$1050 Seeking Roommate - Spacious 2 bed/2 bath available ASAP! Hello! I am currently seeking a roommate to share a large, 2 bedroom 2 bathroom, beautiful front unit with. About the place: Great location - close to downtown Glendale, Burbank, freeways, shopping and tons of restaurants! Recently remodeled, hardwood floors, spacious living room, light and airy, and has a balcony off the kitchen. AC & heat, on-site laundry, and dishwasher are all included. I am in the process of moving furniture in, but your room is unfurnished. You would have your own private bedroom with a large closet, and private bathroom. Your portion would be $1050, plus utilities. Moving in by February 1st would be ideal. Prefer 1 year lease, but negotiable. Also, a one month deposit is required. About me: I am in my mid 20's and work in entertainment marketing. Very friendly, easy going, and courteous. About you: Preferably female. Respectful and clean! Works full-time, is responsible, and has no problem paying their rent. Preferably someone in their mid 20's to early 30's - someone who is a good fit and that I can relate to! No smoking, no drugs and no pets please. If you are interested in the room, please email me with some information about yourself - age, job, and interests would be great. Please send any social media links as well, I'd be happy to share mine back! Looking to confirm with someone ASAP! Additional photos upon request.
Sublet Amazing 2 Bed Apartment in Venice (Rose and 6th Ave) $1800/month. Amazing 2 bedroom 1 bath furnished apartment in one of the coolest neighborhoods in Venice. Located 6 blocks from the beach and 3 blocks from Abbott Kinney, Rose Ave, & Whole Foods. Sub-lease is month to month with $1800 security deposit.
$800 / 150ft2 - Rooms For Rent near CSUN (Northridge) I have two rooms for rent in my house, which is located in a quiet and safe neighborhood about 2 miles from CSUN. Tenants will share a bathroom (pictured) which has 2 sinks. Parking is on street and always plentiful and safe. In addition to the bedroom and bath you will have access to a large back yard with pool and kitchen space. Please no pets. Females only . Utilities are included . International students are very welcome .


KOCKAR INC CO, Cleaning and maintenance products, industrial, car cleaning product, motor vehicle engine cleaning chemicals, on EUROPAGES.
Our company established in 2005 as Gizem Machinery and Chemical Industry and settled as Kockar Machinery and Chemical A.S. in 2014 to adapt rapid growth trend with new production section and marketing field. We became an expert on car maintanence Products besides carpet care Products sector in Turkey. We aimed to be Professional of some chemicals production and export, we established our subsidiary company Inert Chemical Ltd. in order to produce modified starch and silicon emulsion. With our new facility, Inert chemical production area will be 1500 sqm and 2016 production capacity will increase to 3500 tons. Our company is certified ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. We aim to export to many countries with strength of 80% market share in Turkey.


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Ignasius Jonan, Minister of ESDM RI Gives Public Lecture at Udayana University
Jimbaran - Ignasius Jonan, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources visited Udayana University and gave a Public Lecture with the theme "Energy Fairness" Performance of the ESDM Sector, Friday (5/10) in the Widya Sabha Auditorium Building, Bukit Jimbaran Campus. The Public Lecture was attended by around 1200 students at the University of Udayana and was also attended by the Governor of Bali, Director of Corporate Marketing of Pertamina, Regional Business Director of JBTN PLN, Director of Indonesia Power, Regent of Klungkung, Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of Unud, Chairperson of Institutions, Senate Representatives and several officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The Public Lecture was also coupled with the signing of the MoU between the Provincial Government of Bali and Pertamina and PLN, Indonesia Power and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ignasius Jonan in his material said that in 2025, 23 percent of the national energy mix is expected from EBT. The government has also tried to make electricity tariffs increasingly affordable, therefore the development of EBT must also be balanced with competitive prices.
Chancellor of Unud, Prof. Dr.dr. A.A Raka Sudewi, Sp. S (K) said that Udayana University has a role in the development of Renewable Energy (EBT) through its research centers through cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The principle of fair energy in accordance with the theme of public lectures has been outlined in the work program of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in order to create people's welfare. This form of fair energy includes an increase in the electrification ratio to illuminate the entire territory of Indonesia.
On the same occasion the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster conveyed his vision in developing Bali was Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali that had to maintain the balance of nature, humanity and all its sacredness and sanctity for the welfare of society. The governor is grateful because there is now an agreement to use environmentally friendly energy. Therefore, it is expected that electricity generation must use fuel or renewable energy.
On this occasion scholarships were also handed over to continue education from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to three Udayana University students who were handed over directly by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources. (HM)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Marie Alexandre Massol né le  à Béziers et mort le  à Paris est un saint-simonien et franc-maçon. Il défend l'idée d'une morale totalement indépendante de la religion et fonde dans cet esprit la revue La morale indépendante en 1865. Il est maire adjoint du  de Paris en 1870.

Biographie

Fils d'un ancien oratorien, venu à la capitale en 1829 avec sa famille pour faire des études de droit, il abandonne rapidement ce projet pour devenir disciple de Saint-Simon. Il suit Barthélemy Prosper Enfantin dans un tour de France du travail, puis le rejoint en Égypte après une tentative infructueuse d'implanter un groupe saint-simonien en Algérie. Après qu'Enfantin a perdu ses appuis en Égypte, le groupe finit par se disperser. Massol rejoint sans se presser Paris via Constantinople et Vienne, mais en repart rapidement pour Londres où il fonde lObservateur francais pour faire contrepoids au Courrier d'Europe royaliste. De retour en France au lendemain de la révolution de 1848, il fait la connaissance de Lammenais qui lui demande d'écrire pour La Réforme. Il passe ensuite à La Voix du peuple de Proudhon avec qui il se lie d'amitié, devenant précepteur de ses enfants et plus tard son exécuteur testamentaire. En 1855, il devient l'un des premiers collaborateurs de la Revue philosophique et religieuse fondée par Charles Fauvety. Franc-maçon dès avant 1830, il entre en 1855 dans la loge  du Grand Orient de France. Il déclenche un vif débat dans la franc-maçonnerie en proposant une vision de la morale totalement indépendante de la religion, universelle, basée sur la nature libre et responsable de l'Homme et le respect mutuel de la personne. En 1862, lorsque le Maréchal Magnan se retrouve nommé par Napoléon III à la tête du Grand Orient de France, Massol fait partie de ceux qui résistent à cet mainmise.

