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Over a Million People Now Have Global Entry, But the Program Doesn’t Work Right for Everyone

The Government Accountability Office produced a study of trusted traveler programs that they released on Friday.

We learned that there were a little over a million people enrolled in Global Entry as of January, and just under a million enrolled in NEXUS at that time.

GAO found a backlog of pending applications, about 90,000 at one time needing review, and no plan in place to improve efficiency.

GAO also found that trusted traveler interviews didn’t consistently follow published guidelines, and raised questions about denial rates. GAO and the Department of Homeland security disagree on the need for scripted interview questions.

While the US works on reciprocity with other countries for trusted traveler programs, they aren’t very careful about documenting other countries’ procedures for clearing people.

CBP has discussed information about other countries’ operational procedures for sharing applicant-vetting results, but has not documented this information for seven of the countries, consistent with internal control standards. Without such documentation, there is no institutional record that those countries’ procedures for vetting applicants help to ensure that only low-risk applicants are enrolled.

I finally signed up for Global Entry over a year ago, figuring the government knew everything about me anyway (and this was pre-Snowden). And I’m just glad not to get stuck in interminable immigration queues at New York JFK and O’Hare, and to pretty much always get PreCheck now (it was hit or miss before, although PreCheck queues can also be far longer than they used to be… and filled with people still taking off their shoes and taking out their liquids).

(HT: Carrie C.)

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

More articles by Gary Leff »

  1. Ran this experiment last week with a 7 pm SEA – LAX flight on UAL. Premier for me, PreCheck for my boss. Guess who had a 10 minute wait inside the terminal? That’s right, the PreCheck took 10 minutes longer and it took me at least 5 minutes to get through. Needless to say, I 100% agree: the “separate precheck” areas (not just a line off to one side) definitely appear hit and miss.

  2. My g/f did not have GE. At both ORD and SEA, with automated kiosks available for non-GE US citizens, she was through basically as quickly as I on trips in January and February. She also loathes the PreCheck lines – she actually gets through faster than I do nearly every time.

    TSA has ruined PreCheck by sending random people into the line but not explaining anything about it. GE only has value when there’s a crush of arrivals but even then the automated kiosks speed things up nicely – the CBP officer looks at the printed slip only slightly longer than my GE-printed slip and waves people through.

  3. How about the new kiosks for non GE US citizens and residents that I saw at ATL last week? They do not have GE but go through a kiosk and uses the same process as GE. Only difference is that they did not spend $100. Total BS!!!!

  4. @Santastico Initially, I also felt slighted by the “automated passport” kiosks which are roughly equivalent to GE. But ultimately I decided that any/all automation is a good thing. After all, those kiosks could reduce the wait time for your pal/partner, and now you both exit the airport more quickly.

    As for travelers not understanding the rules of Pre Check, I recently told the guy in front of me that he didn’t have to take off his oxfords. He glanced over at me and said “steel toed shoes”. So now I’m less righteous about assuming that I have all the answers and everyone else is ignorant…

  5. For US citizens returning to the US at ORD, APC kiosks have ended the horrible wait times to clear CBP passport control and get to the baggage claim area. For most of my entries at ORD, the APC kiosks had wait times in the 0-5 minutes range. If I have checked baggage, GE kiosks mostly save me no more than 5-10 minutes overall, in terms of time to get from plane door to the public arrivals area at ORD.

  6. @RobertF: Agree but how about the $400 I spent on GE for me, my wife and 2 kids? BTW, wife and kids still did not interview yet. So we pay and then everyone else gets same service for free?

  7. @Santastico – Ah yes, let’s have people wait in huge lines that move at the speed of molasses, just so you can feel like you got your money’s worth out of your $400.

  8. @Brian: I guess you should learn how to read. I am not saying that people should wait in line but if everyone will get the service for free just kill GE and stop charging people for a service that is now free. It is the same as you pay for a business class ticket on an international flight and after taking of people from coach are allowed to move there for free so they can have more comfort.

  9. @Sa – When every airport that has GE kiosks also has automated passport control kiosks, they probably WILL kill GE. And they should, when that happens. Meanwhile, the fact that someone paid $$ to get GE is no reason NOT to improve wait times for others.

    And what about airports that have GE, but don’t have automated passport control kiosks? There are far more airports that have GE than have automated passport control. If you enter into the country at one of those airports, you’re much better off with GE than someone without.

  10. Even when kiosks are ubiquitous, GE should have benefit. More likely to get Pre (yes, Pre has declined in advantage recently), but also hopefully less likely to get pulled for a secondary screening on entry (I have to assume that submitting to the background check makes me safer than the random person using the other kiosks?).

  11. What bugs me is how random my PreCheck status is. Sometimes I have it, other times I don’t. Yesterday, after a 12 hour flight from Asia, I didn’t have PreCheck on my domestic leg when I could have used it most. After all, I had just gone through customs and the agriculture check. To me, it just seems haphazard and unpredictable. But I have gone through the rather extensive background checks to enter the program, so the randomness doesn’t really add up for me.

  12. I find it astounding that a seasoned traveler would not have signed up for GE several yeas ago. Particularly when you have so many credit cards (and status??) that reimburse the fees. It’s such a no brainer that even my aging parents got it for their once or twice a year international trips.

    Even if you have to pay, isn’t it worth $20/yr to jump to the front of the line, not to mention the precheck benefits (which are critical for those who don’t already have free precheck). My parents are very frugal but felt it was well worth the $$.

    As for the GAO report, that just goes to the whole fallacy of the border control system – which is unneeded and ineffective. Bad guys and other illegals can easily enter the country via the Southern border, so there is no good reason to harass US citizens.

  13. My most recent USA immigration/customs clearances have been at IAD and YVR.

    Global Entry at IAD was, as usual, fast and trouble-free. But there’s no Pre-Check line to get airside for connections, so everyone had to go through the full disassembly/reassembly routine.

    Connecting from a Europe-originating flight to a USA-bound flight at YVR meant going through a full security check, and there’s no Global Entry there, so we had to wait for the regular immigration screening. Surprisingly, though, they showed us a photo of our luggage, asked us to confirm that it was ours, and that was that — no reclaiming and rechecking.

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Corona Boom: How supermarkets became pandemic winners while women workers lose out

Rachel Wilshaw Inequality

Women like Ma-O have been the shock absorbers of the pandemic while supermarket owners have reaped the financial gains

With nearly 85% of the adult population having received at least one vaccination, UK citizens can look forward to seeing loved ones, having a holiday and going back into the workplace. By contrast, in the countries Oxfam where conducted research in 2020 (Brazil, Thailand, India, Pakistan and South Africa), just 9% had received a Covid jab by late June 2021, leaving over 90% of their populations vulnerable to devastating outbreaks of the virus. This tale of vaccine winners and losers is the reason Oxfam has added our voice to the People’s Vaccine campaign.

Early in the pandemic, world leaders repeatedly declared ‘we’re all in this together’ but a new Oxfam report lays bare another tale of winners and losers, this time in global food supply chains: Not in this together: how global supermarkets became the pandemic winners while women workers are losing out.

This third report for Oxfam’s Behind the Barcodes campaign presents an updated body of evidence that in-work poverty and violations of workers’ rights are systemic problems here. Interviews with hundreds of people producing coffee in Brazil, seafood in Thailand, tea in India, rice in Pakistan and wine in South Africa showed Covid-19 has only intensified these issues. The virus has seeped into the fault lines of economic and gender inequality like rainwater through rock.

While frontline workers in stores and supply chains worked hard to keep our cupboards stocked, in the boardrooms it was business as usual, with bosses putting the interests of shareholders, owners and directors ahead of their supply chain workforce.

Supermarkets are amongst the standout winners from the pandemic

In the UK Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons all increased their dividend payments while the owners of privately-owned Aldi and Lidl saw their wealth increase substantially during the pandemic. The eight listed companies on Oxfam’s Supermarket Scorecard increased their dividend payouts from $10 billion to over $22 billion just in the first 8 months of the pandemic. Yet there is little evidence that supermarkets are investing in long-term supply chain improvements to prevent and mitigate violations of human and labour rights exacerbated by the pandemic. These are the hidden heroes of the crisis, labouring in fields and processing plants whilst their income has fallen and their urgent calls for workplace safety and hazard pay have been largely ignored.

