christmassy scent. If you haven't had a whiff yet then I suggest you get yourself down to the nearest Yankee Candle store and pick one up! I promise you won't forget it! And mum (Santa), if you're reading this post now pretty please can you add this to my Christmas list!! I'll love you forever!!!
4. Sparkly Nail varnish - Barry M do amazing sparkly polishes and they look so fab for this festive period. I'm determined to wear a sparkly polish on my nails throughout the whole of December and I can't wait to change it up every so often! I love wearing red polish with gold glitter or a midnight blue colour with silver sparkles!
5. Chocolate!! - Obviously, it wouldn't be a stocking without some kind of chocolate in it! I used to LOVE getting a selection box in my stocking when I was younger or those tubes of sweets that you can get from places like the Supermarkets or Superdrug for £1.00, so I really recommend adding some form of chocolate or sweets!!
What would you guys want to find in your stocking when you wake up on Christmas day? Let me know in the comments :) See you tomorrow for another festive post!
Fab ideas :) I always get chocolate, pyjamas and some small beauty items in my stocking, would love some nice scented candles too though.
Thanks Lyndsey! Yes!! New pj's are the best aren't they!


text:
Alice Havers (1850-1890), peintre et illustratrice anglaise ;
 Clopton Havers (1657-1702), médecin anglais ;
 Nigel Havers (1951-), acteur britannique.

Voir aussi


"Shake The Lake" is such an audacious work of comics with such an uninhibited and unflinching depiction of frenzied youth–it is truly a hell of a lot of fun and mesmerizing. These are a bunch of out-of-control kids, the sort you've seen in numerous teenploitation horror and summer movies. They all, at first, seem to lack any redeeming character but you get hooked into their little nefarious activities and you just can't look away. But who ever heard of a graphic novel devoted to wakeboarding (think skateboarding on water)? Am I supposed to know about wakeboarding? That level of specificity is part of the subversive fun. You need to check out this wonderfully oddball badass series right here.
Cal in his element. It's an endless summer, dude!
Of course, wakeboarding is important–especially for those in the wakeboarding scene, which all of these kids are totally into. And some people are fully aware of wakeboarding but to the other extreme like Zeke and Dalton, these two highly obnoxious park rangers hot on the trail of all fun-loving youth. Leave it to them and they will spoil everyone's fun, particularly anything remotely hedonistic. Hey, it's the summer and a bunch of young rebels are determined to make their mark. Cal is the lead instigator. He's already 23, but it is still a life of beautiful teen summers for him and his fellow dreamers. If they could just stir things up at the ole marina, put on a wakeboarding festival to be remembered in their collective old age, then all this arrested development will have been worth it!
Brothers Zach and Machi Block's script rings true. The Block brothers invest in their ragtag characters a level of integrity that lures you into wanting to know more about this subculture. The artwork by brother and sister team Diego and Andrea Lopez Mata are true to the Block vision bringing out all the crude and raw beauty of this motley crew of wakeboarding fanatics. If you go in not knowing a thing about wakeboarding, after reading this work, you'll be glad to leave it to the experts and just enjoy the ride. Visit the "Shake The Lake" site right here.


Need a holiday pick-me-up? Join us on Monday for a special Facebook Live concert featuring the Cardinal Shehan School choir. The broadcast will begin around 10:00 a.m. on the Sun's Facebook page.
Earlier this year, the choir's performance of the Andra Day song "Rise Up" went viral on Facebook. Performed by 30 students between grades three and eight, the original nine-minute video clip quickly spread on choir director Kenyatta Hardison's personal Facebook page and was picked up by ChoirBuzz, a choral-focused Facebook page.
Since their viral hit, the choir has performed on "Good Morning America" and before the Ravens' game against the Detroit Lions.


Old Trail Village is an upscale, luxury neighborhood located in Crozet, Virginia. Homes in the area are mostly custom built houses with several design options available to buyers. The community has a fantastic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is a short drive from the center of Crozet and 30 minutes from Charlottesville. If you are looking to move into the countryside, this is one of the best options available. Beautiful homes with numerous recreational facilities are open to residents. Old Trail Village is one of the best neighborhoods in Crozet. If you're interested in learning more about selling Charlottesville real estate, check out our guide!
There are many amenities in this upscale neighborhood available to residents as well as visitors. Old Trail Golf Club is the highlight of the area. The club offers a quality golf experience as well as several facilities for events and weddings. Outside the neighborhood, you have many places you can visit within Crozet. Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival is a local festival that showcases 100 juried art and craft exhibitions. There are many restaurants and shops in the central area of Crozet which is a short drive from the neighborhood.