Déçu du maintien de l'élément religieux dans la nouvelle constitution du Grand Orient de 1865, il fonde cette même année  avec Henri Brisson.

En 1874, il est élu au conseil municipal du  de Paris.

Il meurt le  dans le  de Paris et est enterré au cimetière du Père-Lachaise.

Notes et références

Annexes

Article connexe
 Morale laïque

Bibliographie
.
.
 .

Liens externes

Saint-simonisme
Personnalité de la franc-maçonnerie française
Philosophe moral
Naissance en mars 1805
Naissance à Béziers
Décès en avril 1875
Décès dans le 10e arrondissement de Paris
Personnalité inhumée au cimetière du Père-Lachaise (division 75)
Décès à 70 ans

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Kurt was raised in the Kansas City, KS, area but has spent time in several states since then including Colorado where he was married. He graduated with a B.S. in Finance from Iowa State University and has also received an M.A. in Intercultural Studies. He has spent the last 10 years working either in IT or in non-profit work. Two of those years were spent working with a non-profit in Indonesia, and he has also spent some time in other Asian countries. Kurt moved to the Phoenix area because of some connections he had made, and his wife wanted to be closer to her parents. He loves spending time with his family and friends and serving in his church. He has two small children.
I am currently working in the area of marketing to help promote the different lines of insurance that Good Neighbor Insurance sells.
Most importantly, we believe that we have the best customer service in the industry. We also believe we offer many different products (some very unique) at competitive prices, and we want to offer those to as many people as possible. The combination of having great service and a great product make us a valuable asset to individuals and non-profit companies. We want to make sure they are well taken care of, so they can in turn focus on helping others and having a great experience.
Good Neighbor Insurance is such a great name for this company. It really captures what an insurance agent should be, and it is a constant reminder of how we want to do business. We always want to treat our clients as we would like to be treated. It means providing the best coverage for the best price in order to keep you and your loved ones protected. We want to do everything we can to ensure you and your loved ones are taken care of each step of the way.
I have traveled to several Asian countries including China, Singapore, South Korea, and Indonesia. I loved experiencing the different foods, clothes, languages, and cultures. There is beauty in the diversity.
One thing my travels have taught me is that while in some ways I may seem very different from people living in other countries because we dress and speak differently, but we really are very similar. We all want to be loved and cared for. We want what is best for our family. We want our children to grow up and be successful. We enjoy entertainment and want to avoid pain and suffering. It is not as difficult to relate to people from other cultures when you start to realize this.
I would love to be able to travel to Europe, especially to Germany because that is where my ancestors are from.
I think it would be amazing to be able to go diving in either Indonesia or Australia.
I have always wanted to take a cruise, and I have heard that an Alaskan cruise is one of the most amazing things you will see.
Stay flexible! Things never work out exactly the way you plan them. If you aren't flexible it will mostly likely be a painful experience.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. In many countries people are very kind and hospitable and willing to help.
Try to learn even a few words in the local language. It may not seem like much to you, but to even learn 5-10 words in the local language can go a long way to showing the locals that you care.
Always drink bottled water just in case.
1.) I am grateful for my loving and healthy family. My parents have always been very supportive and loving. I get along well with both my brother and sister. I also have a wonderful wife and two amazing children. Most of my extended family is also very loving and supportive as well. I have been and still am surrounded by very loving people and am very blessed because of this.
2.) I am grateful for all of the amazing experiences God has allowed me to have. I had a great experience in college with friends and with all of the places I was able to visit. I have been able to travel to many different countries and work with some amazing people. I really enjoy sports, and I have been able to attend some neat sporting events such as the NFC Championship Game in Green Bay, the Final Four, and a Superbowl breakfast with Peyton Manning.


Improvement Location Certificate (ILC): The main certificate required in many real estate transactions. All visible improvements will be graphically depicted and related to the best available evidence of boundary monumentation or lines of occupation including platted rights of way, sidewalks and fences. The product itself will usually be a legal size page with the improvements drawn to scale with any apparent discrepancies noted thereon. The plat and the title policy will be used to depict easements of record and encumbrances upon the property. The title company and the buyer will be certified to, and three signed and stamped original copies will be provided pursuant to Colorado Revised State Statute 38- 51-108.
Land Survey Plat (LSP): A full Boundary Survey or monumented land survey in which all corners of the subject parcel will either be recovered or established. Included in the survey will be lines of occupation and all found monumentation used to generate the solutions required, both monuments accepted and monuments in disagreement with the solution. The boundary relationships in the region will be to +/- 0.1' tolerance. The current Title policy, the plat, and the County Clerk and Recorder records will be used to generate locations of encumbrances and easements of record upon the subject parcel. A copy certified to the client of the survey, including notes about sources of information, will be recorded with the county, and three signed and stamped copies will be provided, pursuant to Colorado Revised State Statute 38- 51-106.
Improvement Survey Plat (ISP): An I.S.P. includes additional information about the improvements upon and adjoining the property. It is a combination of a monumented land survey and the graphical depiction of all structures, visible utilities, fences, hedges, or walls situated on the subject parcel or within five feet of the boundaries of such parcel. Any conflicting boundary evidence or visible encroachments, and all easements, underground utilities for which information may be obtained from the County Clerk and Recorder's office will be shown on the plat. The Boundary relationship in the region to all depicted improvements will be to a +/-0.1' tolerance. A copy certified to the client including notes about sources of information will be recorded with the county, and three signed and stamped copies will be provided, pursuant to Colorado Revised State Statutes 38-51-106.12.
A.L.T.A. or an American Land Title Association Survey: A survey designed to service the particular needs of the title industry in the insuring of real property "free and clear", the standards for which were established by the 2011 updated standards adopted by the American Land Title Association and the National Society of Professional Surveyors. Included in the survey is all the information requested by the client from the options detailed in "Table A". A copy of the survey certified to the client will be recorded with the County Clerk and Recorder.