The report tells the story of Felipe, who was rescued from slavery-like conditions on a coffee farm in Brazil during the pandemic. He and a co-worker had to harvest around 2.5 tonnes of coffee daily without receiving a salary. At best he would receive $36 for two weeks’ work after his boss had deducted the rent, food and work equipment.

Worker testimony on wages confirmed existing benchmark studies showing the prevalence of poverty wages. Yet less than 1% of shareholder pay-outs in 2020 could close the gap between current wages and a living wage for workers in Brazil’s largest coffee producing state, Minas Gerais.

Women workers have been the shock absorbers of the Covid crisis

Women have had it toughest earning an income, shouldering even greater care responsibilities whilst having the most precarious income. Thai seafood is a case in point. Most of the 588 workers interviewed reported being on a very low daily wage with no evidence that they receive the monthly minimum wage. Of these workers, 64% were women. When there was a serious Covid-19 outbreak at Christmas, workers had to stay in their homes but with no compensation for lost income. When Oxfam communicated this to supermarkets, none publicly reported systematic actions that mitigated workers’ suffering. A civil society coalition in the sector is now calling for workers to get a monthly wage so they at least get the Thai legal minimum.

Contrast this with recent announcements of high executive bonuses at Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco. These have drawn the ire of shareholders, though on the grounds of poor PR at a time of hardship, not out of concern for supply chain workers: their suffering doesn’t get a look-in from these powerful stakeholders.

The campaign is clearly helping to amplify these issues within companies and resulting in some progress. Of the 6 supermarkets in the UK assessed by Oxfam for its third Supermarket Scorecard, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Lidl have all improved their scores since 2018 by more than 20%. Tesco strengthened its frontrunner position on workers’ rights while Lidl made significant new commitments which Oxfam welcomed in the media in April 2020. Aldi has published new commitments in 2021 including targets to close living wage gaps in several supply chains and a commitment to publish a gender action plan.

This year our recommendations focus on the barriers to fair and equal treatment for women workers and farmers. Again, there are positive signs. Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Lidl and Aldi have committed to undertake human rights impact assessments with a gender lens and signed up to the UN Global Compact’s Women’s Empowerment Principles. Tesco has published a gender policy setting out how it will tackle gender inequality in supply chains. Even more encouragingly, Dutch supermarket Jumbo and the Netherlands operations of German supermarket Lidl has in the last month published a cluster of new commitments, including identifying and taking action in supply chains where women are at greatest risk, ensuring women are properly represented and able to report grievances, and advocating for improvements in regulation.

So the campaign has definitely helped drive a ‘race to the top’ in supermarkets’ policies and commitments. But the pandemic has posed a test of their effective implementation, and you would have to say that to date no supermarket has passed this test. Campaigning and advocacy will therefore continue in several countries until we see evidence of meaningful change. There is sufficient power in supermarket boardrooms at this critical moment to act.

About Author: Rachel Wilshaw is a Workers’ Rights Senior Manager at Oxfam GB

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Wine & sailing – Ohrid Lake private tour

Wine & sailing – Ohrid Lake private tour

Spend the day on a unique sailing experience through the waters of lake Ohrid for a one of a kind view of the region. See the city of Ohrid and its surrounding beauties from aboard our sailboat cruiser. On this sailing tour you will have the chance to discover more about the Ohrid lake and
region, sample some of our very own wines, cultivated and produced exclusively in the Ohrid region and perhaps enjoy some sunbathing or take swim in the lake .

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Gilbert de Eversholt

Many of the Kelly’s and Post Office trade directories of Eversholt contain this sentence:

 “Some centuries back, Gilbert of Eversholt, was rector of this parish, he  was employed in the restoration of St. Albans Abbey and was an architect of some considerable eminence.”

The wonderful Trove turns up this rather more nuanced view of Gilbert’s life, in An historical and topographical description of the municipium of ancient Verulam… by J Frederick Lake Williams, 1822, reproduced by the equally wonderful
The abbot, then assigned the work to the care of one of the brethren, named Gilbert de Eversholt, and imposed an annual tax of a sheaf of corn for every acre sown on the abbey estates; this tax was first levied in the third year of John’s abbacy, and it continued during his whole life, and seventeen years more; this was however made quite to the wishes of the pious abbot: he had held out the temptation of many presents of gold and silver, to any person who would forward the works; this promise was proclaimed through all lands of the abbey, as well as to some of the diocese, without success, so that he was at length compelled to resort to a species of duplicity, which no other situation could palliate, except for reasons of state, and which nothing could justify. He sent out one Amphibalus to travel about with relics, and he was instructed to pretend he had been raised from the dead, by the merits of Alban and Amphibalus, and was able to give good proof of their miracles. In that age of superstitious darkness he collected by these means, large sums of money, but all proved inadequate. Subsequent to the death of Eversholt, the building was once more suspended, but had a recommencement under the superintendance of William Sisseverne, who is noticed for receiving great supplies for their work, although its progress was so very slow that it is recorded it did not advance above two feet in any one year. It should also be remembered, that besides these works in the church, there were also some very extensive repairs and rebuildings, performed in the monastery at that identical period.

So Gilbert may have been “an architect of some considerable eminence” but he also almost certainly connived at, and may have been the chief proponent of, the raising of money by charlatanism and roguery. The text above implies he was a monk at St Albans monastery. The abbot mentioned above seems to have been John de Cella, and the building work here is the extension to the abbey church around 1200 described in Wikipedia. Amphibalus was the saint for whom Alban sacrificed his own life, thus gaining his own sainthood, so maybe the rogue above was just renamed in his honour.

From The History of the Ancient and Royal Foundation Called the Abbey of St Albans…, by Peter Newcombe, 1793, comes a rather damning indictment of Gilbert de Eversholt:
The abbot then assigned the work to the care of one of the brethren, named Gilbert de Eversholt, and imposed a tax of one sheaf of corn, to be paid yearly, for every acre sown of the abbey’s estates: this tax, being begun in the third year of John’s election, was continued during his whole life, which was seventeen more, and for ten years of his successor’s; nor did the work advance in any manner to administer joy to the old abbot, but was a constant source of grief and sorrow. He offered many presents of gold and silver to any person who would forward the work, and caused this offer to be proclaimed through all the lands of the abbey, and some of the dioceses; and, having sent one Amphibalus to travel about with relics, and pretend “that he had been raised from the dead by the merits of Alban and Amphibalus, and was able to give good proof of their miracles,” he collected, by this illusion, great sums of money ; but this unfortunate work absorbed all the supplies, just as the sea drinks up all rivers: and as the sea receives thereby no signs of increase, so this work received no advancement. After much useless expence, and at the death of Eversholt, the the work was given up; though entrusted to another curator, named Sisseverne, who had the care and conduct thereof for thirty years  after; and, though he received great supplies, yet the work did not advance two feet in height in any one year.
At the death of Eversholt, the abbot turned his thoughts to more prudent counsels; and, finding the refectory to be decayed and ruinous, he caused the same to be pulled down and rebuilt: this was completed in a handsome manner and brought to a happy conclusion, during his life, to the no small joy of himself, and to the better entertainment and festivity of the brethren. While this work was going on, he caused the dormitory, now old and ruinous, to be rebuilt, and also a dwelling adjoining, used and inhabited by the domestics. These improvements he finished in a complete manner, and with the entire consent and approbation of the convent; for, in order to discharge the expence of these two splendid edifices, as they were called, the convent gave up their wine, by general consent, for the space of fifteen years: though the good abbot lived not to see the end and conclusion of the compact.
Sir Giles Gilbert Scott had a more benign view:
James Kellaway Colling – 1874 – 72 pages – Snippet view
Sir GG Scott, in his report on the Abbey Church (1872), says of these Western porches, ” I venerate the Architect who designed them, who I believe was Abbot John de Cella’s second Architect, Gilbert de Eversholt (about the year 1195). …

St Alban’s Abbey, by Mr John Chapple, is even more gushing:

But, in the judgement of Sir Gilbert Scott, “The quality goes far to compensate for incompleteness.” “I doubt,” he adds, “whether there exists in England a work so perfect in art as the half-ruined western portals of St Alban’s.” The architect was probably one Gilbert, of Eversholt; and it is remarkable that in the church of his native parish, Eversholt, in Bedfordshire, some work is in existence which closely resembles this at St Alban’s, and which in all likelihood is also due to him.