Schools in Old Trail Village Crozet are part of the Albermarle school district. The neighborhood has some of the top performing schools in the area. Schools that serve the community include Brownsville Elementary School, Western Albemarle High School, and Henley Middle School. You have several options available for your children once you move into the area.
If you are looking to sell your Old Trail Village home, I can help you sell it fast. 92% of all home purchases have an online aspect. If you want to reach more potential buyers, you will need to list your property online. I will use online and traditional marketing to help speed up the process.
I am a dedicated realtor who works in the Old Train Village real estate market. I have helped several clients buy and sell properties in the area. If you have any real estate questions, you can contact me anytime.


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Standard Life has revealed the top retirement hotspots outside the UK with the Spain at the top of the list, followed by Australia, USA, France and Ireland.
John Lawson, Head of Pensions Policy, Standard Life commented: "Retiring abroad is a dream for many people, but does require careful planning and advice. Many people think living abroad is cheaper than living in the UK, but this isn't always the case. Doing your homework in advance of moving, matching your retirement income and expenditure, and making the appropriate decisions around purchasing an annuity or using income drawdown are key considerations. Your retirement income could also be subject to exchange rates and currency fluctuations, as well as local tax laws.
"You also need to think about your state pension and what, if any, reciprocal agreement is in place. A reciprocal agreement entitles you to any increases in the UK state pension paid for by the country you retire to. However, if there isn't a reciprocal agreement in place, then you need to be very careful your retirement income is sufficient to cover your living costs over a long period of time. Over a 20 year retirement, your basic state UK pension could halve in real terms if a reciprocal arrangement is not in place."
If an individual moves abroad permanently, any increases in their UK state pension will only apply if they are living in an EU country (including Gibraltar and Switzerland), or a country with a reciprocal social security agreement with the UK. Where the individual is living outside these countries, the amount of UK state pension they will receive each year is frozen at the amount initially paid when first claimed (or if the pensioner emigrated more than one year after payment began, at the rate in force when emigrating). Popular retirement countries outside these reciprocal agreements include Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.
Those who are considering retiring abroad in the future, but are wondering if their retirement savings will be sufficient can go to www.yourfuturemoney.co.uk, where they can check if their retirement planning is on track.
- In August 2010, the top retirement hotspots were: 1st Spain; 2nd France; 3rd USA; 4th Canada; 5th Ireland.
- Standard Life currently pays pensions to over 3,000 people using an overseas bank account.
- A list of European Union countries and countries that have reciprocal arrangements with the UK is available from the DWP website: www.dwp.gov.uk/international/social-security-agreements/list...- countries/. A reciprocal social security agreement is where the country of residence agrees to increase the state pension in line with any increases in the UK.
Standard Life is a leading long term savings and investments company headquartered in Edinburgh and operating internationally. Established in 1825, Standard Life provides ISAs, life assurance, annuities, mutual funds, investment bonds, tax efficiencies, financial planning advice, and investment management to over 6.5 million customers worldwide.


Apart from voice and video call features in skype, Skype contains many other features such as Instant messaging, document transfer and screen sharing. But its most significant benefit is the possible ways are making free calls from PC to PC. As you know that microsoft got skype for $ 8.5 billion. Thus Skype will also see integration into several other platforms to make communication less difficult and quicker.
Nowadays, in many countries, there's a tough competition among landline service providers and VoIP applications like Skype. Some countries have blocked Skype keeping in view the country's landline service providers financial aspects. It is quite irritating if you're journeying and desire to make phone calls to your home country and you're simply left with no option but to pay extremely high phone charges.
Skype is considered the most popular VoIP service globally. Numerous users and firms uses skype for FREE international calling and other services. In case you live in UAE for exemple, you must have noticed that in UAE skype is totally blocked by UAE governemnt, and you can not make Skype calls. Or even if you live in Belize, their ISP named BTL (Belize Telecom) blocks Skype and you cannot connect to this amazing service. Exactly the same thing is going on in Oman whereby Omantel has been doing it too.
The best and simplest way to get around getting blocked by using Skype is actually to connect with a Virtual Private Network (VPN). What this actually does? It basically route your whole data traffic through the server centrally located abroad. This will conceal the traffic from the ISP which you are using and you may now use Skype with no problem.
To easily come across a good VPN Service Provider to unblock Skype successfully from anywhere in the world we suggest you to definitely check out following top VPN providers.