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Mike Pence's comments came less than an hour before news broke that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had, as a senator, met multiple times with Russia's ambassador to the United States. | Getty
Pence: I have no plans to meet with Putin
By LOUIS NELSON
Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday night that he has no plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin but that the White House will continue to seek areas of cooperation with Russia.
Appearing on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor," Pence said there are "no plans on my part" to meet with Putin. He was responding to a suggestion by host Bill O'Reilly that he do so. Pence added that the White House's posture toward Russia had not changed.
"We made a strong commitment to NATO. We also made it very clear that two things are true: We're going to hold Russia accountable for ending violence in eastern Ukraine," Pence said. "But in the same breath, our president continues to believe that if there is a way that we can find common ground with Russia, particularly in the fight against ISIS, he's determined to pursue that."
Pence's comments came less than an hour before news broke that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had, as a senator, met multiple times with Russia's ambassador to the United States in the months before the 2016 election, meetings that he did not disclose under oath during confirmation hearings to take control of the Justice Department.
News of Sessions' previously unknown meetings with the Russian ambassador has further inflamed allegations that President Donald Trump's campaign was in regular contact with the Kremlin, which actively sought to aid his candidacy by hacking into and then leaking the personal emails of prominent Democrats.


Head over heels by Tears for fears. On spotify.
I am in love listening to "Dirty Day", I got the lyrics too. I finally get to see the words to the song. I love this song.
My Prince makes me delirious with his voice.
I am learning, growing more knowledgeable of U2, my Prince, Anton Corbinj, it appears that this man is the one I would like always close to U2. When I was small, I heard my Prince sing spanish In the name of love, this man was connected then to my Prince. A very important man he is. Bono Prince of Realm is the man in the song. He is Realm's only true Prince. This man Corbinj, I shall learn more of him, my thoughts are fixed on my Prince, therefore, anyone is always 2nd or random. He is a constant. He is always in my concious awaken and in my sleep. Bono is the Prince of Realm dreams are made of.
Radio and there playing lousy music at the moment , I hope it gets better..


A 1031 Exchange replacement property must be identified within 45 days and acquired within 180 days of the sale of the relinquished property. To be eligible for a safe harbor tax deferral the proceeds must be held by a qualified intermediary between the time of the relinquished property's sale and the purchase of replacement property.
We will inform you of your exchange options, prepare and organize the required documentation, and notify you of important dates during the exchange process.
Wolterman Law Office will prepare all necessary forms. IRC §1031 requires that identification of a replacement property take place within 45 days.
With the guidance of our attorneys, you will purchase the replacement property within 180 days of the sale of the relinquished property. Wolterman Law Office will transfer the proceeds from the sale of the relinquished property to your escrow company. Upon closing you will receive the deed to the replacement property.


The bottom of David Canyon, with the Turkey Trot Trail at the extreme right.
The Mars Court parking area is the starting point for the south end of the trail system in the Manzanita Mountains. The trails are obvious and easy, there's plenty of shade, and the terrain is forgiving. The trail intersections are carefully marked, so if you bring the local trail map you don't need a GPS. In other words, a great place for beginning hikers including kids. Many Manzanita Mountain trails are open to motor bikes but those at the south end of the system are for non-motorized travel only (horses, mountain bikes, hikers). The forest slopes west of Mars Court have been thinned, and are a pleasant mix of shady and park-like areas. Much of the bottom of David Canyon is a meadow.
To reach the parking area, get to Tijeras and then head south on NM 337. At the first safe spot past the intersection with NM 333, reset your trip meter to zero. About 8.6 miles later, at 34 deg. 59.317 min. N, 106 deg. 19.793 min. W, turn right onto Raven Road (for the previous 120 meters, there's a turn lane to decelerate in).
Once safely past the turn, reset your trip meter to zero. Raven Road heads southwest but then curves west (right). Later it curves southwest (left), then northwest (right), then southwest and finally south (left). The street intersections are signed, so it's easy to stay on Raven Road despite these twists and turns. About 1.5 miles in, turn west (right) onto Mars Court. A bumpy 100 meters later you'll be at the parking area (at 34 deg. 59.045 min. N, 106 deg. 21.000 min. W).
Looking down David Canyon to the Manzano Mountains. Mosca Peak on the left, Guadalupe Peak on the right.
Once parked, you have three immediate choices. The steepest and fastest route to the bottom of David Canyon is the Wild Turkey Trail (5161). For a gentler route to the canyon bottom, follow FR 530 northwest out of the far end of the parking lot. The third option, the Turkey Trot Trail (5162), heads south from the near end of the parking lot and maintains its elevation for a while, then drops into David Canyon about a mile and a half (as the raven flies) from the trailhead. You can combine these and other trails, all shown on the local hiking map, to create a variety of loop hikes.
The photos shown on this page were taken on May 27, 2018. We headed south on the Turkey Trot Trail, crossing the bottom of David Canyon, and headed north on the More Turkey Trail (5643). We then took FR 530 back to the trailhead. West of the canyon bottom there were multiple spots recently charred by a forest fire, but not enough so to make the hike unpleasant. According to my Garmin, the hike was 7.7 miles long and included 900 feet of ascent and descent. Even though it was the Memorial Day Weekend, in five and a half hours of hiking we encountered only four other people: two solitary mountain bikers and a pair of hikers.
The only water we saw was at a rain collector and wildlife drinker at 34 deg. 57.953 min. N, 106 deg. 21.509 min. W, about 250 meters north of where the Turkey Trot Trail crosses the bottom of David Canyon. The collector/drinker setup was interesting enough to warrant the minor detour, but the water was quite skanky. For humans, this is an emergency water source only; this close to the trailhead, if I was out of water I'd simply walk back to the car.
The Turkey Trot Trail snakes through the center of this photo, among mature Ponderosa pines and young oak scrub.
Be sure to respect the boundaries of the military reservation to the west and Isleta Pueblo to the south. In the bottom of David Canyon, you can hike south about a mile before reaching the Isleta Pueblo boundary.


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José Ignacio López Porras (born 1 August 1970) is a Spanish dressage rider. He won a team bronze medal at the 2005 European Dressage Championships aboard Nevado Santa Clara. He also competed at the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