One possibility is that Sir Gilbert Scott was looking for inspiration when he was commissioned to refurbish Eversholt church in the 1860s. He could certainly have been aware of the reputation of Gilbert de Eversholt as an architect, because he was mentioned in a local description in 1831 and was in the 1864 post office directory. Scott was also probably familiar with St Albans cathedral. It’s possible he just copied some bits of the cathedral, passing them off as the sort of thing that Gilbert de Eversholt might have put in Eversholt church if he’d ever been there. The only mention of Gilbert de Eversholt does seem to be in the writings of Matthew Paris, chronicler of St Albans in the 1200s. The only accessible translations of that seem to be the paragraphs quoted above, which seem to appear in one form or another in many different printed books.

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Experience quality, precision, and a world of quilting possibilities. From baby quilts to king-size, the HQ Forte is the perfect fit for your style of quilting.

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CABLE KNIT: When craving Fall or just wanting to snugga in your fave sweater, this earthy clean smell will remind you of being outside. Walking in the brisk air, surrounded by the beautiful changing leaves during the fall with notes of juniper berries, fresh eucalyptus, and sage and a tiny bit of woods, sweet spearmint and dew mixed in.

We use coconut wax that is more sustainable, slow burning and burns much cleaner. 90% compared to 100% soy in the same size. No more black soot!  Make sure to trim your wick after each use!

40+ hours of burn time when wick is properly trimmed between uses and not burned for more than 4 hours at a time.

Modern, Phthalate free fragrances fill your home to uplift or relax depending on your mood. The wooden wick crackles as it burns creating a mesmerizing experience.

DIRECTIONS: Trim wick to 1/4 inch, light candle and burn until the melted wax reaches all the way to the glass. Do not leave candle lit for more than 4 hours at a time. Clear wax of any wick trimmings and please keep out of the reach of children or areas with a draft.

1. First burn should be at least 1-2 hours to create a full melted wax pool.
2. Make sure to burn in an open, even surface free from drafts
3. Keep wick at 1/4” before relighting
4. Enjoy!


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Evangeline Doll Top & Dress

digital pdf sewing pattern

View Sizing Chart

Evangeline is a stylish dress & top that is right on trend for all size ranges!

The bodice features waist darts for a perfect fit. The Evangeline pattern offers three sleeve options: sleeveless, short puff sleeve and elbow puff sleeve. The top option features a peplum skirt. The dress includes several skirt options: a simple skirt in vintage and knee lengths and a tiered ruffle skirt in knee length.

The Instant Download PDF Includes:

  • Sizes: 18" Doll Sewing Pattern
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  • Printable, computer drawn pattern pieces with no scaling needed, just print on regular computer paper and cut pattern pieces

Click here to download the free Evangeline Coloring Page!

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Attention: Small & Medium Business Owners...

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Without Expensive Paid Advertising!
Read on to discover why satisfied customers like Michael Cooch say, "this strategy helped us build a responsive 30,000 list in a new market"
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hurry, registration ends soon!

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The Rumors are TRUE: Online Ad Costs Are Increasing For Small Businesses… But There’s A Way To Change This!

Learn How ONE Simple "Experiment" Generated Over 16,653 Qualified Leads With ZERO Ad Spend...

Find out what I discovered after testing every major traffic strategy out there over the last 15 years...
Dear fellow business owner,
One of the greatest list building, and lead generating strategies out there is a mystery for many business owners - especially those who need it the most…
It's a unique way to build a huge audience of raving fans - a rarely advertised marketing opportunity - one so good it could make traditional list building and paid advertising campaigns a thing of the past.
That’s because this overlooked strategy enables ordinary businesses to rake in huge sums of leads - 10,000… 30,000… even 50,000 leads or more with little to zero advertising cost.
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Back in the mid-2010s, this San Diego, CA couple were struggling to produce enough leads to operate their new business profitably.

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Brad costanzo
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The challenge was to gain a distinctive position in the mind of target consumers.
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That’s when he found out about my little viral marketing “experiment”.
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Even better he’s growing their subscriber base 4-5 times faster than they would have with traditional list building methods (or pretty much any other list building option out there).
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Ryan Williams of East Hartford, started using my system after nearly losing his business from lack of quality leads. In just a few short weeks he was able to generate over 11k qualified insurance leads for his business.

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Troy Muir collected more than 200,000+ leads for his brand new business using my strategy.

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First, let me make a confession: My website had a unique skill…
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As an online entrepreneur I had to change the way I generated my traffic. No more putting control in the hands of an outside 3rd party. No more being dependent on a single platform.
That’s when I started looking at Viral Marketing...
The more I researched this concept the more I realized that this was the very best way to generate free quality traffic online. Not only is it the most profitable, I learned that 92% of consumers worldwide trust recommendations above all other forms of advertising.
Think about it for a minute: When a trusted person recommends a product or service, people are more likely to buy it.
So I decided to try an “experiment” on a new product to see if I could leverage viral marketing and drive traffic using it.
The end result was like opening the floodgates...
My colleagues started calling me “Leadflow Wilco”.
And, other small businesses started seeking me out to help them after they had tried everything too. Anyway, my special lead generation method is based on a couple of things:
An opt-in page - a page where people enter their name & email address to get access to a freebie.
Nothing special so far.
But, instead of saying “Thanks! Go check your email inbox” I did something a little bit different.
I offered them another freebie that they would get… IF they would invite their friends as well.
And just clicking the “share” button wasn’t enough…They had to get at least 3 of their friends to actually join my email list to automatically unlock their reward.
As soon as it went live, people started sharing EVERYWHERE!
On Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook…
And then THOSE people joined, and they shared it as well - and from there it just kept on going like a “Viral Loop”.
Since then I’ve been using this over and over to build my list.
The reason why this works so well is because every lead gets their own unique invite link that keeps track of how many friends sign up.
It's something I learned from Dropbox - because they used this EXACT same strategy to get over 4 million users in just 15 months.
And even Tim Ferris from the 4-hour workweek wrote about how Harry’s collected over 100,000+ leads in just 7-days using this same exact strategy.
As a matter of fact, most of the people I’ve shown it to…

Have Actually Accused Me Of This Being “Too Easy!”

Here’s the truth…
You’ve been led to believe you either run paid ads… which is getting harder and more expensive every month…
OR you rely on free traffic strategies like SEO or content marketing - which takes a long time to get traction.
It’s not your fault. Every guru under the sun is preaching you should only do these things (after you buy their course or info product or training on it of course).
I do want to stress that you CAN use this strategy with paid advertising or any other traffic strategy though...
And when you do it’s like adding jet fuel to the fire!
So if you’re running ads into an opt-in page, then this “viral hack” will make sure you get MORE leads from the same amount of paid traffic.
The REAL problem is, you’re putting yourself at major risk of being dependent on these platforms.
My business has gone back to zero multiple times because my ad account got shut down and my search engine rankings dropped overnight… which is NOT something you want to experience.
Anyway, here's what this all means:
That’s when I knew I was onto something...
I searched high and low for something that would make it easy to create this “viral loop” effect for small business owners…
And I came up empty-handed.And I came up empty-handed.
So my team and I rolled up our sleeves and got to work building a platform that could handle every aspect of the whole process. To create a successful viral referral marketing campaign from start to finish…
And I call it UpViral!
The ultimate viral marketing system. Any business owner or marketer can easily run ANY type of viral marketing campaign which helps them build an army of people wanting to promote their site!
UpViral takes the complexity of running a high-level viral campaign and makes it so easy, almost anyone could have one up, running, and pulling leads in as little as 10 minutes.
Here’s just a few examples of some businesses using Upviral to build successful viral campaigns to crush it online…

subscribers and €16,320 in sales!

“We spent a little less than €200 on ads. UpViral Rocks!”

"Upviral Has Easily Paid For Itself!"

"Before buying UpViral, I didn’t know what to expect, too many marketers promise big and under-deliver. I purchased UpViral and tried it out. UpViral has easily paid for itself. If I compare its results to what I would have had to pay on Facebook to get those same leads! Definitely a good investment."

United Kingdom

"I HAVE To Tell You How Impressed I Am!"

"After one of your videos I decided to give it a try. The results? Well, 10 minutes after publishing the link at Facebook, I received 20 new leads. Now, I have got 718 leads with ONE campaign! Wow!! THANK YOU!"

"Viral Referral Marketing At Its Best!"

Thanks to Wilco, even guys like me can start building huge lists!