It is frustrating that skype is blocked in UAE countries. Though, thanks to HMA, for bringing a solution for this. I can make calls via skype now even when living in UAE. And not only skype, many other amazing websites those were blocked previously are now open to access. I didnt even face any problems using it. I am not a pro user and don't know much about tech stuffs. But the software is designer so beautifully that even a person of my expertise level can use it without any difficulty. Every time I didn't understand anything I asked the customer support and got the solutions instantly. The speed is really fast, at least I wouldn't ask for more than this. I would give it a five star rating.


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False Repentance Leads to False Conversions
November 7, 2017 | Michael Lawrence
Repenting means exchanging our idols for God. Before it's a change in behavior, it must be a change in worship. How different that is from how we often think of repentance.
Too often we treat repentance as a call to clean up our lives. We do good to make up for the bad. We try to even the scale, or even push it back to the positive side. Sometimes we talk about repentance as if it were a really serious, religious New Year's resolution:
"I'm not going to blow up at my kids anymore."
"I'm not going to look at pornography ever again."
"I'm never going to cheat on my hours at work."
"I'm going to stop talking about my boss behind his back."
False Repentance
But even if we clean up our behavior in one area or another, our hearts can still be devoted to our idols. The Pharisees illustrate this problem. They were the best-behaved people in Palestine, the kind of people you would have wanted for a neighbor. They never let their kids throw their bikes in your yard. They didn't throw raucous parties and leave cigarette butts in your flowerbed. They always picked up after their dogs. They were upstanding people. But Jesus called them white-washed tombs: clean on the outside, corrupt on the inside (Matt. 23:27). The point is that it's not just bad people who are idolaters. Good, moral, even religious people are idolaters too. Repentance isn't the same thing as moral resolve.
Sometimes we talk about repentance as if it's feeling bad or guilty about our behavior. We feel guilty if we're caught. We feel guilty if we're not caught. We feel guilty if we've let someone down, or let ourselves down. There's no question that repentance requires us to be convinced of our guilt. But you can feel guilty and still love the sin you're guilty of. Anyone who's given in to the pull of lust can tell you that. "Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly" (Prov. 26:11). Repentance isn't a feeling.
Real Repentance
Real repentance is a new worship. It looks like a changed life, but that changed behavior results from a change of worship, not the other way around.
Repentance is being convicted by the Holy Spirit of the sinfulness of our sin—not the badness of our deeds but the treachery of our hearts toward God.
Repentance means hating what we formerly loved and served—our idols—and turning away from them.
Repentance means turning to love God, whom we formerly hated, and serving him instead. It's the new deepest loyalty of our hearts.
If repentance really is a change of worship, then our churches must not pressure people to make hasty, ill-considered "decisions" for Jesus, and then offer them quick assurance. Instead, we must call people to repent. When we separate repentance from conversion, either because we think it can come later or we fear scaring people off, we reduce conversion to bad feelings or moral resolve. Worse, we risk assuring a "convert" that he's right with God when in fact he isn't. It's almost like giving someone a vaccine against the gospel.
You know how a vaccine works. It uses a defective agent to fool the body into thinking it's been infected so that it will produce antibodies. Then, when the real infection shows up, the body is prepared to fight it off. Likewise, calling people to "make a decision" without calling them to repent not only risks creating a false convert, it also risks vaccinating a person against the real gospel. They think they already have Christianity! Then we double down by saying, "Once saved, always saved."
What does a false convert look like? Often, it's someone who
is excited about heaven, but bored by Christians and the local church;
thinks heaven will be great, whether God is there or not;
likes Jesus, but didn't sign up for the rest—obedience, holiness, discipleship, suffering;
can't tell the difference between obedience motivated by love and legalism;
is bothered by other people's sins more than his or her own;
holds grace cheap and his own comfort costly.
But how does the New Testament describe a genuine Christian? According to 1 John, the genuine Christian is someone who
loves fellow Christians and the local church because he or she loves God (1 John 5:1);
desires fellowship with God, and not just ease in heaven (1 John 1:6–7; 5:1);
understands that following Jesus means discipleship (1 John 1:6);
obeys God out of love for God (1 John 5:2–3);
is eager to confess and turn away from his or her sin (1 John 1:9);
holds grace costly and his own desires cheap (1 John 1:7, 10).
To become a Christian is to take up a life of repentance. Jesus described it as taking up our cross and following him. It begins at a point in time, but it continues in a life of service and love to God. Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it well when he said, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."
Editors' note: This is an adapted excerpt from Michael Lawrence's new book, Conversion: How God Creates a People (Crossway, 2017).