References

External links

Living people
1970 births
Spanish male equestrians
Spanish dressage riders


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California Soil
A Soil as Good as It Gets
Deep in California, between the Tehachapi Mountains and the Cascade Range, lies one of the most fertile regions in America. It's 250 various crops are estimated at a value of $17 billion per year, it supplies 8% of U.S. agricultural output, and nearly 20% of America's groundwater is pumped right into its aquifers. It produces everything from cotton, tomatoes, and hay to citrus, tree fruits, vegetables, and wine grapes. It is one of the most notable structural depressions in the world and its name is the Central Valley.
What makes Central Valley soil so Fertile?
The Central Valley of California is formed by two smaller valley's known as the San Joaquin Valley in the South and the Sacramento Valley in the North. Also known as, "San Joaquin" soil, Central Valley soil is defined as a Class 1 soil, meaning that it has the least limitations of all other soils. This lack of limitations allows for wider use than other soils, meaning more plentiful crop yields. For San Joaquin soil, climate and temperature are vital components in regards to its fertility. These yields are supported by the more than ideal temperature, which experiences a 25-degree temperature swing from day into night. The Valley is also supported by cool winters and summer heat, offering a wide variety of growing options for farmers both big and small during seasonal changes.
Location is Everything
While temperature and climate are massive contributing factors to the fertility of San Joaquin, it's really the placement of the Valley that contributes the most to its large crop yields. And when it comes to placement, it doesn't get any more idealistic than Central Valley. The two smaller valleys that makeup Central Valley meet in the Delta area, which is constructed by the runoff of the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers. The Delta Area's 1,100 miles of rivers offer a major source of freshwater, benefitting many of the region's agricultural developments. San Joaquin soil is central to America's agricultural output. The ingredients that not only make up the very meals we eat but the natural and holistic lives that we choose to live are no doubt thanks to Central Valley. So it's no wonder that just 35 miles south of Central Valley, the offices of Verda Hemp are working hard to provide a better future for natural medicine and holistic life through education, training, farm consulting, and land preparation.
← Adding CBD to your Daily Skin Routine Autoimmune Diseases & a Holistic Life →
After seeing the multiple benefits that a wide variety of people have enjoyed from this plant, founders Vince Williamson and Derek Shields were moved to learn more about how they could get involved. With professional experience in contracting, Vince used his resources to obtain the proper permits in the community to find local farmers, farm land, and begin the process. Derek has been growing hemp and working with CBD since 2012. While working with different strains, he found that each one, with its ratio of cannabinoids and terpenes, has it's own unique healing properties. This is why Verda cultivates a variety of strains to benefit a wide range of symptoms. After suffering from a shoulder injury resulting in a replacement surgery, Vince made the decision to do without prescription pain medication and found that CBD was a successful replacement. He experienced a pain-free healing process during a time that was understood to be a relatively difficult recovery. Post-recovery, Vince's continued testimony includes pain relief in several pain areas due to previous sports injuries. Both Vince and Derek are inspired to share the healing benefits, profitability, and culture of CBD/Hemp oil through Verda.
Ultimately, we want to help! Our mission began by educating farmers to grow a profitable and organic CBD crop. We want to empower farmers to grow this crop while bringing prosperity and income back to the agricultural communities in America and directly to the individual farmer. As we are facilitating farmers on how to make money growing the nation's newest, most lucrative cash crop- we are focused on communication, understanding, and providing products to CBD users. Our vision is to allow farmers to produce CBD while educating the community and the country on the benefits of CBD in the production, the sale, and the usage.
Defining Hemp
Hemp is a natural compound that is compatible with the endocannabinoid system in the human brain. Hemp can provide medicinal benefits without the reverse side effects we experience through prescription drugs. Acting as a natural healer, hemp may be used to alleviate pain, reduce anxiety, act as a sleep and relaxation aid, and provide relief as an anti-inflammatory.
All of Verda Hemp's products contain less than 0.3% THC.
Verda Hemp
Email: derek@verdahemp.com
FDA DISCLOSURE This product is not for use by or sale to persons under the age of 18. This product should be used only as directed on the label. It should not be used if you are pregnant or nursing. Consult with a physician before use if you have a serious medical condition or use prescription medications. A Doctor's advice should be sought before using this and any supplemental dietary product. All trademarks and copyrights are property of their respective owners and not affiliated with nor do they endorse this product. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual weight loss results will vary. By using this site you agree to follow the Privacy Policy and all Terms & Conditions printed on this site. Void Where Prohibited By Law.
Verda © 2023 All Rights Reserved


FirstB@nksim is a challenging, practical and engaging way to learn and experience how a bank is run. The banking game provides first-hand insight into the business of banking and an understanding of how economic and business conditions impact a bank's performance. The banking game consists of 8 learning levels.
Via the e-learning modules available in each level, you are provided with the theoretical concepts of key banking activities, products and concepts. You can then immediately apply these concepts by making decisions for the bank based on the new insights you have gained.
On each level you are put to the test by making decisions for the bank on a quarterly basis and having to generate sufficient profit for the bank. How much new business would you like to attract for credit cards? How much should you invest in marketing, IT and in the training of staff? There are some examples of the decisions you are required to make. After completing all the decisions for that level, the game provides immediate results allowing you to evaluate the impact of your decisions on the performance of the bank. After achieving the required profit for the bank, you are then promoted to the next level.
After having successfully completed all eight levels a certificate of completion will be made available via the simulation as well as sent by email.