United Kingdom

For years, I refused to reveal exactly how I was able to do all this in detail. I feel like there is a lot more value in me keeping my secret than having to share them with anyone.
Until now...
And I’ve conveniently packaged up my system into an easy to follow daily “challenge” which I’m offering for sale today here on this page.
“Viral Challenge”
Today, I’m offering my special Viral Challenge to the world.
The easy to follow strategy that's specially designed for hyper lead generation and list building.
This is every ounce of what used to be “private access” for those I personally worked with.
The best part about the challenge… It's so easy to do, it has my special strategy inside, with none of the problems that traditional list building has.
As great as that may sound… The reality is that there are still tons of businesses that aren’t taking advantage yet.
They either don’t know about it, think it doesn’t work for their business, or don’t know how to best implement it quickly.

That’s why I’m inviting a small group of people to join the 30-day Viral Challenge...

during which we’re going to create a lead generating machine together for your business.
Over the last 5 years I’ve learned how to execute this strategy effectively across many different industries. Best practices, templates and pitfalls to avoid.
So, I sat down and decided to do something about it. I spent hours planning, plotting, researching, and creating video footage. Months, and months writing detailed manuals, not to mention testing it all to make sure that ANYONE could use it, and after a ton of hard work.
And that’s when...
Was Born
The Challenge is a simple, complete, step-by-step system that ties it all together and shows business owners and marketers exactly how to optimize their lead generation to get the results they want.
For anyone joining the challenge, we’ll offer the help & guidance to create their first (or next) viral list building campaign…
Here’s the rare opportunity to get access to my exact strategies today!
I worked hard to design this from the ground up so it would be simple to do for just about anyone. All it takes is following step-by-step instructions...
Now, I get it… There are thousands of ‘list building programs’ out there so why another one?
Let me show you exactly why…
  • What MOST people get wrong about lead generations is it’s not JUST about the right landing page or lead magnet.
  • Mindset: What’s going on in a business owner’s head plays a HUGE role in whether they’re going to achieve their goals.
  • And, if they’re not setting up lead gen campaigns properly, their leads just won’t respond to all the follow up on the backend.
  • A lot of people learn this the hard way. They spend hours building a landing page, and create an in-depth lead magnet or ethical bribe… But they’re still not getting any “quality” leads…
  • Most spend more time creating a “cool” giveaway that they “think” their prospects will love, but it’s actually sabotaging themselves along the way…
Most spend more time creating a “cool” giveaway that they “think” their prospects will love, but it’s actually sabotaging themselves along the way…
And then they don’t know why they’re not getting any leads or results.
Look, I get multiple people asking me to coach them INDIVIDUALLY each and every week because I know what it takes to optimize their lead campaigns and turn them into a well-oiled machine.
But now, there’s an easier way to get all that training and knowledge from me…

“UpViral is a wonderful tool that enables you to reach the skies of online marketing. The results are amazing, the dashboard is user-friendly and the support is super helpful!

The Netherlands

“Only a couple of days left with our promo and we’ve now tipped over 208,000 subscribers using UpViral! Thanks again – your app has launched my business and possibly changed my life!”

Could THIS Be The Easiest Way To

Have A Top-Notch Funnel, Generate Easy Viral Traffic, & Get The Best Quality FREE Leads...

Before I get to exactly what’s inside the Viral Challenge, I want to share that I’ve lined up a few freebies for business owners who want to double or triple their growth. So keep reading all the way!
Here’s what you’ll get inside the Challenge:
An in-depth professionally produced 30 day class that will show every step in the process of building the best lead generation machine, including:
  • Special 30-day video training that reveals what to do each step of the way without any overwhelm.
  • Access to a private community with like-minded entrepreneurs who are implementing this challenge at the same time, holding each other accountable to get the results they want.
  • And because every business is different… Every situation is different… my team and I are going to offer 30-days of coaching where we answer questions and give feedback
  • Plus, we’ll be holding weekly live group calls and Q&A sessions to remove any roadblocks on designing and implementing lucrative viral marketing campaigns.
And to make the process even easier for anyone joining us…
I’m also including this companion Viral Challenge Checklist to go along with the challenge.
Complete with step-by-step directions. One of the keys to success with my program is tracking everything. Anyone can use this printable checklist to log activities and jot down a few notes. This will help them stay on track for the entire program and can end up being the blueprint for success to reference later.
Ready for more?
Just by following these easy step-by-step directions, it’s possible to discover...
A step-by-step program that generates high-quality leads on autopilot;

How to CRUSH lead generation goals instead of only chasing them;

How to optimize funnels to maximize the quality of the leadflow

How to clean up sloppy marketing and finally get the funnel on track

How to get the best results with little or no experience

Check All Of The Questions Where Your Answer Is YES!

This Is “Must Have” Stuff for Any Business Owner or Marketer, Who...

  • Wants to grow their leads online, but have NO IDEA where to begin
  • Tries to figure out a way to generate more leads and have a higher quality leadflow
  • On the verge of launching their next lead gen campaign, and want to make sure it's a big success
If ANY Of These Goals Seem Worthwhile, Then I Invite You To Join The 'Viral Challenge' Today...

“Imagine How You’ll Feel Having A Viral Campaign Generating FREE Leads Knowing You Finally Did It... ”

I know that some people are probably thinking that maybe they don’t have the skills to do this. But I promise this Challenge was designed with small & medium business owners in mind.
I knew that this had to be accessible to regular non-techy people that didn’t have access to professional designers or massive advertising budgets.

Just follow the simple step by step instructions and the results will follow!

Now I know that anyone would expect to pay a lot of money for a unique training challenge like this. It’s not difficult to find dozens of “other” options that will charge hundreds of dollars or more for just a fraction of what I’m offering here. Yet most business people with busy schedules will forget buying these lead generation programs “off the shelf”. Doing that will cost them a small fortune in time and money.
When it comes down to it, it isn’t even about “dollars and cents”.

“It’s About Sustainability, Security, And Control Over The Lead-Gen Process And Overall Business Growth”

...And it’s almost impossible to put a price on that.
Here’s the truth:
While I certainly want to be paid for my hard work. I also want anyone who is committed to changing their business and improving their lead flow to be able to afford this.
So, I did a breakdown of the Viral Challenge value item by item.
Here it goes…

“How To Have My #1 Advantage In Online Business And Marketing”

  • Full 30 Days Of Video Training With Wilco
    $997 Value
  • Full 30 Days Of Coaching (LIVE Q&A’s With Wilco & The Team)
    $1997 Value
  • Access To A Private Community
    $97 Value
  • Viral Challenge Checklist PDF
    $97 Value
  • 15 Case Studies
    $147 Value
  • FREE 30 Days Access To My UpViral™ Software
    $79 Value

That’s a total value of over $2,000 for the ENTIRE challenge program PLUS the checklists to track results…

But, I just didn’t feel right charging over $2,000 for the information that is going to help so many businesses generate more leads, and be more productive, especially when times are so tight for everybody out there.
So, I thought about charging $697 for the whole challenge (it’s definitely worth that, because this system can actually save people at least that much on inferior lead generation products.)
But, even $297 seemed like too much...
So, for a limited time, you can get the Viral Challenge for just $97.

“Yes, I Realize That’s 95% OFF… But It’s
What I Feel Is Right

Just click the “join the challenge now” button below, and get instant access to the entire challenge immediately!
I’m pretty confident this is an amazing deal. Especially when I think about the cash I’ve wasted paying out the nose for those “other” marketing and lead programs over the years.
For just $97, this gives anyone who tries it the comfort of knowing their business and lead generation is on the right track. I want to make sure I get this into the hands of the right people at the lowest price possible.
I know there are a lot of business owners and marketers who just want to get started right now. If you’re ready to get started today click the “Join The Challenge Now” button below.
That’s why I’m offering “instant” online access, so you can get started right away… even if it’s 2am.
Now it’s really important to me to make this an incredibly easy decision for anyone… So click the button now and order today!

This is a 30-day challenge that starts on September 14th... Do YOU Accept the Challenge?

Join The Challenge Now!I want daily training, live coaching & accountability for a full 30 days
Having access to this challenge is like having me, Wilco de Kreij as a personal viral lead generation coach!
The only real difference is, there’s no way to get a one-hour coaching call with me for under $1,000.
Actually, the CHEAPEST way to hire me is close to $10,000 for just one day (assuming I have a day off).
So, to get a full thirty days with me, for only $97 is just simply insane!
You’re getting everything we covered above when you join the 'Viral Challenge' today!
So, are you excited yet? Well, then NOW is the time to take massive action!