Michael Lawrence (PhD, University of Cambridge; MDiv, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary; BA, Duke University) is lead pastor of Hinson Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon, and is a Council member of The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of several books, including Biblical Theology in the Life of the Church, Conversion: How God Creates a People, Ezekiel: A 12-Week Study (Knowing the Bible), and with Mark Dever, It Is Well: Expositions on Substitutionary Atonement. He and his wife, Adrienne, have five children.
Conversion • Idolatry • Repentance • Worship
How Do I Discern if My Ambition Is Godly?
July 15, 2019 | Amy DiMarcangelo
Those Days When It's Easier to Whine Than Worship
June 27, 2019 | Scotty Smith
20 Quotes from Tony Reinke's New Book on Treasuring Christ in the Media Age
July 8, 2019 | Ivan Mesa • Tony Reinke
TGC Podcast
Mika Edmondson on Conversing across the Divide
June 14, 2019 | Mika Edmondson


Legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has announced at a media conference that he will leave Juventus after their final Serie A match of the season against Verona on Saturday.
He also hinted that he has been offered a coaching role with Juventus.
"Saturday will be my last match at Juventus and finishing my adventure like that, with two titles, with the support of (Juventus chairman) Andrea (Agnelli) and all the Bianconero people, will be the most beautiful," Buffon told reporters.
"It gives me great pleasure that so many people have come out to see me. My principles have always been honesty, loyalty and to fight against hypocrisy.
Buffon set the world transfer record for a goalkeeper when swapping Parma for Juventus for £32.6m in 2001.
He enjoyed his career highlight when winning the 2006 World Cup with Italy, but the total body of his work makes him arguably the greatest and most decorated keeper in history.
Buffon had planned to end his career at the 2018 World Cup, which would have been his sixth, but Italy failed to qualify.
As well as his nine Serie A titles, Buffon also has a Serie B title from 2007 after staying with Juventus following their demotion due to the Calciopoli cheating scandal.
Buffon has won four successive Coppa Italias and five Italian Supercoppas with Juventus. During his time with Parma he also won the Coppa Italia, UEFA Cup and Italian Supercoppa in 1999.
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny is in line to succeed Buffon next season.
May 17, 2018 in SerieA.


NewBay Media, InfoComm, and Full Sail University staff and faculty have worked together to create the most robust Roadshow agenda ever, with an industry education and career-path emphasis added to the technical tracks and exhibits.
Included in this year's agenda is a session on the video and pro AV industry manufacturers, a roundtable discussion on the future of the staging industry, a presentation from AV specialist Midori Connolly on the digital culture of live events, a presentation on networks and server technology by Full Sail instructor George Stewart, and a presentation on live event staging issue by Andre LeJeune, CTS, of InfoComm International.
This one day event begins at 8:15 and will conclude at 5 p.m.


Wat Mahathat was once the centre of the Sukhothai kingdom and remains the largest and arguably most impressive ruin within the park.
Opened in 1964, this museum contains a collection of artefacts, including ceramics, day to day items, ancient inscriptions and some of the more elaborate and well preserved stone carvings from the sites of Sukhothai.
The cradle of Thai civilization during the 13th and 14th centuries, the UNESCO world heritage-listed Sukhothai is Thailand's best historical park, at least in our humble opinion.
When viewed from the main public entrance, Hua Hin's beach might seem like a lot of hype. Initially you meet a pleasant but not stunning stretch of sand punctuated by round, smooth boulders and bordered here by the Sofitel resort, which nearly kisses the high tide mark.
Ride along the Mekong River from Luang Prabang Laos, to Chang Rai – See the Mekong River and meet the local people that live along its shores. Share the slow boat to Thailand with locals going home from the market and watch life unfold along the Rivers Banks for this two day ride. Bring your own food and drink with you though and a book or some entertainment because it is a bare bones way of traveling. You can take a high speed boat, but what would be the fun in that?


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Category Archives: technology
Fun stuff, Random Thoughts, technology
Tomorrow Television Will Change Forever.
A couple of years ago I wrote an entry about the future of TV. One of the major players in the prediction is the Apple TV. A device that is currently a separate box with WiFi and an HDMI connector for TVs. The catalyst of this proposed future is a device and or TV that simplifies the process of developing apps, monetizes it, and rolls it out in an ecosystem that works for the US.