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Apple's crackdown on app-ranking manipulation: Confused developers caught in the dragnet
Dean Takahashi@deantak	 July 3, 2012 8:00 AM
For a small developer who's just released an iOS app, a position near the top of Apple's App Store rankings could mean the difference between a million dollars in revenue and Top Ramen for dinner. So it's no surprise that some coders try to cheat the system — and that Apple tries to stop it.
But in the battle between Apple's police and the cheaters who employ automated bots or cheap Chinese labor to boost their rankings, some innocent startups are finding themselves banned from the marketplace — collateral damage in a high-stakes war with real money on the line.
Now a few of the castoffs are raising their voices to complain about Apple's secretive policies.
"It's hard to tell who is doing this ethically and who isn't," said one source familiar with the cheaters who asked to remain anonymous. "It's hard to believe the big guys aren't manipulating their ranks and that Apple is treating everybody fairly here."
At issue is the cottage industry of third-party marketing firms that promise to propel unknown apps from obscurity to the top of Apple's ranking charts. Sometimes their methods include brazen market manipulation using so-called "bot farms," "software bots," or human "water armies" in China — a practice that's incurred the wrath of Apple's policy cops in Cupertino, Calif. This February, Apple cracked down on a number of dubious marketing firms that use software bots and armies of human users to download apps en masse, propelling the titles to high-profile positioning within the App Store's "Top Free" rankings chart.
Apple banned at least one major developer, Animoca (which published apps from Dream Cortex; read our separate report on Animoca being banned), from putting apps on the App Store because of alleged rankings manipulation. And we found that one app developer that used the marketer Gtekna saw unusual behavior; its app shot to the top 25 but then dropped like a rock, and 70 percent of the downloads were never opened.
One can't blame Apple for trying to keep its App Store rankings pure, but some legitimately marketed apps might be getting swept up in Apple's dragnet as the company attempts to remove software from those who would game the system. Similarly, some developers have pure intentions but have naively hired market manipulators. These developers are finding their apps blacklisted — and when they attempt to work with Apple on App Store reinstatement, their efforts are ignored. (Apple declined repeated attempts to talk to us for this story).
It isn't clear how many apps have been affected by the bans, but in any given month, Apple takes down 5,000 apps for a variety of reasons, according to app search firm Xyologic. The developers' concerns came at a time when overall App Store downloads were notably decreasing. Matthäus Krzykowski, the chief executive of Xyologic, said that the volume of downloads on the U.S. App Store has fallen 25 percent since January. The decrease, he says, can in part be attributed to Apple's crackdown on bots and its decision to combat "incentivized" installs (which we'll explain below). Fiksu, another app marketing firm, reports a similar drop in downloads on the App Store.
"We had an app rejected and we didn't know why," said an executive at a seasoned game development company who requested anonymity. "It would be much better if we had clear communication from Apple about what the guidelines really are. It seems like everyone is worried about this, but the information isn't evenly circulated. People think that Apple plays favorites."
The executive said most developers know about the manipulation tactics but will only talk about them in private. He said there's a growing fear in the developer community that as more and more app companies use underhanded marketing techniques, the greater ecosystem will be forced to do so as well to keep up with rivals.
The words of the gaming company executive were echoed during a frank, closed-door discussion on app marketing at a recent mobile conference. Chief executives of affected companies — developers, ad networks, app marketers, and mobile infrastructure companies — all said that they were worried about Apple's handling of the marketing crackdown, but nobody wanted to stand up and tell Apple what was wrong.
Since the download numbers have dropped since January, app developers and publishers have had to get more aggressive about marketing, said Joe Bayen, the chief executive of FreeAppADay, which uses Apple-approved methods to help market apps. "In the past, you might have only needed only three or four marketing services to spread an app," Bayen said. "Now you might need to use 40 of them."
Apple hasn't said a lot about the crackdown beyond this Feb. 6 statement: "Once you build a great app, you want everyone to know about it. However, when you promote your app, you should avoid using services that advertise or guarantee top placement in App Store charts. Even if you are not personally engaged in manipulating App Store chart rankings or user reviews, employing services that do so on your behalf may result in the loss of your Apple Developer Program membership."
In February, after the Apple crackdown, some third-party marketing services such as AppMagenta went into hiding. This wasn't the case with Gtekna, a small app marketing firm in Palo Alto, Calif., with only two employees. Rather than going underground, Gtekna changed the wording on its website so that it no longer promised to work App Store magic for developers.
Indeed, Gtekna's web site no longer guarantees top 25 placement, but it proudly proclaims it can "Increase visibility and maximize sales!" It also notes somewhat cryptically that it does not use "bots."
Gtekna's top executive was willing to talk with us about the gray areas of rankings-driven app promotion — the points at which solid marketing tactics give way to shady market manipulation. We'll share his story shortly. But let's first delve into what happened when Apple started fighting back against shady app marketers.
Getting caught in the dragnet
Earlier this year, Apple took broad action against third-party marketing services firms because evidence showed some marketers were manipulating the App Store's top rankings using automated computer systems — that is, software bots — as well as armies of human users. The marketers used these tools to download their clients' iOS apps en masse, artificially inflating Apple's store rankings.
Many app marketing services use defensible, above-board practices, but Apple eventually cracks down on those that reek of rankings manipulation, much as Google deals with websites that try to manipulate search engine rankings for profit. Apple can't directly control seedy marketing firms, so it chases down those manipulators' customers — the app developers who either knowingly or unwittingly purchased the dubious marketing services.
Apple doesn't explain its take-down policies in detail, so not only are some developers confused by why their apps were kicked out of the App Store, but the whole developer ecosystem is also left with unclear marketing guidelines.
"A friend of mine had a pretty successful mobile app development company with hundreds of titles in the App Store," said Daniel Kim, the president of Nexon America, one of the biggest publishers of online games in Asia. "He just got cut off one day because he used the wrong marketing company. Without his knowledge, this company had used bots to bring some of their titles up on the rankings. Ironically, they were already there before they hired this company. But [Apple] just basically said, 'You're done.' They were completely cut off. They were running like 24 million [downloads] a year, and there is no appeal process. It's pretty absolute."
Apple declined to comment for this story. And, in fact, its overall silence regarding takedown policies vexes developers who feel they've been treated unfairly. It isn't clear just how many app developers have been warned or cut off, because Apple prohibits them from talking about its communications.
Were all these apps promoted by nefarious marketing practices? It's impossible to tell, because Apple doesn't clearly communicate its motivations to those affected, developers say.
The line between good and evil
Some marketing practices entail nothing more objectionable than time-tested, smart promotion. Legitimate marketing companies include the likes of Tapjoy, PlayHaven, Flurry, Chartboost, AdParlor, Iddiction, and FreeAppADay. They all help clients with the tough challenges of app discovery — compelling users to share apps with friends and convincing users to try something new.
Tapjoy, for example, places ads for new apps inside of established apps. Chartboost incentivizes developers to promote the apps of other developers through a variety of cross-promotions and direct deals. And FreeAppADay is exactly what it sounds like: a website that promotes apps that free for just one day. Developers who join are willing to reduce their prices to zero (if only briefly) to enjoy the fruits of a larger user base.
For all these marketing services, direct chart manipulation is not the object, but ethical boundaries can be crossed. Tapjoy got into trouble last year after it started making a lot of money through incentivized installs — in effect, Tapjoy gave in-game rewards to users who installed another app.
Apple decided the rewards were such a big motivator that people were installing apps that they had no interest in using. And the impact of incentivized installs in the market was big enough to cause a distortion in the top 25 rankings. Nonetheless, Tapjoy (and others) still do a lot of business using nonincentivized cross promotions. What's more, Tapjoy can still do its incentivized install promotions in Google Play market on Android devices.
We know at least one developer, Dream Cortex, had all of its apps removed from the App Store for violating Apple's guideline 3.10, which states, "Developers who attempt to manipulate or cheat the user reviews or chart ranking in the App Store with fake or paid reviews, or any other inappropriate methods, will be removed from the iOS Developer Program."
Pretty Pet Salon and related apps from Dream Cortex were removed on Jan. 12 for the policy violation. The software was published by Hong Kong–based Animoca, a division of incubator Outblaze Ventures. An Apple spokesman confirmed to us that Animoca's apps were banned because they violated guideline 3.10. Pretty Pet Salon downloads were above 10 million, so the app's removal wasn't a trivial takedown.
Ibrahim El-Mouelhy, a spokesman for Animoca, told us, "We have never used bots or intentionally engaged in any manipulation activities." He said Apple never provided specific reasons for the app removals. Animoca tried various times to get its apps restored, and even consulted legal advice, but it has not succeeded in getting back into the Apple iTunes App Store.
Oddly enough, a version of the game that Apple banned, Pretty Pet Salon Seasons, is now under the auspices of Pretty Pet Company and has reappeared in the App Store. Pretty Pet Salon Edition, now under the development of Oriented Games, is also back on sale.
So how did these apps win back entry when Animoca's efforts for reinstatement were futile?
Simple: Animoca gave up on being reinstated and instead sold off its iOS business to another developer that wasn't banned. Its preference was to work it out with Apple so that it could keep its lucrative iOS business alive, but it met a stone wall and had to sell.
"We are doing very well on Android and Amazon," El-Mouelhy said. "We hope to be able to get back on Apple, if we have a conversation with the right person."
The plight of Animoca underscores the frustration of small developers caught up in Apple's crackdown. Apple has (quite rightly) messaged to the developer community that the consumer comes first, and market manipulators will be ousted from the ecosystem. Apple may not act quickly, but it will eventually chase down app publishers it thinks have violated policy.
But the manner in which Apple deals with store removals retains a great deal of inequity. Apple will communicate directly with the highest-profile and most successful app developers and publishers so that they understand how to comply with all store and development policies, whether those policies concern content, privacy, technology or marketing. But Apple has not been so transparent to the relatively obscure developers caught up in its marketing crackdown. In effect, if you're a small publisher, you won't get an explanation.
While reporting this story, we spoke to several large and small developers whose apps were removed from the App Store for violating guideline 3.10. Only one — Animoca — would share its story on the record, but all felt Apple provided insufficient explanation of precisely why their apps were removed.
How to shoot from No. 1,800 to the top 25