“The Only Person You Can Trust To Take Care Of Your Business And Lead Generation Is You...

Now I want you to feel 100% confident about investing in the Viral Challenge…

There’s NO Catch...

I could easily sell this training for over $1997 but the real reason I’m doing this challenge is because…
I KNOW when you have success generating leads following this 30-Day Challenge, you're more likely to continue using UpViral to grow your business further...
That's it... My ultimate motive - I actually want you to be successful so you keep using my software, the one that’s giving you all that lead-gen success.
Just to be clear, this isn’t a course. It’s much MORE than that.
We’re doing this challenge as a group, which means we’re all implementing at the same time - allowing us to learn more and help each other across the finish line.
For me, personally, a group of peers is always where I get most of my value. That’s why I’m happy to pay $25,000 per year for a mastermind, even when the exact same information is in their $10 book.
It’s because of the community that makes sure I actually implement it.
So, why would I even do this then?
My philosophy is simple: If I can't help business owners get more leads and make more money, then I don't deserve any of theirs.
My goal is to help thousands of business owners generate more leads, which in turn will probably make them more money... which then hopefully they'll choose to continue using our software solutions to grow their business even more.
Sound fair?
Join The Challenge Now!I want daily training, live coaching & accountability for a full 30 days

Time Is Of The Essence…

My next “Viral Challenge” is starting SOON!
If this page is still active, that means the challenge is open to register, but it will be closing soon.
If you’re curious... you CAN’T just take the challenge next time...
I'm not sure when the next challenge will be or IF there will even be one...
NOW’s the best time to take the challenge.

“So, To Show Just How Serious I Am, I’m Offering A Full 30 Day Guarantee!

I’m so confident you’ll love The Viral Challenge that I’ll refund 100% of your investment if you don’t get any results in 30 days - it’s that simple!

If you follow the training and complete the checklists as instructed, and don’t see ANY results over the course of 4 weeks, just turn in your checklist and your receipt for a full refund!

I’m that confident because I KNOW this training works for those who follow through on every part of the challenge.
Start today and get ready for a complete lead-gen transformation in just 30 days!

“That’s An Incredible Value Worth Over $2,000! And It’s All Yours For Just $97 For A Limited-Time”

Yes, I realize this is 95% off but it’s what I really feel is right. And it’s backed by my famous 30-day money-back guarantee. Remember that’s a FULL 30 days to try it out and get results!
I don’t want to be too pushy, but I have to be transparent… this is only available for a limited time!
So even if you’re slightly interested…

"I Urge You To Act Now, Because This Offer Is Fully Backed By My 30 Day Money Back Guarantee!"

I don’t want business owners and marketers (like me) to waste another minute worrying about leadflow or business growth.
Start a viral lead gen campaign, get quality leads, and have the best business possible and finally know what it’s like to be in control just by clicking the “Join The Challenge Now” button below.
So even if you’re slightly interested…

I can’t wait to hear from you after you join the Challenge, dig into it, and find out for yourself how great it feels to have your business and leadflow on track.
So I’ve got an honest question... what’s it going to be?
Are you going to walk away from this opportunity... or are you going to make TODAY the first day you start to turn your business around?
The way I see it, there are just 2 choices...
You can either go back to what you were doing before, hoping to make progress and trying new programs and courses every few months…
Or you can get started NOW and literally swipe the lead-gen techniques and strategies of me and my elite marketing team.
I’ve put everything together in an easy-to-use group members area PLUS you have checklists to keep track of your goals, progress, and business.

Here’s What To Do Now...

Now you just need to finalize all the details. Click the button below & create your account!
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter (it was a long one). I’m looking forward to hearing your success story when the challenge ends!

Wilco de Kreij

P.S. In case you're one of those people (like me) who just skip to the end of the letter, here's the deal:

Joining the "Viral Challenge” today

(for only $97) will give you a full 30-day experience where we virtually work together to get your first (or next) viral lead-gen campaign up and launched!
And if for any reason you don't love this challenge - just let me know and I'll refund your $97 no questions asked.
Sounds fair? Then what are you waiting for? Join the challenge now...
Join The Challenge Now!I want daily training, live coaching & accountability for a full 30 days

Who Is Wilco de Kreij Anyways?

Wilco de Kreij is an established international entrepreneur, expert marketer, and software developer who successfully his own multi-million-dollar SaaS business in just a few short years.

His work has been featured in Entrepreneur, Forbes, Inc, etc... and now he runs some of the most successful Saas companies on the planet, working with famous celebrities & elite entrepreneurs and influencers that you likely follow.

Over the last few years, he’s helped over 20,000+ clients with their marketing. You probably know some of his clients, like Mike Filsaime, Ben Adkins, Russel Brunson, Nicholas Kusmich and many others...

Wilco has built and ran many successful marketing campaigns for multi-million-dollar companies and, in many cases, provided a 10X return on their investment or increased their total profit by up to 1000%.
Just one of his campaigns recently generated over $1.4 Million in revenue and earned him a Clickfunnels 2-comma club award.
For the first time ever, Wilco is pulling back the curtain and giving other business owners a behind-the-scenes look. All while teaching them the exact systems he uses for his own million-dollar viral campaigns and funnels usually reserved for his high-level clients!

“Let Me Answer Some Common Questions I Get About the Viral Challenge…”

  • I really want to try your system, how can I be sure I trust your guarantee?

    Now, I know how nerve-racking it can be to purchase anything online, especially with all the scams out there.

    I want to assure you that you don’t have to worry. The bottom line is that I want you to be thrilled with the challenge. I want you to recommend it to all your friends and keep using UpViral after the challenge… so it’s in my best interest to make sure you are 100% satisfied.

  • I’m new to all of this… will the challenge still work for me?

    Yes, I’ve specially designed this program to work with any and all marketing experience levels.

  • So, what is the total investment for this challenge?

    The investment is only $97 for EVERYTHING! That's It. You get all the training for a full 30 days, checklist, coaching, videos, and bonuses.

  • After the challenge do I still have access to the materials?

    Yes, you actually get LIFETIME access to everything. All the videos, training, documents, checklist, bonuses, etc...

  • What if I have more questions?

    Simple. You can just reach out to us at [email protected]

© 2020 UpViral - All Rights Reserved

This site is not a part of the Facebook™ or Google™ website or Facebook Inc. or Google Inc. Additionally, This site is NOT endorsed by Facebook™ or Google™ in any way. FACEBOOK is a trademark of FACEBOOK, Inc. GOOGLE is a trademark of GOOGLE, Inc.

All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.

All results stated above are not typical, I'm not implying you'll duplicate them (or do anything for that matter). Any of my strategies and case studies are only estimates of what is possible. There is no assurance you'll do as well or even close to as well as I have done or other clients. Results are based on many factors including luck, hard work, effort and years of hard work. We have no way of knowing how well you will do, as we do not know you, your background, your business model, or your work ethic etc. Therefore, we do not guarantee or imply that you will get better results or earn more money, that you will do as well, especially if the techniques are never implemented. If you rely upon our figures; you must accept the risk of not doing as well as we are a large established business developer over many years of research and work.

All products and services are for educational and informational purposes only. Use caution and seek the advice of qualified professionals. Check with your attorney, accountant or professional advisor, before acting on this or any information and ensure you are within all advertising and legal regulations. If advice concerning legal or related matters is needed, the services of a fully qualified professional should be sought out before any action is taken. All UpViral information, products, and services are not intended for use as a source of legal or accounting advice. You should be aware of any laws which govern business transactions or other business practices in your country and state as they can differ greatly.
The Information on this website and provided from or through this website is general in nature and is not specific to you the user or anyone else. You should not make any decision, financial, investment, trading or otherwise, based on any of the information presented in this video without undertaking independent due diligence and consultation with a professional broker or financial advisory. You understand that you are using any and all Information available on or through this video at your own risk.

The rules, regulations and laws concerning credit cards are different from state to state and country to country. Applications and agreements vary from company to company. Be sure to thoroughly read everything. All information you provide in your credit application must be truthful. Once you open a credit card, you are obligated to follow the terms of the agreement that the credit card company provides to you.

Users of our products, services and web site are advised to do their own due diligence when it comes to making decisions and all information, products, and services that have been provided should be independently verified by your own qualified professionals. Our information, products, and services on or any other sites owned or operated by Emarky B.V. should be carefully considered and evaluated, before reaching a decision on whether to rely on them. You agree that our company is not responsible for the success or failure of your decisions relating to any information presented by our company products or services.