Most of the major networks have an app for iPad and iPhone already whereby you can watch all the most recent episodes of their current shows. If only there was a way to access the same content on demand on TV in an similar fashion while still being able to stream live events live when the time arrives.
a mock-up of Apple's new TV set
Tomorrow is Apple's annual Word Wide Developers Conference. At the conference Apple is rumored to announce an updated line of Mac computers and an upgraded operating system for their mobile devices. Mac rumors, a website that tracks patents and leaked news, got wind of the fact that Apple will be announcing a new operating system for their apple TV device, which will presumably be the same operating system that's used on their fabled TV set, rumored to hit the market sometime this year. Steve Jobs' supposed final revelation was in regards to this device. Shortly before his death, Jobs talked about the new TV with his biographer, saying that he "Finally cracked it."
We stand on the cusp of an enormous change to the way we receive television. Tomorrow at WWDC Apple will be announcing that developers can now write apps for their upcoming TV Set. What this means is that NBC, ABC, CBS, TNT, TBS, Fox and most importantly – Disney will all be able to create apps for your TV that allow you to interact with their content as they see fit. If they want a world premiere to run live – it will. If they want to make it available for a week after it showed – they can. If you want to email a friend and have them pull up a clip of a TV show right to their TV set and watch it – shebang.
Other cool features like Skype on your TV and the ability to send video messages to friends are possible as well. Advantages like being able to have a live video chat while watching a live event are also feasible. Re-airing classic shows and movies with video commentary or live chat with the stars and creators. Imagine being able to watch something on your iPhone or iPad, pause it and then resume it in full HD on your TV.
And of course let's not forget the gaming potential. Developers can write games that can be downloaded right to your TV. Using a bluetooth or WiFi connection you can use your iPod as a touch screen controller. You can use voice activation to command the action. You can use your existing Apple game center profile to connect with friends and play co-op games. Oops! Did Apple just merge the computer and console gaming industries – I think they did.
Perhaps most intriguing in this brave new world of TV is the fact that hierarchy will soon be gone. Much like the recording industry has become obsolete in the post-modern era of internet-based marketing and delivery, soon everyone can develop an app that can deliver TV content to the world. Youtube stars and non-profits can create a an app that can sit along side your ESPN app so you can receive new content from them the same way.
When it comes to mainstream content, thought Disney is going to be the Key. I wasn't joking earlier when I said they were most important. Disney owns the station that most men would pay a premium to have – ESPN. They also own ABC, Disney, Disney XD, ABC Family, ESPNU, 2, 3, Classic Deportes and all associated radio stations and print media. This could be a big outlet for them so long as they can monetize it. And if there is one thing that Apple is good at – it's making money. Plus Disney and Apple are intertwined as Apple owns the majority stock in Pixar and Pixar and Disney merged a few years back.
After that comes Time Warner and News Corp. Once CNN and Fox News are on board, all of the most watched stations currently only available on cable and satellite will be available through Apple TV. Though, I feel confident that regardless of whether they make the transition cable news stations are going to see a sharp decline over the next few years as most people under 40 get their news from social media. If they don't adapt it's entirely likely that CNN and Fox News could both die a slow death over the next ten years.
The biggest opponent to this change is Comcast which is about as big and evil as a media corporation gets. They've been under investigation by the FCC constantly for questionable network neutrality, data throttling and for their efforts to block any a la carte offerings by cable stations. Unfortunately Comcast owns 51% of NBC. The fact that NBC is the lead steak holder in Hulu.com is an encouragement, but Comcast is currently the biggest cable/internet company in the States. They might try to hold out in an effort to keep cable as king. If they withhold NBC's content that would create a large gap in the programming. Even worse if they throw their digital weight around as such to make it harder for people to use their network to access on-demand content. (They're already suspect of such in regards to Netflix.)
At the same time NBC has been in fourth among the major broadcast networks for several years now. And all of the broadcast stations have been in decline of viewership despite over all TV viewership being on the rise. They'll all have to follow the audience if they hope to stay relevant. It's questionable whether stations of any kind will be needed in this new form of TV. Studios could skip the middleman and present their content right to the audience. The structure remains to be seen, but undoubtedly there will be those who adapt and those who don't survive.
Microsoft already announced their plans to open the Xbox platform to developers in hopes of creating a similar experience – so there is competition which will drive prices down and quality up.
Believe me when I say tomorrow marks the beginning of the end for traditional television, and the dawn of something way cooler.
Tagged apple, technology, tv
Fun stuff, technology
For the next cool device, have a look see at Looxcie
The Looxcie LX1 wearable camcorder is one of the coolest devices that you never knew you needed.
Not much larger than the normal Bluetooth headset, the Looxcie is a Bluetooth enabled camcorder that records what you see. Why bluetooth enabled? Well, with the appropriate app, this small wonder can be used to record to your smartphone for easy sharing over email and social networking sites. You can also use your phone as a viewfinder to easily see exactly what your looxcie is capturing.