After February's crackdown, some of the other third-party app marketers turned tail and ran, changing their website marketing messages but remaining in business. Some turned down new customers. App marketer Gtekna, meanwhile, remains in business — though, as we explained above, the company has changed some of its own marketing language. Gtekna's chief executive, Chang-Min Pak, granted us an interview, and he denied that his business was using bots.
Rather, Pak said that his company was merely paid to promote apps on a wide variety of web sites via banner ads. And in it contracts, Gtekna promised that it "will not use any offensive marketing methods such as spamming which may create a negative reputation to the application and the customer," Pak said.
While Pak says Gtekna never used bots, he thinks rivals who've undercut him on pricing have resorted to these automated techniques. And, indeed, at least one other app marketing service openly describes practices that would provoke Apple's wrath. Visit iSales Boost and you'll find language that references "review generation." AppMagenta now says it offers "promotion services for iPhone and iPad apps," but it once guaranteed placement in the top 25.
But Gtekna's picture isn't entirely clear. One of Gtekna's former customers — who spoke only on condition of anonymity — confirmed that a Gtekna contract agreement from last year guaranteed placement in the Top Free list in Apple's store. If the app didn't hit the top ranks within five days, the customer could cancel the promotion for a full refund.
When the app was promoted with Gtekna's help last year, it shot from number 1,800 to the top 25 in Apple's top free apps list. Within a couple of days, the app got between 50,000 to 100,000 new users.
But after the promotion stopped, the app dropped like a rock. Adding insult to injury, it appeared the app's popularity was mostly manufactured: According to Flurry, an independent analytics provider, more than 70 percent of all the new users never even opened the app. Our anonymous developer concluded that Gtekna had used either bots or masses of humans who were paid small amounts to download the app.
It's impossible to determine if Flurry's data speaks to market manipulation. It's not uncommon, after all, for users to download apps to their computers and then wait days before transferring them to their devices. And for his part in the manner, Gtekna's Pak said that it makes sense that "the ranking will fall after the campaign unless the app is so popular to get enough downloads to hold the ranking."
"We stop a campaign 12 hours after we hit top 25," Pak said. "In most of the cases, the ranking goes up to around 15th to 17th. Our partners give away gift cards to their members by drawing to encourage the members to click ad banners. For game apps, we're told from a few developers that about 60 percent to 70 percent of people open the apps, and for nongame apps, we're told that 35 percent to 45 percent are opened."
The experience was very instructive to the developer that used Gtekna: It showed that there's no substitute for quality content — a great app will generate its own downloads via human word-of-mouth. App marketing can provide a temporary boost, but an app will only stay in the top 25 if it's really good.
Or if the developer continues to pay for marketing.
"You need muzzle velocity out of the chute," said Lee Crawford, a critic of bot-driven marketing and a cofounder of social and mobile game developer Making Fun. "The question is, do I have what it takes to stay there, or do I have to apply marketing dollars to stay in the top 25?"
Animoca, the original publisher of Pretty Pet Salon, used Gtekna for marketing, but Gtekna was just one of many options Animoca tested. Pak said he had no idea why Animoca was banned. "I never heard from the client about it," Pak said, "and there is no reason for Apple to remove our clients' apps just because they used our service. We have no case where our clients lost their Apple developer programs, or had their apps removed by Apple."
Indeed, thousands of developers have evidently used Gtekna, so it's a mystery as to why Animoca had its apps deleted. Many developers — many larger and many smaller — had their apps marketed the same way but weren't singled out.
Gtekna speaks out
Pak said Gtekna has never used "bot farms" — automated computer programs that behave as users downloading apps. And Pak says the same about using "water armies" — masses of users in China and other countries who are paid small amounts of money to download apps.
Rather, Pak said his company charges around $8,000 and higher to market apps with banner ads. The fruits of this marketing can yield about 20,000 downloads a day, he says. The amount of time it takes for the marketing campaign varies.
Some developers suspect Gtekna is operating a bot farm, and many have said so privately with us. But no one has provided proof, because the results of a bot-farm effort and the results of good advertising are quite similar: An app rises in the charts.
In defense of the legitimacy of his business, Pak doesn't do much to help his own case. He claims he has 10,000 customers among developers but can't name any. He says Gtekna runs multiple campaigns a day but declines to disclose more about how his company does marketing. He also won't share any details on his sole business partner.
While Pak denies all associations with bot farms, these automated downloading agents aren't hard to find in other markets.
"A lot of these content farms are poisoning relevancy," said Andy Yang, the chief executive of PlayHaven, which has a platform for cross-promoting apps in a legitimate way. "Some developers will try to get away with it. Others won't take the chance. It is universally good news if Apple cracks down on them and the marketing dollars don't go into bot farms."
Chen Cheng, a computer science student at the University of Victoria in Canada, went undercover to fight as a soldier in a water army — a paid human poster on Chinese websites. He and his colleagues then used what they learned to write software that can detect the presence of bots.
Cheng said China-based marketing companies use thousands of Apple IDs — faked logins for Apple accounts — to help human workers download apps en masse. The marketing companies also use proxy services to change Internet Protocol address to help prevent the human workers from being detected by Apple, Cheng said.
"Since Apple has showed a more aggressive attitude toward this malicious manipulation, the [third-party marketing] firms hire paid posters to download and write reviews for the apps, just like what normal users would do," Cheng said. "In this way, their behavior will become even harder to be discovered. The firms also suggest that attempts to enter into Top 10 or Top 3 are very dangerous and can be easily detected by Apple, but the Top 30 to Top 50 would be OK."
Largely due to privacy reasons, Apple is moving away Unique Device Identifier numbers, or UDIDs. Each 40-digit number is a specific code associated with a particular iOS device. In late March, Apple began rejecting apps that tap into UDID code, and the company has signaled it is phasing out UDIDs entirely. But the more Apple distances itself from UDID in the defense of privacy, the harder it may find analyzing data that could lead to identifying market manipulators.
"To be able to discover the hidden behavior, a large amount of data is a necessity," Cheng said. "For example, you can try to collect all the reviews from a certain Apple ID and then analyze the trends of downloading and commenting. Incorporating the name of apps, you may notice that a certain Apple ID has a higher probability of appearing along with the known hyped apps. Then this ID should be considered a malicious one. And if a set of these malicious IDs appear together under a new app, then the new app may be hyped by the paid reviewers."
One developer who spoke on condition of anonymity believes that bot operators use the following strategy in the larger scheme toward automated downloads: "They put some code in an app through an SDK, tricking users out of their unique device identifier, the UDID. This code then seems to operate as a bot assisting in downloading [new] apps, or at least in acquiring valid UDIDs to use to automatically download apps."
Cheng added that the Chinese marketers might be tapping into databases of iTunes accounts that have either been hijacked — "users might not notice extra apps" — or generated for bot activity.
"These accounts are sent to the bots along with 'jobs' from a central control that instruct the bot on which app to download," Cheng said. "The central control program then uses chart positions to adjust the flow of installs to match the campaign. This is how they can 'hold' an app at a position for a long period of time."
Rising costs drive app makers to the back alley
Some developers and app marketers have told us that Apple unwittingly created the illegitimate marketing economy by cracking down on legitimate app marketing techniques, such as Tapjoy's incentivized installs, which are permitted on Android. They say desperate app makers may have turned to the "backstreet methods," particularly in the fourth quarter of 2011, when rates for promoting apps tripled in some cases.
During the same quarter, the cost of acquiring new app users via ads — a legitimate form of user acquisition — hit an all-time high. Fiksu, the mobile ad firm, said that it saw the cost of user acquisition rise from $1.10 per user in May 2011 to $1.81 per user in December. That number is somewhat alarming, as many apps sell for 99 cents. The number dropped on a seasonal basis earlier this year and is now at $1.26 per user.
Mobile advertising costs fell during the post-holiday slowdown in January, but these rose again in February. Costs have since taken off on an upward trend thanks to spending by the mobile social network Gree, which is moving into the U.S. market after building a billion-dollar business in Japan.
Some developers are getting priced out of the market: The bigger ones can afford to spend a lot of money on advertising, but the smaller ones don't have the budgets. To deal with that, some developers might have turned to the third-party marketing services, a less expensive promotional option.
"The number-one place you can get customers today is through the Google promotions, and the number-two place you can get customers is through paid advertising," said Neil Young, the CEO of Ngmoco and an executive officer at Japan's DeNA, the maker of the Mobage mobile social gaming platform. "The number-three place is chart position. So that's one of the reasons, in aggregate, that the cost is rising. You're having to spend money on paid advertising. And being experts at customer acquisition through paid advertising is not a trivial challenge for lots of developers."
Nonetheless, Young believes it's appropriate for Apple to crack down on bots and human water armies. He has little sympathy for developers who try to game the App Store simply because they have no better legitimate alternative.
"You could make the same point about crime," Young said. "Crime exists because society is not serving the need of a segment. It doesn't make it right to do it. I think that Apple's right to crack down on it."
Young also believes that Apple's acquisition of Chomp — an algorithm-based app recommendation engine optimized for real-language queries — shows it intends to solve the market manipulation problem. Relative to the App Store, Chomp is much less focused on ranking charts and much more focused on helping users find great content through clever app discovery.
What's more, Young says Ngmoco itself hopes to alleviate user-acquisition problems via its own Mobage social gaming platform. If enough users use Mobage to share games with each other, developers won't have to spend as much money to acquire users. Apple offered some relief in the past week with the launch of iOS 6, which will allow users to "like" apps in the App Store, helping them spread in a more viral way on Facebook.
Naoki Aoyagi, the chief executive of Gree International, said that his own mobile social gaming platform became more popular after Apple's crackdown announcement. In short, Aoyagi says developers became fearful of using illegitimate channels and have gone back to above-board platforms for marketing games. "The developers understand that manipulation is not working," Aoyagi said. "[Apple's crackdown] makes the market a better place."
The sentiment is shared by an app developer that's never resorted to bots or water armies: "I have heard the rumors and seen articles about our competitors," said Ben Liu, the chief operating officer at mobile game publisher Pocket Gems. "We are aligned with Apple's efforts here. The most fun app should rise to the top."
GamesBeat 2012 is VentureBeat's fourth annual conference on disruption in the video game market. This year we're calling on speakers from the hottest mobile, social, PC, and console companies to debate new ways to stay on pace with changing consumer tastes and platforms. Join 500+ execs, investors, analysts, entrepreneurs, and press as we explore the gaming industry's latest trends and newest monetization opportunities. The event takes place July 10-11 in San Francisco, and you can get your tickets here.