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Visits to schools all over Yorkshire (and surrounding areas)

Sir William Petty

Motivational, vivid and real! Through these costumed, historical characters I present exciting, interactive and creative ways to learn history and practice a wide range of Key Stages 1 and 2 literacy skills, all bound up with a large dose of imagination. I describe historical people and events, demonstrate my possessions, answer lots of questions and tell stories in many different ways – allowing the children to participate by either acting out the parts or by joining in the discussion. For KS3 and older audiences I offer the chance to have a conversation with a well-researched historical character, to hear his stories, jokes, beliefs and attitudes, as well as to learn some social, religious and political history.

I am a qualified History teacher, insured for third party liability (with Simply Business/Maltings) and DBS certificated. As well as my work in schools, I have been employed to deliver ‘in-character’ talks to a wide variety of audiences and am also a very experienced re-enactor (with the Queen’s Regiment, Okey’s Dragoons and other groups).

About my visits

My characters range from Elizabethan sea rovers (including one of Sir Francis Drake‘s sailors who circumnavigated the globe with him), through several seventeenth century manifestations – Guy Fawkes, a variety of English Civil War characters, a gentleman who lived through the Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire of London a year later and the famous Yorkshire highwayman John Nevison – to an early eighteenth century pirate. The sessions are cross-curricular in nature, and can involve storytelling, demonstration of artefacts, class or group activities and written literacy work, with different characters focusing on particular elements. See here for information on all the available characters.

I adopt a flexible approach, endeavouring to liaise with teachers in advance to take into account factors such as the children’s existing knowledge and ability level, school resources/spaces, groupings, timings, etc. I strive to interact with as many individual children as possible in each group and to ensure that all have the best possible experience. My language is convincingly old fashioned enough to draw children in, honed over more than 20 years of working with primary age pupils. I explain any words crucial to their comprehension, but as many of the words I employ are used in context most children understand them anyway.

As well as being costumed, I bring a variety of artefacts and possessions for demonstration, Q&A, and for supervised, careful handling by the children.

Paul Mackintosh, MA(Hons), PGCE

Find out More!
Get in touch...


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Home » Uncategorized » The Highwayman: A Resource for KS2 Teachers

The Highwayman: A Resource for KS2 Teachers

Here is a great resource for Upper Key Stage 2 teachers who want to do cross-curricular work based around the Alfred Noyes’ poem ‘The Highwayman’. My own character, John Nevison, features in the video, as I spent a lovely day in the countryside near Marsden for the filming. The link in the article below is www.teachthehighwayman.co.uk (if you want to go straight there!).

Free Key Stage 2

Highwayman Resources
The Milestone Society

Teach The Highwayman – www.teachthehighwayman.co.uk

The Milestone Society has created an exciting new website around the topic of The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes. The website contains accessible, fun resources aimed at upper Key Stage 2 and can be delivered as part of a topic based around the poem or as individual lessons that link to aspects of history, geography, outdoor learning and much more.

The poem by Alfred Noyes forms a starting point for pupil investigations, further developed into lessons covering topics such as travel and transport, old maps, waymarking, milestones and imperial distance measurement. There is also a video of a Highwayman finding his way which can be used as a support resource.

“The Highwayman” concept has been developed by Jan Scrine of The Milestone Society from an original idea by Alison Farley. The educational resources have been devised by Mairi McLeod of CASE Education.

Thank you for your time, we welcome your comments and feedback on our new website and resources.

Visit www.teachthehighwayman.co.uk
Project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund

It’s been a long time since I posted a news story, but that’s mainly because I have been too busy visiting schools to find the time to write about visiting them!

Posted in Uncategorized

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United Way of Yavapai County - Visit Sedona

United Way of Yavapai County

UWYC is a community-impact agent, we identify unmet needs in our community: funding nonprofits, supporting health, education & financial stability, networking with businesses and the community for positive impact to the greatest number of people throughout Yavapai County.

  • Handicap-Accessible
  • Internet Access
  • Motorcoach Parking
  • Pet-Friendly

  • 1678 Oaklawn Dr, Ste A
  • Prescott, AZ  86305


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Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

 From a capsule atop the London Eye, a view of people in another capsule looking out at the London scene far below.

A view inside a view: Capturing the London Eye Experience from the Top.

WordPress Challenge: Post a picture, from the simple to the absurd, that conjures up the word “inside.”
My Challenge (below): What word do you see?

Deciding to look back through my old travel photos, I came across this one from a trip to London a few years ago. While my husband and I visited many of the wonderful historical sites London has to offer, we (well, honestly, probably me) couldn’t resist the lure of seeing London from high above. Besides, I’m a sucker for a Ferris wheel. And so, with multitudes of other tourists, we stood in line (or the queue, as the British say) to take our turn riding the London Eye.

We boarded our capsule, along with about two dozen other riders. As the wheel turned, we slowly climbed to a height of 443 feet. The prize: a stunning 360-degree view of the London cityscape. The “experience” (as a ride is called) lasts 30 minutes and provides ample opportunity to capture photos from various heights and angles. But, as you can see, I also had some fun photographing others enjoying their experience!

This simple picture, to me, captures the word “inside” perfectly. But I have to admit that a few other prize words popped into my mind as well.

So, here’s my challenge: Apart from “inside,” share the word or words you think of when you see this picture. I’ll post my words after I get some comments, and I promise I won’t change them based on what you submit. So, go ahead. Let me know what you see!

Visiting London? Visit London Eye FAQs for more information. Next time, we might just have to indulge in one of the themed Private Capsule Experiences!

Posted as part of the Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside.

13 thoughts on “Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

  1. Gee nice sharp photo Stacy. I didn’t have a wide angle lens back then but you can see why I should have. Boy did you capture it perfectly. Ah reminiscing 🙂

  2. Thanks, everyone, for all of your great answers! Now, as promised, I’m going to share my word with you. Ready? Hamster. Yup, I thought of those clear plastic exercise balls my kids would put their hamsters in and let them roll all over the house. Not sure if the hamsters liked it (probably thinking what you said, Debby, “let me out!!!”) but we sure got a kick out of watching them. For those who might not know what I’m talking about, here’s a link to a picture: http://bit.ly/1rfv6kQ. Thanks for having fun with the photo!

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text:
General Terms of Sales and Delivery for VL Staal a/s

1. In General

  1. The sales and delivery terms and conditions below apply to all sales of products/services (deliveries) from VL Staal a/s (hereinafter “VL”), unless otherwise stated in a separate document that has been expressly accepted by VL. Amendments and changes, e.g. via the customer’s possible purchasing terms and conditions, are not accepted.
  2. Unless otherwise expressly stated, all VL offers are only binding for 30 days from the date of receipt.
  3. The Purchaser’s order is only binding to VL once VL has accepted the order by issuing an order confirmation.

2. Payment

  1. Payment must be received no later than 30 days after the delivery has taken place. In the case of delayed payment, VL is entitled to charge 2% interest on the amount by the start of the month.
  2. All prices are stated in DKK or EUR and excl. VAT, supplementary fees, service charges, etc.
  3. The Purchaser is not entitled to set-off any counterclaim or withhold any part of the purchase sum unless otherwise agreed in writing.

3. Delivery and Assembly

  1. Deliveries are conducted ex-works, Esbjerg, in accordance with the signed agreement’s applicable Incoterms.
  2. If a delivery is postponed due to the Purchaser’s circumstances, VL is entitled, at the Purchaser’s expense and risk, to carry out the measures considered necessary to store the product. Regardless of whether the delivery is postponed, VL is entitled to submit an invoice, as if the delivery had taken place in accordance with the agreement.
  3. Insofar as VL shall be responsible for the installation, the Purchaser must cover all of VL’s costs relating to this, including wages, accommodation, all transport of fitters, waiting times, days lost to wind and crane. The Purchaser must also, at their own expense, and in good time prior to the installation, have made the necessary preparations, including the casting of the foundation, as well as the installation of water and power connections, etc.

4. Ownership Rights

  1. All of the delivered items remain the property of VL until the Purchaser has paid the full purchase amount for all of the delivered services/products.