One of the coolest features of this device is that you don't have to hit record to capture something. Looxcie is always recording and anytime something cool happens you just tap the 'instant clip' button to save a clip of the last 30 seconds. So if you see something awesome just tap the button and you've got a clip to share. Hold the button for 3 seconds and it'll automatically send the clip to a predesignated email address over your phone's data connection. You can record clips directly to your phone of up to 30 minutes in length.
At the end of the day you attach looxcie to your USB connection on your Mac (because you don't have a PC, right?) and transfer all the video recorded that day. The looxcie records up to 5 hours of footage and when 5 hours is up it automatically starts deleting the oldest footage – so you'll always have the last five hours the your device was powered on for. (be sure to turn it off in the restroom, just sayin.)
It also functions as a bluetooth headset for your phone and it automatically mutes the audio you're recording if you take a call while taking video. So how much for all these features in a tiny futuristic package? This little device is priced at $199.
Downsides? I can see a few. The biggest is the video quality: 480p which will look ok on youtube, but on an HDTV it'll look pretty poor. In the sample video you can clearly see that the tiny CMOS chip has a pretty significant rolling shutter effect, which is to be expected, but is a bigger problem than most cameras since you're wearing the device on your head. What this means is that when you shift your head quickly in any direction, you get a distinct 'jell-o frame' effect that looks pretty nauseating. At first glance the price seems pretty reasonable but its still a $200 camera that gets lower quality than most $200 pocket cameras. (a la Flip Ultra HD)
Cool things you could do with this? Many. Pretty much anytime where it'd be cool to get a person's POV of an event you can capture it with this device. Any time you're somewhere and something cool could happen any minute, but you don't know when – just hit the instant clip button and you have a clip of it saved to your phone. I'd like to wear one while playing frisbee and watch the whole game from my perspective. Do a whole sunday with lots of people wearing these and intercut the footage to make a highlight video. Youth videos? Awesome. Skiing videos? Awesome. Recap videos? Awesome.
Some features I'd like to see added in the next version? The main thing is HD video. You can tell that they're just trying this device out. It'll be serious when it goes HD. Next I'd like to see an image stabilizer to make up for the rolling shutter CMOS chip. And finally I'd like to see them make a waterproof version. Imagine swimming around wearing one of these, or taking it water skiing? Awesome. So yeah, I'm excited about the possibilities here.
Tagged bluetooth, camera, device, gadget, headset
Everything Else, Fun stuff, Random Thoughts, technology
…and TV as we know it will cease to exist…
This is about as controversial as I get…
There's been a great deal of speculation over the 'future of TV' and the 'future of the internet' or the 'future of the internet and TV' I went looking for some blog posts on this and the theories are both wide in their variance and numerous in count, but none of them quite capture what I believe to be one obvious theory on what TV will look like in only a short time from now.
What do others think?
Its funny to me that many "experts" try to use year-old statistics about cable or broadcast TV as proof those things will be the same in ten years. I've read lots of blog posts and I've heard people say things about how cable/broadcast TV is still the primary medium by which people get their news and how TV sales have increased over 2009. (which is a DUH by the way – I don't know if these same people heard about a certain digital conversion that took place in 2009) TV network execs like to make a very cyclical argument that in short says "we already exist, so we'll continue to exist – online TV basically doesn't exist so it will never exist." In other words they think they are 'too big to fail' and that internet-based video cannot compete with cable or broadcast. (Sounds similar to the record industry in 1999) One very experienced media professional actually simply said to me "The internet is a terrible delivery system for video" Its clear to me that in general, today's TV professionals have no idea what's coming. First off TV sales won't stop the Internet from being the delivery medium. Second off when those 'experts' say "Internet" they're thinking 'search engines,' 'computer,' and 'browser' – these words aren't in the vocabulary of what internet-delivered TV will look like in the future.
So they're just going to merge together right?
Well let me start off by saying that I heard someone say recently "these two are just going to keep growing together" which sounds like a simple answer that most people would probably agree with. This answer is totally correct in one way and totally incorrect in another way.
I believe that it is correct in that to the end user, the effect will still be that you sit down on a couch, Turn on your TV and be able to choose the programming in a similar fashion that you might to a DVR or a Video-on-demand service. It'll still be on your TV.