Brothers Alex and Mark Rechichi opened the first Extreme Pita in 1997 and began franchising a year later. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, the company offers franchises in both Canada and the U.S. The Extreme Pita menu offers a variety of sandwich wraps and pizzas made with pita bread, along with salads, pita chips and cookies.


text:
Ebonyi state SSG, Bernard Odoh resigns, says governor never had confidence in him
written by Samuel Etuk April 3, 2018
The Secretary to Ebonyi state government (SSG), Prof. Bernard Odoh, has resigned his appointment.
His notice of resignation was contained in a three-page letter he wrote to governor David Umahi dated April 2, 2018.
He gave several reasons for resigning, part of which was that despite his sincere effort in working to move the government and the state forward, Umahi never had trust nor confidence in him.
He also said he took his decision so as to protect his relationship with the governor, stressing that he has more to preserve than occupy the position of the SSG.
Odoh said that the way by which Umahi's administration had remained in the last two years had not offered conducive atmosphere for all members of the state executive council and himself to sincerely air and express their views on sensitive policy matters.
The letter read in part, "In my opinion, this is the highest level of hypocrisy and the values I live do not allow me to operate in such deceptive atmosphere where people live opposite of what or who they are. Having assured you on my inception of office and at several times that I owe you the responsibility to be truthful and honest always, I wish to inform you that all is not well in your administration sir. If you observe carefully, almost all your appointees are nearly completely disconnected from your policy direction as they lack genuine sense of purpose, dignity, clear sense of commitment to decision taken in Council because of low morale. Once more on behalf of my family, friends and those who worked closely with me for almost three years now, I want to most sincerely again say thank you very much for the rare opportunity you offered me to serve our dear state. My appointment as the Secretary to the State government is hereby resigned in good faith. I have handed over the status of cabinet office to the most senior staff in the office, Barrister Ogbonnaya Otta in line with the best practices of service,"
However, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Emmanuel Uzo reacting to the alleged resignation said that his office was not aware of the purported resignation.
Uzo said, "I am not aware of any resignation by the Secretary to the State Government and this is the official and true position of the matter. We have not been informed nor received the letter informing the Governor of the SSG's resignation,"
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text:
require 'test_helper'