5. Drawing, Technical Documents etc.

  1. If VL, before the start of the manufacturing of the product, submits drawings and calculations to the Purchaser, it is the responsibility of the Purchaser to carefully check the submitted drawings and calculations, so that the Purchaser cannot raise claims against VL concerning the manufacture of the product, if the matter in question could have been raised with VL based on a careful and precise check of the submitted drawings and calculations.
  2. VL reserves the right to make structural changes, insofar as these do not change the product’s use.
  3. All drawings and documents supplied by VL, including all rights belonging thereto, remain the property of VL, and are only put at the Purchaser’s disposal for the process of the purchase and use of the product, and may not be copied, published or distributed to any third party without the prior written consent of VL.

6. Quality Conditions

  1. All products are delivered as standard good commodities, unless other requirements, including special quality requirements, have been agreed upon. The Purchaser is responsible for ensuring that all products are suitable for the Purchaser’s needs and have the desired properties.
  2. The weights stated in offers and order confirmations must be considered as guidance and weight estimates only.
  3. Light brushing and pickling of welds shall be carried out on the visible parts made of stainless steel.
  4. Parts that have been galvanised may have an uneven surface structure, which will also be visible once any coating has been applied.
  5. If parts are to be coated, the Purchaser can freely choose the colour of the coat in accordance with the RAL colour chart. However, with the exception of metallic or fluorescent colours. If the latter colours are chosen, VL cannot be held liable for the appearance of the coating.
  6. VL cannot be held liable for vacuum in flue gas liners, which normally are not designed to withstand this.
  7. To assess the warranty of the surface coating, the following must be used:
  • Blistering:               ISO 4628/2 – grade 2
  • Rust formation:     ISO 4628/3 – grade Ri 2
  • Crack formation:   ISO 4628/4 – grade 2
  • Scaling:                    ISO 4628/5 – grade 2

7. Delivery Times, Delays

  1. The delivery date is stated in VL’s order confirmation and is valid based on the prerequisite that the Purchaser promptly fulfils his/her contractual obligations, such as pre-payment, approval of drawings and calculations, and promptly specifies all of the necessary details with the delivery, on request.
  2. If the Purchaser does not meet his/her obligations, or if conditions of force majeure exist, such as industrial conflict, strike, lockout, war, fire, unusual weather, or any other form of circumstance that is beyond VL’s control, VL is entitled to delay the delivery by a reasonable period of time in consideration of VL’s other production.
  3. If VL finds itself in circumstances that cause it to delay delivery by more than 30 days, the Purchaser is thereafter entitled to require a penalty of 0.5% of the purchase amount on the delayed part of the delivery for every full week of the delay. The penalty cannot exceed 7.5% of the purchase amount for the delayed part of the delivery.
  4. If the Purchaser is entitled to a maximum penalty in relation to the above, and the product still fails to be delivered, the Purchaser can, in writing to VL, demand delivery and set a final deadline of no less than two weeks.
  5. If VL fails to deliver the product within the deadline, and this is due to circumstances for which the Purchaser is not responsible, the Purchaser can, with written notification to VL, cancel the agreement insofar as it applies to the part that has not been delivered.
  6. The penalty must be set into effect in writing no later than three days after the expiry of the deadline of 30 days, or else it becomes void.
  7. Apart from the penalty and right of rescission, the Purchaser is not entitled to make claims of any kind against VL in relation to delay.

8. Liability for Deficiencies

  1. Complaints relating to delivered goods concerning amount, weight, or defect in construction, material or manufacture, may only be made if the Purchaser immediately, upon discovery of the defect, and no later than the agreed period or warranty period of the product guaranteed by law, informs VL in writing of the deficiencies.
  2. The Purchaser must immediately give VL the opportunity to inspect the claimed defect and, on request from VL, provide VL with the product or samples of the product.
  3. VL may remedy any ascertained defect by its own choosing, either by repairing the defect, carrying out a replacement delivery, or in some other manner chosen by VL.
  4. VL’s obligation to pay for faultless service is rendered void if damage occurs that is the consequence of natural wear and tear, due to deficient or negligent handling, disproportionate load, other natural effects, or failure to comply with our technical guidelines or installation instructions.
  5. VL’s obligation, in the case of defects, solely covers labour costs and materials that are directly associated with the repair of the defect.   in addition, the Purchaser has no authority in relation to VL in terms of defects, and the Purchaser is also not entitled to e.g. claim damages for lost earnings or damages for claims made by a third party against the Purchaser relating to defects with regards to the delivery. The Purchaser cannot claim damages against VL if the product, or a part of the product, is covered by a warranty provided by a third party.
  6. VL cannot, in any way, be held liable for operational losses, loss of profits, or indirect losses or consequential damages relating to defects with the sold product, or those products included, or part of, VL’s deliveries, including damages inflicted on these products, unless VL is guilty of gross or deliberate negligence. In all cases, the total damages that can be claimed against VL cannot exceed the price of the delivered product. Changes in use, changes to VL’s product, or any use other than that stipulated by VL without VL’s written consent, void any obligations that VL otherwise has in relation to the delivered product.

9. Liability for Material Damage  (Product Liability)

  1. The Purchaser is obligated to indemnify VL, to the extent that VL may be held liable by a third party for damages or losses for which VL, in accordance with paragraph 2 and paragraph 3, is not liable in relation to the Purchaser.
  2. VL is not liable for damage caused by the product:

a. To property or possessions that occurs while the product is in the Purchaser’s possession.

b. To products that are manufactured by the Purchaser, or to products included in these, or for damage to property or possessions that these products damage as a consequence of VL’s product.

3.  Under no circumstances is VL liable for operational losses, loss of earnings, or other indirect losses. The stated limitations to VL’s liability do not apply if VL is guilty of gross negligence.

4.  Under no circumstances can VL’s liability, as a consequence of product damage, exceed DKK 4,500,000 incl. interest and costs per claim.

10. Law or Jurisdiction

  1. Any dispute relating to the signed agreement and the delivered product, or which has a connection herewith, must be settled under Danish law by arbitration in accordance with the Danish Arbitration Act.

11. Other Terms and Conditions

  1. If a provision in these sales and delivery terms and conditions is, or becomes invalid, it has no effect upon the remaining terms and conditions. In such cases, the invalid provision shall be replaced by rules that, as far as possible, correspond to the intended purpose.

Documentation and certification

The quality management system is documented and certified according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Both internal and external audits secure, that the system…

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A selection of references, delivered all over the world.

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text:
Is Thai hard to learn?

Thai is easier than English. There I said it. This is spoken as an English teacher, and someone who sees the struggles that foreign learners have with minor grammar concepts that don’t change the meaning of the sentence much. But, if they are not spoken this way, then you sound strange.

Thai has its intricacies, of course, and I’m sure many that I haven’t encountered. However, the simplicity of the language makes it easier to learn. And, a lot of fun to learn, too. Since you’re not paying attention to small things, you can focus on what’s important: making yourself understood.

Here, we will compare and contrast Thai and English to talk about what is easier, and what is more difficult, about learning Thai.

What is easy in the Thai language

No tenses

Present simple, present continuous, present perfect, present perfect continuous. Recognize these tenses? You may not know them by name, but you use them every day.

Remembering all of these in English — of which there are 12 in total — can be a hassle. English speakers take it for granted but growing up hearing these every day, and learning these by using them, is a giant relief.

Luckily, in Thai, this isn’t the case.

There aren't tenses in Thai. It uses a few words to help provide the time, if necessary. However, a lot of it is based on context. This takes the pressure off using the wrong tense and being misunderstood.

For example, in English, if I said,

I go to Bangkok to see my sister yesterday.

While the meaning is understood, the grammar is incorrect. The correct way is,

I went to Bangkok to see my sister yesterday.

Which poses multiple questions. First, why does go change to went? This can confuse many new learners of English, with the common answer being goed. This is an easy mistake to make.

Second, why do we have to change the verb? We already have yesterday for a time word — doesn’t that indicate when it happened?

In Thai, you do not have to worry about this. You can say it like this,

Pom bpai Grung-thep pue pob pee saao khong pom muea wan

While this looks difficult on its own, it translates literally like this,

I go Bangkok to meet my sister yesterday.

Note: Thai people do not call Bangkok by its English name. In Thai, it is called Grung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin, or, for short, Grung Thep.

It would be the same if I changed it and said I am doing this tomorrow,

Prung nii pom ja bpai Grung-thep pue pob pee saao khong pom

Again, not too difficult if you look at the structure of the sentence. It literally translates to,

Tomorrow I will go Bangkok to meet my sister

Thai is similar to English because it has a word to indicate future (ja จะ) but we do not need to remember all the future tenses. Ja will indicate that it's something you're going to do, as in the future.