I think that it is incorrect in thinking because the effect for the content producer and network execs will be totally different since it will no longer be sent over a cable TV service
…yeah so here's where some people just aren't going to believe me. Cable as you know it may no longer exist – possibly within your lifetime. Sorry to drop a bomb on you like that, but that's it. I don't make the rules. Do I think that the computer will just replace the TV? No. Do I expect that people are going to start hooking up their TVs to their computers every night to watch the overpriced movies on iTunes? No. Do I believe live television will cease to exist? No. Do I believe 24-hour TV stations will cease to exist entirely? Doubtful, though possible.
So what will TV to become?
I think in ten years you're going buy a TV with an operating system on it with a GUI similar to Apple's "Front Row", Hulu's "Hulu Desktop" or Microsoft's Xbox 360 "360 Experience". The TV will have a small solid-state hard drive on it, which will allow you to download 'apps' much like the ones everyone's so crazy about on their phones right now. These apps might serve functions ranging from playing games to telling you the weather or helping your kid with their algebra homework. Many of these apps will simply be TV Channels. You'll download only the channels you want – some of them will be ad supported – others will cost a premium. Some will be available for individual download – others I suspect will still be packaged together.
At the forefront of all these apps will be your queue – anytime that a new episode of the shows that you subscribe to comes up, it goes into your queue. So you sit down on your couch and turn on your TV – if you turned it off in the middle of something it'll start playing that again as if it had just been paused. You may think that sounds just like DVR – well it does, but there's more to it. You see, instead of receiving a stream of channels over digital cable, you'll get it over cable-based Internet. And instead of storing that episode on a hard drive in a set-top box, you're streaming from an online service. I do think that live events will still stream live over their respective channels- though I imagine that they will likely still be available at our convenience for a period afterwards. When you finish one Item in your queue, your TV will advance right on to the next unwatched item and so on, and so fourth. If you don't have anything in your queue it'll most likely select something else similar to what you've already watched, so in the end the effect is still the same: you can sit and aimlessly watch TV all day long. Don't worry, there was never any chance that was no longer going to be the case.
So this is what I'm sayin'
A television device with the power of the average computer in its innards. No more flipping through 'channels' but rather subscribing to specific shows off of specific channels that will land in your queue. Ads will definitely still be in there – and there won't be anything you can do about it, but they will likely be more things that actually interest you. And yes, more than likely over-the-air 24 hour local stations will still exist and your TV will allow you to open those up too. But if you're a local TV station, ten years down the road you'd better be saying 'we have an app for that' to your customer so they can still tune in.
Permission to treat the witness as hostile
Why do I think this? Am I just being or crazy? No, I actually have some research to back me up. Perhaps the greatest argument is this: TV's primary reason for existence is not to entertain, but to deliver ads. The market penetration of DVRs is steadily increasing. According to a Barclays Capitol study, a third (33%) of homes with TV now have a DVR also. Try to follow me here: according to this same study: 1) DVRs increase the amount of TV watched 2) most of these DVRs are new within the past year 3) People who haven't had DVRs as long (2 years or less) don't usually skip commercials those who have had it a while do skip commercials – so therefore 4) At this point, commercial viewership is still up. (I liken this to the initial increase in CD sales the year Napster was introduced) Think about it: as consumers become more savvy and as DVRs get more popular – guess what isn't going to be watched? Ads! – People are going to be fast-forwarding right through them! An internet-based medium allows for assurance that not only are ads being viewed, but also they can be tailored specifically to the household watching. Once advertisers start realizing that thanks to DVRs ratings of TV shows ≠ viewings of ads any longer there will have to be a shift in the way people deliver those ads.
Another issue to be considered is the advent of these subscription-based and ad-supported streaming services being available on devices like the Android, iPad, iPhone and iPod as well as your netbook, notebook desktop and work station computers. It's available in all of these places and not on the big screen in your home? Um, is anyone else seeing why this is the obvious next step? If you had one of these new subscriptions to a premium service like Netflix or Hulu Plus – you'd be able to watch it on your break at work on your desktop, while you're waiting to pick up your kids on your phone, flying to Tokyo on an iPad or amazingly, just at home on your TV.
The third reason why I think this is so likely is because ITS ALREADY HAPPENING. I have my Xbox set up to stream Netflix movies in HD – I often use Hulu Desktop to watch movies and TV. While I'm sure that doesn't surprise you as I am probably a little more knowledgeable than the average user, I also recently helped a couple (who would not really call themselves 'super tech savvy') install a new blu-ray player that has Netflix, youtube and Pandora streaming right to it. After a few minutes of watching a 720p HD show on Netflix they decided to get rid of their cable and just hang onto the internet. You know where this 30 something guy got the idea? His Dad! – His Dad who had already bought a Roku streaming device to replace his cable box. And I know several more families that have already gone this route – citing its affordable price and customizability as strong reasons for jumping on it early. I could write another whole article about how streaming video is ideal for sports fans – and how they are already using it. Most folks have at least one team that they love that doesn't see much coverage on the major networks – imagine, you just download the "Redwings" app, pay a subscription and you won't miss a game!