module KepplerAdwords
  class MetaTagsControllerTest < ActionController::TestCase
    setup do
      @meta_tag = keppler_adwords_meta_tags(:one)
      @routes = Engine.routes
    end

    test "should get index" do
      get :index
      assert_response :success
      assert_not_nil assigns(:meta_tags)
    end

    test "should get new" do
      get :new
      assert_response :success
    end

    test "should create meta_tag" do
      assert_difference('MetaTag.count') do
        post :create, meta_tag: { description: @meta_tag.description, title: @meta_tag.title, url: @meta_tag.url }
      end

      assert_redirected_to meta_tag_path(assigns(:meta_tag))
    end

    test "should show meta_tag" do
      get :show, id: @meta_tag
      assert_response :success
    end

    test "should get edit" do
      get :edit, id: @meta_tag
      assert_response :success
    end

    test "should update meta_tag" do
      patch :update, id: @meta_tag, meta_tag: { description: @meta_tag.description, title: @meta_tag.title, url: @meta_tag.url }
      assert_redirected_to meta_tag_path(assigns(:meta_tag))
    end

    test "should destroy meta_tag" do
      assert_difference('MetaTag.count', -1) do
        delete :destroy, id: @meta_tag
      end

      assert_redirected_to meta_tags_path
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
June 24, 2021 12:13 PM PT
And all for the want of an Apple TV remote
This is the story of how the new Apple TV remote cost me hundreds of dollars, but in a good way.
We were happy earlier this month to take delivery of a new Apple TV 4K, to replace one that I had given to my daughter when she returned to college last fall. (I thought a new model might have been imminent—oops.) And along with that new Apple TV box came a new remote, which has earned a lot of praise for not being the old Apple TV Siri Remote.
It was a single button on that remote that started it all: the new Power button. While the Apple TV has been able to control external devices for a while now, the Power button is so much more explicit: You should be able to use this button to turn your TV on and off.
Which is great, except that I have a complicated setup that includes a home-theater receiver and a TiVo, neither of which can be controlled via HDMI-CEC1, the protocol that Apple TV uses to control other devices.
I've also been frustrated by the number of remotes we have to keep around. We've got a TiVo remote, an Apple TV remote, a Logitech Harmony remote, and even a Lutron Caseta remote for our living-room lights. Plus, occasionally we need to use the remote that came with our TV. It's a lot.
So, inspired by the Apple TV Remote, I ripped up my entire living-room setup and tried to build something better. It started with a new receiver, one that supports HDMI-CEC, AirPlay, (and—via a Homebridge plug-in—HomeKit).
With a new receiver, I was able to use the Apple TV remote to turn my TV, receiver, and Apple TV on and off, adjust the volume, the works. This is great, except we still use the TiVo for a few things, mostly Jeopardy! and live sports. I'm not ready to give up on the TiVo, and Logitech has given up on the Harmony, so I decided to see if I could find an alternative way to control the TiVo using HomeKit.
Here's my solution, at least for now: I replaced the Logitech remote with a HomeKit-compatible Remote I had laying around. I reprogrammed the top button on the remote to turn the receiver on and set it to the input being used by the TiVo. (The receiver, when it powers on, uses CEC to turn on the TV itself.) The bottom button I set to turn everything off.
I had two buttons left, so I set them to control our living-room lights at two different levels of brightness generally associated with TV viewing—dim and off.
With all that done, I've reduced my remotes on the coffee table to three: the simple smart remote, the TiVo remote, and the Apple TV remote. Yes, I would greatly prefer to simplify further—if I can train the TiVo remote to fire off the right infrared signal to the receiver, it might be able to kick off the whole thing without needing that third remote.
Still, not only is my living-room setup simpler than it was—there are fewer remotes, and they're easier to use!—but I got a more modern, full-featured receiver with Dolby Atmos support out of it.
And all because of the Power button on the Apple TV remote.
Newer versions of the TiVo software do support CEC, but those new versions are awful, and I refuse to upgrade. ↩


(Andersen/Mason Hollow Nursery) Our own striking sport of H. lemon Meringue with almost rounded, thick, yellow leaves and an irregular green boarder. Great corrugation adds character and a fair amount of wavyness creates interest on a very dense clump. Named for our beloved mascot "Bum-sa".


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