There are ways that time is indicated in Thai. This will be based on context, tense words, or time words. And even these are pretty easy to remember, especially once you’re immersed in Thai, as you will hear them frequently.

Speaking of context…

The Thai language is context-based

One of the things that I found incredibly easy once I started learning Thai was that a large portion of the language seems based on context. This relieves you, the speaker, of a lot of responsibility.

Are you talking about your brother, but you forgot to use the word to indicate it (khong pom/khong chan — ของผม/ของฉัน)? That’s alright, it’s largely understood.

Thai speakers understand that, since you’re talking about a brother coming to visit you in Thailand, you’re probably talking about your brother, not the brother of a friend or the brother of your neighbor.

This could lead to some confusion if you are talking about someone else’s brother. However, if you are, then you probably used another word to indicate that it wasn’t your brother.

As an English speaker and teacher, I feel that English has many words that are unnecessary and often redundant.

This context also helps when you’re having trouble with your pronunciation. Thai is a tonal language (more on this below). This means that saying the word with different tones will give the words different meanings.

For instance, let’s look at the word maa.

If we say it in a flat tone, it can mean “come”, as in “Come here”.

Maa thee nee
Meaning: Come here

However, if we say this with a rising tone, which sounds like you are dropping your voice then bringing it back up — like a kid yelling his mother’s name but isn’t sure if she’s home. With a rising tone, the word now means “dog”.

This can lead to some confusion, especially if you’re telling a dog to come.

Maa maa
Meaning: Dog come

While these look the same, they are not said the same. The first (dog) is said with a rising tone, and the second (come) with a flat tone.

As well, just to add to the confusion and the frustration this brings new speakers, if you say the word with a falling tone, then it means “horse”. This one sounds more like you’re in disbelief that your mom put a pizza in a boiling pot of water to cook it. Your tone is going to go high, then drop low.

Here is an example,

Maa wing
Meaning: The horse runs

Again, spelled (almost) the same, but the tone will make all the difference.

Luckily, Thai people understand that if you’re in a pet store and looking at a cage of dogs, you’re probably not asking about horses — even though, with your tone, that’s exactly what you asked for.

So, context will clear up a lot of confusion — or potentially add to it if you happen to be around dogs and horses.

Thai sentences are simple

As I mentioned above, without having to worry about tenses and getting the correct tense of the word, you can focus on the structure of the sentence and the word order. Which, luckily, follows a very similar pattern to English.

Most Thai sentences are going to follow this structure:

Subject + verb + object

Look familiar? Right! It’s just like English.

This makes it easier if you're coming from an English background. You don't have to worry about where to place the object or verb, or if you're using the correct pronoun in the right place.

Relieving you of these worries allows you to focus on just using the language, which is going to help you acquire the language faster.

Let’s look at an example just to get the point across:

I eat pizza.
Pom gin pissaa

The structure follows the same structure as English. Let’s look at another:

I play basketball with him.
Pom len basketbon gab khao

Again, the structure is exactly the same as in English.

This will help clear up a lot of confusion, as it gives you one less thing to worry about. However, that doesn’t mean that Thai isn’t going to have its headaches it will give you as a new learner. We’ll discuss those below.

What is more difficult in the Thai language

Thai Script

There’s no hiding it, as you could see from the examples above, the Thai writing system looks nothing like English. It’s a unique script.

In addition, there are 44 consonants and 21 vowels. So, these will take a bit of remembering.

A note for learners, the Thai alphabet associates each character with a word. For instance, when English speakers say the names of the letters — 'ayy', 'bee', 'see', 'dee', we are reading their names.

In Thai, they have a word that uses that character for the name. For instance, 'gor-gai'. ก is the character, and it makes the ‘g’ sound. Gai in Thai means ‘chicken’.

If you were spelling something in Thai, and it contained this character, you wouldn't say 'gor', you would say, ‘gor-gai'.

So, to remember these sounds, I tried to draw any connection with the character that I could. Here are a few examples:

lor ling

For this one, I tried to remember that it made the 'l' sound by imagining the script as a lion's paw. The bottom part with the circle is its toes, and the part that goes out above it is the claw.

wor waen

This character makes the 'w' sound. Here, I thought of Wolverine and thought of him having his hand balled up, with his claws out.

dor dek

kor kwaai

These two look similar, right? My Thai teacher taught me a great way to remember these. The top character, dor dek, the circle is on the inside of the line. Dek means child in Thai. So, the child is inside the house. So ด makes the ‘d’ sound.

The bottom one, ค, makes the 'k' sound. In that character, the circle is on the outside of the line. Kwaai means buffalo in Thai. The buffalo stays outside the house.

It seems complicated, but a little practice will go a long way.

Tones in Thai

Thai is a tonal language. As I briefly explained above, this means that the way a word is said will determine its meaning. This is the area where most Westerners struggle.

Tones are largely non-existent in Western languages. In English, for example, we will use tones to help get a meaning across, but it will never change the meaning of a word.

For example, below I will write the word I am emphasizing with tone in caps:

Are YOU kidding me?

Are you KIDDING me?

Allow yourself to say these in your head, applying the proper tone to the words. Sure, adding the tone to the word changes the emphasis of the sentence, but it doesn’t change the meaning of the sentence.

In Thai, as expressed above with the word maa, the word can have different meanings based on the tone — and none of them are similar.

Thai sounds not found in English

Tones are difficult enough to master, but there are certain sounds in Thai that are unique also. In the same way that some sounds in English don't exist in other languages, some do not exist in English.

This is going to result in some awkward moments as your tongue gets tied, trying its best to make a sound that it’s not used to making.

This also causes some confusion when writing Karaoke — which is the transliteration of Thai using English characters. Often, the way these words are spelled in English does not represent a proper pronunciation of the word.

For instance, we’ll take a common word that you’ll hear and see in the south of Thailand:

Meaning: island
Karaoke: koh

The Karaoke spelling of this world does not closely represent the proper pronunciation of this word, largely because the sound it makes doesn’t exist in English. The closest representation that can be given would be like saying the word go, except with a short ‘o’ sound instead of long ‘o’.

Another example would be the following:

Meaning: snake
Karaoke: ngoo

The sound that is difficult here is the ง. English has this sound, it is the sound you will hear from -ng at the end of words like sing, bring, etc.

However, in English, this sound beginning a word does not exist. The -ng sound is a common beginning in Thai, and it gives foreign speakers a lot of trouble.

A fun fact is that the Thai word for easy is actually a hard word to say:

Meaning: easy
Karaoke: ngai

This can only be considered a fun prank to play on foreigners. And, hey, who doesn’t like to laugh at themselves when learning a new language? It’s one of the best parts!

Thai is a language that looks intimidating if you have no experience with it. The strange script, the way the language sounds like music as it is spoken, and the unknown sounds that are made can make it seem like it’s impossible to learn.

However, with practice, it will start to become much easier. The script’s characters start to come together to form the words you recognize. The tones are still slightly confusing, but you’re starting to hear the differences in the way the words are said.

Then, for the first time, you hear:

พูดไทยเก่ง (you speak Thai well)

your eyes get big because you know they understood you. All it takes is a little effort.


text:
One Year LODLIB Anniversary (v2.01 released)

It’s been a year today since we first publicly released our findings about discovering a scientific solution to the Synoptic Problem and reconstruction of the first Gospel (Qn). Given that, we are transitioning from version 1 to version 2 in the numbering of our LODLIB (Linked Open Data Living Informational Book). Over 1000 pages (many of them 11×17) and almost 350,000 words is pretty amazing progress to have made in a year’s time. While there is still a lot more work to do, it’s good to celebrate this milestone.

Today’s upload has significant improvements, especially to the “Popular Script Translation of the First Gospel” and the “Iterative Critical Edition and Translation of the Third Gospel Stratum”. Many other updates are to be found across the book, following our cycles of continuous improvement. A lot of our work recently has involved checking the wording and manuscript variants of the critical editions of Tertullian’s treatise Against Marcion and Epiphanius’ Panarion (our two main sources of attestations of Marcion’s Gospel) and inserting specific page references to these scholarly texts in our footnotes. We hope our readers and reviewers–present and future–appreciate this scholarly rigor and attention to detail.

As always, constructive feedback and opportunities for collaboration are most welcomed! The great thing about a LODLIB, especially one built on scientifically testable hypotheses, is that it can evolve, not only to correct errors, but also to respond to legitimate critique and to build out new proofs.