The next big step in the process is going to happen soon when Apple releases its App store for the newly upgraded "Apple TV." The Apple TV isn't a TV at all – it's a box that works with iTunes and allows you to play your HD content directly to an HDTV. The App store will work like the app store on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and now Mac computers. So you could download apps – like the Netflix steaming app, the Hulu app, the ABC app….are you getting the picture yet? It'll replace the need for cable or satellite in many homes.
Apple is actually late arriving at this game, Boxee – a very forward thinking company – has developed a similar product that uses existing streaming services like Hulu and Netflix as well as services provided many sporting franchises. People are even buying cheap PCs and Mac Minis to dedicate to their internet-based TV watching using Hulu desktop, Apple front row or boxee. You can find out more about boxee by checking out their site. Mark Cuban wrote an interesting blog post entitled "the future of TV is TV" wherein he said he didn't think these 'extra boxes' will catch on because they're complicated and people like things to be simple. I agree with him – the boxes won't last, but I think that's only because people will start integrating the same functionality into the sets themselves. Eventually, just like the guy who decided to put a cable receiver and a TV into one box, someone is going to realize the value of having this device integrated into the TV – no extra boxes externally.
Think inside the box
Still think I'm crazy? Okay well here's a surpise for you: What I'm talking about already exists. Samsung has integrated into their last two TV model series what they call "Yahoo Widgets" available for download to your TV – one of which is Netflix. Think that's an outlier? Sony's Bravia Series (already 68% of the market) now ships with the ability to stream Netflix directly. Are you starting to see a trend here? I think that the TV will still basically look like a HDTV does today, but I think that it will have a role similar to an enormous iPad – simple, yet versatile. It will sync with the computers in your house and may even have a built-in camera for video chatting (which is already becoming more popular thanks to skype and Apple's 'face time' commercials) Imagine – finally being at the Jetsons/ back to the future 2 stage where your TV rings and its your grandma or your boss. It's all the very least we could have in ten years.
But this really can't happen in ten years . . . right?
Ten years ago I remember having to explain the idea of an MP3 player to the average teenager. I also remember people saying that MP3s would never replace CDs – I was one of them. Then in 2001 Apple introduced the iPod. I don't know that I have to explain that any further but, what the heck; To date, Apple has sold a quarter of a billion iPods (yes, that's billion – with a 'b') – I couldn't find an exact figure but based off of the iPod's current market penetration I think that it's safe to say that this is just over half of the total number of digital audio players sold over the past ten years – that puts the total players (of any brand) somewhere close to 500,000,000. I could give you tons of staggering statistics about how quickly the adoption of file-based digital audio caught on – like the fact that when apple released iTunes for Windows it reached one-million downloads in less than three days – but what it comes down to is this: technology changes fast and if something is a good idea people will jump on it. If anything, I think ten years is conservative.
These crazy kids and their interwebs…
If you're over age 60 and you're thinking "I'd never use that! – that sounds complicated" first – I completely agree. You probably wouldn't – but your children will. In fact, it's likely some of them already do. Second, the iPhone is yet again an example of how if a device is way more capable in some ways, people are willing for it to be a little more complicated. You don't buy the iPhone because its an awesome phone – you buy it because its cool and can do lots more than a regular phone can.
So, the future of TV will be very awesome for the consumer – lots more personalized and versatile.The future of TV for the professional will only be as hard as they try to make it – if they can accept the change and jump into a forward thinking group and things will be on the up and up. But if they resist, I think we'll see a great deal of the same thing that happened to the music industry who tried to bury the MP3. If I could paint it in a word picture –its like trying to plug a leak in a cardboard boat – it won't ever stop. People will find the content they want in the most convenient way for them.
What does this mean for you if you're an upstart non-profit, church or small business? Awesome news! Instead of paying absurd fees to appear on cable or even more absurd fees to be on broadcast TV, you can own your own channel! You can have visibility that rivals any Turner network if you just hire a developer or get your code-monkey friend to put together an App for you. Online video services like vimeo and youtube are free, but you can even develop and host your own for only a few thousand a year. In addition, local advertising will be more accessible than ever! You'll still be able to advertise to the local area (much like you already can with facebook) on preexisting services.
So yeah, I'm excited. TV's only going to get cooler.
Tagged future, technology, tv